Tag Archives: China

     Following is a question by the Hon Lai Tung-kwok and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, in the Legislative Council today (December 4):
 
Question:
 
     The national Exit and Entry Administration announced on the 15th of last month the implementation of “document-free” channels on a trial basis at Shenzhen Bay Port and at Gongbei Port of Zhuhai Municipality for use by individuals travelling frequently to and from Hong Kong and Macao for private purposes. It is learnt that the above arrangement for easy passage is similar to contactless clearance arrangements such as the Flight Token service currently available at the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), and the authorities have indicated on multiple previous occasions that since the contactless clearance technology requires direct comparison of faces against all data in the database, its application is more suitable for ports serving specific groups of pre-verified individuals below the population of 100 000. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) whether the authorities have plans to provide similar arrangements for easy passage at the corresponding port (i.e. Shenzhen Bay Port) and other land boundary control points; if so, of the details;
 
(2) whether the authorities have conducted exchanges with the relevant authorities of the Mainland on the technology involved in the document-free channels and sought to understand (i) if the number of persons served by those channels has exceeded 100 000, and (ii) ‍if there is any difference between the technology adopted by the Mainland for the document-free channels and that adopted in Hong Kong for contactless clearance; and
 
(3) of the number of passengers who have used the Flight Token service to depart from the HKIA in each of the past two years, and the percentage they accounted for in the total number of departing passengers from the HKIA?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     Starting from November 20, 2024, the Mainland has upgraded on a trial basis some of its e-channels at Shenzhen Bay Port of Shenzhen Municipality, Guangdong Province and Gongbei Port of Zhuhai Municipality, allowing individuals travelling frequently to and from Hong Kong and Macao for private purposes to use “document-free” channels. According to the notice issued by the Exit and Entry Administration of the People’s Republic of China, Mainland residents holding a valid Exit-entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao and multiple exit endorsement for travelling to Hong Kong and Macao for stay, visiting relatives, business visit, talents or other purposes, and Hong Kong and Macao residents (including non-Chinese citizens) holding a valid Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Permanent Residents who are aged 14 or above and have agreed to the collection of facial features, fingerprints and other information by the border inspection authority may use the “document-free” channels at the border without presenting their physical travel document.
 
     It is understood that upon arriving at the “document-free” channel, the passenger should look at the camera at the front gate, adjust his/her standing position as appropriate, and follow the instructions shown on the screen to verify his/her personal information. When the verification has been completed, the front gate will open and the passenger can enter the channel. Inside the channel, the passenger should follow the instructions to scan his/her biometric information such as fingerprints and facial features.  Upon successful verification, the rear gate will open. The passenger may leave the channel and the clearance is completed.
 
     In consultation with the Transport and Logistics Bureau, my reply to the question raised by the Hon Lai Tung-kwok is as follows:
 
(1)  The Immigration Department (ImmD) has provided facilitation arrangements incorporating facial recognition technology at various land boundary control points (including Shenzhen Bay Port), including the self-service departure for visitors to Hong Kong Smart Departure launched in 2017 and Contactless e-Channel service launched in 2021. For Smart Departure, an eligible passenger needs to present his/her electronic travel document in front of the Smart Departure e-channel to read his/her personal data, and then show his/her face for identity verification after entering the channel. After confirmation, the departure clearance will be completed. As for Contactless e-Channel, a Hong Kong resident needs to present his/her identity card or QR code to read his/her personal data in front of the Contactless e-Channel, and then enter the channel for identity verification. During the process, he/she only needs to show his/her face without verifying his/her fingerprints, and there is no need to touch any shared equipment of the e-Channel. In addition, it also solves the issue of citizens being unable to use the e-Channel due to problems with their fingerprints in the past. This innovative clearance mode has provided faster, more convenient and hygienic immigration clearance service for Hong Kong residents. As of November 2024, more than 5 million Hong Kong residents have registered for Contactless e-Channel service, and the cumulative number of passengers who used the service since its launch has reached 130 million, accounting for more than 70 per cent of the number of Hong Kong residents who used the e-Channels for clearance every day, which proves that the service is widely welcomed by the public. Both of the above-mentioned immigration clearance arrangements require passengers to present their identity card or QR code to read their personal data, and then use facial recognition technology to verify their personal identity in order to complete the immigration clearance process.
 
