MIL Asia Pacific Publishing Engine

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     A 58-year-old Hong Kong male resident charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud was convicted and sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment by Shatin Magistrates’ Courts yesterday (July 7).

The Outside Investigation Section of the Immigration Department (ImmD) through intelligence analysis suspected the defendant, acting as a middleman, had arranged for a Hong Kong male resident to enter into a bogus marriage with a Mainland female resident in Hong Kong to assist the Mainland female to obtain visit endorsements and residence status in Hong Kong. The ImmD’s comprehensive investigation revealed that the couple registered their marriage in Hong Kong under the arrangement of the defendant in 2023. The defendant subsequently accompanied and assisted the Mainland female resident on multiple occasions in handling relevant documents and application procedures, charging her a total intermediary fee of RMB100,000.

     The defendant was subsequently arrested by the ImmD and charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud. After trial, the defendant was convicted and sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment yesterday.
 
     The Mainland female resident in the case was previously convicted of conspiracy to defraud and sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment. The Hong Kong male resident who contracted the bogus marriage had earlier pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to defraud and is pending sentencing by the court. The investigation of other suspects is still underway, and the ImmD does not rule out the possibility of further arrests.

“The ImmD has been very concerned about non-Hong Kong residents staying in Hong Kong by means of a marriage of convenience, and will continue to spare no effort in combating the related illicit activities. For people who have obtained their residence in Hong Kong by fraudulent means, their Hong Kong identity card and residence status will be invalidated according to the laws of Hong Kong. They will also be subject to removal back to their place of origin,” the ImmD spokesman stressed.

“According to the Immigration Ordinance, any person who makes any statement or representation which he knows to be false or does not believe to be true to immigration officers commits an offence. Offenders are liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, face a maximum fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for 14 years. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and the same penalties. Moreover, according to the Crimes Ordinance, anyone who commits the offence of conspiracy to defraud is liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, the maximum penalty is imprisonment for 14 years,” the ImmD spokesman warned.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by Dr the Hon Elvin Lee and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, in the Legislative Council today (July 8):
 
Question:
 
Some meteorological experts consider that global warming is accelerating, with the global average temperature in 2024 having risen by 1.55 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels, exceeding the 1.5 degrees C threshold under the Paris Agreement, and there is an 80 per cent probability of an El Niño phenomenon occurring between June and August this year. While this may reduce the number of tropical cyclones entering the South China Sea, the probability of super typhoons occurring will relatively increase. In addition, the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) issued a Black Rainstorm Signal on three occasions in June this year, with June 18 marking the first time on record that the Black Rainstorm Signal was issued twice in a single day. There are views that the above has confirmed that extreme weather has become the new normal, and that the Government must continue to draw on past experience to systematise and institutionalise successful response measures, and study further optimising its prevention and response work. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) given that the HKO and meteorological experts have both forecast an increased probability of the occurrence of super typhoons and extreme weather this year, whether the authorities will make advance planning by convening interdepartmental steering committee meetings and consolidating past experience to formulate special preparatory plans to cope with the extreme weather changes that may occur this year;
 
(2) given that flooding occurred at many locations in Hong Kong during heavy rain in the past, causing great inconvenience to members of the public and resulting in economic losses, whether the Government will make advance planning by conducting early inspections of locations across the territory that are at higher risk of incidents such as flooding, landslides, tree collapse and collapse of structures, including inspecting sky cranes, scaffolding and suspended working platforms, so as to carry out proper inspection, clearance and reinforcement work; whether the authorities will also strengthen early warning by issuing alerts and support information to the public on high-risk locations so as to raise public vigilance; and
 
(3) as the Chief Executive, when summarising on September 30, 2025 the experience of coping with the super typhoon Ragasa which hit Hong Kong, indicated that the authorities would systematise and institutionalise successful experience so that prevention and response work could be refined, of the latest progress of the authorities’ relevant work; whether the authorities will incorporate the respective experiences of the Drainage Services Department and the HKO in using artificial intelligence to monitor flooding situations and applying advanced forecasting technology into the regularised response mechanism; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
Climate change has brought about global warming and an increasing frequency of extreme weather events. The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) expects a strong to very strong El Niño event to occur this year. The associated phenomena may increase the risk of high temperatures and extreme weather. Under the combined influence of climate warming and El Niño, Hong Kong may record record-breaking high temperatures and experience heavy rainfall.
 
To address extreme weather events, the Security Bureau (SB) has formulated the Contingency Plan for Natural Disasters, which sets out the Government’s strategies, organisational framework, and alerting system for dealing with natural disasters, as well as the functions and responsibilities of Government bureaux/departments (B/Ds), public utility companies, and non-governmental organisations in the events of natural disasters. When serious natural disasters happen, the SB will immediately activate the Emergency Monitoring and Support Centre (EMSC) to co-ordinate a comprehensive response and collaborate the actions of relevant B/Ds and organisations (including their emergency control centres) to ensure the incidents are handled swiftly and effectively.
 
In the event of super typhoons or other large-scale natural disasters, the Chief Secretary for Administration will convene meeting of steering committee on handling extreme weather to provide high-level co-ordination and supervision in the various stages of preparedness, response and recovery as well as to set priorities for various tasks, thereby enabling the normal daily living of the community to resume as quickly as practicable. If a natural disaster has caused extreme and widespread impacts, such as widespread flooding, severe landslides, or severe disruption to public transportation services, the steering committee will consider making an extreme conditions announcement to advise members of the public to remain in their original safe locations.
 
The Government will also, as appropriate, disseminate to the public the latest weather forecasts, natural disaster alerts, and related information including flooding, landslides, and traffic arrangements for affected roads through the Information Services Department, the media and social media platforms.
 
