Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (January 24) released the latest grading of water quality for six gazetted beaches that are open all year round for swimming.
 
     Six beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1).
 
 
Grade 1 beaches are:

Casam Beach	Golden Beach
Clear Water Bay Second Beach	Lido Beach
Deep Water Bay Beach	Silverstrand Beach

 
     Compared with the grading released last week, there was no change in the grading for these beaches.
 
     Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades, namely Good (Grade 1), Fair (Grade 2), Poor (Grade 3) and Very Poor (Grade 4), according to the level of E. coli in the water. Grades are calculated on the basis of the geometric mean of the E. coli counts on the five most recent sampling occasions.
 
     While the ratings represent the general water quality at the beaches, an EPD spokesman reminded members of the public that water quality could be temporarily affected during and after periods of heavy rain. Bathers should avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a tropical cyclone or heavy rainfall.
 
     A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend. The latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the EPD’s website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.  Members of the public can also obtain the latest daily water quality forecast information for all beaches that are open for swimming through the EPD’s dedicated webpage on the beach water quality forecast (www.epd.gov.hk/en/BWQForecast). read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
      
     The Legislative Council (LegCo) Secretariat today (January 24) released a Policy Pulse on “Consolidating Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre”. This issue provides a concise overview of the developments and achievements of Hong Kong’s financial services in recent years, the latest measures, and LegCo’s relevant work along with policy recommendations from Members.

     As an international financial centre, Hong Kong ranks highly in various international rankings. The Policy Pulse highlighted several of these rankings, including being the world’s freest economy, ranking first globally for investment environment, and being the world’s largest Renminbi (RMB) offshore business centre. It also outlined policies and measures implemented by the Government and relevant financial institutions in areas such as asset and wealth management, fundraising platform, mutual capital market access between the Mainland and Hong Kong, international risk management, developing fintech, and green and sustainable finance.

     LegCo has been closely attentive to the development of financial services in Hong Kong, offering advice to the Government on how to fully leverage Hong Kong’s role as a “super-connector” and “super value-adder”. The Policy Pulse summarised the LegCo’s relevant work, including the passage of two tax-related Bills in 2023 and 2024 to promote family office business and enhance the competitiveness of Hong Kong’s real estate investment trusts. LegCo also passed legislative amendments to lower the rate of stamp duty on stock transfers to 0.1 per cent to reinforce the competitiveness of Hong Kong’s stock market.

     Moreover, the LegCo’s Bills Committees are studying the Companies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2024 and the Stablecoins Bill, which aim to introduce a mechanism to facilitate the re-domiciliation of companies incorporated overseas to Hong Kong and to implement a licensing regime for fiat-referenced stablecoin issuers, respectively. In terms of developing fintech, the House Committee of LegCo has set up a subcommittee to review the application and development of Web3 and virtual asset technologies in Hong Kong and to make recommendations on the implementation of relevant legislation and policies.

     Members put forward a number of proposals to develop Hong Kong into a deeper and broader fundraising platform. These include providing incentives to encourage listed companies to issue RMB-denominated stocks and striving for further relaxation of the southbound trading of Stock Connect; implementing a tiered stamp duty system for stock trading to increase the liquidity of the securities market; and encouraging companies worldwide to list in Hong Kong regarding the hottest investment themes in the market. Members also expressed concern about the development of the RMB offshore business and urged the Administration to issue more offshore RMB bonds, equity and risk management products.

     The detailed content of “Consolidating Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre” is available on the LegCo Website. Policy Pulse, published by the LegCo Secretariat, covers specific topics and offers a comprehensive overview of related policy developments and summarised discussions in LegCo. read more

     A dishwashing service company licensee was convicted of charges related to employing a person who was not lawfully employable and was sentenced to six months at the Shatin Magistrates’ Courts yesterday (January 23).
 
     During July 2022 to February 2023, enforcement investigators of the Immigration Department (ImmD) raided a restaurant and arrested nine illegal workers working as dishwashing workers. Follow-up investigations by investigators revealed that the illegal workers were employed by the same dishwashing service company, and thus the dishwashing service company licensee was arrested. The licensee is a Hong Kong resident, male, aged 72. He is charged of being an employer of a person who was not lawfully employable as he did not take all practicable steps to ascertain whether the applicant was lawfully employable prior to employment. After trial, the licensee was sentenced to six months by the Shatin Magistrates’ Courts yesterday.
 
     The illegal workers, who were employed by the licensee, comprised nine women (including eight Indonesian women and one Chinese woman), aged 22 to 56. Among them, one Indonesian woman was a holder of a recognisance form, which prohibits her from taking any employment. The illegal workers were jailed by the Shatin Magistrates’ Courts earlier and were sentenced to imprisonment ranging from 15 months to 15 months and 16 days.
 
     The spokesman reiterated that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years’ imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years’ imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.
 
     According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee’s identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker’s valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences. read more

     Forty-seven convictions were recorded in December 2024 for breaches of legislation enforced by the Environmental Protection Department.        One of the convictions was under the Air Pollution Control Ordinanc… read more

     The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) and the Youth Development Commission (YDC) jointly launched a new round of the HYAB Funding Scheme for Youth Positive Thinking Activities (2025-27) today (January 24). Eligible non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are invited to submit applications.

     The Government attaches great importance to youth development. The HYAB and the YDC launched the first round of the Funding Scheme under the Youth Development Fund in late 2022. The Funding Scheme subsidises NGOs to organise projects that are conducive to nurturing young people’s positive thinking, particularly projects which involve cross-sectoral collaboration, or are youth-led that could drive community building. The Funding Scheme aims to promote the awareness of young people’s physical and mental well-being, nurture their positive thinking and cultivate their positive values; and enable them to become a new generation with a sense of responsibility and aspirations, and a willingness to contribute to the development of the country and Hong Kong.

     Details of the new round of the Funding Scheme and the application form are available on the YDC website (ydc.gov.hk/en/programmes/positive/positive.html). Interested NGOs should submit their applications on or before noon on March 7. read more