HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKSAR Government Press Releaseshttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/today.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/rss/rss_logo_en.gifHKSAR Government Press Releaseshttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/today.htmHKSAR Government - Press Releasesen-UKCopyright, HKSAR Governmentirc@isd.gov.hkThu, 05 Feb 2026 09:51:04 GMTTue, 12 Jul 2016 11:00:00 GMT<![CDATA[Missing woman in Tai Po located]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/05/P2026020500184.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/05/P2026020500184.htmThu, 05 Feb 2026 08:48:42 +0800<![CDATA[Honolulu-Hong Kong Festival fosters cultural exchanges in Hawaii (with photos)]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/05/P2026020400759.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/05/P2026020400759.htmThu, 05 Feb 2026 04:25:00 +0800
     The month-long festival, running from January 31 to March 1, opened with the outdoor street fair "Temple Street Night Market". The street fair, held at the historic Fort Street Mall, Honolulu's first retail centre, was inspired by Hong Kong's Temple Street Night Market. Modelling on its famous namesake, it featured authentic experiences from Temple Street. Over 2 500 spectators enjoyed on-stage festivities including a milk tea demonstration, a Cantopop singing performance and a Wing Chun kung fu demonstration, while also lining up for Cha Chaan Teng delicacies, mahjong tutorials, and feng shui fortune-telling.

     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco (HKETO San Francisco) hosted a booth at the night market showcasing some of Hong Kong's intangible cultural heritage items, including Cantonese opera, a lion dance, and techniques for making a cheongsam, Hong Kong-style milk tea, and egg tarts. Visitors learned about the history and culture of these traditions through fact sheets while playing a game to collect thematic souvenirs.

     Apart from cultural heritage, diverse aspects of Hong Kong, from picturesque hiking trails to the Kai Tak Sports Park, and from local flavours to home-grown Olympic medalists, were also presented via photographs and information displays.

     A series of events will follow, including Hong Kong traditional lifestyle tours in the city's Chinatown, a "Hong Kong At Your Doorstep", promotion activity featuring eateries and restaurants offering Hong Kong-style street food, and an industry-focused "Hong Kong-Greater Bay Area Export Day and Trade Fair". The festival will conclude with a spring gala marking the 30th anniversary of the Hong Kong Business Association of Hawaii (HKBAH).

     Supported by the City and County of Honolulu, the festival is organised by the HKBAH, with HKETO San Francisco as title sponsor, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council as gold sponsor, and the Honolulu Mayor's Office of Culture and the Arts and the Hong Kong Tourism Board as festival partners.

]]><![CDATA[CFS continues to follow up powdered infant formula with possible presence of Cereulide produced by Bacillus cereus]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400974.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400974.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 23:13:44 +0800
Product details are as follows (same product as announced for recall yesterday):

Product name: Aptamil Profutura DUO Pre D 800g
Brand: Aptamil
Pack size: 800 grams
Place of origin: Germany
Use-by date: April 20, 2027
Distributor: HK Wukong Trading Limited
Quantity imported and distributed: 180 cans

The CFS has found in its follow-up investigation that the above-mentioned distributor had imported and distributed 30 boxes of 180 cans of the affected product. The CFS has instructed the importer, distributor and retailer concerned to stop sales and remove from shelves the affected batch of the product concerned and to initiate a recall. Members of the public may call the distributor's hotline at 6426 1511 during office hours for enquiries about the recall.

Moreover, the CFS is also actively following up on Nestlé company's recall of a batch of Guigoz Optipro Relais 1 powdered infant formula. The CFS has immediately contacted local importer, Nestlé Hong Kong, and a preliminary investigation revealed that Nestlé Hong Kong has not imported nor sold the affected batch of the Guigoz product concerned. The CFS will continue to closely monitor the progress of the incident. Follow-up actions are ongoing.

The CFS will continue to enhance surveillance of powdered infant and young children formula and to closely monitor the recall matters and remain fully committed to ensuring food safety. The CFS has alerted the trade and relevant department over the incident, and will continue to follow up and take appropriate action.

Bacillus cereus is commonly found in the environment. Unhygienic conditions in food processing and storage may give rise to its growth. Cereulide is a heat-stable toxin produced in food by some strains of Bacillus cereus. Consuming food contaminated with excessive Bacillus cereus or its heat-stable toxins may cause gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting and diarrhoea.

The CFS urged members of the public not to let infants and young children consume the affected batch of the product, and to seek medical treatment for infants or young children who felt unwell after taking the product concerned. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected batch of the product immediately.

The CFS has established a designated webpage (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/whatsnew/powdered_formula/index.html) to facilitate public access to more information.]]><![CDATA[CHP investigates two epidemiologically linked food poisoning clusters]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400825.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400825.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 20:39:03 +0800
     The clusters involve two males and four females aged between 29 and 35. They developed diarrhoea, abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea and fever about 11 to 37 hours after having dinner at Chef's Cuts located at Shop No. 201, 2/F, Airside, 2 Concorde Road, Kai Tak, Kowloon, on January 30.

     One of the affected persons sought medical advice but did not require hospitalisation. All of the affected individuals are currently in stable condition.

     A preliminary investigation revealed that raw oyster was the food item that the affected individuals had in common at the aforementioned restaurant. Officers of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (including personnel of the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) and the Environmental Hygiene Branch) conducted an investigation and examined the handling processes and food hygiene at the restaurant. Food samples were also collected for testing. The CFS's field investigation revealed that the affected persons may have contracted food poisoning from consuming raw food. The CFS immediately instructed the premises concerned to suspend serving the incriminated food items and to carry out cleaning and disinfection of the premises. The officers have also provided health education related to food safety and environmental hygiene to the staff of the premises.

     The investigation of the CHP and the CFS is ongoing.

     To prevent foodborne diseases, members of the public are reminded to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene at all times. When dining out, one should:

Avoid eating raw seafood;
Be a discerning consumer in choosing cold dishes, including sashimi, sushi and raw oysters at a buffet;
Choose pasteurised eggs, egg products or dried egg powder for dishes that often use undercooked eggs;
Patronise only reliable and licensed restaurants;
Ensure food is thoroughly cooked before eating during a hotpot or barbecue meal;
Handle raw and cooked foods carefully and separate them completely during the cooking process;
Use two sets of chopsticks and utensils to handle raw and cooked foods;
Avoid patronising illegal food hawkers;
Drink boiled water;
Susceptible populations, including those with weakened immunity, the elderly, pregnant women and young children, are at a higher risk of foodborne diseases, so they should not consume raw or undercooked foods;
Refrain from trying to use salt, vinegar, wine or wasabi to kill bacteria as they are not effective; and
Always wash hands before eating and after going to the toilet.

]]><![CDATA[Secretary for Health meets with MCHK on amendment to Medical Registration Ordinance]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400755.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400755.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 20:03:00 +0800
As a statutory body established under the Ordinance, the MCHK regulates the medical profession in accordance with the powers conferred by legislation, including handling the registration of medical practitioners, overseeing the Licensing Examination, formulating professional codes and guidelines, and conducting disciplinary inquiries into complaints involving professional misconduct of medical practitioners. Hong Kong's medical profession has long enjoyed an esteemed reputation globally. Maintaining doctors' professional standards forms an important part of the MCHK's work. To ensure that the legislation for healthcare professions keeps pace with the times and meets societal needs and the public interest, the Government needs to review the Ordinance from time to time and propose amendments as necessary, with a view to enabling the MCHK to discharge its statutory functions more effectively, including its function in handling complaints.

Professor Lo said, "The MCHK shoulders the statutory duty of maintaining the professional standards of doctors, playing pivotal roles in ensuring doctors' professional conduct, continuously enhancing professional standards, and supporting Hong Kong's development as an international health and medical innovation hub. I am pleased to note the continual adjustments and enhancement of the MCHK's work in response to new trends in healthcare development in recent years. These include issuing ethical guidelines on the provision of services to patients through telemedicine by doctors to meet societal needs, and fully supporting the Government's policy to admit non-locally trained doctors by establishing the Special Registration Committee to assess medical qualifications from different places. To date, a total of 150 medical qualifications from different places have been recognised.

"The MCHK upholds the mission of ensuring justice, maintaining professionalism and protecting the public. Vested with independent quasi-judicial functions and powers to impose disciplinary sanctions through disciplinary proceedings on doctors whose professional standards or ethical conduct fall short of the required standards, the MCHK has a statutory responsibility and the powers to protect patients' interests. The intent behind this legislative amendment to the Ordinance is to enhance the efficiency of the MCHK's complaint handling, while maintaining professionalism and fairness, and to enhance doctors' professional standards. I am grateful to members of the MCHK for offering their valuable advice on further enhancing transparency and accountability in the work of the MCHK by drawing on their own experience participating in the work of the MCHK. The Government will consider the views received holistically in finalising the legislative proposal, including clarifying various implementation details."

The Health Bureau (HHB) noted that the MCHK recognised that handling complaints against doctors was crucial to safeguarding professional standards, and had been striving to address bottlenecks in the complaint handling process in recent years. Under the leadership of its Chairman, Professor Grace Tang, the MCHK has implemented measures since end-2024 to improve efficiency in handling complaints. These measures include taking stock of all cases pending inquiry, prioritising and expediting their handling, and co-ordinating with legal representatives and expert witnesses for better support; enhancing the complaint handling information system; and strengthening the Secretariat's monitoring of case progress to closely track the time taken at various stages of the process.

In response to public concern last year about the MCHK's investigation and disciplinary inquiry mechanism for handling complaints, the MCHK has reviewed the mechanism earlier at the request of the Secretary for Health and submitted a report to the HHB on improving the mechanism's operation to safeguard doctors' professional standards. Meanwhile, to ensure continuous enhancement of healthcare professional standards in support of Hong Kong's determination to develop into an international health and medical innovation hub, the HHB announced earlier to amend the Ordinance, having regard to the report's recommendations and the operational needs of the MCHK, targeting to introduce a bill to the Legislative Council (LegCo) in the first half of this year.

In January this year, the HHB consulted patient groups, the two local medical schools, the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine, the Hong Kong Medical Association and various medical professional associations on the amendment to the Ordinance. The HHB will brief the Panel on Health Services of the LegCo shortly on the proposed directions and enhancement proposals for the Ordinance.]]><![CDATA[CHP investigates case of invasive meningococcal infection]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400766.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400766.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 19:32:15 +0800
The case involves a 64-year-old male with underlying illnesses. He presented with redness, swelling and pain over both his calves on January 26 and developed a fever on the following day. He attended a private hospital on the same day and was admitted for treatment. His blood specimen tested positive for Neisseria meningitidis upon laboratory testing. The clinical diagnosis was meningococcaemia. He is now in a stable condition.

An initial investigation revealed that the patient had no travel history during the incubation period. His household contact has remained asymptomatic so far and has been prescribed preventive drugs. The CHP's investigation is ongoing.

Meningococcal infection is a statutory notifiable disease. The CHP has recorded one case this year so far. A total of 11 cases were recorded last year.

Meningococcal infection is caused by a bacterium known as meningococcus. It is mainly transmitted by direct contact with respiratory secretions, including droplets from the nose and throat, of infected persons. Severe illness may result when the bacteria invade the bloodstream (meningococcaemia) or the membranes that envelop the brain and spinal cord (meningococcal meningitis). Meningococcaemia is characterised by a sudden onset of fever, an intense headache, purpura, shock and even death in severe cases. Meningococcal meningitis is characterised by high fever, severe headache, stiff neck followed by drowsiness, vomiting, fear of bright light, or rash; it can cause brain damage or even death.

To prevent meningococcal infection, members of the public are advised to take the following measures:

Wash hands with liquid soap and water properly, especially when they are soiled by respiratory secretions, e.g. after sneezing, and clean hands with alcohol-based handrub when they are not visibly soiled;
Cover the nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing, hold the saliva with a tissue, dispose of nasal and mouth discharge in a lidded rubbish bin, and wash hands immediately;
Avoid crowded places;
Avoid close contact with patients who have a fever or severe headache;
Consult doctors about meningococcal vaccination before travelling to high-risk areas; and
Seek medical advice if you become ill after returning from high-risk areas, and discuss your recent travel history with your doctor.

　　
The public may visit the CHP's website for more information on meningococcal infection.]]><![CDATA[Appeal for information on missing woman in Tai Po (with photos)]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400753.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400753.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 19:15:07 +0800
     Kwok Fung-chau, aged 71, went missing after she left her residence in Fu Tip Estate on the night of February 2. Her family made a report to Police yesterday (February 3).

     She is about 1.6 metres tall, around 60 kilograms in weight and of medium build. She has a square face with yellow complexion and short black hair. She was last seen wearing a black long-sleeved jacket, light blue jeans, light-coloured sports shoes, and carrying a dark-green crossbody bag.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing woman or may have seen her is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of New Territories North on 3661 3112 or 6273 5787 or email to rmpu-ntn-1@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

]]><![CDATA[Digital Policy Office holds third AI+ Civil Services Technology Forum (with photos)]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400648.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400648.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 19:10:00 +0800
　　Addressing the opening ceremony, the Acting Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Daniel Cheung, stated that AI has become a global development driving force. He said that the Government must actively utilise AI in public administration to enhance service efficiency and quality, thereby benefitting more citizens. Mr Cheung also appealed to the Government and industry to work together to strengthen the development of the AI ecosystem and achieve the vision of developing Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre.

　　At the forum, a number of government departments, public organisations and technology companies were invited to share and exchange technical insights on the application of AI under the two themes "Document Management and Processing" and "Workflow Management and Automation". Among the sharing sessions, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department shared its new AI initiatives; Cyberport outlined government AI application in practice; while the Hong Kong Productivity Council and the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute showcased their related AI solutions. The forum also featured a number of booths showcasing latest-use cases from the industry, allowing government colleagues to gain a deeper understanding of how AI can be applied to transform public services.

　　This forum was organised by the Smart Government Innovation Lab (Smart Lab) under the DPO in collaboration with Hong Kong Cyberport, the Hong Kong Productivity Council and the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation. The Smart Lab has been committed to connecting the Government with the I&T sector, actively fostering close partnerships between local start-ups, small and medium-sized enterprises, and government departments. Through regularly organising promotional activities and technology exchange workshops, the Smart Lab supports and assists government departments in accelerating the introduction of local innovative technology products and solutions to facilitate business matching and achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.

　　To promote the wider adoption of AI across government departments, the DPO will continue to launch various promotional activities and technology forums. Interested parties are encouraged to stay engaged and participate in the upcoming events. For more details, please visit Smart Lab website (www.smartlab.gov.hk/en/).

]]><![CDATA[LCQ1: Soliciting business and attracting investment by exhibiting plans of major development projects]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400723.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400723.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 18:50:00 +0800
Question:

     The Development Bureau had planned to build "a gallery to showcase major development projects" in Wan Chai to exhibit and present major projects, including Northern Metropolis (NM), but the Government subsequently decided to set up physical exhibitions in the community liaison centres of various new development areas and establish an online exhibition on a website instead. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) given the view that the dispersed provision of exhibitions on the NM causes a waste of resources and fails to achieve an economy-of-scale effect, hence the difficulty in soliciting business and attracting investment for the NM, whether the Government will consider concentrating the gallery sites in the NM region; if not, of the reasons for that;

(2) whether it will consider appropriately expanding the scale of Innohub and designating a dedicated zone to display the development blueprint of the NM, so as to reduce duplication of resources allocation and attract public attention in a more focused manner; and

(3) whether it will draw on the Mainland's successful experiences in gallery planning (such as those of Pudong in Shanghai, Nansha in Guangzhou, and Qianhai in Shenzhen) to display the development outcomes of major projects visually and dynamically by integrating non-costly technologies such as AI-driven virtual reality, holographic projection, 3D multimedia, and interactive sand table to create panoramic immersive experiences, thereby enhancing the effectiveness in soliciting business and attracting investment?

Reply:

President,

     The Northern Metropolis (NM) is a key engine for Hong Kong's future economic development. With the fundamental planning now in place and land supply progressively being made available, the development of the NM has entered a new stage. One of the major tasks is to facilitate enterprises to participate in construction and to promote industry anchoring. At the same time, it is essential to foster social consensus to drive the development of the NM.

     My reply to various parts of the question raised by the Hon Erik Yim is as follows:

(1) and (2) The establishment of exhibition galleries relating to the NM would help achieve two major objectives. First, it aims to facilitate community understanding and support for the NM as Hong Kong's strategic growth area. Second, it seeks to attract enterprises and investment by showcasing the potential of the NM, thereby encouraging enterprises to participate in construction, attracting enterprises to establish footholds and fostering industry clustering.

     Following an earlier preliminary exploration, we had once proposed the construction of an exhibition gallery on a site at the Wan Chai North harbourfront to showcase major infrastructure projects, including the NM. Having listened to views from the community and the Legislative Council and taking into account the priorities of work and resource allocation, we consider that this is not the appropriate time to pursue the project. In fact, the implementation of such a project would require a relatively long lead time, which cannot meet the pressing need to attract enterprises and investment to the NM.

     If the purpose is to only introduce the NM to the general public, the Government has in recent years set up a dedicated NM exhibition zone at the City Gallery in Central. For the objective of attracting enterprises and investment, our experience shows that enterprises interested in exploring participation in the development of the NM often wish to gain close-up understanding of its latest progress and conduct on-site visits. At present, the Government has established Community Liaison Centres (CLCs) in several new development areas (NDAs) in the NM, including Kwu Tung North, Fanling North, Hung Shui Kiu and the Loop. The CLCs for Fanling North and the Loop, commissioned in 2023 and 2024 respectively, have incorporated exhibition facilities showcasing the planning and works of the relevant NDAs and have become the first two "district exhibition centres" of the NM. The exhibition content of the Fanling North CLC even covers the overall planning and development of the NM. Following this direction, the Hung Shui Kiu CLC, which is scheduled to have completed relocation and expansion around the first quarter of this year, will also include exhibition facilities introducing the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen NDA as well as the overall planning and development of the NM. Experience shows that these "district exhibition centres" can more effectively complement the on-site visits, showcasing the concrete development achievements of the respective areas to visitors, thereby better focusing on the current work of attracting enterprises and investment.

     Looking ahead, we will consider expanding the exhibition content of the Innohub at the Loop to cover the development of the adjacent San Tin Technopole, Ma Tso Lung and even the entire NM. In addition, we plan to establish a larger and multi-purpose core exhibition gallery for the NM in the Kwu Tung North NDA, with the first phase targeted for commissioning in 2027. This will replace the existing CLC in Kwu Tung North, which is of a smaller scale. The new NM core exhibition gallery will be located in Kwu Tung North given its proximity to the East Rail Line Kwu Tung Station scheduled to commission in 2027, offering convenient transport access. The site is also close to the museum to showcase national development and achievements, which has already been designated by the Government to be located in Kwu Tung North, allowing for the future development of an exhibition cluster. Moreover, the Long Valley Nature Park is nearby, enabling visitors to the exhibition gallery to also tour the park and appreciate the NM's vision and achievements of "co-existence of development and conservation".

     In addition to the abovementioned physical exhibition galleries, we will also establish an online exhibition platform on the dedicated NM website, making use of multimedia to introduce the NM to viewers within and outside Hong Kong.

(3) We agree that in order to attract visitors and enhance the effectiveness of attracting enterprises and investment, it is not only important to provide rich exhibition content, but also to place emphasis on curatorial approaches. In this regard, we will continue to draw reference from the exhibition galleries in the Mainland and other places, planning from the perspective of visitors and adopting multimedia and technology-based presentation methods. For example, the Fanling North CLC is equipped with holographic projection and three-dimensional models to present the overall picture of the NDA in a tangible manner. It also offers immersive experiences through image projection to create virtual reality, enabling participants to experience a "flyover" of the Fanling North NDA. In addition, there are simulated driving games, allowing visitors to learn about and experience the development of the relevant NDA and the NM as a whole through diverse formats.

     The future core exhibition gallery of the NM in Kwu Tung North under planning will adopt more innovative technologies to create a panoramic interactive platform. Through multimedia presentations and multi-perspective displays, the exhibition gallery will highlight the NM as Hong Kong's new engine of future development, enabling the public to gain a more direct understanding of the planning blueprint and allowing investors to acquire a more concrete appreciation of the NM's development potential.]]><![CDATA[Scam alert related to banks]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400657.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400657.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 18:43:00 +0800
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to the press release issued by the bank listed below relating to fraudulent websites, internet banking login screens, phishing emails or other scams, which has been reported to the HKMA. Hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website.

Bank	Type of scam
Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Asia) Limited	Phishing instant messages

     The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks' websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).

     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the scams concerned, should contact the relevant bank with the information provided in the corresponding press release, and report the matter to the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.]]><![CDATA[Hong Kong Customs detects case of non-registered precious metals and stones dealer carrying out specified transactions]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400707.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400707.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 18:15:00 +0800
     The investigation is ongoing. The arrested person has been released on bail.

     According to the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (Cap. 615), unless exempted, any person who is seeking to carry on a business of dealing in precious metals and stones and engage in any transaction(s) (whether making or receiving a payment) with a total value at or above HK$120,000 in Hong Kong is required to register with Hong Kong Customs. Any dealer, other than a registrant, who claims to be a registrant, claims to be authorised to carry out, or carries out any cash or non-cash transaction(s) with a total value at or above HK$120,000 is liable to a maximum fine of HK$100,000 and imprisonment for six months upon conviction.

     Customs reminds dealers in precious metals and stones that they must obtain the relevant registration before they can carry out any cash or non-cash transaction(s) with a total value at or above HK$120,000.

     For the forms, procedures and guidelines to submit applications for registration, please visit the website for Dealers in Precious Metals and Stones Registration System (www.drs.customs.gov.hk) or Customs' webpage (www.customs.gov.hk/en/service-enforcement-information/anti-money-laundering/supervision-of-dealers-in-precious-metals-and-ston/index.html).

     Members of the public may report any suspected transactions involving precious metals and stones with a total value at or above HK$120,000 conducted without the required registration to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).]]><![CDATA[Fraudulent website and online login screens purporting to be HKMA's official website]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400658.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400658.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 17:55:00 +0800
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a fraudulent website and online login screens purporting to be the HKMA's official website:

A fraudulent website with the domain name hkma-gov[.]org;
Fraudulent online login screens with domain names containing "ensemble", purporting to be the HKMA's official website to lure members of the public into account opening.

     The HKMA wishes to clarify that it has no connection with the aforementioned fraudulent website or online login screens, and reiterate that it will not contact individual members of the public regarding personal financial matters, nor will it request members of the public to open accounts or perform any form of account verification.

     The HKMA's official website is: www.hkma.gov.hk.

     The HKMA has reported the cases to the Hong Kong Police Force. Members of the public who have provided their personal information to the websites or suspect that they have become victims of fraudulent acts should contact the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.]]><![CDATA[Update on chikungunya fever]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400634.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400634.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 17:30:00 +0800
Latest surveillance data
---------------------------

Hong Kong has recorded two confirmed CF cases so far this year, all of which were imported cases. Last year, Hong Kong recorded a total of 82 confirmed CF cases. Among them, 11 were local cases, and the rest were imported cases.

Since the beginning of 2025, and as of December 10, 2025, a total of 502 264 CF cases and 186 CF-related deaths have been reported in over 40 countries/territories. Cases have been reported in the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe. Although the northern hemisphere has entered the winter season, temperatures in subtropical and some temperate regions remain elevated due to climate change, creating favourable conditions for mosquito breeding. In addition, CF outbreaks continue to occur in many countries worldwide. The risk of imported cases persists. Members of the public should check the situation of the destinations before travelling abroad, especially when travelling to Southeast Asian countries.

Continuously strengthening prevention and control
---------------------------------------------------------

Given that some local cases of CF have visited the Tsing Yi Nature Trails or the surrounding area in November last year, the trails are currently closed until further notice. Relevant government departments (including the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), Kwai Tsing District Office, Lands Department, Drainage Services Department, and Civil Engineering and Development Department) have been continuously conducting comprehensive mosquito control and environmental remediation work along the trails. Since the confirmation on December 10, 2025, of a case involving a person who had visited the Tsing Yi Nature Trails on November 30, 2025, no further local cases have been recorded to date.