The Government attaches great importance to the threat posed by extreme weather to Hong Kong and sums up the experience in a timely manner, and will implement and enhance response measures in four areas, namely advance preparations, enhanced early warning, decisive emergency response and speedy recovery, with a view to protecting citizens’ safety as the first priority, as well as minimising the damage and impact of extreme weather, so as to allow people’s lives to return to normal as soon as possible.
 
In consultation with the Development Bureau (DEVB), the Environment and Ecology Bureau, the Housing Bureau (HB), the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau, the Labour and Welfare Bureau and the Transport and Logistics Bureau, the consolidated reply to the question raised by Dr the Hon Elvin Lee is as follows:
 
(1) Given that extreme weather is becoming increasingly frequent, before the occurrence of super typhoons or other large-scale natural disasters, the Chief Secretary for Administration will convene steering committee meeting as appropriate according to the actual situation and lead various B/Ds in reviewing the experience, and formulating and implementing the necessary enhancement measures, so as to ensure comprehensive and thorough preparations before the onset of the typhoon season, with a view to responding to the serious threat that extreme weather may pose to Hong Kong. Details of the various measures are set out below:
 
Advance preparations
 
All B/Ds will continue to strengthen the resilience of various infrastructure against severe to extreme weather. Some examples are set out below:
 

• To address the risk of flooding, the Drainage Services Department (DSD) will enhance flood prevention infrastructures, strengthen early warning and contingency plans for flood fighting, pre-deploy staff to inspect and clear drainage facilities, and install tide gauges in low-lying coastal areas, and in collaboration with the Highways Department (HyD), the Transport Department (TD), and the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), to launch the Pilot Scheme on Wading Line System at five carriageway sections in low-lying areas with higher flood risk, thereby reducing the possibility of vehicles stalling due to damage by flooding;

 

• To address the risks of landslides, tree collapse and falling building components, relevant departments will conduct various strategic inspections and follow-up actions, including clearing of drainage, tree crown pruning, and the Buildings Department (BD) will also remind site supervisors and property management companies to ensure the stability of scaffolding, tower cranes and other structures;

 

• The Labour Department (LD) has promulgated the revised Code of Practice in Times of Adverse Weather and “Extreme Conditions”, providing guidelines for employers and employees on work arrangements and contingency measures under adverse weather and extreme conditions. The LD will also deploy staff to carry out surprise inspections at various outdoor work sites (such as tower cranes, scaffolding, suspended working platforms, etc), with attention to review the sites’ work arrangements and contingency measures under adverse weather, and, where necessary, provide improvement suggestions to the relevant responsible persons. The LD will also remind employers and employees to make early preparation before the onset of adverse weather, to take adequate precautionary measures for outdoor facilities and secure them properly, to suspend all non-essential outdoor work, and also to arrange for employees to take shelter in safe places; and

 

• To address the improper wind-chasing and wave-watching behaviours during typhoons, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will step up publicity and public education.  Relevant enforcement departments will also take decisive enforcement actions and institute prosecutions to deter such behaviours.

 
Enhanced early warning
 
Whilst current technology has certain limitations in predicting extreme weather, in particular for heavy rainstorms, the HKO will disseminate information to the public as early as practicable to allow more time for preparation. Should class suspension be necessary, the Education Bureau will announce the relevant arrangements as early as possible to enable parents and students to make advance preparations. The Government will also step up the dissemination of information on flooding, landslides, tree collapse and other incidents to keep the public informed of the latest situation. Regarding the discharge of water from Shenzhen reservoir, Hong Kong and Shenzhen have strengthened liaison and co-ordination. Once Shenzhen commences consideration of water discharge, Hong Kong will be notified as early as possible. Both cities will closely monitor the water discharge situation and release relevant information to the public in a timely manner.
 
Decisive emergency response and speedy recovery
 
In the event of actual extreme weather, the SB will activate the EMSC in a timely manner to co-ordinate the response efforts of various departments. The Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre of the TD will also escalate its operating level to enhance traffic monitoring and co-ordinate public transport services. The DEVB will activate the emergency response mechanism to plan and co-ordinate resources from various works departments and their contractors; the DSD will increase its emergency response teams as necessary to handle flooding as early as possible; and all relevant departments will make every effort to handle landslide incidents with a view to restoring normalcy in the community as soon as possible.
 
In terms of mobilisation, the Government has in place the “government-wide mobilisation” mechanism to support post-disaster recovery work. In addition, District Offices will mobilise District Services and Community Care Teams and District Council members to assist in handling emergencies and contingencies as necessary, including disseminating information to residents, supporting the Government’s response efforts during severe weather and participating in recovery work, etc.
 
Building on the above strategic deployment, the steering committee will lead various departments in reviewing the experience gained after natural disasters and conduct continuous reviews of contingency plans to ensure that they are refined and kept up to date, with a view to further enhancing Hong Kong’s overall capability in responding to extreme weather.
 