(2)  The ImmD has been maintaining close co-operation and exchanging views with the Mainland immigration authorities on immigration management and operations. The two above-mentioned immigration clearance arrangements by the ImmD do not require the use of fingerprints for identity verification, which is different from the technology used in the “document-free” channel currently being trialled in the Mainland. The “document-free” channel mainly adopts facial recognition technology to replace the presentation of travel document or QR code to read passengers’ personal data on the database, and passengers are required to confirm that the information read is correct before they can enter the channel. During the process of identity verification, passengers are still required to show their face and fingerprints to verify their identity. Therefore, the number of passengers served by the “document-free” channel can exceed 100 000.
 
     As for Smart Departure and Contactless e-Channel, passengers’ personal data is read directly from their identity card or QR code presented, and their identity is verified by using facial recognition technology. Therefore, the number of passengers served can also exceed 100 000.
 
     Contactless clearance is a step further than Smart Departure and Contactless e-Channel services. It generally refers to the clearance process which does not require presentation of any travel document/QR code or the use of fingerprints for identity verification. It uses facial recognition to verify the user’s identity against the database directly. The Flight Token service launched in 2022 is an example of applying relevant technology by the ImmD and the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK). A passenger only needs to show his/her face for identity verification during the check-in procedure in order to store his/her personal data in the database for comparison purpose. For subsequent departure procedures at the airport (including baggage check-in, security inspection, immigration departure clearance, and boarding gate), he/she only needs to show his/her face for identity verification, and is not required to present any travel document or boarding pass again, which is convenient for passengers. In addition, an eligible Hong Kong resident can use the Flight Token e-Channel when departing from the airport. He/she only needs to scan his/her face at the Flight Token e-Channel camera to complete departure clearance without presenting any travel document/QR code or using his/her fingerprints for identity verification, thereby achieving contactless clearance.
 
     Since this technology requires real-time comparison against all data in the database, to ensure high efficiency and accuracy, at this stage we consider that contactless clearance is technically more suitable for ports serving specific groups of pre-verified individuals below the population of 100 000.
 
     In addition to the Flight Token e-Channel used at the airport, the contactless clearance technology will also be used at the Chung Ying Street checkpoint in Sha Tau Kok. People holding valid Closed Area Permits for entering and leaving Chung Ying Street (i.e. those people living or working at Chung Ying Street, etc.) can, upon registration, use the contactless channels to verify their identity through facial recognition technology in order to enter and leave the checkpoint unimpededly. We will also study with relevant Mainland authorities the application of contactless clearance technology in the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone in the future to allow designated personnel of the two parks to enjoy travel convenience.
 
(3)  According to information provided by the AAHK, in 2023 and the first ten months of 2024, the number of users of the Flight Token service was approximately 6.9 million and 11.7 million respectively, accounting for 45 per cent and 70 per cent of the number of departing passengers at the airport in the same period. read more

     Following is a question by the Hon Chan Kin-por and a reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (December 4):
 
Question:
 
     It has been reported that the Police recently arrested 275 people suspected of making fraudulent claims of Traffic Accident Victims Assistance (TAVA) disbursed by the Social Welfare Department (SWD) by producing fake medical proof or staging traffic accidents. The relevant cases involved 121 ‍traffic accidents and an amount as high as $14 million. The SWD has pointed out that obtaining TAVA by deception is a criminal offence, and the persons concerned may be prosecuted under the Theft Ordinance and be liable on conviction to imprisonment of a maximum of 14 ‍years. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the number of TAVA applications referred to the Hospital Authority or the Department of Health for re-assessment as the medical proof submitted was considered suspicious as well as the number of suspicious cases referred to the Police for thorough investigation over the past three years; whether the Police have taken law enforcement actions and prosecuted the persons suspected of obtaining TAVA by deception under the Theft Ordinance; if so, of the number of persons arrested and the penalties imposed;
 
(2) apart from verifying medical proof with healthcare institutions, of the Government’s further measures in place to prevent TAVA frauds, such as stepping up investigation into applicants making multiple TAVA applications as well as looking into the suspected issuance of fake sick leave certificates by the same healthcare institutions or doctors; and
 
(3) of the Government’s means to make members of the public clearly understand that TAVA fraud is a criminal offence subject to severe punishment?
 
