Author Archives: hksar gov

     Following the meeting of the interdepartmental working group on the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, on October 28 to holistically co-ordinate and steer the preparatory work of various government departments in addressing the peak in cross-boundary passenger and vehicular traffic at the Huanggang Port during the Halloween period this weekend, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) today (October 29) announced the special boundary-crossing and corresponding public transport service arrangements during late-night hours this weekend.
      
     With Halloween falling on this weekend, coupled with a number of events taking place in Hong Kong including the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival and mega concerts, the number of visitor arrivals and late-night cross-boundary trips is expected to increase significantly. As multiple mega events are expected to conclude around midnight, the Government anticipates that the late-night hours this weekend (i.e. from about 11pm each night to 2am the following day) will be the busiest period for northbound passenger and vehicular flows at the Huanggang Port, and traffic at the port and in the vicinity of San Tin Highway will be very busy.
       
     To effectively divert cross-boundary passenger and vehicular flows during late-night hours and alleviate the traffic pressure on the Huanggang Port and surrounding roads, the HKSAR Government has reached a consensus with the relevant authorities of the Shenzhen Municipality that clearance services for passengers and passenger vehicles at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point will be extended by two hours from the original closing time of midnight to 2am the following day on two consecutive nights on October 30 and 31. Details are as follows:
 
(1) Clearance services for passengers and passenger vehicles at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point on the night of October 30 (Friday) will be extended by two hours from the original closing time of midnight to 2am on October 31 (Saturday); and
 
(2) Clearance services for passengers and passenger vehicles at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point on the night of October 31 (Saturday) will be extended by two hours from the original closing time of midnight to 2am on November 1 (Sunday).
 
     Among the land boundary control points (BCPs) between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, currently only the Huanggang Port provides 24-hour clearance services for passengers and passenger vehicles. Cross-boundary private cars holding permits for other land BCPs (Shenzhen Bay, Man Kam To, Sha Tau Kok and Heung Yuen Wai) are permitted under normal circumstances to use the Huanggang Port between midnight and 6.30am daily. To divert cross-boundary private cars more effectively, during the extended service hours of the Shenzhen Bay Control Point (i.e. from midnight to 2am on October 31 and November 1), cross-boundary private cars holding Closed Road Permits (CRPs) for the Shenzhen Bay Control Point can only use the Shenzhen Bay Control Point for boundary crossing, while the arrangement permitting them to use the Huanggang Port between 2am and 6.30am remains unchanged. As for cross-boundary private cars holding relevant CRPs for the Huanggang Port and other land BCPs (Man Kam To, Sha Tau Kok and Heung Yuen Wai), the arrangement permitting them to use the Huanggang Port during the aforementioned early morning hours remains unchanged.
      
     As regards cross-boundary coaches (CBCs), the HKSAR Government has co-ordinated with relevant operators to extend the operating hours of CBC services (northbound) using the Shenzhen Bay Control Point, including CBC services departing from major urban pick-up points popular among visitors such as Causeway Bay, Wan Chai, Central, Tsim Sha Tsui and Mong Kok.
      
     Regarding local public transport services, to tie in with the special arrangement of extending the clearance hours at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point, franchised bus operators will operate two special overnight bus routes, Nos. NB2 and NB3, during the aforementioned early morning hours, providing services between the Shenzhen Bay Control Point and Yuen Long/Tin Shui Wai and Tuen Mun respectively.
      
     Members of the public and visitors may obtain information such as the average waiting times for passengers and private cars at various land BCPs as well as real-time traffic snapshots through the Security Bureau’s one-stop information platform on immigration clearance “Easy Boundary” and the Transport Department’s “HKeMobility” mobile application to plan their journeys in advance and save waiting time.
      
     The interdepartmental Joint Command Post at the Huanggang Port, the Emergency Monitoring and Support Centre of the Security Bureau, and the Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre of the Transport Department will operate during the weekend to closely monitor clearance operations as well as passenger and vehicular flows at various land BCPs, alongside traffic and public transport conditions across various districts in Hong Kong, implement contingency measures in a timely manner, and disseminate the latest boundary clearance and traffic information through various channels.
      
     A Government spokesman said, “The implementation of the special arrangement to extend the clearance hours at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point helps divert late-night cross-boundary passenger and vehicular flows and facilitates travel for residents of both places and visitors. This was made possible by the full support of the relevant authorities of Shenzhen Municipality, which fully demonstrates the close collaboration between Hong Kong and Shenzhen as well as the high importance both sides attach to facilitating boundary clearance for residents of both places and visitors.”
      
     The HKSAR Government will continue to closely monitor the situation, make swift responses and flexibly deploy manpower when necessary to ensure that operations at the ports and surrounding traffic remain safe, smooth and orderly. read more

     ​The Public Service Commission (the Commission) has received the referral from the Chief Executive to investigate the alleged deficiencies and failings in the discharge of duties by civil servants relating to the oversight… read more

     Following is the speech by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, at the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival 2026 today (October 29):

Dr Peter Lam, Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Mr Fabien Robert, Deputy Mayor of Bordeaux, Mr Philippe Tapie, President of the Bordeaux Wine Council, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     Good evening. Some say, “There’s no place like home.” Standing here at the Central Harbourfront tonight, looking out across our iconic skyline, it is impossible to disagree. To see our harbour light up, – bringing together fine wines from old and new worlds, extraordinary delicacies and international celebrity chefs under the theme “Taste the World’s Best” – reminds everyone why Hong Kong is so special, and why our status as culinary capital is second to none.