     The FEHD and relevant departments have comprehensively enhanced the mosquito control operations in Hong Kong since July last year, and this has continued. Among these, the FEHD has conducted vector investigations and targeted mosquito control operations against the imported and local cases. In light of the local cases, the FEHD has immediately conducted follow-up actions, including:

carrying out intensive fogging in scrubby areas within a 250-metre radius of the relevant locations to kill adult mosquitoes;
carrying out inspections of the locations, removing stagnant water, applying insecticides and disposing of abandoned water containers every week with a view to preventing mosquito breeding; and
enhancing public education efforts through organising health talks, setting up mobile education stations, and distributing publicity leaflets.

The abovementioned measures will be continued. Furthermore, the Government will further enhance the mosquito control efforts in addition to the existing measures.

Preventive measures to be taken by the public
----------------------------------------------------

Members of the public should use DEET-containing insect repellents or other effective active ingredients properly to prevent mosquito bites, but the following precautions should be taken when using them:

read the label instructions carefully first;
apply right before entering an area with a risk of mosquito bites;
apply on exposed skin and clothing;
use DEET of up to 30 per cent for pregnant women and up to 10 per cent for children (for children who travel to countries or areas where mosquito-borne diseases are endemic or epidemic and where exposure is likely, those aged 2 months or above can use DEET-containing insect repellents with a DEET concentration of up to 30 per cent);
apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent;
reapply only when needed and follow the instructions; and
in addition to DEET, there are other insect repellents available on the market containing different active ingredients, such as IR3535 and picaridin. When using any insect repellent, the public should follow the usage instructions and precautions on the product label.

     The FEHD also appeals to members of the public to continue to stay alert and work together to carry out mosquito prevention and control measures early, including inspecting their homes and surroundings to remove potential breeding grounds, changing water in vases and scrubbing their inner surfaces, removing water in saucers under potted plants at least once a week, and properly disposing of containers such as empty cans and lunch boxes. The FEHD also advises members of the public and property management agencies to keep drains free of blockage and level all defective ground surfaces to prevent the accumulation of water. They should also scrub all drains and surface sewers with an alkaline detergent at least once a week to remove any mosquito eggs.

     The public should call 1823 in case of mosquito problems, and may visit the following pages for more information: the CF page of the CHP and the Travel Health Service, the latest Travel Health News, tips for using insect repellents, and the CHP Facebook Page, Instagram Account and YouTube Channel, and also the Mosquito Prevention and Control dedicated page of the FEHD.]]><![CDATA[Appeal for information on missing woman in Wong Tai Sin (with photo)]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400661.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400661.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 17:25:09 +0800
     Chan Ka-ki, Chris, aged 44, went missing after she was last seen in Yuk Wah Street in April 2025. Her family made a report to Police on February 2.

     She is about 1.58 metres tall, 55 kilograms in weight and of medium build. She has a long face with yellow complexion and short black hair. Her clothing at the time she was last seen is unknown.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing woman or may have seen her is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of Kowloon East on 3661 0335 or 5466 2637 or email to rmpu-ke-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

]]><![CDATA[LCQ6: Tobacco control measures]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400575.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400575.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 17:20:00 +0800
Question:

     A number of tobacco control measures have been implemented under the Tobacco Control Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2025 passed last year. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) given that while the statutory no smoking areas have been extended to public places that lie within three metres from access points of specified premises after the legislative amendment exercise, there are views that in order to balance various needs and accommodate the hosting of cultural and sports mega events, the Government should establish designated smoking areas in public places and step up enforcement during specific periods (e.g. during mega events) to enhance public experience and safety, whether the Government will study the relevant proposals;

(2) of the number of inspections conducted by the Government to combat illicit cigarette activities and the number of fixed penalty notices issued for contravention of tobacco control measures each month since the legislative amendment exercise; the respective staffing establishments of frontline officers of various ranks responsible for enforcement; and

(3) given that while the Government has earlier on indicated that a total smoking ban will be implemented at construction sites, it does not cover the interior of residential units in housing estates undergoing major maintenance, whether the Government has plans to amend the relevant tobacco control legislation to align with the smoking ban at site areas, and to study the feasibility of extending the coverage of the smoking ban in respect of domestic repair works, such as implementing a smoking ban at residential units currently undergoing works or internal renovations?

Reply:

President,

     The principle that "smoking is hazardous to health" is one which I trust all Members of the Legislative Council (LegCo), and indeed the general public of Hong Kong, smokers and non-smokers alike, understand and would not dispute. For many years, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has pursued tobacco control policies through a multi-pronged and progressive approach, so as to protect the people from the harm caused by tobacco.

     The consolidated reply, in consultation with the Labour and Welfare Bureau (LWB), the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) and the Department of Health (DH), on the question raised by the Hon Adrian Ho is as follows:

(1) Cultural and sports activities are beneficial to the physical and psychological health, and can even help develop mega event economy. Hong Kong is revered as the "Events Capital of Asia" and the "World's Meeting Place", and is at the same time recognised to be at the forefront of tobacco control in China by the National Health Commission as well as the World Health Organization (WHO). Cultural and mega events and a smoke-free city are not contradictory, rather, they even complement each other perfectly. In a global perspective, the non-smoking population far outnumbers smokers, and proportion of non-smokers among citizens and visitors participating in cultural and sports events should be greater. Only a truly smoke-free and fresh environment can enhance the experience at mega cultural and sports events as well as safety of residents and visitors alike, with a view to elevating the city's image and quality. For those participating in cultural and sports activities, the establishment of designated smoking areas in public places at the event venues, which are filled with second-hand smoke, does nothing to enhance their experience. Rather, it would ruin their experience.

     One of the Government's tobacco control directions is to periodically amend legislation to expand no-smoking areas, with the aim of eliminating the harm caused by second-hand smoke and protecting the public. At present, the vast majority of the key venues for hosting international cultural and sports events, such as cinemas, theatres, concert halls, parks and stadiums, whether indoor or outdoor, already have a smoking ban in place: starting from January 1 of this year, smoking is also prohibited while queuing to enter these venues, and the aim of which is to ensure smoke-free cultural and sports activities and events. Furthermore, the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance (Ordinance) (Cap. 371) also empowers the Secretary for Health to designate extensive no-smoking areas based on local circumstances, views of the public and the District Councils, as well as subject to practical needs and feasibility, say for instance, in response to mega events, while setting applicable conditions and exemptions. During mega events, the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the DH will conduct joint operations with relevant departments as circumstances require. We also encourage venue operators to make good use of the guidelines and no-smoking signage provided by TACO to clearly convey the messages on tobacco control.

     The Government understands that different sectors of society have varying considerations and opinions regarding the management of public spaces. However, there is currently no scientific evidence to support the notion that designated smoking areas can effectively protect members of the public from the harm caused by second-hand smoke. On the contrary, the WHO has stated that no measures, including ventilation, air filtration, the establishment of designated smoking areas, or even engineering approaches including separate ventilation systems, can prevent the public's exposure to second-hand smoke. This is because the particulate matter in smoke can penetrate any ventilation system and disperse throughout the entire environment, while a significant proportion of the toxic components in smoke are colourless and odourless, posing direct and immediate hazards to the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.

     Moreover, the public may consequently be misled into believing that establishing designated smoking areas is sufficient to protect public health and eliminate the harm of second-hand smoke. This effectively conveys erroneous public health messages, and even re-normalises the behavior of smoking in public areas, undermining the long-term objective towards a smoke-free Hong Kong.

(2) One key focus of the Tobacco Control Legislation (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 (Amendment Ordinance), passed by the LegCo last year, is to combat illicit cigarettes. Mainly enforced by the C&ED in accordance with the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109), the relevant penalties have already been increased to a fine of $2 million and seven years' imprisonment immediately following the Amendment Ordinance's gazettal on September 19 last year. The Amendment Ordinance also stipulates that any cigarettes sold below the tobacco duty rate must be proved to be duty-paid, failing which they shall be presumed to be duty-unpaid. Officers of the C&ED have launched multiple special operations by conducting surprise inspections at cigarette retail outlets across various districts across the territory, uncovering a number of illegal sales points selling cigarettes below the tobacco duty rate.

     The C&ED has consistently adopted a comprehensive enforcement strategy to combat activities on illicit cigarette, and has been conducting anti-illicit cigarette inspections across all districts of Hong Kong and on online platforms. Frontline officers of the C&ED, including those responsible for passenger and cargo clearance at all immigration control points, participate in intercepting illicit cigarettes. As they concurrently perform other clearance duties, it is difficult to categorise and quantify the number of officers involved by relevant items of their duties.

     To combat "cheap whites", the C&ED has successfully completed a three-month Pilot Run for the Duty Stamp System. During the process, multiple rounds of information sessions were organised for the industry. The C&ED plans to fully implement the System in the second quarter of 2027, with a view to distinguishing duty-paid cigarettes from duty-unpaid ones more effectively.

     Enforcement of illegal smoking and the issuance of fixed penalty notices is the responsibility of TACO. Enforcement and staffing figures of TACO since the passage of the Amendment Ordinance are set out in the Annex for Members' reference. In December last year alone, a total of 3 578 inspections were conducted, and 691 fixed penalty notices were issued by TACO.

(3) Part three of the Hon Ho's question concerns the comprehensive smoking ban at construction sites. Comprehensive smoking ban in construction sites involves contractors and individuals. Regarding the penalty for contractors, the LWB is amending the Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations (Cap. 59I) to prohibit any smoking behaviours that pose fire risk in construction sites (including new buildings sites and large-scale renovation sites), thereby enhancing the safety level of construction sites. As for behavior to smoke in construction sites, this clearly poses a fire hazard and also has implications on tobacco control in workplaces. In response to the violations by individuals who smoke in construction sites, the LWB will make reference to fine levels and the fixed penalty mechanism in the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance (Cap. 371) and the Fixed Penalty (Smoking Offences) Ordinance (Cap. 600), and is considering the approach for the legislative amendments exercise. In fact, indoor public areas in a residential building, such as lift lobbies and rear staircases, regardless of whether they are included as construction sites during building renovations, are already indoor areas within workplaces or public places under the Ordinance and are statutory no-smoking areas. The proposal being considered by the LWB currently would include other parts of a building under renovation, such as external wall works, as no-smoking areas. Nevertheless, private domestic premises are not covered under the Ordinance, and the decision of which was made based on considerations of personal privacy in private premises and the difficulty of enforcement when the Government implemented the comprehensive smoking ban at indoor public places. In this legislative amendment exercise, the LWB will make reference to the aforementioned experience and have inhabited domestic premises under renovation exempted.

     Today, the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, is also present at this meeting to respond to follow-up questions from Members on this part. ]]><![CDATA[LCQ22: Supporting local development of strategic enterprises that have been attracted to Hong Kong]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400652.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400652.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 17:08:00 +0800
Question:

     As pointed out by some press reports, the Government stated in December last year that the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises had attracted an aggregate of 102 strategic enterprises over the three years following its establishment, and it was expected that in the next few years, these enterprises would bring a total of approximately $60 billion in investment and create about 22 000 employment opportunities in Hong Kong. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether the Government has grasped the number of employees actually hired by these enterprises in Hong Kong so far, and the number of employees among them who engage in jobs relating to innovation and technology; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(2) as there are views pointing out that there are discrepancies between the Talent List formulated by the Labour and Welfare Bureau and the actual demand for talents in the market, and some academic talents admitted to Hong Kong through talent admission schemes have difficulty in finding job types that match their professional segments and qualifications, whether the Government will review on a regular basis the extent to which the local industry structure matches the Talent List, and whether it will include the professional or occupational categories covered by the Talent List as a factor for consideration when attracting enterprises, so as to create more diversified employment opportunities of a high quality; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(3) whether it has followed up the local operating situation of strategic enterprises that have been attracted to Hong Kong, including whether they have set up facilities such as research and development centres, production lines or regional headquarters; if so, of the details (including the numbers of the relevant facilities); if not, the reasons for that;

(4) whether it has formulated strategies to enhance communication and collaboration between the Government and the business sector, so as to leverage the relationship networks of the business sector on the Mainland and join hands in bringing the task of attracting enterprises to satisfactory completion; if so, of the details; and

(5) of the strategies for assisting strategic enterprises that have been attracted to Hong Kong in integrating with the supply chains and application scenarios in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area?

Reply:

President,

     The Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES) is dedicated to attracting enterprises from industries of strategic importance to Hong Kong. Its work includes identifying target strategic enterprises, understanding their needs and providing customised facilitation support and one-stop services to those establishing their presence in Hong Kong.

     My reply to the questions raised by the Hon Andrew Yao is as follows:

(1) OASES has been proactively attracting high-potential and representative strategic enterprises from around the globe, with a particular focus on the five priority industries, namely life and health technology, AI and data science, financial technology, advanced manufacturing and new energy technology, as well as cultural and creative industry. These enterprises can bring diversified and high-quality job opportunities to Hong Kong, and the aforesaid industries have a strong demand for talent across various sectors, including scientific research, AI, data analytics, cybersecurity, medical and health services, environmental technologies, creative industries, operations management, legal and accounting services, and business development.

     At present, OASES has attracted 102 strategic enterprises to Hong Kong. These enterprises are expected to bring in approximately HK$60 billion of investment and create around 22 000 jobs in the coming years, injecting new impetus into Hong Kong's development. Many of these enterprises have a market capitalisation or valuation exceeding HK$100 billion and possess cutting-edge technologies. Their presence in Hong Kong helps attract upstream, midstream and downstream enterprises to the city, accelerates industrial development, facilitates the upgrading and transformation of traditional manufacturing, expands the local industrial ecosystem, and creates more quality employment opportunities.

     In April 2025, OASES conducted a phased assessment of the recruitment progress of these strategic enterprises. At that time, the overall number of employees hired was around 4 000. The latest figures are being updated. Some enterprises are still in the process of setting up in Hong Kong, building teams and commencing operations, and their staffing levels will expand progressively as their businesses grow. Actual operational progress and recruitment timelines vary depending on industry characteristics, research and development (R&D) cycles and market deployment. OASES has been closely monitoring the establishment progress and talent needs of enterprises. It will continue to provide tailored support, including collaboration with innovation and technology parks, universities and research institutions, chambers of commerce and professional bodies, to expedite the R&D and operational activities of strategic enterprises in Hong Kong.

(2) The Government drew up the first Talent List in 2018 with a view to attracting high-quality talent from different industries and professional sectors in an effective and focused manner. At present, eligible talent who come to Hong Kong through the General Employment Policy (GEP), the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP), or the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme to engage in professions covered by the Talent List can enjoy immigration facilitation. In the Talent List recently updated on March 1, 2025, the Labour and Welfare Bureau and relevant bureaux and departments, after careful consideration and in consultation with stakeholders including industry organisations of various sectors, major business chambers, the Human Resources Planning Commission and the Labour Advisory Board, included industries related to the development of the "eight centres". The number of professions covered was expanded from 51 to 60. In reviewing the Talent List, the Government considered whether talent of the professions concerned were readily available in the local employment market and whether the talent in demand could not be nurtured by local training in good time. Upon the review and as of end-2025, applications approved under the Talent List surged by about 1 800 cases, representing an increase of around 110 per cent as compared to the prior period. Most of such cases fell under the employment-tied GEP and ASMTP, indicating that the Talent List is effective in responding to local manpower needs and alleviating manpower shortages of professionals. The Government will continue to monitor manpower changes dynamically through manpower projections and follow-up surveys, and will review the Talent List from time to time based on the demand for talent.

     OASES has been actively promoting and encouraging strategic enterprises established in Hong Kong to participate in various Government talent training and development programmes, enabling them to build a sustainable talent pipeline to support their long-term development in Hong Kong. At the same time, OASES continues to promote exchanges between enterprises and local universities and research institutions, exploring collaborative R&D and joint talent training models to cultivate the professional talent more comprehensively. The Government will maintain cross-departmental co-ordination on local industrial development, labour market conditions and actual enterprise needs, and will review talent policies as necessary to ensure alignment between talent admission and industrial development. This will support enterprises in establishing and expanding their presence in Hong Kong, thereby creating more diversified and quality job opportunities.

(3) As of the end of January 2026, among the 102 strategic enterprises attracted to Hong Kong, over 50 per cent are listed companies and 12 per cent are preparing for listing. In addition, 75 per cent have chosen Hong Kong as their global or regional headquarters, and around 90 per cent have established or are in the process of establishing R&D centres locally.

     OASES will continue to support enterprises in establishing R&D centres in Hong Kong and in attracting top research talent from the Chinese Mainland and overseas to enhance innovation capacity. It will assist listed and pre-listing enterprises in leveraging Hong Kong's financial platform to attract overseas investment. OASES will also promote the establishment of flagship projects in Hong Kong that align with international standards and expand into global and the Belt and Road markets. At the same time, it will facilitate the setting up of corporate treasury centres to strengthen cross-border capital and foreign exchange management, and match suitable projects during the early stages of settlement to speed up implementation and industrialisation.

     OASES maintains close communication with enterprises and follows up on their actual operations in Hong Kong, according to their establishment progress and business deployment. As enterprises differ in industry characteristics, R&D cycles and establishment timelines, their operational models and facility development in Hong Kong will progress according to their own strategies. OASES will continue to stay in contact with enterprises and update relevant information in a timely manner to keep abreast of their latest operational situation.

(4) The Government recognises the extensive networks of the business sector on the Chinese Mainland and overseas as a vital force in attracting enterprises. OASES has adopted a multi-pronged strategy to strengthen collaboration with the business community and stakeholders, thereby enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of investment promotion.

     In 2025, OASES organised and participated in a wide range of activities with the business sector and various stakeholders, including over 40 investment promotion and marketing events, over 10 enterprise landing and operational support activities, over 10 business and capital-matching events, about 20 cross-sector exchanges and delegation visits, as well as a number of talent- and industry-related thematic events.

     OASES maintains regular exchanges with major chambers of commerce, industry associations, professional service organisations and leading enterprises through round-table meetings, thematic briefings and two-way communication mechanisms. These efforts help OASES understand enterprises' business layouts on the Chinese Mainland and overseas, industry trends and investment intentions. At the same time, OASES engages closely with the business sector, research community and professional bodies through forums, thematic events and exchange platforms, to gain insights into industry developments and enterprise needs from multiple perspectives, thereby strengthening its grasp of the industrial ecosystem.

     In addition, OASES collaborates with different stakeholders to participate in industry forums and business exchanges, and conducts visits to Mainland provincial and municipal governments, industrial parks and research institutions to promote cross-boundary industrial co-operation. These efforts enables OASES to reach enterprises with potential more effectively and enhance investment promotion efficiency.

     Looking ahead, OASES will continue to work with the business community to strengthen industry information sharing and promote cross-boundary industrial chain collaboration, so that more strategic enterprises will be attracted to Hong Kong and the local industrial ecosystem would be further expanded.

(5) The Government attaches great importance to supporting strategic enterprises in integrating into the supply chains and application scenarios of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), and in seizing the opportunities arising from the recommendations of the 15th Five-Year Plan.

     OASES will play an active role in this process by attracting globally influential enterprises, supporting enterprises in using Hong Kong as a base to expand into the Chinese Mainland market, promoting collaborative R&D and industrialisation, and assisting enterprises in identifying production, R&D, testing, demonstration and commercialisation scenarios in the GBA. This will extend the industrial chain from production to the high-value end of the value chain. Leveraging Hong Kong's strengths in professional services, logistics and shipping, financial platforms, intellectual property and compliance management, OASES will help enterprises establish supply chain management, cross-boundary settlement, financing arrangements and market expansion functions in the GBA to enhance operational efficiency.

     OASES actively promotes collaboration between enterprises and research institutions, industrial parks and universities in GBA cities, supporting joint R&D, pilot testing and commercialisation to strengthen synergy between the innovation and industrial chains in the GBA. For example, in the life and health technology sector, OASES successfully attracted a Southeast Asian medical technology enterprise to establish an R&D centre in the Hong Kong Science Park and recruit local research talent so that it can undertake innovative research activities in the future. The enterprise has since expanded rapidly and set up a base in Qianhai, Shenzhen, responsible for supply chain management in the GBA. This case demonstrates the complementary advantages of Hong Kong and GBA cities in industrial collaboration.

     Looking ahead, OASES will deepen co-operation with other GBA cities, promote the flow of innovation and industrial collaboration, and leverage Hong Kong's successful cases to support enterprises in expanding into global and Belt and Road markets.]]><![CDATA[Tender results of re-opening of 20-year HKD HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400608.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400608.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 17:00:00 +0800
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority, as representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSAR Government), announced that a tender of 20-year HKD institutional Government Bonds through the re-opening of existing Government Bond (issue number 20GB4503001) under the Infrastructure Bond Programme was held today (February 4).

A total of HK$0.5 billion 20-year Government Bonds were offered today. A total of HK$2.875 billion tender applications were received. The bid-to-cover ratio, i.e. the ratio of bonds applied for to bonds issued, is 5.75. The average price accepted is 102.83, implying an annualised yield of 3.816 per cent.

HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds Tender Results

Tender results of 20-year HKD HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds:

Tender Date	:	February 4, 2026
Issue Number	:	20GB4503001 (Re-open)
Stock Code	:	4290 (HKGB 3.99 4503)
Issue and Settlement Date	:	February 5, 2026
Tenor	:	20 years
Maturity Date	:	March 6, 2045
Coupon Rate	:	3.99 per cent
Amount Applied	:	HK$2.875 billion
Amount Allotted	:	HK$0.5 billion
Bid-to-Cover Ratio*	:	5.75
Average Price Accepted (Yield)	:	102.83 (3.816 per cent)
Lowest Price Accepted (Yield)	:	102.55 (3.837 per cent)
Pro-rata Ratio	:	About 80 per cent
Average Tender Price (Yield)	:	100.76 (3.972 per cent)

* Calculated as the amount of bonds applied for over the amount of bonds issued.]]><![CDATA[Tender results of seven-year HKD HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400601.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400601.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 17:00:00 +0800
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority, as representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSAR Government), announced that a tender for seven-year HKD institutional Government Bonds (issue number 07GB3302001) under the Infrastructure Bond Programme was held today (February 4).

A total of HK$2.0 billion seven-year Government Bonds were offered today. A total of HK$10.060 billion tender applications were received. The bid-to-cover ratio, i.e. the ratio of bonds applied for to bonds issued, is 5.03. The average price accepted is 100.42, implying an annualised yield of 2.864 per cent.

HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds Tender Results

Tender results of seven-year HKD HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds:

Tender Date	:	February 4, 2026
Issue Number	:	07GB3302001
Stock Code	:	4201 (HKGB 2.91 3302)
Issue and Settlement Date	:	February 5, 2026
Tenor	:	7 years
Maturity Date	:	February 7, 2033
Coupon Rate	:	2.91 per cent
Amount Applied	:	HK$10.060 billion
Amount Allotted	:	HK$2.0 billion
Bid-to-Cover Ratio*	:	5.03
Average Price Accepted (Yield)	:	100.42 (2.864 per cent)
Lowest Price Accepted (Yield)	:	100.19 (2.901 per cent)
Pro-rata Ratio	:	About 93 per cent
Average Tender Price (Yield)	:	99.36 (3.035 per cent)

*Calculated as the amount of bonds applied for over the amount of bonds issued.]]><![CDATA[Tender results of one-year HONIA-indexed Floating Rate Notes]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400593.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400593.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 17:00:00 +0800
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority, as representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSAR Government), announced that a tender for one-year HONIA-indexed Floating Rate Notes (issue number 01GH2702001) under the Infrastructure Bond Programme was held today (February 4).

     A total of HK$1.5 billion one-year HONIA-indexed Floating Rate Notes were offered today. A total of HK$5.190 billion tender applications were received. The bid-to-cover ratio, i.e. the ratio of notes applied for to notes issued, is 3.46. The highest spread accepted is 0.25 per cent.

HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds Tender Results

     Tender results of one-year HONIA-indexed Floating Rate Notes:

Tender Date	:	February 4, 2026
Issue Number	:	01GH2702001
Stock Code	:	4200 (HKGB FRN 2702)
Issue and Settlement Date	:	February 5, 2026
Tenor	:	1 year
Maturity Date	:	February 5, 2027
Amount Applied	:	HK$5.190 billion
Amount Allotted	:	HK$1.5 billion
Bid-to-Cover Ratio*	:	3.46
Highest Spread Accepted	:	0.25 per cent
Average Spread Accepted	:	0.19 per cent
Pro-rata Ratio	:	About 88 per cent
Average Tender Spread	:	0.51 per cent

* Calculated as the amount of notes applied for over the amount of notes issued.]]><![CDATA[FEHD releases sixth batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in January]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400384.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400384.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 17:00:00 +0800

District	Survey Area	January 2026
District	Survey Area	Area Gravidtrap Index	Area Density Index
Central and Western	Sheung Wan and Sai Ying Pun	0.0%	N/A
Wan Chai	Happy Valley and Tai Hang	0.0%	N/A
Islands	Cheung Chau	0.0%	N/A
Kowloon City	Ho Man Tin	0.0%	N/A
Kowloon City	Kowloon Tong	0.0%	N/A
Mong Kok	Mong Kok and Tai Kok Tsui	0.0%	N/A
Sham Shui Po	Cheung Sha Wan	0.0%	N/A
Sham Shui Po	Sham Shui Po and Shek Kip Mei	0.0%	N/A
Wong Tai Sin	Wong Tai Sin West	0.0%	N/A
Yau Tsim	Tsim Sha Tsui and Yau Ma Tei	0.0%	N/A
North	Sheung Shui	0.8%	1.0
Tai Po	Tai Po West	0.0%	N/A
Kwai Tsing	Kwai Chung West	0.0%	N/A
Kwai Tsing	Lai King	0.0%	N/A
Tsuen Wan	Sheung Kwai Chung	0.0%	N/A
Tuen Mun	Tuen Mun North	0.0%	N/A
Yuen Long	Hung Shui Kiu and Ping Shan	0.0%	N/A

     Among the sixth batch of Area Gravidtrap Indexes covering 17 survey areas in January, all were below 10 per cent.

     The FEHD has so far released six batches of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in January 2026, covering 62 survey areas; most of the areas recorded 0 per cent, indicating that the distribution of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes was not extensive.

     The eggs of Aedes albopictus can withstand long periods of desiccation and will hatch when the temperature becomes suitable and water is present. Members of the public should continue to take mosquito control measures during winter to eliminate mosquito eggs.

     Public participation is crucial to the effective control of mosquito problems. The FEHD appeals to members of the public to continue to work together in strengthening personal mosquito control measures, including:

tidy up their premises and check for any accumulation of water inside their premises;
remove all unnecessary water collections and eliminate the sources;
check household items (those placed in outdoor and open areas in particular), such as refuse containers, vases, air conditioner drip trays, and laundry racks to prevent stagnant water;
change the water in flower vases and clear the water in saucers of potted plants at least once every seven days;
properly cover all containers that hold water to prevent mosquitoes from accessing the water;
properly dispose of articles that can contain water, such as empty lunch boxes and cans; and
scrub drains and surface sewers with alkaline detergent at least once a week to remove any mosquito eggs.

     Starting in August 2025, following the completion of the surveillance of individual survey areas, and once the latest gravidtrap index and the density index are available, the FEHD has been disseminating relevant information through press releases, its website and social media. It aims to allow members of the public to quickly grasp the mosquito infestation situation and strengthen mosquito control efforts, thereby reducing the risk of chikungunya fever (CF) transmission.

     Following recommendations from the World Health Organization and taking into account the local situation in Hong Kong, the FEHD sets up gravidtraps in districts where mosquito-borne diseases have been recorded in the past, as well as in densely populated places such as housing estates, hospitals and schools to monitor the breeding and distribution of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which can transmit CF and dengue fever (DF). After reviewing the present DF and CF vector surveillance programme, the FEHD has expanded the coverage for monitoring Aedes albopictus mosquitoes starting from 2026. The number of survey areas set up in the community has been revised to 62, with some survey areas renamed. Additional gravidtraps will also be set up at different locations across the territory to strengthen the monitoring of the breeding of mosquitoes. Under the present surveillance mechanism, the FEHD has set up gravidtraps in survey areas of the community, with a surveillance period of two weeks. During the surveillance period, the FEHD will collect the gravidtraps once a week. After the first week of surveillance, the FEHD will immediately examine the glue boards inside the retrieved gravidtraps for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes to compile the Gravidtrap Index (First Phase) and Density Index (First Phase). At the end of the second week of surveillance, the FEHD will instantly check the glue boards for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes. Data from the two weeks of surveillance will be combined to obtain the Area Gravidtrap Index and the Area Density Index. The gravidtrap and density indexes for Aedes albopictus in different survey areas, as well as information on mosquito prevention and control measures, are available on the department's webpage (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/pestcontrol/dengue_fever/Dengue_Fever_Gravidtrap_Index_Update.html#).]]><![CDATA[LCQ4: Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400562.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400562.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 16:30:00 +0800
Question:

     It has been reported that the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2026 (Marathon) received over 120 000 applications, with oversubscription reaching a record high. There are views pointing out that the authorities should optimise the Marathon to accommodate more runners and strengthen its economic impact as a mega event. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether it will discuss with the Hong Kong, China Association of Athletics Affiliates (HKAAA) to increase the number of race days and categories of the Marathon so as to expand its scale; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(2) whether it will discuss with the HKAAA the incorporation of various harbourfront venues into the Marathon's race route to create a "harbourfront marathon"; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(3) whether it will collaborate with the HKAAA to jointly strive for the Marathon to be recognised as one of the World Marathon Majors, so as to attract more overseas runners to participate in the race in Hong Kong?

Reply:

     Thank you, Acting President.

     The Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon (Marathon) is organised by the Hong Kong, China Association of Athletics Affiliates (HKAAA). Since 2005, it has been awarded the "M" Mark status with funding support, and has developed into the most sizable and representative long-distance running event annually in Hong Kong, widely welcomed by local and international running enthusiasts.

     The Government is pleased to see the HKAAA, with support and active co-operation from sponsors, various government departments and stakeholders, continues to enhance the scale, level, and international appeal of the event. The number of participants in the Marathon has grown from about 1 000 in the inaugural 1997 event to about 74 000 in 2026. This year's event also included 20 invited overseas world-class athletes and about 19 250 individual runners from more than 110 countries/regions. Non-local athletes accounted for a record high of 25 per cent, demonstrating the event's increasing international appeal.

     The Government's consolidated reply to the questions raised by the Hon Yang Wing-kit is as follows:

     The Marathon is a successful major sports event that can attract visitors to Hong Kong and boost local spending while enhancing Hong Kong's overall sporting atmosphere. Therefore, the Government supports the HKAAA in continuing to host the event and, where feasible, expanding its scale. We take the view that when planning further development of the event, the HKAAA should carefully consider its development objectives, i.e., whether to raise the event's professional standards to achieve a higher level of competition, or to develop it into a festive, mass participation event by engaging more of the general public and visitors and increasing its quota. Although these two directions are not mutually exclusive, clear goals and directions are crucial for the sustainable success of the Marathon.

     The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) has requested the HKAAA to actively study and make recommendations to promote the development of the Marathon, including the two aforementioned objectives. We note that the HKAAA has formed a dedicated working group to carry out related work and hope that the HKAAA will submit concrete proposals within a few months. The CSTB and relevant departments will also provide feedback and assistance. We believe that clear development recommendations from the HKAAA will also help sponsors and stakeholders explore ways to collaborate and support the event.

     The Government agrees that the HKAAA should consider various possibilities in the future development of the Marathon, including race route, time of hosting the event and number of participants, etc. Regarding the race route, with the gradual completion of more harbourfront enhancement projects (such as the East Coast Boardwalk), the Government welcomes the use of landmark harbourfront locations for different running competitions and activities to enhance runners' experience and showcase Hong Kong's unique urban landscape. The CSTB has asked the HKAAA to review different options through the dedicated working group, and conduct an overall assessment of factors such as race route conditions, climate conditions, runners' experience, safety considerations, emergency response mechanisms and impact on the citizens' daily lives, etc.

     Currently, the Marathon has been recognised by the World Athletics as a Gold Label Road Race, attracting a large number of local and overseas runners. It has already become a well-known international marathon event. Regardless of whether it is the Platinum Label Road Races and the World Marathon Majors, both represent the highest level of global marathon events, featuring a substantial presence of world-class marathon elites. If Hong Kong hosts such events, it will have a highly positive impact on Hong Kong's international image and sports tourism development. As I have already mentioned, the HKAAA needs to carefully study the direction for developing the Marathon. If the direction is to achieve an even higher level of international competition, the HKAAA must study the related requirements and assess the feasibility of achieving them. The Government hopes that the HKAAA can complete a feasibility assessment as soon as possible and establish a clear development direction to enable the Government to offer the necessary support and assistance.

     The Government acknowledges the public expectation to expand the scale of the Marathon, optimise its race route design and elevate its international status. We will continue to offer advice and assistance to the HKAAA on various key aspects such as safety, cost-effectiveness and maintenance of event quality so that the HKAAA can put forward concrete proposals for the development of the Marathon. We are committed to striking a balance among promoting sports development, enhancing tourism benefits and maintaining societal operations so that participants, citizens, and the entire Hong Kong community as a whole can benefit.

     Thank you, Acting President.]]><![CDATA[LCQ13: Unified new brand for local agricultural and fisheries products]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400281.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400281.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 16:25:00 +0800
Question:

     To promote sustainable development of the local agriculture and fisheries industries, the Government plans to establish a unified new brand for local agricultural and fisheries products (the new brand). In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the latest implementation timetable for the new brand and the respective specific targets for each phase of implementation;

(2) of (i) the specific channels through which the authorities will promote the new brand, (ii) the ways to be adopted by the authorities to evaluate the effectiveness of the promotional efforts, and (iii) the key performance indicators to be formulated by the authorities;

(3) of specific incentive measures taken by the authorities to attract members of the industry to actively participate in the new brand, and how the authorities will assist the participants concerned or the certified products in developing their markets in the Mainland and overseas;

(4) given that according to the paper submitted by the Environment and Ecology Bureau and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department to the Panel on Food Safety and Environmental Hygiene of this Council in February last year, the authorities will establish a certification, testing and traceability system for the new brand, of the details of such system, and how to prevent uncertified products from entering the supply chain in the processes of transportation, storage, as well as sales and marketing;

(5) of the monitoring mechanism to be put in place by the authorities upon formal launch of the new brand to safeguard the reputation of the new brand, and the specific measures to be taken against any non-compliant act committed by participants in the new brand;

(6) whether the authorities have assessed the anticipated economic benefits that may be brought about by establishing the new brand; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(7) as there are views that it takes time for practitioners of the local agriculture and fisheries industries to adapt to a series of new regulatory requirements and operational processes, such as certification, quality standards, and traceability management, when participating in the new brand, whether the authorities have plans to provide systematic training courses tailored to suit the needs of the industry; if so, of the specific measures in place to assist these practitioners in grasping the details of the new brand; if not, the reasons for that;

(8) of the financial budget for and future operating expenses involved in implementing the new brand; how the authorities will pay for the expenditures on the new brand (e.g. based on a user-pay principle), and the projected fees for participating in the new brand; and

(9) whether the authorities have drawn reference from similar overseas initiatives in terms of their structural design, mode of operation, and regulatory mechanisms when formulating the new brand; if so, of the details (including the regions and initiatives to which reference has been made, as well as how to apply the relevant experience to the actual circumstances of the local agriculture and fisheries industries for changes and improvement and adjustment)?

Reply:

President,

     The reply to the question raised by the Hon Chan Pok-chi is as follows:

     The Government is committed to promoting the sustainable development of the agriculture and fisheries industries and is actively working with the industries to take forward the various initiatives under the Blueprint for the Sustainable Development of Agriculture and Fisheries. Among these initiatives, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) will launch a new unified brand for local agricultural and fisheries products in the middle of this year, which aims to promote awareness of products and provide the public with high-quality and fresh food, while enhancing the added value and competitiveness of products to increase the income levels of fishermen and farmers. This will not only encourage the younger generation to join the agriculture and fisheries industries, but will also give impetus to the industries to increase investment and raise the quantity, quality and value of their produce. The catering industry can also make good use of local ingredients to develop diverse and speciality menu, thereby creating new business opportunities.

     The AFCD is now actively pushing the work on brand establishment forward in the following two areas:

(1) Setting up a certification, testing and traceability mechanism

     To raise the credibility of the new unified brand, the AFCD has subsidised the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency (HKQAA) through the Sustainable Agricultural Development Fund to explore the setting up of certification, testing and traceability mechanism, ensuring that participating fishermen and farmers follow the production standards and cultivation methods set out by the AFCD and comply with the safe, low-carbon and high-quality indicators and testing requirements. The products under the new brand are traceable, making it trustworthy for public to purchase them. In setting up the abovesaid mechanism, the HKQAA conducted thorough studies, including making reference to the framework and the operational experience of similar mechanisms in Chinese Mainland and overseas, and made modifications and adjustments according to the actual situations of the local agriculture and fisheries industries to ensure that the mechanism meets local needs.

(2) Brand building and promotion work

     The Ocean Park Hong Kong (Ocean Park) has been promoting the "Eat Local" campaign in recent years to enhance public awareness and support for local agricultural and fisheries products. To leverage on and make good use of Ocean Park's experience in promoting local agricultural and fisheries products and its established partnerships with local agricultural and fisheries producers and stakeholders, the AFCD has subsidised Ocean Park through the Sustainable Fisheries Development Fund to develop a series of comprehensive publicity and promotion campaigns for the new brand. Meanwhile, to inject youth creativity into the brand, Ocean Park is collaborating with the Hong Kong Design Institute to design the brand logo with a view to creating a fresh brand image.

     Last year, the AFCD set up a new Branding and Promotion Subcommittee under the Advisory Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries to provide advice on the certification plan and promotion strategies for the new brand. Currently, the preparatory work is progressing well, and the AFCD is confident in launching the new unified brand in the middle of this year as scheduled.

     At this stage, the AFCD is consulting the industries and relevant stakeholders on the details of the plan. Once the specific details are finalised, the Government will report in detail to the Panel on Food Safety and Environmental Hygiene of the Legislative Council, regarding matters such as the brand name, the certification, testing and traceability mechanism, the publicity campaign, support measures provided to the industries, as well as the evaluation of work effectiveness and the resource allocation.]]><![CDATA[LCQ15: Student hostel supply]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400545.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400545.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 16:12:00 +0800
Question:

     As pointed out earlier on in a research report, a shortfall of 120 000 student hostel places is projected by 2028. To increase student hostel supply, the Government launched the Hostels in the City Scheme (the Scheme) in July 2025 to facilitate the market in converting existing commercial buildings into student hostels by obviating the need for rezoning, and will also earmark new sites (zoned as commercial or otherwise) for building new hostels. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the numbers of the following items since the inception of the Scheme: (i) applications received and approved; (ii) applications involving the conversion of existing buildings into student hostels; (iii) applications for the provision of student hostels in redeveloped or newly constructed buildings; and (iv) student hostel places involved;

(2) whether it will consider extending the scope of the Scheme to allow participation of landlords who intend to redevelop their industrial buildings into new student hostels; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(3) whether it will consider regularising the Scheme; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(4) of the relevant details of each of the new sites (zoned as commercial or otherwise) earmarked for building new hostels, such as their district of location, size, and available number of student hostel places;

(5) given that, according to a paper submitted by the Government to the Panel on Education of this Council on October 3 last year, seven hostel projects under the Hostel Development Fund are under construction, whether such projects can be completed as scheduled; if not, of the numbers of student hostel places involved and the reasons for the failure to complete such projects as scheduled (set out by hostel project);

(6) whether it will introduce further measures to increase student hostel supply; if so, of the details (including the estimated increase in student hostel places); if not, the reasons for that; and

(7) whether it will establish performance indicators on increasing student hostel supply; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President:

     To consolidate Hong Kong's position as an international post-secondary education hub, the Development Bureau (DEVB) and the Education Bureau (EDB) jointly launched the Hostels in the City Scheme (the Scheme) in July 2025 to facilitate private developers/operators in converting commercial buildings into student hostels through relaxing development control in order to address the accommodation needs of post-secondary students. Subsequently, the 2025 Policy Address announced that the Scheme would expand to cover newly built and redeveloped student hostels as well.

     In respect of the various parts of the question, having consulted the EDB, the reply is as follows:

(1) The Scheme is well-received. As at February 4, 2026, 25 applications involving around 5 100 hostel places have been received, most of which are located in the urban areas, including Hung Hom, Kwun Tong, Sham Shui Po, Sheung Wan and other districts. Apart from two applications which involve the construction of new student hostels on private land, the remaining applications are for converting existing buildings, most of which are wholesale conversion cases. All 25 applications have been confirmed to be eligible under the Scheme. The proponents of these 25 cases are now seeking approvals under development control procedures that the Scheme has helped relax, while the relevant departments are processing these applications at full steam.

(2) Having regard to Hong Kong's status as an international metropolis, we hope that the student hostels under the Scheme are of a certain degree of livability. In the past twenty-some years, a considerable amount of industrial land has been rezoned for non-industrial uses such as residential, commercial, and business uses. Sites which are currently still zoned as "Industrial" ("I") are mostly preserved for industrial activities. Due to factors such as traffic, air ventilation and noise, the livability of these "I" zones is generally lower than that of areas with commercial buildings. Therefore, under the current Scheme, be it an existing industrial building or a new redeveloped building, applications involving "I" zones are not eligible under the Scheme (Note).

     However, if the existing industrial building is located in non-"I" zones, such as "Commercial" ("C") or "Other Specified Use" annotated "Business" zones, applications involving proposed demolition and redevelopment or having undergone wholesale conversion into non-industrial use are already eligible under the Scheme according to the prevailing arrangements.

(3) We have not laid down an application deadline for the Scheme and interested applicants may submit applications to the EDB anytime.

(4) Besides facilitating the market in converting existing commercial buildings and constructing post-secondary student hostels on existing private land, the DEVB also plans to put up suitable sites for student hostel development through land sale.

     As such, on January 20, 2026, the DEVB invited the market to submit expressions of interest for student hostel development on three formed sites. If the market response is positive, the DEVB would consider making available these sites to the market by land sale through tender in 2026-27 the earliest. These three sites are located in Kai Tak, Siu Lek Yuen (Shatin), and Tung Chung East respectively, and are all zoned "C" on the relevant Outline Zoning Plans. In other words, developing student hostels under the Scheme would not require further planning applications. The relevant sites are also "developable land" that have been formed and equipped with basic infrastructure. The Government's preliminary estimate is that altogether, around 4 500 beds can be provided on the three sites, but the actual bed numbers will depend on the design of the project proponents. The key information of the sites is summarised as below:

Site in Kai Tak

     The site is located at the former South Apron area of the Kai Tak Development Area, near the Kai Tak Sports Park and adjacent to the New Acute Hospital commencing operation this year. Nearby MTR stations include Kai Tak Station and Kowloon Bay Station. Its site area is around 0.74 hectares (ha) and is subject to a maximum plot ratio (PR) of 5.8, a building height restriction (BHR) of 80 metres above Principal Datum (mPD), a maximum site coverage of 65 per cent, and a maximum gross floor area (GFA) of around 43 000 square metres (sq m).

Site in Siu Lek Yuen, Shatin

     The immediate area of the site is intermixed with commercial, residential, and other uses and is in proximity to the MTR City One Station and Shek Mun Station. Of around 0.11 ha, the site is subject to a maximum PR of 9.5, a BHR of 120mPD, and a maximum GFA of around 10 000 sq m.

Site in Tung Chung East

     The site is adjacent to the MTR Tung Chung East Station commencing operation in 2029. Its site area is around 0.25 ha and is subject to a maximum PR of 9, a BHR of 160mPD, and a maximum GFA of around 23 000 sq m.

(5) In order to expedite the development of student hostels, the Government has provided one-off capital grants of about $10.3 billion in total under the Hostel Development Fund (HDF) for six University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded universities with hostel shortfalls to carry out 15 student hostel projects. So far, eight projects have been completed, providing a total of around 7 800 student hostel places.

     As for the remaining seven hostel projects with construction works under progress, about 6 500 student hostel places are involved and the details are tabulated below. The relevant universities anticipate the projects to be completed gradually over the next few years.

University	Hostel project	Number of additional hostel places to be provided
City University of Hong Kong	Student Hostel at Tat Hong Avenue, Kowloon Tong	1 691 (999 places funded by the HDF plus 692 additional privately-funded places)
The Chinese University of Hong Kong	Student Hostel at Wu Yee Sun Campus	250
	Student Hostel at Chung Chi Campus	300
	Student Hostel at Area 39	394
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University	Student Hostel at Ho Man Tin	1 279
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University	Student Hostel at Tat Hong Avenue, Kowloon Tong	1 680
The University of Hong Kong	Student Residence at High West Site	938

(6) and (7) According to the EDB, currently, the student hostel places comprise both publicly-funded places and places provided by the private sector. Similar to other cities with clusters of top universities, Hong Kong's development into an international post-secondary education hub will attract more students from different geographical regions to study in Hong Kong. The demand for non-local student accommodation often attracts the private sector's participation, providing diversified options. For example, post-secondary institutions may collaborate with the private sector to provide hostel places or offer consulting services to non-local students seeking accommodation in the private residential rental market.

The EDB and the UGC encourage post-secondary institutions to adopt a multi-pronged approach to broaden students' accommodation options by making reference to the development of other major education hubs around the world and leveraging efficient market forces. The universities should support the accommodation needs of different student groups in a pragmatic, balanced, and appropriate manner. The EDB will also continue to collaborate with the DEVB, promoting the policy objective of consolidating Hong Kong's status as an international post-secondary education hub at full steam, and facilitating the private market to increase post-secondary student hostel supply through streamlining development control. As the planning and development of student hostel projects take time, coupled with the private sector participation element, the Government has not set a key performance indicator for this.

Note: It is worth mentioning that since student hostels eligible under the Scheme must fulfil the natural lighting and ventilation requirements applicable to domestic buildings, including that the distance between any parts of a hostel room and the window should not be over 9 metres, and the floor plate of existing industrial buildings are often relatively large, a substantial amount of floor area cannot be converted into hostel rooms, which is sub-optimal in terms of space utilisation. Therefore, the commercial viability of converting existing industrial buildings into student hostels is also limited.]]><![CDATA[Effective Exchange Rate Index]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400190.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400190.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 16:00:00 +0800<![CDATA[Inspection of aquatic products imported from Japan]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400582.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400582.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 15:55:00 +0800
For other Japanese aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds that are not prohibited from being imported into Hong Kong, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department is conducting comprehensive radiological tests to verify that the radiation levels of these products do not exceed the guideline levels before they are allowed to be supplied in the market.

From noon on February 3 to noon today (February 4), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 241 food samples imported from Japan, which were of the "aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt" category. No sample was found to have exceeded the safety limit. Details can be found on the CFS's thematic website titled "Control Measures on Foods Imported from Japan" (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/programme_rafs_fc_01_30_Nuclear_Event_and_Food_Safety.html).

In parallel, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has also tested 50 samples of local catch for radiological levels. All the samples passed the tests. Details can be found on the AFCD's website (www.afcd.gov.hk/english/fisheries/Radiological_testing/Radiological_Test.html).

The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) has also enhanced the environmental monitoring of the local waters. No anomaly has been detected so far. For details, please refer to the HKO's website (www.hko.gov.hk/en/radiation/monitoring/seawater.html).

