Following is a question by the Hon Leung Man-kwong and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, in the Legislative Council today (October 14):
 
Question:
 
     It is reported that massage services advertised with terms such as "foot fetish" and "face-stepping" have proliferated in the community in recent months. There are views that the promotional content and business models of such services cause nuisance to the nearby communities and have aroused public concerns about the possible involvement of such premises in illegal sex trade. However, as these premises only provide localised massage services on body parts such as feet and face, they are currently not regulated under the licensing regime of the Massage Establishments Ordinance. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the respective number of inspections of and law enforcement actions against massage establishments conducted by the Government in each of the past three years; among such cases, the number of those involving premises providing localised massage services on body parts such as feet and face; and the number of prosecutions brought against and convictions of the owners or operators of such premises for alleged offences under the Crimes Ordinance;
 
(2) whether the Government will consider amending the Massage Establishments Ordinance, including changing the licensing threshold for massage establishments from being defined by "body parts" to taking into account the nature and context of services, so as to comprehensively regulate all massage premises suspected of providing pornographic services; and
 
(3) as it is reported that the aforesaid premises carry out promotional and solicitation activities through online social media platforms and discussion forums using terms such as "unusual fetishes" and "sexual innuendo", whether the Government will strengthen interdepartmental intelligence gathering and law enforcement in the future to combat such promotional activities; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:
 
President,
 
     The Massage Establishments Ordinance (Cap. 266) aims to regulate massage establishments through a licensing regime in order to prevent and combat vice or illegal prostitution activities committed by criminals in these establishments. The Ordinance was amended in 2001 to narrow the regulatory scope so that only massage premises offering full-body massage (i.e. covering that part of the body below the shoulders and above the knees) to customers of the opposite sex are required to obtain a licence, with a view to striking a proper balance between controlling vice activities and not hindering legitimate massage businesses.
      
     Under the Ordinance, any person who operates, keeps, manages, assists in any capacity in the operation of, or assists in the management of, a massage establishment for the operation of which a licence is not in force commits an offence and is liable to a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months on first conviction, and a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for two years on subsequent conviction.
 
     My reply to the questions raised by the Member is as follows:

(1) The Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) conducts regular surprise inspections of licensed massage establishments under section 11(1) of the Ordinance to combat vice activities or premises in breach of relevant licensing conditions. If a licensee breaches any licensing condition, or ceases to satisfy any condition relating to the operation of a massage establishment as prescribed in the Ordinance, the HKPF may, depending on the circumstances, issue a warning or consider revoking, suspending or refusing to renew the licence. 

     The HKPF will take resolute law enforcement actions against any premises involved in illegal activities, including those suspected of operating unlicensed massage establishments. For instance, in July this year, the Sham Shui Po District of the HKPF, acting on intelligence, conducted a surprise inspection and cracked down an unlicensed massage establishment in Cheung Sha Wan which advertised so-called "barefoot facial" massage. Two persons were arrested on suspicion of "operating an unlicensed massage establishment" and "assisting in the management of an unlicensed massage establishment". The case is currently under investigation.
      
     The relevant statistics of the HKPF's efforts against unlicensed massage premises over the past three years are tabulated below:
 

Year	Number of persons arrested	Number of persons prosecuted	Number of persons convicted
2024	114	13	13
2025	65	11	11
2026 (as at end-August)	17	2	1 (another prosecution case is under trial)

     The above figures include arrests made in respect of offences including "prohibition on operating etc. massage establishment without a licence" under section 4 of the Ordinance, "keeping a vice establishment" under section 139 of the Crimes Ordinance (Cap. 200), "breach of condition of stay" and "offence to be employer of a person who is not lawfully employable" under section 41 and section 17I respectively of the Immigration Ordinance (Cap. 115). The HKPF does not maintain information on the types of services provided by the premises involved.

(2) The HKPF has all along been committed to combating all forms of illegal prostitution activities. In respect of premises suspected of providing pornographic services, regardless of whether they hold a licence issued under the Ordinance, section 139 of the Crimes Ordinance (Cap. 200) ("keeping a vice establishment") provides that any person who keeps any premises, vessel or place as a vice establishment; or manages or assists in the management, or is otherwise in charge or control, of any premises, vessel or place kept as a vice establishment, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a maximum penalty of imprisonment for ten years. 

