Author Archives: hksar gov

     Following is a question by the Hon Chan Pok-chi and a written reply by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, in the Legislative Council today (October 14):

Question:

     Rodent infestation has persisted in Hong Kong in recent years, affecting the living environment of the public and public health. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the number of public complaints received by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) about illegal disposal of food waste and refuse by restaurants in the 18 districts across the territory over the past year; in view of the risk of rodent infestation posed by the disposal of food waste by restaurants, of the specific plans put in place by the FEHD for combating the problem, cleansing and enforcement, so as to eliminate the food sources of rodents;

(2) of the frequency and implementation details of the FEHD’s current inspections and blitz checks to monitor outsourced rodent control contractors; how to prevent contractors from falsely reporting the effectiveness of rodent control work through improper handling of trapped rodents; whether it will further improve the deployment of baits and bait boxes, including different bait options such as heated sweet potatoes and other suitable food items, thereby enhancing the actual effectiveness of rodent trapping and control;

(3) of the total number of participants that have signed the Anti-rodent Charter in Hong Kong to date; of the regular monitoring and effectiveness review mechanisms put in place by the FEHD for the participants to ensure their due performance of rodent prevention and control commitments; in view of the recurrent rodent infestation in Hong Kong, of the regular cross-departmental long-term plans put in place by the FEHD to eliminate at source the three fundamental survival conditions of rodents, namely food, harbourages and dispersal routes, thereby sustaining the overall environmental hygiene standards across the territory;

(4) given that the Chief Executive’s 2026 Policy Address has proposed to enhance 1823 services, whether the FEHD will make use of the rodent complaint data to better identify rodent blackspots and adjust prevention and control resources; if so, of the details and timetable; if not, the reasons for that; and

(5) of the coverage, trial progress and effectiveness data of the FEHD’s current application of various technological rodent control tools in various districts; whether it will fully expand the application of technologies such as smart monitoring and digitalised rodent infestation assessment, establish a regular data monitoring and precise enforcement mechanism to replace the traditional approach of relying solely on manual inspections, and formulate long-term strategies and performance indicators for tech-driven rodent control?

Reply:

President,

     Pest and rodent control is an important and ongoing task of the Government. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has all along been adopting targeted measures to eliminate the fundamental survival conditions of rodents, namely food, harbourage and passages. Regarding the questions from the Hon Chan Pok-chi, the reply is as follows:

(1) In the past year (i.e. from October 2025 to September 2026), the FEHD received a total of 654 complaints concerning the illegal disposal of food waste and refuse by restaurants.

     The FEHD attaches great importance to the environmental hygiene problems (including rodent infestation) caused by the illegal disposal of food waste and refuse by restaurants. It has therefore been conducting regular inspections of licensed or permitted food premises across the territory while taking stringent enforcement action against non-compliance. For premises with repeated contraventions, the FEHD also conducts surprise operations to step up enforcement.

     In recent years, the FEHD has implemented a trial scheme to regulate disposal arrangement of waste generated by food premises, which allows licensed food premises, subject to specific conditions, to place large-size covered waste containers in the adjoining rear lanes to temporarily store refuse awaiting collection, with a view to improving the environmental hygiene of the rear lanes concerned and thereby effectively prevent rodent infestation. At present, 192 rear lanes across the territory have been incorporated into the scheme.

     In response to recent incidents involving pest and rodent infestation and food hygiene in food premises, the FEHD launched a two-week special inspection and enforcement operation codenamed “Operation Skynet” from September 30. In addition to stepping up inspections of the environmental hygiene and food handling conditions of food premises, the operation also focuses on examining whether premises have implemented prevention and control at source, including the handling of refuse and food waste, food storage, rodent prevention facilities, hygiene in back-of-house and storage areas, as well as environmental factors that may facilitate the ingress and egress of rodents or pests. Based on the inspection results, the FEHD will take enforcement action against the operators, put forward specific improvement requirements, and conduct follow-up inspections on key or problematic premises to ensure that operators continuously implement the improvement measures. As at October 6, the FEHD has inspected 715 supermarkets, 123 food premises and 114 other food premises, issued 82 Notices of Elimination of Vermin, 38 Notices of Requirement to Cleanse and Repair Food Premises and one warning, and instituted 25 prosecutions.