(2) In particular, with regard to flooding in multiple districts caused by heavy rainstorms, various B/Ds will strive to make thorough advance deployment and preparatory work:
 

• The DEVB has stepped up preventive and defensive measures to co-ordinate preparedness efforts in dealing with flooding, landslides, fallen trees and safety of building structures. The DEVB has also consolidated the resources from public works contractors. In particular, efforts have been made to increase manpower, machinery and equipment capacity so that swift deployment could be made anytime to respond to emergency situations and carry out recovery work;

 

• The DSD has completed the inspections and clearance work prior to typhoon and rainy season at 240 locations across the territory which are prone to flooding due to blockages, and will implement the “just-in-time clearance arrangement” as appropriate and adopt special measures, including increasing the number of emergency response teams to handle flooding in different districts and deploying powerful pumping robots on standby in advance at locations with higher risk of flooding. Upon heavy rainfall, the DSD will re-inspect high-risk locations and carry out clearance work again as necessary to prepare for the next heavy rainfall. For coastal low-lying or windy residential areas with high risks, the DSD and the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) have been working closely with relevant departments to implement appropriate measures according to the action plans formulated in advance, including early warning systems and emergency response arrangements to cope with the potential threat of flooding;

 

• The HyD will inspect drainage pumping station facilities in vehicular tunnels, and install flood warning systems in pedestrian subways with higher flood risk. The HyD will also proactively conduct special inspections and clearance of public road sections (including expressways) across the territory that are prone to flooding due to blockage, whilst stepping up inspection and clearance of drainage channels of roadside man-made slopes. In addition, the HyD will remind relevant staff and contractors to closely monitor weather changes and the latest information from the HKO, pre-deploy manpower and equipment, and activate the Emergency Control Centre in a timely manner to respond swiftly to contingencies on public roads;

 

• Relevant departments will also make preparations for landslide incidents, including inspecting government man-made slopes with higher potential impact to ensure the normal functioning of drainage facilities. During extreme weather, the Geotechnical Engineering Office (GEO) and the HKO will closely monitor weather conditions, and issue territory-wide Landslip Warnings or localised Special Landslip Advisory as appropriate to remind the public to take precautionary measures;

 

• The tree management departments will conduct tree risk assessment and mitigation work at high-risk locations, and inspect trees in areas with high pedestrian and vehicular flow, taking preventive measures for trees posing risks, including the removal and pruning of trees, cordoning off areas that may be affected by tree collapse, and erecting relevant notices to reduce risks;

 

• The BD will issue circular letters reminding all registered building professionals and registered contractors to take precautionary measures, such as securing construction materials, and inspecting and ensuring the safety of scaffolding and tower cranes at construction sites; as well as reminding property management companies to arrange for inspection and ensure the stability and safety of scaffolding used for building maintenance works. Additionally, prior to the arrival of a typhoon, the BD will proactively inspect active construction sites, major thoroughfares, and the external walls of private buildings that are of higher potential risks. If obvious danger is detected, the BD will contact the relevant persons in charge for immediate follow-up and, where necessary, arrange for government contractors to immediately remove hazardous elements to safeguard public safety. The BD operates a 24-hour emergency hotline to receive and follow up on urgent reports concerning the safety of private buildings. During typhoons, the BD will activate its Emergency Control Centre, mobilising professional grade staff to work round-the-clock on a shift basis to handle emergencies involving dangerous private buildings and scaffolding, etc, and to arrange for government contractors to carry out emergency works as necessary; and

 

• The Housing Department (HD)/Hong Kong Housing Authority has formulated clear procedures and contractual requirements for contractors to take advance precautionary measures before severe weather, including strengthening scaffolding, securing materials, inspecting tower cranes and gondolas, clearing drainage, and establishing emergency standby teams, as well as evacuating workers and closing construction sites before the issuance of the Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8; the Independent Checking Unit of the HB will inspect construction sites under its purview alongside trunk roads to ensure that precautionary measures are in place; for public housing estates, inspections of scaffolding and trees, checks of solar power systems, installation of flood alarms in lift shafts, and the deployment of removable flood barriers at low-lying estates (such as Upper Wong Tai Sin Estate) will also be arranged to further enhance the flood prevention capability of housing estates.

In terms of information dissemination, the Government will issue public alerts on high-risk locations, emergency traffic information and arrangements for public transport services through the Information Services Department, the media, various departmental websites and mobile applications, such as the HKO’s “MyObservatory” and the TD’s “HKeMobility”, so as to enhance public alertness.

(3) Super Typhoon Ragasa was the second most intense tropical cyclone on record in the South China Sea since 1950, with a maximum sustained wind speed of 195 kilometres per hour. The Hurricane Signal No. 10 was hoisted for nearly 11 hours, making it the second longest-lasting on record, resulting in flooding in many coastal and inland areas. In response to Super Typhoon, all Government B/Ds have worked together with utmost dedication to press ahead with various precautionary, response and recovery efforts, and have successfully minimised the related damage.
 
The Government has reviewed the experience and summarised the following key elements to consolidate and enhance its future capacity to respond to extreme weather:
 

• In respect of advance deployment, the steering committee led by the Chief Secretary for Administration will convene meetings before the onset of storms to make comprehensive arrangements for enhancing the safety margin, including activating the EMSC one day in advance, announcing class suspension arrangements, setting up a 24-hour enquiry hotline, opening temporary shelters more than half a day ahead of time, providing sandbags to areas threatened by flooding at an early stage, and mobilising emergency response teams of the DSD to stand by in various districts;

 

• In respect of advancing recovery, before the cancellation of the Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8, works departments, the Fire Services Department and other emergency departments will commence recovery work ahead of time to assist the public in resuming normal life at the earliest opportunity;

 

• In respect of building social consensus and effective information dissemination, the Government will disseminate storm information as early as possible, widely publicise through the media and disseminate clear information through multiple channels in a timely manner, so that the public can keep abreast of the situation, enhance their vigilance, and the community as a whole can build a consensus on typhoon preparedness and disaster resilience, and make joint preparations for typhoons; and

 

