The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Wednesday, October 14, 2026 is 100.4 (same as yesterday's index).

     A woman and a man were sentenced today (October 14) at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts to seven and five months' imprisonment respectively for illegally importing 40 000 and 33 000 alternative smoking products. The Department of Health (DH) welcomed the verdict and reminded members of the public and visitors not to bring alternative smoking products such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products or herbal cigarettes into Hong Kong, and not to use any alternative smoking products.

     The Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the DH was notified by Hong Kong Customs yesterday (October 13) that 40 000 and 33 000 alternative smoking products had been intercepted in the luggage of the aforesaid individuals arriving from Japan respectively. TACO immediately arrested and prosecuted them.

     Since the amendments to the Tobacco Control Legislation (Amendment) Ordinance 2025, which conferred arrest powers on TACO inspectors, took effect on September 19, 2025, TACO has prosecuted 32 cases involving the importation of large quantities of alternative smoking products. Thirty-five persons have been convicted and sentenced to prison terms ranging from four weeks to eight months.

     According to the Import and Export Ordinance (Cap. 60), a person who imports alternative smoking products, including electronic smoking products, heated tobacco products and herbal cigarettes, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for two years; or liable on conviction on indictment to a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

     Under the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance (Cap. 371), no person may promote, manufacture, sell, or possess for commercial purposes alternative smoking products. An offender is liable to a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months.

     TACO will continue to closely monitor and enforce the law to combat related offences.

     In addition, the DH also cautions the public that alternative smoking products are addictive and are not effective smoking cessation or harm reduction tools. E-cigarettes may increase the risk of cancer, respiratory diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. Smokers are urged to quit smoking as early as possible for their own health and that of others. For assistance, please call the DH's Integrated Smoking Cessation Hotline on 1833 183, or visit www.livetobaccofree.hk for information on quitting.

     In response to the Japanese Government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene issued a Food Safety Order which prohibits all aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds originating from the 10 metropolis/prefectures, namely Tokyo, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Chiba, Gunma, Tochigi, Niigata, Nagano and Saitama, from being imported into and supplied in Hong Kong.
 
     For other Japanese aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds that are not prohibited from being imported into Hong Kong, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department is conducting comprehensive radiological tests to verify that the radiation levels of these products do not exceed the guideline levels before they are allowed to be supplied in the market.
 
     From noon on October 13 to noon today (October 14), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 211 food samples imported from Japan, which were of the "aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt" category. No sample was found to have exceeded the safety limit. Details can be found on the CFS's thematic website titled "Control Measures on Foods Imported from Japan" (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/programme_rafs_fc_01_30_Nuclear_Event_and_Food_Safety.html).
 
     In parallel, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has also tested 50 samples of local catch for radiological levels. All the samples passed the tests. Details can be found on the AFCD's website (www.afcd.gov.hk/english/fisheries/Radiological_testing/Radiological_Test.html).
 
     The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) has also enhanced the environmental monitoring of the local waters. No anomaly has been detected so far. For details, please refer to the HKO's website (www.hko.gov.hk/en/radiation/monitoring/seawater.html).
 
     From August 24, 2023, to noon today, the CFS and the AFCD have conducted tests on the radiological levels of 267 637 samples of food imported from Japan (including 166 598 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 57 010 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests.

     In response to the Japanese Government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene issued a Food Safety Order which prohibits all aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds originating from the 10 metropolis/prefectures, namely Tokyo, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Chiba, Gunma, Tochigi, Niigata, Nagano and Saitama, from being imported into and supplied in Hong Kong.
 
     For other Japanese aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds that are not prohibited from being imported into Hong Kong, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department is conducting comprehensive radiological tests to verify that the radiation levels of these products do not exceed the guideline levels before they are allowed to be supplied in the market.
 
