Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Following is a question by the Hon Maggie Chan and a written reply by the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, in the Legislative Council today (June 24):
Question:
The SAR (Special Administrative Region) Government is committed to developing Hong Kong into a leading international arbitration centre in the Asia-Pacific region and has been actively welcoming international and mainland arbitration institutions to establish their bases in Hong Kong. Currently, there are at least nine arbitration institutions in Hong Kong. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether the Government has provided any direct financial assistance, manpower resources or facilities to those arbitration institutions to support their daily operation in the past three years; if so, of the beneficiary institutions, forms of support and the amount involved each year; if not, the reasons for that;
(2) how the Government assesses the effectiveness of its work in promoting Hong Kong as an international arbitration centre in the past three years, and whether it has set relevant performance indicators for this purpose; and
(3) in the face of strong competition from international arbitration centres such as Singapore and London, of the Government’s medium- to long-term positioning for Hong Kong as an international arbitration hub; and of the new measures it will introduce to further encourage and consolidate Hong Kong’s status as an arbitration centre, so as to enhance its arbitration efficiency?
Reply:
President,
In response to the questions raised by the Hon Maggie Chan, the reply is as follows:
(1) Currently, all arbitration institutions in Hong Kong operate entirely independently. With the exception of eBRAM International Online Dispute Resolution Centre Limited (eBRAM), the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has not provided any direct financial assistance or human resources to support the day-to-day operations of these institutions in the past three years. These institutions primarily finance their operation through case management fees, membership fees and administrative fees to ensure their independence and neutrality.
In response to the COVID-19 Online Dispute Resolution Scheme established under the second round of the Anti-epidemic Fund, in 2020, the Government allocated $70 million to and appointed eBRAM as the service provider of the Scheme. The Scheme ended on September 30, 2023, and the mediator and arbitrator fees ($20 million) covered by the allocation were refunded to the Government upon the conclusion of the Scheme. In January 2021, the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council approved a funding of $100 million to eBRAM for the establishment of an online dispute resolution platform. According to the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Government and eBRAM, the funding has been disbursed in phases starting from 2021. As of February 2026, the Government had disbursed approximately $87 million out of the said funding to eBRAM. It is eBRAM’s aim to operate on a self-financing basis after the conclusion of the Government funding.
Regarding the provision of facilities by the Government, since November 2020, the Government has established the Hong Kong Legal Hub to provide office space for international and local legal and dispute resolution institutions. If an arbitration institution’s application as a tenant of the Legal Hub is accepted, the Government will provide corresponding office facility to support that institution to develop its services in Hong Kong, for deepening international exchanges and co-operation, creating synergies, and consolidating and enhancing Hong Kong’s unique advantages as an international legal hub.
(2) The Government has been committed to promoting Hong Kong as an international arbitration centre through various initiatives and activities. Key initiatives include:
(i) The Department of Justice (DoJ) established the Working Group on Arbitration Law Reform in October 2025. The Working Group provides advice to the DoJ on the legal framework for arbitration in Hong Kong, including reviewing and making recommendations to amend the Arbitration Ordinance, with a view to advancing the relevant legislative amendment work within 2026.
(ii) With effect from March 1, 2025, the Government regularised and refined the Pilot Scheme on Facilitation for Persons Participating in Arbitral Proceedings in Hong Kong, and renamed it to the Immigration Facilitation Scheme for Persons Participating in Arbitral Proceedings in Hong Kong (Scheme). Under the Scheme, persons in possession of a “Letter of Proof” issued by a designated arbitral and dispute resolution institution or a venue provider proving that they are eligible persons participating in arbitral proceedings seated in Hong Kong are permitted to do so as visitors without the need to obtain an employment visa. The regularised and refined Scheme expands the categories of eligible persons and covers all arbitrations physically taking place in Hong Kong, offering parties to the arbitration and legal practitioners great convenience and more choices of arbitrators, legal experts and related professionals, thus further enhancing Hong Kong’s attractiveness as a seat or destination of arbitration.
Regarding the promotion of Hong Kong’s arbitration services, the Government has been actively promoting its high-quality arbitration services through organising the Hong Kong Legal Week, co-organising with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council thematic breakout sessions on dispute resolution at the Belt and Road Summit and the Business of Intellectual Property Asia Forum, and co-organising with Vis East Moot Foundation the Vis East International Commercial Arbitration Moot.
The Government has not established a set of rigid key performance indicators for arbitration-related initiatives. The effectiveness of arbitration-related initiatives involves multiple aspects, and the actual benefits are difficult to quantify. However, international recognition can directly reflect the effectiveness of the current initiatives. For instance, in the 2025 Queen Mary University of London International Arbitration Survey, Hong Kong was selected as the most preferred arbitration seat in the Asia-Pacific region and ranked second globally alongside Singapore, fully reflecting the effectiveness of current initiatives. The Government will continue to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of current initiatives and conduct timely reviews in light of industry feedback and international developments.
(3) Faced with fierce international competition, the Government is implementing a multi-pronged approach to further consolidate Hong Kong’s leading position in arbitration and enhance arbitration efficiency. In terms of legal system and infrastructure, through the Working Group on Arbitration Law Reform established in 2025, the Government is continuously enhancing the Arbitration Ordinance, to comprehensively ensure that Hong Kong’s arbitration system responds promptly to global trends and remains at the forefront of international developments. Furthermore, the Government is planning the construction of the Hong Kong International Legal Service Building, aiming to bring together the facilities such as the headquarter of the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy and international legal and dispute resolution institutions, in order to create synergy and provide arbitration parties with more comprehensive arbitration facilities.
