Author Archives: hksar gov

     Following is a question by the Hon Lee Chun-keung and a reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (October 21):

Question:

     A number of organisations representing persons with disabilities have reflected that barrier-free facilities in Hong Kong are not yet fully adequate. Examples include discontinuities in barrier-free access routes in certain public housing estates, government venues and private shopping malls; barrier-free toilets being kept locked for prolonged periods; lifts and ramps being out of service for prolonged periods due to maintenance works; and guide paths being obstructed by miscellaneous objects or suffering from poor design. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the respective numbers of complaints received by various government departments over the past three years concerning damage to, improper design of, or obstruction of barrier-free facilities in public places; the average time required to complete the relevant repair and improvement works;

(2) given that properties completed before 2008 and not subsequently altered are not governed by the guidelines set out in the Buildings Department’s Design Manual: Barrier Free Access 2008, whether the Government will consider promoting the upgrading of barrier-free facilities (for example, by installing ramps alongside staircases) by owners of older properties through measures such as a dedicated subsidy scheme or legislative amendments, and providing incentives such as tax concessions to encourage owners of private shopping malls to improve such facilities; and

(3) whether it will establish a territory-wide geographic information database on barrier-free facilities in conjunction with the Smart City Blueprint for Hong Kong to digitise data on such facilities in government and private premises, and establish a dedicated one-stop service page called “Barrier-free Access Made Easy” on the “iAM Smart” mobile application to integrate maps and real-time status information on barrier-free facilities across Hong Kong, so as to facilitate persons with disabilities and the elderly in planning barrier-free travel routes in advance?

Reply:

President,

     The Government is committed to providing a barrier-free environment for persons with disabilities, with a view to enabling them to have a barrier-free access to premises and make use of the facilities and services on an equal basis with others, thereby helping them to live independently and fully integrate into the community.

     In consultation with the relevant bureaux, our consolidated reply to the Member’s question is as follows:

(1) The statistics on complaints received by various government departments over the past three years regarding barrier-free facilities in public places, as well as the average time required for the relevant repair and improvement works, are set out in the Annex.

(2) Regulation 72 of the Building (Planning) Regulations (Cap. 123F) prescribes the design requirements for barrier-free access to premises and facilities for persons with disabilities in private buildings, so as to ensure that reasonable barrier-free access and facilities are provided in relevant premises to cater for the needs of persons with disabilities. This Regulation is applicable to all new private buildings as well as alterations or additions to existing private buildings.

     The Buildings Department (BD) issued the Design Manual: Barrier Free Access 2008 in 2008 to elaborate on the statutory design requirements and provide guidelines on barrier-free access and facilities. With a view to enhancing the standards of barrier-free facilities in private buildings to align with the latest needs and international trends, and ensuring that concepts of universal design are incorporated in a feasible and pragmatic manner suited to the local context, the BD commissioned a consultant to conduct studies. Following stakeholders’ consultations, the BD issued the Design Manual on Universal Accessibility 2026 in September this year, incorporating concepts of universal design with the objective of fostering an inclusive, accessible, safe and convenient built environment for all members of the community.

     Regarding buildings in old districts, the Government, in collaboration with the Urban Renewal Authority, has launched a number of building refurbishment subsidy schemes, including the Operation Building Bright 2.0 (OBB 2.0) and the Building Maintenance Grant Scheme for Needy Owners (BMGSNO). The OBB 2.0 provides support to eligible owner-occupiers of residential or composite buildings, assisting them in carrying out major building repair works, whilst the BMGSNO provides financial assistance to owner-occupiers in need to subsidise the costs of repairing their owner-occupied properties and improve the condition of dilapidated buildings. The scope of both subsidy schemes covers the provision, improvement and repair of barrier-free access works or the installation of barrier-free facilities in buildings.