     If you look around this venue tonight, you will see a miniature map of global gastronomy. From the prestigious selections at the Grand Wine Pavilion to the exceptional creations of our luxury hotel partners along the Hotel Boulevard, and the star-studded chef line-up in the tasting room, tonight is a celebration of culinary excellence at its finest.  

     The celebration, however, does not end even when these four days of festivities conclude this Sunday night. Throughout November, the excitement extends citywide through the Hong Kong Gourmet Month campaign. Collaborating with restaurants and bars across the city, we are introducing limited edition dishes, unique experiences, dining discounts, and the new Hong Kong Late-Night Dining Guide – all aiming to showcase our vibrant after-dark dining scene.

     These are just a few examples of our efforts to drive “mega event + tourism”. As recently announced in Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan and 2026 Policy Address, we will expand the scale of our flagship events, add more “Only in Hong Kong” elements, and integrate events with tourism to enhance their appeal – for the purpose of extending visitors’ stays and generating added value and momentum. To this end, we have established a mega-event framework that organises the year around three themes, bringing us a continuous stream of major events. From September to February next year is our Festive Mega Events Season. In addition to this Wine & Dine Festival, we look forward to the Christmas immersive light shows at Hong Kong WinterFest in November, followed by the Hong Kong New Year Countdown Celebrations and the International Chinese New Year Night Parade in the months ahead. Between these major highlights are countless equally fascinating events across the city, spanning culture, sports, music, cuisine and so much more. Each is a compelling showcase of Hong Kong’s festive atmosphere and its convergence of Chinese and international cultures to visitors from around the world. Beyond the Festive Mega Events Season, we will present the International Arts Season from February to May and the Chinese Arts Season from June to September. With such a rich and diverse programme, every visitor can find something they love.

     Every mega event we host is an invaluable stage on which to tell good stories of Hong Kong, and an opportunity to share the unique charm and endless potential of the place we proudly call home. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you once again for joining us tonight at the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival. I hope you enjoy the fine wine, marvelous food, and wonderful atmosphere, and I wish you all a truly memorable evening in the company of great friends and family.

     Thank you. read more

     Paul Y. Construction Company, Limited was fined $140,000 at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts today (October 29) for violating the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and the Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations. The prosecutions were launched by the Labour Department.
 
     The case involved a fatal accident that occurred on January 31, 2023, on a construction site at the Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities Island of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. While a worker was giving signals on a metal platform of a metal formwork to a tower crane operator for carrying out lifting work, the platform suddenly collapsed. The worker fell together with the collapsed platform to the ground and sustained serious injuries. He passed away two days later. read more

     The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, had a bilateral meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Laos, Mr Santiphab Phomvihane, in Hong Kong today (October 29) and jointly witnessed the signing of a comprehensive avoidance of double taxation agreement (CDTA) by the Acting Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Joseph Chan, and Deputy Minister of Finance of Laos Mr Soulivath Souvannachoumkham on behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the Government of Laos respectively.

     Mr Chan said, “Laos is a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and a participant in the Belt and Road Initiative, with significant potential for co-operation with Hong Kong in areas such as economy, trade and investment. This CDTA helps foster economic and trade ties between the two places, further leverages Hong Kong’s unique role as a ‘super connector’ and ‘super value-adder’ linking the Chinese Mainland with the international market, and creates favourable conditions for advancing regional economic integration.”

     At the bilateral meeting, Mr Chan highlighted to Mr Phomvihane the latest developments of Hong Kong as an international financial centre, including its advantages in areas such as capital market, green and sustainable finance, wealth management, global competitiveness and tax policy, as well as the HKSAR Government’s initiatives to develop Hong Kong into a global gold trading, clearing and reserve hub. They also explored further collaboration to drive high-quality development along the Belt and Road together.

     The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, met with Mr Phomvihane in Hong Kong and Laos in March and July this year respectively to discuss the early conclusion of the CDTA. This is Hong Kong’s 61st CDTA, the sixth one signed this year, and the 16th one signed by the current-term Government, reflecting that the Government’s efforts to expand the CDTA network have been consistently bearing fruit. Hong Kong has signed CDTAs with seven ASEAN member states, covering more than 70 per cent of ASEAN’s total population and gross domestic product. The CDTA sets out the allocation of taxing rights between Hong Kong and Laos, which will enable investors to better assess their potential tax liabilities from cross-border economic activities and avoid double taxation, thereby promoting bilateral trade and investment.

     In accordance with this CDTA, any tax paid by Hong Kong residents in Laos will be allowed as a credit against the tax payable in Hong Kong in respect of the same income, subject to the provisions of the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap. 112) (IRO). In addition, Laos’ withholding tax rate for Hong Kong residents on dividends, currently at 10 per cent, will be reduced to a minimum of 5 per cent, while the withholding tax rate on interest, currently at 10 per cent, will also be reduced to 5 per cent.

     The CDTA will come into force after completion of ratification procedures by both sides. In Hong Kong, the Chief Executive in Council will make an order under the IRO in respect of the CDTA, which will be tabled at the Legislative Council for negative vetting. Details of the CDTA are available on the Inland Revenue Department’s website.