At the same time, through the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy and the visa policy facilitating arbitration professionals to participate in proceedings in Hong Kong, the Government is actively cultivating local talent and attracting top international talent, and strengthening co-operation with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and countries along the Belt and Road Initiative, so as to promote talent exchange and align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan in supporting Hong Kong to deepen its position as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre and to build an international hub for high-calibre talent.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Online auction of vehicle registration marks to be held from July 9 to 13 A spokesman for the TD said, “A total of 220 Ordinary VRMs will be available at this online public auction. The list of VRMs (see Annex) has been uploaded to the E-Auction website. Applicants who have paid a $1,000 deposit to reserve an Ordinary VRM for auction should also register as an E-Auction user in advance in order to participate in the online bidding, including placing the first bid at the opening price of $1,000. Otherwise, the VRMs reserved by them may be bid on by other interested bidders at or above the opening price. Auctions for VRMs with ‘HK’ or ‘XX’ as a prefix, special VRMs and personalised VRMs will continue to be carried out through physical auctions by bidding paddles and their announcement arrangements remain unchanged.”
Members of the public participating in the online bidding should take note of the following important points:
(1) Bidders should register in advance as an E-Auction user by “iAM Smart+” equipped with the digital signing function; or by using a valid digital certificate and an email address upon completion of identity verification. Registered “iAM Smart” users should provide their Hong Kong identity card number, while non-Hong Kong residents who are not “iAM Smart” users should provide the number of their passport or other identification documents when registering as E-Auction users.
(2) Bidders are required to provide a digital signature to confirm the submission and amount of the bid by using “iAM Smart+” or a valid digital certificate at the time of the first bid of each online bidding session (including setting automatic bids before the auction begins) to comply with the requirements of the Electronic Transactions Ordinance.
(3) If a bid is made in respect of a VRM within the last 10 minutes before the end of the auction, the auction end time for that particular VRM will be automatically extended by another 10 minutes, up to a maximum of 24 hours.
(4) Successful bidders must follow the instructions in the notification email issued by the TD to log in to the E-Auction within 48 hours from the issuance of email and complete the follow-up procedures, including: (5) A VRM can only be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser. Relevant information on the Certificate of Incorporation must be provided by the successful bidder in the Purchaser Information of the Memorandum of Sale if the VRM purchased is to be registered under the name of a body corporate.
(6) Successful bidders will receive a notification email around seven working days after payment has been confirmed and can download the Memorandum of Sale from the E-Auction. The purchaser must apply for the VRM to be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser within 12 months from the date of issue of the Memorandum of Sale. If the purchaser fails to do so within the 12-month period, in accordance with the statutory provision, the allocation of the VRM will be cancelled and a new allocation will be arranged by the TD without prior notice to the purchaser.
The TD has informed all applicants who have reserved Ordinary VRMs for this round of auction of the E-Auction arrangements in detail by post. Members of the public may refer to the E-Auction website or watch the tutorial videos for more information. Please call the E-Auction hotline (3583 3980) or email (e-auction-enquiry@td.gov.hkIssued at HKT 15:00
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is a question by the Hon Lam Chun-sing and a written reply by the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, in the Legislative Council today (June 24):
Question:
The Construction Industry Security of Payment Ordinance (the Ordinance) aims to improve the problem of payment delays in the construction industry and provide protection for various stakeholders to receive their entitled payment on time, thereby helping reduce the occurrence of wage arrears of workers. Regarding the implementation of the Ordinance since its commencement, will the Government inform this Council:
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ15: Promoting student mental health(i) The EDB has all along been requiring primary and secondary schools to report fatal suspected student suicide cases in order to provide appropriate professional support to the schools concerned. The numbers of fatal suspected student suicide cases of primary and secondary students in Hong Kong reported in the past three years (2023 to 2025) are tabulated below. Of the total number of cases reported, about 90 per cent were cases involving secondary students, while those involving primary students accounted for about 10 per cent. Cases involving male students accounted for about 59 per cent of the total number of cases reported, while about 41 per cent were those involving female students.
Year As indicated in relevant international and local studies, suicide (including attempted suicide) is a complicated issue influenced by the interplay of multiple factors, mainly related to interpersonal relationships (including family, social or relationship problems) and personal issues (such as learning and school adjustment, depressed mood and mental illness). Each case has its unique underlying causes.
(ii) To early identify and timely support students at higher suicidal risk, the Government has implemented, through cross-departmental collaboration among the EDB, the HHB and the SWD, the Three-tier School-based Emergency Mechanism (the Mechanism) in all secondary schools in Hong Kong since December 2023. In the 2025/26 school year, the Mechanism is regularised in all secondary schools across the territory and extended on a trial basis to Primary Four to Six. The number of cases referred by schools/ the EDB under the second-tier mechanism to the off-campus support network teams engaged by the SWD as of end-March 2026, broken down by school year, are tabulated below:
School year(since December 2023)(as of end-March 2026) Under the third-tier mechanism, school principals can directly refer students at high suicidal risk to psychiatric specialist out-patient clinics of the Hospital Authority (HA) for assessment and treatment. HA’s specialist out-patient clinics adopt a triage system to ensure that patients with urgent medical conditions requiring early intervention are given priority for follow-up and treatment.
The numbers of cases referred by school principals to HA’s psychiatric services, the percentages of such cases triaged as Priority 1 (urgent) and Priority 2 (semi-urgent), as well as the numbers of enquiry calls received through the dedicated telephone consultation hotline for school principals as of end-March 2026 are tabulated below:
School year(since December 2023)(as of end-March 2026)Note 1: Among the referral cases, the cases other than those triaged as Priority 1 (urgent) and Priority 2 (semi-urgent) were under Routine (stable) category or were already being followed up by the HA’s psychiatric services.
Note 2: The numbers of cases referred by school principals under the third-tier mechanism and the numbers of enquiry calls received through the dedicated telephone consultation hotline for school principals are provided by the psychiatric services under the HA’s hospital clusters (figures as at June 11, 2026).Issued at HKT 14:15
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ3: Assisting victims of telecommunications and online fraud cases in claiming compensation Question:
There are views pointing out that telecommunications and online fraud cases have been rampant in Hong Kong in recent years, with fraudulent SMS messages and bogus advertisements on social media platforms proliferating over a long period of time, and the modus operandi of fraudsters are ever-changing, many members of the public have suffered substantial financial losses as a result, and often faced costly and complicated civil proceedings when pursuing the relevant compensation, making it difficult for them to be successful in their claims. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether it will study the formulation of a unified and streamlined civil asset recovery procedure for telecommunications and online fraud cases, so as to reduce the costs for victims in pursuing compensation;
(2) whether it will, by drawing on the experience of other jurisdictions, enact legislation to stipulate the legal obligations of telecommunications operators and social media platforms in telecommunications and online fraud cases (such as screening suspicious SMS messages and suspending the services of users involved in fraud), as well as the compensation liabilities to be borne; and
(3) whether it will make it mandatory for local telecommunications operators to use artificial intelligence and big data technologies to instantly intercept fraudulent bulk SMS messages and suspicious calls at the network source, and stipulate that victims of the relevant fraud cases may claim losses from telecommunications operators that have not complied with these requirements?
