The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Wednesday, February 12, 2025 is 107.4 (same as yesterday's index).

     â€‹Following is a question by Dr the Hon Lo Wai-kwok and a written reply by the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, in the Legislative Council today (February 12):
 
Question:

     It has been reported that the SAR Government and the Guangdong Provincial Government established in 2023 an evaluation mechanism of Mainland "Professional Title" qualifications for Hong Kong engineering professionals, and implemented it as a pilot scheme in five engineering disciplines, namely civil engineering, geotechnical, highway, electrical and measurement, control and instrumentation. Recently, the first batch of more than 200 Hong Kong engineers have successfully passed the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area engineering Professional Title evaluation and obtained corresponding engineering professional qualifications on the Mainland, representing a major breakthrough in the convergence of professional qualifications between Hong Kong and the Mainland. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether the authorities have discussed with the Mainland the gradual extension of evaluation of Professional Title qualifications to all engineering professions; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(2) whether the authorities will formulate a strategy and timetable for discussing with the Mainland the gradual extension of evaluation of Professional Title qualifications to more professional sectors other than the engineering sector, so as to enable more professional sectors to facilitate the integrated development of Hong Kong and the Mainland; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(3) whether the authorities will take the breakthrough in the convergence of professional qualifications between Hong Kong and the Mainland as an opportunity to join hands with Mainland government departments and relevant professional sectors to encourage Hong Kong and Mainland enterprises to jointly bid for large-scale national and multinational projects, so as to broaden the horizons of and seek more opportunities for the various types of professionals and small and medium-sized enterprises in Hong Kong; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

     The Government has always attached importance to the interconnected flow of talents between Hong Kong and the Mainland, among which the recognition of professional qualifications is crucial to the flow of talents and the technological exchange. The first batch of more than 200 Hong Kong engineers passed the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) engineering "Professional Title" evaluation and obtained corresponding engineering professional qualifications in the Mainland (i.e. the professional qualifications were officially recognised under the Mainland qualifications framework for engineering sector), which represents a major breakthrough in the convergence of the rules between the two places in the area of professional qualifications. The "Professional Title" evaluation was implemented as a pilot scheme in five engineering disciplines, namely civil engineering, geotechnical, highway, electrical and measurement, control and instrumentation. It successfully opened up a channel for the Hong Kong engineering profession to connect with the "Professional Title" evaluation mechanism in the Mainland, and also set a benchmark for other professional sectors in Hong Kong.

     In consultation with the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, our responses to the question raised by Dr the Hon Lo Wai-kwok are as follows:

(1) and (2) After the implementation of the pilot evaluation of "Professional Title" qualifications in 2024, the Development Bureau (DEVB) promptly engaged in discussion with relevant Mainland authority and reached a consensus on regularising the relevant evaluation mechanism in mid-2025 with additional engineering disciplines; and even extending the mechanism to other construction-related professions with the right conditions. We expect that the next batch will cover professionals in manufacturing, industrial and systems engineering; mechanical engineering; electronic engineering and quantity surveying. Looking ahead, the DEVB will maintain close co-ordination with Hong Kong construction-related professional institutes and relevant Mainland authorities, and strive to facilitate more professionals in the local construction sector to obtain corresponding "Professional Title" qualifications through the "Professional Title" evaluation mechanism in the Mainland.

     As for extending the "Professional Title" evaluation mechanism to other professional sectors outside the construction industry, the implementation of this initiative will depend on a number of factors, such as whether there are corresponding "Professional Title" in the Mainland; the inclination of relevant institutes and groups, etc.

(3) To dovetail with the National 14th Five-Year Plan in respect of supporting the strategy of high-quality development of the GBA, we have collaborated with the relevant Mainland authorities to promulgate a number of measures to drive Hong Kong's construction and engineering sectors to seize opportunities to pursue development in the Mainland cities of the GBA, thereby better integrating into the national development. Apart from facilitating various professions of Hong Kong's construction industry to enter the Mainland's "Professional Title" evaluation mechanism, we promulgated the registration system in the nine Mainland cities of the GBA in 2021, which allows Hong Kong construction and engineering enterprises and professionals to acquire qualifications through a simple registration process and bid for construction projects of the government in the Mainland. The above measures not only play a positive role in promoting exchanges and collaboration between professional talents of the two places, but also help enterprises and talents of the two places to work together to promote high-quality development of the construction sector of the country and Hong Kong.

