Author Archives: hksar gov

     Following is a question by the Hon Dennis Leung and a reply by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, in the Legislative Council today (June 12):   Question:        According to… read more

     Following is a question by the Hon Jeffrey Lam and a written reply by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, in the Legislative Council today (June 12):
 
Question:
 
     To further enrich the talent pool, attract more new capital to Hong Kong, and strengthen the development of the asset and wealth management, financial and related professional service sectors in Hong Kong, the Government introduced the new Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (the new CIES) in March this year. Under the scheme, persons who intend to invest in Hong Kong and their dependants (including spouses and unmarried and dependent children aged under 18 years) can apply for entry to stay in Hong Kong. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the number of enquiries and applications received so far under the new CIES; in respect of the applications received, a breakdown of the figures and percentages by age and nationality of the applicants and whether they are applying for entry to Hong Kong with their dependants;
 
(2) of the current number of applications which have passed the Net Asset Assessment, and the latest progress in the vetting and approval of such applications; and
 
(3) as it is learnt that some banks have recently launched integrated dedicated services targeting applicants of the new CIES to help them capture local investment opportunities through the provision of various tailor-made asset allocation solutions, whether the Government will collaborate with the relevant organisations to provide one-stop services, including enquiry, consultation, application and subsequent follow-up, to the applicants of the new CIES, with a view to enhancing the competitiveness and effectiveness of the new CIES in attracting new capital to Hong Kong; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     In consultation with Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) and the Immigration Department (ImmD), the consolidated reply to the various parts of the question is as follows:
 
(1) and (2) The New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (New CIES) has been launched for application from March 1, 2024, with the aim to further enrich the talent pool and attract new capital to Hong Kong. InvestHK is responsible for assessing whether the applications fulfill the financial requirements, and the ImmD is responsible for assessing the applications for visa/entry permit and extension of stay, etc.
 
     Since the launch of the New CIES on March 1 up to end-May, InvestHK received over 3 000 enquiries (mainly from the potential applicants and service providers) and received over 250 applications. The Net Asset Assessment for over 100 applications was approved. The ImmD granted “approval-in-principle” for over 40 applications, enabling the applicants to enter Hong Kong as visitors for not more than 180 days and make the committed investment during the period. Details of the age, nationality, and dependants of the applicants and the assessment of the applications are set out in Annex.
 
(3) To facilitate the financial services industry’s better understanding of the details of the New CIES, InvestHK has organised a series of briefings for around 2 000 participants from various industry sectors, covering the banking, securities, funds and insurance sectors as well as the professional bodies of the accounting and legal sectors. Industry stakeholders generally welcome the launch of the New CIES. In particular, service providers for high-net-worth individuals or family offices are positive towards their business prospects brought by the New CIES.
 
     InvestHK will continue to maintain close communication with the industry and stakeholders to enhance their understanding of the scheme details. In 2024-25, InvestHK will launch extensive publicity to target client groups through the Dedicated Teams for Attracting Businesses as well as the Talents and Investment Promotion Divisions (which base in the Economic and Trade Offices around the globe), and plans to further promote the New CIES to industry practitioners such as private banks, lawyers and accounting firms through the Private Wealth Management Association in the third quarter of 2024, thereby enhancing their awareness of the New CIES. InvestHK is also planning to promote the New CIES as well as Hong Kong’s competitiveness and unique advantages as a family office hub by means of physical events and online seminars in the Mainland and overseas places. read more

     Following is a question by the Hon Steven Ho and a written reply by the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, in the Legislative Council today (June 12):
 
Question:
 
     It is learnt that the Tuen Mun to Ma On Shan backbone section of the New Territories Cycle Track Network is about 60 kilometres long, and it takes more than six hours to complete the entire route by cycling. Regarding public toilets provided along the cycle track network, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the number, locations and facilities of public toilets provided along the aforesaid cycle track network; how the Government assesses the demand of cyclists and residents in the vicinity of the cycle track network (especially villagers) for such public toilets;
 
(2) given that as shown on the map and according to site visits conducted by the staff of my office, the distances between public toilets (not temporary public toilets) along the cycle track network vary, whether it has compiled statistics on the respective average and farthest distances between each public toilets, as well as the corresponding travel time needed by walking and cycling;
 
(3) whether temporary public toilets have been provided along the cycle track network; if so, of the specific number and locations of such toilets;
 
(4) as the staff of my office are given to understand, temporary public toilets in a number of villages along the cycle track network have been provided in-situ for more than five years, whether it has assessed if such a situation reflects the long-term need of such temporary public toilets (e.g. whether it has compiled statistics on the number and locations of temporary public toilets which have been provided in-situ for more than five years in Ting Kok Road, whether it has received views or applications from the residents concerned for converting such temporary public toilets into permanent ones, as well as the corresponding ways and progress of handling such views and applications); and
 