(3) In July this year, the Lands Department (LandsD) launched the web application of the “Walkin’HK”, utilising over 240 two-dimensional and three-dimensional datasets available in the Common Spatial Data Infrastructure Portal (the Portal) to help members of the public, including persons with disabilities, plan point-to-point barrier-free travel routes. Unlike traditional map applications, “Walkin’HK” specifically caters to the needs of persons with disabilities, such as wheelchair users, by providing the shortest, flat surface, or barrier-free routes and highlighting facilities along the way. The spatial data on the Portal is available for free download and use by the public. Many of these datasets are related to daily commuting, and institutions outside the Government are welcome to use these raw data to develop applications that facilitate journeys for persons with disabilities.

     In addition, the Transport Department’s “HKeMobility” application has integrated LandsD’s 3D Pedestrian Network, including information of barrier-free access. When planning their journeys, members of the public can select visual aided or mobility aided routes, and grasp the locations of barrier-free facilities along the way (such as lifts, ramps and footbridges), making travel more convenient. The MTR Corporation Limited has also launched the “MTR · Care” mobile application, which offers real-time information on station lift maintenance as well as booking service for wheelchair portable ramps.

     Currently, “iAM Smart” is connected to various online services, including “HKeMobility” equipped with the remote volume control function of “Cross Easy” and “MyMapHK” equipped with voice over and text version, to assist people in need with barrier-free travel.

     Thank you, President. read more

     Following is the speech by the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, at the Opening Session of the Ageing Well Hong Kong 2026 Conference organised by the Actuarial Society of Hong Kong (ASHK) today (October 21):

Clement (Executive Director (Policy and Legislation) of the Insurance Authority, Mr Clement Lau), Mark (President of the ASHK, Mr Mark Saunders), Council members of the ASHK, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     It is my great pleasure to join you today at Ageing Well Hong Kong 2026. My thanks to the Actuarial Society of Hong Kong for organising this meaningful event and for bringing together such a diverse group of experts to address one of the most profound demographic shifts of our time.

     Your expertise in risk assessment, longevity analytics and financial modelling places you at the forefront of understanding the changes that are reshaping our society. This Conference is held at a most timely juncture, in that the HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) Government has just announced its Report on Ageing Society Strategies last month. It is therefore most fitting that I share with you the Government’s vision and achievements in tackling population ageing, in particular, our work to enhance silver financial security for our senior citizens and promote the immense potential of the silver economy.

     We are proud that Hong Kong has one of the highest life expectancies in the world. This is the result of our excellent healthcare system, rising living standards and greater health awareness. However, this success brings with it a structural challenge that impacts on every facet of our society.

     The numbers are clear. By 2046, it is projected that the population aged 65 and above will rise to 2.74 million, accounting for more than one-third of the total population. This demographic reality may evoke concerns about healthcare costs, pension sustainability and shrinking labour forces. But I would like to offer a different perspective, that is: the massive potential for developing a thriving silver economy that can drive innovation and enable our elderly people to not only live longer but to live better with purpose, dignity and security.

     This is precisely why our Government has placed population ageing high on our policy agenda. Back in 2024, the Chief Executive announced in the Policy Address the setting up of a Working Group on Promoting Silver Economy, which announced 30 measures in May last year in five areas, namely: boosting “silver consumption”, developing “silver industry”, promoting “quality assurance of silver products”, enhancing “silver financial and security arrangements”, and unleashing “silver productivity”.

     Furthermore, Hong Kong’s First Five-year Plan and the 2026 Policy Address announced by the Chief Executive last month steer more proactive and strategic planning. Central to this is the Working Group on Ageing Society Strategies, with me as the leader and all the 15 government policy bureaux as members. Our mandate is to break down silos and drive a co-ordinated, whole-of-government response. 

     The Report on Ageing Society Strategies released last month is a comprehensive blueprint, putting forward 73 strategic measures across 11 areas, ranging from healthcare, technology, economy, mobility, elderly care, finance to manpower, learning, social life, and age-friendly urban design. Together, these measures form a holistic, cross-bureau response to population ageing.

     It would be mighty onerous to walk you through all the 73 measures. So I would like to focus more today on the silver economy arena. Among the 11 areas of our strategies, one key area is elderly financial security and safety, which serves as the bedrock of a worry-free retirement. With longer life expectancy, we must plan for a longer period without a regular salary. We believe that our role as the Government is to provide the enabling framework, the right products and the education to help our citizens manage longevity risk effectively.