Reply:
President,
Given the prevalence of telecommunications services and online communications (including social media and instant messaging applications), it has become a global trend where fraudsters conduct fraudulent activities through telephone and online communications. Given Hong Kong’s status as a regional communications hub, the Government attaches great importance to the integrity and effectiveness of Hong Kong’s telecommunications system. Drawing on the experience of other jurisdictions and taking into account the local circumstances in Hong Kong, the Government adopts a multipronged approach to combat fraudulent activities through interdepartmental efforts. According to the figures provided by the Hong Kong Police Force (Police), although around 43 000 fraud cases were recorded in 2025, this represents a slight decrease of about 3 per cent as compared to the number of 2024. This marked the first decline since the number of fraud cases had been rising year on year since 2019, whilst the financial losses fell from approximately $9.2 billion to approximately $8.1 billion, a decrease of about 11 per cent, demonstrating the effectiveness of the anti-fraud efforts made by various government departments. Regarding the regulation of telecommunications service providers (TSPs), the Communications Authority (CA) is empowered under the Telecommunications Ordinance (Cap. 106) (TO) to regulate TSPs. In addition to the regulatory requirements stipulated under the TO, the CA also reviews and updates the licence conditions and codes of practice from time to time in light of market developments and the latest fraud trends provided by the Police, ensuring that the regulatory regime of TSPs can keep pace with the times. TSPs are required to comply with the relevant statutory requirements, licence conditions, and codes of practice. The CA may impose penalties pursuant to the TO in the event of any breach of licence conditions by TSPs.
In response to the question raised by the Hon Chong Ho-fung, and in consultation with the Security Bureau, the Police, the Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA) and the Judiciary, the consolidated reply is as follows:
Firstly, regarding blocking suspicious calls and websites at source, the CA pursuant to the TO added provisions to the licences of TSPs in 2022 to clearly require that TSPs must promptly block or suspend telephone services and websites suspected of being involved in fraudulent activities in accordance with requests from law enforcement agencies. In this regard, the Police and TSPs have also established a mechanism, and as of end-May this year, TSPs have blocked or suspended more than 110 000 websites and more than 14 000 phone numbers based on information provided by the Police.
Secondly, regarding the detection of suspicious calling or SMS-sending patterns, the CA promulgated a code of practice in April 2023 to require TSPs to monitor calls and SMS messages originated from their networks and systems. Once a TSP has detected that the telephone number has made a large number of calls or sent a large number of SMS messages within a short period of time, the TSP must suspend the services of the relevant local telephone number. Currently, TSPs are deploying various technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and big data for monitoring. As of end-May this year, the services of around 1.59 million local telephone numbers have been suspended accordingly.
Thirdly, to minimise the losses incurred by victims, the Police, together with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the banking industry, have launched a number of joint anti-fraud measures, including the “Upstream Scam Intervention” scheme in May 2023 to proactively identify targeted scam victims and persuade them to stop transferring money to scammers. From the implementation of the scheme to March 2026, the Police successfully prevented 7 987 fraud cases, averting losses of over $780 million. The Police also launched new features for Scameter+ in October 2025, including automatic user database updates and expanded reporting categories covering SMS and instant messaging applications. New AI technology was also introduced to analyse suspicious website links and webpage screenshots reported by the public to detect the impersonation of banks, couriers, investment platforms, etc. Once confirmed as malicious, these websites are instantly added to the database of Scameter+ to block access for all users.
Regarding civil proceedings to recover the loss (including those arising from telephone and online scams), depending on the amount involved, citizens may bring the case before the Small Claims Tribunal (SCT), the District Court or the Court of First Instance of the High Court. The SCT adopts a generally less formal approach to proceedings, providing a relatively quick and inexpensive avenue for litigants-in-person (without legal representatives) to resolve civil disputes involving lower claim amounts. The Judiciary has always been proactive in expediting court proceedings and most civil proceedings at various court level have been meeting the respective target of waiting time over the past few years. The arrangement of requiring commercial entities (such as TSPs and banks), in their capacity as service providers, to compensate fraud victims (i.e. shared liability compensation) is not common in other jurisdictions. Such arrangement involves various complex issues, including how to determine liability for losses arising from the fraud, whether it would reduce public vigilance against fraud, and whether it would hinder normal business operations. The compensation process may also be lengthy, and the eligibility criteria for compensation are not straightforward. For example, compensation claims must undergo thorough investigation, and if a TSP can demonstrate that it has fulfilled its customer due diligence obligations, it would not be required to compensate the fraud victim. Moreover, there are currently no concrete figures demonstrating the effectiveness of such shared liability compensation arrangement. In fact, as reflected in the statistics I have just shared, we consider that the concerted efforts of various government departments and TSPs, to combat fraud through the collaboration among the Government, business sector and the public have been effective to a certain extent. The Government will continue to closely monitor fraud trends and tactics, draw on experience of other jurisdictions, and strengthen measures to combat telephone and online scams, with a view to safeguarding public interests. Issued at HKT 12:58
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Following is a question by Dr the Hon Hoey Simon Lee and a reply by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, in the Legislative Council today (June 24):
Question:
There are views pointing out that the transformation of the energy structure is the foundation for Hong Kong’s economic transformation and industrial upgrading, helps nurture new economic growth points, and that enhancing regional co-operation is an integral part of this process. Moreover, Hong Kong’s Climate Action Plan 2050 proposes increasing the share of zero-carbon energy in the fuel mix for electricity generation to around 60 per cent to 70 per cent before 2035, and the Government has indicated that it will try out the use of new energy and enhance co-operation with neighbouring regions. Regarding the enhancement of regional co-operation to promote the transformation of the energy structure, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) as it is learnt that, to meet Hong Kong’s future demand for zero-carbon energy, the Government keeps planning ahead for the construction of electricity facilities to receive and process increased electricity transmitted to Hong Kong from other regions, whether the Government has engaged in regional co-operation with relevant energy departments in the Mainland and with other cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area on matters such as zero-carbon energy, cross-boundary power exchange, and the use of the country’s Green Electricity Certificates;
(2) whether it has established a collaboration mechanism with neighbouring regions for the authentication of the origin of zero-carbon energy supply, carbon emission audits, infrastructure co-ordination and regulatory standards; if so, of the details and the progress; and
(3) whether it has established a mechanism to facilitate Mainland low-carbon energy and hydrogen enterprises to invest in Hong Kong, supply products or participate in local projects, such as by enhancing regulatory information sharing between the Mainland and Hong Kong and, where risks are controllable, streamlining the approval procedures?