(5) as there are views that while temporary public toilets can provide an interim solution to the problem faced by members of the public due to the shortage of toilet facilities, the design of some temporary public toilets gives rise to odour and hygiene problems and poses potential safety hazards, whether the authorities will consider expeditiously converting temporary public toilets along the cycle track network into permanent ones; if so, of the locations and number of additional permanent public toilets to be provided; if not, the reasons for that?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     The Government strives to implement the New Territories Cycle Track Network (NTCTN) in stages, with an aim of connecting the cycle tracks in the New Territories East and West. Currently, the Tuen Mun to Ma On Shan backbone section of about 60 kilometres, the section from Tsuen Wan Riviera Park to Bayview Garden of about two km, and the branching off section of cycle track in Sam Mun Tsai in Tai Po of about one km, are open for public use. To facilitate the enjoyment of cyclists, the Government provides ancillary facilities along the cycle tracks, including cycling entry/exit hubs near public transport interchanges to provide bicycle parking spaces, bicycle rental and repairs kiosks, practising areas, first aid stations or information kiosks, as well as resting stations and public toilets at suitable locations. Public toilets along the NTCTN are mainly managed by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), while those in the parks and recreational facilities along the route are managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) and those in the Wetland Park and country parks along the route are managed by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD).
 
     In response to the Hon Steven Ho’s question, having consulted the Environment and Ecology Bureau, the FEHD, the LCSD, the AFCD and the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD), the Development Bureau’s consolidated reply is as follows:
 
(1) When planning for the provision of public toilets, the Government will consider the number of existing nearby public toilets, utilisation data, land requirements, feasibility, as well as the opinions and requests of nearby residents, local community and District Councils. The public can locate public toilets available along the NTCTN through the “HKeMobility” app. In the course of planning and design for the NTCTN, the CEDD consulted and obtained support from relevant District Councils and cycling groups regarding the number, locations and facilities of the newly provided public toilets. Apart from about 100 existing public toilets in the vicinity of the NTCTN, the CEDD has provided a total of eight public toilets stated below at cycling entry/exit hubs and suitable resting stations. These public toilets are in use and handed over to the FEHD for management.
 

Serial No.	District	Name and location of Public Toilets
1	Tuen Mun	Siu Hong Public Toilet Siu Hong Court near Ng Lau Road (located at the Tuen Mun Cycling Entry/Exit Hub)
2	Yuen Long	Tin Fuk Road Public Toilet Tin Fuk Road, Tin Shui Wai (located at the Tin Shui Wai Cycling Entry/Exit Hub)
3	Yuen Long	Small Traders New Village (1) Public Toilet Long Wo Road, Yuen Long (located at the Yuen Long Town Cycling Entry/Exit Hub)
4	North	Ho Sheung Heung Public Toilet (III) At Side of Cycle Track, Ho Sheung Heung Pai Fung Road, Sheung Shui (located at the Sheung Shui Sheung Yue River Resting Station)
5	North	Shek Wu Hui Public Toilet San Wan Road, Sheung Shui (located at the Sheung Shui Cycling Entry/Exit Hub)
6	Sha Tin	University Station Public Toilet Chak Cheung Street, Sha Tin (located at the University Station Cycling Entry/Exit Hub)
7	Tsuen Wan	Hoi Hing Road Public Toilet Cycle Track, Hoi Hing Road, Tsuen Wan (located at the Tsuen Wan Waterfront Cycling Entry/Exit Hub)
8	Tai Po	Sam Mun Tsai Road Public Toilet Sam Mun Tsai Road, Tai Po (located at the Sam Mun Tsai Resting Station)

Note: All public toilets are equipped with accessible toilets
 
(2) Based on the abovementioned considerations in planning for the provision of public toilets, the distribution along the route varies and they are not rigidly provided at a fixed interval. Based on the total length of 63 km and about 100 public toilets along the route of the cycle track, the average distance between public toilets is about 0.6 km. The farthest distance between two public toilets is about seven km, which are located between Yuen Long Town Cycling Entry/Exit Hub and Mai Po Tsuen. Calculated from the midpoint of these two public toilets, the journey of the nearest public toilet is about 3.5 km which requires not more than 20 minutes to cycle (about 50 minutes for cyclists who choose to walk under special circumstances). Currently temporary toilets are provided by the FEHD at Pok Wai South Road for that section, so that users can reach a toilet with half the time required.
 
