Author Archives: hksar gov

     A property owner was fined over $8,000 and sentenced to four months’ imprisonment suspended for 12 months upon conviction at the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts earlier this month for persistently failing to comply with a removal order issued under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap 123).

     The case involved an unauthorised structure with an area of about 28 square metres on the roof of a factory building at Ka Fu Close, Sheung Shui. As the unauthorised building works (UBWs) were carried out without prior approval and consent from the Buildings Department (BD), a removal order was served on the owner under section 24(1) of the BO.

     Failing to comply with the removal order, the owner was prosecuted by the BD in 2020 and was fined $6,040 upon conviction by the court. As the owner persisted in not complying with the removal order, the BD instigated prosecution again in 2024. The owner subsequently completed the removal of the UBWs, and was convicted and fined $8,305 and sentenced to four months’ imprisonment suspended for 12 months at the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts on February 4.

     A spokesman for the BD said today (February 21), “UBWs may lead to serious consequences. Owners must comply with removal orders without delay. The BD will continue to take enforcement action against owners who have failed to comply with removal orders, including instigation of prosecution, to ensure building safety.”

     Failing to comply with a removal order without reasonable excuse is a serious offence under the BO. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $200,000 and one year’s imprisonment, and a further fine of $20,000 for each day that the offence continues. read more

     â€‹The Government today (February 21) gazetted the United Nations Sanctions (Central African Republic) Regulation 2020 (Amendment) Regulation 2025 (the Amendment Regulation), which came into operation today.
      
     “The Amendment Regulation amends the United Nations Sanctions (Central African Republic) Regulation 2020 to give effect to certain decisions relating to sanctions in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2745 in respect of the Central African Republic,” a Government spokesman said.
      
     The amendments renew the travel ban and financial sanctions, and amend the time-limited arms-related sanctions measures.
      
     The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has all along been implementing fully the sanctions imposed by the UNSC. The Amendment Regulation aims to give effect to the instructions by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for fulfilling the international obligations of the People’s Republic of China as a Member State of the United Nations. read more

     To prepare for the onboarding of Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) schemes to the eMPF Platform, the Government published in the Gazette today (February 21) the following legal notices:
 
(i) the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes (Specification of Dates for Purposes of Section 19M(2)(a)) (Amendment) Notice 2025 (Mandatory Use (Amendment) Notice 2025); and
 
(ii) the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes (Appointment of Dates for Purposes of Section 19U(4)) (Amendment) Notice 2025, the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes (Appointment of Dates for Purposes of Section 19Y(3)) (Amendment) Notice 2025, and the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes (Appointment of Dates for Purposes of Section 19Z(4)) (Amendment) Notice 2025 (collectively Fee Control (Amendment) Notices 2025).
 
     The Mandatory Use (Amendment) Notice 2025 specifies May 7, 2025, as “material day” for Principal MPF – Simple Plan, Principal MPF – Smart Plan, and Principal MPF Scheme Series 800 administered by Principal Trust Company (Asia) Limited (Principal), such that Principal is 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) Notices 2025 appoint August 7, 2025, as “material day” for the constituent funds of Principal MPF – Simple Plan, Principal MPF – Smart Plan, and Principal MPF Scheme Series 800, such that Principal is mandated to make corresponding reduction in its 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 February 26, 2025. read more

     Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident happened in Ma On Shan this morning (February 21) in which a man died.      At 6.45am, a school bus driven by a 78-year-old man was travelling a… read more

Attention TV/radio announcers: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:      Here is an item of interest to swimmers.      The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (February 21) that… read more