Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Bus services to be enhanced amid ferry service adjustments on September 30 and October 3Central – Mui Wo
September 30 (Tuesday)Central – Peng Chau
September 30 (Tuesday)Peng Chau – Hei Ling Chau (special sailing)
September 30 (Tuesday)Central – Yung Shue Wan
September 30 (Tuesday)Central – Sok Kwu Wan
October 3 (Friday)Central – Ma Wan
September 30 (Tuesday)(2) Bus services to be enhanced
During the affected periods, operators will enhance bus services in Mui Wo, Ma Wan and Discovery Bay to ease passenger flow:
Details of the above outlying island ferry service adjustments and special bus service arrangements are set out in the Annex.
(3) In-harbour ferries’ temporary service adjustmentsIssued at HKT 16:00
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Chief Executive in Council approves financial arrangements for Smart and Green Mass Transit System in Kai Tak
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Chief Executive in Council approves financial arrangements for Smart and Green Mass Transit System in Kai TakIssued at HKT 16:00
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Draft Ho Chung Outline Zoning Plan approved
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Draft Ho Chung Outline Zoning Plan approved
The approved OZP has incorporated amendments shown on the draft Ho Chung OZP No. S/SK-HC/12, which mainly involve (i) rezoning a site in Wang Che from “Conservation Area” to “Village Type Development”; (ii) rezoning a site comprising two land parcels at Ho Chung North Road from “Residential (Group D)”, “Residential (Group E)” (“R(E)”) and area shown as ‘Road’ to “Residential (Group C) 3” (“R(C)3”); (iii) rezoning a site at Wo Mei Hung Min Road from “Green Belt” (“GB”) to “R(C)4”; (iv) rezoning a site at Ho Chung Road from “R(E)” and “GB” to “Government, Institution or Community”; and (v) various zoning amendments to reflect the latest planned and as-built developments/road alignments.
Copies of the approved OZP are available for sale at the Map Publications Centre in North Point. The electronic version of the OZP can be viewed at the Town Planning Board’s website (www.tpb.gov.hkIssued at HKT 16:00
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Approved Clear Water Bay Peninsula North Outline Zoning Plan amended
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Approved Clear Water Bay Peninsula North Outline Zoning Plan amended
Submission of a representation should comply with the requirements set out in TPB PG-No. 29C. In particular, the representer should take note of the following:
* If the representer fails to provide his or her full name and the first four alphanumeric characters of his or her Hong Kong identity card or passport number as required under TPB PG-No. 29C, the representation submitted shall be treated as not having been made; and
* The Secretariat of the Town Planning Board reserves the right to require the representer to provide identity proof for verification.
The Guidelines and the submission form are available at the above locations (i) and (ii) and the Town Planning Board’s website (www.tpb.gov.hkIssued at HKT 16:00
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Approved Ping Shan Outline Zoning Plan amended
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Approved Ping Shan Outline Zoning Plan amended* The Secretariat of the Town Planning Board reserves the right to require the representer to provide identity proof for verification.Issued at HKT 16:00
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$3b frontier tech scheme launched
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Innovation & Technology Commission today launched a $3 billion Frontier Technology Research Support Scheme which provides funding support, on a matching basis, to eligible universities in attracting international top-notch researchers to Hong Kong and procuring facilities to conduct research projects in frontier technology fields.
The application deadline is November 25. Each successful application may receive funding support of an amount between $100 million and $300 million.
Assessment criteria include academic achievements of the leading talent and the extent of their commitment to participating in the research projects, as well as the technical excellence, originality and potential of the research projects for scientific breakthroughs in frontier technology fields. The commission expects to announce the application results in the first half of 2026.
With the help of the scheme, the Government hopes to attract international top-notch talent and strengthen the support for Hong Kong’s basic research in frontier technology fields, with a view to expanding the city’s research capacities, promoting the integrated development of education, technology and talent, as well as dovetailing with the country’s strategic planning of frontier technologies, the commission said.
For enquiries, call 3543 5904 or write to ftrss@itc.gov.hk.
MPF schemes bill approved
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Legislative Council today approved the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes (General) (Amendment) Regulation 2025, which provides the necessary legal basis for the implementation of the Phase One Proposal of Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) “Full Portability”.
The Government said it welcomed the approval and expected the Phase One Proposal to be implemented within next year.
Employees whose employment commences on or after May 1 this year (new employees) may by then transfer accrued benefits derived from employer mandatory contributions in respect of the current employment in its entire amount from a contribution account of the MPF scheme participated in by the employer to a personal account of an MPF scheme of their own choice.
They can make the transfer once every calendar year or more than once in every calendar year if the governing rules of the MPF scheme from which the accrued benefits are transferred so provide.
Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui said the Phase One Proposal will help strengthen new employees’ control over their MPF benefits, encouraging them to more proactively manage their MPF accounts and investment strategies.
“It will also help promote competition in the MPF market, and encourage trustees to continue to reduce fees, improve fund performances and enhance service quality, such that the working population’s retirement reserve will be strengthened as a result.”
Taking into account the onboarding progress of the eMPF Platform and the time required for completing all necessary administrative and other groundwork, as well as putting thorough risk control in place, the Government said it expects to implement the Phase One Proposal of “Full Portability” within next year. The exact date will be announced in the Gazette.
