The Lands Department announced today (May 23) that demand notes for Government rent in excess of $100 per annum for the half year ending June 24 in respect of properties subject to the Government Leases Ordinance (Cap. 40) and certain other properties have been issued.

     Payers can settle Government rent through various electronic means, including autopay, bank automated teller machines, e-Cheque/e-Cashier's Order, the Faster Payment System, payment by phone service (PPS), and bill payment services provided by banks and PPS on the Internet. Payment may also be made in person and in cash or through the Easy Pay System at designated convenience stores. For details, please visit the Treasury's website at www.try.gov.hk.

     Payment may be made by sending a crossed cheque to PO Box No. 28000, Sham Shui Po Post Office, Hong Kong, or in person to any post office. Please ensure sufficient mailing time and postage to make the delivery in order. Underpaid mail will be rejected. For locations of post offices and their opening hours, please call Hongkong Post's enquiry hotline at 2921 2222 or visit its website at www.hongkongpost.hk.

     Government rent payers who have not received their demand notes should enquire at the Government Rent and Premium Unit of the Lands Department at 1/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong, or call 2231 3033.

     Purchasers of properties are strongly advised to instruct their solicitors to ensure that Government rent has been paid to date at the time of purchase. Enquiries on outstanding accounts can be made at 2231 3033 or email to landsd@landsd.gov.hk. An enquiry fee is payable for each property if a written confirmation of accounts position is needed.

     To prepare for the onboarding of Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) schemes to the eMPF Platform, the Government published in the Gazette today (May 23) the following legal notices:
 
(i) the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes (Specification of Dates for Purposes of Section 19M(2)(a)) (Amendment) (No. 4) Notice 2025 (Mandatory Use (Amendment) (No. 4) Notice 2025); and
 
(ii) the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes (Appointment of Dates for Purposes of Section 19U(4)) (Amendment) (No. 4) Notice 2025, the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes (Appointment of Dates for Purposes of Section 19Y(3)) (Amendment) (No. 4) Notice 2025, and the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes (Appointment of Dates for Purposes of Section 19Z(4)) (Amendment) (No. 4) Notice 2025 (collectively Fee Control (Amendment) (No. 4) Notices 2025).
 
     The Mandatory Use (Amendment) (No. 4) Notice 2025 specifies August 1, 2025, and September 3, 2025, as "material day" for the BCT (MPF) Pro Choice administered by the Bank Consortium Trust Company Limited (BCT), and the AIA MPF – Prime Value Choice administered by the AIA Company (Trustee) Limited (AIA) respectively, such that BCT and AIA are mandated to use the eMPF Platform to perform scheme administration functions in relation to these MPF schemes. On cost savings and fee-setting of MPF schemes to be charged by MPF trustees on scheme members, the Fee Control (Amendment) (No. 4) Notices 2025 appoint November 1, 2025, and December 3, 2025, as "material day" for the constituent funds of the two MPF schemes mentioned above respectively, such that BCT and AIA are mandated to make corresponding reduction in their fees charged on scheme members in relation to the constituent funds of these MPF schemes.
 
     Relevant legal notices for the remaining MPF schemes will be published in the Gazette when the respective onboarding dates are ascertained having regard to the onboarding preparation status of the MPF trustees concerned.
 
     If scheme members/employers have any question regarding the detailed operation of the eMPF Platform, they may visit the Platform's official website (empf.org.hk), or call the Platform's customer service hotline (183 2622). Scheme members/employers may also visit the three eMPF service centres located on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon and the New Territories.
 
     The aforementioned legal notices will be tabled at the Legislative Council for negative vetting on May 28, 2025.

     â€‹As the Heat Stress at Work Warning is now in effect, the Labour Department (LD) reminds employers and employees to take appropriate measures during the effective period of the warning to prevent heat stroke when working in hot weather or hot environments.
      
