Tag Archives: China

     Following is a question by the Hon Yiu Pak-leung and a reply by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, in the Legislative Council today (November 4):
 
Question:

     The Government has indicated in the 2026 Policy Address that upon conclusion of the trial of the online reservation system for visitors going to the High Island Geo Trail-Po Pin Chau Section of the High Island Reservoir East Dam in Sai Kung, it will review the trial outcome and formulate a long-term country park management strategy. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the daily (i) number of visitors (with a breakdown listing the total number of visitors, as well as the respective numbers of visitors making advance reservations, making on-site reservations, and actually visiting Po Pin Chau); and (ii) number of vehicles (with a breakdown by vehicle class) entering the East Dam during the implementation of the reservation system; and how such figures compare with those for the top 10 days with the highest number of visitors prior to the implementation of such reservation system in 2026 (i.e. the numbers of visitors and vehicles of different classes entering the East Dam and Po Pin Chau);
 
(2) whether the Government, in its review of the reservation system, will consider introducing the concept of tourist attraction management at the East Dam, enhancing supporting facilities and integrating the reservation system for the Po Pin Chau Section with value-added services such as transport services and guided tours, so as to comprehensively enhance visitor experience; if so, of the details; and
 
(3) of the progress of the proposed study of the development of Pak Tam Chung as a green tourism hub put forward in the 2019 Policy Address; and how the Government will make good use of the transport interchange and the Sai Kung Country Park Visitor Centre in Pak Tam Chung to implement the initiative?

Reply:
 
President,
 
     Hong Kong has diverse habitats and rich biodiversity. On the premise of respecting ecology and protecting the environment, the Government appropriately showcases to the public Hong Kong’s valuable ecological resources, while at the same time minimising the potential impact that excessive visitors may have on the environment, ensuring that ecotourism and nature conservation go hand in hand.
      
     Regarding the recent significant increase in visitor numbers at popular attractions such as Sai Kung East Country Park during the Golden Week period, the Government has made advance interdepartmental deployment and co-ordination arrangements. In terms of overall co-ordination, the interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements, chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration, co-ordinates relevant policy bureaux and departments to make overall arrangements on visitor flow management, transport support, facility capacity, and publicity and education during the Golden Week period. Under the co-ordination of the working group, the relevant departments have formulated and implemented specific action plans according to their functions. Among them, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has formulated targeted measures on the management, nature conservation, and visitor education of the East Dam, while the Transport Department and relevant departments have deployed corresponding public transport services and management, to accommodate the overall crowd-management needs.
      
     To control visitor flow more effectively, protect the trails from excessive wear and tear, and enhance visitor experience, the AFCD has implemented a trial reservation system at the Po Pin Chau Section on weekends and the Mid-Autumn Festival in September and the National Day Golden Week in October this year. On days when reservations are required, from 9am to 5pm, there are four time slots, with each time slot lasting for two hours and a quota of 500 people for each time slot. The total daily quota is 2 000 people. During the trial period, the AFCD set up enquiry counters at Sai Kung Town Centre, Pak Tam Chung, and the entrance to the Po Pin Chau section to assist visitors in need. It also closely monitored visitor arrivals throughout to ensure the smooth implementation of the reservation system.
      
     In response to the Hon Yiu Pak-leung’s question, upon consulting the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and the Transport and Logistics Bureau, our reply are as follows:

(1) During the implementation of the reservation system, the average daily number of visitors to East Dam was about 1 760, while the average daily number of registered visitors to Po Pin Chau section was about 960. As for the number of vehicles, on average, 129 minibuses and 396 taxis trips entered and exited the East Dam each day.
 