(2) The FEHD has established a stringent mechanism for monitoring its outsourced pest control contractors. In addition to conducting regular inspections, the FEHD reviews and approves operational plans submitted by contractors and, based on a risk-based approach, carries out surprise inspections and spot checks having regard to complaints received, inspection findings, contractors’ performance and the actual circumstances of individual locations. The FEHD also verifies contractors’ work records to comprehensively monitor whether rodent control operations are carried out in accordance with contractual requirements and operational guidelines.

     To further strengthen the monitoring of contractors’ handling of captured rodents and their work records, the FEHD has implemented enhancement measures, requiring contractors to specify in their work plans the designated work location with greater detail, strengthening trap management measures to ensure the accuracy of rodent control reports, and maintaining photographic records with time and geolocation stamps. In addition, the FEHD requires contractors to ensure that all frontline workers and supervisory staff are fully familiar with and comply with the relevant operational guidelines, and to provide professional training for frontline pest control staff.

     In respect of the use of baits for rodent trapping, the FEHD tests different food baits at individual locations according to the actual circumstances and deploys suitable mixed baits, as rodents’ food preferences may be affected by environmental factors, human activity patterns and rodent behaviour. Frontline staff also regularly inspects and replaces the baits to ensure their effectiveness in attracting rodents.

     Apart from conventional rodent cages, the FEHD also deploys a variety of trapping devices, having regard to site conditions and the level of rodent infestation. These include Ekomille in public markets and refuse collection points, as well as glue traps placed during nighttime operations.

(3) Effective rodent control requires the concerted efforts of stakeholders and members of the public, in maintaining good hygiene habits and proactively adopt rodent prevention measures. The Environment and Ecology Bureau coordinates the Cross-sectoral Territory-wide Anti-rodent Action, consolidating strengths from the government departments and various sectors of the community, including the property management sector, market stall operators and hawkers, the catering industry, the construction industry and the pest control trade, for a cross-sectoral, multidisciplinary and community-wide approach to rodent prevention and control. The Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology also chairs the interdepartmental Pest control Steering Committee, which regularly reviews measures on rodent prevention and control implemented across various departments and organisations, formulates strategies and drives departments to take the lead in strengthening rodent prevention and control efforts within the sectors under their purview.

     The FEHD has also invited property management companies of residential premises and shopping centres, owners’ corporations and residents’ organisations to sign the Anti-rodent Charter, and to assign anti-rodent liaison ambassadors to coordinate anti-rodent efforts within their premises. The FEHD will conduct on-site inspections and provide targeted rodent prevention and control advice. The Charter was launched at the end of 2024. To date, about 840 residential premises and about 130 shopping centres signed the Charter, covering about 780 000 households and about 8 400 shops respectively.

(4) and (5) The FEHD has fully adopted thermal imaging cameras with AI technology to conduct Rodent Activity Survey (RAS) and generate Rodent Absence Rate (RAR) to monitor the rodent infestation situation in districts. At present, the scope of the RAS covers public places under the FEHD, public housing estates under the Housing Department, parks managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, rental housing estates under the Hong Kong Housing Society, fixed-pitch hawker areas and village house areas.

     The FEHD adopts a data-driven and risk-based rodent prevention and control strategy, analysing data including from the RAR, frontline inspections, public complaints, actual environmental conditions and the views of local stakeholders, to comprehensively assess the rodent infestation risks of different locations. Resources are deployed, on a risk-based approach, to locations with higher rodent infestation risks, to continuously conduct targeted rodent control operations, with a view to optimising resource utilisation and enhancing the overall effectiveness of rodent control work. Should private premises be found to be affected by rodent infestation, the FEHD will proactively conduct inspections and provide professional technical advice. Where necessary, Notice of Elimination of Vermin will be issued to the responsible persons, requiring them to properly handle the rodent infestation within a specified period.