     Employees who work outdoors or in non-air-conditioned indoor environments face high levels of heat stress and are at a relatively higher risk of heat stroke. Employers should assess the risk factors of heat stress for employees at work and, based on the identified risk factors, take necessary preventive and control measures, including rescheduling work periods, setting up shading covers, providing ventilation and heat dissipation equipment, and reminding employees to replenish water and rest in a timely manner.
      
     The Heat Stress at Work Warning is formulated by the LD based on the Hong Kong Heat Index. There are three levels of the warning: Amber, Red and Black, which help employers and employees better understand the level of heat stress while working outdoors or indoors without air-conditioning systems.
      
     A spokesman for the LD said that when the department issues the Heat Stress at Work Warning, employers must refer to the criteria and recommendations provided in the "Guidance Notes on Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work" to conduct risk assessments, according to the workloads and other relevant heat stress risk factors, for employees who work outdoors or in non-air-conditioned indoor workplaces. Appropriate rest breaks should be arranged every hour, as far as reasonably practicable, based on various levels of the Heat Stress at Work Warning, to reduce employees' risk of heat stroke.
      
     Employees must also follow instructions to rest on time. Whenever there are any symptoms of heat-related illnesses, such as headache, dizziness, thirst, and nausea, they should rest in a cool and shady place, drink water, and inform employers/supervisors to take appropriate action immediately.
      
     The LD issued the "Guidance Notes on Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work", detailing the various risk factors that should be considered when conducting heat stress risk assessments and recommending corresponding control measures for identified risk factors for employers' and employees' reference. For the Heat Stress at Work Warning and related guidelines, please refer to the department's thematic webpage: www.labour.gov.hk/eng/news/prevention_of_heat_stroke_at_work.htm.

     Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident happened in Tsing Yi in the small hours today (May 23) in which a man died.

     At 0.40am, a private car driven by a 40-year-old man was travelling along Tsing Sha Highway towards Kowloon. When approaching the entrance of Nam Wan Tunnel, the private car reportedly knocked down a 61-year-old male tunnel staff.

      Sustaining serious leg injuries, the man was rushed to Princess Margaret Hospital in unconscious state and was certified dead at 2.17am.

     The driver was arrested for dangerous driving causing death and is being detained for enquiries.

     Investigation by the Special Investigation Team of Traffic, New Territories South is underway.

     Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 1446.

     The Government announced today (May 23) that company re-domiciliation is now open for application.
 
     The Companies (Amendment) (No. 2) Ordinance 2025 was gazetted and came into effect today. From today onwards, a company incorporated outside Hong Kong may apply to the Companies Registry (CR) for re-domiciliation to Hong Kong. The mechanism reduces the need to go through complicated and costly judicial procedures, and enables a re-domiciled company to maintain its legal identity as a body corporate, thereby ensuring business continuity. At the same time, an applicant for company re-domiciliation is required to fulfil requirements concerning company background, integrity, member and creditor protection, solvency, etc.
 
     The types of company which may apply for re-domiciliation to Hong Kong include a private company limited by shares, a public company limited by shares, a private unlimited company with a share capital and a public unlimited company with a share capital, or a type comparable to the above four types of company.
 
     Under normal circumstances, the CR will complete the approval process within two weeks after an applicant has submitted all required documents and information. Upon the issuance of a certificate of re-domiciliation, the applicant becomes a re-domiciled company, which will generally be regarded as a Hong Kong-incorporated company with effect from its re-domiciliation date. A 120-day period will be allowed for the re-domiciled company to complete the deregistration procedures at its place of incorporation.
 
     For regulatory purposes of the insurance and banking sectors, a non-Hong Kong-incorporated authorized insurer, or an authorized institution (AI), a holding company of an AI or an approved money broker should approach the Insurance Authority (IA) or the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) (as the case may be) for prior assessment before making a re-domiciliation application to the CR.
 
     Further information on company re-domiciliation procedures, including a guide on company re-domiciliation, forms and frequently asked questions, is available in a new thematic section of the CR's website (www.cr.gov.hk/en/legislation/co2025/redomiciliation/overview.htm). The IA and HKMA will announce details on the requirements for relevant financial institutions separately.