     From noon on October 13 to noon today (October 14), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 211 food samples imported from Japan, which were of the "aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt" category. No sample was found to have exceeded the safety limit. Details can be found on the CFS's thematic website titled "Control Measures on Foods Imported from Japan" (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/programme_rafs_fc_01_30_Nuclear_Event_and_Food_Safety.html).
 
     In parallel, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has also tested 50 samples of local catch for radiological levels. All the samples passed the tests. Details can be found on the AFCD's website (www.afcd.gov.hk/english/fisheries/Radiological_testing/Radiological_Test.html).
 
     The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) has also enhanced the environmental monitoring of the local waters. No anomaly has been detected so far. For details, please refer to the HKO's website (www.hko.gov.hk/en/radiation/monitoring/seawater.html).
 
     From August 24, 2023, to noon today, the CFS and the AFCD have conducted tests on the radiological levels of 267 637 samples of food imported from Japan (including 166 598 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 57 010 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests.

     ​Following is a question by the Hon Elaine Chik and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (October 14):

Question:

     In the 2026 Policy Address, the Government announced that the amount of allowance under the Scheme on Living Allowance for Carers of Elderly Persons from Low-income Families and the Scheme on Living Allowance for Low-income Carers of Persons with Disabilities (Allowance Schemes) would be increased by 10 per cent to $3,300 per month. However, there are views that despite the large number of unpaid carers in Hong Kong, the current number of beneficiaries under the Allowance Schemes is rather small, and that the existing community support for carers is seriously inadequate, thereby placing many families in which elderly persons are caring for other elderly persons or persons with disabilities under considerable pressure. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the actual number of beneficiaries and the total amount of allowances disbursed under the two aforesaid Allowance Schemes in each of the past three financial years, and the respective percentages of the numbers of such beneficiaries in the total number of unpaid carers and the total number of families of persons with disabilities in Hong Kong;

(2) whether, when determining and adjusting the allowance amount, the authorities have obtained data on the average actual monthly expenditure incurred by long-term carers on items such as medical consumables, transport for accompanying care recipients to medical appointments and day respite services; if so, of the details; if not, the objective criteria adopted by the authorities to assess whether the monthly allowance level of $3,300 is adequate to meet family needs;

(3) of the number of applications rejected under the two aforesaid Allowance Schemes in each of the past three financial years, with a breakdown by major reasons for rejection, including household income exceeding the prescribed limit, receipt of other public benefits, failure to meet the requirement of providing at least 80 hours of care per month, and the care recipient not being on the Central Waiting List for Subsidised Long Term Care Services;

(4) whether the authorities have compiled statistics on the number of carers in Hong Kong who are ineligible to apply for carer allowance by virtue of their current receipt of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA), Old Age Living Allowance or Disability Allowance (other allowances); given that subsistence allowances for the grassroots and support for carers are different in nature, whether the authorities will conduct a comprehensive review and remove the restriction that precludes recipients of CSSA or other allowances from applying for carer allowance; if not, of the reasons for that;

(5) whether, during the transitional period prior to the formal commissioning of the inter-departmental "welfare information sharing e-platform", the authorities will establish an inter-departmental mechanism and specific indicators to proactively identify and reach out to hidden high-risk families in which elderly persons are caring for other elderly persons or for persons with disabilities, so as to address the current passive situation of inadequate publicity for the Allowance Schemes and sole reliance on self-initiated applications by members of the public; if not, what other measures the authorities will adopt to enhance publicity; and

(6) whether the authorities will set up "one-stop carer support centres" in the 18 districts across the territory, study the implementation of a "Carer Pass" to provide public healthcare services and transport concessions, and collaborate with community groups to jointly establish a community safety net; if not, of the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

     The current-term Government has spared no effort in introducing a range of welfare services and financial assistance to support carers of elderly persons and carers of persons with disabilities, including the enhancement measures announced in the 2026 Policy Address. The Government will continue to expand support channels and increase service capacity, and apply smart technology and big data, so as to put in place a more comprehensive and sustainable suite of carer support measures, and enhance the ability to identify high-risk cases and intervene in crises.

