​The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) announced today (October 9) that stalls at the 2025 Lunar New Year (LNY) fairs will be put up for open auction in batches starting from October 22 (Tuesday).
 
     The LNY fairs are to be held at 15 locations and will be open for seven days from January 23 to 29, 2025. A total of 910 wet goods stalls, 633 dry goods stalls and 27 fast food stalls will be provided.
 
     The upset prices range from $380 to $6,530 for wet goods stalls, $450 to $8,540 for dry goods stalls (regular size), $680 to $12,810 for dry goods stalls (large size) and $2,290 to $120,470 for fast food stalls.
 
     The six fairs on Hong Kong Island, in Islands District and in Kowloon will be located at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, Tat Tung Road Garden in Tung Chung, Cheung Sha Wan Playground and Fa Hui Park in Sham Shui Po, Tsz Wan Shan Estate Central Playground in Wong Tai Sin and Kwun Tong Recreation Ground in Kwun Tong. A total of 812 stalls will be put up for auction.
 
     The auction for stalls of the LNY fair in Victoria Park will be held for three days from October 22 to 24 (Tuesday to Thursday) at the Assembly Hall, 2/F, Lai Chi Kok Government Offices, 19 Lai Wan Road, Lai Chi Kok, Kowloon. The first auction day (October 22) is scheduled for fast food stalls and wet goods stalls, while the second auction day (October 23) and the third auction day (October 24) are scheduled for dry goods stalls. The auction sessions are scheduled from 9am to 12.30pm (AM session) and 2pm until completion of the auction (PM session). Due to the limited number of seats, those who are interested in bidding for a specific type of stalls at the Victoria Park LNY fair are invited to participate in the respective auction at the Lai Chi Kok Government Offices on the designated date.
 
     The auction for stalls of Tat Tung Road Garden LNY Fair in Tung Chung will be held at the above-mentioned venue on October 25 (Friday). The auction session is scheduled from 9.30am until completion of the auction.
      
     The auctions for stalls of the LNY fairs in Cheung Sha Wan Playground and Fa Hui Park in Sham Shui Po, Tsz Wan Shan Estate Central Playground in Wong Tai Sin and Kwun Tong Recreation Ground in Kwun Tong will be held at the above-mentioned venue from October 28 to 31. The auction sessions are scheduled from 9am or 9.30am to 12.30pm (AM session) and 2pm until completion of the auction (PM session).
 
     Details of the auctions are as follows:
 
Victoria Park (Causeway Bay)
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Number of stalls: 395
 
Auction date: October 22 (Tuesday)
AM session: Fast food (Stall Nos. A to D) and wet goods (Stall Nos. 217 to 276)
PM session: Wet goods (Stall Nos. 277 to 391)
Opening prices:
Fast food: $120,470
Wet goods: $6,530
 
Auction date: October 23 (Wednesday)
AM session: Dry goods (Stall Nos. 1 to 20 and 51 to 76)
PM session: Dry goods (Stall Nos. 21 to 40 and 77 to 109)
Opening prices:
Dry goods (regular size): $8,540
Dry goods (large size): $12,810
 
Auction date: October 24 (Thursday)
AM session: Dry goods (Stall Nos. 41 to 50 and 110 to 168)
PM session: Dry goods (Stall Nos. 169 to 216)
Opening price:
Dry goods (regular size): $8,540
Dry goods (large size): $12,810
 
Tat Tung Road Garden (Tung Chung)
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Auction date: October 25 (Friday)
Number of stalls: 27
Stall types: Wet goods and dry goods
Opening prices:
Wet goods: $380
Dry goods (regular size): $450
Dry goods (large size): $680
 
Cheung Sha Wan Playground (Sham Shui Po)
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Auction date: October 28 (Monday)
Number of stalls: 89
AM session: Wet goods
PM session: Fast food and dry goods
Opening prices:
Wet goods: $500
Fast food: $2,290
Dry goods (regular size): $550
Dry goods (large size): $830
 
Fa Hui Park (Sham Shui Po)
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Auction date: October 29 (Tuesday)
Number of stalls: 136
AM session: Wet goods
PM session: Fast food and dry goods
Opening prices:
Wet goods: $3,540
Fast food: $17,480
Dry goods (regular size): $7,800
Dry goods (large size): $11,700
 