     This is why we are strengthening our retirement financial planning tools. At the centre of our toolkit is the “HKMC Retire 3” operated by the Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation Limited (HKMC) and its subsidiaries. This package of three powerful products, namely the HKMC Annuity Plan, the Reverse Mortgage Programme and the Policy Reverse Mortgage Programme, are designed to unlock the value of assets many seniors already hold. To date, these products have benefited over 49 000 customers.

     We see immense potential for further growth for these products given the size of our elderly population. Hence as part of our measures in the Ageing Society Strategies, the Government will continue to explore further enhancements to the “HKMC Retire 3” suite in response to market conditions and public feedback. At the same time, we will also actively encourage insurers to partner with enterprises in the elderly care, medical and other sectors, and to develop insurance product offerings targeting financially better-off elderly people. With encouragement from the Insurance Authority, insurers in Hong Kong have already offered savings-oriented insurance products that provide policyholders with the right to access retirement facilities in the Chinese Mainland.

     In addition, we will step up public education on retirement planning and longevity risk management. The HKMC, the HKMC Annuity Limited, the Investor and Financial Education Council and the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) Schemes Authority are intensifying efforts to raise awareness of retirement planning. Educational materials will reach MPF scheme members turning 65 through the eMPF Platform. Seminars, media campaigns and community outreach continue to dispel misconceptions and encourage earlier planning, ideally well before retirement.

     Financial security for retirement is not just about having enough savings for retirement, but also about keeping the savings secure. In today’s increasingly digital world, seniors often fall prey to sophisticated scams and fraud. To lower the chance of the elderly encountering fraudulent information at source, the Hong Kong Police is planning to implement a Cyber Hygiene Operation in collaboration with technology and telecommunications companies in 2027 to use AI to proactively filter and remove fraudulent content from social media platforms popular among seniors. The Police will also launch a Project Gatekeeper scheme next year to specifically enhance the ability of carers and frontline bank staff to identify and tackle scams involving the elderly.

     Intelligence sharing and partnership are pivotal to helping safeguard our elderly people’s financial assets. A key milestone is the Financial Intelligence Evaluation Sharing Tool, an intelligence sharing platform under the public-private partnership of the HKMA (Hong Kong Monetary Authority), the Police and the banking sector. As of mid-2026, all 28 retail banks are participating, covering over 90 per cent of our bank accounts.

     The “Money Safe” initiative is another powerful tool. It allows customers to designate a portion of their deposits as protected, requiring an extra verification step to withdraw. As of the end of March 2026, over 14 000 customers have used “Money Safe” to safeguard a total of $4 billion in deposits.

The Broader Silver Economy Opportunity

     The above measures in financial security and fraud prevention are part of a much larger, holistic vision. They also sit within our broader strategy to promote the silver economy which has massive potential: it is estimated that consumer spending by the elderly aged 60 and above in Hong Kong will increase by 45 per cent from $342 billion in 2024 to $496 billion in 2034, reflecting the continuously growing purchasing power of the elderly.

     To capture the vast market potential, the Government has been proactively promoting silver consumption, such as encouraging the business sector to incorporate silver elements in major exhibitions. For instance, in August this year, three major exhibitions (namely the Food Expo, the Beauty and Wellness Expo and the Home Delights Expo) attracted over half a million visits. We will continue to incorporate more silver-economy elements into other relevant exhibitions, offering retail and catering concessions to the elderly, encouraging e-commerce platforms to diversify their range of silver products and facilitate online shopping, as well as making more silver products available at restaurants and retail outlets.

     On developing the silver industry, the Government is dedicated to enhancing the innovation and technology ecosystem, including gerontechnology. At present, there are about 140 companies engaging in solutions and services related to gerontechnology in the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks and Cyberport. To foster a vibrant gerontechnology ecosystem, the Government will earmark $100 million to launch the Gerontechnology Promotion Scheme to encourage and support local technology enterprises to proactively develop elderly care products and solutions.