(3) For temporary public toilets in the villages along the cycle track network, there are currently temporary toilets provided by the FEHD at three locations, including Pok Wai South Road in Yuen Long, Ting Kok Road near Ting Kok Tsuen and near Tung Tsz Road in Tai Po, as well as temporary toilets provided by the AFCD at three locations in Long Valley Ecological Park near to the cycle track.
 
(4) and (5) The FEHD and the AFCD inspect temporary toilets and arrange their service contractors to regularly clean them and repair damaged facilities so as to ensure the hygiene and normal operation of the toilets. The FEHD and the AFCD will also arrange staff to follow up upon receipt of complaint(s).
 
     The FEHD and the AFCD will review the provision of temporary toilets on need basis, and based on considerations such as utilisation data, land requirements, feasibility, as well as the opinions of nearby residents, local community and District Councils, etc., propose and explore with relevant Government departments the need and feasibility of converting temporary public toilets to permanent public toilets. Considering these factors, the FEHD and the AFCD currently have no plan to convert those temporary toilets mentioned in part (3) above to permanent public toilets. read more

     Following is a question by the Hon Shiu Ka-fai and a written reply by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, in the Legislative Council today (June 12):
 
Question:
 
     In accordance with the Imported Game, Meat, Poultry and Eggs Regulations (Cap. 132AK), it is an offence to bring any game, meat, poultry or eggs (regulated food) into Hong Kong without health certificate issued by an issuing entity of the place of origin and/or without prior written permission granted by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department. However, it has been reported that many members of the public have brought regulated food into Hong Kong from the Mainland or overseas in violation of the regulations, and there are even activities of cross-boundary purchase of such food by agents. The Government has pointed out that such food may come from unknown sources and may not be under regulatory control, making it difficult to guarantee the safety of consumption, and also such regulated food is often exposed to environments with unsatisfactory temperatures or hygiene during transportation, largely increasing food safety risks. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the number of cases of members of the public bringing regulated food into Hong Kong in violation of the regulations and, among them, the number of cases in which prosecutions were instituted in each month of the past two years;
 
(2) of the maximum, general and minimum penalties imposed on the convicted persons in the prosecution cases mentioned in (1);
 
(3) as there is a suggestion that officers at various boundary control points can make extensive use of equipment such as X-ray machines to enhance the inspection of items brought by arrivals and on inbound vehicles, whether the authorities will consider the suggestion; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
 
(4) of the number of cases in the past two years in which members of the public were found, with the assistance of quarantine detector dogs, to have brought regulated food into Hong Kong in violation of the regulations; whether the authorities have plans to increase the number of quarantine detector dogs and their duty time; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
 
(5) in respect of activities of cross-boundary purchase of regulated food by agents (including placing orders using social network groups and then making self-pickup from local retail stores/consolidation points or direct delivery of the goods), whether the authorities have taken targeted actions to prevent the relevant activities from posing food safety risks to members of the public; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
 
(6) as some meat stalls in the Mainland have claimed that their pork can be brought through customs as long as it is vacuum-packed, whether the authorities have followed up in this regard; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
 
(7) as there are views pointing out that uncooked seafood and aquatic food are also high-risk food, whether the Government will consider listing them as regulated food; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
 
(8) of the authorities’ specific plans or measures in place to reduce the number of cases of members of the public bringing regulated food into Hong Kong in violation of the regulations?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     Pursuant to the Imported Game, Meat, Poultry and Eggs Regulations (Cap. 132AK), each consignment of imported game, meat, poultry and eggs (regulated food), whether for personal use or not, must be accompanied by a health certificate issued by the issuing entity of the place of origin or written permission from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD). In addition, under the Import and Export Ordinance (Cap. 60), each consignment of imported meat and poultry is required to apply for an import licence from the FEHD.
 
     The reply to the various parts of the question is set out below:
 
(1) Regarding the bringing of regulated food into Hong Kong by inbound passengers from the Mainland or overseas, the number of cases referred by the Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) to the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the FEHD, and the number of prosecutions instituted by the CFS under Cap. 132AK in the past two years are set out below: 
 

Month	2022		2023		2024 (Up to April 30)
	No. of non-compliance cases	No. of prosecutions	No. of non-compliance cases	No. of prosecutions	No. of non-compliance cases	No. of prosecutions
Jan	20	22	19	23	111	124
Feb	1	1	74	85	79	93
Mar	3	3	85	106	119	141
Apr	9	10	100	118	122	145
May	13	16	98	116
Jun	19	22	81	89
Jul	17	22	72	84
Aug	18	21	81	97
Sep	11	15	89	104
Oct	22	29	95	115
Nov	15	17	91	108
Dec	13	17	62	72
Total	161	195	947	1 117	431	503

