Following is a question by the Hon Steven Ho and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, in the Legislative Council today (November 15): Question: It is learnt… read more
Following is a question by the Hon Andrew Lam and a reply by the Secretary for Housing, Ms Winnie Ho, in the Legislative Council today (November 15):
Question:
The Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS) launched the Senior Citizen Residences Scheme (the Scheme) in 1999, pioneering a “lease-for-life” model with the provision of one-stop age-friendly residences with housing, recreation, and medical care services all under one roof for elderly people. The third project under the Scheme was launched on March 14 this year to provide 312 flats, and it has been reported that the HKHS received 500 applications for the project on the same day. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether it knows the details of the three projects which are now being planned under the Scheme (i.e. the Pak Wo Road project in Fanling, the Kwun Tong Garden Estate redevelopment project and the Ming Wah Dai Ha redevelopment project), including the launch dates, the numbers of flats to be provided, and the entry contributions; and
(2) whether it will, by drawing reference from the experience of the HKHS as a “housing laboratory” and of the Scheme, consider incorporating the provision of one-stop age-friendly residences into the elderly housing policy; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
The Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS) embarked on the Senior Citizen Residences (SEN) Scheme in 1999, aiming to provide residence integrating housing, recreation and healthcare services under one roof for the middle-class elderly aged 60 or above. The two pilot projects, namely Jolly Place in Tseung Kwan O and Cheerful Court in Ngau Tau Kok, were completed in 2003 and 2004 respectively, with an occupancy rate of about 95 per cent in 2022-23. The third project in Hung Hom, Blissful Place, has also been commissioned for resident intake in mid-2023. The units are disposed of under a “long lease” arrangement. Upon paying an entry contribution, the elderly tenants do not have to pay monthly rent, but only monthly service fees for property management and basic services. Besides, tenants may subscribe to user-pay services according to their needs and preferences. The SEN Scheme adopts a single-queue allocation arrangement, which is applicable to the three abovementioned completed projects, as well as future projects under the Scheme, hence applicants are not required to submit duplicate applications. Applications are accepted throughout the year without deadline. As at end October 2023, there are about 400 applicants on the waiting list.
My reply to the question raised by the Hon Andrew Lam is as follows:
SEN is the HKHS’s key development strategy in the area of elderly housing. The HKHS is currently constructing or planning three other SEN projects, among which the project at Pak Wo Road in Fanling is estimated to be completed in 2024, providing about 260 flats. Redevelopment projects at Kwun Tong Garden Estate Phase II and Ming Wah Dai Ha in Shau Kei Wan, estimated to be completed in 2033 and 2035 respectively, will also include SEN projects, providing about 200 and 600 flats respectively. These projects are targeted at the elderly of the middle class. The HKHS will propose the levels of entry contribution of these three projects when they are launched, which will be submitted for approval of the Secretary for Housing. In future, the HKHS will continue to explore the inclusion of SEN projects in new development or redevelopment projects, with a view to creating an integrated and diversified community to meet the needs of people of different ages and strata.
The vision of the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) is to provide affordable rental housing to low-income families with housing needs. The HA has been providing public rental housing (PRH) flats to low-income elderly to address their housing needs, and create a liveable living environment. Since the HA’s approach focuses more on encouraging inter-generational harmony and aging in place, there are no individual developments set aside just for the elderly. Instead, we address the elderly’s needs by implementing various measures in terms of housing arrangements, building design, overall estate facilities, as well as social network.
In terms of housing arrangements, the HA has been implementing a series of housing schemes to prioritise addressing the housing needs of the elderly. For PRH, elderly applicants may apply as singletons through the Single Elderly Persons Priority Scheme, and their applications will generally be processed earlier than applications by ordinary families. Furthermore, the HA has also implemented a series of Harmonious Family Schemes, thereby strengthening inter-generational support.
In terms of building design, the HA has widely applied the main elements of Universal Design concept to the inside flats and common areas of PRH estates, so as to address the needs of elderly residents. Furthermore, the HA undertakes free adaptation/home modification works in the PRH unit upon elderly tenant’s applications.
