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Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Lands Department announced today that it will put a piece of land on Shau Kei Wan Main Street East up for sale by public tender from January 16 until February 13.

The site, located at Shau Kei Wan Inland Lot No. 860, has an area of 1,349.2 sq m and is designated for “non-industrial (excluding godown, hotel and petrol filling station)” use.

If the site is used for private residential purposes, its gross floor area will be between 7,286 sq m and 12,142 sq m.

Alternatively, if it is used for “non-industrial (excluding private residential, godown, hotel and petrol filling station)” purposes, the maximum gross floor area will be computed according to the “special condition” in the Conditions of Sale.

In any event, the gross floor area will exclude space used for the sub-base of a district elderly community centre, which will be constructed by the purchaser as Government Accommodation under the Conditions of Sale.

Land sale documents will be available for download from the Lands Department’s website from next Friday.

The sale plan will be available for inspection by the public from the same day until the close of the tender. Within the tender period, hard copies of the sale plan can also be purchased at the Lands Department’s Survey & Mapping Office at 6/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point.

The particulars of the tender will be published in the Government Gazette next Friday.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Department of Justice announced today the establishment of an “Expert Committee on Professional Services for Going Global“, which will advise it on leveraging Hong Kong’s legal and other professional services sectors in support of Chinese Mainland enterprises seeking to “go global”.

Chaired by Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan, the 13-strong committee  comprises, for a term of two years, experts from the legal, financial and accounting sectors from both the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong, as well as outstanding business and corporate representatives.

It will provide advice and assistance to better meet the needs of Chinese Mainland enterprises looking to expand overseas, and will co-ordinate with Hong Kong’s professional services sectors, including its legal, accounting and financial sectors, to support these efforts.

Mr Cheung highlighted that the Hong Kong Professional Services GoGlobal Platform, officially launched by the department on December 13 with the support of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, marks a new phase of collaborative support for Mainland enterprises going global.

The expert committee will support and promote the work of the platform by gathering strategic advice from its members.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Law Reform Commission today published Cyber-Dependent Crimes & Jurisdictional Issues, a report that recommends the introduction of new legislation to address five types of “cyber-dependent” crimes.

The Government said it welcomed the report and will conduct a thorough study of its recommendations.

The five types of “cyber-dependent” crimes identified are ones that can be committed only by using information and communications technology, namely illegally accessing programs or data, illegal interception of data, illegal interference with data, illegal interference with computer systems, and making available a device, program or data for use in committing a cyber-related crime.

The commission’s Cybercrime Sub-committee has studied current laws in Hong Kong, as well as corresponding legislation in Australia, Canada, the Chinese Mainland, New Zealand, Singapore, the US, and England and Wales.

It highlighted that, at present, different computer-related offences are covered in Hong Kong’s Crimes Ordinance and the Telecommunications Ordinance, but that some of these are outdated.

Moreover, all of the other jurisdictions studied have legislated against the five types of cyber-dependent crime identified either through bespoke cyber-crime legislation or amending parts of existing codified laws.

One of the report’s recommendations is that accessing programs or data without lawful authority should be a summary offence. It stresses that an aggravated form of the offence arises if the unauthorised access is accompanied by intent to carry out further criminal activity.

The commission also recommends that unauthorised interception of computer data carried out for dishonest or criminal purposes should be an offence. It says this would protect both private and non-private communications, and would apply to data generally.

In addition, the report proposes that both illegal interference with computer data and computer systems, and knowingly making available a device, program or data for use in committing a cyber-related crime, should be offences.

In line with international norms, it recommends that Hong Kong law should provide for the extra-territorial application of the five cyber-dependent offences proposed. It adds that Hong Kong courts should have jurisdiction in cases where connections with Hong Kong exist.

The report also advises that, as the severity of the harms caused by cyber-crime are wide-reaching, each of the proposed offences should carry a maximum sentence for summary convictions of two years’ imprisonment, and one of 14 years’ imprisonment for convictions on indictment.

For aggravated forms of Interference Offences involving danger to life – for example, interference with a railway signal system – the proposed maximum penalty is life imprisonment.

The commission said the report represents its first set of findings following the issuance of a consultation paper by its Cybercrime Sub-committee in 2022, and that responses to the paper were taken into account in formulating the recommendations contained in the report.

It added that the report adopted the guiding principle of balancing the rights of users of information and communications technology and the interests of persons in the information technology industry against the need to protect the public against being disturbed or attacked when using or operating computer systems.