• In respect of technology application, the HKO will continue to make effective use of advanced forecasting techniques to accurately predict typhoon tracks and intensities, providing a scientific basis for advance deployment. In respect of the application of AI, the HKO will continue to introduce AI forecasting and storm surge models to strengthen tropical cyclone prediction, and extend coastal storm surge range forecasting; the new radar will also enhance the monitoring accuracy of hail and rainfall rates. The DSD harnessed AI large vision-language model to develop an AI-based flooding monitoring system in 2024. The system captures footages from road CCTV cameras and has been piloted in areas including Chatham Road South in Tsim Sha Tsui, Tai Kiu Tsuen in Yuen Long, and Tung Tau Wai Tsuen in Yuen Long to identify and analyse street flooding conditions using AI. Upon detection of flooding, the system will generate real-time alerts to enable the DSD to expeditiously deploy emergency response teams to handle flooding situations. The DSD has also partnered with the HKPF to gain access to more CCTV cameras under the HKPF’s “SmartView” Project to broaden the coverage of the AI-based flooding monitoring system. Moreover, the DSD will pre-deploy high-powered pumping robots “Mobile Powerful Pumping Robot” at high-risk locations to efficiently remove accumulated water, achieving drainage effectiveness more than 10 times that of traditional pumps. The CEDD has fully implemented the AI Landslip Warning System in the rainy season of 2026. The system integrates Hong Kong’s historical rainfall data, man-made slope information, and landslide records, and utilises machine learning and big data analytics to pinpoint the critical factors contributing to landslides. Through model training and data refinement, the system can deliver more accurate predictions of landslide occurrences during rainstorms, thereby improving risk assessment precision and enabling “real-time and dynamic” risk monitoring.

The Government will continue to refine and review its response to extreme weather, systematise and institutionalise good practices, and enhance the response capabilities of the Government and the community on an ongoing basis, so as to address the threat of various extreme weather events in future and better safeguard Hong Kong.
 
The SB has also incorporated the above on-the-ground experiences in responding to Super Typhoon Ragasa into the inter-departmental pre-typhoon desktop exercise held in April 2026, enabling representatives from various B/Ds to incorporate and apply the good practices to their respective future emergency work. Over 80 representatives from around 40 B/Ds participated in this year’s exercise. Respective emergency response departments will also conduct annual exercises before typhoon seasons to enhance their capability to respond to extreme weather.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by the Hon Adrian Ho and a reply by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, in the Legislative Council today (July 8):

Question:

     Recently, an intern doctor and a resident doctor in public hospitals have been dismissed by the Hospital Authority (HA) due to their serious improper acts, which has aroused public concern. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council whether it knows:

(1) the number of people who completed their internship but were not awarded a certificate of experience or were not registered as doctors in the past five years, as well as the reasons for that; the number of complaints or reports received by HA involving breaches of professional conduct by intern doctors or resident doctors;

(2) whether HA has a regular mechanism in place to monitor the access records of its clinical management system, and has established an internal reporting mechanism for unusual access behaviour; if not, whether HA has plans to enhance the system’s security and confidentiality mechanism, including exploring the introduction of fingerprint, face ID, or mandating doctors to provide reasonable grounds and obtain authorisation from the attending doctors when making cross-hospital enquiries into patients’ medical records, so as to effectively safeguard patient data; and

(3) whether HA or the Medical Council of Hong Kong has plans to draw up guidelines clearly defining what constitutes “professional misconduct” for doctors to follow, and to liaise with the faculties of medicine of the various universities to strengthen medical students’ awareness of professional conduct through their curricula?

Reply:

President,

     The medical profession is a core element of the healthcare system. The Medical Registration Ordinance (MRO) (Cap. 161) provides a legal framework for regulation of the registration of medical practitioners in Hong Kong. The Medical Council of Hong Kong (MCHK) is a statutory body established according to the MRO, responsible for various statutory functions relating to the medical profession including the registration of medical practitioners. According to the MRO, to be qualified for full registration as a medical practitioner in Hong Kong, a medical graduate from a local medical school must be engaged in full-time employment and training in the capacity of intern doctors in a public hospital assessed and recognised by the MCHK for not less than 12 months, passed the assessments by the relevant medical school and the Hospital Authority (HA) and obtained a certificate of experience (CoE) awarded by the medical school.

     The HA demands the highest standards of professional conduct, behaviour, and discipline from its medical practitioners. All public hospital doctors, including intern doctors, resident doctors and specialist doctors at all levels, must possess both medical competence and conduct themselves in a professional manner, placing patient well-being, privacy, safety, and care as their foremost priority at all times.

     In consultation with the Department of Health and the HA, the consolidated reply to the question raised by the Hon Adrian Ho is as follows:

(1) According to the MRO, a local medical school may award a CoE to a medical graduate only if it is satisfied that the graduate has been engaged in medicine and surgery during the 12-month internship employment at public hospitals under the HA and that the service has been satisfactory. Obtaining the CoE is a prerequisite for applying to the MCHK for full registration as a registered medical practitioner. Doctors who have completed full registration may serve as resident doctors in the HA to provide clinical and related services while undergoing specialist training.  

     From 2021-22 to 2025-26, the HA recorded around 12 to 35 disciplinary cases due to poor performance or breaches of professional conduct involving intern doctors and resident doctors per year. Among such disciplinary cases, three intern doctors failed to complete the internship due to poor performance, misbehaviour or criminal conviction, thus unable to be registered as medical practitioners, during these five years. In addition to the cases above, there are 10 intern doctors who failed to complete the internship due to resignation on personal grounds such as health issues or unable to meet the internship requirements and thus unable to be registered as medical practitioners.  The aforementioned cases account for a relatively low percentage of the total intern doctor and resident doctor workforce of around 4 200.  Detailed figures are listed in the Annex.

     During these five years, all doctors who have completed the internship were actually awarded the CoE and were registered as medical practitioner. This is the response to the question mentioned by the Hon Adrian Ho. 