     On promoting quality assurance of silver products, collaboration among the Government, businesses and social welfare organisations has resulted in the official promulgation of the Care Food Greater Bay Area (GBA) Standard, enhancing consumer confidence and boosting the competitiveness of local brands. Under the Government’s facilitation, the industry has also introduced various registration schemes, such as the Hong Kong Q-Mark Silver Scheme and the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency’s Hong Kong Registration – Silver-friendly Series, to recognise and promote quality silver-friendly products and services. The Government will further explore with relevant organisations to expand the scope of certification to other lines of products, such as walking sticks, wheelchairs and exoskeleton systems, and explore including them in the list of GBA Standards. We will facilitate the inclusion of more silver products and services in the list of GBA Standards to enhance the competitiveness and marketability of Hong Kong silver products and services, and assist the industry in expanding into the GBA and other Chinese Mainland markets.

     Unleashing silver productivity is another important element in driving Hong Kong’s silver economy. It does not only help strengthen our labour force, but also allows our elderly citizens to make good use of their valuable work experiences. The Re-employment Allowance Pilot Scheme has received over 86 000 participants and over 56 000 placements have been recorded, of which about one quarter involved persons aged 60 or above. The Government also continues to provide dedicated training courses to persons aged 50 or above. In 2025-26, for example, the enrolment of persons aged 50 and above in the ERB (Employees Retraining Board)’s courses exceeded 98 000. From 2026 onwards, the Labour Department will organise about 75 large-scale and regional thematic job fairs a year for older and middle-aged persons.

     Ladies and gentlemen, an ageing population requires us to rethink our approach to work, healthcare, housing, finance and community as a whole. Government action alone is not enough. Building a truly age-friendly Hong Kong requires the concerted efforts of the Government, the business sector, professional bodies, non-governmental organisations, and indeed of every family.

     In this endeavour, the actuarial profession has a distinctive and indispensable role to play. Your expertise provides the evidence base upon which sound policy must rest. By working closely with the actuarial community, financial institutions, and other stakeholders, we can continue to refine our retirement products, strengthen our protective mechanisms, and ensure that our policies remain responsive to evolving demographic realities.

     Ladies and Gentlemen, we together can build Hong Kong into a city that turns the challenge of ageing into an opportunity for a more inclusive, resilient and compassionate society. On this note, I wish this Conference a huge success and all of you a very fruitful time at the event. Thank you very much.

read more

     Following is a question by the Hon Ken Lee and a written reply by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, in the Legislative Council today (October 21):

     The Chief Executive’s 2026 Policy Address proposes that the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) will enhance Discover Hong Kong’s digital platform, launch a new mobile application (new app) to consolidate the ticket stub offers of mega events, and provide one-stop contact services to connect event organisers with the relevant trades. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether it knows (i) the respective ratio of new to returning visitors, number of pageviews, and engagement rates of the Discover Hong Kong website, as well as the number of clicks and outbound clicks from the offer-related pages to merchants or booking platforms for each year from 2023 to 2025, and if the HKTB does not have the relevant data, of the reasons for that; and (ii) whether it will explore other ways to estimate the actual spending or conversion rate generated through such links; if so, of the details;

(2) how the new app and the existing Discover Hong Kong platform will integrate with each other; whether the HKTB will establish a data collection and effectiveness evaluation mechanism to keep track of the browsing, redemption and actual usage of ticket stub offers; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; whether the HKTB will formulate key performance indicators for the new app, covering the usage rate of offers and the relevant spending amounts, so as to assess the effect of ticket stub offers in driving spending for merchants in the vicinity of mega event venues;

(3) of the effectiveness of the HKTB’s current promotion on social media such as Instagram and Facebook, including the respective statistics on the number of followers, engagement rate and reach on each platform; whether the HKTB has plans to utilise the existing promotional channels on social media to direct online attention to Discover Hong Kong and the upcoming new app, so as to better drive the promotion of ticket stub offers; if it has, of the specific promotional strategies, timetable and resources involved; if not, the reasons for that; and

(4) whether the HKTB will cooperate with local and overseas e-commerce, travel booking and ticketing platforms to promote integration between the new app and such platforms in the promotion and use of offers; if so, of the details?