As regards the Phase Two Proposal benefitting employees whose employment commenced before May 1 this year, Mr Hui said the Government will commence the relevant legislative amendments within next year to shorten the lead time between the implementation of the two proposals as far as possible.
Interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements releases latest information on cross-boundary passenger traffic estimation and arrangements for National Day Golden Week of Mainland
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements releases latest information on cross-boundary passenger traffic estimation and arrangements for National Day Golden Week of Mainland
During the upcoming National Day Golden Week of the Mainland (October 1 to 8), the Immigration Department (ImmD) estimates that around 8.76 million passengers (including Hong Kong residents and visitors) will pass through Hong Kong’s sea, land and air control points. The ImmD, in consultation with the Shenzhen General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection and other Mainland authorities, estimates that around 7.52 million passengers will pass through land boundary control points. The number of outbound and inbound passengers using land boundary control points will be relatively higher on October 4 (Saturday) and October 1 (Wednesday), with around 660 000 passengers and 610 000 passengers respectively.
The ImmD estimates that the passenger traffic at the Lo Wu Control Point, the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point and the Shenzhen Bay Control Point will be heavy, with a daily average forecast of about 240 000, 220 000 and 140 000 passengers respectively.
To cope with the anticipated heavy traffic during the festive period, the ImmD has minimised leave for frontline officers for flexible deployment and the operation of extra clearance counters and kiosks.
Furthermore, the ImmD, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Customs and Excise Department and the MTR Corporation Limited will set up a joint command centre at the Lo Wu Control Point to make necessary arrangements. The ImmD will also establish close communication with Mainland authorities, including the Shenzhen General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection. To ensure a smooth passenger traffic flow, passenger conditions will be closely monitored and appropriate traffic diversion plans will be adopted when necessary.
The ImmD advises all land boundary passengers to plan in advance, avoid making their journeys during busy periods and keep track of radio and TV broadcasts on traffic conditions at various control points. Residents and visitors may also visit “Easy Boundary” (www.sb.gov.hk/eng/bwt/status.html?type=outbound
For travellers making journeys to the Mainland, the ImmD reminds them to carry their proof of identity and valid travel documents for crossing the boundary. Hong Kong residents should also check the validity of their Home Visit Permits. Non-permanent residents must carry their valid smart identity card as well as their Document of Identity for Visa Purposes or valid travel document.
Holders of the acknowledgement receipt issued due to the reported loss or replacement of their Hong Kong identity cards, or children under 11 years old who hold Hong Kong identity cards, should carry a valid travel document or Re-entry Permit.
About 700 e-Channels have been installed at various control points. To further enhance the clearance efficiency of control points and allow more Hong Kong residents to use the fast and convenient e-Channel service, the ImmD has adjusted the applicable age for e-Channel service for holders of smart identity cards. Eligible Hong Kong permanent residents aged 7 to 10 years old, who are at least 1.1 metres tall and hold a smart identity card and a valid Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Passport, can use the e-Channels without prior enrolment for self-service immigration clearance via face recognition technology at all control points. Moreover, the Contactless e-Channel service is available at all control points now. All eligible Hong Kong residents, after enrolment, can generate an encrypted QR code through the Contactless e-Channel mobile application to enter the e-Channel and then verify their identity with the facial verification technology for automated immigration clearance.
In addition, the ImmD has extended the e-Channel service to holders of a valid People’s Republic of China (PRC) electronic ordinary passport aged 11 or above and are in transit through Hong Kong to and from another country or territory. Eligible PRC passport holders can use the e-Channel service when entering Hong Kong without prior enrolment for e-Channel service via face recognition technology. Additionally, all control points have introduced self-service departures for visitors to Hong Kong (Smart Departure), which provides greater travel convenience for visitors. The service employs facial recognition technology for identity verification, which allows eligible visitors holding electronic travel documents to perform self-service departure clearance through Smart Departure e-Channels without prior enrolment.
Hong Kong residents who require assistance while travelling outside Hong Kong may call the 24-hour hotline of the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit of the ImmD at (852) 1868, call the 1868 hotline using network data or use the 1868 Chatbot via the ImmD Mobile App, send a message to 1868 WhatsApp assistance hotline or 1868 WeChat assistance hotline or submit the Online Assistance Request Form.
The interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements is tasked with holistically co-ordinating and steering the preparatory work of various government departments for welcoming visitors to Hong Kong during the National Day Golden Week of the Mainland, as well as strengthening information dissemination to enable the public and visitors to plan their itineraries according to the latest situation.
Issued at HKT 15:30
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Hong Kong Customs conducts interdepartmental anti-illicit cigarette publicity activities in Kwun Tong District (with photos)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Hong Kong Customs conducts interdepartmental anti-illicit cigarette publicity activities in Kwun Tong District Customs will continue its risk assessment and intelligence analysis for interception at source as well as through its multipronged enforcement strategy targeting storage, distribution and peddling to spare no effort in combating illicit cigarette activities. Also, Customs will strengthen publicity and education to remind the public not to take part in unlawful acts related to illicit cigarettes.
Under the DCO, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years. Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hkIssued at HKT 15:30
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FEHD releases results of annual allocation of new niches and official commissioning of Shek Mun Columbarium and Garden of Remembrance
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
FEHD releases results of annual allocation of new niches and official commissioning of Shek Mun Columbarium and Garden of RemembranceIssued at HKT 15:30
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