In a statement, the Security Bureau said the Government will carefully consider how to follow up on the report and implement its recommendations.

The commission’s Cybercrime Sub‑committee is also conducting further research into other aspects relating to cybercrime. The Government said it will study all of the commission’s findings carefully and thoroughly with a view to formulating comprehensive legislation that addresses the challenges to public order arising from advancements in information technology.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Social workers from the Social Welfare Department (SWD) began contacting Wang Fuk Court flat owners today to gather their initial preferences for long-term rehousing arrangements.

The SWD aims to collect owner responses through its “one social worker per household” service by mid-to-late January. The data will inform the formulation and implementation of specific rehousing plans.

The Government said it has noticed diverse opinions among flat owners and within the community regarding long-term accommodation for Wang Fuk Court residents who were affected by the fire.

Some owners have indicated they prefer Government acquisition of the properties or priority access to purchase Home Ownership Scheme flats. While some residents seek local rehousing, others are open to different districts. Concerns about lengthy waiting times temper proposals for in-situ redevelopment.

“We hope to systematically and comprehensively collect Wang Fuk Court flat owners’ opinions, further listening to and summarising their preferences,” a Government spokesman said today.

“This includes identifying key principles that the Government should consider when addressing long-term accommodation arrangements and noting the flat owners’ initial preferences for different long-term rehousing options. This information will serve as a reference for the Government’s follow-up actions,” the spokesman added.

The Government said the Task Force on Emergency Accommodation Arrangements will carefully compile and study the flat owners’ preferences, as well as conduct a comprehensive assessments based on the structural safety, technical feasibility and community planning at Wang Fuk Court.

“We aim to provide affected flat owners with suggestions regarding long-term proposals as soon as possible for their consideration and decision-making,” the spokesman said.

“The Government and affected flat owners share the same objective: to implement solutions promptly and reassure them as soon as possible.”

As of today, more than 4,400 residents are staying in hotels, youth hostels/camps, transitional housing, Housing Society units or Po Tin Interim Housing in Tuen Mun.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government today published in the Gazette regulations to implement the fee and charge concessions announced in the 2025 Policy Address to support small and medium-sized enterprises.

Water and sewage charges for non-domestic accounts will be reduced by 50%, subject to a monthly ceiling of $10,000 and $5,000 respectively. Trade effluent surcharges will also be reduced by 50%.

The concessions include fee waivers for the first issue or renewal of specified licences for the agriculture and fisheries industries as well as liquor licences.

The measures, which take effect on January 15, will be valid for one year. The regulations will be tabled at the Legislative Council a day before for vetting.

The Government has waived fees for the first issue or renewal of hawker and food business licences and permits for one year through administrative means.

Click here for details of all concession measures, including the estimated number of beneficiaries and the revenue ceded.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Civil Engineering & Development Department today welcomed the Office of the Ombudsman’s commendation on the department’s efforts in implementing the Landslip Prevention & Mitigation Programme and regulating slope safety. It also accepted the Ombudsman’s recommendations.

The department’s statement came after the Ombudsman issued a report on the direct investigation into the Government’s work on landslide prevention and mitigation and management of government slopes.

In a press release, the department highlighted the notable results of its ongoing prevention and mitigation efforts: the annual average number of incidents decreased by nearly one-third, from about 300 incidents (1989-2014) to approximately 214 incidents (2015-2024).

Responding to the Ombudsman’s concerns about higher landslide rates and repeated incidents on government slopes, the department clarified that these figures stem from the way slopes are categorised by potential impact, which reflects the Government’s risk-management approach.

Government-maintained, man-made slopes are diverse and carry varied risks. They are categorized mainly by the potential for loss of life in a landslide (“relatively high”, “medium” and “relatively low” potential impacts). To ensure public safety, the Government prioritises prevention works on slopes that pose a higher risk.

Government slopes categorized with medium or relatively low potential impact categories may not receive immediate priority due to their remote locations or lower risk to human life. As such, landslides may still occur on these slopes within acceptable risk-controlled parameters.

In contrast, private man-made slopes are more uniform in nature. Most are located near private residences, where a landslide would have a significant impact on residents. Consequently, they are typically categorised as having relatively high potential impact and receive a higher level of attention.

Between 2020 and 2024, the annual landslide incident rates for both government and private man-made slopes remained below 1%, which the department stressed is a very low level.