Reply:

President,

     Discover Hong Kong (DHK) serves as the Hong Kong Tourism Board’s (HKTB) one-stop travel information platform, bringing together information on sightseeing attractions, local cuisine, culture and arts as well as large-scale mega events, etc, to provide visitors with all-round itinerary planning guidance and practical travel information. It was mentioned in the 2026 Policy Address that the DHK platform will be enhanced, providing visitors with a wider range of travel information on attractions, cuisine, culture, and mega events, etc. Third-party partners will also be invited to launch a new mobile application that consolidates ticket stub offers for mega events hosted and promoted by the HKTB, thereby further extending the economic benefits of mega events.

     In response to the question raised by the Hon Ken Lee, our reply is as follows:

(1) The HKTB has been closely monitoring the operational performance and promotional effectiveness of the DHK platform. Relevant statistics from 2023 to 2025 are set out below:
 

	2023	2024	2025
Annual Page Views	21 million (Note 1)	33 million	38 million
Average Pages Per Visit	1.4 pages	1.4 pages	1.7 pages
Average Time Spent Per Visit	4 minutes	4 minutes	5 minutes
Page Views for the “Offers” Section	0.79 million	1.35 million	1.50 million
Clicks Directed from the “Offers” Section to Merchant Websites, Booking Platforms, and Other Promotion Pages	160 000	310 000	Approx. 460 000

Note 1: Hong Kong gradually resumed normalcy in early 2023 following the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the HKTB only resumed its major promotional campaigns from mid-year onwards. Website traffic in 2023 was therefore affected.

     As regards the ratio of new to returning visitors, website analytics tools currently rely on Cookies or similar technologies to identify users. Such data is easily affected by factors such as users changing devices, browser settings, and privacy protection measures, etc, making it difficult to accurately distinguish between first-time and returning visitors. Therefore, the HKTB does not maintain statistics on such ratios.

     Regarding the actual consumption or conversion rate derived via the links, the promotional information pages on the DHK primarily feature various offers provided by the trade and direct users to the relevant merchants’ platforms via these links for further enquiries, bookings, and consumption, etc. As transaction and consumption details on third-party platforms constitute commercial operation data of the respective merchants, the HKTB does not possess such information. Meanwhile, the DHK also provides offers launched by the HKTB in collaboration with the trade, enabling the public and visitors to redeem offers directly through designated platforms of the HKTB or its partners. The HKTB uses relevant download and usage data for evaluating the effectiveness of promotional activities. For instance, in the Hong Kong Summer Deals consumer offers launched by the HKTB this summer, the public and visitors downloaded a total of 290,000 coupons across platforms of the HKTB and its partners, achieving a final redemption rate of 45 per cent.

(2) The HKTB is currently planning and exploring a new mobile application to centrally consolidate ticket stub offers for mega events hosted and promoted by the HKTB. This aims to facilitate the public and visitors’ access to, and merchants’ promotion and provision of ticket stub offers. Specific details will be announced in due course. The HKTB will set various performance indicators, including page views and coupon download figures, etc, to comprehensively evaluate the promotional effectiveness and practical benefits of the new mobile application.

(3) The HKTB currently operates a total of 12 official social media channels globally, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, X, YouTube, Douyin, WeChat, LinkedIn, Xiaohongshu, Weibo, and QQ, with a cumulative follower base exceeding 14 million and content reach surpassing 5.9 billion.

     The HKTB has all along formulated targeted promotional strategies to cater for the characteristics of various social media platforms as well as the preferences and needs of their user bases. By leveraging formats such as posts, short videos, live streaming, and thematic content, the HKTB promotes Hong Kong’s tourism products, mega events, and unique experiences, while making good use of diversified marketing channels and media to enhance promotional effectiveness. For instance, the HKTB includes links to the DHK event promotional pages within its social media content to facilitate visitors and the public’s access to event details and related promotional offers, while further directing them to the platforms of relevant merchants to foster direct connections between visitors/ the public and merchants.