Reply:
President,
Based on the four energy policy objectives of safety, reliability, affordability and environmental performance, the Government progressively promotes the transition of the energy mix and reduces carbon emissions, so as to achieve the medium- and long-term goals of “net-zero electricity generation” as set out in Hong Kong’s Climate Action Plan 2050, i.e. to increase the share of zero-carbon energy to about 60-70 per cent by 2035, and achieve “net-zero electricity generation” and carbon neutrality by 2050.
Through gradually replacing coal with natural gas as fuel in electricity generation and importing more nuclear energy, carbon emissions in Hong Kong peaked in 2014, and reduced by more than a quarter in 2024 compared to the peak level. Currently, Hong Kong’s overall fuel mix of electricity generation comprises less than 20 per cent of coal, about 28 per cent of zero-carbon energy (including nuclear energy and renewable energy), and over 50 per cent of natural gas.
In response to the question raised by Dr the Hon Hoey Simon Lee, our reply is as follows:
(1) and (2) Hong Kong is a mountainous and small city, which limits the development of nuclear, hydro, solar and wind energy. Nevertheless, Hong Kong has brought the share of nuclear energy in the fuel mix to the current level of nearly 30 per cent by importation of energy. Increasing the importation of zero-carbon energy will help stabilise electricity prices, enhance the resilience and stability of the electricity system, and facilitate the sustainable and high-quality development of the industries.
To further increase the share of zero-carbon energy in the fuel mix of electricity generation, the Government will focus on strengthening regional energy co-operation for importing more zero-carbon energy from the Chinese Mainland in an orderly manner.
Currently, CLP Power Hong Kong Limited imports zero-carbon energy through its Clean Energy Transmission System (CETS) connected to the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station and the power network of the China Southern Power Grid. With the enhancement of the CETS completed in March 2026, Hong Kong will be able to gradually raise the share of zero-carbon energy in the fuel mix of electricity generation to about 35 per cent.
Meanwhile, the Government is making forward-looking plans to deepen regional energy co-operation and to actively align with our country’s efforts to accelerate the development of a new type of energy system, with a view to achieving the long-term goals of “net-zero electricity generation” and carbon neutrality. The major work includes:
Aligning with the national policy by importation of diversified zero-carbon energy: The 15th Five-Year Plan clearly states the requirement of accelerating the comprehensive green transition for the economy and the society, and upholding the development of multiple energy sources such as wind, solar, hydro and nuclear energy. The First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030) Public Consultation Document also puts forward the objectives of green and low-carbon transition, as well as ceasing the use of coal for daily electricity generation progressively. The Government will endeavour to implement the abovementioned strategy to import diversified zero-carbon energy from the Chinese Mainland, with a view to enhancing the resilience of local electricity supply while stabilising electricity prices.
Continuously planning infrastructure and facilities for transmitting electricity to Hong Kong: To further enhance the capacity for receiving zero-carbon energy, the Government has reserved land in Tseung Kwan O Area 132 for the construction of strategic electricity facilities. Relevant government departments and the two power companies are discussing the plan to implement the relevant project.
Establishing collaboration mechanism with relevant Chinese Mainland counterparts: We are liaising closely with the relevant Chinese Mainland counterparts to discuss a collaboration mechanism for promoting regional energy co-operation, and to jointly explore options of transmitting electricity to Hong Kong that best serve its overall interests. Since the electricity transmission proposal is still under discussion, the Government will make an announcement at an appropriate juncture.
Furthermore, the country has made considerable progress in terms of the source certification of renewable energy supply and carbon emissions accounting. China’s Green Electricity Certificates (GECs), issued by the National Energy Administration (NEA), are the valid proof of the renewable energy attributes (such as solar, hydro and wind energy). Each GEC unit corresponds to 1 000 kilowatt hours of electricity generated by renewable energy and is valid for two years. To ensure that GECs would not be double-counted, the NEA updates relevant information in real time and simultaneously with various trading platforms through the National GEC Issuing and Trading System in order to record and store data related to the issuance, trading, and write-off of GECs.
As for carbon emissions accounting, it is a mechanism for calculating greenhouse gas emissions in a uniform manner. The country’s 15th Five-Year Plan also sets out work such as formulating the rules and standards for carbon footprint accounting of products, and promoting international mutual recognition of the rules and standards on carbon footprint.
Hong Kong is also actively exploring relevant initiatives to promote the GEC development within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Looking ahead, the Government will examine the ways to support national energy-related enterprises and the GEC market to expand application scenarios in the international market, thereby putting green energy transition into practice on multiple fronts.
(3) The Government set up the Inter-departmental Working Group on Using Hydrogen as Fuel in 2022 to co-ordinate preparation works of bureaux and departments for using hydrogen as fuel locally, with a view to encouraging local application of hydrogen energy. The Working Group reviews applications of trial projects on hydrogen as fuel, advises on aspects such as safety and planning, and facilitates hydrogen energy enterprises to commence their hydrogen energy trials. The Working Group has given an agreement-in-principle to a total of 40 applications of hydrogen energy trial projects, a number of which have adopted the products and technologies from the Chinese Mainland.