     In addition, the DEVB has been committed to promoting collaboration by construction enterprises in both places for bidding large-scale national and overseas projects, so as to seek more business for relevant Hong Kong enterprises, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, and job opportunities for professionals. Over the years, relevant government departments and the construction industry of the two places have co-organised a number of large-scale events. For example, the Mainland and Hong Kong Construction Forum 2024 was held in Guangzhou in March 2024, providing an exchange and interface platform for practitioners from Hong Kong and 26 provinces and cities in the Mainland. During the forum, more than 60 business matchings were arranged for a number of construction and engineering-related enterprises in the Mainland and Hong Kong, allowing enterprises from the two places to form alliances and "go global" to jointly explore the infrastructure markets along the "Belt and Road" regions and overseas. Moreover, we hosted the International Infrastructure and Projects Leaders Summit in Hong Kong in November 2024, bringing together more than 500 major infrastructure project leaders and experts from over 20 countries, 180 government departments, and private organisations from the Mainland and overseas countries, and representatives of renowned international organisations such as the World Economic Forum and the International Institute for Management Development, to have an in-depth experience exchange in infrastructure project management, share opportunities in large infrastructure projects and strengthen the collaboration network with construction enterprises in various places. The summit further consolidates Hong Kong's position as an international infrastructure centre. It will not only facilitate Hong Kong and Mainland enterprises to jointly bid for large infrastructure projects in the Mainland and overseas, but also help attract overseas enterprises to invest in infrastructure development in the Mainland and Hong Kong, enabling Hong Kong to better serve its important roles as "super connector" and "super value-adder".

     In response to the Japanese Government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene issued a Food Safety Order which prohibits all aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds originating from the 10 metropolis/prefectures, namely Tokyo, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Chiba, Gunma, Tochigi, Niigata, Nagano and Saitama, from being imported into and supplied in Hong Kong.
 
     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 will conduct 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.
 
     As the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water is unprecedented and will continue for 30 years or more, the Government will closely monitor and step up the testing arrangements. Should anomalies be detected, the Government does not preclude further tightening the scope of the import ban.
 
     From noon on February 11 to noon today (February 12), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 149 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 115 241 samples of food imported from Japan (including 75 415 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 26 724 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests.

     Following is a question by the Hon Lam Chun-sing and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (February 12):
 
Question:
 
     The revised Code of Practice for Bamboo Scaffolding Safety (the Code), which officially took effect on October 19 last year, aims to enhance the safety of bamboo scaffolding works. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the number of industrial accidents involving bamboo scaffolding works recorded by the authorities in each of the years from 2018 to October 18 last year, and since the implementation of the Code on ‍October 19 last year, together with the number of casualties involved in such accidents, and set out in Table 1 a breakdown by nature of works (i.e. (i) new works and (ii) repair, maintenance, alteration and addition works), type of works (i.e. (I) public works and (II) ‍non-‍public works) and type of cases (i.e. (a) fatal cases (the‍ number of fatalities) and (b) non-fatal cases (the number of injuries));
 
Table 1

(2) of the respective numbers of (i) workplaces inspected by the Government for bamboo scaffolding works, as well as (ii)‍ improvement notices (together with their compliance rates) and (iii) suspension notices (together with their compliance rates) issued by the Government to contractors involved in non-compliances in relation to bamboo scaffolding works, in each of the years from 2018 to ‍October 18 last year, and since the implementation of the Code on ‍October 19 last year, and set out in Table 2 a breakdown by nature of works (i.e. (a) new works and (b) repair, maintenance, alteration and addition works) and type of works (i.e. (I) public works and (II) ‍non-‍public works);
 
Table 2

 
(3) in respect of the improvement notices issued by the Government as mentioned in (2)(ii), of (a) the non-compliances primarily involved and (b) the average time taken by contractors to remedy non-‍compliances or cease illegal acts, and set out in Table 3 a breakdown by nature of works (i.e. (i) new works and (ii) repair, maintenance, alteration and addition works);
 
Table 3

 
(4) in respect of the suspension notices issued by the Government as mentioned in (2)(iii), of (a) the non-compliances primarily involved by contractors and (b) the average time taken for such notices getting revoked by the authorities, and set out in Table 4 a breakdown by nature of works (i.e. (i) new works and (ii) repair, maintenance, alteration and addition works);
 
Table 4

 
(5) of the respective numbers of prosecutions instituted by the authorities and convictions for non-compliances in respect of bamboo scaffolding works involving contractors, in each of the years from 2018 to October 18 last year, and since the implementation of the Code on October 19 last year, as well as the major non-compliances involved and the average sentences imposed;
 