     As mentioned above, the Government amended the Ordinance in 2001 to narrow the regulatory scope, including specifically stipulating that only massage establishments offering full-body massage to customers of the opposite sex are required to obtain a licence, and defining "full-body massage" as covering that part of the body below the shoulders and above the knees. The Government currently has no plan to amend the licensing threshold under the Ordinance. The HKPF will continue to closely monitor the modes of operation of massage premises using different descriptions to attract customers, and take resolute law enforcement actions against any premises involved in illegal activities, including those providing pornographic services.

(3) On intelligence gathering and law enforcement against illegal activities involving prostitution, the HKPF, apart from patrolling black spots, conducts intelligence-led operations, including deploying officers to disguise as customers to collect evidence and strengthening inspection of suspicious premises. The HKPF also adopts an interdepartmental collaboration strategy by conducting joint enforcement actions with relevant departments (including the Labour Department and the Immigration Department) to combat the offences concerned. At the same time, the HKPF will continue to closely monitor the trend of using websites and online social media platforms to conduct illegal prostitution activities, and gather intelligence via online channels to facilitate the deployment of targeted enforcement actions. 

     The Government will continue to monitor market developments, including the modes of operation of massage establishments, and review the effectiveness of the implementation of the Ordinance on an ongoing basis. The Government will remain committed to preventing and combating the use of massage premises by criminals for vice and illegal prostitution activities, while not hindering the operation of legitimate massage businesses.

     Following is the keynote speech by the Permanent Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Mr Kevin Choi, at the LSCM Logistics Summit 2026 today (October 14):

Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, Alan (Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre (LSCM), Professor Alan Lam), Sunny (Chairman of the Board of Directors of the San Tin Technopole Company Limited, Dr Sunny Chai), Mr Mei (Group Senior Vice President and President of the Overseas Enterprise Business of ZTE Corporation, Mr Mei Zhonghua), Mr Yang (Director and Executive Vice President of China Mobile Hong Kong Co Ltd, Mr Yang Qian), distinguished guests, industry leaders, ladies and gentlemen,

     Good morning. I am most honoured to join you at the LSCM Summit today to celebrate the centre's 20th anniversary, and its contribution to Hong Kong's technological evolution.

     LSCM was initially established to support the development of Hong Kong's logistics sector. Nowadays, logistics is not just about moving goods through sea, air, and land routes. It is the management of complex, interconnected systems in a volatile global environment shaped by shifting geopolitics and accelerating cross-border e-commerce. In addition to our world-class freight infrastructure and systems, efficiency must be paired with agility through technology deployment: supply chains must be resilient to disruption, end-to-end visible, environmentally sustainable, and powered by intelligent, real-time decision-making systems that enable instant operational pivots. Achieving this level of transformation requires the adoption of innovation and technology (I&T).

     Last month, the Chief Executive announced both our city's first-ever Five-Year Plan and the 2026 Policy Address, setting out clear targets for a new paradigm for the development of I&T, reaffirming our unwavering commitment to becoming an international I&T hub.

     For example, the rise of AI is impacting almost every aspect of our lives including modern supply chains and cybersecurity management, and computing power is a core engine for the development of AI. To ensure Hong Kong has this vital fuel for AI development, the construction works of the Sandy Ridge Data Facility Cluster have begun. By 2032, the computing power of the cluster is expected to reach a level equivalent to 36 times Hong Kong's current computing power. This represents our solid and unwavering support to the development of the intelligent computing industry. With a cumulative investment expected to reach at least $23.8 billion, Sandy Ridge will provide the robust infrastructure that allows our enterprises to deploy advanced AI models. In future, companies in the sector can run real time global supply chain simulations under secure and reliable IT (information technology) systems, and process complex predictive analytics in a timely manner.

     As we deploy more cloud platforms, connected sensors, automation systems, and AI-driven decision tools across the logistics chain, cybersecurity management becomes an essential enabler, not an afterthought. The same connectivity that improves visibility and speed also expands the cyber threat surface. From ransomware and data leakage to tampering with operational systems, cyber risks can directly disrupt logistics operations, compromise customer trust, and undermine compliance. That is why secure-by-design architecture, resilient networks, and robust identity and access management are indispensable. We also need to strengthen incident response capabilities, supply-chain risk assessment, and continuous monitoring so that enterprises can detect, contain, and recover quickly, maintaining business continuity even under attacks. I encourage you to join the afternoon session of today's Summit, where my colleagues of the Digital Policy Office will share more expertise in this regard.