Besides, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department and the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) signed the Cooperation Arrangement on Quality and Safety Management in December 2024 to formally establish a co-operation framework that covers five domains, namely, standard metering and conformity assessment, gas-related special equipment, machinery such as hydrogen-powered pressure vessels, household products, and energy efficiency labelling. There has been substantive progress, including:
facilitating the application of a number of national standards in Hong Kong, thus laying the foundation for the recognition of Chinese Mainland’s technical guidelines on hydrogen energy and related products in Hong Kong;
designating hydrogen energy as a pilot area for deepened co-operation, with joint efforts on formulating national and international standards;
promoting the application in Hong Kong of safety monitoring platforms for hydrogen energy equipment independently developed in the Chinese Mainland, with a view to enhancing the safety regulatory standards of hydrogen-powered facilities in both Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland; and
exploring data sharing and mutual recognition of hydrogen pressure vessel approvals between Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland in order to streamline the cross-boundary approval process, provided that the risks are manageable.
The SAMR indicated clearly, at the International Hydrogen Development Symposium 2026 held in Hong Kong in May 2026, that further deepening of co-operation between the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong (i.e. from “joining hands in pilot projects” to “joint system development”) would be promoted in the next stage of collaboration.
The Government will continue to deepen co-operation with the Chinese Mainland in the areas of low-carbon energy and hydrogen, and by leveraging the unique advantage of connectivity with the Chinese Mainland and the world, provide relevant enterprises with financing support and services for the alignment with international standards, thus enabling their technology and products to go global.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is a question by the Hon Steven Ho and a reply by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, in the Legislative Council today (June 24):
Question:
The Government has been actively promoting the application of innovation and technology in recent years, yet there are views pointing out that there is a significant gap between Hong Kong and the Mainland in terms of the level of application of unmanned cleansing technologies. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the use of innovative cleansing technologies by the Government in the past five years; with a breakdown by: (i) date of introduction, (ii) duration of testing, (iii) scope of application, (iv) expenditure involved, and (v) manpower and expenditure saved following the use of such technologies;
(2) some members of the sector have relayed that automated cleaning equipment, such as unmanned sweepers, may require supporting infrastructure such as charging facilities and network base stations which involve lengthy interdepartmental vetting and approval processes, whereas the duration of most existing government outsourcing contracts is just three years, making it difficult to recover the costs; whether the Government will consider extending the contract duration or directly providing the infrastructure, and setting up an interdepartmental coordination task force to establish a one-stop green lane for vetting and approving recognized new technologies; and
(3) as it is learnt that currently, street cleansing service tenders are subject to minimum staffing requirements, and some members of the sector have relayed that this will lead to high manpower costs, which will in effect discourage bidders from introducing technologies; whether the Government will consider adopting an output-based or performance-based model for tender evaluations, and suitably relaxing or abolishing the minimum staffing requirements for such service tenders?
Reply:
President,
Various government departments have applied innovative cleansing technologies. In respect of public cleansing services, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has actively introduced innovative technologies, including unmanned cleansing technologies, to enhance the efficiency and quality of street cleansing work and to safeguard the occupational safety and health protection for staff. In response to the question raised by the Hon Steven Ho, the reply is as follows:
(1) Over the past five years, the FEHD has introduced or applied the following cleansing technologies:
Pressure washer surface cleaners
Since 2018, the FEHD has tested mini street washing vehicles equipped with high pressure hot water cleaners and pressure washer surface cleaners. The pressure washer surface cleaners can quickly remove stubborn stains, streamline manual scrubbing work, save time and energy, and reduce disturbances to pedestrians. The FEHD has now deployed the mini street washing vehicles across the territory, in areas of high footfall and frequent activities and are easily fouled. As the use of pressure washer surface cleaners has been incorporated into street cleansing service contracts and is provided by contractors, the associated procurement and operating costs are subsumed under the overall contract value, and the FEHD does not maintain separate expenditure figures.
Autonomous street cleaning robots
Since last year, the FEHD has been testing the use of autonomous street cleaning robots for street cleansing, at a cost of about HK$580,000. These robots integrate multiple functions, including automated sweeping, refuse disposal, charging, and intelligent obstacle avoidance, making them particularly suited to broad, flat pavements and waterfront areas. As the initial trial results were satisfactory, the FEHD has commissioned the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) to procure two additional robots, with the next phase of trials expected by the end of this year.
Industrial grade robot dogs
Since last year, the FEHD has been testing the use of industrial grade robot dogs to assist in transporting refuse at remote and rural locations (such as hillside paths, slopes, and stairways), at a cost of about HK$670,000. The robot dogs can navigate slopes and autonomously traverse rugged terrain, improving the efficiency of refuse transport and reducing the risk of injury to workers from heavy lifting. The FEHD is actively exploring the addition of functions such as automatic navigation and full automation, so that the robot dogs can better meet practical operational needs.
Electrically-assisted trolleys
To reduce the physical burden on frontline workers when transporting refuse and other heavy loads, the FEHD has been testing the use of electrically-assisted trolleys since last year, at a cost of about HK$220,000. The trolleys are foldable and suitable for use on pavements. The FEHD has further optimised the functions of the trolleys and is conducting field trials, strengthening the occupational safety and health protection for staff.
Except for the pressure washer surface cleaners, the above three technologies remain at the trial stage, and the FEHD is not yet able to estimate the resources that may be saved. Any manpower and resources saved in future will be flexibly redeployed on a priority basis to other environmental hygiene duties. First, the FEHD has been proactively collaborating with the EMSD and other departments to conduct market research and arrange field trials for suitable projects to assess their operating conditions and effectiveness. Taking autonomous street cleaning robots as an example, the FEHD also assessed the supporting infrastructure and operational requirements required, such as charging stations, etc, during the trial phase. Should the FEHD decides to incorporate the use of such robots into future street cleansing service contracts, it will first assess whether the supporting infrastructure is sufficient and how much additional resources contractors would need to invest, to ensure that the contract duration and terms are reasonable and practicable and the services are cost‑effective.