From August 24, 2023, to noon today, the CFS and the AFCD have conducted tests on the radiological levels of 201 743 samples of food imported from Japan (including 129 334 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 44 472 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests.]]><![CDATA[LCQ18: Supporting elderly persons and carers]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400312.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400312.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 15:42:00 +0800
Question:

The Government has, starting in April 2025, extended the District Services and Community Care Teams - Scheme on Supporting Elderly and Carers (the Scheme) to across the territory to provide support to elderly persons and carers in need. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the number of households visited or contacted by the District Services and Community Care Teams (Care Teams) in various districts in connection with the Scheme since April 1, 2025, with a breakdown by District Council (DC) district and type of target service user (i.e. (i) singleton elderly households, (ii) doubleton elderly households, (iii) carers of elderly persons, and (iv) carers of persons with disabilities (PWDs)), together with a breakdown of the figures and percentages;

(2) of the following information on the referrals for support services made by Care Teams in various districts to the service targets of the Scheme since April 1, 2025: (i) the number of cases referred to social welfare service units for follow-up (set out by type of welfare service), (ii) the number of cases referred to the Designated Hotline for Care Support for follow-up, (iii) the number of cases in which eligible elderly persons and PWDs are referred to install the Safety Bell; and (iv) the number of cases referred to persons in need for applications for assistive devices, with a breakdown by DC district and the types of service targets mentioned in (1);

(3) among the cases referred to social welfare service units for follow-as mentioned in (2)(i), of the number of cases first identified as high-risk cases and their share of the percentage of the total number of cases referred;

(4) of the following information on the specialised training provided by the authorities to the Care Teams in response to the Scheme since April 1, 2025: (i) the names of the training programmes, (ii) the training format, (iii) the number of class hours, (iv) the names of the training institutions, (v) the number of trainees, and (vi) the means of assessing the effectiveness of the training programmes;

(5) as the 2025 Policy Address proposes expanding the Carer Support Data Platform (Data Platform) to connect data from more Government departments and public organisations, of the current progress and timetable of the relevant work; the respective numbers of elderly persons and carers currently covered by the Data Platform; and

(6) given that, in its written reply to a question raised by the Panel on Welfare Services of this Council in June 2025, the Government indicated that the Social Welfare Department did not maintain records of the number of elderly persons or carers in need identified and assisted by property management personnel under the Support for Carers Project (the Project), whether the authorities will collect such data in future to facilitate assessment of the actual effectiveness of the Project in supporting elderly persons or carers; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that and the alternative assessment methods?

Reply:

President,

The Government launched the District Services and Community Care Teams - Scheme on Supporting Elderly and Carers (the Scheme) in March 2024 on a pilot basis in Tsuen Wan and Southern District. The Scheme was extended to all 18 districts of Hong Kong in April 2025. More than 450 Care Teams across the territory have been assisting in, through visits and contacts, identifying households of singleton/doubleton elderly persons, carers of elderly persons and carers of persons with disabilities in need. Care Teams have provided care and support to these households, and referred elderly persons and carers in need to social welfare service units so that they can receive suitable support.

Our reply to various parts of the question is as follows:

(1) As at end-December 2025, Care Teams had visited or contacted 79 342 households in need under the Scheme, distribution as follows:

District	No. of singleton elderly households	No. of doubleton elderly households	No. of households with carers of elderly persons	No. of households with carers of persons with disabilities	Total no. of households
Central & Western	974 (31.44%)	1 019 (32.89%)	1 101 (35.54%)	4 (0.13%)	3 098
Southern	1 134 (32.94%)	1 110 (32.24%)	1 184 (34.39%)	15 (0.44%)	3 443
Islands	872 (39.23%)	688 (30.95%)	659 (29.64%)	4 (0.18%)	2 223
Eastern	1 314 (33.14%)	1 078 (27.19%)	1 572 (39.65%)	1 (0.03%)	3 965
Wan Chai	370 (29.53%)	496 (39.58%)	387 (30.89%)	0 (0%)	1 253
Kwun Tong	5 022 (53.50%)	2 601 (27.71%)	1 756 (18.71%)	8 (0.09%)	9 387
Wong Tai Sin	2 311 (41.60%)	1 534 (27.61%)	1 698 (30.57%)	12 (0.22%)	5 555
Sai Kung	735 (37.52%)	646 (32.98%)	575 (29.35%)	3 (0.15%)	1 959
Kowloon City	1 678 (36.65%)	1 739 (37.98%)	1 156 (25.25%)	6 (0.13%)	4 579
Yau Tsim Mong	1 442 (32.67%)	887 (20.10%)	2 080 (47.12%)	5 (0.11%)	4 414
Sham Shui Po	1 758 (52.35%)	1 047 (31.18%)	545 (16.23%)	8 (0.24%)	3 358
Sha Tin	2 980 (40.77%)	2 071 (28.33%)	2 254 (30.84%)	4 (0.05%)	7 309
Tai Po	985 (39.93%)	871 (35.31%)	603 (24.44%)	8 (0.32%)	2 467
North	1 207 (43.01%)	1 098 (39.13%)	495 (17.64%)	6 (0.21%)	2 806
Yuen Long	2 237 (43.89%)	1 450 (28.45%)	1 400 (27.47%)	10 (0.20%)	5 097
Tsuen Wan	1 126 (31.28%)	1 191 (33.08%)	1 273 (35.36%)	10 (0.28%)	3 600
Kwai Tsing	3 238 (35.95%)	3 484 (38.68%)	2 265 (25.15%)	20 (0.22%)	9 007
Tuen Mun	2 549 (43.78%)	1 847 (31.72%)	1 424 (24.46%)	2 (0.03%)	5 822
Total	31 932 (40.25%)	24 857 (31.33%)	22 427 (28.27%)	126 (0.16%)	79 342

(2) As at end-December 2025, Care Teams of all 18 districts across the territory had made a total of 6 773 welfare service referrals under the Scheme. The breakdown of referral categories by District Council district is as follows:

District	Services for the elderly (case)	Rehabilitation services (case)	Mental health services (case)	Family services (case)	Financial assistance (case)	Other services (Note) (case)	Total (case)
Central & Western	6	1	1	19	0	60	87
Southern	4	0	0	7	1	2	14
Islands	11	2	2	8	3	52	78
Eastern	12	2	2	14	7	327	364
Wan Chai	37	38	2	37	36	1	151
Kwun Tong	156	97	74	96	88	107	618
Wong Tai Sin	91	14	9	11	11	117	253
Sai Kung	91	14	6	49	7	3	170
Kowloon City	829	42	42	50	36	68	1 067
Yau Tsim Mong	105	81	66	100	42	145	539
Sham Shui Po	49	2	1	8	1	241	302
Sha Tin	24	9	8	19	63	132	255
Tai Po	18	4	1	17	2	45	87
North	65	2	2	13	20	9	111
Yuen Long	18	12	4	103	12	43	192
Tsuen Wan	64	13	5	58	4	43	187
Kwai Tsing	326	18	15	119	223	296	997
Tuen Mun	602	92	66	96	79	366	1 301
Total	2 508	443	306	824	635	2 057	6 773

(Note: Other services include referrals to the District Social Welfare Offices for welfare services, and referrals to activities or community resources provided by social service units)

Currently, the Social Welfare Department (SWD) does not categorise the aforementioned referral cases by household or carer type. In general, Care Teams would not refer the cases to the Designated Hotline for Carer Support as relevant households would be referred direct to respective welfare services based on their actual needs. That said, Care Teams would introduce the Hotline to these households and encourage them to call for assistance when necessary.

In addition to the aforesaid welfare service referrals, as at end-December 2025, over 2 700 households across the territory had received subsidies for the installation and service of emergency alarm system through referrals by Care Teams under this Scheme. Care Teams had also referred 1 085 households in need to apply for assistive devices.

(3) and (5) The Labour and Welfare Bureau and the SWD launched two pilot schemes in July 2025 respectively. Under one of the schemes, the SWD and Housing Department (HD) have identified, through consolidation of data from the two departments, high-risk households comprising singleton/doubleton elderly persons that are relatively older and lack community support, as well as high-risk households with carers of elderly persons or carers of persons with disabilities. We have then deployed Care Teams to contact and visit these households, and provide them with care and suitable support. This scheme aims to establish a community support network for high-risk groups which have yet to receive social welfare service support. In September 2025, we expanded this pilot scheme to all 18 districts across the territory, covering approximately 55 000 high-risk households. As at end-December 2025, Care Teams had contacted or visited over 27 000 high-risk households under the scheme.

Another pilot scheme is about establishing the first phase of the Carer Support Data Platform in July 2025. The objective is to provide emergency support to hospitalised carers and assist them in looking after their care recipients at home. We have initially connected data from the SWD, the Hospital Authority (HA) and the HD. When the SWD learns from the HA's notification mechanism that a carer is hospitalised and hence the relevant household may be at risk, we will proactively contact the care recipient and provide emergency support tailored to their needs, such as respite and meal delivery services, to achieve early intervention. As at end-December 2025, the SWD had contacted over 3 100 carer cases, with three cases identified as cases requiring immediate emergency support. For the remaining cases, the SWD provided them with contact details of social welfare units so that support for care recipients could be provided when needed. In future, Government will systematise the relevant database and progressively expand its coverage, and the next target is to include high-risk households living in Hong Kong Housing Society public rental units and "three-nil" buildings.

(4) Before the District Services and Community Care Teams - Scheme on Supporting Elderly and Carers was expanded to all 18 districts across the territory, the SWD had already held 44 briefing sessions and training seminars for more than 450 Care Teams across all 18 districts. The training covered the Scheme's service content and model, basic communication and visitation skills, methods to identify households' needs, familiarisation with welfare service resources and referral procedures in the district, and instruction on using the tenant information management platform to collect data and manage service records, etc.

In addition, each District Social Welfare Office has a designated contact person who maintains close contact with Care Teams and provides professional advice and support as needed. The Scheme has been operating smoothly so far.

(6) The SWD launched the "Support for Carers Project" (the Project) in October 2023. Through the SWD's subvented centres for the elderly and rehabilitation service units, the Project provides training for frontline property management personnel (PMP), equips them with the skills to identify and assist needy elderly persons, persons with disabilities and their carers, and provides them with information on welfare services in the community so that the PMP can promptly leverage community resources when necessary. Over 420 property management companies/owners' corporations have participated in the Project since its launch, covering more than 3 750 residential buildings across the territory. Over 11 000 frontline PMP have received training.

Property management companies participate in the Project on a voluntary basis and are responsible for arranging training for frontline property management staff. The focus of this Project is to attract more property management companies/owners' corporations to participate, thereby enhancing the ability and awareness of PMP to identify households in need. In this sense, collection of referral data may dampen the willingness of property management companies to participate due to additional resources and administrative burden, thereby undermining the original intent of the Project.

Training providers, property management companies and personnel will review the effectiveness of the training after each session. The SWD will continue to evaluate, by collecting feedback from stakeholders, the effectiveness of the training programmes in supporting carers.]]><![CDATA[Remarks by FS at media session after attending Legislative Council Ante Chamber Exchange Session (with photos/video)]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400578.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400578.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 15:40:00 +0800
Reporter: What did you make of the earlier exchange sessions with the lawmakers? And as the Chief Executive said yesterday, Hong Kong will make its first Five-Year Plan following the 15th Five-Year Plan in Beijing, what are the intended directions on how to align with the nation's development goals? How will Hong Kong implement the relevant policies and will your Budget that comes out later this month seek to roll out policies that also align with the nation's directions?

Financial Secretary: The discussion just now in the Ante Chamber focused on the 15th Five-Year Plan of the country. The recommendations for the 15th Five-Year Plan were set out last October. The final Plan will be released in March during the Two Sessions in Beijing. On the basis of those recommendations, in preparing the Budget, we have been taking into full consideration the future role of Hong Kong in aligning with, and making contributions to, the overall national development. During that process, Hong Kong will also benefit. For example, going forward - apart from being an international financial centre and international trade centre, technology and innovation will be a major driver of future economic growth.

And the 15th Five-Year Plan puts emphasis on technological self-reliance, as well as deeply integrating technology with industrial development. These are also of high reference value for Hong Kong as we work to diversify our economic structure and create more quality jobs for our people. At the same time, it is also necessary to use technology to upgrade and empower different sectors. It is the policy of the Government to embrace technologies and apply them, in particular AI, across different sectors. In the upcoming Budget, content will certainly be devoted to this to outline the future economic direction of Hong Kong.

For the five-year planning for Hong Kong to be led by the Chief Executive, it is indeed a great move. Going forward, the development of Hong Kong will count on the strong support of the Central Authorities, and the competitive advantages of Hong Kong as an international financial, trade and technology centre. We have a very big hinterland, which is a 1.4 billion-people market, as well as a vibrant technology and industry chain. We need to leverage these advantages to support our future growth. In the Budget, we'll also cover this aspect. Thank you.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)

]]><![CDATA[Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po rolls out two support measures]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400547.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400547.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 15:30:00 +0800
Earlier, the Beijing Han Hong Love Charity Foundation proposed to make a donation to the Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po for designated uses. After discussion with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and endorsement by the Steering Committee on the Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, the donation will be used to introduce two new measures to render assistance to residents affected by the fire.

The first measure is to provide a token of solidarity of $100,000 to the families of the 168 deceased from the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, including residents, foreign domestic helpers, visitors, and persons working at Wang Fuk Court during the fire, to help them get through this difficult time and rebuild their confidence in life.

The second measure is to provide a one-off Chinese New Year goodwill token of $5,000 to each flat owner or their families of all the eight blocks at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po to extend holiday blessings to them.

The estimated expenditure of the above two measures is around $26.6 million and will be fully borne by the donation from the Foundation. The payments will be disbursed through the "one social worker per household" mechanism from today (February 4).]]><![CDATA[LCQ14: Regulation of owners' corporations]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400358.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400358.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 15:00:00 +0800
Question:

     There are views pointing out that in many newly completed private housing estates or those completed for around 10 years, the gradual accumulation of the sinking fund and financial surpluses following the formation of owners' corporations (OCs) may give rise to risks of OC governance and elections being infiltrated or even "hijacked" by appointed or authorised non-owner representatives, and this could potentially lead to a chain of problems such as bid-rigging, improper procurement of works, and jeopardy of owners' interests. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) given that many office-bearers of OCs are owners serving on a voluntary or part-time basis, and they may not be familiar with regulations and procedures, of the training, professional support and risk alert measures currently provided by the Government to newly formed OCs through the District Building Management Liaison Team of the Home Affairs Department or other channels; whether the Government will consider requiring OCs, when handling major procurement contracts and works involving a hefty sum, as well as conducting change-of-term elections, to engage independent professionals (e.g. independent returning officers/legal advisers/procurement advisers) to perform gatekeeping, so as to enhance the credibility of the relevant procedures;

(2) whether the Government has, over the past five years, received the following complaints, requests for assistance or enquiries involving OC operation: (i) disputes involving change-of-term elections of OCs or decisions concerning large-scale works, where owners have requested the convening of an extraordinary general meeting of OCs in accordance with the requirement of receiving the request from not less than 5 per cent of the owners (i.e. as stipulated in paragraph 1 of Schedule 3 to the Building Management Ordinance (Cap. 344)); and (ii) disputes involving the authenticity of documents (including list of signatories or authorisation documents) submitted for the purpose of convening an extraordinary general meeting of OCs; if so, of the number of such cases, as well as the respective approaches adopted by the Government and the outcomes;

(3) regarding the aforesaid threshold requirement for convening an extraordinary general meeting of the OC at the request of not less than 5 per cent of the owners, whether the Government has evaluated if such threshold is suitable for application to buildings and properties of various scales, including but not limited to:

(i) single-block buildings or small housing estates (i.e. with a smaller number of owners), and whether the 5 per cent threshold may mean that an extremely small number of owners will be able to frequently initiate an extraordinary general meeting of the OC; and

(ii) large housing estates (i.e. with numerous owners), and whether the 5 per cent threshold will make it difficult for owners to initiate an extraordinary general meeting of the OC to handle urgent matters;

if the Government has evaluated, of the evaluation method, key findings and conclusions; if not, the reasons for that, and whether it will conduct the relevant evaluation; and

(4) given that during the debate on "Motion on support and rebuilding work after the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po" in this Council on January 14 this year, the Government indicated that, in order to enhance the protection of owners' rights and interests, it has formulated the directions for amending Cap. 344, including raising the voting thresholds for OCs to undertake large-scale maintenance works and high-value procurements, as well as improving the system for handling proxy instruments, of the specific timetable for the relevant work?

Reply:

President,

     The Government is committed to assist owners in discharging their responsibilities on building management. We have in place a series of measures, including providing an effective legal framework (i.e. the Building Management Ordinance (Cap. 344) (BMO)) to enable owners to form Owners' Corporations (OCs), and offering support services to assist OCs and owners in handling building management matters.

     To keep pace with the developments in the society and the evolving building management needs, the Government amended the BMO in 2024, and the Building Management (Amendment) Ordinance 2024 (the Amendment Ordinance) has taken effect since July 2025. When the Amendment Ordinance was passed by the Legislative Council (LegCo), the Government indicated that it would continue to follow up on various building management issues. Subsequently, the Chief Executive announced in the 2025 Policy Address that the Government would commence the next-phase review of the BMO, with a view to formulating proposals for further refining the Ordinance. In response to public concerns regarding building management, the Government will deepen institutional reforms and forge ahead the next-phase review and further amendments to the BMO. Five major amendment directions have been preliminarily proposed, including increasing the voting thresholds for decisions on large-scale maintenance works and high-value procurements, improving the mechanisms for proxy instruments and declaration of interests, clarifying meeting procedures, and strengthening the powers of the Authority.

     Our reply to the question raised by Dr the Hon Webster Ng is as follows:

(1) To support the OCs (including newly formed OCs), District Building Management Liaison Teams under District Offices (DOs) have been providing Pre-Meeting Advisory Service for Owners' Corporations. The service is offered to newly formed OCs, newly elected Management Committees (MCs) of OCs, as well as those OCs anticipating the discussion of controversial issues at their owners' meetings. Prior to the owners' meetings, the MC members will be briefed on meeting procedures and provided with relevant information. The Home Affairs Department (HAD) also collaborates with tertiary institutions to deliver the LEAD Programme for MC members, which provides structured training courses with knowledge on building management. We also provide the Advanced LEAD Programme, in which experienced lawyers are engaged to explore common building management scenarios (such as water seepage, unauthorised structures, apportionment of management fee and litigation) along with the relevant legal provisions and case rulings. It aims to enhance the effectiveness of MC members in handling building management matters.

     The Government recognises that building management can involve complex issues. Therefore, to address the various situations encountered by OCs in their day-to-day operations, the HAD continues to provide a range of support services, covering areas such as building management advisory service, legal advice and mediation, with the objective to offer professional support to OCs and owners in handling building management matters. These services include:

Owners' Corporations Advisory Services Scheme: Property management companies are engaged by the HAD to provide OCs with free advisory services, assisting them in complying with statutory orders, handling third-party risks insurance and other building management matters;

Free Legal Advice Service on Building Management: In collaboration with the Law Society of Hong Kong, the service provides legal advice on matters such as the interpretation of the Deed of Mutual Covenant or provisions of the BMO, as well as the responsibilities for maintaining common areas of buildings; and

Free Mediation Service Scheme for Building Management, Building Management Dispute Resolution Service (BMDRS) or Panel of Advisors on Building Management Disputes: With the assistance of professionals from various fields (including retired judges / judicial officers, lawyers, accountants, surveyors and engineers, and mediators), these services assist in resolving disputes concerning the operation of OCs, financial arrangements and repair works.

     The HAD will continue to assist OCs and owners in applying for and making use of the relevant services to obtain appropriate and effective support.

     On the other hand, among the five major proposed amendment directions mentioned above, on large-scale maintenance works and high-value procurement, we recommend introducing a tiered system for quorum and voting-in-person thresholds. This aims to encourage more owners to personally participate in major decisions, reduce potential disputes and strength the protection of owners' rights. We will further refine the declaration of interest mechanism by requiring the work consultants to declare any relationships with contractors, thereby enhancing the transparency in the procurement process. In addition, we also recommend imposing a ceiling on the number of proxy instruments an individual can hold, and displaying a list of units which have signed proxy instruments in buildings. This will enhance the transparency of proxy instrument system and prevent meeting outcomes from being manipulated by a minority. As for whether OCs should be required to engage independent professionals, we will consider the feasibility of this recommendation, including the financial implications on owners.

(2) Over the past five years, the HAD has received approximately 1 630 complaints related to building management. The HAD does not have separate statistics categorised by the nature of the complaints.

     If a DO becomes aware of a dispute within an OC regarding a request from no less than 5 per cent of the owners to convene an OC meeting, it will contact the Chairman of the MC to ascertain the circumstances. Should it be determined that the Chairman has failed to act in compliance with the requirements of the BMO, the DO will issue letters to the Chairman, requesting compliance with the statutory requirements. If a mutual agreement cannot be reached between the OC and the owners, the DO will urge the disputing parties to strengthen communication, including recommending relevant stakeholders to consider using mediation services, with the aim of assisting the parties involved resolve the dispute and allowing building management work to return to normal. As for cases involving suspected forgery of documents, we will urge the OC or owners to report the matter to the relevant law enforcement authorities (i.e. the Police).

(3) On one hand, the BMO grants the MC of an OC the authority and responsibility to handle and execute building management duties on behalf of the owners. On the other hand, it also empowers owners to oversee the operations of the OC and its MC. Regarding the BMO provision that allows no less than 5 per cent of the owners to request the MC Chairman to convene an OC meeting, the original intent behind setting this threshold is to safeguard owners' right to participation. It provides owners with a legitimate channel to raise matters of concern and require the Chairman to convene an OC meeting for discussion. This threshold also takes into account the BMO requirement that OC meetings must have a quorum of 10 per cent of owners in attendance, thereby ensuring that discussed items reflect a certain level of concern and consensus and allowing meetings to proceed effectively.

     We take note of Member's views and will consider them as part of the review of the BMO.

(4) Compared to the amendment exercise in 2024, the current review involves broader and more complex issues. The Government will first present the various proposed amendment directions to the LegCo to initiate subsequent discussions. We will also seek views from different stakeholders, such as OCs, owners, the property management industry, and various political groups. Furthermore, district opinions will be gathered through the Working Groups on Building Management established under District Councils, with the aim of finalising the concrete legislative proposals as soon as possible for submission to the LegCo for deliberation.]]><![CDATA[LCQ8: Loan provided by the Government to the CUHK Medical Centre]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400260.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400260.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 15:00:00 +0800
Question:

In 2015, the Government provided CUHK Medical Centre Limited with a loan of $4,033 million for the development of the CUHK Medical Centre (CUHKMC). Following approval from the Finance Committee of this Council, the first repayment date of the loan was extended to 2028. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CUHKMC told the media in recent months that CUHKMC achieved its first monthly breakeven in November last year, whether the Government knows the actual figures of CUHKMC's revenue, operating costs, as well as profit/loss before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) for November and December last year, and how such figures compare with those for the same period in 2024;

(2) as according to the paper submitted by the Government to the Finance Committee of this Council on February 28 last year, CUHKMC's actual EBITDA figure for the first half of the 2024-2025 financial year was a loss of $77 million, while the projected figure for the whole year was a loss of $54 million (implying that there would be a profit of about $23 million in EBITDA for the second half of the financial year), whether the Government knows if there is any discrepancy between the actual EBITDA figure and the projected figure for that financial year; if so, of the reasons in details; and

(3) as the CEO of CUHKMC has previously indicated that it would be quite difficult for CUHKMC to commence repayment in 2028 as scheduled, whether the Government has formulated contingency plans in this regard?

Reply:

President,

The consolidated reply to the question raised by the Hon Chong Ho-fung is as follows:

The CUHK Medical Centre (CUHKMC) is a non-profit-making private teaching hospital wholly owned by the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), with land and loan granted by the Government to the CUHKMC. The CUHK and the CUHKMC bear the responsibility to ensure the hospital's proper governance and operation, as well as delivery of relevant obligations, in accordance with the Service Deed and the Loan Agreement entered into with the Government. In line with its not-for-profit nature, all surpluses of the CUHKMC will be ploughed back into the hospital for its own development and the Faculty of Medicine of the CUHK for research and teaching. The CUHKMC performs a unique role in promoting research and development of the latest medical technologies in local medical schools and providing opportunities for their clinical applications.