     The Government will continue to monitor the rodent infestation situation in Hong Kong and encourage more stakeholders to participate in rodent prevention and control, with a view to jointly building a rodent-free community. read more

     Following is a question by the Hon Tommy Chung and a reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (October 14):

Question:

     There are views relaying that given the lack of flexibility in the existing Standard Employment Contract and supporting policies, employers of foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) are facing a number of problems. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether it will study introducing a statutory probation period (e.g. two to three months) in the employment contracts of FDHs, reviewing the arrangement under which employers are required to provide free passage so that FDHs have to pay for their airfares in proportion to their length of service, and limiting the agency fees charged for re-hiring to a specific percentage of the amount paid for initial hiring so as to protect the rights and interests of employers; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(2) whether it will formulate in collaboration with the Equal Opportunities Commission the practical guidelines on compliant departure and contract termination targeting FDHs to provide objective medical assessment standards and standard mediation procedures for situations where FDHs are unable to perform duties due to serious illness or other reasons; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(3) whether it will amend the legislation to stipulate that FDHs who are dismissed upon conviction for criminal offences will immediately forfeit their eligibility to any statutory compensation, payment in lieu of notice and passage allowance, while the Immigration Department will also prohibit them from coming to Hong Kong to work again; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

     The Government attaches great importance to the reasonable rights and interests of both foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) and employers, and is committed to balancing the concerns and interests of both parties, while maintaining Hong Kong as an attractive work destination for a sufficient number of FDHs, so as to meet the community’s increasing domestic care needs. Having consulted the Immigration Department (ImmD) and the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC), my reply to the question is as follows:

(1) Under the Standard Employment Contract (SEC) for employing FDHs, either party may terminate the employment contract by giving the other party not less than one month’s notice in writing, or paying one month’s wages in lieu of notice. If an FDH wilfully disobeys a lawful and reasonable order, misconducts himself/herself, is guilty of fraud or dishonesty, or is habitually neglectful in his/her duties, the employer may also summarily dismiss the FDH under the Employment Ordinance (Cap. 57) (EO) without notice or payment in lieu of notice. Therefore, under the existing arrangements, employers may already terminate employment contracts in accordance with the EO and the terms of the SEC where necessary. The Government considers that there is no need to introduce into the SEC an additional provision prescribing a probationary period.

     The SEC also provides that the employer shall be responsible for the FDH’s passage for returning to his/her place of origin upon termination or expiry of the contract. This arrangement is one of the necessary conditions for allowing employers to recruit domestic helpers from overseas to work in Hong Kong. Its purpose is to ensure that FDHs who come to Hong Kong will not be left stranded in Hong Kong due to a lack of means for travel, thereby avoiding potential public order and other social problems. Other labour importation schemes also require employers to bear the same responsibility. The Government has no plan to amend this requirement.

     At present, employers may hire FDHs through employment agencies (EAs) or on their own. The fees charged by EAs depend on their scope of services and their agreements with employers. These are a matter of market practice, and it is not appropriate for the Government to prescribe the mode and level of relevant fees. To strengthen the protection of the rights and interests of FDH employers as consumers, the Labour Department (LD) revised the Code of Practice for Employment Agencies in May 2024, requiring EAs to clearly state whether, if an FDH prematurely terminates the contract, they will provide a refund, a replacement FDH or other arrangements, and whether additional fees will be charged, with a view to enhancing the transparency of charging and service arrangements and enabling employers to make informed decisions when choosing EAs. EAs breaching the Code of Practice for Employment Agencies may be subject to disciplinary actions by the LD.

(2) The EOC has formulated the Code of Practice on Employment under the Disability Discrimination Ordinance, which provides practical guidance for employers and employees in all types of occupations (including FDHs and their employers), explaining how to prevent disability discrimination in the workplace and how to effectively implement the Disability Discrimination Ordinance (Cap. 487) (DDO) in the workplace. Upon receipt of a complaint of disability discrimination, the EOC will handle it in accordance with the established procedures, which include, with the consent of the parties concerned and having regard to all relevant information, assisting FDHs and their employers to clarify the issues in dispute and reach a settlement through conciliation.

     Under the DDO, it is unlawful for an employer to discriminate against or dismiss an employee on the ground of the employee’s disability. Nevertheless, the law does not stipulate that employers are prohibited from dismissing the employees concerned under all circumstances. An exception may apply if the employer can present objective evidence to prove that the employee concerned is unable to perform the inherent requirements of the job due to the employee’s disability. If an employee is still able to perform the inherent requirements of the job, but requires adjustments to the working arrangements, the employer may consider providing appropriate accommodation having regard to the specific circumstances of the case. Such accommodation may include flexible working arrangements to allow the sick employee to attend medical appointments, take rest, etc. An exception under the DDO may also apply if the accommodation required would impose an unjustifiable hardship on the employer.

     The Government encourages employers and FDHs to make reference to the Code of Practice on Employment under the Disability Discrimination Ordinance and work together to foster a mutually beneficial work environment for both parties.