On the other hand, in line with the government procurement principles to support innovation, the FEHD encourages tenderers to propose feasible innovative solutions beyond the basic requirements stipulated in contracts. In the assessment of street cleansing service tenders, marks will be awarded under that criterion if tenderers provide innovative suggestions for adopting technology or other means that help enhance service efficiency, effectiveness or productivity, thereby incentivising tenderers to introduce innovative technologies. Where a contractor submits an innovative proposal in its tender and is successfully awarded the contract, the FEHD will require the contractor to implement the proposal. If the innovative proposal is proven feasible and effective, the FEHD will incorporate such technologies or equipment into future contract requirements to promote wider adoption. Vehicles equipped with automatic on-board refuse bin cleaner, which are widely used by the the FEHD’s contractors at present, were introduced and put into application through this approach.
In determining contract duration, a range of factors must be carefully balanced, including the need to maintain market competition, service stability, and the upfront capital investment required of contractors. In accordance with prevailing government procurement guidelines, for services like street cleansing which involve the employment of a large number of non-skilled workers, the FEHD generally sets a contract term of three years. For certain contracts where contractors require a longer period to recoup their investment, such as those involving a substantial number of specialised vehicles, the contract term would be set at five years.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ11: Management of stablecoins Question:
There are views that as an emerging digital financial instrument, the widespread use of stablecoins will deal potential blows to the liquidity of the traditional banking system and involve multiple risks such as cross-boundary capital flows and the protection of retail investors. As such, robust risk management and cross-boundary precautionary mechanisms are the key bottom lines of maintaining the resilience of Hong Kong’s financial system and safeguarding national financial security. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) in view of the potential impact of the widespread use of licensed stablecoins in the local market, whether the authorities have assessed if such developments will lead to a significant outflow of capital from the traditional banking system (i.e. “financial disintermediation”), thereby dealing blows to the deposit and lending base of Hong Kong’s banks, their liquidity ratios and the stability of the financial system; if an assessment has been made, of the specific measures put in place by the authorities to guard against such risks and the details of these measures; if not, whether an assessment will be made;
(2) given the current complex geopolitical environment, whether the authorities have any long-term plans to establish more resilient cross-boundary stablecoin payment channels, and to safeguard the security of cross-boundary physical trade under the Belt and Road Initiative by enhancing settlement speeds and reducing currency exchange costs, thereby deepening the synergies between “digital Renminbi and Hong Kong stablecoins”; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(3) as it is learnt that at present, retail investors can still easily access and trade offshore fiat-referenced stablecoins not licensed by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority through various channels, of the specific means of enforcement and cross-boundary regulatory collaboration mechanisms put in place by the authorities to combat and prohibit unlicensed institutions or platforms from carrying out promotional, marketing or soliciting activities locally to members of the public; if so, the progress of the relevant work; if not, the reasons for that; apart from existing promotional measures, whether the authorities have plans to step up public education to prevent members of the public from inadvertently falling into stablecoin investment traps; if so, the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
The Stablecoins Ordinance (Cap. 656) (the Ordinance), which came into effect in August 2025, has established a regulatory regime for stablecoin issuers, with a view to fostering Hong Kong’s monetary and financial stability, protecting stablecoin users, as well as encouraging financial innovation to support real economic activities and financial market developments. Subsequently, in April 2026, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) granted stablecoin issuer licenses to two institutions with banking background. Based on the current business plans of those two institutions, regulated stablecoins in Hong Kong are expected to be launched between the middle and the second half of this year.
The Government and financial regulators will continue to be guided by the risk-based principle of “same activity, same risks, same regulation”, and continue to monitor the market and take appropriate enforcement actions as necessary under the regulatory framework established by the relevant legislation, including the Ordinance and the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (AMLO). The goal is to ensure that stablecoin-related activities are conducted in an orderly manner in Hong Kong, thereby maintaining financial stability and protecting users. We also actively carry out relevant publicity and public education work to deepen the understanding of stablecoins and the Ordinance among both the public and the industry.
Having consulted the HKMA and the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), the reply to the three parts of the question is as follows:
(1) In formulating the regulatory regime, the HKMA has thoroughly considered the potential risks that stablecoins may pose to the financial system, and has set out clear requirements for licensed stablecoin issuers to implement relevant risk management measures, including holding reserve assets in the form of eligible assets such as bank deposits as well as high-quality and highly liquid debt securities, and placing these eligible assets with banks in Hong Kong. If needed, the HKMA may impose additional regulatory requirements on licensees depending on the situation to ensure financial stability.
Upon the launch of regulated stablecoins, the HKMA will carry out effective ongoing supervision to ensure the licensees’ compliance with relevant regulatory requirements. Meanwhile, the HKMA will closely monitor the operations of the licensees, continuously assessing the impact of stablecoin issuance and circulation on Hong Kong’s financial system.
Furthermore, relevant international organisations (such as the Bank for International Settlements) are conducting further studies on the impact of the widespread use of stablecoins on the traditional banking system. The HKMA is actively participating in these studies to ensure that the risk management under Hong Kong’s regulatory regime aligns with international standards.
(2) The HKMA has been testing out various emerging payment options through pilot projects, including central bank digital currency networks, tokenised deposits, and the interlinkage of fast payment systems across different jurisdictions. The two licensed stablecoin issuers are also actively involved in such testing. Each of these payment options has its own merits, and their growth potential will be largely determined by market demand across different use cases.
The HKMA will continue to maintain close communication with the two licensed stablecoin issuers and encourage them to further explore the synergies and connectivity of regulated stablecoins with other emerging payment options, with a view to creating value for real economic and financial activities.