Tsz Wan Shan Estate Central Playground (Wong Tai Sin)
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Auction date: October 30 (Wednesday)
Number of stalls: 76
AM session: Wet goods
PM session: Fast food and dry goods
Opening prices:
Wet goods: $1,500
Fast food: $5,000
Dry goods (regular size): $1,370
Dry goods (large size): $2,060
 
Kwun Tong Recreation Ground (Kwun Tong)
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Auction date: October 31 (Thursday)
Number of stalls: 89
AM session: Wet goods
PM session: Fast food and dry goods
Opening prices:
Wet goods: $2,180
Fast food: $3,030
Dry goods (regular size): $2,130
Dry goods (large size): $3,200
 
     In the New Territories, 521 wet goods stalls, 230 dry goods stalls and seven fast food stalls will be set up at nine fairs. They are located at Sha Tsui Road Playground in Tsuen Wan, Tin Hau Temple Fung Shui Square in Tai Po, Tung Tau Industrial Area Playground in Yuen Long, Tin Hau Temple Plaza in Tuen Mun, Man Yee Playground in Sai Kung, Po Hong Park in Tseung Kwan O, Shek Wu Hui Playground in North District, Kwai Chung Sports Ground in Kwai Tsing and Yuen Wo Playground in Sha Tin.
 
     The auctions for stalls of the LNY fairs in Tsuen Wan, Yuen Long and Kwai Tsing will be held at the Assembly Hall, 2/F, Lai Chi Kok Government Offices, on November 1, 5 and 11. The auction sessions are scheduled from 9am to 12.30pm (AM session) and 2pm until completion of the auction (PM session).
 
     The auctions for stalls of the LNY fairs in Tai Po, Sai Kung and Tseung Kwan O, North District and Sha Tin will be held at the above-mentioned venue on November 4, 7, 8 and 12. The auction session is scheduled from 9am or 9.30am until completion of the auction.
 
     The auction for stalls of Tin Hau Temple Plaza LNY fair in Tuen Mun will be held at Tseng Choi Street Community Hall, 27 Tseng Choi Street, Tuen Mun, on November 6. The auction session is scheduled from 9.30am until completion of the auction.
 
     Details of the auctions are as follows:
 
Sha Tsui Road Playground (Tsuen Wan)
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Auction date: November 1 (Friday)
Number of stalls: 126
AM session: Wet goods (Stall Nos. 1 to 64)
PM session: Wet goods (Stall Nos. 65 to 96) and dry goods
Opening prices:
Wet goods: $1,770
Dry goods (regular size): $8,480
Dry goods (large size): $12,720
 
Tin Hau Temple Fung Shui Square (Tai Po)
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Auction date: November 4 (Monday)
Number of stalls: 61
Stall types: Dry goods, wet goods and fast food
Opening prices:
Dry goods: $1,450
Wet goods: $2,270
Fast food: $5,480
 
Tung Tau Industrial Area Playground (Yuen Long)
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Auction date: November 5 (Tuesday)
Number of stalls: 158
AM session: Dry goods and wet goods (Stall Nos. 57 to 72)
PM session: Wet goods (Stall Nos. 77 to 156) and fast food
Opening prices:
Dry goods (regular size): $1,350
Dry goods (large size): $2,030
Wet goods: $700
Fast food: $5,480
 
Tin Hau Temple Plaza (Tuen Mun)
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Auction date: November 6 (Wednesday)
Number of stalls: 57
Stall types: Wet goods, dry goods and fast food
Opening prices:
Wet goods: $1,490
Dry goods: $2,140
Fast food: $2,740
 
Man Yee Playground (Sai Kung)
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Auction date: November 7 (Thursday)
Number of stalls: 20
Stall types: Dry goods and wet goods
Opening prices:
Dry goods: $450
Wet goods: $380
 
Po Hong Park (Tseung Kwan O)
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Auction date: November 7 (Thursday)
Number of stalls: 90
Stall types: Dry goods, wet goods and fast food
Opening prices:
Dry goods (regular size): $1,540
Dry goods (large size): $2,310
Wet goods: $830
Fast food: $4,570
 
Shek Wu Hui Playground (North District)
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Auction date: November 8 (Friday)
Number of stalls: 73
Stall types: Wet goods and dry goods
Opening prices:
Wet goods: $710
Dry goods (regular size): $1,540
Dry goods (large size): $2,310
 
Kwai Chung Sports Ground (Kwai Tsing)
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Auction date: November 11 (Monday)
Number of stalls: 98
AM session: Wet goods (Stall Nos. 1 to 56)
PM session: Wet goods (Stall Nos. 57 to 76) and dry goods
Opening prices:
Wet goods: $490
Dry goods (regular size): $2,250
Dry goods (large size): $3,380
 
Yuen Wo Playground (Sha Tin)
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Auction date: November 12 (Tuesday)
Number of stalls: 75
Stall types: Dry goods and wet goods
Opening prices:
Dry goods (regular size): $4,570
Dry goods (large size): $6,860
Wet goods: $3,580
 
     Bidders for LNY fair stalls must be at least 18 years old and ordinarily reside in Hong Kong.
 