     As compared with the peak days without the trial reservation system, the reservation system successfully controlled the visitor numbers and dispersed visitor flow, making the visitor management of carrying capacity of the East Dam and Po Pin Chau section more orderly. Specifically, during the 2026 Chinese New Year and Labor Day Golden Week periods, the Po Pin Chau section received an average of 2 000 visitors per day; during the National Day Golden Week when the reservation system was implemented, visitor numbers were effectively kept to an average of about 950 per day, and visitor flow was noticeably smoother. The reservation system also effectively controlled the number of visitors at the Po Pin Chau viewing platform. During the period, the highest visitor flow recorded at the viewing platform was successfully reduced by more than 30 per cent compared with the past, greatly easing overcrowding. Overall, visitor numbers at the East Dam during the Golden Week were lower than in the past, and the visitor experience was therefore significantly enhanced.
      
     Visitors mainly arrived in the morning. As the reservation system effectively kept the number of visitors within 500 per time slot, visitor flow on the trail was dispersed in an orderly manner, and visitors were able to tour in a more comfortable and safe environment without overcrowding. Implementation experience shows that by effectively controlling the visitor numbers and diverting visitor flow, the reservation system not only reduced the wear and tear caused by visitors to the natural environment but also significantly improved the overall visitor experience. For detailed figures (including the 10 single days with the highest visitor numbers in 2026 before the reservation system was implemented), please refer to Annex.

(2) The purpose of the reservation system is to control visitor numbers and divert visitor flow, strengthen conservation of the natural environment, and help enhance the visitor experience. Based on observations during the trial period, the reservation system generally operated smoothly, and on-site order was good. The public and general opinion supported the measure and considered the booking process simple and easy to use. According to on-site visitor surveys conducted by the AFCD, most visitors were satisfied with the reservation system. We are now conducting a comprehensive review of the trial results, studying in-depth the effectiveness of the reservation system as a crowd management measure, summarising practical operational experience to identify areas for further improvement, and considering whether a fee may be imposed. We will announce in due course after completing the review.
 
(3) The 2019 Policy Address proposed studying the development of Pak Tam Chung into a green tourism hub. Subsequently, the Tourism Commission, together with the AFCD, conducted a preliminary planning study on this. The consultant pointed out that there were traffic constraints in the Pak Tam Chung area, including inadequate public transportation facilities and traffic congestion at the barrier gate, and recommended improving the facilities and services of Sai Kung Country Park Visitor Center to accommodate visitors’ needs.
 
     Pak Tam Chung and the roads to and from the East Dam are inside countryside, with some sections being single-lane. The limited environmental space and road carrying capacity are insufficient to safely and orderly support a large number of visitors arriving. Therefore, we will continue to keep visitor numbers at a level that the ecological environment and facilities can sustain through crowd management and public transport arrangements.
      
     Subject to resource availability, the AFCD will progressively enhance the visitor center, including updating exhibits and information displays, adding visitor-friendly facilities such as water dispensers, recycling points, and rest areas, thereby enhancing the practicality and comfort of the visitor center as a starting point for countryside outings. The AFCD will also explore providing suitable retail or equipment rental services to encourage visitors to enjoy countryside activities in a more environmentally friendly and lightweight manner. read more

     Following is a question by the Hon Nick Chan and a reply by the Acting Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Joseph Chan, in the Legislative Council today (November 4):

Question:

     To establish Hong Kong as a global hub for innovation in the digital asset field, the Policy Statement 2.0 on the Development of Digital Assets in Hong Kong issued last year introduced the “LEAP” framework focusing on: (i) legal and regulatory streamlining; (ii) expanding the suite of tokenised products; (iii) advancing use cases and cross-sectoral collaboration; and (iv) people and partnership development. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the latest developments in the aforesaid four areas; as there are views pointing out that the professional talent bottleneck faced by the Web 3.0 industry has limited its pace of development, of the Government’s corresponding policies to nurture and recruit relevant talents;

(2) as there are views that Web 3.0 assets differ significantly from traditional financial products in terms of valuation and risk management, of the policy initiatives put in place by the authorities to avoid excessive regulation while managing risks, and at the same time promote the development of more related businesses in Hong Kong in response to the rapid global development of tokenisation; and