(3) As there are many types of criminal offences and their severity varies, they cannot be generalised. However, as I have just mentioned, if an FDH, in relation to his/her employment, is guilty of fraud or dishonesty, for example, where he/she is convicted by the court of stealing property from the employer’s home, the EO currently already provides that the employer may summarily dismiss the FDH without notice or payment in lieu of notice. However, the employer is still required to provide the FDH with return passage to his/her place of origin. This arrangement is one of the necessary conditions for allowing employers to recruit domestic helpers from overseas to work in Hong Kong, and is intended to ensure that FDHs who come to Hong Kong will not be left stranded in Hong Kong due to a lack of means for travel.

     The ImmD has all along been assessing employment visa applications from FDHs in a rigorous manner, and will consider each application having regard to its individual circumstances. An FDH must meet the eligibility criteria set out in the Guidebook for the Employment of Domestic Helpers from Abroad, including having no known record to the detriment of him/her, and must also meet the normal immigration requirements, such as being of clear criminal record, before his/her application will be considered for approval. If an FDH has any adverse record or has committed any breach, the ImmD will normally refuse his/her application. read more

     Following is a question by the Hon Jimmy Ng and a written reply by the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, in the Legislative Council today (October 14):
 
Question:
 
     The Government has been promoting the development of vocational and professional education and training (VPET) for many years. With the Government’s support, the Vocational Training Council (VTC) has implemented the Pilot Incentive Scheme to Employers (PISE) under the Training and Support Scheme (the Support Scheme) to encourage employers to provide workplace learning and assessment for learners, thereby enhancing their work performance. It is learnt that there are public concerns as to whether the Government will further promote and support the development of VPET. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) as far as the Support Scheme is concerned, (i) of the respective numbers of employers and learners participating in the Support Scheme in the past three school years, with a breakdown by industry; (ii) whether it will increase the training places and raise the ceiling on the monthly subsidy for learners under the Support Scheme; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; (iii) whether it will provide more incentives for employers to encourage more industrial and commercial enterprises to participate in the Support Scheme; if so, of the details;
 
(2) as far as the PISE is concerned, (i) of the respective numbers of employers and learners participating in the PISE in the past three school years, with a breakdown by industry; (ii) whether it will study raising the ceiling on the subsidy for employers under the PISE; if so, of the details; (iii) whether it will consider extending the PISE to cover VPET courses organised by institutions other than the VTC; (iv) whether it will study formulating industry-recognised standards for skills tests; if so, of the details; (v) whether it will further extend or regularise the PISE; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
 
(3) whether it will consider launching more new schemes to strengthen VPET and apprenticeship training; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     In line with the strategic deployment of the National 15th Five-Year Plan to promote the integrated development of education, technology and talent, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s First Five-Year Plan clearly states that the Government will advance the high-quality development of vocational and professional education and training (VPET). To this end, the Education Bureau (EDB) continues to adopt the strategy of “fostering industry-institution collaboration and diversified development” under a multi-pronged approach to promote VPET as a pathway parallel to conventional academic education, encouraging industry-education collaboration and the collaboration between schools and businesses, providing diversified learning and employment opportunities, thereby nurturing more high-quality talent equipped with applied skills.
 
     The reply to the Hon Jimmy Ng’s question is as follows:
 
(1) The Government has supported the Vocational Training Council (VTC) to launch the Training and Support Scheme (the Support Scheme) on a pilot basis since the 2014/15 academic year (AY), and has regularised it since the 2019/20 AY. The Support Scheme aims to provide structured classroom learning and on-the-job training, as well as a stable income for trainees undergoing on-the-job training, so as to attract and retain talent for industries with a keen manpower demand. The Support Scheme currently covers six professional fields, namely Engineering and Technology; Transportation; Design, Jewellery, Creative Industry; Healthcare Services; Testing and Certification; and Hospitality, and offers 1 200 training places each financial year.
 