(2) To safeguard security of patient data, the HA enforces strict gatekeeping on the usage of the Clinical Management System across five major dimensions:

(i) Regarding the application for the Clinical Management System account, each staff member must first complete a training course on privacy. Each application for account creation must be reviewed and approved by department head;

(ii) Regarding access to system functions, functional permissions for users of different grades vary according to operational needs. The system retains access logs to ensure traceability and accountability;

(iii) Regarding access and control on patient records, when a user enters a restricted access zone, the system will prompt and mandate the input of a reason for the access, and simultaneously remind the user that such access is subject to audit; 

(iv) Regarding regular auditing and monitoring, the HA regularly reviews system accounts, user authorisations and access logs, and receives alerts on abnormal cases through the advanced incident reporting system and the personnel notification mechanism; and

(v) Regarding cybersecurity, the HA will continuously enhance system security to ensure data confidentiality and security.

(3) Courses on professional conduct and medical ethics are compulsory courses for medical students in local universities. They ensure students are acquainted with professional values and standard of good conduct prior to graduation. The MCHK will continue to maintain communication with universities’ medical schools to enhance medical students’ awareness towards professional conduct, through strengthening relevant content during the regular accreditation of medical programmes. 

     On the other hand, the MCHK has formulated the Code of Professional Conduct (Code) since 1994 to regulate a series of aspects such as the professional responsibility over patients and provides specific guidelines for all doctors on matters including keeping medical records, protecting patients’ privacy, and dissemination of information to the public; and is subject to update from time to time. The latest version of the Code is the “red book” I am holding, which is the revised version of 2022. All doctors in Hong Kong, including intern doctors, have a “red book” which they should be familiar with.

      Intern doctors must abide by the “red book”, the Code by the MCHK, and non-compliance of which will result in disciplinary sanctions.  Even if they were granted the CoE issued by the medical schools, the MCHK may still order not to register them as medical practitioners according to the MRO. Despite the nature of the Code as a guideline, the Government has submitted an amendment Bill to the Legislative Council which recommends empowering the MCHK to formulate and promulgate codes of conduct, granting the codes of conduct statutory status. The relevant amendment will further strengthen the authority and binding effect of the Code in favour of regulating the practice of all doctors including intern doctors and enhancing professional conduct. 

     On the other hand, to ensure staff compliance with ethical standards, apart from the Code by the MCHK, the HA also has the HA Code of Conduct, the “green book” I am holding. The HA Code of Conduct emphasises that staff have a duty to protect the HA’s and the patients’ information, records and property against improper or negligent disclosure, misuse, or unauthorised usage. The HA and the Committee on Teaching Hospitals communicate regularly with university medical schools on matters relating to the training of intern doctors and medical students, and the Central Internship Committee has been set up to monitor and enhance matters relating to internships.

     President, we will continue to work with the MCHK, the HA, and the two universities to foster excellence in training, stringently enforce the regulatory mechanism for medical practitioners to assure the professional integrity of doctors, and safeguard the rights and interests of patients.

     Thank you, President.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by the Hon Aaron Bok and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, in the Legislative Council today (July 8):
 
Question:
 
     Since Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles was launched in July 2023, up to the present, the cumulative number of Hong Kong private cars that have participated in the scheme has exceeded 140 000. The Guangdong Provincial Government announced on May 30, 2026 that the validity period of the Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles policy would be extended by five years to June 1, 2031. The Government also launched Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles in December 2025. Meanwhile, the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC) promulgated in May 2026 several measures of the Customs in support of the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, launching 20 specific measures, among which include the implementation of one-stop regulation for Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles and Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) given that the GACC will implement one-stop regulation for Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles and Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles, whether the authorities have conducted specific alignment on the relevant standards and put in place corresponding measures; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
 
(2) as it has been reported that some drivers have made use of Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles to provide private charter car services for northbound boundary crossing, involving the illegal acts of unlawfully using motor vehicles for the carriage of passengers for hire or reward, whether the authorities have compiled statistics on the numbers of prosecutions and convictions involving such offences over the past three years, and the penalties imposed in each convicted case respectively;
 
(3) apart from the illegal acts mentioned in item (2) above, whether the authorities have information on the numbers of prosecutions and convictions involving other illegal acts relating to Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles, including smuggling offences in contravention of the Import and Export Ordinance (Cap. 60), and the penalties imposed in each convicted case respectively; and
 
(4) of the numbers of enforcement operations in which personnel posed as passengers (commonly known as “decoy operations”) conducted by the authorities to combat illegal acts involving Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles over the past three years; and apart from decoy operations, what measures the authorities have in place to step up enforcement and prevent such illegal acts?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has been committed to working with the People’s Government of Guangdong Province (Guangdong Government) to take forward various cross-boundary transport initiatives, including Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles (Northbound Travel Scheme) and Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles (Southbound Travel Scheme) implemented via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, through which realising mutual engagements between residents of the two places and fostering deeper connectivity within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).
 
     Regarding the Northbound Travel Scheme, it has been three years since its implementation in mid-2023. The cumulative number of Hong Kong private cars participated in the scheme is over 140 000, and the cumulative two-way traffic flow has reached around 5.2 million vehicular trips. As for the Southbound Travel Scheme which was implemented at the end of last year, it has been expanded from the initial four applicable cities to all nine Mainland cities in the GBA since mid this year.
 
     On the other hand, the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC) promulgated several measures of the Customs in support of the development of the GBA in May 2026 in accordance with the National 15th Five-Year Plan to consolidate and enhance the role of the GBA as an engine for high-quality development. Twenty specific measures were proposed across five areas to inject fresh impetus to accelerate the development of the GBA. Among these, under the measure of “focusing on integrated development, strengthening closer convergence of rules and mechanisms, and striving to enhance the level of market integration in the GBA”, the GACC announced the implementation of a one-stop regulation for the Northbound Travel Scheme and the Southbound Travel Scheme to facilitate cross-boundary travel between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. To this end, the Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) is currently liaising with the Guangdong Sub-Administration of the GACC on the implementation details of these specific measures.
 