     To tie in with the launch of the new mobile application, the HKTB also plans to conduct promotional and publicity campaigns across various social media platforms to encourage the public and visitors to use the application. The above promotional and publicity work has been subsumed into the HKTB’s overall marketing budget and cannot be separately quantified.

(4) The HKTB has all along maintained close collaboration with airlines, hotels, travel agents, online travel platforms, payment platforms, and ticketing platforms, etc, to expand the exposure of Hong Kong’s tourism products and offers. The HKTB will continue to explore the feasibility of collaborating with different platforms, including examining how to effectively enhance interface with the upcoming mobile application to further promote ticket stub offers to visitors. read more

     Following is a question by the Hon Christine Fong and a written reply by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, in the Legislative Council today (October 21):

Questions:

     The Small Claims Tribunal (the Tribunal) aims to provide a fast track for members of the public to resolve small civil claims without undergoing cumbersome proceedings. Currently, the Tribunal may only handle claims with a value of up to HK$75,000. This limit has remained unchanged for years since it was raised from HK$50,000 to its current level in 2018. There are views suggesting a need to review the aforementioned limit as the sums involved in commercial and civil disputes have risen amid Hong Kong’s economic development and changes in property rents and general consumer price index in recent years. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the number of claims received by the Tribunal in each of the past three years (2023 to 2025) and the nature of the major claims, broken down by the following claim amounts ((i) HK$25,000 or below, (ii) above HK$25,000 to HK$50,000, and (iii) above HK$50,000 to HK$75,000);

(2) of the number of cases over the past three years in which claimants have opted to expressly declare in their claim document that they abandon that part of their claim above the HK$75,000 limit in order to have their cases adjudicated by the Tribunal, given that the Small Claims Tribunal Ordinance (Cap. 338) provides that no claim shall be split or divided and pursued in separate proceedings in the Tribunal for the sole purpose of bringing the sum claimed in each of such proceedings within the jurisdiction of the Tribunal;

(3) whether the Tribunal’s current judicial resources and staffing are sufficient to cope with the existing caseload, given that the respective average processing times for small claims (from filing of a case to first hearing) over the past three years (2023 to 2025) were 35, 41 and 41 days, according to the information provided by the Judiciary in response to the Finance Committee’s examination of the Estimates of Expenditure 2026-2027;

(4) given that years have passed since the limit for claims handled by the Tribunal was raised in 2018, whether the Government and the Judiciary have reviewed the Tribunal’s claim limit on a regular basis; if yes, when was the most recent review conducted, and what were its findings; if not, whether reconsideration will be given to further raising the claim limit (e.g. to HK$100,000 or higher) in light of the current economic environment and inflation rate, so as to alleviate the caseload of the District Court and provide the public with a more cost-effective channel for claims; and

(5) given that the Judiciary is implementing the integrated Court Case Management System by phases, whether the authorities have assessed if full implementation of electronic operations can further enhance the Tribunal’s efficiency in case handling, thereby better preparing the technical support for raising the claim limit?

Reply:

President,

     Based on the information provided by the Judiciary, the Government’s reply is as follows:

(1) and (2)  According to the Small Claims Tribunal Ordinance (Cap. 338), the Small Claims Tribunal (SCT) currently deals with monetary claims not exceeding $75,000. The major types of claims handled by the SCT include debts, service charges, damage to property, goods sold, and consumer claims.

     The respective number of cases filed to the SCT and the breakdown on the claim amount in the past three years (2023-2025) are appended below:
 

Claim Amount (HK$)	Number of Cases Filed
	2023 (%)	2024 (%)	2025 (%)
≤ 25,000	33 817 (65%)	39 510 (69%)	39 006 (70%)
> 25,000 – ≤ 50,000	7 820 (15%)	8 180 (14%)	7 862 (14%)
> 50,000 – ≤ 75,000	10 667 (20%)	9 764 (17%)	9 191 (16%)
Total	52 304 (100%)	57 454 (100%)	56 059 (100%)

     The Judiciary does not maintain the other requested statistics.