Reply:

President,
 
     The Traffic Accident Victims Assistance (TAVA) Scheme (the Scheme) is a welfare measure administered by the Social Welfare Department (SWD). The objective of the Scheme is to provide speedy financial assistance to road traffic accident victims or the surviving dependents of deceased victims on a non‑means‑tested basis, regardless of the element of fault leading to the occurrence of the accident.
 
     In response to the question raised, my consolidated reply is as follows:

(1) The SWD strictly verifies every TAVA application. According to the existing arrangement, the SWD will seek written confirmation from the Police regarding whether a traffic accident is involved in the relevant application and seek clarification on the relevant medical assessment information with the public/private medical institution which issued the medical certificate. If incomplete information and documents are identified or clarification is needed, e.g. when the medical certificate does not establish that the applicant’s injuries were caused by the traffic accident, the SWD will make enquiries with the medical institution concerned or request a re‑assessment to ensure that the injuries sustained by the applicants are related to the traffic accidents concerned. Over the past three years (i.e. from 2022-23 to the end of September in 2024-25), the SWD had verified medical certificates with public/private medical institutions for a total of about 5 600 times. The SWD officers will continue to process the applications in accordance with the established procedures after confirming or clarifying the relevant medical assessment information.
 
     Besides, the SWD officers will strengthen the verification of whether the applicant has made any claims for damages or compensation through other means for the same traffic accident. To avoid double compensation, the SWD will timely inform insurance companies upon SWD’s disbursement of TAVA payments to the applicant.
 
     If false medical information, fraudulence or other criminal element are suspected to be involved during the processing of application, the SWD will refer the case to the Police for investigation and will immediately cease processing the relevant application. In recent months, the Police has arrested a number of individuals suspected of submitting fraudulent TAVA claims using false medical certificates and other methods. These arrests were indeed prompted by suspicious applications identified by the SWD officers during the application vetting process, in accordance with the established working procedures. Over the past three years (i.e. from 2022-23 to the end of September in 2024-25), the SWD referred a total of 575 suspicious cases to the Police for investigation. Among these cases, 275 individuals were arrested for allegedly providing false medical certificates to the SWD to fraudulently obtain TAVA payments.

(2) and (3) To prevent abuse or fraudulent claims of TAVA, the SWD has reviewed its case vetting workflow and increased random checks of medical certificates submitted by applicants pursuant to the risk-based principle. In addition, for cases with repeated applications by the same applicant, the SWD will require these applicants to provide more detailed information about the traffic accidents for conducting investigations. The SWD will also analyse whether the traffic accidents concerned share common features or suspicious elements. For the applications involving Interim Maintenance Grant (IMG), depending on the circumstances of each individual case (e.g. the length of the period for obtaining IMG),  the SWD will check the applicant’s traffic violation records with the Police to verify their eligibility for the grant.
 
     The SWD will clearly explain to the applicants that obtaining TAVA payments by deception is a serious criminal offence. Apart from losing their eligibility for assistance, applicants may also be prosecuted under the Theft Ordinance (Cap. 210) and be liable on conviction to a maximum penalty of 14 years’ imprisonment. All applicants are required to sign the application form to acknowledge that they fully understand their obligation to provide accurate and truthful information, and that they will be criminally liable for obtaining TAVA by deception. In addition to disseminating related promotional information through its website, the SWD also posts press releases and broadcasts short videos on combating abuse or fraud related to TAVA in the reception area of the office of TAVA Section, to remind visitors that defrauding TAVA is a serious criminal offence with severe penalties.
 