     The numbers of employers and trainees participating in the Support Scheme in the recent three AYs (i.e. 2024/25, 2025/26 and 2026/27 AYs) are as follows:

Professional field	Industry and relevant programme	Number of employers*/trainees
		2024/25	2025/26	2026/27#
Engineering and Technology	Building Services and Management	42/201	44/222	35/187
	Construction	32/95	38/87	22/50
	Electrical Engineering	43/289	49/242	60/261
	Mechanical Engineering	14/120	23/137	14/112
	Electronic and Information Technology	32/158	31/115	25/86
	Environment and Conservation	0/0	1/2	2/4
Transportation	Automobile	16/105	20/89	11/64
	Aviation	0/0	0/0	0/0
Design, Jewellery, Creative Industry	Design and Printing	3/3	1/2	0/0
	Jewellery and Watches	1/2	1/2	0/0
Healthcare Services	Healthcare Services	8/18	2/4	4/7
Testing and Certification	Testing and Certification	8/17	3/4	7/12
Hospitality	Hotel and Catering	Not applicable^	0/0	0/0
	Culinary Arts and Science	Not applicable^	0/0	0/0
Total		199/1008	213/906	180/783

* Participating employers may employ trainees in more than one industry.
# The figures of 2026/27 AY are up to September 30, 2026.
^ No relevant programme is offered in that year.
 
     The Support Scheme has received positive responses since its launch. The training places and monthly allowance ceiling that are currently offered can generally meet the demand, and industry participation has been satisfactory. The VTC has also maintained close communication with the industries to ensure that the Support Scheme aligns with industry needs and the development of emerging industries while providing sufficient training places. The VTC will continue to closely monitor the implementation of the Support Scheme and feedbacks from the industries, and will review and make appropriate adjustments timely when needed.
 
(2) The Government has supported the VTC to implement the Pilot Incentive Scheme to Employers (the Pilot Scheme) under the Support Scheme since the 2019/20 AY. The Pilot Scheme mainly encourages employers to conduct systematic assessment on workplace learning for trainees participating in the Support Scheme. Through assessing and observing directly trainees’ abilities and performance, employers could keep track of trainees’ learning progress and make timely adjustments to the training content based on the assessment results, thereby effectively enhancing the trainees’ overall performance. To encourage employers’ participation in the Pilot Scheme, the Government provides participating employers with a subsidy of up to $36,000 per trainee, with 1 000 places offered each AY.
 
     The numbers of employers and trainees participating in the Pilot Scheme in the past three AYs# (i.e. 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26 AYs) are as follows:

Professional field	Industry and relevant programme	Number of employers*/trainees
		2023/24	2024/25	2025/26
Engineering and Technology	Building Services and Management	35/61	32/48	34/27
	Construction	37/89	37/67	22/20
	Electrical Engineering	49/97	38/119	33/91
	Mechanical Engineering	15/42	10/55	16/65
	Electronic and Information Technology	42/100	26/79	28/46
	Environment and Conservation	2/0	0/0	1/2
Transportation	Automobile	15/44	15/50	14/30
	Aviation	5/7	2/0	0/0
Design, Jewellery, Creative Industry	Design and Printing	3/0	3/3	0/0
	Jewellery and Watches	1/0	0/0	1/0
Healthcare Services	Healthcare Services	11/8	6/6	8/0
Testing and Certification	Testing and Certification	5/8	5/9	5/3
Hospitality	Hotel and Catering	Not applicable^	Not applicable^	0/0
	Culinary Arts and Science	Not applicable^	Not applicable^	0/0
Total		220/456	174/436	162/284

# As the 2026/27 AY has just commenced and the Scheme has not yet been implemented, the relevant figures are not yet available.
* Participating employers may employ trainees in more than one industry.
^ No relevant programme is offered in that year.
 
     According to the survey conducted by the VTC, most participating employers were satisfied with the Pilot Scheme and indicated that it enabled them to better understand trainees’ abilities. Most trainees indicated that the Pilot Scheme allowed them to demonstrate their learned skills in the workplace, and agreed that the assessment results could enhance the effectiveness of on-the-job training. On the whole, the Pilot Scheme has received positive responses since its launch. The VTC will continue to closely monitor the implementation of the Pilot Scheme and feedbacks from the industries, and will review various arrangements timely, including whether to extend the Pilot Scheme to cover more industries and their relevant programmes.
 
     In addition, under the Qualifications Framework (QF), Industry Training Advisory Committees have been established for 23 industries. They have respectively developed “Specification of Competency Standards” (SCS) tailored to different job functions and roles, setting out the skills and knowledge practitioners must possess, as well as the competency standards they must attain to perform various job functions in the industries. These SCS serve as key reference for talent development, curriculum design and qualifications recognition. Among them, 19 industries have established Recognition of Prior Learning mechanisms based on their SCS, enabling practitioners to have their work-based knowledge, skills and experience formally recognised through relevant tests or assessments, thereby obtaining corresponding QF-recognised qualifications.
 