     While digital infrastructure and computing power are crucial to the sector's development, smart robotics and automation are other essential elements. In a city like Hong Kong where warehouse space is premium, modern warehouses have to shift into a highly automated ecosystem where autonomous mobile robots, automated guided vehicles, and robotic picking arms work side by side with human operators. These robotic technologies are drastically reducing order cycle times, optimising vertical storage space, and eliminating human error in high-velocity sorting environments.

     In this regard, many of you are aware that the Government has established the AIR@InnoHK as a dedicated research cluster focused on AI and robotics technologies. To further our efforts, we have successfully facilitated the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to establish its first centre of excellence on global advanced manufacturing in the Asia-Pacific region in Hong Kong, with a focus on the fields of AI+ manufacturing, robotics, new energy and industrial design.

     Yet, hardware and computing power are only part of the solution. We also need a vibrant ecosystem where technology is researched, tested, and tailored for practical business applications, including cybersecurity technologies and solutions that are fit for logistics operations. Under the "north-central-south" spatial layout, the development of our three major I&T parks, namely the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone and the San Tin Technopole, the Science Park, and Cyberport, will establish a truly global industry academia research collaborative innovation platform. Working together with the industries, our top-class universities and different public research and development (R&D) centres, Hong Kong will become a globally competitive advanced R&D centre and pilot production and transformation base for technology industries, benefitting all of us here today.

     In parallel, we are solving the historic constraint of physical space. The Northern Metropolis provides a vast amount of new land, directly driving Hong Kong's evolution into an I&T centre under the new "South-North dual engine (finance-IT/I&T)". Within the Northern Metropolis, there will be industrial space designed for prototyping, pilot and mass production. For the logistics and supply chain sector, this offers a very good opportunity for the physical integration of advanced manufacturing and high-end logistics. Enterprises can actively utilise the New Industrialisation Support Scheme to turn R&D outcomes into reality. This includes funding and support for setting up brand new, state-of-the-art smart production lines right within the Northern Metropolis. When you pair smart production lines with automated, AI-driven facilities in the same geographical area, you eliminate transit friction, slash lead times, and create a highly responsive domestic supply chain network.

     With proximity to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), the Chinese Mainland's powerhouse for innovation and economic growth, the Northern Metropolis occupies a vital strategic position in the region. By aligning our local technological frameworks with the industrial mass of the GBA, we are building a seamless, highly integrated ecosystem. Looking ahead, after 2030, we are expecting Hong Kong as an international I&T centre based in the GBA, serving the entire country and deeply connected to the world.

     Finally, please once again accept my warmest congratulations to LSCM on its 20th anniversary. I wish you all a highly productive, successful and inspiring Summit.

     Thank you very much.

     Following is a question by the Hon Chong Ho-fung and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (October 14):

Question:

     It has been reported that in recent years, some uncivic-minded passengers have frequently engaged in discourteous behaviour on public transport. This includes playing videos or music loudly on mobile phones inside the carriage, making phone calls, and even placing their feet on seats, causing hygiene issues and nuisance. Numerous cities in the Mainland, as well as Japan, Singapore and London in the United Kingdom, have effectively curbed malpractices such as noise in passenger compartments and placing feet on seats through legal regulation, clear penalties, technological assistance or long-term publicity campaigns. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the respective numbers of complaints received in each of the past three years by the Transport Department, the Environmental Protection Department and public transport operators concerning "noise nuisance" on public transport (such as the use of electronic devices with audio played through loudspeakers) and "improper or unhygienic behaviour" (including placing feet or shoes on seats and other discourteous conduct); whether the authorities have conducted any studies to assess the impact of such behaviour on the quality of public transport services and passengers' travelling experience;

(2) whether the authorities will make reference to overseas experience and amend the relevant legislation in Hong Kong to expressly designate "playing audio from electronic devices through loudspeakers" and "placing feet or shoes on seats" as acts of contravention, and introduce streamlined enforcement procedures as well as review and increase the existing penalties for causing nuisance on public transport; and

(3) whether the authorities will study, in collaboration with the MTR Corporation Limited and various bus operators, the introduction of pilot "quiet zones/compartments", and draw on overseas publicity strategies by installing additional warning signs in train compartments and at platforms, as well as making regular reminder announcements, with a view to promoting a culture of courteous travel?