The HA will, where practicable, reserve about 5 per cent of the total domestic gross floor area for welfare uses in public housing developments to be completed in 2026-27 or later, so as to address elderly residents’ daily needs. The HA also adopts the concept of “Community Play” and integrates children’s playground with recreational facilities for the elderly as far as practicable, so as to promote inter-generational harmony and the elderly’s sense of belonging to the community.
In terms of social network, the HA co-operates with other Government departments and Non-Governmental Organisations to provide elderly PRH tenants with support services.
Other than rental housing, the HA also helps low- to middle-income elderly achieve home ownership. We implement Priority Scheme for Families with Elderly Members under subsidised sale flats sale exercises, setting aside certain quota among the flats for applicants with elderly family members to select flats with priority.
While meeting the housing needs of different categories of low-to middle-income families, the HA will continue its endeavour to provide public housing for the elderly. Meanwhile, the HKHS will continue to launch SEN projects for the middle-class elderly. The HA and the HKHS adopts different approaches by providing different designs and services, so as to address the needs of different elderly families. By complimenting each other, the two enrich the variety of public housing in Hong Kong. The HKHS has all along been Hong Kong’s “housing laboratory” and a valued partner of the HA. In the future, the two will continue to learn from each other, creating a living environment with greater “well-being” for the elderly together. read more
Following is a question by the Hon Elizabeth Quat and a reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, in the Legislative Council today (November 15):
Question:
It has been reported that the number of illegal immigrants (IIs) has soared recently, and non-ethnic Chinese IIs, after entering Hong Kong illegally, will usually lodge non-refoulement claims so as to stay in Hong Kong, and the law and order problems caused by non-refoulement claimants (claimants) have been bothering Hong Kong for years. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) among the unsubstantiated claimants, of the number of those who are remaining in Hong Kong and their reasons of stay, as well as the number of claimants remaining in Hong Kong who have criminal records; whether it has projected the public expenditure incurred for such claimants next year;
(2) of the number of crimes and the offences involving the claimants this year, and among which the number of crimes involving triad societies; as it is learnt that some illegal organisations have arranged lawbreakers to enter Hong Kong illegally and then lodge non-refoulement claims so that they can stay in Hong Kong to engage in illegal activities, of the authorities’ measures in place to prevent such a situation; and
(3) whether it has formulated plans to completely resolve the problems caused by the claimants as soon as possible, including the measures in place to step up efforts against illegal immigration activities and prevent abuse of the non-refoulement claim mechanism by IIs, as well as whether it will consider exploring the suggestion made by some members of the public for amending the legislation to impose “immediate repatriation upon arrest” on IIs and prohibit their lodging of non-refoulement claims?
Reply:
President,
The Security Bureau (SB) is highly concerned about the recent surge in the number of non-ethnic Chinese (NEC) illegal immigrants (IIs). Amongst the 968 NEC IIs intercepted between January and October this year, around 75 per cent were intercepted in the last three months. Over the last three years, the proportion of the number of NEC IIs intercepted to that of NEC IIs who made non-refoulement claim in the same period is about 80 per cent. However, since the implementation of the Unified Screening Mechanism in 2014, only around 1.3 per cent of the non-refoulement claims were substantiated. Under the premise of preventing potential abusers of the non-refoulement claim mechanism from entering Hong Kong, the Government has all along adopted a multi-pronged strategy by maintaining high efficiency in processing non-refoulement claims while meeting the high standards of fairness required by law, and removing unsubstantiated claimants from Hong Kong as soon as possible.
My reply to the various parts of the question is as follows:
(1) As at October this year, there were around 14 700 claimants remaining in Hong Kong for different reasons, among which over half (7 755 persons) still had judicial review cases related to their non-refoulement claims pending disposal by the Court of First Instance of the High Court and the confirmation of repatriation eligibility of 2 670 persons by their countries of origin was pending. Details are at Appendix 1.
The crime statistics of NEC persons on recognisance and issued with Form No. 8 (mainly non-refoulement claimants) in Hong Kong are at Appendix 2.