(3) In recent years, the VTC has strengthened VPET at the secondary school level to help students gain an earlier understanding of the industries and career pathways. With the support of the EDB, the VTC has launched the following two pilot schemes to enable students to gain earlier exposure to VPET, discover their interests and broaden their VPET articulation pathways:
 

1. The Pilot Diploma of Vocational Baccalaureate Programme was launched in the 2018/19 AY, offered by the Youth College under the VTC. It is a three-year vocationally-oriented programme with reference to international standards. Upon completion, students will be awarded an internationally recognised diploma, and may choose to directly articulate to local or overseas undergraduate programmes, to Higher Diploma programmes offered by the VTC, or pursue a career in their respective industries. The Programme has been regularised starting from the 2026/27 AY; and
2. The Pilot Project on Diploma of Vocational Education (Senior Secondary Curriculum) (DVE(SSC)) was launched in the 2023/24 AY, allowing senior secondary school students to pursue VPET-related programme embedded in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) curriculum. Upon completion, students will be awarded, alongside their HKDSE qualification, a DVE(SSC) at QF Level 3, enabling them to apply for relevant higher diploma programmes offered by the VTC. The Project has been extended for three AYs starting from the 2026/27 AY.

 
     As regards apprenticeship training, in view of the persistent shortage of local technical professionals, the Government will continue to promote the Apprenticeship Scheme through the VTC, providing structured apprenticeship training and clear progression pathways. To encourage more young people to join the Scheme and enter the relevant trades, the 2026 Policy Address announced that the provision of an additional monthly training allowance of $1,000 to registered apprentices since 2024-25 will be extended for two years to 2028-29. read more

     Following is a question by the Hon Kingsley Wong and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (October 14):

Question:

     A study has pointed out that the population of centenarians in Hong Kong increased from 1 890 in 2011 to 11 575 in 2021, representing an increase of over five times. There are views suggesting that with the continued increase in the number of centenarians in Hong Kong, the Government should formulate targeted support measures for them. However, due to inadequate publicity and promotion for the existing Birthday Greetings to Centenarians programme (under which the Administration sends birthday greeting letters and cards every year to Hong Kong residents who are 100 years old) (the programme), most people are even unaware of the programme, thus limiting its effectiveness. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the current number of Hong Kong residents aged 100 or above in the 18 districts of Hong Kong, with a breakdown by District Council district;

(2) of the total number of greeting letters and cards sent by the authorities since the launch of the programme; the respective total numbers of greeting letters and cards sent by the authorities to eligible persons aged (i) 100, (ii) 105 and (iii) 106 or above in each of the past five years;

(3) of the details of the major publicity and promotion work undertaken by the authorities since the launch of the programme; whether they will step up the relevant work in the future to enhance public awareness of the programme; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(4) as participation in the programme at present relies mainly on nominations of centenarians by members of the public or organisations, whether the authorities will consider making use of the information referred to in part (1) to proactively send greeting letters and cards to all eligible centenarians, introduce the presentation of birthday red packets, and arrange visits in collaboration with District Services and Community Care Teams, so as to show further care for centenarians and gain a deeper understanding of their needs; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(5) whether the Labour and Welfare Bureau and the Elderly Commission will conduct research into the physical and mental health of very elderly persons and their service needs, with a view to gaining a more precise understanding of their needs and formulating targeted support measures; if so, of the research directions and timetable; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

     In consultation with the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) and the Social Welfare Department (SWD), a consolidated reply to the Member’s question is as follows:

(1) The population censuses/by-censuses conducted by the C&SD every five years is the major source of data on the number of Hong Kong residents aged 100 and above. The corresponding figures for other years are not available from the C&SD due to data limitations. Furthermore, the C&SD has not compiled a breakdown of residents aged 100 and above by District Council district.