(6) whether it has compiled statistics on the number of employers who, in each of the past seven years and this year to date, have failed to take out employees' compensation insurance (commonly known as labour insurance) as required under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance (Cap. 282) for workers involved in the industrial accidents mentioned in (1), and on the number of employers prosecuted as a result; among such prosecution cases, of the number of convicted cases and the average sentences imposed;
 
(7) of the number of applications for taking out labour insurance received and approved by the Employees' Compensation Insurance Residual Scheme Bureau from employers in the bamboo scaffolding industry in each of the past seven years and this year to date; what measures the Government has put in place to strengthen assistance for the construction industry in taking out labour insurance for workers engaged in bamboo scaffolding works in order to enhance the protection for these workers;
 
(8) given that at the meeting of the Panel on Manpower of this Council on March 16, 2021, the authorities proposed amending the Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations (Cap. 59I) to include small-‍scale construction works involving higher risks (including truss-out scaffolding works) within the scope of mandatory notification to facilitate the Labour Department in arranging targeted inspections, of the latest progress and the specific timetable for the relevant legislative amendment work; and
 
(9) how the Government will strengthen its promotion of the enhanced application of technology in the industry to enhance the occupational safety and health of frontline workers working on bamboo scaffolds?

Reply:
 
President,
 
     The Government attaches great importance to workplace safety. Pursuant to the risk-based principle and keeping close tabs on the occupational safety and health (OSH) risk levels and trends of various industries (in particular the construction industry), the Labour Department (LD) has been formulating and adjusting the strategies of inspection and enforcement, publicity and promotion, as well as education and training in a timely manner to raise the OSH level in Hong Kong.

     With the objective of enhancing scaffolding safety, the Government held a meeting on "Enhancement of Scaffolding Safety" on January 24, 2025 with relevant organisations and stakeholders. The LD is considering carefully the opinions of the trade representatives and will continue to work closely with relevant organisations and stakeholders to explore ways to enhance the safe use of scaffolds.
 
     My reply to the Hon Lam Chun-sing is as follows:

(1) The numbers of fatal cases and fatalities of industrial accidents (Note 1) involving bamboo scaffolds on construction sites from 2018 to 2025 (as at January 26) are tabulated below. These cases did not involve Public Works Projects (Note 2).
 

Note 1: Industrial accidents refer to injuries and deaths arising from industrial activities in industrial undertakings in Hong Kong as defined under the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance.
Note 2: Public Works Projects refer to construction sites under the Architectural Services Department, Drainage Services Department, Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, Highways Department, Water Supplies Department, and Civil Engineering and Development Department.
Note 3: New Works refer to construction sites where new development or re-development works take place. Such works include building, piling, demolition, site formation and civil engineering works.
Note 4: Repair, Maintenance, Alteration, and Addition Works refer to minor works such as minor alterations, repairs, maintenance and interior decoration of existing buildings, term maintenance or repair contracts (such as roads, water and drainage works).
Note 5: The numbers of fatal cases of industrial accidents of 2024 and 2025 are recorded as at January 26, 2025.

     The LD does not keep the numbers of injury cases and injuries of industrial accidents involving bamboo scaffolds on construction sites.
 
(2) to (5) The enforcement figures related to construction sites by the LD from 2018 to 2024 are tabulated below.

(i) The number of inspections conducted and enforcement figures of new works construction sites from 2018 to 2024

(ii) The number of inspections conducted and enforcement figures of repair, maintenance, alteration and addition works sites from 2018 to 2024

     The LD does not keep the numbers of safety inspections, enforcement figures and convictions breakdown by the bamboo scaffolding trade or works category.
 
     The LD will assess the severity and consequences of the violation of law and take different enforcement means in accordance with the established guidelines and procedures, including the issuance of improvement notices or suspension notices to duty holders, if violation is detected during inspection of construction site.

     The LD does not keep the statistics of the time required for revoking improvement notices or suspension notices. In general, the LD will take follow up actions in a timely manner in accordance with the established procedures after the notice has been issued. The notice would be revoked when the LD is satisfied that measures have been taken by the duty holders to abate the relevant risks. There is no specified timeframe for revoking a notice, which will be dependent on the attitude of the duty holders and the complexities of the actual work to abate the relevant risks.
 