(3) Currently, the Ordinance stipulates that only regulated entities specified under the Ordinance may engage in the sale (i.e. “offering” in the Ordinance) of stablecoins to the public. Since the commencement of the Ordinance, the HKMA has issued letters to non-regulated entities operating stablecoin offering businesses in the market to explain the provisions and requirements under the law, and has kept following up as part of the HKMA’s daily work to ensure that the relevant entities have made improvements. Subject to the nature of individual cases, the HKMA may refer them to the Police or the Department of Justice for follow-up as necessary. Meanwhile, if the SFC identifies active marketing activities involving unregulated stablecoins during its monitoring of suspected unlicensed activities according to the AMLO (including instances where relevant persons actively market their services to the Hong Kong public), it will also transfer the relevant information to the HKMA for follow-up via the established information sharing mechanism.
In sum, the financial regulators safeguard users by deterring illegal or improper activities through effective market monitoring and taking appropriate actions. The financial regulators also work closely with law enforcement agencies to establish reporting mechanisms and ensure that unlawful activities are properly handled. For cases involving overseas entities actively marketing their stablecoin offering to the Hong Kong public, the HKMA can engage relevant authorities in other jurisdictions via existing regulatory co-operation mechanisms.
The public should also note that protection under the Ordinance applies only to the acquisition of regulated stablecoins through regulated entities. Individuals acquiring unregulated stablecoins via unregulated channels would have to take their own risk.
In addition, the Government and the SFC will introduce a bill to the Legislative Council this year to establish regulatory regimes for virtual asset dealing, custodian, advisory and management service providers, with a view to regulating dealing and other activities of virtual assets (including stablecoins) involving different modes of operation in a more comprehensive manner.
On publicity and public education, the Government, together with the HKMA, the SFC and others, have been committed to deepening the understanding of the Ordinance, stablecoins and other digital assets among the public and the industry, as well as enhancing the public’s anti-fraud awareness. These efforts include publishing articles, press releases and social media posts to remind citizens to stay vigilant to the marketing of unlicensed stablecoins, as well as to reiterate that stablecoins are not an investment or speculative instrument, but a type of blockchain-based payment means. In response to the abrupt market movements linked to the stablecoin concept earlier, financial regulators have also urged the public to exercise caution, conduct thorough analysis of the relevant information, and refrain from making irrational investment decisions based solely on market hype or price momentum. Furthermore, through television interviews and speeches delivered at forums, the SFC has increased public awareness of the risks of engaging in virtual asset-related transactions with entities not licensed by the SFC, such as the fact that such unregulated entities carry high potential risks, including a lack of transparency, potentially unstable operations, and the lack of investor protection.
The Government and the financial regulators will continue to step up relevant publicity and public education efforts, and will publish updated lists of licensed stablecoin issuers and other specified regulated entities on the websites of the financial regulators, with a view to helping the public make informed decisions. Issued at HKT 12:33
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ12: Control of illegal feeding of feral pigeons Question:
The Wild Animals Protection (Amendment) Ordinance 2024 (the Amendment Ordinance), which came into operation on August 1, 2024, has expanded the prohibition on feeding wild animals to cover feral pigeons. According to the information on the Estimates of Expenditure 2026-2027 provided by the authorities in reply to my question, the preliminary findings of the next phase of the territory-wide feral pigeon population surveys are expected to be available in the second quarter of this year. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the detailed findings of the latest feral pigeon population surveys; if the relevant statistics are not yet available, of the reasons for that;
(2) whether the authorities have formulated any objective standards for assessing if the control of feral pigeons and the enforcement work against the illegal feeding of feral pigeons have achieved satisfactory effects; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(3) of the current number and locations of illegal feral pigeon feeding blackspots in the 18 districts of Hong Kong; whether the current numbers of such blackspots and locations have dropped when compared with those before the measure to prohibit the feeding of feral pigeons came into operation;
(4) as it has been reported that the Government has commenced the trial use of a monitoring system equipped with AI technology to identify feral pigeon congregation spots and illegal feeding behaviour, and will study the application of the system and related technologies to other illegal feeding blackspots, of the relevant implementation progress and outcome;
(5) as it has been reported that the number of fixed penalty notices issued by the authorities during inspections and enforcement operations is on the low side, whether the authorities have encountered any difficulties in law enforcement; if so, whether they have formulated any response plans; and
(6) given that according to the information on the Estimates of Expenditure 2026-2027 provided by the authorities in reply to my question, the feral pigeon population in Hong Kong declined during the initial commencement of the Amendment Ordinance, and as pointed out by the authorities, the problems concerning the feral pigeon population and the nuisance caused by them will probably show some improvement after the foraging habits of feral pigeons are restored to their natural state, whether the authorities have analysed if the decline in the feral pigeon population is attributable to the return of some feral pigeons to the natural environment for foraging; whether the authorities will introduce other ancillary measures to further guide feral pigeons to return to their natural habitats?
Reply:
President,
The Government has been adopting a multi-pronged approach to address illegal feeding of feral pigeons, including the passage of the Wild Animals Protection (Amendment) Ordinance 2024 (Amendment Ordinance) which expands the prohibition on feeding of wild animals to cover feral pigeons and thus increases the maximum penalty for illegal feeding to a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for one year, and introducing a fixed penalty of $5,000, so as to step up efforts in combatting illegal feeding activities. Also, the Government has enhanced the publicity and education initiatives to remind the public not to feed feral pigeons.
In addition, the Amendment Ordinance expanded the scope of the Government’s enforcement officers to include appointed officers from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) and the Housing Department (HD), in addition to existing officers of the Agricultural, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) and police officers, to enhance effectiveness of law enforcement.
The AFCD, in collaboration with the FEHD, the LCSD and the HD, has established the Inter-departmental Working Group on Feeding Ban Enforcement to review and enhance the enforcement strategies and implementation of the feeding ban through regular meetings. By adopting a risk-based enforcement strategy, relevant departments will conduct routine patrols and enforcement under their managed venues or public places, and arrange special patrols and enforcement operations based on intelligence and reports.