The estimated expenditures on handling non-refoulement claims and related work in 2023-24 is $1.4 billion. Based on the spending to-date, it is estimated that the eventual actual expenditures should be less than the estimate. It is estimated that the expenditures in 2024-25 would be at a similar level.
(2) & (3) In view of the general resumption of international flights in the Mainland after the pandemic, the Mainland visa-issuing authorities abroad have resumed issuing visas to Mainland China to foreigners since March this year. Coupled with rumors inducing IIs to come to Hong Kong, the number of NEC IIs in recent months has been on a rise. However, only 17 NEC persons on recognisance and issued with Form No. 8 were arrested for triad-related cases this year, which only account for 3 per cent of the arrested. There is currently no evidence that criminal syndicates systematically recruit NEC persons to smuggle into Hong Kong to participate in illegal activities.
Nonetheless, we have taken measures in response to the situation:
(i) On intercepting at source, after discussions between the Mainland and Hong Kong, Mainland law enforcement agencies (LEAs) have been strictly examining the purposes of suspicious NEC persons for entry into the Mainland and would refuse their entry in case of suspicion. The SB recently met with the Consulates-General of different countries in Hong Kong, expressed great concern about the influx of NEC IIs into Hong Kong and secured their agreement to fully collaborate. Since 2016, Hong Kong has also been conducting dedicated operations with Mainland law enforcement units as well as the public security authorities of Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan and Xinjiang provinces to collaborate in cracking down smuggling of NEC persons into Hong Kong through the Mainland.
(ii) On enforcement and intelligence, a one-month anti-illegal immigration joint operation in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, the “Operation Clear Bay”, was recently launched under the co-ordination of the Office of the Leading Group for Combating Smuggling of Guangdong Province. Local LEAs arrested a total of 405 persons. The Mainland and local LEAs also conducted dedicated operations, and mounted a three-day dedicated joint operation, “Mungoshunt-3”, in November. The Immigration Department (ImmD) and the Hong Kong Police Force (the Police) arrested 70 persons. The arrested persons in the two operations were mainly NEC IIs, and included 10 persons and three persons respectively for aiding and abetting others to land in Hong Kong unlawfully and remain in Hong Kong. The Mainland and local LEAs have also continued to strengthen intelligence exchange; tighten the issuance of visas to Mainland China and control over the entry of NEC tourists into the Mainland; investigate syndicates organising cross-boundary illegal immigration; conduct interception at black spots in the Mainland and joint patrols at sea to deter NEC IIs from entering Hong Kong. The Guangdong provincial security unit has recently uncovered a number of cases involving smuggling into Hong Kong, and arrested a number of persons involved in organising smuggling operations and NEC persons who intended to smuggle.
In May this year, the Police upgraded its Crime Wing Working Group on NEC Involvement in Organized Crime and Triad Activities to a steering committee. The steering committee, chaired by a Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police, strengthens the review of the relevant crime situation and intelligence collection; enhances co-ordination; and formulates more strategic enforcement actions. After the conviction of individual NEC person on recognisance and issued with Form No. 8 of an offence in Hong Kong, the prosecution will also provide to the Court the crime statistics or case laws of the relevant group and invite the Court to consider enhancing the sentence as a result of the accused’s status.
In view that some NEC IIs would work illegally after making non-refoulement claims, the ImmD conducted a total of 11 081 inspections and arrested 512 NEC illegal workers from January to October this year in order to lower their economic incentives. The Government will continue to conduct surprise inspections on black spots where illegal immigrants hide and engage in illegal employment and to step up efforts in publicising that employment of illegal workers is a serious offence punishable by a maximum fine of $500,000 and imprisonment of 10 years.
(iii) On expediting the handling of claims, the Government will continue to take different measures, including maintaining high efficiency in screening non-refoulement claims and related appeals, expediting the removal of unsubstantiated claimants under the updated removal policy, making good use of the significantly increased detention capacity and strengthening the management of detention facilities.