     Our reply to the various parts of the question is as follows:

(1) and (3) The Scheme on Living Allowance for Carers of Elderly Persons from Low-income Families (the Allowance Scheme for Carers of the Elderly) and the Scheme on Living Allowance for Low-income Carers of Persons with Disabilities (the Allowance Scheme for Carers of Persons with Disabilities) aim to provide a cash allowance to eligible carers of elderly persons or carers of persons with disabilities, so as to help supplement their living expenses. To strengthen support for carers, the 2026 Policy Address announced that the amount of the two allowances would be increased by 10 per cent to $3,300 per month. An eligible applicant who takes care of more than one elderly person or person with disabilities may receive up to $6,600 per month.

     The two carer allowance schemes were incorporated into the Government's regular assistance programmes in October 2023. In the past three financial years, the expenses were $110 million, $321 million and $396 million respectively. The annual number of beneficiaries and the breakdown of ineligible cases in the respective years are set out in Table 1 and Table 2. The Government does not maintain the total number of unpaid carers in Hong Kong, and therefore cannot calculate the percentage of which the beneficiaries of the two allowance schemes account for.

Table 1: Number of beneficiaries under the two carer allowance schemes
 

	Allowance Scheme for Carers of the Elderly			Allowance Scheme for Carers of Persons with Disabilities
	2023-24	2024-25	2025-26	2023-24	2024-25	2025-26
No. of beneficiaries	4 194 (Note)	5 507	7 094	3 213 (Note)	3 751	3 983

Note: Counted from the regularisation of the schemes in October 2023. All cases receiving an allowance under the pilot schemes before regularisation were required to submit fresh applications after October 2023. This number includes relevant eligible applications.

Table 2: Number of ineligible cases and reasons for ineligibility under the two carer allowance schemes
 

Reason for ineligibility	Allowance Scheme for Carers of the Elderly			Allowance Scheme for Carers of Persons with Disabilities
	2023-24 (Note 1)	2024-25	2025-26	2023-24 (Note 1)	2024-25	2025-26
(i) Care recipient not waitlisted for the relevant services (Note 2)	2	35	270	55	82	249
(ii) Care recipient already receiving residential care services	28	26	19	32	21	25
(iii) Applicant's household income exceeding the limit	43	19	24	67	16	9
(iv) Application withdrawn, or insufficient information provided for vetting	51	41	60	48	20	31
(v) Applicant receiving the Old Age Living Allowance (OALA) or Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA)	262	120	96	115	24	21
(vi) Applicant receiving the Disability Allowance (DA) (Note 3)	47	17	26	34	14	17
(vii) Applicant unable to undertake the caring responsibility, except for reason in item (vi) (Note 3)	17	9	24	9	7	3
(viii) Others (e.g. the applicant is not a Hong Kong resident, the care recipient has passed away, or the applicant and the care recipient are the same person, etc.)	77	31	79	13	9	6
Total	527	298	598	373	193	361

Note 1: Counted from the regularisation of the schemes in October 2023.

Note 2: Under the Allowance Scheme for Carers of the Elderly, at the time of application the elderly person being cared for must have been assessed under the Social Welfare Department (SWD)'s Standardised Care Need Assessment Mechanism for Elderly Services (SCNAMES) and recommended as suitable for community care services and/or residential care services, and must still be waitlisted on the Central Waiting List (CWL) for subsidised long-term care services (that is, residential care services and/or community care services). Under the Allowance Scheme for Carers of Persons with Disabilities, at the time of application the person with disabilities being cared for must be waitlisted for any specified rehabilitation services of the SWD, the boarding placement of special schools under the Education Bureau (EDB), or the infirmary service under the Hospital Authority (HA).