     Anyone can bid for more than one stall. A bidder must pay the bid price and register in person with his or her own name as the licensee of the stall immediately after successfully bidding for a stall. The bidder is also required to sign at once a licence agreement with the FEHD, or he/she will forfeit the rights to operate the stall.
 
     All fair sites will be made available to the licensees three days in advance of the fairs (from January 20 to 22, 2025) for the setting up of stalls. In the event of any unforeseeable incident that will cause reduction of the whole licence period (including the duration for setting up stalls and the business period of the fair), the Government has the right to postpone the commencement date and shorten the duration of the period. The bidding price (licence fee) paid will be refunded to the successful bidder on a pro-rata basis without interest.
 
     Stall licensees must completely remove the stall structure and all paraphernalia, together with all refuse, debris and unsold commodities (whether damaged or otherwise), from the licensed area before 7am on January 29, 2025 (9am for the Victoria Park LNY Fair).
 
     The FEHD reminded licensees that the stalls are solely for the purpose of selling and promoting the sale of the permitted commodities, and no other activities are allowed in the licensed area. If the FEHD considers that any activity conducted by the licensee to publicise, promote, display, show or sell any permitted commodities in the venue is unlawful, contrary to the interest of national security, immoral or incompatible with the object of the LNY fair, the FEHD is entitled to direct the licensee to stop conducting such activities, and the licensee must immediately comply with the direction.
 
     Stall licensees should not destroy, damage or abandon any unsold commodities at or in the vicinity of the stall. They may surrender unsold flowers and plants left behind at the stall to the FEHD at no charge, cost or compensation whatsoever, before 7am on January 29, 2025 (9am for the Victoria Park LNY Fair).
 
     According to the licence agreement, except inside designated stalls, licensees must not keep, store or use any compressed helium cylinder in the licensed area. Whereas licensees of the designated stalls may keep, store or use helium cylinders in the licensed area, the quantity of helium should be such that a licence is not required pursuant to the Dangerous Goods (Application and Exemption) Regulation 2012 (Cap. 295E), i.e. equivalent to 150 litres of helium. Sales of floating LED glowing balloons and aquarium fish by stall licensees are prohibited at the LNY fairs.
 
     In addition, as stated in the licence agreement, the height of dry goods stalls must not exceed three metres from ground level. The height of wet goods stalls and fast food stalls must not exceed 4.5m from ground level. For wet goods stalls and fast food stalls with a height of more than 3m from ground level, the licensee must, at his own costs, provide the FEHD with the original certificate issued by an authorised person, a registered structural engineer, or a competent person under the Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations (Cap. 59I) to certify the structural safety of the structure in the licensed area before the fair is opened to the public. The licensee must also affix a copy of the aforesaid certificate on the structure of the stall.
 
     Successful bidders shall comply with all the stipulations and provisions as set out in the licence agreement. Otherwise, the department is entitled to terminate the agreement and the licensee shall immediately vacate the stall.
 
     Details of the 2025 LNY fairs, such as the public notice, the locations and layouts of the fair venues, commodities allowed for sale at the fair stalls, open auction arrangements and related rules, and a sample of the licence agreement, are available on the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk). For enquiries, please call the FEHD hotline 2868 0000.

     A property owner who persistently failed to comply with two removal orders issued under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap. 123) was convicted and fined over $230,000 in September 2024 at the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts.
 
     Both removal orders involved unauthorised building works (UBWs) at a three-storey house on Yu Chui Street, Tai Lam, Tuen Mun. The first removal order included illegal site formation works for constructing an unauthorised platform of about 122 square metres on a slope adjoining an approved garden, erection of a floor slab over a void adjacent to an approved dining room, removing parts of external walls and constructing unauthorised structures to extend the floors at different levels of the building with a total floor area of about 57 sq m. The second removal order included an unauthorised canopy at a ground floor entrance. As the UBWs were carried out without prior approval and consent from the Buildings Department (BD), two removal orders were served on the owner under section 24(1) of the BO.
 