Regarding the view of not allowing NEC IIs to make non-refoulement claims, the relevant legality and pros and cons must be carefully considered. In accordance with the judgment laid down by the Court of Final Appeal in 2012 for the Ubamaka case, the Government cannot remove any person, no matter how dangerous or undesirable his conduct is, to another state where he faces a genuine and substantial risk of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. In other words, even if a claimant has been convicted of an offence, it remains a duty of the Government to meet the Court’s requirement to complete all the screening procedures which meet the high standard of fairness before proceeding with repatriation of the claimant.
Thank you, President. read more
Following is a question by the Hon Kenneth Leung and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, in the Legislative Council today (November 15):
Question:
It has been reported that the number of online and telephone frauds has been increasing in recent years and, among them, the number of frauds committed through instant messaging applications and the hijacking of other people’s accounts has increased drastically in recent months. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the following information on online and telephone frauds in each of the past three years: the number of reports and requests for assistance received, the nature of the cases, the age distribution of the victims, and the amount of defrauded money involved;
(2) of the number of frauds in the past three years involving the use of groups on instant messaging applications or the hijacking of other people’s accounts, as well as the number of victims, the amount of loss and the age distribution of the victims in such cases;
(3) as the Police have pointed out that there has been a surge in the number of frauds committed through hijacking the accounts of WhatsApp, an instant messaging application, in recent months, of the measures put in place by the authorities to step up efforts to combat such frauds; whether the authorities have immediately stepped up publicity (e.g. in television programmes and on different media platforms) targeting members of the public of different age groups (including the elderly and young people), so as to raise the public’s vigilance of such frauds;
(4) as there are views that quite a number of online frauds are related to fraudsters placing links to fraudulent websites at the top of Internet search engines by means of sponsorship or advertisement, but currently Internet search engine companies are not required to take up any responsibility in this regard, whether the authorities will consider enacting legislation to regulate the contents of advertisements placed on Internet search engines and require such companies to take up the relevant responsibilities for the frauds involved in the advertisements placed on their Internet search engines; if not, of the reasons for that; and
(5) whether it will consider enhancing the functions of “Scameter+”, a mobile application launched by the Police, including expediting the updating of the database and adding functions such as blocking risky calls and links, so as to strengthen the protection of members of the public against frauds?
Reply:
President,
With the global trend of Internet proliferation, many countries and regions have seen a significant increase in fraud cases in recent years. The Police are very concerned about the situation and have been adopting a multipronged approach, through enhanced law enforcement measures, publicity and education, multi-agency co-operation, intelligence analysis as well as cross-boundary collaboration, to combat all types of frauds and to enhance public awareness in full force.
In consultation with the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau and the Police, the reply to the Member’s question is as follows:
(1) The number of online and telephone fraud cases received by the Hong Kong Police Force and the amount of losses incurred from 2020 to September 2023, with a breakdown by nature of the cases, are set out in Annex 1. The Police do not keep figures on the number of reports and requests for assistance or maintain a statistical breakdown on the age of victims.
(2) In general, cases involving the fraudulent use of accounts on social media, online payment facilities, emails, etc., are collectively defined as “unauthorised access to online service accounts” cases, a category under technology crime statistics. Scams involving losses due to fraudulent use of accounts are included under this category. In view of the recent surge in frauds committed through hijacking of instant messaging application accounts, the Police have incorporated the figures of such fraud cases into “unauthorised access to online service accounts” for statistical purposes since August this year. The number of “unauthorised access to online service accounts” cases received by the Hong Kong Police Force from 2020 to September 2023 and the amount of losses incurred are set out in Annex 2. The Police do not maintain any statistical breakdown on the number and age of victims.
(3) & (4) In the light of frauds perpetrated through instant messaging applications, social media platforms and search engines, the Office of the Communications Authority, the Police and major telecommunications service providers jointly set up a designated working group in early September last year. The working group is dedicated to devising and introducing different measures from the perspective of telecommunications services with a view to combating fraudulent messages transmitted through telecommunications networks. Among others, telecommunications service providers have established a liaison protocol with the Police in September 2022. Based on the deception records and information provided by the Police, telecommunications service providers can block users from accessing suspicious websites. By analysing the reports made by members of the public, the Police have so far assisted the telecommunications service providers in successfully intercepting more than 5 300 website links involved in fraud cases.
