The Government will introduce the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 into the Legislative Council (LegCo) to make miscellaneous amendments to various enactments. The opportunity is also taken to make straightforward adaptation or amendment of provisions of, or references in, various enactments that are inconsistent with the constitutional status of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; and to repeal obsolete provisions or references in various enactments.

     A spokesperson for the Department of Justice said today (April 2) that the proposed amendments in the Bill are mainly those arising from the Systematic Review of Statutory Laws of Hong Kong, as well as some amendments that do not relate to the exercise. The amendments included are largely minor, technical and non-controversial but are useful for the purpose of updating or improving the relevant legislation.

     In 2022, the Law Reform Commission Secretariat spearheaded the Systematic Review of Statutory Laws of Hong Kong, which consists of work mainly in three aspects: (1) adaptation of laws; (2) consolidation of laws; and (3) repeal of obsolete laws. Among them, the adaptation of laws refers to the process of identifying and amending certain provisions or references in enactments that were in force in Hong Kong before July 1, 1997, so that they are consistent with the Basic Law and the status of Hong Kong as a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, and properly reflect the policy intent of the relevant policy bureaux.

     The Bill amends references including "Crown", "Governor", "Secretary of State", and "Her Majesty", as well as references to legislation of the United Kingdom, "overseas", "country" and "country or territory", among others, in various enactments. It also updates or amends certain texts, references or terminology in specific ordinances and subsidiary legislation. Furthermore, the Bill repeals a number of enactments, or certain provisions or references therein, which have become obsolete, and makes miscellaneous minor or technical amendments to some enactments.

     No objection has been received from stakeholders whom the relevant policy bureau or independent body had consulted, as necessary, in respect of the proposed amendments concerned. The Department of Justice has issued an information paper to the LegCo Panel on Administration of Justice and Legal Services in February this year, briefing members of the Panel on the major legislative proposals to be included in the Bill.

     The Bill will be gazetted tomorrow (April 3) and will be introduced into the LegCo on April 16.

     The Department of Health (DH) today (April 2) announced that a licensed manufacturer of proprietary Chinese medicines (pCm), Merika Medicine Factory Ltd (Merika), located on Wong Chuk Yeung Street, Fo Tan, New Territories, had not manufactured a pCm for external use called "Golden Statue Cinnamon Oil & Embrocation" according to the registered particulars and was therefore suspected of illegal sale and possession of unregistered pCm. The DH has immediately requested Merika to recall the batch of product concerned (batch number: 427141) from the market.
 
     During an inspection yesterday (April 1), the DH found that the above-mentioned pCm manufacturer was suspected to have changed one of the active ingredients from Cinnamon Oil to Ceylon Cinnamon Leaf Oil during the production of a registered pCm named "Golden Statue Cinnamon Oil & Embrocation" (Registration number: HKC-02106), without the approval of the Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong (CMCHK). According to the Chinese Medicine Ordinance (Cap.549), since the product did not match the registered particulars of the registered pCm, the batch of the product concerned is therefore an unregistered pCm.
 
     According to section 119 of the Ordinance, no person shall sell, import or possess any pCm unless it is registered. The maximum penalty is a fine of $100,000 and two years' imprisonment. The DH will seek advice from the Department of Justice on prosecution matters upon completion of the investigation and will refer the case to the CMCHK for consideration of possible disciplinary action.
 
     According to its label, the above product, in liniment form, is used to expel wind and relieve pain and itching. Although Cinnamon Oil and Ceylon Cinnamon Leaf Oil come from different species of plants within the same family and have similar actions, the safety, efficacy and quality of unregistered pCm had not been assessed. Members of the public who have purchased the batch of the product should stop using it immediately. Those who have used the above product and feel unwell should seek advice from healthcare professionals. As instructed by the DH, Merika is conducting the above-mentioned recall and has set up a hotline (2699 1410) for related enquiries.

     The DH is continuing to investigate the case and will closely monitor the recall. So far, no adverse reports related to the use of the above product have been received by the DH.

     Apart from returning the product to Merika, people who have the batch of the product concerned may submit it to the DH's Chinese Medicine Regulatory Office on 16/F, AIA Kowloon Tower, Landmark East, 100 How Ming Street, Kwun Tong, during office hours for disposal.

  

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Wednesday, April 2, 2025 is 106.7 (same as yesterday's index).

     Having considered the proposal submitted by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), views from the Betting and Lotteries Commission (BLC), and other related issues concerning illegal basketball gambling, the Government today (April 2) launched a consultation on the proposed regulation of basketball betting activities.
      
     In recent years, quite some members of the public have expressed concerns about the problem of illegal basketball betting in Hong Kong. According to the latest assessment of the HKJC, the turnover of illegal basketball betting reached $70 billion to $90 billion in 2024. To combat illegal betting activities in an effective manner, the Government announced in the 2025-26 Budget that it will explore regulating basketball betting activities.
      
     The Government proposes establishing a regulatory regime for basketball betting by modelling on the existing regime for football betting. Through amending the Betting Duty Ordinance (Cap. 108), the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs will be granted the power to issue a licence for basketball betting to the HKJC and to impose licensing conditions to minimise the negative impact of gambling on the public, especially on young people.
 