Reply:

President,

     The Government has been closely monitoring the service of public transport and working closely with the public transport operators (operators) to promote the message, through measures such as publicity and education, that passengers should be considerate and maintain mutual respect towards other passengers when using public transport services. In consultation with the Environmental Protection Department (EPD), our reply to the questions raised by the Hon Chong is as follows:

(1) The number of complaints received annually in the past three years by the Transport Department (TD) and the EPD regarding "noise nuisance" (e.g. excessive volume of electronic devices) and "improper or unhygienic behaviour" (e.g. stepping on seats) on public transport is set out in the Annex. The operators do not maintain statistics on complaints categorised by individual types of behaviour.

(2) At present, the legislation of various public transport services (e.g. the Mass Transit Railway By-laws (Cap. 556B), the Public Bus Services Regulations (Cap. 230A) and the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations (Cap. 374D)) contains provisions regulating improper passenger conduct with corresponding penalties. Each franchised bus operator has drawn up Passenger Notices stipulating that passengers are refrained from playing mobile devices loudly or placing their feet on seats. The operators also remind passengers of the regulations through on-board announcements and signage. 

     The operators have also put in place guidelines to assist frontline staff members in handling situations relating to passenger conduct in an appropriate manner based on the actual circumstances, such as offering verbal advice and taking follow-up actions, as well as referring to law enforcement authorities when necessary. As for the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL), its staff, in the course of their routine inspections, will give reminders and take appropriate follow-up actions if passengers were found to have breached the rules. 

     In addition, the TD has been collaborating with and encouraging operators to promote through publicity and educational activities the importance of passenger safety, consideration for others and respect for other passengers when using public transport services. The MTRCL also organises annual courtesy campaign to remind passengers not to affect or cause nuisance to others.

(3) At present, there are quiet cars designated on all MTR heavy rail trains equipped with in-train televisions, where televisions are muted so as to provide passengers with a relatively quiet travelling environment. As for High Speed Rail, the Vibrant Express trains operated by the MTRCL have designated Quiet Cars where in-train announcements are broadcast at a lower volume and the in-train televisions are muted. Furthermore, passengers in Quiet Cars of the High Speed Rail are required to set their mobile phones to silent and wear headphones when using electronic devices. Passengers on the phone are required to move to either end of the compartment. When considering the introduction of "quiet zones/compartments", operators need to prudently consider their mode of operation, operational arrangements such as space and design of compartment as well as the impact on overall carrying capacity in order to strike a proper balance. The Government will continue to keep in view passenger behaviour on public transport and collaborate with operators to promote travelling etiquette through various means, with a view to fostering a comfortable and harmonious travelling environment.

     Following is the speech by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at HKU Innovation Week 2026 today (October 14):

The Honourable Vice-Chairman Leung (Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Mr CY Leung), Professor Richard Wong (Acting President of University of Hong Kong (HKU)), George (Ambassador George Hara, Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DEFTA Partners), Anderson (Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research), HKU, Professor Anderson Shum), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     Good morning. It is my great pleasure to join you today at HKU Innovation Week 2026, alongside distinguished scholars, industry leaders, and community partners. These are exactly the key partners in driving academic discovery, scientific advancement, and the pioneering spirit that defines Hong Kong's innovation landscape.
 
     Following the release of Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan and the 2026 Policy Address last month, the HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region)'s goal is clear: Hong Kong will basically have established an international I&T (innovation and technology) centre based in the Greater Bay Area, serving the entire country and being connected to the world after 2030. This brings me to the theme of this year’s event – "The Innovation Reef: Where Ideas Breed and Thrive." A healthy innovation ecosystem, like a reef, relies on different parties performing different but complementary roles. Our universities play an indispensable role in advancing knowledge, nurturing talents, and transforming research into real-world impact. Talents aside, we need to drive the synergistic development among the Government, industries, academia, research and investment sectors. 