     After consulting the Transport and Logistics Bureau (TLB), the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) and the C&ED, the reply to the questions raised is as follows:
 
(1) Regarding the implementation of a one-stop regulation for the Northbound Travel Scheme and the Southbound Travel Scheme under the several measures of the Customs in support of the development of GBA promulgated by the GACC to facilitate cross-boundary travel between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, the C&ED is engaging with the Guangdong Sub-Administration of the GACC on the implementation details and actively liaising with the Customs administrations of Guangdong and Macao so as to better co-ordinate on the implementation of the measures. Besides, the TLB and the Transport Department will continue to maintain communication with the Guangdong Government on the Northbound Travel Scheme and the Southbound Travel Scheme.
 
(2) From 2023 to May 2026, a total of 19 cases involving cross-boundary vehicles were recorded during the enforcement actions taken by the HKPF against illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward. The HKPF does not maintain records of other figures inquired in the question.
 
(3) Over the past three years (from July 2023 up to the present), the C&ED has prosecuted a total of seven cases against drivers under the Northbound Travel Scheme for breaching the laws of Hong Kong. The offences involved include failing to declare cigarettes exceeding the duty-free allowance, smuggling vehicle parts, as well as trafficking dangerous drugs etc. Among the seven cases, four cases have been convicted, while the remaining three are still undergoing court proceedings. Details of the seven cases categorised according to the relevant laws and their respective penalties are as follows:
 

Relevant laws	Total no. of cases (Note)	Penalties
Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109)	2	Penalties for 2 cases include fines of $1,000, as well as a term of imprisonment of a period ranging from 2 weeks (suspended for 18 months) to 5 months
Import and Export Ordinance (Cap. 60)	3	3 cases are still undergoing court proceedings
Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (Cap. 134)	2	Penalties for 2 cases include fines from $1,000 to $8,000, as well as a term of imprisonment of 10 months (suspended for 36 months)

Note: When a case involves multiple offences under different ordinances, it is categorised according to the most serious offence and the items seized.
 
(4) The HKPF may conduct “decoy operations” by posing as passengers at varying intervals. The relevant information, however, involve operation details and cannot be revealed. Apart from “decoy operations”, the HKPF will continue to adopt an intelligence-led approach, and depending on operational priorities, flexibly deploy resources for enforcement operations, such as conducting targeted traffic stop-and-searches at boundary control points and major roads irregularly.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     ​Following is a question by the Hon Carmen Kan and a reply by the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, in the Legislative Council today (July 8):
 
Question:
 
     Last month, the Chief Executive stated that the Northern Metropolis University Town (NMUT) would be developed into an integrated university town area covering 1 000 hectares or above (University Town Area). In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) as the Chief Executive has reportedly pointed out the five major common elements (five major elements) of a successful university town, namely “education, technology, talents, industries and urban development”, and it is proposed in the public consultation document on Hong Kong’s Five-Year Plan to position NMUT as a key engine for the Northern Metropolis development, how the Government will integrate the five major elements into the relevant planning;
 
(2) as other government officials and experts from outside the Government can be invited, on a need basis, to participate in the relevant work of the Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town led by the Chief Secretary for Administration, whether the Government has adjusted the membership list of the working group having regard to the prevailing circumstances, such as including more Secretaries of Departments and Directors of Bureaux as well as actively engaging experts in respect of the five major elements, so as to foster consensus and secure support among the stakeholders, including the education sector; and
 
(3) with a view to keeping abreast of achieving legal empowerment under executive-led governance, how the Government will incorporate appropriate strategic vacancy into the dedicated legislation for the Northern Metropolis with regard to the development of the University Town Area, thereby providing a certain degree of flexibility for the construction of the University Town Area?

Reply:

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​Following is a question by the Hon Chan Siu-hung and a written reply by the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, in the Legislative Council today (July 8):

Question:

There are views that the Northern Metropolis (NM), adopting an “industry-driven and infrastructure-led” approach as its development principle, will provide over 3 000 hectares of new development land for various public and private sector construction projects, and that the corresponding dedicated legislation for NM has already undergone public consultation, the Government should make necessary preparations to ensure an adequate manpower supply in the construction sector, so as to accelerate the progress of infrastructure works and industrial development in NM. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether it has reviewed if the current manpower supply in the construction sector is sufficient to support the development of NM; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(2) given that the Development Bureau has been implementing the Labour Importation Scheme for the Construction Sector (Scheme), which, on the premise of safeguarding the employment priority for local labour, allows eligible employers to import labour through the Scheme at an appropriate scale to fill vacancies in the local workforce, since the launch of the Scheme to date, of (i) the total number of quotas approved, with a breakdown by trade and discipline, and (ii) the average time taken from the submission of an application to the approval of a quota; whether the authorities can shorten the time taken for vetting and approval to expedite the provision of the construction sector manpower required for the development of NM; and

(3) given that the Scheme primarily applies to public sector construction works contracts with a contract value of no less than HK$1 billion, and in view of the need for public-private partnership in the development of NM, whether the Development Bureau will consider cutting red tape and easing restrictions to include private sector construction works related to NM within the scope of eligible works under the Scheme, so as to provide a more flexible arrangement for the importation of labour?