Note 3: Under the two allowance schemes, an applicant must be capable of taking up the caregiving role. Persons aged under 15, DA recipients, persons assessed and recommended under SCNAMES as suitable for community care services and/or residential care services, and persons waitlisted on the CWL for subsidised long-term care services or for any specified rehabilitation services of the SWD, the boarding placement of special schools under the EDB or the infirmary service under HA, will not be deemed as fit and capable carers, and are not eligible for the allowance under the schemes.

(2) The Government will take into account a basket of factors, including inflation, the needs of recipients and the affordability of public finance, when reviewing the two allowance schemes and adjusting the amount of allowance as appropriate.

(4) To ensure proper use of public funds and avoid duplication of resources, recipients of CSSA or OALA cannot concurrently receive carer allowances. The number of cases where applicants are ineligible for the two carer allowance schemes due to the above arrangement is set out in item (v) of Table 2. With regard to DA, Note 3 to Table 2 has stated that applicants for the two carer allowances must be capable of taking up caregiving responsibilities. DA recipients are not deemed as capable of taking up caregiving responsibilities, and are therefore ineligible for application. Relevant figures are set out in item (vi) of Table 2.

(5) and (6) The SWD has, based on the information in the CWL, proactively issued invitation letters to eligible carers to apply for the allowance at the pilot stage before regularisation of the two allowance schemes and after regularisation. In addition, the SWD has also introduced online application forms to facilitate public access to relevant information and submission of applications at any time.

     To enhance the ability to identify high-risk carers and intervene in a crisis, the Government has actively applied smart technology and big data in recent years. The Labour and Welfare Bureau and the SWD established the Carer Support Data Platform in July 2025 and launched two schemes. Scheme I consolidates data of the SWD and the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HKHA) to identify high-risk households living in public housing, comprising singleton elderly persons and doubleton elderly persons, carers of elderly persons and carers of persons with disabilities who lack community support, and engages the District Services and Community Care Teams (Care Teams) to conduct home visits and provide support. These visits were extended in March 2026 to cover high-risk households living in "three-nil" buildings. As at the end of September 2026, Care Teams had contacted more than 36 300 high-risk households and made more than 4 200 referrals for welfare services. Scheme II links up data of the SWD, HA, the HKHA and the Hong Kong Housing Society, and has put in place a notification mechanism. When the SWD is notified that a carer has been admitted to a hospital, it will intervene proactively through the Designated Hotline for Carer Support 182 183 (Hotline) and provide emergency support to the care recipient. As at the end of September 2026, the Hotline had contacted more than 10 500 carer cases, of which five were confirmed to require immediate emergency support, including meal support, home-based respite and escort services. For the remaining cases, the Hotline provided the contact details of social welfare units so that support for care recipients could be arranged when needed. The 2026 Policy Address announced that the Government would enhance the automated operation of the Data Platform and expand its coverage.

     At district level, apart from mobilising Care Teams to proactively visit households in need, the Government has all along been providing various kinds of support for carers through District Elderly Community Centres, Neighbourhood Elderly Centres, District Support Centres for Persons with Disabilities (DSCs), and Parents/Relatives Resource Centres, which cover all 18 districts across the territory. Whether they are frontline staff of service units, the Hotline or members of the Care Teams, when providing or referring support services to carers, they will introduce the two allowance schemes to carers based on their needs, and make every effort to assist carers in making application. The 2026 Policy Address announced that the Government would optimise the system of the Hotline and increase the manpower of DSCs, so as to strengthen early identification of and support for high-risk carers.

     There are various initiatives among the carer support measures implemented by the Government that exemplify collaboration among the Government, the business sector and the community. These include the Information Gateway for Carers established by the SWD in collaboration with the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, and the Pilot Scheme on Installing Intelligent Accident Detection Systems for High-risk Households, which is sponsored by the HKEX Foundation, and implemented and evaluated through collaboration between the Government, various service providers, non-governmental organisations and a university.

     The Government will continue to listen to the views of stakeholders, and work hand in hand with all sectors of the community to continuously enhance the carer support measures.