The Government gazetted today (March 7) the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2025 for the implementation of an electronic driving licence (eDL).
      
     The Bill aims to amend the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374) and related legislation to provide holders of a driving licence (including a driving instructors' licence) an alternative to fulfil the relevant statutory requirements of carrying or producing a driving licence for examination or inspection by displaying their electronic licences on a specified electronic platform with smart phones. The eDL will not be a substitute for a physical driving licence, as driving licence holders will still be issued with a physical driving licence, but they may use an eDL at their preference.
      
     A Government spokesperson said, "The implementation of an eDL can bring greater convenience to some 2.5 million driving licence holders, especially commercial vehicle drivers whose physical driving licences are more susceptible to damage due to frequent use. Those who choose to use an eDL can display it by logging on to a specified eDL mobile application on their smart phones via iAM Smart or the Transport Department (TD)'s e-Licensing Portal. To prevent a forgery of an eDL, the relevant application will be equipped with security features, including identity authentication and disabling the screen capture function, etc. Meanwhile, the TD will continue to issue a physical driving licence to meet the needs of different parties.
      
     "The TD has long been striving for innovations in licence management through streamlining procedures and implementing e-initiatives. In recent years, the TD has also recorded a significant increase in the use of online services. For example, in 2024, the proportion of online applications for renewal of full driving licences and International Driving Permits reached 40 per cent. The TD will continue to implement various e-licensing initiatives, bringing greater convenience to the public," the spokesperson supplemented.
      
     The Bill will be introduced into the Legislative Council for first reading on March 19.

     An incoming female passenger was sentenced to two months' imprisonment and fined $2,000 at the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (March 7) for possession of duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare to Customs Officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

     Customs intercepted an incoming 49-year-old female passenger at the Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point yesterday (March 6) for Customs clearance. There were 141 sticks and 240 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes uncovered inside the front pocket of a hoodie carried by the female passenger and in a tailor-made jacket she was wearing respectively. Later, another 320 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes were found wrapped around her waist, and 480 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes were seized underneath the leggings she was wearing. A total of 1 181 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $5,300 and a duty potential of about $3,900, were seized in the case. The female passenger was subsequently arrested.

     Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences. Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, tobacco products are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.

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

  

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for United Christian Hospital made the following announcement today (March 7):

     Mild respiratory symptoms appeared in patients in a female psychiatric ward starting on February 25. Appropriate tests had been arranged for the patients, among which three patients (aged 61 to 70) tested positive for Human Metapneumovirus and met the case definition. Patients are being treated in isolation and are in stable condition.

     A full investigation and thorough cleaning and disinfection have been conducted in the ward. Stringent droplet and contact precautions and enhancement of hand hygiene will be carried out.

     The hospital will continue to closely monitor the conditions of the patients in the ward. The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.

     The Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, departed for Thailand earlier to participate in the co-ordination and rescue operation for six Hong Kong residents who were lured to Myanmar to engage in illegal work. Mr Tang returned to Hong Kong today (March 7), while the six residents, to be accompanied by members of the Security Bureau's dedicated task force, will return to Hong Kong tonight.

     The dedicated task force, comprising members from the Security Bureau, the Hong Kong Police Force and the Immigration Department, departed for Thailand earlier to participate in the rescue operation for the six Hong Kong residents who were detained in Myanmar. Upon arrival in Bangkok, the members of the dedicated task force proceeded to the Mae Sot area near the border between Thailand and Myanmar to participate in the joint rescue operation involving various parties. Mr Tang also departed for Thailand yesterday (March 6) to co-ordinate the rescue operation together with senior officials from the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Justice, and the Police of Thailand.

     The six Hong Kong residents, comprising three men and three women aged between 29 and 44, were detained in Myanmar for periods ranging from five to seven months. They were sent to Mae Sot, Thailand, at midnight by the military of Myanmar after being rescued. With the assistance of Thai authorities and personnel from the Chinese Embassy in the Kingdom of Thailand and the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Chiang Mai, the dedicated task force escorted the six residents to depart from Mae Sot and arrived in Bangkok this afternoon.

     Mr Tang expressed gratitude to all units involved in the joint operation, including the Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of China, frontline personnel at the Thai-Myanmar border; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, especially the Chinese Embassy in the Kingdom of Thailand and the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Chiang Mai; the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Defence, the Police and the military of Thailand; as well as the relevant Myanmar authorities, the Security Bureau's dedicated task force and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Bangkok.

     Mr Tang had a video meeting with the six Hong Kong residents earlier and was pleased to learn that they were safe and in good condition. They expressed gratitude to those who helped in the rescue and looked forward to returning to Hong Kong to reunite with their families later today.

     The dedicated task force will continue to actively follow up on the remaining three request-for-assistance cases of individuals who have yet to return to Hong Kong and will strive to facilitate their return as soon as possible.

            

     The Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, departed for Thailand earlier to participate in the co-ordination and rescue operation for six Hong Kong residents who were lured to Myanmar to engage in illegal work. Mr Tang returned to Hong Kong today (March 7), while five of the residents, to be accompanied by members of the Security Bureau's dedicated task force, will return to Hong Kong tonight. The remaining one is expected to return to Hong Kong tomorrow (March 8).

     The dedicated task force, comprising members from the Security Bureau, the Hong Kong Police Force and the Immigration Department, departed for Thailand earlier to participate in the rescue operation for the six Hong Kong residents who were detained in Myanmar. Upon arrival in Bangkok, the members of the dedicated task force proceeded to the Mae Sot area near the border between Thailand and Myanmar to participate in the joint rescue operation involving various parties. Mr Tang also departed for Thailand yesterday (March 6) to co-ordinate the rescue operation together with senior officials from the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Justice, and the Police of Thailand.

     The six Hong Kong residents, comprising three men and three women aged between 29 and 44, were detained in Myanmar for periods ranging from five to seven months. They were sent to Mae Sot, Thailand, at midnight by the military of Myanmar after being rescued. With the assistance of Thai authorities and personnel from the Chinese Embassy in the Kingdom of Thailand and the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Chiang Mai, the dedicated task force escorted the six residents to depart from Mae Sot and arrived in Bangkok this afternoon.

     Mr Tang expressed gratitude to all units involved in the joint operation, including the Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of China, frontline personnel at the Thai-Myanmar border; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, especially the Chinese Embassy in the Kingdom of Thailand and the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Chiang Mai; the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Defence, the Police and the military of Thailand; as well as the relevant Myanmar authorities, the Security Bureau's dedicated task force and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Bangkok.

     Mr Tang had a video meeting with the six Hong Kong residents earlier and was pleased to learn that they were safe and in good condition. They expressed gratitude to those who helped in the rescue and looked forward to returning to Hong Kong to reunite with their families later today.

     The dedicated task force will continue to actively follow up on the remaining three request-for-assistance cases of individuals who have yet to return to Hong Kong and will strive to facilitate their return as soon as possible.