Based on the latest information provided by the CUHKMC, for the full 2024-25 financial year (i.e. from July 2024 to June 2025), the CUHKMC recorded a loss before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation of about $185 million, which differed from the previous projection. This was mainly due to the lower-than-projected actual business activity and revenue levels during the period. In addition to competition in the healthcare services market, the business operation and service expansion were also impacted by intensifying competition for the recruitment and retention of personnel in the healthcare sector.

As regards the overall financial position of the CUHKMC for the 2025-26 financial year, the Health Bureau has earlier required the CUHK and the CUHKMC to regularly report its financial status as well as review and update the future financial projection(s). The Health Bureau, jointly with the CUHK and the CUHKMC, will make an overall report to the Panel on Health Services of the Legislative Council later this year, and it is not appropriate at this stage to comment on the performance of the CUHKMC for individual months. The Health Bureau has noted that there was a change in the management of the CUHKMC last year. Since then, the CUHKMC has progressively introduced a series of measures to improve its financial situation and control its costs. They include reviewing and adjusting the hospital's service charges and gradually increasing its service volume, such as putting additional operating theatres and hospital beds into service in phases. The CUHKMC has also strengthened control over operating costs (including professional fees and direct costs) to mitigate the overall financial impact.

In the light of recent media reports, the CUHKMC has reiterated to the Government that it will continue efforts to improve its financial and operational performance. The Health Bureau will continue to closely monitor the operation and financial position of the CUHKMC, maintain close communication with the CUHK on matters relating to the governance and management of the hospital, and continue the dialogue with the CUHK regarding the future operation or financial situation of the hospital as well as any proposed financing options. The Health Bureau has not received any further request for delayed repayment from the CUHKMC thus far. The Government will not rule out any possible solutions should structural problems emerge in the operation and finances of the CUHKMC. ]]><![CDATA[LCQ19: Operational status and financial situation of the CUHK Medical Centre]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020300653.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020300653.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 15:00:00 +0800
Question:

Last year, the Finance Committee of this Council approved to further extend the repayment of the Government loan of $4,033 million by the CUHK Medical Centre (CUHKMC) for three years. However, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CUHKMC has told the media in recent months that it will be difficult to commence repayment of the loan to the Government as scheduled in 2028. Regarding the operational status and financial situation of CUHKMC, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether it knows the latest operational status of CUHKMC (including the inpatient bed occupancy rate and the average number of inpatient bed days, as well as the utilisation rates of different services, such as outpatient services);

(2) given that, while the CEO of CUHKMC has previously indicated that CUHKMC has to achieve an annual total revenue of $6 billion before it can repay the Government loan as scheduled in 2028, the total revenue of CUHKMC last year was only $2.38 billion, whether the Government knows the latest financial situation of CUHKMC (including profit/loss before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation), and of CUHKMC's operational plans and proposals in place to achieve the targets of financial sustainability and repayment of loan as scheduled; and

(3) as the CEO of CUHKMC has pointed out that the original projection of an annual total revenue of $7 billion in three to five years after the commissioning of CUHKMC as made by the independent financial advisor was "too optimistic" and "highly exaggerated", whether the Government knows if CUHKMC has updated its financial projections based on the latest operational status; if so, of the details of the latest projections; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

The consolidated reply to the question raised by the Hon Chan Siu-hung is as follows:

The CUHK Medical Centre (CUHKMC) is a non-profit-making private teaching hospital wholly owned by the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), with land and loan granted by the Government to the CUHKMC. The CUHK and the CUHKMC bear the responsibility to ensure the hospital's proper governance and operation, as well as delivery of relevant obligations, in accordance with the Service Deed and the Loan Agreement entered into with the Government. In line with its not-for-profit nature, all surpluses of the CUHKMC will be ploughed back into the hospital for its own development and the Faculty of Medicine of the CUHK for research and teaching. The CUHKMC performs a unique role in promoting research and development of the latest medical technologies in local medical schools and providing opportunities for their clinical applications.

Based on the latest information provided by the CUHKMC, for the full 2024-25 financial year (i.e. from July 2024 to June 2025), the CUHKMC recorded a loss before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation of about $185 million, which differed from the previous projection. This was mainly due to the lower-than-projected actual business activity and revenue levels during the period. In addition to competition in the healthcare services market, the business operation and service expansion were also impacted by intensifying competition for the recruitment and retention of personnel in the healthcare sector. Figures on the service output of the CUHKMC are tabulated below:

Service item	First half of 2025-26 financial year (Percentage change compared with first half of 2024-25 financial year)
Inpatient bed utilisation rate	61% (Note)
Total number of inpatient bed days	24 939 (+9%)
Total number of day-patient discharges	8 291 (+18%)
Total number of operations and procedures	15 008 (+13%)
Total number of outpatient attendances	158 666 (+6%)

Note: As the inpatient bed utilisation rate is expressed as a percentage, the year-on-year percentage change for the same period is not applicable. The inpatient bed utilisation rate for the first half of the 2024-25 financial year was 56 per cent.

As regards the overall financial position of the CUHKMC for the 2025-26 financial year, the Health Bureau has earlier required the CUHK and the CUHKMC to regularly report its financial status as well as review and update the future financial projection(s). The Health Bureau, jointly with the CUHK and the CUHKMC, will make an overall report to the Panel on Health Services of the Legislative Council later this year, and it is not appropriate at this stage to comment on the performance of the CUHKMC for individual months. The Health Bureau has noted that there was a change in the management of the CUHKMC last year. Since then, the CUHKMC has progressively introduced a series of measures to improve its financial situation and control its costs. They include reviewing and adjusting the hospital's service charges and gradually increasing its service volume, such as putting additional operating theatres and hospital beds into service in phases. The CUHKMC has also strengthened control over operating costs (including professional fees and direct costs) to mitigate the overall financial impact.

In the light of recent media reports, the CUHKMC has reiterated to the Government that it will continue efforts to improve its financial and operational performance. The Health Bureau will continue to closely monitor the operation and financial position of the CUHKMC, maintain close communication with the CUHK on matters relating to the governance and management of the hospital, and continue the dialogue with the CUHK regarding the future operation or financial situation of the hospital as well as any proposed financing options. The Health Bureau has not received any further request for delayed repayment from the CUHKMC thus far. The Government will not rule out any possible solutions should structural problems emerge in the operation and finances of the CUHKMC.]]><![CDATA[2026 Lunar New Year fairs to start from February 11]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020300475.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020300475.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 15:00:00 +0800
A spokesman for the FEHD said, "The venues of the LNY fairs will be monitored using innovative and technological measures, and crowd control will be implemented as necessary. The footfall of the 14 LNY fairs will be displayed in a 'green, amber and red lights' format on the FEHD website to enable the public to know the crowd conditions at the fairs. A green light means few people are inside the fair, the amber light indicates the fair venue is slightly crowded, while the red light shows that the fair venue is very crowded."

The spokesman added, "The FEHD will gather unsold pots of flowers and plants donated by vendors in the fairs, which will then be delivered to homes with elderly people, residential care homes for persons with disabilities and public hospitals by volunteer teams made up of FEHD staff on LNY Day (February 17).

The FEHD reminded licensees that the stalls are solely for the purpose of selling and promoting the sale of permitted commodities, with no other activities allowed in the licensed area. If the FEHD considers that any activity conducted by the licensee to publicise, promote, display, show, offer or sell any permitted commodities in the venue is unlawful, contrary to the interest of national security, or being immoral or incompatible with the object of the LNY fair, the FEHD is entitled to direct the licensee to stop conducting such activity and the licensee must immediately comply with such direction, or the FEHD will terminate the licence agreement and reclaim the stall.

In addition, as stated in the licence agreement, the height of dry goods stalls must not exceed 3 metres, while the height of wet goods stalls and fast food stalls must not exceed 4.5m from ground level. For wet goods stalls and fast food stalls with a height of more than 3m from ground level, the licensee must, at his own expense, provide the FEHD with an original certificate issued by an authorised person, a registered structural engineer, or a competent person under the Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations (Cap. 59I) to certify the structural safety of the stall structure before the LNY fairs are opened to the public. The licensee must also affix a copy of the aforesaid certificate on the structure of the stall. Also, each corner and anchor point of the marquee (if any) shall be securely fastened using appropriate ballast weights such as sandbags or purpose-designed marquee water weights. During the period when the Strong Monsoon Signal is in force or is to be issued, the licensee shall immediately inspect the stall and adopt reinforcement measures as necessary.

Furthermore, the FEHD reminded licensees that no floating LED glowing balloons and aquarium fish should be sold in the LNY fairs. If balloons or gas-filled articles are to be displayed or offered for sale, only air or helium is allowed to be used for inflating the products. There are also stipulations on the storage of helium cylinders at the fair venues. According to the licence agreement, licensees must not keep, store or use more than 150 litres (water capacity) of compressed helium, i.e. the respective general exempt quantity for which a licence is not required, pursuant to the Dangerous Goods (Application and Exemption) Regulation 2012 (Cap. 295E) in the licensed area. For the sake of safety, no floating LED glowing balloons will be allowed to be brought into the LNY fair venues.

The spokesman also urged members of the public to keep the environment clean and not to litter while enjoying the festive season. Stall operators should also properly dispose of waste and keep their stalls and the surroundings clean and tidy.

For information on the 2026 LNY fairs including the locations and opening hours, please visit the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk) or call the FEHD hotline at 2868 0000.]]><![CDATA[LCQ5: Regulation of electric mobility devices]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400352.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400352.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 14:50:00 +0800
Question:

     Some members of the public have relayed that electric mobility devices (EMDs) are widely used in Hong Kong, particularly by residents in the New Territories, who often use them for short-distance commuting. However, some users operate such devices recklessly on roads, and incidents of battery short-circuit explosions during charging occur from time to time, rendering such devices a potential safety hazard in the community. Regarding the regulation of EMDs, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the number of persons arrested in the past two years for involvement in the illegal use of EMDs, as well as the number and nature of accidents (such as traffic accidents and short circuits during charging) arising from the use of such devices; the number of casualties in such accidents;

(2) of the progress and details of the legislative work for regulating EMDs, as well as when the certification standards for such devices will be introduced and come into effect; the measures put in place by the Government to reduce accidents involving such devices before the completion of the relevant legislative work; and

(3) as it is learnt that the Mainland has recently further regulated the use of EMDs, with some cities prohibiting the carrying of such devices into lifts to avoid causing fires, whether the Government will follow such practice?

Reply:

President,

     The Government has always adopted an open attitude towards new technologies for promoting green commuting whilst attaching great importance to road safety. We note that electric mobility devices (EMDs) are becoming increasingly popular around the world. We plan to legislate and introduce regulatory arrangements this year to enable the safe use of EMDs within designated areas. This will provide an effective first/last mile short-distance commuting solution, and will offer another green and low-carbon personal travel option, complementing the development of cycle tracks in new development areas.

     In consultation with the Security Bureau, the Development Bureau, the Transport Department (TD), the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), the Fire Services Department (FSD) and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, my reply to the various parts of the question raised by the Hon Tam Chun-kwok is as follows:

(1) As EMDs are mechanically propelled, they fall within the current definition of "motor vehicles" under the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374), and the use of unregistered or unlicensed EMDs may contravene the relevant laws. To ensure road safety, the HKPF carries out operations from time to time and takes strict enforcement actions against the illegal use of EMDs. Over the past two years, there were three traffic accidents involving EMDs in 2024 and eight in 2025; and for fire incidents involving EMDs, there were 12 and 17 cases respectively in 2024 and 2025, with electrical faults being the primary cause. Both figures were largely stable compared with the past few years and no fatal accidents were involved. However, there is a rising trend in the number of persons arrested by the HKPF for the illegal use of EMDs, rising from 647 persons in 2024 to 760 persons in 2025. These figures indicate that there is a need to step up the regulation to ensure the safe use of EMDs.

(2) and (3) To ensure the product quality and safety of EMDs, the TD and the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) are devising a product certification mechanism, having regard to practices in various regions. As the core of the regulatory framework, the certification mechanism will require the engagement of certification bodies to evaluate whether various models of EMDs comply with the technical specifications and motor requirements drawn up by the TD. A certification label with a QR code will be affixed to certified products for easy identification by the public and law enforcement officers. The TD has gauged the views of various stakeholders including manufacturers, suppliers, user organisations, testing laboratories, professional institutions, the Legislative Council Panel on Transport, the District Councils related to the trial arrangements, and the Transport Advisory Committee, so as to develop a mechanism and a set of standards that are practicable and safety-oriented. Meanwhile, the TD is working with the HKPC to implement simulated certification arrangements for industry participation, with a view to gaining trial experience and refining the certification requirements and arrangements.

     On the fire safety aspect mentioned in the question, the TD is working with the FSD to discuss concrete measures to minimise the fire risks associated with EMDs. In this regard, battery safety is a critical part of the aforementioned certification arrangements. Given that the liquid electrolytes currently used in lithium-ion batteries are flammable, the TD pays particular attention in formulating the certification arrangements, and will require certification bodies to conduct certification tests on the batteries, such as over-charging or discharging control, short-circuit and overheating protection, vibration and mechanical shock tests, in accordance with standards adopted in the Chinese Mainland and other major jurisdictions in the world so as to ensure product safety. We are also exploring the possibility of including the non-flammable semi-solid and solid batteries into the certification scheme. The latest requirements adopted by other places, including fire safety requirements, will be suitably incorporated into the certification standards to be proposed by the TD, and will be updated in the future as appropriate. The TD also plans to include recommendations on the charging and use of battery in the code of practice. Carrying certified EMDs that are compliant with safety standards into indoor areas, including elevators, will not compromise fire safety.

     In addition, the Government plans to establish clear guidelines under the product certification arrangements so that the responsibilities of various stakeholders, including manufacturers, suppliers and certification bodies, will be set out with clarity. As for EMD users, they must be at least 16 years old, wear a helmet and use compliant products.

     The TD has all along been collaborating with the Road Safety Council and the HKPF in publicising messages on road safety and the use of EMDs through various channels, including publications, websites and social media platforms. We will continue to enhance safety awareness among the public through publicity and education. Upon introduction of the regulatory arrangements, relevant guidelines will also be incorporated in the code of practice to be issued by the TD as an ongoing effort to instil proper driving attitude and disseminate safety messages among EMD users.

     As the topic has a wide coverage, the Government will conduct extensive consultation with stakeholders on the regulatory arrangement of EMDs. We plan to consult the Legislative Council Panel on Transport about the latest legislative proposal within this year.

     Thank you, President.]]><![CDATA[LCQ16: Improving management of building maintenance works]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400386.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400386.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 14:48:00 +0800
     In 2012, the Government launched the Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme (MBIS). Under the MBIS, private buildings aged 30 years or above may be selected as target buildings, and the owners concerned are required to complete building inspections within a deadline and prescribe repair works upon completion of the inspections. The MBIS aims to uphold the principle of "prevention is better than cure" by tackling the problem of building neglect through inspection and maintenance. In addition, there are views that quite a number of buildings lack proper management, and owners do not have knowledge of works or building maintenance. On improving the management of building maintenance works, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the current number of buildings aged 30 years in each of the 18 ‍districts across the territory which have not yet been brought under the MBIS; whether it will consider replacing the existing "one-off major maintenance" model with a "regular building maintenance" model;

(2) whether it will draw up standard fees and charges for consultancy services relating to building maintenance works in order to prevent bidders from undercutting with unreasonably low prices or engaging in bid‑rigging by colluding to charge exorbitant costs; given that the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) has launched the Building Rehabilitation Company Registration Scheme, which aims to assess and register qualified building rehabilitation service providers as well as providing a one-stop information platform for owners to search for service providers, whether the Government knows if the URA has plans to review the scoring criteria for companies registered under the Scheme;

(3) as there are views that carrying out multiple maintenance works simultaneously in a building may pose safety hazards to existing occupants, whether the Government will consider requiring buildings which need to undertake multiple maintenance works to split up the works into smaller projects so as to lower the project costs and reduce the risk of bid-rigging; and

(4) whether it will consider requiring buildings under the MBIS to organise fire safety and building management-related activities, such as fire drills and building management workshops, and to keep records of such activities on file?

Reply:

President,

     It is the fundamental responsibility of owners to maintain their properties in good condition. Based on this principle, the Government adopts a two-pronged approach to enhance building safety. On one hand, we encourage and support owners in the maintenance and repair of their properties. On the other hand, when dilapidated buildings pose danger to public safety, the Government will take the initiative to intervene through enforcement actions or by carrying out emergency repair works on behalf of the owners.

     In consultation with the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) and the Security Bureau, our reply to the various parts of the question is as follows:

(1) By the end of 2025, there were over 20 000 buildings in Hong Kong aged 30 years or above that are under the coverage of the building categories of the Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme (MBIS). Among which, about 9 000 buildings have been successively issued with MBIS notices. Among those buildings issued with notices, about 70 per cent are aged 50 years or above.

     The remaining some 11 000 buildings which have not yet been issued with MBIS notices are tabulated below, breakdown by District Council (DC) districts:

DC districts	Number of buildings
Central and Western	1 506
Eastern	758
Islands	290
Kowloon City	926
Kwai Tsing	399
Kwun Tong	495
North	498
Sai Kung	310
Sha Tin	729
Sham Shui Po	662
Southern	901
Tai Po	490
Tsuen Wan	423
Tuen Mun	510
Wan Chai	1 076
Wong Tai Sin	261
Yau Tsim Mong	1 124
Yuen Long	586
Total	11 944

     It should be noted that buildings do not automatically become high-risk upon reaching 30 years of age. Statistics indicate that buildings of a higher age (50 years or above), as well as those without a property management company, generally exhibit poorer condition and maintenance. Such buildings are precisely among the targets of the MBIS. The Buildings Department (BD) will continue to select buildings on a risk basis to issue MBIS notices.

     To alleviate the financial burden on owners, Operation Building Bright 2.0 provides subsidies to eligible owners for carrying out repair works required for compliance with MBIS notices. At the same time, we concur with Hon Fong's concept of regular maintenance. In fact, the new Preventive Maintenance Subsidy Scheme, launched by the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) in April 2024, also promotes regular maintenance. It encourages owners to formulate building maintenance plan on a 10-year maintenance cycle basis, and to establish a special fund for owners to make continuous contributions. After three years of continuous contributions, the URA will provide a one-off grant equivalent to 10 per cent of the total contributions made by the owners over the three-year period, thereby encouraging regular contributions. Since its implementation 22 months ago, the scheme has received 18 eligible applications involving 11 400 residential units.

(2) The Development Bureau (DEVB), in collaboration with the URA, has been providing the "Smart Tender" service since 2016. This service arranges for independent professionals to provide third-party professional advice and technical support to owners (such as advising on whether the scope of works in the tender documents complies with the requirements of the MBIS and providing reference cost estimates for relevant repair works items), as well as providing an electronic tendering platform for works consultants and contractors to participate in bidding. As for the URA's Building Rehabilitation Company Registration Scheme, it aims to provide building owners with free information, including assessments of whether works consultants and contractors have engaged professional personnel in project management, and completeness of their construction management and materials management systems. These assessments focus solely on the aforementioned specific areas and do not constitute a comprehensive evaluation of the company's overall circumstances and performance in determining its suitability as a service provider.

     Following the fire incident at Wang Fuk Court, the Government has immediately reviewed the current arrangements with a view to reducing the opportunities for illegal collusion among consultants, contractors, and individual owners, as well as reducing the risk of bid-rigging. In this connection, the DEVB is collaborating with the URA to formulate measures to strengthen the URA's role and functions in promoting building rehabilitation. This includes enhancing the "Smart Tender" service by establishing a more rigorous "pre-qualified list" of consultants and contractors, including background checks by the Police and the Independent Commission Against Corruption.

     The DEVB also proposes that under the enhanced "Smart Tender", the URA will conduct tendering and tender proposal evaluation procedures on behalf of owners for the appointment of consultants and contractors. We believe that with the URA acting as a gatekeeper during the tendering stage, it will also be difficult to accept tender prices that fall outside the reasonable range (whether exceedingly low or high).

(3) Allocating building repair items to different contractors requires careful consideration of associated issues, such as whether the site can accommodate simultaneous operations by multiple contractors, how owners will co-ordinate collaboration between contractors, and whether this will increase overall project costs and duration. We believe that the more rigorous "pre-qualified list" and the requirement that only pre-qualified consultants and contractors may participate in bidding as mentioned in part (2) above, coupled with the URA's leading role in the selection of consultants and contractors, will not only help ensure the reasonableness of tender prices but also reduce the opportunities for collusion and the risk of bid-rigging among consultants and contractors.

     Furthermore, in response to the recommendations put forward by the Task Force on Investigation and Regulation chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration, the HYAB will strengthen the relevant provisions of the Building Management Ordinance (Cap. 344). When making decisions on works or expenditure items, Owners' Corporations (OCs) will be required to comply with different levels of voting requirements for owners according to contract amounts. Projects of higher values require a higher threshold of quorum and voting-in-person, thereby preventing abuse of the system of proxy and being taken advantage of by criminals.

(4) The BD, the URA, the Fire Services Department (FSD) and the Home Affairs Department (HAD) have been organising regular district briefing sessions for owners, OCs, and Owners' Committees through the HAD's Central Platform on Building Management. These sessions introduce services and schemes related to building management and maintenance, including matters such as compliance with the MBIS, thereby strengthening the support provided to them.

     In respect of fire safety, according to the Fire Service (Installations and Equipment) Regulations (Cap. 95B), the owner of any fire service installation or equipment (FSI) which is installed in any premises shall keep such FSI in efficient working order at all times; and have such FSI inspected by a registered contractor at least once in every 12 months.

     Following the fire at Wang Fuk Court, the Government immediately established the Task Force on Strengthening Fire Safety Governance to implement both immediate measures and deploy medium to long term initiatives with the aim of enhancing fire safety. These include actively stepping up publicity, education, and training efforts for the public, OCs and property management companies (PMCs), etc. For example, encouraging them to increase the frequency of fire alarm tests to at least once in every six months, to organise at least one fire drill annually, to arrange the FSD to deliver disaster prevention and emergency preparedness seminars prior to such drills, regularly inspect means of escape and maintain proper records, as well as to check and repair all FSIs before carrying out major maintenance works.

     The FSD is also committed to promoting public safety education. Ongoing efforts are being made to disseminate basic fire safety knowledge to the public through various channels, including newspaper interviews, press releases, short videos, and a wide range of activities. Besides, the FSD has newly established the Building Emergency Responders Scheme which provides specialised training for property management personnel, representatives of OCs, and residents on building fire safety and fire safety inspections. These Building Emergency Responders can assist in identifying potential safety hazards within housing estates, participate in fire safety inspections, and report risks to the FSD or PMCs, jointly enhancing fire safety in buildings. The Government is actively examining the need for legislative amendments, including elevating the abovementioned administrative measures to statutory requirements as appropriate, with a view to further safeguarding the lives and property of the public.

     The HAD will continue to work closely with the FSD to arrange more fire safety talks and drills, and encourage building occupants (including buildings under the MBIS) to participate, so as to enhance residents' response capabilities in the event of a fire.]]><![CDATA[Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected counterfeit mobile phones worth $1.2 million (with photo)]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400383.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400383.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 14:30:00 +0800
     Through risk assessment, Customs on that day intercepted an incoming lorry at the HZMB Hong Kong Port. After inspection, Customs officers found the batch of suspected counterfeit mobile phones inside the cargo compartment of the lorry. A 45-year-old male driver was subsequently arrested.

     An initial investigation revealed that the batch of suspected counterfeit mobile phones would have been transhipped to overseas regions.

     The investigation is ongoing and the arrested man has been released on bail pending further investigation.

     Customs will continue to take stringent enforcement action against counterfeit goods and smuggling activities through risk assessment and intelligence analysis.

     Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who imports or exports any goods to which a forged trademark is applied commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected counterfeiting activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

]]><![CDATA[LCQ11: Leasing and operation situation of markets]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400286.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400286.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 14:18:00 +0800
Question:

     It is learnt that quite a number of operators of public market stalls providing daily food and necessities for members of the public are facing the pressure of rent increases. Regarding the leasing and operation situation of shops in public markets under the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the respective numbers of stalls, occupancy rates of stalls and categories of let-out stalls, as well as the respective numbers and rates of vacant stalls, in the various markets under the HA and the FEHD in each of the past three years;

(2) of the rental adjustment arrangements for the various markets under the HA and the FEHD in each of the past three years;

(3) as there are views that tenants of markets under the HA and the FEHD are currently facing a very difficult operating environment, whether the Government has considered providing financial support measures, such as rent concessions, for such tenants; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(4) whether the FEHD has considered making good use of vacant stalls in the markets under its purview by allowing online shops selling fresh and frozen food to provide self-pickup smart lockers, so that members of the public may collect their purchased items at markets outside working hours, thereby stimulating footfall in the markets; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(5) given that the HA has implemented the Well Being·Start-Up programme to offer shop premises in shopping centres under its purview rent-free to young people aged 35 or below for start-up purposes, whether the FEHD has considered, by drawing reference from such programme, providing vacant "non-food" stalls rent-free as start-up points for young people who wish to start their businesses; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) is currently responsible for managing 95 public markets under its purview. In view of evolving consumption patterns of the general public and demand for public markets, the FEHD has, in recent years, implemented various measures to enhance the operating environmental and management of public markets.

     Separately, the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HKHA) provides, in addition to affordable rental housing for low-income families with housing needs, ancillary facilities such as markets, as appropriate, to meet residents' daily needs. At present, there are a total of 33 markets under the HKHA's purview, offering residents with appropriate shopping options through flexible leasing arrangements and ongoing review of the trade mix.

     In consultation with the Housing Department, the reply to the various parts of the question raised by the Hon Joephy Chan is as follows:

(1) Information about the number of stalls, occupancy rates, number of vacant stalls, vacancy rates and stall categories in markets under the purview of the FEHD and the HKHA in the past three years (2023 – 2025) are set out in Annex 1 and Annex 2 respectively.

(2) The FEHD adjusts stall rental annually upon renewal of tenancy agreement or on the due date for rental adjustment as specified in the tenancy agreement according to the average of the year-on-year rates of change in Consumer Price Index (A) according to established mechanism, so as to catch up with inflation. In the past three years (2023 – 2025), the rental adjustment of the FEHD's public market stalls ranged between 1.7 per cent and 2.6 per cent, as detailed in Annex 3.

     As for the rent adjustments for market shopstalls under the HKHA, upon expiry of shopstall tenancy agreements, the HKHA assesses the renewal rents on a case-by-case basis according to the prevailing market value of the shopstall concerned, taking into account the rental status of other comparable lettings under the HKHA as well as the private property market; and relevant factors which would affect rental values such as the business environment of the trades, the location, as well as the size and the pedestrian flow of the shopstall concerned, etc. As for certain sectors which are facing greater challenges under the current economic climate, the HKHA will pragmatically take into account their actual operating conditions and may consider rent reduction to help alleviate their operational pressure when assessing rents for these trades. Given that the extent of rent adjustments upon renewal across different types of shopstalls varies due to the above factors, it cannot be generalised.

(3) Over the past few years, the Government has introduced various measures to support businesses, including rental concessions to stall tenants of the FEHD's public markets and the HKHA's markets. The most recent concession took effect in July 2023, under which tenants were offered a 50 per cent rental concession for six months, benefiting over 12 000 stall tenants. The Government will continue to closely monitor economic conditions and assess the need for further support measures as appropriate.

(4) The FEHD has been maintaining close communication with stakeholders (including tenants, local representatives, trade associations and logistic operators etc) to explore measures to better utilise market stalls and space, including adding suitable facilities to cater to both the needs of public and operators. For example, in Aberdeen Market and Kowloon City Market, parts of their common areas have been leased to logistic operators for installation of smart lockers for self-service parcel collection, bringing convenience to public and helping to attract patronage of public markets. Last year, the FEHD also arranged site visits for operators interested in providing parcel delivery and collection services in markets, to assist them in identifying appropriate locations for setting up service points or business counters. Separately, if companies engaged in the online sale of fresh or frozen food wish to provide self-service collection facilities, relevant food packaging, transport and storage operations must comply with the requirements/condition in respect of food safety, relevant permits and market operation. The FEHD will continue to consider, with an open mind, proposals that meet the needs of the society and can help enhance public market operation.

(5) The Government welcomes young people to make use of market stalls or hawker pitches to start their own businesses. The FEHD is collaborating with non-profit organisations to provide 20 vacant stalls in Yue Man Hawker Bazaar, Kwun Tong for young people to sell handicrafts, household wares and groceries, etc. The FEHD is also planning to launch a similar scheme in Aberdeen Market and is currently identifying suitable partners. The department will take into account the implementation of the scheme in Aberdeen Market and further explore ways to make use of vacant stalls to support young entrepreneurship. ]]><![CDATA[LCQ2: Enhancing elderly support networks in the community]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400328.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400328.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 12:52:00 +0800
Question:

It has been reported that the Housing Department and the Social Welfare Department launched a pilot scheme in Kwun Tong and Sha Tin in July last year to assist District Services and Community Care Teams (Care Teams) in identifying and supporting singleton or doubleton elderly households more accurately by consolidating data from both departments. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the progress of the Care Teams' work of supporting elderly people in these two pilot districts since the commencement of the pilot scheme, including the number of indoor or wearable Emergency Alarm Systems (commonly known as "ping on bell") that have been provided with their assistance so far, and whether it has plans to introduce other gerontechnology products for use by elderly people and extend the pilot scheme to the 18 districts across the territory;

(2) whether the data consolidated under the pilot scheme include information such as family members of elderly people, health conditions of elderly people, their demand for community support and their situation of receiving government assistance; of the government department currently responsible for data analysis and coordination; and

(3) whether it will expeditiously establish a comprehensive "singleton and doubleton elderly family" database integrated with a comparative analysis of data from government departments and public bodies such as the Social Welfare Department, the Housing Department and the Hospital Authority, so as to better assist singleton and doubleton elderly families; if so, of the timetable; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

     The Government implements a variety of measures to provide subsidised community care and support services for elderly persons in need, including day care services for the elderly, home care and support services, and the Community Care Service Voucher Scheme for the Elderly. At the same time, as carers play an important role in supporting elderly persons and persons with disabilities living in the community, the Government has spared no effort to strengthen support for carers of elderly persons and carers of persons with disabilities so as to alleviate their physical and mental stress, and enable care recipients to be looked after in a more comprehensive manner.

     I will now elaborate on the relevant policy measures, and provide a consolidated response to various parts of the question raised by the Hon Maggie Chan.

District Services and Community Care Teams – Scheme on Supporting Elderly and Carers

     With a view to identifying households of singleton and doubleton elderly persons, carers of elderly persons and carers of persons with disabilities in need, the Government launched the District Services and Community Care Teams – Scheme on Supporting Elderly and Carers (the Scheme) in March 2024 on a pilot basis in Tsuen Wan and Southern District, and extended the Scheme to all 18 districts of Hong Kong in April 2025. As at end-December 2025, more than 450 Care Teams across the territory had visited or contacted under the Scheme over 79 000 households of singleton and doubleton elderly persons, carers of elderly persons and carers of persons with disabilities in need, provided them with care and support, and made service referrals. Among these households, more than 2 700 of them successfully received subsidies for installation and service of the emergency alarm system (EAS).

Gerontechnology

Meanwhile, the Government has been promoting wider application of gerontechnology and rehabilitation care technology in society. The Government allocated $1 billion in 2018 for setting up the Innovation and Technology Fund for Application in Elderly and Rehabilitation Care (I&T Fund) to subsidise eligible elderly and rehabilitation service units to procure, rent or trial use technology products, with a view to improving the quality of life of service users and reducing the burden and stress on care staff and carers. As I mentioned in my written reply to the Legislative Council two weeks ago, the Government injected an additional $1 billion into the I&T Fund in 2024-25, enabling eligible community elderly and rehabilitation service units to apply for the procurement of suitable technology products, so that elderly persons and their carers can borrow these products and use them at home, thereby extending the application of technology products for household use.

As announced in the Chief Executive's 2025 Policy Address, the Labour and Welfare Bureau (LWB) will install, on a pilot basis, intelligent accident detection systems for 300 high-risk carer households, including households with elderly persons or persons with disabilities, this year to strengthen support to carers with a view to achieving real-time detection, early intervention and prompt assistance. We expect to announce the detailed arrangements in the first quarter of this year the earliest, and will strive to complete installation in or before the third quarter. Households participating in the pilot project will be exempted from all fees. We will commission a university to evaluate the effectiveness of this project, which will serve as a reference for continuous implementation of, and adjustments or improvements to the measure in future.

Carer Support Data Platform

Regarding the Carer Support Data Platform, the LWB and the Social Welfare Department (SWD) launched two pilot schemes in July 2025. The first one, which is mentioned in Question (1), involves collaboration with the Housing Department (HD). This scheme aims to establish a community support network for high-risk groups which have yet to receive social welfare service support. By consolidating data from both departments, we have identified high-risk households comprising singleton or doubleton elderly persons that are relatively older and lack community support, as well as high-risk households of carers of elderly persons and carers of persons with disabilities. We have then deployed Care Teams to contact and visit these households, and provide them with care and suitable support. In September 2025, we extended this pilot scheme from Kwun Tong and Sha Tin to all 18 districts of Hong Kong. As at end-December 2025, Care Teams had contacted or visited over 27 000 high-risk households, made over 1 800 welfare service referrals, and assisted them in applying for EAS as needed under the scheme. Some of these applications were counted in the aforementioned 2 700 households which successfully received subsidies for installation and service of EAS.

The other pilot scheme is relevant to the database mentioned in Question (3). We established the first phase of the Carer Support Data Platform in July 2025, with the objective to provide emergency support to hospitalised carers and assist them in looking after their care recipient at home. We have initially connected data from the SWD, the Hospital Authority (HA) and the HD for this purpose. When the SWD learns from HA's notification mechanism that a carer is hospitalised and hence the relevant household may be at care risk, the SWD will arrange staff to proactively contact the care recipient and provide emergency support tailored to their needs, such as respite services and meal delivery services, to achieve early intervention. As at end-December 2025, the SWD had contacted over 3 100 carer cases, with three cases identified as cases requiring immediate emergency support. For the remaining cases, the SWD provided them with contact details of social welfare units so that support for care recipients could be provided when needed.

In future, the Government will systematise the relevant database and progressively expand its coverage, and the next target is to include high-risk households living in Hong Kong Housing Society public rental units and "three-nil" buildings.]]><![CDATA[LCQ21: Issuance of emergency alerts and important information to public]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400346.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400346.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 12:45:00 +0800
Question:

     The Government launched the Emergency Alert System in 2020 to disseminate public announcements and messages to mobile service users via mobile networks during emergency situations such as extreme weather, major public safety incidents and large-scale public health incidents, thereby enabling the public to take swift contingency measures. However, since its commissioning, the System has only been utilised once in March 2022. There are views that in the past, when extreme weather events and major social incidents occurred, the Government could have made better use of the System to issue early warnings to members of the public. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) given the view that when a No.5 alarm fire broke out at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po in November last year, the Government should have used the System to issue an alert to the public to notify residents of the housing court concerned to evacuate the scene of the fire and to appeal to other members of the public to avoid gathering nearby, thus preventing vehicular and pedestrian traffic from impeding rescue operations, of the reasons for the Government not using the System to disseminate such messages at that time;

(2) of the criteria and procedures for the Government's use of the System, including the department or rank of officials responsible for giving final approval; given that the System has two alert levels (i.e. "Emergency Alert" and "Extreme Emergency Alert"), the specific classification standards for these two alert levels;

(3) whether, in the event of a regional or localised sudden emergency incident in the future, the System is technically capable of partially issuing messages and alerts only to members of the public located in specific areas of Hong Kong; whether the authorities will further consider using the "iAM Smart" mobile application to disseminate emergency alerts;

(4) it is learnt that certain departments under local governments in the Mainland occasionally disseminate information to members of the public via mobile phone SMS messages on matters such as inclement weather, disaster prevention during festive periods, public health and major events, whether the authorities will consider drawing reference from such practices and making greater use of mobile phone SMS messages and the "iAM Smart" mobile application to disseminate territory-wide notifications or information to members of the public; and

(5) of the annual recurrent expenditure of the System, and the cost incurred each time it is used to issue messages?

Reply:

President,

     In response to various parts of the question raised by Professor the Hon William Wong, having consulted the Security Bureau, the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau, and the Environment and Ecology Bureau, our reply is as follows:

(1) The Emergency Alert System (EAS) is established to enable government bureaux and departments to send emergency alerts to all mobile service users in Hong Kong via mobile networks in the event of serious emergency situations, such as extensive infrastructure damages or failures caused by extreme weather, significant public safety incidents, or major public health emergency situations. Once the EAS is activated, all mobile service users in Hong Kong will receive on their devices a mandatory alert tone lasting 10 seconds together with the emergency message. Since the objective of the EAS is to prompt members of the public to take immediate responsive actions to safeguard their personal safety, the activation of the EAS will inevitably interrupt their activities or work at that moment and may attract widespread public attention. On the other hand, frequent activation of the EAS may result in reducing vigilance and crisis awareness of citizens regarding the EAS messages. Therefore, government bureaux and departments will carefully evaluate the actual circumstances so as to decide whether to release important information through the EAS or through other communication channels.

     The EAS is designed to issue alerts to all mobile users in Hong Kong. As the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po was a district-level incident, the EAS was not activated to send emergency alerts to all mobile service users in Hong Kong. As a matter of fact, the Fire Services Department arrived at the scene within five minutes after receiving the report. With fire engines and police vehicles having arrived at the scene, the sirens on these vehicles served as an immediate alert of the fire to residents. Police officers also made use of the public address systems installed on police vehicles and drones to urge members of the public to evacuate immediately. Firefighters and police officers at the scene also offered immediate assistance to affected residents in evacuating and led them to safe locations. In addition, the Government issued a "special announcement on fire in Tai Po" through press releases, immediate and repeated broadcasts on radio and television channels, in particular to remind nearby residents of the fire at Wang Fuk Court.

(2) Alerts under the EAS are classified into two levels, namely the "Emergency Alert" calling for citizens' actions to avoid immediate risks to their personal health, safety or properties; and the "Extreme Emergency Alert" requiring citizens' immediate actions in response to obvious and imminent danger that could cause the loss of human lives, serious personal injuries and massive damage to properties. According to the established mechanism, under truly justified emergency situations, government bureaux and departments may, after obtaining the approval of the relevant Director of Bureau (and the Chief Secretary for Administration in the case of "Extreme Emergency Alert"), disseminate EAS messages to alert members of the public to take immediate responsive actions.

(3) and (4) The EAS deploys cell broadcast service technology of mobile networks. Technically, it can support dissemination of EAS messages to specific district(s). The Government has been actively reviewing and enhancing the configuration and application of the EAS, including the issuance of territory-wide or district-specific emergency alerts according to different circumstances. The EAS is only one of the dissemination channels, government bureaux and departments will carefully assess the actual circumstances to determine whether to disseminate emergency messages to the targeted public located in specific areas in Hong Kong through the EAS.

     Regarding information on adverse weather conditions, the Hong Kong Observatory disseminates weather updates not only through television and radio broadcasts but also via its official website, the "MyObservatory" mobile app, and its social media platforms, etc. Besides, the "iAM Smart" mobile app provides a function for disseminating government information and alerts, covering a wide range of contents closely related to citizens' daily lives, including weather warnings and special weather tips, special traffic news, outbound travel alerts, food safety alerts, etc. Users may select through customised settings to receive information and alerts issued by various government departments based on their personal needs.

(5) Mobile network operators shall, pursuant to the prevailing licence requirements, maintain and operate the EAS at their own costs and ensure the continued availability of the EAS so as to enable the Government to disseminate EAS messages through their mobile networks to alert their users during emergency situations. The maintenance and operation of the EAS (including using the system to issue messages) does not involve any additional government recurrent expenditure.]]><![CDATA[LCQ9: Attracting visitors to spend in Hong Kong]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400277.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400277.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 12:37:00 +0800
Question:

     There are views pointing out that visitor spending is crucial to the development of local retail economy. Regarding attracting visitors to spend in Hong Kong, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) given that the Mainland has earlier on further relaxed the entry conditions for visitors from abroad and policies to facilitate visitor spending (including extending the "refund-upon-purchase" services for visitors from abroad to the whole country), significantly enhancing its international tourism appeal, and as there are views that Hong Kong serves as the premier "transit point" for many visitors entering the Mainland, how the authorities will seize this opportunity to promote visitors transiting via Hong Kong to allocate more time for spending in Hong Kong;

(2) as there are views that the Art Basel Hong Kong held in Hong Kong last year and the film "Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In" were acclaimed by audiences, fully showcasing Hong Kong's rich cultural, historical and artistic resources, whether the authorities will further explore such resources to extend visitors' stay in Hong Kong and increase their incentive to spend; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(3) as there are views pointing out that high-level forums and international exhibitions generally attract business visitors with higher per capita spending levels, making significant contributions to the economy, of the measures to be adopted by the authorities to further attract such activities to be held in Hong Kong; whether it has plans to integrate various types of mega events or activities to promote spending by business visitors?

Reply:

President,

     Tourism is one of the important pillars of Hong Kong's economy, driving the development of retail, catering and hotel industries. The Government has been actively seizing the opportunity to promote the in-depth integration of culture, sports and tourism, and is committed to providing visitors with enjoyable travel experiences, enhancing Hong Kong's overall attractiveness, and injecting impetus into the local economy.

     The tourism industry performed very well in 2025. In 2025, there were 49.9 million visitor arrivals, exceeding the estimate made early in the year and marking a 12 per cent growth compared with the whole-year total of 44.5 million in 2024. The Central Government's numerous measures benefitting Hong Kong have injected tremendous momentum into Hong Kong's tourism industry, with around 37.8 million Mainland visitor arrivals recorded in the year, representing an increase of around 11 per cent compared to 2024. Meanwhile, there were around 12.1 million non-Mainland visitor arrivals, reflecting a robust growth of 15 per cent year-on-year.

     In consultation with the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, the Transport and Logistics Bureau and the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, the consolidated reply to the question raised by the Hon Chan Chun-ying is as follows:

(1) Starting from October 2025, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (the Government) has expanded the scope of passengers exempted from paying the air passenger departure tax, covering more transfer passengers arriving by sea or land and passengers departing by air from the airport on the next day of arrival. This initiative aims to attract more passengers to use Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) for transfer, thereby further consolidating Hong Kong's status as an international aviation hub. The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) and the tourism sector have actively promoted this new initiative to the Chinese Mainland and international visitors with a view to attracting more transfer passengers' spending in Hong Kong.

     Moreover, in November 2025, the Central Government incorporated four ports connecting Hong Kong, including the Guangzhou Pazhou Ferry Terminal, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the Zhongshan Port, and the West Kowloon Station of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link as entry ports into the 240-hour visa-free transit policy for foreign nationals. This arrangement is beneficial to attract more international visitors to take Hong Kong as their first stop, and then embark on multi-destination travel itineraries in the Chinese Mainland via the comprehensive cross-boundary network between Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland.

     Separately, HKIA launched a free local tour service designed exclusively for transfer passengers in September 2025, allowing those passengers with longer layovers to leave the airport and visit and spend in different areas in Hong Kong during their transit stay. Tour participants can enjoy exclusive fast-track immigration clearance upon their arrival and departure at HKIA, ensuring smooth access into and out of the restricted areas and timely boarding. This enables the participants to better utilise their transit time to experience Hong Kong's unique culture and explore its distinctive attractions.

     The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) and relevant policy bureaux/departments (b/ds) will continue to work with the Airport Authority Hong Kong, the HKTB, airlines and the travel trade to proactively explore more measures that can attract visitors transiting via Hong Kong to allocate more time for sightseeing and spending in Hong Kong.

(2) Hong Kong is rich in cultural, historical and artistic tourism resources. We are working with relevant b/ds, as well as various stakeholders, to develop diverse travel experiences with Hong Kong's local characteristics. The CSTB and the HKTB will promote the development of "Mega Events + Tourism" through diverse cultural festivals, tourism projects and mega events so as to encourage visitors to extend their stay in Hong Kong and enhance their desire to revisit the city.

     In 2025, we delivered visitors and the public a number of major international cultural and sports events, including the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament, which was staged at the Kai Tak Sports Park for the first time, LIV Golf Hong Kong, Art Basel, Art Central, ComplexCon, Hong Kong Football Festival 2025, the 15th National Games of the People's Republic of China, the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games, concerts of groups from other places and local singers, "Water Parade at Victoria Harbour" featuring renowned Ips (intellectual property) and the large-scale balloon parade "Merry Balloon Hong Kong". The HKTB also organised flagship events, including Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races, Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival, Hong Kong WinterFest, Hong Kong New Year Countdown and International Chinese New Year Night Parade. Among the events, the Hong Kong WinterFest was moved to Central in 2025 to create a vibrant winter festive ambience. Looking ahead, we will continue to organise and support these mega cultural and sports events to further reinforce Hong Kong's position as the Events Capital of Asia.

     Besides, we will seize the opportunity from the enthusiasm for Hong Kong films to promote thematic tourism incorporating film and television cultural elements, encouraging visitors to explore the city's diverse charms. Opened to the public since May 24, 2025, the "Kowloon Walled City: A Cinematic Journey" Movie Set Exhibition has been well received by locals and visitors, with more than 291 000 visitors to date, many of whom travelled to Hong Kong specifically for this exhibition. We have also opened the "Yau Ma Tei Police Station: A Cinematic Journey" Exhibition at the Old Yau Ma Tei Police Station on January 2, 2026, which is themed around Hong Kong police and crime films. Public response for this exhibition has been overwhelming, with over 11 000 tickets for January sold out within two weeks. To facilitate visits by visitors and citizens, we will extend the opening hours during Chinese New Year period. The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency will also establish a dedicated brand trademark for the exhibition and develop a range of cultural and creative products integrating elements of Hong Kong police and crime films, the architectural features of the historic police station, and the local culture of the Yau Ma Tei district. By seamlessly integrating these products into the exhibition, it will enrich the visitors' cultural and travel experiences while fostering economic activities within the district.

     We are also actively promoting tourism products featuring "Made in Hong Kong" industrial element. The first phase of the Hong Kong industrial brand tourism scheme comprising three industrial brands within the Tai Po InnoPark, including Lee Kum Kee, Kee Wah and Yakult was launched in September 2025. These brands not only showcase their unique stories but also arrange experiential activities for visitors, such as tours of production processes, tastings or workshops, allowing visitors to understand Hong Kong's industrial history and achievements. We are currently discussing with other industrial brands with a view to launching the next phase of projects.

     In addition, the HKTB also took the advantage of the local food culture and launched the "Taste Hong Kong" Gourmet Guide, in partnership with the Chinese Culinary Institute (CCI). The guide provided visitors with inspirations to explore the city's flavours and enhanced tourism appeal by inviting over 50 local master chefs who graduated from the CCI to recommend 250 of their favourite restaurants across Hong Kong.

(3) Hong Kong is the world's seventh-largest trading entity in merchandise trade and also the region's premier convention and exhibition (C&E) hub. Many well-known international organisations and businesses have chosen to host C&E events in Hong Kong. C&E events, in particular international ones, attract numerous participants (including exhibitors and buyers) to Hong Kong. In addition to benefitting the C&E industry, the high-spending business visitors they bring in also drive economic activities in related sectors, such as accommodation, catering, retail, entertainment, thereby benefitting various industries and bringing important contributions to Hong Kong's economy.