(3) Despite the persistent heavy caseload of the SCT, with over 50 000 cases each year since 2023, the target average waiting time for the SCT has consistently been met. This is mainly attributed to the substantive and dedicated efforts of Judges and Judicial Officers as well as support staff made in encouraging parties to go through alternative dispute settlement mechanism (including mediation and out-of-court settlement) instead of trials. In 2025, over 90 per cent of the cases disposed of in the SCT were settled through alternative dispute settlement mechanism or withdrawal by parties. The current resource provisions are adequate to cope with the workload at the SCT. The Judiciary will continue to closely monitor the situation and flexibly deploy its resources to support the services at the SCT having regard to operational needs.  

(4) The jurisdictional limit of the SCT was increased from $50,000 to $75,000 with effect from December 3, 2018. The increase was made having regard to a comprehensive and objective review, taking into account a host of factors, including the need to enhance access to justice, impact on demand for and operation of the SCT’s services, changes in economic indicators as well as stakeholders’ views. Since then, the Judiciary has been closely monitoring the caseload of the SCT.

     According to statistics on cases filed with the SCT involving claim amounts exceeding $50,000, the annual number of such cases from 2020 to 2022 was around 43 per cent lower than that in 2019, due to the impact of the COVID‑19 pandemic on court operations. Although the caseload figures increased from 2023 to 2025, such cases remain around 31 per cent on average below the 2019 level. The percentage share of such cases has fallen considerably from around 26 per cent in 2019 to 20 per cent in 2023 and 16 per cent in 2025. There does not appear to be an imminent need for increasing the jurisdictional limit of SCT to $100,000.

     Since any further adjustment of the jurisdictional limit of the SCT could have a significant impact on the administration of justice for parties of the affected cases, as well as SCT’s caseload, operation and delivery of its services to court users, the Judiciary considers it more prudent to monitor and collate data over a longer period with a view to assessing the need and timing for any further changes to the jurisdictional limit.

(5) The Judiciary has always been committed to enhancing the operational efficiency of the courts through the application of technology. The integrated Court Case Management System (iCMS) was extended to bulk claim cases at the SCT in October 2024, providing court users with one-stop services including electronic filing, electronic payment, electronic document management, and checking case progress. As of September 2026, over 22 700 bulk claim cases have been initiated through the iCMS, accounting for around 74 per cent of the total number of such cases. The Judiciary is planning to further extend the iCMS to non-bulk claim cases and miscellaneous proceedings at the SCT in the first quarter of 2027. The full implementation of electronic operations will not only streamline administrative procedures but also enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the SCT in handling a large volume of cases. read more

     Following is the speech (translated from Chinese) by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, in presenting the Government Minute in response to Report No. 85 and No. 86 of the Public Accounts Committee in the Legislative Council today (October 21):

President, 

     Laid on the table today is the Government Minute (GM) responding to Reports No. 85 and No. 86 of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) presented to the Legislative Council on July 15, 2026.

     The Government welcome the Report of the PAC and would like to express its appreciation to the Chairman, the Hon Sunny Tan, and PAC members for the devotions and contributions. The Government has accepted PAC’s various recommendations and set out in detail in the GM the specific responses of the relevant bureau and departments (B/Ds). The PAC conducted public hearings on the chapters on “Management of food waste by the Environmental Protection Department” and “Regulation and monitoring of ferry services by the Transport Department” of the Director of Audit’s Report No. 86. I would like to highlight the latest progress on the key measures taken by the two departments in response to the recommendations.

Management of food waste by the EPD

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has been actively promoting food waste recycling. Through expanding the recycling network and strengthening publicity and education, the amount of food waste collected has continued to rise. The daily average increased by around 14 per cent from approximately 350 tonnes in 2025 to around 400 tonnes in the first half of 2026, demonstrating that the measures are progressively taking effect. The EPD has been continuously enhancing its food waste management work to provide more convenient and cost-effective recycling services in accordance with the recommendations of the Audit Commission and the PAC. These efforts include expanding the recycling network, intensifying public education , stepping up promotion on food waste recycling targeting commercial and industrial premises such as shopping malls and eateries, and implementing strengthened screening of inert materials to enhance both the quality and quantity of recycled food waste. 