(3) as some members of the industry have pointed out that while local virtual asset trading platforms have offered a number of mainstream trading services, their offerings remain distinct from those of major international platforms, whether the authorities have plans to attract such international platforms to establish a presence in Hong Kong; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

     The Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) issued the Policy Statement 2.0 on the Development of Digital Assets in Hong Kong (Policy Statement 2.0) in June 2025. The Policy Statement 2.0 reaffirms the Government’s commitment to establishing Hong Kong as a global hub for innovation in the digital asset field, with a view to building a trusted, innovative and vibrant digital asset ecosystem and reinforcing Hong Kong’s leading position in the global financial landscape.

     Having consulted the Labour and Welfare Bureau, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and Cyberport, my reply to the three parts of the question is as follows:

(1) and (2) Since the publication of the Policy Statement 2.0, the Government, together with the HKMA, the SFC, Cyberport and others, has been actively advancing various initiatives with the industry to progressively turn our policy vision into actual progress and market outcomes.

     On legal and regulatory streamlining, we have continued to clarify compliance pathways, seeking to promote responsible innovation and robust market development while upholding risk management and investor protection. In particular, the Government and the SFC will introduce a bill into the Legislative Council by the end of this year to amend the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (Cap. 615), expanding the existing regulatory regime for virtual asset (VA) trading platforms to encompass VA dealing, advisory, management and custody services. Additionally, the FSTB and the HKMA are advancing a legislative review to promote the wider application of distributed ledger technology (DLT) in the fixed income market and the digital asset sector.

     On expanding the suite of tokenised products, the Government has regularised the issuance of tokenised government bonds, issuing the fourth batch of digital green bonds totalling around HK$20 billion in this September. This issuance features technological innovations, offering settlement options in tokenised central bank digital currency and tokenised deposits to further enhance the digital ecosystem, while taking the lead in the development of tokenised investment products.

     To foster market development, the Government and financial regulators, as guided by the principle of “same activity, same risks, same regulation”, adopt a risk-based and technology-neutral regulatory approach to promote the steady development of VA, tokenised investment products and their related businesses in Hong Kong. The relevant regulatory standards align with those of traditional financial services and securities, and at the same time are appropriately tailored to the characteristics of VA and tokenised investment products, thereby facilitating responsible industry innovation while ensuring adequate investor protection.

     As at the end of September 2026, the SFC had authorised 13 tokenised money market funds, one tokenised gold investment product, two gold ETFs (exchange-traded funds) with tokenised classes, and one covered call ETF with a tokenised class. The assets under management of the tokenised classes of these 17 retail investment products amounted to approximately HK$10.3 billion. On October 26, with the SFC’s approval, two SFC-authorised tokenised money market funds also commenced round-the-clock secondary market trading on licensed VA trading platforms.

     On advancing use cases and cross-sectoral collaboration, following the implementation of the Stablecoins Ordinance (Cap. 656) last August, the HKMA granted two stablecoin issuer licences this April. The use cases of the relevant stablecoins are extensive, covering cross-border payments, local payments and tokenised asset trading, serving different types of users. In these use cases, stablecoins can enhance transaction efficiency and reduce transaction costs, thereby creating actual value for the real economy.

     The Government also supported Cyberport in launching the Blockchain and Digital Asset Pilot Subsidy Scheme last June, successfully funding nine pilot projects spanning real-world asset tokenisation, payment and stablecoin infrastructure, security and risk management, and decentralised identity, etc. As of June, the Scheme had facilitated a total of HK$230 million in asset tokenisation, with six projects already put into commercial application. Recognising the substantial benefits the Scheme has brought to the market, the Government announced on November 2 to support Cyberport in launching the Scheme again, with applications opening on the same day.

     Furthermore, the Government, through the EnsembleTX project co-led by the SFC and the HKMA, is driving the industry to explore the use of tokenised deposits in tokenised money market fund transactions to manage liquidity and funding needs in real time.