Reply:

President,

The Northern Metropolis (NM) is Hong Kong’s major new strategic development space for the future which will provide substantial land for industry development. As the construction volume associated with the NM development is expected to rise continuously, we must put in place relevant measures to meet the resulting manpower demands on the construction industry. To this end, the Development Bureau (DEVB) will work with the Construction Industry Council (CIC) to strengthen local training and promote technology adoption across the sector, to enhance the overall productivity of the construction industry, while adhering to the multipronged approach and the policy of ensuring employment priority for local workers. The DEVB will also continue to make effective use of the existing Labour Importation Scheme for the Construction Sector (Scheme) as a supplementary measure to respond flexibly to the industry’s manpower needs.

My reply to the questions raised by the Member is as follows:

(1) According to the Construction Expenditure Forecast and Manpower Forecast for Hong Kong Construction Industry released by the CIC in April 2026, generally speaking, taking the NM development into account, the total construction expenditure of the industry could reach $305 billion to $360 billion in 2030/31. The medium-to long-term outlook for the construction industry remains robust, and the overall construction expenditure of the industry is expected to grow steadily.

Due to the ongoing efforts by the CIC to enhance training and the increased adoption of innovation and technology across the sector, labour shortage in some trades has eased. However, with the gradual recovery of the economy including the real estate market, a gradual resurgence of the volume of private sector projects is expected. Together with the anticipated rising volume of public works, including the NM development and other public projects (such as railway and public housing projects), the manpower demand of the construction industry will remain keen in the next five years. There is a need to retain the current Labour Importation Scheme for the Construction Sector and the quota ceiling of 12 000 under the Scheme. The Government will continue to collaborate with the CIC and industry stakeholders to address the industry’s manpower demand with the multi-pronged strategy.

(2) The Labour Importation Scheme for the Construction Sector was launched in July 2023. Applications for labour importation quota must be submitted by the principal contractor of eligible works contracts. The DEVB is responsible for handling and approving these applications. Applicants are required to prove that there is a genuine need for importing workers based on the works progress. The personnel to be imported by applicants must be of the eligible trades/disciplines identified to be in shortage. Applicants or employers must also conduct local recruitment as required under the Scheme and demonstrate that they are unable to employ sufficient local workers to take up the relevant trades/disciplines before their applications are considered. All imported labour applications approved under the Scheme must be for skilled workers and technicians working at construction sites. The Scheme does not allow the importation of general workers nor the imported labour to be engaged in work other than the trades/disciplines specified in the applications. The Approving Authority will stringently perform its gatekeeping role, and will only decide whether to approve an application having regard to the advice of an interdepartmental committee comprising relevant Government departments. 

Quota allocation is on a rolling basis, i.e. quotas will be released for new applications after completion of the relevant construction projects. The vetting and approval for the first twelve rounds of applications under the Scheme have been completed. Currently, there are 6 897 approved and valid quotas under the Scheme, including the 259 valid quotas approved before the implementation of the Scheme and counted towards it. A breakdown by trade can be found in the Annex.

The Scheme will accept applications on a quarterly basis with each application period lasting for a month. Application results will be issued to the principal contractor-applicant within two months from the relevant closing date of the application. The above is the normal cycle for the application and approval process. However, should individual construction project be identified as having high urgency, the DEVB will also consider handling its application for imported labour on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the actual circumstances of that project.

(3) Under the Labour Importation Scheme for the Construction Sector, eligible works contracts primarily apply to public sector construction works with a contract value of no less than HK$1 billion. However, it also specifies that if private sector construction works contracts have special circumstances, such as the contracts involving construction personnel of special trades/disciplines the local supply of which is very limited, or the relevant works projects have exceptional circumstances warranting special consideration and of a considerable scale, the applications may also be considered.

Over the past period, applications received and approved under the Scheme were primarily for public sector projects with a contract value of no less than $1 billion. As the NM development goes into full swing, particularly with more land earmarked for industry development entering the construction phase, we will make good use of the Scheme to cater to the need for speeding up and enhancing the efficiency of industry development. Upon receiving applications from private sector projects related to industry development, we will take into account the role of such projects in driving industry growth, or the wider social benefits they bring to Hong Kong. Such applications must also be supported by the relevant policy bureaux. In other words, for private projects, if the project is purely for private residential development or ordinary commercial buildings, its application will generally not be considered.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​An owner was convicted and fined $106,000 in total, of which $6,000 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued, at the Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts yesterday (July 7) for failing to comply with a removal order issued under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap. 123).  

The case involved a cockloft of about 44 square metres in a ground floor shop of a composite building on Wan Hon Street, Kwun Tong. As the unauthorised building work (UBW) was carried out without prior approval and consent from the Buildings Department (BD), a removal order was served on the owner under section 24(1) of the BO. Failing to comply with the removal order, the owner was prosecuted by the BD.

A spokesman for the BD said today (July 8), “UBWs may lead to serious consequences. Owners must comply with removal orders without delay. The BD will continue to take stringent enforcement action against owners who fail to comply with removal orders, including instigation of prosecution, to ensure building and public safety.”

Failure to comply with a removal order without reasonable excuse is a serious offence under the BO. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $200,000 and one year’s imprisonment, and a further fine of up to $20,000 for each day that the offence continues.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by the Hon Tommy Chung and a written reply by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, in the Legislative Council today (July 8):
 
Question:
 
     There are views that in recent years, the Government has been actively promoting digital transformation and encouraging small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to adopt AI technologies to optimise their operational workflows. In the face of the complexity of the external environment and competitive pressures of cross border trade, the import and export (I&E) sector can make good use of AI (e.g. intelligent customs clearance, supply chain forecasting and risk management) to enhance efficiency and reduce costs. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) whether the Government has compiled, for the past year, statistics on (i) the services provided by various government departments to support SMEs in the I&E sector in adopting AI technologies (including the number of enterprises using such services, major application scenarios), and (ii) the total expenditure incurred by the Government in providing such AI support services for SMEs in the I&E sector; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
 