     Failing to comply with the first removal order, the owner was prosecuted by the BD six times, was fined over $350,000 in total and was given a four-month imprisonment sentence suspended for two years upon convictions by the court. As the owner persisted in not complying with the removal order, the owner was prosecuted for the seventh time. The owner also did not comply with the second removal order and he was prosecuted at the same time. The owner was convicted at the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts on December 2, 2022, and the court adjourned the hearing and ordered the owner to report on the status of the removal of the UBWs before handing down a sentence. On the adjourned hearing date of September 27, 2024, the owner reported to the court that the UBWs under the second removal order had been removed and a contractor had been appointed to follow up on the remaining UBWs removal work under the first removal order. Eventually the owner was fined by the court $239,100 in total, of which $113,100 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued.
 
     A spokesman for the BD today (October 9) said, "UBWs may lead to serious consequences. The owners concerned must comply with removal orders without delay. The BD will continue to take enforcement actions and consider instigating prosecution against the owners again if they persist in not complying with the orders, so as to ensure building safety."
 
     Failure 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.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority (HA) spokesperson today (October 9) announced that 14 general out-patient clinics (GOPCs) will provide public holiday GOPC services on the Chung Yeung Festival holiday (October 11) (see table below). Patients may book an appointment either through the telephone appointment system or the "Book GOPC" function of the "HA Go" mobile app.

     The spokesperson reminded members of the public that they should stay vigilant to personal and environmental hygiene during the public holiday to avoid spreading diseases. Members of the public who develop respiratory symptoms should wear a mask and seek medical advice promptly. Apart from GOPCs of the HA, patients may also consider attending consultation by private family doctors. To choose a suitable family doctor and related clinic service, the public can browse the Primary Care Directory of the Health Bureau at www.pcdirectory.gov.hk.

     Moreover, the HA is currently providing seasonal influenza vaccinations to eligible persons at public hospitals and outpatient clinics. The spokesperson said that eligible patients can receive vaccinations at the time of their scheduled follow-up appointments at clinics. Patients with a distant follow-up appointment date may visit or contact the respective clinics for necessary arrangements. The spokesperson emphasised, "As Hong Kong is about to enter winter, the risk of influenza transmission increases. High-risk individuals such as chronic disease patients, the elderly and children may develop severe complications after an influenza infection, leading to serious illness or death. Members of the public should receive seasonal influenza vaccinations as soon as possible to enhance immunity against influenza and greatly reduce the risk of serious illness or death from infection."

GOPC service arrangements on Chung Yeung Festival (October 11)
 

 
Service hours:
9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm

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 (October 9) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Stanley Main Beach, Shek O Beach and Big Wave Bay Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island, and Silverstrand Beach, Clear Water Bay First Beach and Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at these beaches.

     â€‹Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the HKGFA Annual Forum 2024 "Financing Asia's Net Zero Transition" today (October 9):

Director-General Tan Yabo (the Deputy Director-General of the Department of Economic Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region), Dr Ma (the Chairman and President of the Hong Kong Green Finance Association, Dr Ma Jun), Mary (Vice Chair of Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero, Ms Mary Schapiro), Sally (Resident Representative in Hong Kong SAR (designate), International Monetary Fund, Ms Sally Chen), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good morning. It is my great pleasure to join you for the 7th edition of this annual flagship forum organised by the Hong Kong Green Finance Association. It is particularly timely and important for us to gather to discuss and explore how we can work together to finance Asia's net-zero transition.

     Speaking to such a sophisticated audience, I need not convince you of the urgency to tackle climate change collaboratively. Nonetheless, two facts from the World Meteorological Organization serve as stark reminders of the clear and present danger of climate change to Asia: first, 2023 was the hottest year on record. Second, Asia is warming faster than the global average, and last year, it remained the world's most disaster-hit region due to weather, climate, and water-related hazards.
 
Global call for transition finance

     Globally, as countries and regions set targets to achieve carbon neutrality, green investments have been rising. Meanwhile, transition finance is also gaining importance. In addition to investing in green initiatives, the global community has now recognised the need to assist high-emission and heavily polluting sectors in their journey to "becoming sustainable". This involves providing financial and technological resources to help them increase energy efficiency, upgrade production technologies, invest in green activities, and, ultimately, achieve net-zero emissions. 