The department added that it will continue to strengthen its overall capability in responding to landslide risks with respect to preparedness, early warning, emergency response and recovery.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Department of Health’s Centre for Health Protection today announced that the summer influenza season has concluded. With the winter flu season approaching, the centre strongly urged the public to receive the seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV).

The centre’s Controller Edwin Tsui said the latest surveillance data shows that the percentage of respiratory specimens that tested positive for seasonal influenza viruses during the most recent week was 4.08%, while the flu admission rate in public hospitals was 0.23 cases per 10,000 population.

As both indicators have dropped below the baseline levels, the centre confirmed that the summer influenza season has ended.

Hong Kong entered the summer influenza season in September last year and it lasted about four months. The predominant virus circulating during this seasonal flu season was the influenza A (H3) virus strain.

Dr Tsui said that this summer flu season has ended, meaning there was no overlap between the summer and winter influenza seasons.

Furthermore, although there are some antigenic differences between the currently circulating influenza A (H3) virus strain and the virus strain contained in the vaccine, an SIV can still offer protection against the variant strain of subclade K, as well as the influenza A (H1) and influenza B strains included in the vaccine.

As of January 4, over 1.91 million doses of the influenza vaccine were administered under various SIV programmes in the year 2025-26, representing an increase of approximately 4.4% compared with the same period in the previous flu vaccination season.

Regarding schools, vaccination rates among schoolchildren in different age groups are two to 10 percentage points higher compared to the same period last year.

Dr Tsui noted that the SIV coverage rate for children aged six months to under two years is only about 22%. Although this represents an approximate five percentage point increase compared to the same period last year, it is still much lower than that of other age groups.

Through the Primary Healthcare Commission, the centre has urged family doctors to assist in encouraging parents to arrange for their children to receive an SIV.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government today reminded members of the public that, starting from January 25, all seated passengers on public transport and in commercial vehicles must wear seat belts.

In addition, drivers of all vehicles must not place more than two mobile telecommunications devices (MTDs) in front of themselves during driving.

Under new rules, all passenger seats on public and private buses, all rear passenger seats on private light buses and goods vehicles, and all driver seats and passenger seats on special purpose vehicles must be equipped with seat belts if the vehicles are first registered on or after January 25.

Drivers and passengers occupying seats of these types of vehicles, whether newly registered or not, will be required to wear seat belts if they are provided.

Going forward, offending vehicle owners, drivers or passengers will all be liable to a maximum fine of $5,000 and imprisonment for up to three months.

The Government said that around 3,500 franchised buses are now equipped with seat belts, representing about 60% of the entire fleet in Hong Kong.

As for the MTD requirement, from January 25 drivers must have more than two devices – whether mobile phones, tablet computers or laptop computers – in front of them as they drive.

The diagonal length of individual screens must not exceed 19 cm, and MTDs must not obstruct a driver’s view of the road or of any device fitted for viewing roads.

Offenders will be liable to a maximum fine of $2,000.

Call 2804 2600 for details.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) said today that 2025 is the city’s sixth warmest year on record, while globally it is expected to rank as the second or third warmest, according to a preliminary assessment from the World Meteorological Organization.

All 12 months last year were warmer than usual in the city, with the monthly mean temperature in October setting a new record, the HKO said.

The annual mean maximum temperature of 27.1 degrees Celsius and the annual mean minimum temperature of 22.4 degrees Celsius were the fifth highest and sixth highest respectively since records began in 1884.

The lowest temperature recorded at the HKO last year was 10.6 degrees Celsius on January 27. There was a total of six cold days, 9.2 days less than the normal for the 1991-2020 period.

It was also the first time that no cold weather warning was in force in November or December since the Cold Weather Warning System began operation in 1999.

In the first half of 2025, the accumulated rainfall was 444.4mm – the fifth lowest amount on record for the period. However, from July to September, periods of heavy rain brought the total rainfall for the year to 2,558.7mm, about 5% more than the 1991-2020 normal of 2,431.2mm.

The concentrated rainfall in the July to September span contributed more than 80% of the total annual rainfall. Sixteen Red Rainstorm Warning Signals and five Black Rainstorm Warning Signals were issued, the highest annual numbers on record.

The HKO issued 14 tropical cyclone warning signals in 2025, more than double the annual long-term average of six. It was the highest annual number since 1946.

The Hurricane Signal No. 10 was issued twice in 2025 – during Typhoon Wipha in July and Super Typhoon Ragasa in September – tying the previous record in 1964, the HKO  added.