     In view of the contribution of C&E events to Hong Kong's economy, the Government has allocated $1.4 billion to launch the Incentive Scheme for Recurrent Exhibitions (ISRE) in July 2023, subsidising venue rentals of eligible local and international exhibitions organised by private organisers. The ISRE ended on June 30, 2025 and was very well received, with over $1.2 billion approved to support 224 eligible exhibitions. To further promote the development of the C&E industry and the mega event economy in order to generate overall economic benefits for Hong Kong, the Government has allocated an additional provision of $500 million to launch the ISRE 2.0 on July 1, 2025, focusing on attracting new and recurrent international exhibitions of a large scale. In addition, the Government will continue to take forward expansion projects for large-scale C&E facilities to provide additional space for more C&E events to be staged in Hong Kong. This includes the expansion project at the AsiaWorld-Expo, which has commenced construction and is expected to be completed in 2028.

     In addition, the HKTB will continue to proactively bid or assist in bidding for major international conferences to be held in Hong Kong through various funding schemes, targeting, in particular, sectors such as financial services, medical science, information technology and aviation logistics. These include events such as the World Cancer Congress and Consensus Hong Kong. The HKTB will also continue to enhance the Hong Kong Convention Ambassador Programme, leveraging elite leaders from various business and professional sectors to identify and lobby international C&E events to be hosted Hong Kong. In terms of meetings and incentive travel, the HKTB will proactively focus on attracting more corporate meetings and incentive travel groups to Hong Kong. The HKTB will focus on markets such as the Chinese Mainland, Southeast Asia and India, while attracting large-scale direct sales corporates to host large-scale conventions and incentive travel activities in Hong Kong. The HKTB also collaborates with international brands to support them in bringing renowned events to Hong Kong. For example, the HKTB sealed a partnership with "50 Best", and the award ceremonies of "Asia's 50 Best Bars" and "World's 50 Best Bars" were held in Hong Kong in 2024 and 2025 respectively. In March 2026, the award ceremony of "Asia's 50 Best Restaurants" 2026 will also be held in Hong Kong. Besides, the HKTB will introduce event organisers of meetings, incentive travels and conventions and exhibitions (MICE) in advance to mega events and seasonal themed activities in different months, with a view to facilitating their pre-event planning, thereby boosting business visitor spending.

     In 2025, Hong Kong welcomed 2.51 million MICE visitors, increasing by 7 per cent compared to last year. Among them, 1.43 million were overnight visitors, generating a total spending of about $10.7 billion. Throughout the year, more than 360 MICE events were staged in Hong Kong's two major dedicated MICE venues, namely the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and the AsiaWorld-Expo.

     The Government will continue to secure and support the staging of international MICE events of different scales and types in Hong Kong, thereby consolidating Hong Kong's position as an international MICE capital. It will also work with the trade to enhance the travel experience of business visitors, with a view to attracting more high-value-added overnight visitors.]]><![CDATA[LCQ 3: Foster care service]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400318.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400318.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 12:30:00 +0800
Question:

     It is learnt that the number of foster families has continued to decrease in recent years, making it difficult to find matches for children in need. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether it will consider reviewing the substitute mechanism for foster families, including not deducting allowances during reasonable substitute periods and establishing district-based substitute support networks, such as setting up a "partner family" mechanism to enable foster families to assist each other in providing short-term care for foster children when necessary; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(2) whether it will consider formulating an inflation-linked foster care allowance for maintenance of foster children's expenses and an incentive payment for foster families, and increasing these amounts to cover foster children's reasonable expenses on learning and development activities (e.g. tutorial fees), as well as recognising the selfless contributions of foster parents; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(3) as there are views that community recognition for foster families is insufficient, whether, in order to commend the contributions of foster families and promote the building of a foster family-friendly society, the Government will encourage the business sector to launch a "Foster-Friendly Card" to provide foster parents with concessions on transport, shopping, and arts, cultural, leisure and recreational services, etc.; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

     Residential Child Care Services subsidised by the Social Welfare Department (SWD) can be categorised into institutional and non-institutional services, which provide 24-hour free-of-charge transitional residential care and protection for children and young persons who temporarily cannot be adequately cared for by their families due to various reasons. Foster care is a type of non-institutional service for children under the age of 18 who cannot be adequately cared for by their families due to various family issues or emergencies, so that they can continue to enjoy family life until they can reunite with their families or a long-term alternative welfare arrangement is reached.

     The consolidated reply to the three parts of the question raised by the Reverend Canon the Hon Peter Douglas Koon is as follows:

     To ensure children in need receive appropriate care and to encourage suitable families to join foster care service, the SWD regularly disburses allowances and incentive payment to foster parents, including Maintenance Grant for Foster Children and Incentive Payment for Foster Parents. At the same time, an additional incentive payment is also provided to foster families taking care of children with special needs or children under six years old. Furthermore, when a child is placed in a foster family, the foster parents will receive a one-off setting-up grant. These allowances and payments are adjusted annually according to the Composite Consumer Price Index.

     Maintenance Grant for Foster Children is provided for foster parents to cover the foster children's monthly living expenses, including food and daily necessities. According to the existing mechanism, if a foster child is arranged by the responsible caseworker to temporarily leave the foster home for home leave, the Incentive Payment for Foster Parentsand the additional incentive payment will continue to be disbursed to the foster parents without deduction, while the Maintenance Grant for Foster Children will be deducted according to the number of days the child is temporarily away from the foster home.

     If foster parents need to take leave for various reasons and cannot take care of their foster child, the foster child will be arranged to receive care service at another foster home. During the relief care arrangement period, foster care allowance will be disbursed to the foster family providing relief care to the foster child concerned until the foster child returns to the original foster family.

     To improve the arrangement of relief care, the SWD launched a "one-plus-one" recruitment scheme in January 2024 to encourage members of the public who are interested in providing foster care services to submit applications together with their relatives and friends for taking care of the same foster child, so that they can swiftly stand in for one another when one party is temporarily unable to provide care. The "one-plus-one" scheme facilitates mutual support between the shared households and also saves the need for a foster child to be arranged to stay in an unfamiliar living environment.

     To further strengthen support for foster care services, the Government has implemented a series of enhancement measures recent years, including substantially increasing the incentive payment for foster parents starting from April 2024 to encourage interested parties to become foster families. The monthly incentive payment of ordinary foster care service has been increased more than double from around $5,000 to about $11,000; and that for emergency foster care service has been doubled from around $6,600 to about $13,000. In the past three years, the number of registered foster families increased from 978 in 2023-24 to 1 112 in 2025-26 (as at end-2025), representing an increase of about 14 per cent.

     Moreover, starting from January 2025, the Government has allocated additional resources to strengthen support to foster parents and enhance service quality, including increasing manpower of social workers in non-governmental organisations (NGOs), providing training and professional support for foster parents, providing extra support for foster children with special learning or care needs and arranging early assessments and appropriate professional rehabilitation therapy and training for them. Additional allowances are also provided for foster children to cover the expenses for extra-curricular activities, tuition classes and interest classes, etc., thereby meeting their learning and developmental needs.

     In order to recognise the contributions of foster families and promote the building of a foster-friendly society, the SWD annually holds parent-child activities for foster families which provide an opportunity for foster children to express their gratitude to the foster parents. Besides, the SWD regularly holds the Foster Families Service Award Presentation Ceremony to present awards to foster families to give recognition to their care and outstanding contributions to foster children, and at the same time call on more people to join the service with a view to bringing love and care for more children in need. In addition, the SWD has been collaborating with NGOs that provide foster care services to promote foster care through various channels and media, including inviting foster parents to share their experiences of caring for foster children on media platforms so as to recognise their dedication and contribution and raise public awareness of foster care services.

     The SWD will continue to review the utilisation of foster care services and will maintain communication with NGOs providing foster care services to ensure that foster care services can meet the needs of foster children and safeguard their well-being.]]><![CDATA[LCQ7: Home Ownership Scheme]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400338.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400338.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 12:20:00 +0800
Question:

     The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HKHA) is responsible for formulating and implementing the Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) policy. The ultimate goal of this policy is to encourage owners to form owners' corporations (OCs) in accordance with the Building Management Ordinance (Cap. 344), thereby enabling them to take over the management responsibilities of their HOS courts. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) given that, upon the completion of HOS courts and prior to the formation of their OCs, the HKHA serves as the manager under the Deed of Mutual Covenant (the manager) for those HOS courts and appoints qualified Property Services Agents to carry out the day-to-day management of the HOS courts, of the current number of HOS courts for which the HKHA still serves as the manager, with a breakdown by court name and number of units involved; and

(2) whether it has ascertained the reasons why the HOS courts mentioned in (1) have not yet formed OCs, thereby necessitating the HKHA's continued role as their manager; if so, of the specific details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HKHA) has all along been striving to enrich the housing ladder and assist households with different affordability to achieve home ownership through the provision of various types of Subsidised Sale Flats, including those under the Home Ownership Scheme (HOS). To ensure prompt and orderly property management, the Land Grant and the Deeds of Mutual Covenant (DMC) stipulate that the HKHA will act as the initial DMC manager of the HOS courts after the date of the DMC. The HKHA shall appoint qualified Property Services Agents (PSAs) to undertake daily management matters, including security, cleaning and maintenance of common areas and facilities, whilst assisting owners in monitoring the performance of PSAs. In parallel, according to the DMC, the DMC Manager shall call a meeting of owners within nine months after the date of the DMC with a view to forming an Owners' Corporation (OC) or an Owners' Committee. Pursuant to section 3(2) of the Building Management Ordinance (Cap. 344) (the Ordinance), a resolution on the appointment of the management committee (MC) must be passed by a majority of votes of the owners (including votes cast by owners in person or by proxy (note)) and supported by the owners of not less than 30 per cent of the shares in aggregate.

In response to the question raised by the Hon Andrew Lam, our reply is as follows:

(1) As at December 31, 2025, among all of the 187 HOS courts constructed by the HKHA, 155 of them have already been taken over by their respective owners through OCs or Owners' Committees for estate management, accounting for almost 85 per cent of all HOS courts in Hong Kong. Currently, the HKHA remains the DMC manager of 32 HOS courts, around half of which had intake within the recent past five years. Among these courts, three of them have established OCs or Owners' Committees with the handover of management responsibilities underway. As for the remaining 29 courts, the relevant resolution must be passed by owners at meetings of owners in order to establish an OC. The names of the relevant HOS courts and their respective numbers of units are listed in Annex.

(2) The Ordinance provides a legal framework for the establishment and operation of OCs, enabling owners to form OCs for better management of their housing estates. In terms of management, HOS courts are no different from general private residential properties. The HKHA has been proactively providing assistance to owners of HOS courts in forming OCs, and District Offices will also provide assistance as necessary. Prior to the establishment of an OC, the HKHA as the DMC Manager, will supervise and require the PSAs to proactively engage with owners through daily exchanges to encourage interested owners to organise an OC. The HKHA also liaises with the relevant District Offices to organise seminars sharing information on forming OCs as well as building management. Moreover, the HKHA also assists owners who would like to participate in the MC to hold meetings of owners. Whether an OC can be successfully formed ultimately to take over the estate management depends on the willingness of the owners of individual courts.

As regards the courts where the establishment of an OC could not be passed at meetings of owners, the HKHA will continue to actively gauge the owners' concerns. We will also continue to promote good and effective building management practices through various channels, including organising seminars and distributing promotional materials in collaboration with District Offices, with a view to enlightening owners of the benefits of good building management and encouraging them to establish OCs. The HKHA will review the effectiveness of the implementation measures in due course and continue to arrange meetings for the formation of OCs, with the aim to promoting the establishment of OCs and enabling owners to take over the management of their estates.

Note: Unless otherwise stipulated in the DMC, each owner shall have one vote for each share of ownership they hold.]]><![CDATA[LCQ20: Clearing weeds on streets]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400306.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400306.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 12:20:00 +0800
Question:

     Some members of the public have relayed that weeds often grow along pavement edges and between paving blocks, affecting hygiene and the cityscape, and it is learnt that various government departments currently engage outsourced contractors to regularly clear weeds on the roads within their purview. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the current number and list of outsourced contractors engaged by the Government to handle weeds along roads and streets across the territory; the mechanism put in place by the relevant government departments to monitor the work performance and effectiveness of these outsourced contractors;

(2) of the number of outsourced contractors mentioned in (1) that were penalised for failing to meet performance standards in the past five years, with a tabulated breakdown by district for which they are responsible (broken down by the 18 districts across the territory);

(3) whether the authorities have allocated additional resources to individual outsourced contractors in the past five years to assist them in enhancing weed clearance; if so, of the effectiveness of the relevant projects, with a tabulated breakdown by district for which outsourced contractors are responsible (broken down by the 18 districts across the territory); and

(4) whether it has considered using innovative technologies (such as drones) to conduct regular inspections of weed blackspots on streets, so as to assist the authorities in identifying the relevant problems more expeditiously and enhancing clearance efforts; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

     Vegetation alongside public footpaths is maintained (including carrying out appropriate pruning and weed clearance) by different government departments or private lot owners in accordance with the division of labour in the Development Bureau Technical Circular (Works) No. 6/2015 depending on the type of vegetation concerned (i.e. trees or other vegetation) and the category of land on which the vegetation is located. The relevant departments or lot owners shall arrange timely pruning of vegetation under their purview and weed clearance in order to prevent excessive growth of vegetation encroaching upon footpaths, thus adversely affecting pedestrians.

     In consultation with the Highways Department (HyD), Lands Department (LandsD) and Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), my reply to the various parts of the question raised by the Hon Holden Chow is as follows:

(1) and (2) The HyD currently engages contractors to carry out repair and maintenance work for the public roads across all districts of Hong Kong, including carrying out urgent trimming of vegetation extending from general roadside areas into footpaths where it poses imminent danger to pedestrians, as well as clearing weeds at footpath paving blocks (a list of contractors is at Annex I).

     The HyD has stipulated in each contract that the contractor is obliged to conduct at least one monthly inspection of all footpaths covered by the contract and complete necessary repair and maintenance work, including clearing weeds from the pavement as required, and submit site photos taken before and after the follow-up work for record. Although the HyD has not set any performance pledge for urgent trimming of vegetation posing imminent danger to pedestrians, the department will promptly arrange follow-up action upon receipt of any enquiry or complaint about matters posing imminent danger to pedestrians or roads, and provide a reply within seven working days. If contractor fails to complete the relevant work properly and submit the relevant report on time, the HyD will issue a Default Notice to the contractor and deduct the corresponding contract payment in accordance with the relevant contractual mechanism.

     Over the past five years, the HyD has taken appropriate follow-up actions in accordance with relevant contract provisions upon identification of deficiencies in contractors' maintenance work on footpaths (e.g. issuing Default Notices to contractors with unsatisfactory performance). However, as such follow-up actions were related to various types of maintenance deficiencies, the HyD has not separately maintained statistics specifically concerning the follow-up actions related to the quality of weed clearance work at footpaths.

     On the other hand, the LandsD is responsible for the management of trees and plants (collectively referred to as "vegetation"), including weed clearance, on unleased and unallocated government land (UUGL) not under the routine management and maintenance of any government departments. Given the large number and wide distribution of trees and vegetation on UUGL across Hong Kong, the LandsD will only carry out maintenance work as necessary (such as upon receipt of complaints or referrals) having regard to public safety and public hygiene on a "risk-based" approach (for example, whether there is an immediate threat to life or property or a risk of mosquito infestation). Weed clearance is part of the LandsD's overall vegetation management work and a list of contractors engaged for vegetation maintenance is at Annex II.

     The LandsD's contractors shall, within specified days upon receiving a complaint/referral concerning overgrown grass, issue an acknowledgement to the complainant, then conduct a site inspection and submit a report. The department will arrange clearance operations based on the actual circumstances and operational priorities (generally prioritising removal and trimming of trees that pose higher risks). The department also strives to complete weed clearance within two months upon receipt of a case. In the past two years, all 5 256 cases involving weed clearance were completed within two months, and no contractors were penalised for failing to meet the performance standards.

     In addition, the LCSD has two types of contracts that cover weed clearance, namely the Horticultural Maintenance Services Contract and the Undergrowth Cutting Services Contract. The list of service contractors for these contracts is at Annex III.

     The LCSD has established different contractual requirements based on the needs and nature of horticultural maintenance work, such as requiring contractors to submit work reports with photos to prove that the contractors have completed the work and met the contract requirements. In addition, supervisory personnel of the LCSD will conduct regular on-site inspections, surprise checks, and meetings with contractors to monitor the performance of the contractors and their employees. If a contractor fails to meet the contract requirements, the LCSD will issue Advisory Letters, Default Notices, or even terminate the contract in accordance with the contract terms, depending on the circumstances.

     Over the past five years, the LCSD has not imposed any disciplinary measures on contractors for the weed-cutting service contract due to substandard performance. As for the horticultural maintenance contracts, the number of contractors penalised for failing to meet the contract requirements is as follows (Note):

Year	No. of Contractor
2020-2021	0
2021-2022	2
2022-2023	1
2023-2024	2
2024-2025	4

Note: The penalties are based on contracts as the unit. Hence, breakdown by district cannot be provided.

(3) As mentioned above, weed clearance work is part of the regular duties of the relevant departments. Consequently, no additional financial resources have been allocated for this purpose.

(4) Government departments are open to utilising innovative technologies (such as unmanned aircraft) to assist in monitoring work and will consider their appropriate application in carrying out inspections for the black spots with weeds on streets, taking into account the resources involved and their practical effectiveness.

     In particular, the HyD has been striving to enhance the repair and maintenance of public roads through the use of innovative technologies. With a view to improving inspection efficiency and accuracy, the HyD has developed the Road Defect Detection System (RDDS), which integrates geospatial artificial intelligence (GeoAI), high-resolution cameras and photogrammetric technologies. Road inspection vehicles equipped with the RDDS can automatically identify road surface cracks and faded road markings. The HyD is pressing ahead with the enhancement and upgrading of the system, and will incorporate a more advanced artificial intelligence algorithm known as the "Vision Transformer" in the next-generation system, thereby substantially improving the accuracy and processing speed of image recognition, while expanding detection capabilities to cover matters such as excessive roadside vegetation growth. The HyD will alert the relevant department(s) to step up vegetation trimming and weed clearance, or follow up with the relevant lot owners as appropriate once frequent occurrence of roadside vegetation overgrowth is observed, so as to prevent situations that may affect pedestrian safety.]]><![CDATA[LCQ10: Utilising artificial intelligence to enhance learning and teaching effectiveness]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400182.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400182.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 12:15:00 +0800
Question:

The Education Bureau (EDB) announced in December 2025 the launch of the AI for Empowering Learning and Teaching Funding Programme (the Funding Programme) to support primary and secondary schools in utilising artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance learning and teaching effectiveness. Successful school applicants will receive one-off funding of $500,000 to purchase/subscribe to/lease AI-powered devices/services that facilitate AI-assisted teaching, and to subsidise students' participation in activities that enhance their AI literacy and skills. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) given that in the Guidelines on the Use of Funding on AI for Empowering Learning and Teaching Funding Programme published by the EDB, subsidising teachers to enrol in AI-related courses is listed as an example of improper use of the funding, of the rationale behind it;

(2) given that the EDB launched in 2025 the AI for Science Education Funding Programme to arrange for secondary school science teachers to enrol in short courses on AI, but primary school teachers were not included in the programme, whether the authorities have launched similar programmes to subsidise primary school teachers to enrol in AI training courses; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(3) given that some members of the education sector consider that the Funding Programme only mentions the objective of "enhancing students' AI literacy and skills", but does not provide clear teaching guidelines, whether the authorities will specify a teaching framework for schools to follow; if so, of the details; and

(4) as regards the teaching of AI literacy and skills, whether the authorities will provide systematic teaching resources to support teachers and schools, such as platforms for sharing teaching resources; if so, of the details?

Reply:

President,

As announced in the 2025 Policy Address, $2 billion has been set aside in the Quality Education Fund (QEF) to take forward the strategic measures proposed by the Steering Committee on Strategic Development of Digital Education (Steering Committee) for promoting digital education in primary and secondary schools, which cover optimising curricula, strengthening training for teachers, optimising digital infrastructure, and providing resource support for schools. With an allocation of approximately $500 million from the above funding earmarked, the AI for Empowering Learning and Teaching Funding Programme (the Funding Programme) launched by the Education Bureau (EDB) in late 2025 disburses a one-off funding of $500,000 to each successful publicly-funded school applicant, so as to support their promotion of digital education according to their specific circumstances and school-based advantages. This serves as a core driving force for the overall digital transformation in primary and secondary schools.

The reply to the question raised by the Hon Ginny Man is as follows:

Each programme under the QEF has its designated purposes. Successful school applicants are required to use the funding for the specific areas of individual education programmes. Schools' applications are processed in accordance with the established mechanism under the Funding Programme, which mainly subsidises schools to procure artificial intelligence (AI) tools and resources (including purchase of hardware and software, as well as subscriptions to platforms and school-based AI application solutions), and subsidises students to participate in activities for AI literacy enhancement. The main purpose of the Funding Programme is to support schools in initiating or promoting school-based education programmes related to AI.

(1) Successful school applicants are required to fulfil the prescribed requirements under the Funding Programme, such as incorporating the "Development of AI-empowered Education" into the School Development Plan and/or Annual School Plan, and implementing AI-‍assisted teaching in different subjects/curriculum areas with development of teaching examples or learning and teaching resources. The designated purposes of the funding approved and the requirements prescribed for the participating schools under the Funding Programme do not include supporting teachers to enrol in training courses. As such, "subsidising teachers to enrol in AI-related courses" is listed as an example of improper use of the funding. This has been specified in the relevant circular memorandum and explained in detail to the school personnel during the briefing sessions.

(2) The EDB attaches equal importance to science education in primary and secondary schools. The EDB has stepped up efforts to integrate learning elements of innovation and digital education and enhance related professional training for teachers.

Launched with the funding support from the QEF in the 2024/25 school year, the AI for Science Education Funding Programme was for pilot implementation in Junior Secondary Science. Successful school applicants may use the funding to enrol science teachers in short courses (including seminars and workshops) on AI-assisted teaching offered by tertiary institutions or related professional bodies, with a view to supporting the schools in taking forward AI-assisted teaching.

As for Primary Science, since the introduction of this new subject, the EDB has been offering courses, such as Professional Teacher Training Series for Introduction of Primary Science, and Science and Technology Education Series at Primary Level, to share and consolidate teaching exemplars with teachers through sharing sessions, classroom demonstrations, workshops, etc. The sharing covers the enhancement of teaching effectiveness by, among others, using AI to generate science conceptual diagrams and employing computer simulations, as well as the ways to aid science learning, such as conducting inquiry activities with the use of microcontrollers and accessing the Primary Science Online Learning Platform, so as to progressively enhance the professional competence of primary teachers in using AI and e-tools to assist teaching. These teacher training courses are designed according to the curriculum by the EDB, and will be refined with reference to participants' feedback. At present, the EDB has no plans to further subsidise primary teachers to enrol in training courses offered by external organisations.

(3) The Blueprint for Digital Education Development in Primary and Secondary Schools, which is being formulated by the EDB, is expected to be released within this year. The Blueprint will map out the directions and strategies for implementing digital education, with a focus on enhancing the AI literacy and skills of students. Meanwhile, the EDB is also formulating an AI literacy learning framework and working on illustrations of the implementation principles and good practices for AI-‍assisted teaching in primary and secondary levels for schools' reference and teachers to follow. The EDB will continue to listen to the views of the Steering Committee and other stakeholders, as well as refine the draft Blueprint and relevant documents, with a view to supporting the implementation of digital education in schools to achieve the objective of using AI to empower education.