     Mirroring the regulatory regime on football betting, major licensing conditions of the proposed regulation of basketball betting activities are as follows-
 
(1) A fixed duration shall be set on the licensing period;
(2) The Government shall impose restrictions on the number of bet types and classes of competitions;
(3) The licensed operator shall not accept bets on basketball matches involving Hong Kong teams and/or matches that take places in Hong Kong, to promote a betting-free and healthy environment for the sport in Hong Kong;
(4) The licensed operator shall not accept bets from juveniles;
(5) The licensed operator shall not accept credit betting; and
(6) The licensed operator shall display notices reminding the public of the seriousness of the problems caused by excessive gambling, and provide information on the services available for those with gambling disorder.
 
     A spokesman for the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) said, "As a matter of policy, the Government does not encourage gambling. The Government adopts a multipronged strategy to address gambling-related issues, combining regulation of gambling activities through legislation, law enforcement against illegal gambling, public education and publicity on the harms of gambling addiction, and provision of counselling and support services to people in need.
      
     "There is, however, undeniably an actual and persistent demand for gambling in Hong Kong which, if left unregulated, would likely give rise to illegal gambling activities and associated social problems and other criminal activities. As such, the Government adopts a pragmatic approach by allowing only a limited number of authorised gambling outlets, which includes authorising the HKJC to conduct horse race betting, Mark Six Lottery and football betting in accordance with the Betting Duty Ordinance (Cap. 108)."
      
     Please refer to the website of the HYAB (www.hyab.gov.hk/file_manager/en/documents/policy_responsibilities/consultation_paper.pdf) for the consultation document on the regulatory regime for basketball betting and details of submissions. Members of the public may submit their views by post to 13/F, West Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong (Attention: Home Affairs Division, Home and Youth Affairs Bureau) (date of the stamp chop will be taken as the submission date), by fax to 2591 6002 or by email to ha@hyab.gov.hk on or before May 2.
      
     Furthermore, having consulted the BLC, the Government has decided to renew the licence for football betting of the HKJC Football Betting Limited for five years with effect from July 18, 2025. The conditions under the existing regime will remain largely the same, including the prohibition on accepting bets from juveniles, the prohibition on accepting credit betting, requirements to display warnings about the seriousness of excessive gambling and provide information on the services available for those with gambling disorder, and more. The licensing authority will continue to request the licensed operator not to accept bets on football matches involving Hong Kong teams and/or matches that take places in Hong Kong, to promote a betting-free and healthy environment for the sport in Hong Kong. Moreover, restrictions shall be imposed on the number of bet types and classes of competitions that the licensed operator may offer.

     Sixty-eight persons in custody (PICs) at Lo Wu Correctional Institution (LWCI) of the Correctional Services Department (CSD) were presented with certificates at a ceremony today (April 2) in recognition of their continuous efforts in pursuing further studies.

     In 2024, a total of 125 PICs at LWCI passed 215 papers with 106 distinctions and credits in various distance learning course and public examinations, covering different subjects including language and literature, English language, business finance, economics, marketing and psychology, organised by the Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU), the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority, and Caritas Institute of Community Education. The 68 PICs who received certificates today passed 111 papers with 44 distinctions and credits. Among them, two PICs were awarded Bachelor's Degrees in Social Sciences and one was awarded an Associate Degree in General Studies by the HKMU.

     Officiating at the ceremony, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong, Cardinal Stephen Chow, said that the Diocese has long attached importance to the well-being of PICs and provided prison ministry services for PICs to serve their religious needs and spread the Gospel. The Diocese has been highly supportive of the rehabilitation work of the CSD. It set up the Light Up Education Fund of the Catholic Church in 2023, running for at least three years, with an annual donation of $1 million to the CSD to provide education subsidies for PICs aged 35 or below with financial difficulties, so as to actively encourage them to pursue continuing studies. The Diocese has also collaborated with the CSD to help PICs create a new life plan and rebuild family relationships, as well as to provide them with job opportunities after their release.

     During the ceremony, about 30 PICs took part in a musical to demonstrate their determination to turn over a new leaf in the prison and reset life goals for rehabilitation. Thereafter, the PICs presented thank-you cards to the volunteer vocal tutor and choreography tutor to express gratitude for their guidance, which enabled them to overcome challenges with perseverance and hard work.

     In the sharing session, a PIC shared her experience in the course of rehabilitation and thanked her family members for their unwavering support. She resumed her studies during imprisonment and found her direction in life in the course of pursuing her studies. Her mother also shared her happiness of witnessing her daughter's positive changes and expressed gratitude for the CSD's assistance in helping her daughter rehabilitate.

     Also attending the ceremony were representatives of non-governmental and community organisations, community leaders and family members of the certificate recipients.
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     LWCI is a medium security institution for female adult convicted PICs, female adult remand PICs and female adult drug addicts undergoing treatment programmes under the Drug Addiction Treatment Centres Ordinance.