     This transition is not without challenges. Reducing carbon emissions in various industries is costly. Consulting firm McKinsey, for example, has estimated that achieving low-carbon transition requires an average spending of US$9.2 trillion annually on physical assets from the year 2021 to 2050. And there is a significant shortfall of US$3.5 trillion per year. 
 
     Given the substantial scale of transition investments, there is broad international consensus to mobilise private capital to help finance them. For example, the European Commission has stated that a significant portion of investments needed to meet the EU's climate goals must originate from the private sector. Similarly, the IMF (International Monetary Fund) forecasted that for emerging economies, approximately 80 per cent of the necessary investments in climate mitigation by 2030 should come from private entities.
 
     However, in contrast to these projections, private sector investors have not allocated as much capital as necessary to the relevant sectors. ESG (environmental, social and governance) investing, a commonly used asset allocation strategy, often excludes high-emission and heavily polluting industries. A study of 300 institutional investors in Europe, North America and the Asia-Pacific this year suggested that only 37 per cent of investors allocated funds to "transitioning" companies, with an additional 26 per cent planning such allocations within the next two years. Obviously, they are insufficient to bridge the funding gap.
 
     Another challenge for transition finance is "transition-washing". While we are familiar with "greenwashing", in the context of transition activities, there may be additional complexity, particularly in defining what actually constitutes "becoming sustainable". It is also crucial to ensure that funds are used to finance legitimate decarbonisation initiatives rather than prolonging unsustainable practices. 
 
Hong Kong's opportunities in transition finance
 
     Ladies and gentlemen, while the challenges in transition finance may sound daunting, they also present unique opportunities for Hong Kong.
 
     First, we can be Asia's leading transition finance hub. With the concerted efforts from the Government and the industry, Hong Kong has made significant strides in the space of green and sustainable finance. We stand as Asia's leading green financing hub. Over the past three years, we issued an average over US$63 billion in green bonds and debts annually. The number of ESG funds authorised by the SFC (Securities and Futures Commission) has also been on the rise. As of June this year, there were over 230 such funds, managing assets exceeding US$160 billion, representing a 60 per cent growth compared to three years ago.
 
     That means Hong Kong already has a strong foundation to develop the transition finance market – including a robust regulatory framework, the necessary financial infrastructure, a well-developed finance market, and the expertise on standard-setting and compliance. What we need now is to raise the awareness of the necessity of transition finance, and the potential it offers. 
 
     We are pressing ahead. For example, in my Budget this year, we extended the Green and Sustainable Finance Grant Scheme to 2027. To incentivise the use of Hong Kong as a transition financing platform, the Scheme has been expanded to cover transition bonds and loans. 
 
     On green standards setting, we participate in the global efforts in developing taxonomies to delineate permissible activities. These frameworks serve as universal language among investors, issuers, policymakers, and other stakeholders to combat "greenwashing", as well as "transition-washing".
 
     In May this year, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) published the Hong Kong Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance, aiming to facilitate informed investment decisions on green and sustainable finance and thereby scaling up relevant investments. Our Taxonomy was devised to be compatible with the two mainstream taxonomies, the Mainland and the European Union. Currently, the HKMA is developing the next phase of the Taxonomy to include transition activities. It is our plan to conduct a public consultation for this in early 2025. Our efforts will contribute to the global development and consensus-building on transition taxonomy.
 
     Improving sustainability disclosure at the company level will enable investors to assess whether and how companies have met their environmental and sustainability commitments. In March this year, the Government issued a statement, which sets out our vision to be among the first jurisdictions to align local sustainability disclosure requirements with the standards set by the International Sustainability Standards Board, the ISSB. In this regard, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange also announced in April that it would implement amended listing rules with new climate requirements starting in 2025. Moreover, in September, the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants released an exposure draft on the financial reporting standards on sustainability disclosures, which will assist investors in obtaining more reliable ESG information about companies.
 
     Finally, voluntary carbon market plays a significant role in facilitating transition finance. In my view, it not only encourages environmental responsibility but will also fosters cross-boundary collaboration in investment in clean energy and other carbon emission solutions.
 
Closing remarks
 
     Ladies and gentlemen, from where we stand, I feel optimistic about what Hong Kong can achieve in transition finance. However, we need your insightful ideas on what we may do more and better, and these will make this Forum all the more inspiring and meaningful. I wish you all a fruitful and rewarding forum, and the best of health and business in the years to come. Thank you very much.