(4) The EDB is committed to providing schools with quality teaching materials, including learning and teaching resources for different subjects, covering the Key Learning Areas and cross-disciplinary subjects or areas of the school curriculum. In view of the trend of digital education development, the EDB Educational Multimedia platform has launched for some of its short videos a pilot "AI-assisted teaching" function, which will undergo continuous development and optimisation according to feedback. The EDB, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Education City (HKEdCity), has also been providing one-stop services on e-learning, e-reading and e-assessment tailored to the needs of local schools, including platforms such as the eRead Scheme and the Student Assessment Repository (STAR), to tie in with the provision of the online learning platform and courses related to AI and computational thinking for students. In addition, the HKEdCity will continue to enhance relevant e-learning resources and platforms with the support of technology enterprises to further achieve the aim of sharing resources.]]><![CDATA[DH urges public to adopt healthy lifestyle and conduct regular cancer screening in support of World Cancer Day 2026]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400274.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400274.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 12:10:00 +0800
     The Government attaches great importance to cancer prevention and control. Since 2004, the Cervical Screening Programme, the Colorectal Cancer Screening Programme and the Breast Cancer Screening Pilot Programme (BCSPP) have been sequentially introduced to enhance the recovery rate of patients through "early prevention, early detection and early treatment". Data show that over 80 per cent of cervical cancer cases detected through regular cervical screening were in early stages. Among the colorectal cancer cases diagnosed under the Colorectal Cancer Screening Programme, over half were early-stage. Furthermore, 97 per cent of patients diagnosed in Phase I of the BCSPP were at early stages. This indicates that regular screening can significantly increase the detection rate of early-stage cancer cases, thereby improving the recovery rate.

     Over the past decade, the age-standardised mortality rate for cancer has shown a steady decline after adjusting for population age structure. Specifically, the cancer mortality rate significantly decreased by 2.8 per cent for men and 1.7 per cent for women on average every year. The five-year relative survival rate of cancer patients in Hong Kong has increased by 10 percentage points over the past decade, reaching 56 per cent, with particularly notable improvements in lung cancer survival rates. These findings demonstrate the significant effectiveness of the Government's initiatives in advancing cancer prevention and control.

     "Cancer has been the leading cause of death in Hong Kong for many years, causing over 15 000 deaths in 2024. It is worth noting that obesity increases the risk of various cancers, including breast, colorectal and pancreatic cancers. Approximately 40 per cent of cancer cases can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle, such as a balanced diet, regular exercise, refraining from smoking and alcohol consumption, and maintaining a healthy body weight and waist circumference," the Controller of the Centre for Health Protection of the DH, Dr Edwin Tsui, said.

     The DH has been promoting a healthy lifestyle as the primary strategy for cancer prevention and is committed to enhancing public awareness of cancer prevention and screening. Dr Tsui reminds the public to consult their doctors to understand the benefits and limitations of screening tests in order to make an informed decision before undergoing screening. Relevant health advice is available on the website of the CHP.

     To prevent cervical cancer, the DH has been providing free human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations to eligible primary schoolgirls under the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme since the 2019/20 school year. A high vaccination rate of over 90 per cent has been maintained over the past few years, significantly reducing the risk of cervical cancer in Hong Kong females. The DH also launched a one-off HPV Vaccination Catch-up Programme in December 2024, offering free catch-up vaccinations to female Hong Kong residents born between 2004 and 2008 who have not completed their HPV vaccination. At present, the estimated first-dose HPV vaccine coverage rates of eligible secondary schoolgirls and post-secondary institution female students in the first two phases are 85 per cent and 68 per cent respectively.

     To prevent hepatitis B infection, the Government has been providing hepatitis B vaccines to all newborn babies since 1988. The current vaccination coverage rate among school children has reached 99 per cent. According to the Population Health Survey 2020-22, the prevalence of hepatitis B among those under 35 years old has dropped to below 1 per cent. In addition, the Primary Healthcare Commission will also launch the Hepatitis B Co-care Scheme on February 7 to identify people with chronic hepatitis B in the community at an early stage and provide long-term follow-up services, with a view to reducing their risk of having cirrhosis, liver cancer and other serious complications.

     The District Health Centres (DHCs) set up by the Primary Healthcare Commission are actively promoting the Life Course Preventive Care Plan. A personalised preventive care plan is formulated to address the health needs of citizens across different life stages. DHCs identify and assist to continuously manage risk factors associated with cancers through conducting health assessments for DHC members. DHCs assist and refer eligible persons to doctors who have enlisted in the Primary Care Directory and enrolled in the government cancer screening programmes for screening. Meanwhile, DHCs and Women Wellness Satellites also provide members of the public with information related to breast cancer and cervical cancer prevention, related screening services, according to their needs. DHCs will arrange for women who are Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients or holders of valid medical fee waiver certificates to receive preventive care and health promotion services for women, including breast and cervical cancer screenings, at selected Family Medicine Clinics or Family Medicine Integrated Centres of the Hospital Authority (HA).

     The HA has implemented a host of measures to enhance cancer care services. A multidisciplinary approach is adopted for diagnostic services to provide timely investigations and diagnoses for suspected cancer patients. The HA has implemented this service model in three clusters for suspected lung cancer patients and will expand the service in phases. With the installation of new linear accelerators in HA hospitals in phases from 2024-25, the service capacity for cancer treatment will be enhanced. Meanwhile, the HA has also expanded the coverage of the Drug Formulary by incorporating new cancer treatment drugs and broadening the scope of clinical applications of existing Special Drugs. Being patient-centred, the HA has devised personalised care programmes, such as the Cancer Case Manager Programme and Systemic Anti-cancer Therapy Clinic service, to better support patients along their journey.

     The Government will continue to adopt a multipronged approach to promote cancer prevention and control and consolidate Hong Kong's leading position in cancer research and prevention and control. The Government is also committed to optimising services and providing appropriate treatment for all cancer patients.

     To learn more about World Cancer Day, please visit www.worldcancerday.org.]]><![CDATA[LCQ17: Policy initiatives to promote paperless practices]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400313.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400313.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 12:03:00 +0800
Question:

     Government departments have been actively promoting environmental protection policies and measures, including "paperless" practices in offices. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether it has compiled statistics on the total paper consumption of all government departments in each of the past five years (set out in a table);

(2) whether it has plans to co-ordinate relevant government departments and public utilities to arrange for the unified issuance and processing of utility bills (such as water, electricity and gas charges, rates and tax demand notes) on the "iAM Smart" platform; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(3) whether the Government has formulated specific policies and plans to promote the use of "paperless" communication by the Government and the community; if so, of the details and timetable; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

     In consultation with the Environment and Ecology Bureau and the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, our reply to the three parts of the question is as follows:

(1) The Government has all along attached great importance to environmental protection, waste reduction and recycling. The Environmental Protection Department has issued internal guidelines requiring all bureaux and departments (B/Ds) to take measures to reduce waste at source, including double-sided printing, recycling of waste paper, and prioritising the use of electronic means, such as websites and emails, for information dissemination with a view to minimising paper consumption. Each B/D is required to publish an annual environmental report on its website, setting out the actions taken to uphold environmental management in their daily operations, including relevant measures to reduce paper consumption. However, the Government does not compile annual statistics on the total paper consumption of all departments.

(2) To promote e-government services and reduce paper usage, the Government has strengthened the integration of issuance and processing of utility bills through "iAM Smart", the one-stop personalised digital services platform, while supporting electronic payment options. This not only improves the efficiency of public services but also helps reduce administrative costs and paper consumption, thereby optimising resources utilisation.

     At present, "iAM Smart" supports over 1 300 online services and e-forms provided by the Government as well as public and private organisations, including the "eWater" service of the Water Supplies Department (WSD), the "eRVD" bill service of the Rating and Valuation Department, "eTax" of the Inland Revenue Department (IRD), "Account-On-Line" of the Hongkong Electric Company Limited (HK Electric), the "Towngas eService Centre" of the Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited (Towngas), and the "CLP One" mobile app of the CLP Power Hong Kong Limited. Citizens can log in to relevant services via "iAM Smart" to view and manage various utility bills. The "Bills" function on the "iAM Smart" personal assistant page already supports payment of water and electricity bills from the WSD and HK Electric respectively. In addition, relevant functions for Towngas and the IRD will be launched soon. These initiatives facilitate electronic viewing and payment by citizens, thereby reducing the use of paper bills and receipts and further advancing the "paperless" delivery of public services.

(3) At present, all government departments have adopted "iAM Smart" to provide convenient and one-stop online services for citizens. The number of registered users has exceeded 4.1 million, with more than 180 000 daily usages, achieving the goal of providing a single portal for online government services. The Government has been actively promoting "iAM Smart" through various channels, introducing its services and functions to citizens with a view to helping them understand the convenience it brings, which in turn helps drive "paperless" practices.

     In addition, the Digital Policy Office and the Government Records Service have fully implemented the electronic recordkeeping system across all departments by the end of 2025. This enables departments to store and manage records electronically, which helps enhance efficiency and reduce paper use.

     As regards society and corporations, since April 17, 2025, the Government has implemented new arrangement to allow companies to adopt implied consent mechanism for disseminating corporate communication by means of website, in order to promote "paperless" corporate communication for Hong Kong companies. The Government also promotes "paperless" procurement through implementing the e-Tendering System.

     Various B/Ds will continue to take measures to promote "paperless" communication and operations in the Government and in society.]]><![CDATA[LCQ12: Consolidating Hong Kong's position as a bond market hub]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020300582.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020300582.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0800
Question:

     The 2025 Policy Address proposed that the Government would further consolidate Hong Kong's position as a bond market hub, including, among others, improving market liquidity, promoting the use of offshore Chinese Government Bonds as collateral in different clearing houses, and introducing offshore treasury bond futures in Hong Kong. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) as there are views pointing out that many listed bonds have weak trading volumes, what measures the Government has put in place to invigorate the bond market and thereby increase the trading volumes of such bonds; whether it will urge the regulatory bodies to re-‍examine the qualification requirements for professional investors and lower the entry threshold for such bonds, so that more retail investors can engage in bond trading;

(2) whether there is currently a specific implementation timetable for promoting the use of offshore Chinese Government Bonds as collateral in different clearing houses; whether the Government will study promoting in different clearing houses the gradual expansion of the range of acceptable collateral to include eurozone government bonds and sovereign bonds from other economically developed countries;

(3) what measures the Government has put in place to expedite the implementation of the policy to introduce offshore treasury bond futures in Hong Kong; whether it will consider introducing futures products of sovereign bonds from other economically developed countries; and

(4) as the Government announced in the 2025-2026 Budget that it would actively explore tokenising traditional bonds issued, of the current progress of implementing the relevant policy; whether it will consider engaging more retail investors and financial intermediaries in the relevant tokenisation process?

Reply:

President,

     The Government has been striving to promote the development of the local bond market, with a view to enabling Hong Kong performing a more diversified function as an international financial centre. Through providing impetus to the market by issuing government bonds regularly in innovative ways (such as issuance of institutional, retail, green and tokenised bonds), enhancing market infrastructure, as well as issuance subsidy schemes (e.g. the Green and Sustainable Finance Grant Scheme) and tax incentive schemes (e.g. the Qualifying Debt Instrument Scheme) and others, Hong Kong has developed into a hub for international bond issuance in Asia. In terms of bonds issued internationally by Asia-based entities, Hong Kong ranked first in the region for seventeen consecutive years since 2008, with ten years ranking first globally. The volume of Asian international bonds arranged in Hong Kong totalled over US$130 billion and accounted for around 30 per cent of the market in 2024. Among these issuances, Hong Kong has captured around 70 per cent of debut issuances, and 45 per cent green and sustainable bond issuances, demonstrating our leading position in different segments. Meanwhile, offshore RMB (Renminbi) bond market in Hong Kong recorded solid development over the past few years, with offshore RMB bond issuance reaching RMB1.07 trillion in 2024, having increased by 37 per cent year-on-year and expanded for seven years in a row since 2017.

     As stated in the Chief Executive's 2025 Policy Address, we will continue to expand a world-class bond market and a vibrant currency market. The Government and financial regulators are taking forward a series of measures, including boosting issuance in primary market, enhancing liquidity in secondary market, expanding offshore Renminbi business, and next-generation infrastructure, with a view to further consolidating Hong Kong's strategic position as a leading Fixed Income and Currency (FIC) hub. The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) jointly announced the Roadmap for the Development of FIC Markets (Roadmap) in September 2025 which outlined the relevant initiatives.

     After consultation with the HKMA, the SFC and Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX), the reply to the various parts of the question is as follows:

(1) Regarding the current situation of listed bonds, as of January 2, 2026, there were 1 351 listed bonds on HKEX, of which 1 302 were issued to professional investors under Chapter 37 of the Listing Rules (Chapter 37 Bonds). While Chapter 37 Bonds are listed on HKEX, such bonds are generally traded over-the-counter rather than on HKEX. Moreover, bonds are typically held-to-maturity investment products, with investors often purchasing them with the intention of holding until maturity, therefore Chapter 37 Bonds may not have ample liquidity in the listed market.

     In contrast to bonds offered to retail investors, Chapter 37 offers a streamlined and expedient listing process for bonds under which HKEX adopts a "light touch" approach for vetting. Since Chapter 37 does not prescribe the type of bonds that could be listed and accordingly bonds with special or complex features (such as perpetual or subordinated bonds, or those with variable or deferred interest payment terms) could be listed under Chapter 37, relevant bonds may not be suitable for retail investors.

     To enhance the overall bond market liquidity, the SFC is studying the feasibility of an electronic bond-trading platform built and operated by market participants. In this regard, the SFC has appointed external consultants, and has begun interviews with market participants, market operators and regulatory authorities. Meanwhile, the SFC is also actively promoting the establishment of a commercial repo (repurchase) market and a central counterparty regime in Hong Kong, including conducting a feasibility study on setting up the relevant clearing system. We are committed to implementing the initiatives outlined in the Roadmap continuously, with a view to establishing a solid foundation for the further development of our bond market development, through enhancing market efficiency and transaction transparency, as well as reducing counterparty credit risk.

(2) HKEX is committed to enhancing the vitality and competitiveness of Hong Kong's securities and derivatives markets. Since January 2025, the OTC Clearing Hong Kong Limited has started accepting onshore Chinese Government Bonds and Policy Bank Bonds held by offshore investors through Bond Connect as collateral for Northbound Swap Connect transactions, and extended the arrangement to all derivative transactions from March of the same year. The measure could further broaden the use of onshore Renminbi bonds as collateral in offshore markets, offering international investors greater flexibility and improved capital efficiency. This further enhances the attractiveness of RMB assets and advances RMB internationalisation. HKEX will continue to collaborate closely with market participants, regularly review relevant collateral arrangements, and explore incorporating new products while balancing various risks. These will provide investors with more diversified collateral options, further consolidating Hong Kong's position as a global offshore RMB business hub and a leading risk management centre.

(3) The Government, financial regulators and HKEX are committed to deepening and broadening the mutual access between the Mainland and Hong Kong capital markets. With the strong support of the Central People's Government, a series of expansion measures were implemented in recent years successively, including Bond Connect, Cross-boundary Wealth Management Connect, inclusion of exchange-traded funds under mutual access, Swap Connect, etc. Notably, as of end-December 2025, the total amount of foreign holdings of Mainland onshore bonds through different channels including Bond Connect exceeded RMB3,400 billion. The average daily turnover of Northbound Bond Connect in 2025 reached about RMB39 billion.

     As global investors' demand for RMB-denominated products grows, Hong Kong's role as a global offshore RMB business hub and risk management centre becomes increasingly important. The Government is committed to continuously enriching the suite of RMB-denominated investment products and risk management tools to meet the needs of both domestic and overseas investors. The regulators of the Mainland and Hong Kong have announced their support for the launch of offshore treasury bond futures in Hong Kong, introducing an effective offshore risk management tool for investing in Chinese Government Bonds in Hong Kong. The relevant preparatory work has been largely completed. The SFC will continue to work closely with HKEX to implement the measure.

     In addition, HKEX will continue to expand its derivatives product suite and maintain a positive and open stance towards issuing new products, including derivatives with assets from other economies as underlying assets.

(4) The Government has issued three tranches of tokenised green bonds since 2023. Through continuous tokenised bond issuances, the Government expects to promote the broader development of Hong Kong's tokenised bond market by creating demonstrative effects and supplying the market with high quality tokenised bonds. For instance, the tokenised green bond issuance in November 2025 successfully scaled up market participation, with an issuance size of HK$10 billion, marking the world's largest tokenised bond at the time. This issuance was well received by a wide spectrum of global institutional investors, including a substantial number of first-time tokenised bond investors, reaching a total subscription amount over HK$130 billion. Compared to the previous issuances, the number of arranging banks and direct participants to the relevant digital assets platform also increased.

     To enhance the attractiveness and demand for tokenised bonds, the HKMA is also exploring secondary market applications of tokenised bonds, which include using digitally native bonds and tokenised version of existing bonds as collaterals for repo financing. Results of the study will be announced in due course. In addition, the Government is working with the HKMA to review the current legal regime and identify potential enhancements, with a view to promoting the wider adoption of tokenisation in Hong Kong's bond market.

     Regarding retail investor participation, in collaboration with the Bank for International Settlements Innovation Hub, the HKMA completed a proof-of-concept study through Project Genesis. However, implementation of the relevant concept would involve multiple aspects, including legal, technical, and operational aspects, and would require collaboration among various parties in the entire issuance chain. At the same time, the HKMA is also assessing whether the current form of tokenised bonds can meet the needs of retail investors. The Government and regulators will continue to engage with the industry to explore how tokenised bonds can be effectively and suitably applied at the retail level.]]><![CDATA[Red flag hoisted at Clear Water Bay Second Beach]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400227.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400227.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 10:48:34 +0800
Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (February 4) that due to big waves, the red flag has been hoisted at Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at the beach.]]><![CDATA[Labour Department launches revised "Guidance Notes on Safe Use of Mobile Elevating Work Platforms"]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020300533.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020300533.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 10:30:00 +0800
     In response to accidents involving mobile elevating work platforms at various workplaces in recent years, the LD has revised and renamed the original "Guidance Notes on Safe Use of Power-operated Elevating Work Platforms", incorporating common causes of the accidents and preventative measures. Major revisions include further specifying training requirements for operators, adding new operational requirements such as the installation of effective secondary guarding devices, conducting regular non-destructive tests on critical load-bearing components, and formulating emergency rescue plans. A grace period is provided for the new requirements of operator training and installation of secondary guarding devices until December 31, 2026. The industry must seize this time to make sufficient preparation before the grace period expires.

     The LD will strengthen publicity, promotion, and education and training through various channels to help the industry better understand the content of the GNs. These include disseminating relevant information through the LD's website, the "OSH 2.0" mobile application, and the mass media. A new episode of "Work Safety Alert" animation, titled "Trapped between a Mobile Elevating Work Platform and a Sprinkler Pipe", has also been launched, and the relevant content is incorporated into the Mandatory Basic Safety Training Course (Construction Work) (commonly known as the Green Card Course) and free training courses on occupational safety and health legislation organised by the LD.

     The GNs can be downloaded from the LD's website (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/os/C/EWP.pdf) or by scanning the QR code (Annex). Enquiries on the GNs can be made at 2542 2172.]]><![CDATA[Special traffic arrangements for race meeting in Happy Valley]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400207.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/04/P2026020400207.htmWed, 04 Feb 2026 09:18:23 +0800
A. Traffic arrangements before the commencement of the first race

     The following road closure and traffic diversions will be implemented from 50 minutes before the start of the first race for day racing, or from 6pm onwards for night racing:

1. Road closure

     Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Queen’s Road East and the up-ramp outside the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) will be closed, except for vehicles heading for Aberdeen Tunnel.

2. Traffic diversions

- Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Village Road and the up-ramp outside the HKJC will be rerouted one way northbound;
- Traffic along eastbound Queen's Road East heading for Wan Chai and Happy Valley will be diverted to turn left to Morrison Hill Road;
- Traffic along southbound Morrison Hill Road heading for Happy Valley will be diverted via Sports Road and Wong Nai Chung Road;
- Traffic along Queen's Road East cannot turn right to Wong Nai Chung Road, except for vehicles heading for Aberdeen Tunnel;
- Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Queen's Road East will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Morrison Hill Road to turn right at the junction of Wong Nai Chung Road and Queen's Road East; and
- Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Happy Valley or Racecourse will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Canal Road East, southbound Morrison Hill Road, Sports Road and Wong Nai Chung Road.

B. Traffic arrangements before the conclusion of race meeting

     The following road closure and traffic diversions will be implemented from about 35 minutes before the start of the last race:

1. Road closure

- The up-ramp on Wong Nai Chung Road outside the HKJC leading to Aberdeen Tunnel;
- Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Queen's Road East and the up-ramp leading to Aberdeen Tunnel;
- Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Village Road and the Public Stands of the HKJC;
- Westbound Leighton Road between Wong Nai Chung Road and Canal Road East; and
- Southbound Morrison Hill Road between Leighton Road and Queen's Road East.

     In addition, southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between the up-ramp leading to Aberdeen Tunnel and the Public Stands of the HKJC will be closed from about 10 minutes before the start of the last race.

2. Traffic diversions

- Eastbound Queen's Road East at its junction with Morrison Hill Road will be reduced to one-lane traffic heading for northbound Canal Road flyover;
- Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Wan Chai will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Canal Road East, U-turn slip road beneath Canal Road flyover, Canal Road West and Hennessy Road;
- Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Happy Valley will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Canal Road East, eastbound Leighton Road and Wong Nai Chung Road;
- Traffic along southbound Morrison Hill Road will be diverted to turn left to eastbound Leighton Road;
- Traffic along southbound Morrison Hill Road heading for Happy Valley will be diverted via eastbound Leighton Road and Wong Nai Chung Road; and
- Traffic along westbound Leighton Road will be diverted to Wong Nai Chung Road.

C. Prohibition for learner drivers

     Learner drivers will be prohibited to turn left from Caroline Hill Road to Leighton Road between one and a half hours before the start of the first race and one hour after the last race. In addition, learner drivers will be prohibited from accessing the following roads within the above period of time:

- Shan Kwong Road between Yik Yam Street and Wong Nai Chung Road;
- Village Road between its upper and lower junctions with Shan Kwong Road;
- Percival Street between Hennessy Road and Leighton Road;
- Canal Road East; and
- The service road leading from Gloucester Road to Canal Road flyover.

D. Suspension of parking spaces

     Parking spaces on southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Sports Road and Blue Pool Road will be suspended from 11am to 7pm for day racing, and from 5pm to 11.59pm for night racing respectively.

     All vehicles parked illegally during the implementation of the above special traffic arrangements will be towed away without prior warning, and may be subject to multiple ticketing.

     Actual implementation of road closure and traffic diversion will be made by the Police at the time depending on traffic conditions in the areas. Motorists should exercise tolerance and patience, and follow the instructions of police officers on site.]]><![CDATA[CFS urges public not to consume batch of powdered infant formula]]>https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/03/P2026020300850.htmhttps://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/03/P2026020300850.htmTue, 03 Feb 2026 22:58:00 +0800
Product details are as follows:

Product name: Aptamil Profutura DUO Pre D 800g
Brand: Aptamil
Pack size: 800 grams
Place of origin: Germany
Quantity imported: 54 cans
Use-by date: April 20, 2027
Retailer: Baby HK

A preliminary investigation by the CFS revealed that relevant importer had imported nine boxes of 54 cans of the product concerned, among which 34 cans had been distributed. The CFS has instructed the retailer concerned to stop sales and remove from shelves the affected batch of the product concerned and to initiate a recall. Moreover, the CFS has marked and sealed 20 cans of remaining stock of the product. Members of the public may call the retailer's hotline at 3586 1399 during office hours for enquiries about the recall.

The CFS will continue to enhance surveillance of powdered infant and young children formula and to closely monitor the recall matters and remain fully committed to ensuring food safety. The CFS has alerted the trade and relevant department over the incident, and will continue to follow up and take appropriate action. Follow-up investigation is ongoing.

Bacillus cereus is commonly found in the environment. Unhygienic conditions in food processing and storage may give rise to its growth. Cereulide is a heat-stable toxin produced in food by some strains of Bacillus cereus. Consuming food contaminated with excessive Bacillus cereus or its heat-stable toxins may cause gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting and diarrhoea.

The CFS urged members of the public not to let infants and young children consume the affected batch of the product, and to seek medical treatment for infants or young children who felt unwell after taking the product concerned. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected batch of the product immediately.

The CFS has established a designated webpage (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/whatsnew/powdered_formula/index.html) to facilitate public access to more information.]]>