The reply to the various parts of the question raised by the Hon Cheung Pui-kong is as follows:
(1) to (3) Since the Amendment Ordinance came into effect on August 1, 2024, the AFCD has been commissioning consultants to conduct territory-wide feral pigeon population surveys regularly, covering about 140 survey points. Results of the surveys are tabulated as follows:
Year/Quarter* Aside from the aforementioned surveys, the AFCD have also listed 42 locations across all districts as monitoring points of feral pigeon congregation for indicative reference to objectively assess the situation. The distribution of the monitoring points is tabulated as follows:
District At the initial period of the Amendment Ordinance being effective, only less than 40 per cent of the 42 monitoring points recorded low levels of feral pigeon congregations (i.e. fewer than 10). However, according to the on-site inspection conducted in April 2026, more than 60 per cent of the monitoring points had low feral pigeon numbers, and their overall hygiene conditions were generally satisfactory, demonstrating satisfactory effectiveness of combatting measures against illegal feeding activities.
The AFCD will continue to work closely with relevant departments to regularly review the latest conditions at all monitoring points of feral pigeon congregations, and will adjust management strategies and strengthen enforcement efforts as necessary to combat illegal feeding activities.
(4) The AFCD has been stepping up the application of technology to curb illegal feeding activities. Since September 2025, the Department has piloted a monitoring system equipped with AI technology to identify feral pigeon congregations and illegal feeding, collecting information to enhance enforcement effectiveness. The pilot trial is being carried out at the feeding black spot near the Hang Hau MTR Station. In the fourth quarter of 2025, the Department was able to arrange enforcement operations using information gathered by the system and issued Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) to two persons for illegal feeding of feral pigeons. In March 2026, the Department further extended the monitoring system to selected private premises affected by feral pigeons in the Southern District and Sai Kung District. The Department is also piloting AI patrol robot at designated location. The robot is capable of self-moving remotely and equipped with broadcasting function, helping to reinforce publicity on feeding bans in surrounding areas. The AFCD will continue to review the effectiveness of technology application in combatting illegal feeding activities, make adjustments or extend relevant measures further as appropriate.
(5) Illegal feeding of feral pigeons is often carried out covertly, with varying times, locations and methods. To strengthen law enforcement effectiveness, the Government has adopted a multi-pronged strategy, including conducting targeted inspections at specific feeding blackspots, enhancing interdepartmental collaboration, utilising technology to assist evidence collection, as well as complementing with publicity and education to raise public awareness of compliance with the law. From the commencement of the Amendment Ordinance in August 2024 to May 2026, the relevant departments issued a total of 289 FPNs for illegal feeding of feral pigeons.
(6) Human feeding of feral pigeons will disrupt their foraging and behavioral patterns, weaken their survival abilities, resulting in overpopulation and ecological imbalance, as well as potentially increasing the risk of disease transmission. Feral pigeons do not need to rely on human feeding, and stopping such practices helps restore the natural ecological balance by allowing feral pigeons to return to their natural habitat. According to AFCD’s survey data, illegal feeding activities and feral pigeon congregation situations have improved since the Amendment Ordinance came into effect. Enforcement actions and monitoring will continue. Issued at HKT 12:25
The Bureau of Industrial Parks (BIP), Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) announced on April 22 that its Tainan Branch has actively supported industrial upgrading through smart technologies. Through dedicated guidance, Chia Yi Steel Co., Ltd., located in the Minxiong Industrial Park, successfully implemented an AI-powered management system. By integrating digital supply chain connectivity and intelligent melting process analytics, the company increased its product yield rate from 85% to 95%, improved Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) from 55% to 77%, and reduced electricity consumption by approximately 1.04 million kWh. These improvements translated into production cost savings of approximately NT$52 million, demonstrating the tangible benefits of smart manufacturing and net-zero transformation for traditional industries.
BIP has been actively promoting the “Industrial Park Smart Technology Value-Added Innovation and Cross-Domain Development Program,” assisting enterprises within industrial parks in adopting digital tools and smart applications. Through technical support provided by the Metal Industries Research&Development Centre (MIRDC), Chia Yi Steel Co., Ltd. successfully prepared and secured a subsidy of NT$16 million under the MOEA’s “Smart Machinery-Digital Supply Chain Integration and AI Applications for Industrial Clusters” Program administered by the Industrial Development Administration (IDA). Through AI implementation and information integration with supply chain partners, the project has accelerated the transformation of the entire supply chain toward smart manufacturing.
According to BIP, Chia Yi Steel Co., Ltd.’s successful transformation demonstrates that traditional industries can significantly enhance productivity, reduce energy consumption and operating costs, and strengthen international competitiveness through the effective adoption of AI-enabled technologies. Amid rapidly changing global markets and increasing customer demands for flexible production, stable quality, and efficient delivery schedules, AI applications have become a critical enabler for overcoming production bottlenecks and enhancing operational resilience.
The company’s transformation centered on building a next-generation smart production line. By introducing an AI management system-often regarded as the “digital brain” of a factory-Chia Yi Steel improved manufacturing processes that previously relied heavily on human experience and judgment. Through real-time data monitoring, intelligent melting analysis, and predictive process control, the company further enhanced operational stability and product quality. In addition, Chia Yi Steel established a comprehensive production and operational big-data platform, enabling management personnel to make data-driven decisions regarding workforce allocation, inventory management, and production scheduling. This has laid the foundation for predictive maintenance and early quality anomaly detection, significantly reducing the risk of product defects.
This year, Chia Yi Steel Co., Ltd. was invited to participate in the Net Zero City Expo, where it showcased its AI-driven smart manufacturing achievements and collaborated with five upstream and downstream supply chain partners to promote a new model of green net-zero supply chain development. Looking ahead, BIP will continue to facilitate the adoption of smart technologies within industrial parks through cross-sector collaboration and technical guidance, helping more traditional industries seize AI transformation opportunities and enhance their global competitiveness.
Spokesman: Mr. Liu Chi-Chuan (Deputy Director General, BIP)
Contact Number: 886-7-3613349, 0911363680
Email: lcc12@bip.gov.tw
Contact Person: Kuo, Chung-Wen Deputy Director of Tainan Branch, BIP)
Contact Number: 886-6-3842980 ext.6312
Email: kuo1224@bip.gov.tw