(6) Among the 22 fatal cases of industrial accidents provided in part (1), five employers were prosecuted by the LD for failing to take out the employees' compensation insurance (EC insurance) policies at the time of the accidents. Relevant prosecution figures are tabulated below:
 

Note: In addition to the fine of $5,000, the employer was concurrently sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.

(7) The Employees' Compensation Insurance Residual Scheme (ECIRS) serves as a market of last resort to assist employers who cannot procure EC insurance in the market, with a view to ensuring that employers can acquire EC insurance. Relevant figures pertaining to the applications by employers in scaffolding industry received and approved by the Employees' Compensation Insurance Residual Scheme Bureau (ECIRSB) from 2018 to January 2025 are as follows:
 

Note 1: The figures in column (b) are lower than that in column (a) of the above table as the employers have either taken out EC insurance directly through ECIRS's member insurers or they did not take out EC insurance through ECIRS eventually.
Note 2: In exercise of its authority under section 35(2)(b) of the Insurance Ordinance, the Insurance Authority appointed Managers to take full control of the affairs, business and property of Target Insurance Company Limited (Target) in 2022. As a participating member of ECIRS, Target jointly underwrote the EC insurance policies issued under ECIRS. Due to Target's inability to continue operations because of insolvency, ECIRS had to reissue the affected insurance policies to the insured in 2022, including 12 policies specific to the scaffolding industry.
Note 3: One application is under processing.

     The Government is deeply concerned about the procurement of EC insurance by employers in the scaffolding sector. ECIRSB has been offering premium discounts to the employers in the scaffolding sector and implemented flexible arrangements, including short-term EC insurance policies, tailored to the circumstances of the scaffolding industry. The Government will continue to maintain close communication with ECIRSB to assist employers in the scaffolding sector who have implemented enhanced occupational safety measures in qualifying for higher premium discounts, thus ensuring compliance with the requirement to procure EC insurance.

(8) The LD is studying the refinement of statutory notification mechanism for construction works and its feasibility.
 
     At the same time, to enhance the bamboo scaffolding safety, the LD updated the Code of Practice for Bamboo Scaffolding Safety last year, strengthening the regulation against truss-out bamboo scaffold (TOS). This includes requiring workers engaged in TOS works to hold valid certificates issued by the Construction Industry Council (CIC) to bolster safeguards for workers.
 
     In addition, the LD has been actively collaborating with the scaffolding and insurance industries as well as other stakeholders in recent years to improve the occupational safety of bamboo scaffolding industry through various measures. This aims to reduce related insurance premiums, enabling employers in the bamboo scaffolding industry to take out employees' compensation insurance at relatively reasonable prices, so as to form a virtuous cycle uplifting the overall safety standards of the industry to further lower the premium for labour insurance.
 
(9) The Government supports the construction industry in using innovative technologies to improve site safety. The LD has been working closely with the Development Bureau (DEVB), relevant government departments and organisations to promote the industry to effectively use innovative technologies and expand their scope of application to enhance site safety.
 
     The LD is collaborating with the DEVB to promote the implementation of the Smart Site Safety System (4S) in more construction projects to enhance monitoring and risk management of construction sites, and further improve the overall site safety standards. The LD has also actively participated in the work of the Task Force on Smart Site Safety System Standardisation set up by CIC, and will continue to keep in view the development of various advanced technology and encourage the industry to adopt appropriate technological equipment for preventing accidents.
 
     In addition, the LD, in collaboration with the Occupational Safety and Health Council, organised the first OSH Innovation and Technology Expo in March 2024 to introduce and showcase innovative solutions, products and technologies in the field of OSH for promoting innovative developments in this area. Meanwhile, the LD will provide advice on OSH legislation for technology products developed by industries to facilitate the introduction and application of more such products.
 
     At the meeting of "Enhancement of Scaffolding Safety" on January 24, 2025, the LD has discussed with the industry and other relevant stakeholders to explore measures from various aspects (including the application of technology) to enhance the bamboo scaffolding safety.
 
     However, we must point out that technology is merely an auxiliary tool. It is more important to address the issue at the root by enhancing the overall OSH culture in the construction industry, as well as raising workers' safety awareness. The Government will continue to strive for promoting OSH culture through the adoption of multi-pronged strategies, including promotion, education and training, inspections and enforcement as well as the application of technologies, to help reduce accidents.