     On people and partnership development, the Government has continued to promote talent training and development for the Web3.0 industry, with a particular focus on blockchain application and digital asset innovation, whilst striving to attract global digital asset professionals to Hong Kong. Notably, the Government has provided substantial funding support for Cyberport to develop the Web3.0 ecosystem. By collaborating with tertiary institutions, Cyberport offers physical and online courses, bootcamps, seed funds and internship opportunities, and has established the “Web3.0 Investors Circle” to drive talent nurturing, industry application and public awareness. As at the end of September 2026, related activities had brought together over 320 enterprises, and the courses had recorded over 7 000 enrollments, demonstrating remarkable results. In addition, digital assets and Web3.0 specialists can settle in Hong Kong through various pathways. Among them, the initial Talent List promulgated by the Government in 2018 already covered fintech professionals, enabling eligible incoming talents possessing relevant professional qualifications to enjoy additional immigration facilitation when applying to come to Hong Kong under the relevant schemes, providing impetus for financial innovation and its continuous development in Hong Kong.

(3) The Government and the SFC attach great importance to the quality of licensed VA trading platforms in order to properly manage risks and adequately protect investors. International VA trading platforms may apply to the SFC for a licence, provided that they meet the relevant statutory requirements and the SFC’s regulatory requirements. The SFC and Invest Hong Kong have engaged with such international platforms to introduce Hong Kong’s regulatory requirements and market opportunities. In fact, in recent years, the SFC has progressively broadened the scope of products and services that licensed platforms may offer, facilitated access to global liquidity, and permitted the development of more digital assets and tokenised products under appropriate safeguards. As mentioned above, the Government and the SFC will also soon introduce a bill into the Legislative Council to bring more types of VA services under the regulatory regime, facilitating a more diverse range of international service providers to commence business in Hong Kong. The Government and the SFC will continue to enhance the competitiveness of Hong Kong’s digital asset market through clear regulation, talent and infrastructure development, as well as international co-operation.

     Thank you, President. read more

     Following are the welcome remarks by the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, at Hong Kong Legal Week 2026: UNCITRAL’s Contribution to the International Transport of Goods in the Digital Economy – A Celebration of UNCITRAL@60 today (November 4):
 
Mr Lee (Principal Legal Officer of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), Mr Jae Sung Lee), Professor Cheng (Secretary General of the International Organization for Mediation, Professor Teresa Cheng), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     It is my honour to welcome you today on this festive occasion to celebrate the 60th anniversary of UNCITRAL. For six decades, UNCITRAL texts have proven to be very useful tools in modern international trade law by creating a harmonised and enabling legal environment. Echoing the theme of the Hong Kong Legal Week this year, “Collaboration & Innovation: Legal Synergy for a Shared Future”, I would like to highlight UNCITRAL’s contribution to the international transport of goods in the digital economy, as part of UNCITRAL@60 global celebration.
 
     Sixty years ago, the global transport of goods was primarily, if not solely, paper-based in tangible form. Bills of lading were paper documents with signatures in ink. The movement of physical goods was time-consuming, using ships or other modes of transportation carrying them from one continent to another and from one place to another. Today, in the age of digital transformation, trade can be instantaneous and digital assets can be traded around the world in seconds. 
 
     Against such a background, UNCITRAL has been reshaping the landscape of international trade continuously in a proactive way through harmonisation and modernisation of international trade law. While we take stock of UNCITRAL’s contribution in the international transport of goods today, we are delighted to celebrate the formal signing of the United Nations Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents, the Accra Convention, in Ghana last week. The Accra Convention establishes a uniform legal framework for negotiable cargo documents, including bills of lading in both paper and electronic formats, across all modes of transport, including air, road, rail and sea. This Convention marks a major milestone for global trade facilitation, bridging the gaps in the legal framework governing multimodal transport and reducing documentary barriers.
 