     Regarding the management of food waste collection services, the EPD formulated a series of guidelines for monitoring the services in April this year. These guidelines set out clearly the criteria and procedures for site inspections, assessment of non-compliances, and follow-up procedures for late report submissions. In addition to strengthening the internal vetting mechanism, the EPD has commenced a trial application of artificial intelligence tools to assist in cross-checking tender documents to ensure compliance of tendering procedures with Government procurement guidelines with technology support. At the same time, the EPD has refined the methodology for preparing pre-tender estimates and assessment criteria for food waste collection service contracts. The relevant measures have been implemented in the food waste collection service contracts tendered in July this year.

     For domestic food waste recycling, the “one bin per block” target for public rental housing estates will be achieved this year, and the EPD will continue to encourage and assist the installation of food waste smart recycling bins in private housing estates. Furthermore, the EPD has strategically set up approximately 260 public food waste recycling points across various districts in Hong Kong to provide food waste recycling services for residents at premises that lack space to install food waste recycling facilities. The EPD will continue to identify more suitable locations, such as public markets and refuse collection points, to set up recycling points. At the same time, the EPD will continue to review the operation of the recycling spots, adjust their locations and service hours in a timely manner to facilitate the general public’s participation in food waste recycling.

     Furthermore, the EPD has commenced a review on the overall effectiveness of the Food Wise Hong Kong Campaign and will consult the Food Wise Hong Kong Steering Committee and its subcommittees, as well as gather feedback from the trade with a view to rolling out more publicity and promotional activities for encouraging more stakeholders to reduce and recycle food waste, working together to foster a “food wise” culture.

Regulation and monitoring of ferry services by the TD

     The Transport and Logistics Bureau and the Transport Department (TD) attach great importance to the regulation and monitoring of ferry services, and have actively followed up on the views and recommendations put forward by the Audit and the PAC.

     On improving the financial viability of ferry services, the TD has been actively assisting operators in implementing proposals conducive to increasing non-farebox revenue. The TD has established a Task Force to co-ordinate across departments and expedite the approval of commercial activities and pier enhancement proposals that could help increase non-farebox revenue. The TD has also strengthened its monitoring of the pier rental situation, encouraging operators to make full use of pier resources to develop non-farebox revenue. Among these initiatives, the franchised ferry operator has adopted flexible rental combinations to improve the occupancy rate of shops at piers, and converted premises at the Wan Chai Ferry Pier that were originally used for storage into restaurants and retail shops to stimulate pedestrian flow.

     In terms of the regulation of ferry service performance, franchised, licensed, and kaito ferry operators must strictly adhere to their franchise or licence conditions. For franchised ferry services, the TD actively explores service schedule optimisation with the operator as well as monitors fleet maintenance and engine replacement progress, etc, so as to elevate its service performance. For licensed ferry services, the TD continuously follows up on operators’ fulfillment of their tender commitments, and will regularly conduct monitoring surveys and follow up in a timely manner.

     For the kaito ferry services with relatively more flexible operation, the TD has, following Audit’s recommendations, required kaito ferry operators to submit operational data and appropriately strengthened inspection work of kaito ferry routes to gain a more comprehensive understanding of their operational situation.  Overall speaking, the TD has revised its internal guidelines, adopted measures to strengthen the oversight of consultants responsible for on-site surveys, and ensured that departmental staff take timely follow-up actions with operators having regard to the survey results, to more promptly process operators’ submission and make public regular returns as well as operational information, and properly record related follow-up work.

     Furthermore, the Government attaches great importance to the safety of vessels and passengers, as well as PAC’s concerns regarding illegal kaito. To facilitate identification of licensed kaito ferry service by the public, the TD has reminded all operators to display the plates and flags provided by the TD at prominent locations onboard, and display publicity posters with QR codes on TD’s website and at major public piers or landing steps, so that the public can access the latest kaito ferry service information at any time. The TD will also strengthen the verification of kaito vessel licences and conduct patrols against illegal kaito.

     President, I would like to thank the PAC again for its efforts and suggestions. The B/Ds concerned will strictly adhere to their responses and implement various enhancement measures set out in the GM with full efforts.

     Thank you, President. read more