     To enhance the integrity of the Scheme and ensure proper use of public funds, the Government will conduct a review of the eligibility criteria and scope of assistance of the Scheme, with a view to ensuring that traffic accident victims with genuine needs receive timely assistance while at the same time, preventing abuse and severely punishing criminals who commit fraud cases. read more

     Following is a question by the Hon Kwok Wai-keung and a written reply by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, in the Legislative Council today (December 4):

Question:

     There are views that the hawker economy is one of the cultural characteristics of Hong Kong, and hawker areas are signature spots for tourists to take photographs and “check-in” as well as iconic tourist spots in Hong Kong, while at the same time providing the gateway for members of the public to start their small businesses. However, the hawker management policy of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) is more from the municipal perspective of performing regulatory and enforcement duties. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the respective numbers of complaints in respect of licensed fixed-‍pitch hawkers and licensed itinerant hawkers received by the Government in 2018, 2022 and last year, with a tabulated breakdown by type of complaints;

(2) as some licensed itinerant hawkers have relayed that upon receipt of complaints about obstruction, the FEHD usually handles such cases by driving the hawkers away, and these hawkers can only switch from hawking on streets with high pedestrian flow to hawking on side streets with low pedestrian flow, which is extremely unfavourable to their business operation, what measures the Government has put in place to ensure that they have a reasonable business environment;

(3) given that according to the information on the FEHD’s webpage, one of the objectives of the hawker management policy is to reduce on-street hawking activities of licensed hawkers, whether the Government has considered reviewing the policy objective more from the perspectives of cultural, tourism and economic values as well as adjusting the policy, so as to facilitate the development of the hawker economy; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(4) of the respective numbers of licensed fixed-pitch hawkers and licensed itinerant hawkers as at September 30 this year, with a tabulated breakdown by age distribution (i.e. aged 18 to 29, 30 to 39, 40 to 49, 50 to 59, 60 to 69, 70 to 79, and 80 and above); and

(5) as there are views pointing out that while Hong Kong’s economy is recovering at present, shop rents remain exorbitant and some owners have even increased rents against the market trend, leading to persistently high start-up costs for members of the public, whether the Government has plans to introduce a new licensing scheme for fixed-pitch hawkers or adjust the existing licencing requirements, so as to enable more members of the public to start up their own businesses through operating hawker pitches; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

     The community has very different views and expectations on hawkers and their on-street hawking activities. The Government has to strike a balance between the varying views and expectations, allowing licensed hawkers to operate according to market demand, while ensuring environmental hygiene, food safety and public safety and minimising nuisance to local residents etc. Having consulted the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB), my reply to the Hon Kwok Wai-keung’s question is as follows:
 
(1) The number of complaints in respect of licensed fixed-pitch hawkers and licensed itinerant hawkers received by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) in 2018, 2022 and 2023 are set out at Annex I. The complaints were mainly related to street obstruction, environmental hygiene nuisance and other licence-related issues. The FEHD does not maintain a breakdown of the complaints by type.
 
(2) and (5) Hong Kong is densely populated. On-street trading by licensed itinerant hawkers at locations of high pedestrian flow may cause obstruction and environmental nuisance, or even hygiene and fire risks. When taking enforcement actions, FEHD will, according to actual circumstances, balance the operational needs of hawkers and the rights of other street users as well as nearby residents. Fixed hawker pitches or hawker bazaars tend to cause less disturbance and are easier to manage. To provide licensed itinerant hawkers the option to move into and operate in a fixed hawker pitch or hawker bazaars, the FEHD will at times open up vacant fixed hawker pitches for re-allocation. This will also provide opportunity for other eligible members of the public to join the hawking trade. In 2019 and 2022, the FEHD released a total of 540 vacant fixed hawker pitches for re-allocation, and 523 new fixed pitch hawker licences have been issued so far.

(3) From the perspective of cultural and tourism policy, according to the CSTB, tourism is everywhere in Hong Kong, and any place can become a tourist attraction. There is already established mechanism to regulate licensed hawkers, and by balancing the needs of various parties and complying with relevant policy objectives and regulations, it is believed that they can attract tourists’ patronage.

(4) As at September 30, 2024, the number of licensed fixed-pitch hawkers and itinerant hawkers as well as their age distribution are set out in Annex II. read more

     The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Office (the Office) under the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau will set up a booth at the Entrepreneur Day exhibition at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on December 5 and 6 to showcase the enormous opportunities brought about by the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and introduce the various support services available.
 
     A spokesman for the Office said today (December 4) that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government attaches great importance to the development of young people and continues to launch various schemes and measures, such as the Funding Scheme for Youth Entrepreneurship in the GBA and the GBA Youth Employment Scheme, to support Hong Kong young people aspiring to set up their businesses and develop their career in the Mainland cities of the GBA, and to support them to realise their aspirations for innovation and entrepreneurship on a bigger stage in the GBA.
 