     As an international trade centre, Hong Kong is committed to promoting the development of digital trade. To take forward the digitalisation of trade documents, Hong Kong will introduce legislative amendments to facilitate the digitalisation of “Business-to-Business” trade documents this week, based on the Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records.
 
     In addition, Hong Kong has been collaborating with UNCITRAL closely to promote UNCITRAL texts relevant to digital trade since the launch of the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy in 2024. For instance, we co-organised an APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Workshop on the Use of International Instruments to Legally Enable End-to-End Digitalization of Trade in Incheon, Korea, in August last year. At the 6th UNCITRAL Asia Pacific Judicial Summit last December, the conference centred on the theme “Building Towards End-to-End Trade Digitalization”, and provided a platform to share experiences and exchange views on critical issues in facilitating digitalisation of the entire trade process, digitalisation of trade finance and digital assets, paperless trade systems, digital transformation in transport, as well as emerging trends in dispute resolution within the rapidly evolving digital economy, with reference to the application of UNCITRAL texts.
 
     In line with Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan and this year’s Policy Address by the Chief Executive, the Academy will strengthen its connection and collaboration with international organisations like UNCITRAL, and facilitate the exchanges between international legal talent, so as to develop Hong Kong into a hub for training, exchanges and pooling of high-calibre legal talent of the country and the international community. The conference today is another exemplary example of how the Academy has contributed to capacity building for stakeholders and the future development of international trade law in collaboration with UNCITRAL.
 
     Apart from co-organising events with UNCITRAL, we worked with UNCITRAL to set up the Inclusive Global Legal Innovation Platform on Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) which will hold its sixth expert meeting tomorrow to discuss international development and potential issues relating to ODR. Furthermore, over the years, we have seconded more than 10 legal professionals from Hong Kong to both UNCITRAL Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific in Korea as well as UNCITRAL Secretariat in Vienna, who assisted in the research and promotional work of the relevant UNCITRAL texts.
 
     Looking forward, as digitalisation of trade has been accelerating, UNCITRAL’s work will become more critical than ever to ensure that the relevant international legal framework would evolve continuously in line with the development of the digital economy. Its ongoing work on legal issues related to the digital economy, including digital assets and the use of technology in dispute resolution, will be essential for the years to come.
 
     Ladies and gentlemen, UNCITRAL’s contribution to the international transport of goods in the digital economy is not just a story of legal texts. It is a story of reducing barriers and ensuring interoperability. It is a story of creating a digitally enabled ecosystem for global commerce with legal certainty. Hong Kong is proud to be a part of the story.
 
     To conclude, may I express my appreciation and congratulations to UNCITRAL for 60 years of contributions to the global community. I thank you all for being here today to celebrate this milestone and to shape the future of international trade law. I wish you all a very productive and inspiring discussion. Thank you very much. read more

     The World Class University Presidents Forum 2026 opened today (November 4) on the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) campus. Under the theme “Higher Education Reimagined: Innovating for the Future”, the two-day Forum brings together in Hong Kong presidents and senior leadership figures from around 50 world-leading universities to explore strategic directions for the development of global higher education.

     As a premier event in the global education community fully supported by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and hosted by the HKUST, the Forum aims to further demonstrate Hong Kong‘s unique strength and pivotal status as a bridge connecting the Chinese Mainland with the global higher education system. The opening ceremony was officiated by the Acting Chief Executive, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, who also delivered opening remarks.

     Mr Chan said in his speech that higher education has always been a vital pillar of Hong Kong‘s success. Hong Kong has long served as a hub for global talent and academic exchanges. It is also the only city in the world to host five universities in the global top 100 – a testament to the strength of its higher education, further underscored by the latest QS University Rankings: Asia 2027. The HKSAR Government will continue to align closely with national strategies, accelerate the integrated development of education, technology and talent, and further consolidate Hong Kong‘s status as an international hub for post-secondary education through the implementation of key initiatives such as the development of the Northern Metropolis University Town.