(2) to (5) Since 2002, the Elderly Commission (EC) annually invites relevant government departments, elderly service providers, and district organisations to nominate centenarians. The Secretary for Labour and Welfare and the EC Chairman respectively send birthday greeting letters and cards to Hong Kong residents aged 100, and annually thereafter on their 105th and subsequent birthdays as a token of respect. We will also make corresponding arrangements upon receipt of nominations and information of the concerned elderly persons from individual citizens or organisations. Over the past five years, the total numbers of greeting letters and cards sent to Hong Kong residents aged 100 and 105 or above are as follows:
 

Number of greeting letters and cards sent to elderly persons aged 100 and 105 or above
	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025
Aged 100	870	899	940	1 004	1 583
Aged 105 or above	242	433	639	462	192
Total	1 112	1 332	1 579	1 466	1 775

     To strengthen support for elderly persons and carers, the SWD has extended the District Services and Community Care Teams – Scheme on Supporting Elderly and Carers to all 18 districts across the city in April 2025. Through visits and daily contacts, the Care Teams proactively identify elderly persons (including those aged 100 or above) in need and their carers to extend care, provide appropriate support to them, and refer persons in need to relevant social welfare service units for follow-up.

     The Labour and Welfare Bureau (LWB) will review the overall arrangements for birthday greeting letters and cards in due course, and will continue to enhance publicity through suitable channels, including various service units under the SWD as well as the Elder Academies (EA) Clusters in five districts under the EA Scheme (www.elderacademy.org.hk) jointly launched by the LWB and the EC.

     The Chief Executive announced in the 2025 Policy Address the establishment of the Working Group on Ageing Society Strategies (Working Group), with the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration leading all policy bureaux to formulate strategies to tackle challenges of an ageing society. The Working Group completed and announced the Report on Ageing Society Strategies on September 18 this year, putting forward 73 measures across 11 areas, including enhancing the collection of information on the elderly population by the C&SD to provide a solid data foundation for policy formulation. Furthermore, the C&SD has been collecting data on the health, elderly care, and social inclusion of elderly persons through thematic household surveys conducted in recent years. The LWB and the EC will continue to closely monitor the demographic changes and service demands of the elderly population. There is currently no plan to carry out specific research projects targeting the oldest-old. read more

     Following is a question by the Hon Chan Hok-fung and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (October 14):

Question:

     Over the past three years, international oil prices have risen sharply, resulting in a surge in fuel costs for Hong Kong’s licensed ferry operators (operators). Given that outlying island ferries are the only means of external public transport for the majority of outlying island residents, there are concerns regarding the impact of oil price fluctuations on public ferry services. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the changes in the average price of commercial diesel used by ferries in Hong Kong over the past three years;

(2) whether the authorities know the respective overall total fuel consumption and rates of increase in fuel expenditure for each public ferry operator (for both inner harbour and outlying island routes) over the past three years; and whether they have assessed the impact of soaring oil prices on the revenue and profit position of the various operators;

(3) of the details of the various subsidy schemes introduced by the authorities for operators over the past three years (including short-term diesel subsidies), as well as the amount of subsidy per litre of diesel available to each operator, the subsidy period and the coverage of the subsidy; whether the authorities have assessed if the subsidy amounts can offset the additional costs arising from the increase in oil prices;

(4) of the number of fare adjustments, the average rate of increase and the highest rate of increase for each public ferry route over the past three years; the details of the number of ferry trips reduced, routes suspended or reduced, and adjustments to service hours during the same period as a result of cost pressures (provide the above data in tabular form);

(5) whether the authorities have assessed the actual impact of the above measures of fare adjustment and ferry trip reduction on the commuting of outlying island residents, students travelling to school, elderly people seeking cross-district medical treatment, local tourism and commercial activities; and

(6) whether the authorities will introduce short to medium-term measures to support ferry services; if so, of the timetable and details?

Reply:

President,

     The Government has been paying close attention to the impact of the rising international oil prices on Hong Kong’s transport and freight industries. In the light of the sharp rise in international oil prices since March this year, the Transport and Logistics Bureau and Transport Department (TD) have been maintaining close liaison with various public transport operators (including ferry operators) to understand their operating situation. Having consulted the Environment and Ecology Bureau, the reply to Member’s question is as follows:

(1) and (2) Generally speaking, local retail fuel prices are determined by oil companies having regard to market principles, and depend on a host of factors, such as the procurement costs, transportation and storage costs, operating costs, land premium and tax. Most ferry operators generally procure diesel from oil companies/diesel distributors through contracts, and do not follow the prices displayed at petrol filling stations. At present, international crude oil prices remain volatile. The price of commercial diesel used by ferries surged starting from March this year. Despite a subsequent decline in the middle of the year, it has climbed back to a high level in recent months.