     To this end, the Government has deployed strategic resources through the $10 billion RAISe+ Scheme to accelerate the commercialisation of university research and development. Since its launch in 2023, 73 projects in various technology areas have been approved, with the Government funding commitment totalling over $3 billion. Among them, HKU's projects, covering advanced medical therapeutics to AI platforms and green materials, demonstrates that world-class research can be seamlessly translated into market-ready, deep-tech ventures. The Government also remains committed to consolidating the "dual base" advantages of Hong Kong's State Key Laboratories and the InnoHK Research Clusters, enabling universities to conduct basic and applied research that better serves national scientific and technological needs.
 
     Looking ahead, the Loop Academy One in the Hong Kong Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park will be the flagship project for launching the Northern Metropolis University Town, bringing together the frontier research capabilities of leading local and non-local universities and institutions, including InnoHK and other new initiatives. It will focus on the development of medicine, life and health technology, artificial intelligence, robotics and microelectronics, with an aim to linking up academic research with real-life application scenarios and industrial supply chains – both physically and organically.
 
     I am also glad to see that HKU is already participating in this wider development – the University serves as the operator of the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trials Institute in the Loop Hong Kong Park to promote medical innovation and clinical trial development. I encourage HKU to continue anchoring this ecosystem, collaborating closely with industry leaders and the Greater Bay Area's massive manufacturing base.  

     Ladies and gentlemen, I believe the Innovation Week will provide a useful platform for you to make connections that lead to further collaboration as you extend the boundaries of knowledge. I wish the event every success.

     Thank you very much.

     Following is the speech by the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, at the LSCM (Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre) Logistics Summit 2026 today (October 14):

Deputy Director Wang (Deputy Director of the Eighth Division, General Office of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Mr Wang Zongru), Chairman Lam (Chairman of the Board of Directors of the LSCM, Professor Alan Lam), distinguished guests, industry leaders, ladies and gentlemen,

     Good morning. It is my great pleasure to join you all today at the LSCM Logistics Summit 2026 to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre. This milestone is not only a celebration of the LSCM's achievements, but also a testament to the remarkable evolution of Hong Kong's logistics and supply chain ecosystem.

     For two decades, the LSCM has served as a primary engine behind this evolution, which is propelled by advanced innovation and tech-driven transformation. By building a vibrant network of collaboration between our leading universities, industry partners and global stakeholders, the LSCM has successfully translated cutting-edge applied research into powerful core competencies that keep the Hong Kong's logistics industry globally competitive.

     The LSCM's contribution goes far beyond commercial logistics into the heart of our community. During our COVID-19 response, the LSCM rapidly deployed electronic wristbands to anchor smart quarantine logistics and leveraged its tracking and inventory management systems to put into effect the city's mass testing and vaccination measures. This is a classic example of how home-grown, practical technology can directly benefit our entire society.

     The LSCM has long been one of the Government's closest partners and advisers. Since joining the Hong Kong Logistics Development Council in 2014, the LSCM has steadfastly helped to shape our forward-looking policies and materialise the Government's Action Plan on Modern Logistics Development. This plan designates digitalisation as a core pillar for the industry's future, a direction for which the LSCM has been blazing the trail.

     This momentum in digitalising our logistics sector is not just an industry achievement. It is a critical engine to drive Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan. The Five-Year Plan charts an ambitious roadmap with innovation and technology (I&T) at its core, demanding that we strengthen our original scientific research to anchor our economic future. As logistics is the lifeblood of Hong Kong's economy, modernising this sector through the LSCM's technologies provides the exact robust foundation needed to achieve our primary goal, i.e. after 2030, we will have established an international I&T centre based in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, serving the entire country and connecting to the world.

     To bring this grand vision to life, the Government will continue to step up our support for R&D (research and development), and drive deeper collaboration among the industry, academia and research sectors. In this endeavour, I am confident that the LSCM will continue to be an indispensable conduit between scientific research and commercial application.

     Ladies and gentlemen, the complex supply chain challenges are catalysts for brilliant breakthroughs when great minds meet. By uniting the finest brains across disciplines, this summit shines as a platform for collaboration. Together, let us continue "Linking Minds, Empowering Innovation", and seize the opportunities ahead to further heighten Hong Kong's digital transformation and economic growth.

     In closing, I wish you all an inspiring, riveting and successful summit. Thank you very much.