     Several heavyweight interuniversity co-operation signing ceremonies were also held at event, witnessing the signing of important strategic co-operation agreements between leading institutions and organisations at home and abroad. These included a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on deepening collaboration between Central South University and Monash University; an MOU between Zhejiang University and the HKUST on the establishment of a joint innovation centre; a Trilateral Joint Seed Fund agreement among the University of Warwick, Nanyang Technological University, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University; as well as a student exchange agreement between Trinity College Dublin and Nanjing University, marking a new milestone in global higher education and research collaborative innovation.

     Bringing together presidents, renowned scholars, and international education leaders from dozens of world-leading universities, the Forum addresses key issues such as talent cultivation in the intelligent age, technology and innovation driving the future economy, and universities‘ response to major global challenges. Today‘s topics include “The University and the Century Ahead”, “Educating the Human: The Generation Shaping the Intelligent Age”, and “From Ideas to Innovation: Universities Driving the Future Economy”.

     A number of prominent leaders from the political, business, and academic sectors also addressed the Forum either in person or via video message, including the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr Ban Ki-moon; the President of the 43rd session of the General Conference of UNESCO, Mr Khondker M Talha; the President of the China Association of Higher Education, Ms Lin Huiqing; the Council Chairman of the HKUST, Professor Harry Shum; and the President of the HKUST, Professor Nancy Ip.

     The Forum will continue with panel dialogues and roundtable discussions tomorrow (November 5), covering core areas including global health, sustainable development, open science, and the university in its place and in the world, building consensus and charting actionable pathways for the sustainable future of global higher education. read more

     Following is a question by the Hon Nixie Lam and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (November 4):

Question:

     The Government has been encouraging the public to plan ahead for their personal finances and healthcare, including by making a will, an enduring power of attorney (EPA) and an advance medical directive (AMD) – collectively known as the “three instruments of peace” (IOP) – which enable them to make advance arrangements regarding asset management, estate succession and their medical wishes. However, there are views that currently IOP are still littered with obstacles in terms of legal thresholds, registration mechanisms, public awareness and enforcement. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the details of subsequent work, the latest progress and the legislative timetable in relation to the public consultation launched by the Government in 2017 on the Continuing Powers of Attorney Bill, which recommended the extension of the scope of an EPA to cover not only decisions on a donor’s property and financial affairs, but also decisions on a donor’s personal care;

(2) whether it will explore establishing an official voluntary registration system under strict privacy protection for members of the public to register wills, EPAs and AMDs, and allowing, under specified conditions, medical institutions and designated legal practitioners to have limited access to the records in emergency situations to verify the validity of documents and streamline the authentication process; if so, of the timetable for the relevant study; if not, the reasons for that;

(3) of the public education resources and channels, as well as target audiences, for the Government’s ongoing promotion of IOP; whether it has assessed the current public recognition rate of IOP and stepped up publicity targeting the elderly, families and owners of small and medium enterprises to boost the penetration rate; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(4) given that currently many Hong Kong people hold cross-boundary assets, and there are views suggesting that even where an EPA and a will have been executed, difficulties in authentication are often encountered at the time of their enforcement, whether the Government will consider, under the co-operation framework of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, exploring arrangements for cross-boundary mutual recognition of relevant instruments such as EPAs and wills; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(5) as asset types are becoming increasingly diverse, including virtual assets and interests in overseas special purpose vehicles, whether the Government will examine the relevant legislation to clarify the scope of management authority covered by EPAs in respect of these new types of assets, so as to ensure that asset arrangements made by members of the public can be implemented smoothly?

Reply:

President,

     A will, an enduring power of attorney (EPA) and an advance medical directive (AMD), commonly known as the “three instruments of peace”, are three important legal documents. Their legal bases are the Wills Ordinance (Cap. 30) and the Probate and Administration Ordinance (Cap. 10), the Enduring Powers of Attorney Ordinance (Cap. 501) (EPAO), and the Advance Decision on Life-sustaining Treatment Ordinance (Cap. 651) (ADLSTO) respectively. A will is used to express a person’s wishes regarding the distribution of his or her property after death; an EPA allows a donor, while mentally capable, to appoint an attorney so that the attorney may continue to manage the donor’s financial affairs if the donor subsequently becomes mentally incapacitated; and an AMD enables a mentally capable adult to indicate in advance the life-sustaining treatments that he or she wishes to refuse when he or she subsequently becomes mentally incapable and when the specified preconditions set out in the AMD are met.