     Following is a question by the Hon Paul Tse and a written reply by the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, in the Legislative Council today (February 12):

Question:

     It is learnt that the Government has yet to confirm the commencement date of the reclamation project for the Kau Yi Chau Artificial Islands under the Lantau Tomorrow Vision. According to a paper submitted by the Government to the Panel on Development of this Council on December ‍29, 2022, the Government's target was to commence the reclamation works for the Artificial Islands at the end of 2025. The Government subsequently indicated that the reclamation works "would be slightly deferred". At the meeting of the Panel on Development of this Council on October 22 last year, the Secretary for Development advised that hopefully the reclamation works could commence within the current term of the Government (i.e. by June 30, 2027). On the 7th of last month, the Secretary for Development remarked that at present there was no need to fix a date for the commencement of the reclamation works; while a commentary article "The Lantau Tomorrow Vision is yesterday's dream" published on the Ta Kung Wen Wei website on the same day pointed out that the Government had no choice but to slow down the pace of creating artificial land by reclamation under the Lantau Tomorrow Vision or even shelve the development plan, highlighting that the Lantau Tomorrow Vision has become "a thing of the past". In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) as there are views that the Government has been procrastinating on the commencement date of the works for the Lantau Tomorrow Vision, and the subsequent remark made by the Secretary for Development that at present there is no need to fix a date for the commencement of the reclamation works is entirely different from the remark in the commentary article "The Lantau Tomorrow Vision is yesterday's dream" on the Ta Kung Wen Wei website, of the latest update of the project;
      
(2) whether the principal officials in charge of the Lantau Tomorrow Vision will formally and publicly give an account of the retention or otherwise of the project; and

(3) given that the aforesaid commentary article has highlighted that "the Lantau Tomorrow Vision has become a thing of the past", of the detailed expenditures incurred by the Government to date on the preliminary studies, design and consultancy work relating to the Lantau Tomorrow Vision; whether the Government will immediately suspend or freeze such work in order to minimise unnecessary expenditures; if so, of the estimated amount of expenditures that can be saved; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

     According to the findings of the study “Hong Kong 2030+: Towards a Planning Vision and Strategy Transcending 2030”, the target for supply of developed land in the 30 years from 2019 to 2048 is about 7 000 hectares, of which 1 000 hectares of land will come from the proposed Kau Yi Chau Artificial Islands (KYCAI) project. This 1 000 hectares of newly reclaimed land, geographically located at a strategical position, will expand the scope and capacity of the development of Hong Kong and provide transport infrastructures connecting the Northern Metropolis and Lantau Island. It helps to support Hong Kong's sustainable development in the medium to long term.

     The replies to various parts of Hon Paul Tse's questions are as follows:

(1) The article cited in this question was contributed by an individual to the relevant media. It is understood that it does not represent the position of the media, let alone the position of the Government.

(2) The KYCAI is a project necessary for Hong Kong's long-term development. The Government is taking forward the project in a steady and prudent manner, and will formulate the project implementation strategy in light of the progress of various studies of the project, as well as the priority and overall deployment of the Government's various land creation and infrastructure projects.

     The Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) submitted the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the reclamation part to the Environmental Protection Department on December 31 last year, with the target of completing the approval work within 2025. In addition to the EIA report for the reclamation part, the CEDD still needs to complete a series of tasks, including completing the EIA for the strategic roads and land development, and progressively commencing a series of detailed engineering studies (including formulating specific design and construction requirements for key infrastructure projects, and conducting relevant financial studies and analysis). The Government announced its forecast for the supply of developed land in the next 10 years in October last year, including 300 hectares of reclaimed land from the KYCAI project. At that time, it was expected that such land would only become available in the later stage of the decade. For such large-scale land development project, the current priority is to prudently complete the necessary preparatory work in the study and planning stages so that construction work can commence as quickly as possible at the appropriate time in the future.

     The Government has reiterated the above position in the 2024 Policy Address, the Legislative Council's Panel on Development's Policy Address briefing, media interviews for the Secretary for Development, social media, and the KYCAI project's dedicated website. When we applied for the block vote funding from the Legislative Council's Public Works Subcommittee in January this year, we also explained the contents of the detailed engineering studies to Members.
      
(3) At its meeting on December 4, 2020, the Legislative Council's Finance Committee approved a funding of $550.4 million for the ongoing planning and engineering study on the KYCAI (i.e. PWP Item No. 768CL "Studies related to artificial islands in the Central Waters") to engage a consultant to carry out the relevant study and related site investigation works for KYCAI. By the end of the 2024/2025 financial year, the CEDD projects an expenditure of about $400 million. As explained in the reply in Part (2) above, the Government is taking forward the project in a steady and prudent manner, including continuing with the statutory EIA work and necessary studies.