     The booth set up by the Office at the Entrepreneur Day exhibition disseminates rich information, provides visitors, especially Hong Kong young people who aspire to develop their careers in the Mainland cities of the GBA, with practical information on the relevant policies, measures and support services. A Greater Bay Area Information Station (GBAIS) digital information platform will also be set up at the booth to provide visitors with easy access to information on policies and facilitation measures in various areas of the GBA, as well as practical information about living in the GBA cities. There will also be interactive games with limited-edition souvenirs distributed while stocks last.
 
     The Entrepreneur Day exhibition of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) will be held at Halls 1D and 1E of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The Office booth will be located at Hall 1E (Booth 1E – F02) and will be open from 9am to 6.30pm on December 5 and from 9am to 6pm on December 6. Admission is free. For those who wish to visit the Entrepreneur Day exhibition, online preregistration is required. Please visit the HKTDC’s website (www.hktdc.com/event/eday/en) for more details.
 
     For further information about the GBA, please visit the dedicated website (www.bayarea.gov.hk/en), which also covers the content of the GBAIS (www.bayarea.gov.hk/gbais/en) for easy browsing by members of the public. read more

     The Government announced today (December 4) that the Chief Executive in Council yesterday (December 3) had approved the Road Tunnels (Government) (Amendment) Bill 2024 to be introduced into the Legislative Council (LegCo). The objective of the Bill is to provide a legal basis for the management and operation of the Tai Lam Tunnel after its takeover by the Government on May 31, 2025, and to stipulate the new tunnel tolls.

     A spokesperson for the Government said, “The Tai Lam Tunnel is one of the major transportation and logistics routes between the New Territories West/North and urban areas, and hence maintaining its smooth traffic is highly crucial. The Government will take the opportunity of taking over the Tai Lam Tunnel to implement the HKeToll, a free-flow tolling service, and set the new tunnel tolls, with the objectives of accommodating the public’s expectations for a downward adjustment of tolls while meeting traffic management needs and supporting the operation of the transport trades.”

     The details of the proposed toll plan under the Bill are set out as follows:

(1) The tolls for private cars will vary by time slots, ranging from $45 during peak time slots, $30 during normal time slot, to $18 during off-peak time slots on weekdays (i.e. Mondays to Saturdays (excluding public holidays)), with a reduction rate of between 22 per cent and 69 per cent compared with the current tolls; for Sundays and public holidays, private cars will be charged $18 throughout the day;
(2) Taxis will be charged an all-day uniform toll of $28, with a reduction rate of 52 per cent compared with the current toll;
(3) Commercial vehicles such as goods vehicles and buses will be charged an all-day uniform toll of $43 based on the “efficiency first” principle, with a reduction rate of between 33 per cent and 80 per cent compared with the current tolls;
(4) The tolls for motorcycles (including motor tricycles) will be set at 40 per cent of the tolls for private cars during the corresponding time slots; and
(5) Similar to the time-varying toll plans for the three road-harbour crossings, the Government will put in place a transition charging arrangement for bridging peak time slots, normal time slot and off-peak time slots in an orderly manner.

     The spokesperson said, “We believe that an appropriate downward adjustment of the tolls for the Tai Lam Tunnel could divert part of the traffic from Tuen Mun Road and Tolo Highway to the Tai Lam Tunnel, thereby improving the traffic conditions of the two highways and facilitating public commuting in the New Territories West/North. At the same time, this adjustment would attract commercial vehicles to use the Tai Lam Tunnel, which is conducive to the operation and development of the logistics industry. The Government will fully support the LegCo’s scrutiny of the Bill and strive for its early passage.”

     The Transport and Logistics Bureau and the Transport Department consulted the LegCo Panel on Transport in July this year on the takeover arrangements and tolling scenarios for the Tai Lam Tunnel, and exchanged views with various stakeholders and organisations, including the Transport Advisory Committee and transport trade representatives. The above proposals have holistically taken into account the views collected by the Government and the policy objectives mentioned above.
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     The Bill will be gazetted on Friday (December 6) for introduction into the LegCo for First Reading on December 11. For details of the Bill, please refer to the LegCo Brief issued today. read more