In recent months, the Police have noticed a surge in the number of account hijacking cases involving instant messaging applications (e.g. WhatsApp), and have stepped up efforts to combat the frauds on various fronts. Fraudsters perpetrate the crime by placing advertisements of false WhatsApp websites in search engines, with “WhatsApp” as the keyword, in order to deceive members of the public into logging in the false websites and then obtain their account information. In this regard, the Police have promptly alerted telecommunications service providers to intercept the relevant websites, and have requested the search engines and overseas authorities concerned to remove the false WhatsApp website advertisements.
As regards publicity and education, the Police have been adopting a multi-channel, extensive publicity strategy to heighten public awareness against fraud. Targeting frauds committed through hijacking of instant messaging application accounts, the Police have enhanced publicity via various channels such as their “CyberDefender” website and Facebook. Among others, relevant anti-fraud messages have been disseminated weekly on social media platforms since this September, and the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau (CSTCB) conducted a major press interview in this October. At the press interview, fraudsters’ modus operandi of hijacking instant messaging application accounts was demonstrated, and a victim of such fraud was arranged to share his personal experience of falling into the fraudster’s trap as well as to advise the public on ways to prevent their accounts from being hijacked.
In October this year, the CSTCB issued a “Letter to Parents” titled “Online account hijacking” through the “CyberDefender” website, schools, as well as Crime Alerts Network Database of the Crime Prevention Bureau, discussing the relevant modus operandi and advising parents on how to prevent their children’s accounts from being hijacked. Meanwhile, we call upon members of the public who have received suspected fraudulent messages via online platforms and services to block or report them through the functions provided by the respective platforms. They should also report the suspicious links to the Police so that telecommunications service providers can prevent users from accessing the websites based on the Police’s investigation results.
The Government will continue to closely monitor the trend of fraud cases and review fraud combating measures and strategies from time to time, so as to enhance protection for the public.
(5) Since its launch in October 2022, “Scameter” has seen continuous enhancements to its functions. So far, it has recorded a total of more than 1.8 million searches and issued more than 280 000 alerts on frauds and cyber security risks.
The Police will continue to optimise the functions of the application and is planning to incorporate automation elements, including issuing alerts when users browse suspicious websites and receive suspicious calls, to help members of the public identify suspicious calls and websites. To further enrich the content of its database, the Police will also introduce a public “reporting” mechanism for “Scameter+” early next year for members of the public to report suspicious calls or websites through the application.
Besides, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority will launch the first phase of a “Suspicious Indicator Alert Mechanism” at the end of November this year. Under the mechanism, the Police’s “Scameter” will be connected to the Fast Payment System (FPS) platform. During online fund transfer via FPS, the matching function of the database can identify payees whose information is related to scam reports. In such cases, an alert message will appear on the confirmation page to ask the depositor whether or not to proceed with the transaction. With this mechanism, users can save the procedure of inputting suspicious mobile phone numbers and other information into the “Scameter” for verification, and alerts can hence be issued to members of the public in a more direct manner. read more
Following is a question by the Hon Stanley Ng and a reply by the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, in the Legislative Council today (November 15):
Question:
The Government has launched the Labour Importation Scheme for the Construction Sector (the Scheme) and converted the community isolation facility at Tam Mei, Yuen Long into a short-term centralised quarter for the Scheme (the quarter), which is operated by the Construction Industry Council (CIC). It is learnt that the quarter has officially commenced operation and can accommodate approximately 7 000 persons. In the first round of applications under the Scheme, 20 works contracts were approved, involving a total of 4 680 labour importation quotas. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether it knows how CIC ensures that imported workers under the Scheme work and live in a humane and dignified environment;
(2) as it is learnt that the authorities plan to arrange for a large number of tourist coaches to transport imported workers to and from construction sites, some Yuen Long residents are concerned that the relevant arrangement will affect the traffic and the living of residents in the district, of the corresponding measures put in place by the authorities; and
(3) whether it will, immediately after the approval of labour importation quotas for each round of applications, review the latest manpower supply and demand situation of the construction sector before considering whether or not to launch the next round of applications, so as to ensure that the employment priority for local construction workers will be safeguarded and prevent them from becoming “substitutes for imported workers”?