 
(2) From 2022 till now, the fines imposed for violation against the regulations under Cap. 132 AK are as follows: 

	2022	2023	2024 (Up to April 30)
Maximum fine amount	$4,500	$4,000	$3,000
Minimum fine amount	$300	$150	$200
Average fine amount	$911	$1,046	$933

 
(3) The C&ED has all along been applying risk management and intelligence exchange and analysis to combat various types of smuggling activities. Such measures include monitoring and inspecting passengers, cargoes and conveyances at various immigration control points. To enhance detection capability and clearance efficiency, the C&ED has been actively introducing and applying various types of advanced inspection equipment, including automatic X-ray detector and computerised scanning system, etc.  The C&ED will closely monitor the situation of smuggling activities and continue to strengthen intelligence exchange and joint operations with the Mainland and other law enforcement agencies, so as to adjust its enforcement strategy in the light of the ever-changing smuggling situation. 

(4) The existing seven Quarantine Detector Dogs (QDDs) of the CFS are mainly deployed at land boundary control points (BCPs) to assist in enforcing the regulations under Cap. 132AK. In 2022-23, the CFS detected a total of 398 suspected violation cases with the assistance of QDDs. The CFS would timely adjust the QDDs’ duty hours to cope with the operational needs. 

(5), (6) and (8) The CFS is committed to combating the entry of illegal food into Hong Kong. It has been maintaining close liaison and exchanging intelligence with other law enforcement departments, including the C&ED, and conducting joint blitz operations at various BCPs, as well as arranging QDDs to assist the law enforcement officers at land BCPs in their duties to combat illegal importation of food. The CFS will continue to collect intelligence and evidence through various channels and also deploy law enforcement actions based on the actual situation to crack down on the sales of regulated food through cross-boundary purchase. Regulated foods such as meat, poultry and eggs will not be exempted from the regulations under Cap. 60 and Cap. 132AK even if they are vacuum-packed.

     In addition, the CFS will also continue strengthening the publicity and education at various control points and remind the public through various channels (e.g. websites, posters, leaflets and social media) that unless a health certificate issued by the relevant authorities and import permission are provided, it is illegal to bring regulated foods such as meat, poultry and eggs into Hong Kong from the Mainland or overseas.
 
(7) All food for sale in Hong Kong must comply with relevant food safety standards, such as those regarding veterinary drug residues and metallic contamination. Besides, according to the Food Business Regulation (Cap. 132X), any person who sells restricted food (including fresh, chilled or frozen shellfish, as well as sashimi and oysters consumed at raw state) as specified in Schedule 2 to the Regulation requires the written permission of the FEHD. We will continue to review various relevant food safety legislations, including considering the need to strengthen regulations on the import of higher-risk aquatic products. read more

     Following is a question by the Hon Judy Chan and a written reply by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, in the Legislative Council today (June 12):
 
Question:
 
     At present, the Government Property Agency lets out government properties, including advertising spaces, for specified uses through open tenders or quotations. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the following information in respect of each of the advertising spaces currently available for letting by the Government for commercial advertising purposes: (i) name of the government property where the space is located, (ii) address, and (iii) display area;
 
(2) of the rental income received by the Government from advertising spaces in government properties in the past five financial years, and its percentage in the rental income from different categories of government properties; and
 
(3) given that at present, some government departments have set up notice boards for displaying public information at facilities under their purview (such as footbridges under the purview of the Highways Department), whether the Government will consider taking the initiative to adjust the established practice in the past, and arrange for letting out notice boards at suitable locations for commercial advertisements, so as to increase government revenue and alleviate the fiscal difficulties?

Reply:
 
President,
 
     Having consulted relevant bureaux/departments, my consolidated reply to the Hon Chan’s three questions is as follows:
 
     Government properties are primarily used as offices for government departments and for the provision of public services. Departments responsible for managing the properties should ensure that the properties are put to optimal use, and release them for alternative uses (such as for use by other government departments, or commercial leasing) in accordance with the established mechanism if they become surplus to departments’ operational needs. Generally speaking, the advertising spaces in government properties (including notice boards) are mainly provided for government departments to promote and publicise their policies, measures, services and events, and to disseminate public information. Departments responsible for managing the advertising spaces would review their uses from time to time, and lease out the relevant advertising spaces when they become surplus to the operational needs of the Government.
 
     As far as rents from government properties are concerned, over the past five financial years (i.e. from 2019-20 to 2023-24), the Government’s total rental income from advertising spaces amounted to some $85 million (excluding trading funds), accounting for around 2.3 per cent of the rental income from different categories of government properties. Details of the property names, addresses, numbers and display areas of advertising spaces currently available for letting by the Government for commercial advertising purposes are set out at Annex. read more