(2) whether the Government has assessed the effectiveness of the existing measures (e.g. funding schemes, technical consultations and talent training) that support SMEs in the I&E sector in adopting AI technologies, including the coverage of these measures, the situations of applications submitted by enterprises and approvals granted, and whether it has conducted quantitative assessments of whether these measures can enhance enterprises’ operational efficiency; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
 
(3) of the Government’s short-term (about one to two years) and long-term (about three to five years) targets for promoting further application of AI technologies by SMEs in the I&E sector, and whether it has drawn up corresponding policy measures and timetables (e.g. increasing funding amounts, formulating guidelines on AI applications and strengthening collaboration with technology enterprises); if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     The Government has been adopting a multipronged approach to promote diversified development, upgrading and transformation of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) of various sectors (including the import and export sector) through measures including funding support, capacity building, publicity and promotion, market expansion. In recent years, technologies such as AI develop rapidly. The Government encourages the trade to adopt technologies having regard to business needs, with a view to reducing operational costs, enhancing efficiency and market competitiveness.
 
     Having consulted the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau and the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau, a consolidated reply to the three parts of the question is as follows:
 
     Different government bureaux and departments have various schemes and measures to support enterprises (including SMEs) to adopt AI in different business scenarios.
 
     As regards funding support, the Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales (BUD Fund) is one of the Government’s initiatives in supporting SMEs. The BUD Fund has been providing funding support to the manufacturing or service industries (including the import and export sector), encouraging non-listed Hong Kong enterprises to develop diversified markets with a view to enhancing their competitiveness through branding, upgrading and restructuring, and promoting sales. To encourage SMEs to implement projects with AI elements, the BUD Fund has provided more targeted funding support to enterprises since mid-June 2026. The Guide to Application of the BUD Fund has explicitly stated that fundable project measures include the application of AI in eligible projects, provided that the funding criteria of the BUD Fund can be satisfied. Examples include the development of AI chatbot function in the company website, or adoption of AI to ensure that the production lines meet the regulatory requirements of target markets.
 
     In addition, the $500 million Digital Transformation Support Pilot Programme (Pilot Programme) provided funding support on a matching basis to help nearly 8 800 SMEs adopt off-the-shelf and basic digital solutions, thereby accelerating their digital transformation. The Government will allocate an additional $300 million to enhance the Pilot Programme in order to encourage SMEs to adopt AI and cybersecurity digital solutions, thereby enhancing their competitiveness and strengthening information security. The Government will also actively consider expanding the scope of the programme to cover more sectors. The Government is currently reviewing the Pilot Programme to devise the funding model, scope, funding levels, and implementation details for the new round of the Pilot Programme, with a view to better aligning the programme with enterprises’ needs. Our target is to roll out the enhanced Pilot Programme in the second half of 2026 following consultation with the Legislative Council.
 
     On the other hand, the SME ReachOut, established by the Government and operated by the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), helps SMEs identify suitable government funding schemes and provides them with capacity building services, including providing SMEs with information related to technology transformation, digitalisation and e-commerce, etc through one-on-one technology/business know-how consultation meetings, seminars, networking events and annual large-scale events. The Government has allocated $100 million to gradually enhance the services of SME ReachOut in the ensuing five years starting from 2023. The SME ReachOut also organised the two-day “E-commerce Innovation Expo 2026 – Expanding Brand Horizons” in June 2026, featuring AI-related thematic zones, namely New Retail Tech Application and Smart Operations, to help SMEs understand and identify suitable technological application solutions. The Expo attracted over 3 000 visitors and handled over 5 400 enquiries.
 
     At the same time, the Government provides SMEs with four-in-one integrated consultation and referral services through the four SME centres (namely the Support and Consultation Centre for SMEs under the Trade and Industry Department, the SME Centre under the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the SME One under the HKPC and the TecONE under the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation). The four SME centres also co-organise four-in-one seminars on themes such as technology adoption, exploration of overseas and Mainland markets, with a view to helping SMEs enhance their competitiveness. In the past year (i.e. July 2025 to June 2026), the SME ReachOut and the four SME centres organised a total of 13 seminars related to AI applications, attracting over 900 participants.
 
     The HKTDC also works closely with leading technology enterprises through its “Transformation Sandbox” to help enterprises accelerate the automation of business processes, improve operational efficiency and expand their digital marketing footprint, while leveraging technology to gain insights into key market trends. Furthermore, the HKTDC’s Digital Academy offers a range of online courses that cover areas like AI applications, helping local SMEs enhance their digital competitiveness. In 2026-27, the Digital Academy will invite AI experts and leaders in international trade to deliver practical courses and thematic seminars with a view to assisting Hong Kong SMEs in capturing global business opportunities.
 
     Besides, the Hong Kong Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Institute (AIRDI) will strive to promote the integration of AI technology with industry, accelerate the commercialisation of research outcomes, and make it easier for SMEs to access practical AI solutions. At the same time, the AIRDI will provide security assessments and related consulting services for AI applications to lower the barriers for SMEs in terms of technology adoption and compliance.
 
     Existing schemes and measures under different government bureaux and departments that support SMEs to adopt AI are generally applicable to different sectors. The Government does not maintain statistical breakdown and information in respect of the numbers of applications made, usage by, expenditure incurred for the import and export sector, and the related effectiveness assessment. The 2026-27 Budget promotes the industrialisation of AI and deepening of its integration across various industries while encouraging wider AI application. The Government will continue to maintain close communication with the import and export sector, with a view to understanding the development of and challenges faced by the trade under rapid technological advancement. The Government will also review and enhance relevant schemes and measures as appropriate, thereby further promoting SMEs’ adoption of AI and leveraging AI to drive industrial transformation, innovation and development.