Reply:
President,
It is the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s principle to accord priority for employment to local workers. To address the manpower shortage of the construction sector, we have been adopting multi-pronged measures such as enhancing the efforts in training local workers and recruiting new blood, and encouraging application of new technologies by the construction sector to boost its overall productivity and reduce manpower shortage. The Labour Importation Scheme for the Construction Sector (the Scheme) is a supplementary measure to fill up the remaining manpower gap. Imported labour and local labour are both manpower resources vital for facilitating the delivery of the infrastructural development projects of Hong Kong, and we should take reasonable care for the needs of the labour. In order to meet the accommodation needs of imported labour under the Scheme and at the same time avoid putting pressure on the housing supply in Hong Kong, according to the requirements of the Scheme, employers should provide the construction imported labour who will reside in Hong Kong with accommodation at designated locations arranged by the Government or at construction sites under the principal contractors.
My respective replies to the Member’s questions are as follows:
(1) The designated quarters in Tam Mi, Yuen Long, used to be a community isolation facility, have been converted into the designated quarters and are operated by the Construction Industry Council (CIC) following its commencement of operation in October this year.
Apart from providing accommodation, the quarters also provide cultural and recreational facilities, pantries, laundry rooms, medical service rooms, etc., to meet the daily needs of the imported labour. The CIC also maintains close liaison with the employers of the imported labour for collaboration in the co-ordination and arrangement for meals, transportation and leisure activities for the imported labour, so as to ensure that they are properly executed. The quarters are deployed with resident staff to help imported labour settle into the quarter environment. The CIC will also make corresponding arrangement to address the labour’s individual needs, such as the needs related to their religious beliefs.
(2) Earlier the Government has commissioned a consultancy study on traffic impact assessment for the operation of the designated quarters. Findings of the study have confirmed that the arrangement for the travels of the imported labour to and from the quarters is manageable within the capacity limits of the roads nearby and thus will not cause adverse traffic impact, during both morning and evening rush hours, on the road networks in the vicinity. Imported labour currently travel between the designated quarters and the construction sites point-to-point by shuttle buses arranged by their employers. Such travels using shuttle buses will be completed before the local morning rush hours start. Moreover, transportation for leisure activities for imported labour will also be arranged in batches at different time slots as necessary.
(3) The CIC conducts manpower forecast for the construction industry every year, covering skilled workers, technicians and site supervisory personnel and professionals, to understand the latest situation of the manpower supply and demand and forecast the same for the coming five years. According to the latest manpower forecast published by the CIC this February, the industry will face manpower shortage in each of the coming five years. The Scheme has put in place a quota ceiling of 12 000 for construction imported labour, already lower than the size of the forecast manpower shortage, underlining our concurrent actions in addressing the remaining manpower shortage through measures such as local training and recruitment efforts and driving technology adoption.
The Consultative Committee for Labour Importation Scheme for the Construction Sector (Consultative Committee), established under the Scheme, comprises representatives from employers’ associations, employees’ organisations and training institutions in the industry. To underscore the principle of priority of employment for local labour, the trades applied for importation must be among the eligible shortage trades announced under the scheme after consultation with the Consultative Committee. Applicants are also required to carry out local recruitments in accordance with the requirements announced under the Scheme within four months preceding their submission of applications for importation of labour. The wage level should be no less than the announced prevailing level of median wage. Applications will be processed only if the vacancies concerned could not be filled upon completion of local recruitments. In addition, the applicant is also required under the Scheme to comply with the requirement for the minimum manning ratio between local labour to imported labour of 2:1. The applicant is also required to provide additional training places of existing collaborative training programmes for local labour in a number no less than 10 per cent of the approved quota for importation.
We will continue to work closely with the construction industry and the labour sector to enhance local training and recruitment efforts. We will also improve the quarters arrangement and support for imported labour, with a view to ensuring the availability of an adequate workforce for the construction industry to support the future infrastructural development of Hong Kong. read more