     According to the information provided by ferry operators, during the period from 2024 to August 2026, the fuel consumption of the various operators remained largely stable. The average monthly fuel consumption and fuel costs per litre were as follows:
 

Year	2024	2025	2026 (as at August)
Average monthly fuel consumption (million litre)	3.2	3.2	3.3
Average fuel cost per litre	$6.4	$5.2	$7.6

     Fuel expenditure is one of the major cost items of ferry operations. In particular for outlying island ferry routes with longer journeys, fuel expenses generally account for about 30 per cent to 40 per cent of their total operating expenses. The sharp rise in fuel prices has increased the overall operating costs of ferry services, placing operational pressure on operators.

     The TD will continue to maintain close communication with various operators and monitor their operational and financial situations, with particular attention to the potential pressure that oil prices may have on the operators’ financial situation.

(3) In view of the outbreak of the conflict in the Middle East region, the Government implemented a two-month Diesel Subsidy Scheme (the Scheme) on April 30, 2026, under which various public ferry operators were eligible for a subsidy of $3 per litre of diesel. Based on their actual fuel consumption, the subsidy amounts received by individual ferry operators under the Scheme ranged from approximately tens of thousands to several million dollars, alleviating some of the operational pressure arising from fluctuations in diesel prices.

(4) Details of the fare adjustments made by various ferry operators and their service adjustments implemented due to cost considerations during the period from 2024 to August 2026 are set out in Annex. Generally speaking, operators will review service levels having regard to factors such as the actual operational needs of individual routes, passenger demand, and cost savings, with a view to making optimal use of ferry resources.

(5) The Government attaches great importance on the role of ferry services in meeting the day-to-day commuting needs of outlying island residents and supporting local economic activities. Overall speaking, when considering operators’ applications for fare adjustments, the TD will carefully consider various factors in accordance with the established mechanism, including public acceptability, as well as the financial position, service performance, operating data and long-term financial sustainability. of the operators. When considering applications for service adjustments, the TD will examine whether the proposed service adjustments align with changes in the transport demands in the district and holistically consider the operator’s operating conditions, including whether the proposed adjustments would help the operator make better use of resources and enhance overall operational efficiency while safeguarding its financial sustainability, with a view to ensuring that the service remains stable.

     The aforementioned fare and service adjustments were made following careful consideration by the TD, with a view to striking a balance between the financial sustainability of ferry services and the travel needs of the public, thereby minimising the impact on residents as far as practicable. Taking the fare adjustments implemented on the six major outlying island ferry routes in April 2026 as an example, after assessing the applications, the TD substantially reduced the fare increase rate from the 15 to 30 per cent as applied by ferry operators to 8 per cent for multi-journey tickets and 12.5 per cent for single-journey tickets, and required the operators to introduce more diverse multi-journey ticket arrangements to alleviate the fare burden on the outlying island residents. Based on the TD’s observations, the fare and service adjustments concerned could still address the travel needs of the residents in general.

(6) The Government has all along encouraged ferry operators to maintain their long-term financial stability by a multipronged approach of concurrently enhancing farebox and non-farebox revenue. Meanwhile, the Government continues to alleviate the operating costs of ferry operators through different ongoing measures, such as providing Special Helping Measures to outlying island ferry routes to reimburse operators with certain operating expenses on an accountable basis, as well as reimbursing pier rentals and exempting vessel licence fees for eligible operators including those operating in-harbour routes. The Government also purchases new vessels for outlying island ferry routes under the Vessel Subsidy Scheme to enhance the quality of the fleet, operational efficiency and passenger experience. The TD established an inter-departmental task force in June 2026 to expedite the approval of ferry operators’ applications related to commercial activities and proposals to improve pier facilities, thereby facilitating the operators’ generation of non-farebox revenue, with a view to enhancing their financial sustainability. The TD will also maintain close communication with ferry operators to explore different measures that help enhance operational efficiency, facilitate operation, as well as increase revenue and reduce costs, so as to ensure the sustainable and stable operation of ferry services.

     Furthermore, the Inter-departmental Task Force on Monitoring Fuel Supply led by the Financial Secretary will continue to dynamically assess the situation in the Middle East region, and fuel supply and prices, so as to ensure the stability of Hong Kong’s energy supply. Given the uncertainty of the future trend of oil prices, the Government will continue to closely monitor the development to ensure that the operation of public transport services (including ferry services) remains normal. read more