     In respect of the Hon Nixie Lam’s questions, having consulted the Department of Justice (DoJ), the Health Bureau (HHB), the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB), the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau, my consolidated reply is as follows:

(1) The Law Reform Commission (LRC) published the report on “Enduring Powers of Attorney: Personal Care” in July 2011 (2011 Report), which recommended extending the scope of an EPA to cover not only a donor’s property and financial affairs, but also matters relating to a donor’s personal care (including day-to-day health care). The DoJ set up an inter-departmental working group to study the LRC’s recommendations and launched a public consultation on the draft Continuing Powers of Attorney Bill in December 2017. The DoJ briefed the Legislative Council Panel on Administration of Justice and Legal Services (AJLS Panel) on the consultation in January 2018. Thereafter, the Government reported annually to the AJLS Panel on the progress of implementation.

     Having taken over this subject from the DoJ in 2022, the Labour and Welfare Bureau (LWB) has reviewed the LRC’s recommendations and considered that there was no pressing need to amend the law to extend the scope of EPAs, and reported this to the AJLS Panel. The considerations included: (i) where a donor has already made advance arrangements covering “personal care matters”, these generally involve the use of the donor’s income or capital, which already fall within the scope of an EPA under the EPAO; (ii) there are now more financial products in the market that cover personal care (e.g. medical insurance products), which assist donors in deciding in advance how their income or capital should be applied to personal care matters within the existing scope of an EPA; and (iii) the recently commenced the ADLSTO has already provided a legal basis for patients to make advance decisions relating to life-sustaining treatment, including AMDs and Do-Not-Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation orders. As persons who intend to make an EPA are usually financially better off, the Government has no plan from a welfare perspective to implement relevant recommendations of the LRC’s 2011 Report at this stage, but will consider the need for further review in due course.

(2) The Government reviews and explores from time to time the feasibility of providing electronic services, including establishing an official voluntary registration system. Regarding wills and EPAs, relevant proposals involve complex legal and policy issues spanning a number of ordinances, including questions relating to the interpretation and application of the Probate and Administration Ordinance, the Non-Contentious Probate Rules (Cap. 10A), the Wills Ordinance, the EPAO and the Electronic Transactions Ordinance (Cap. 553). The Government needs to carefully study the feasibility of the proposals from legal and practical operational perspectives.

     Regarding AMDs, the Government is implementing the electronic services in phases. The Secretary for Health has specified eHealth as the designated electronic system to enable members of the public to make, store and revoke AMDs electronically. The first-phase arrangements were implemented concurrently with the commencement of the ADLSTO. Persons who have already made a paper AMD (i.e. the makers) may seek the assistance of a registered medical practitioner to verify that the paper directive complies with the requirements of the ADLSTO and upload it to eHealth, so that healthcare professionals may access the electronic version immediately when needed, thereby obviating the need for the makers to carry the paper version. An electronic AMD carries the same legal effect as a paper AMD. Members of the public may continue to make and keep AMDs in paper form. The second phase will enable the electronic making of AMDs through eHealth, which is expected to be implemented in 2027 at the earliest.

(3) To break the taboo surrounding death, foster a more positive attitude towards life and death, and raise public awareness of arrangements such as wills, EPAs and AMDs, the relevant departments have been actively promoting life-and-death education and the “three instruments of peace”.

     The HHB has been promoting public education activities on end-of-life care planning and life-and-death education in the community through a medical-social collaboration model, with a view to enhancing public understanding of issues such as advance care planning (ACP), AMDs and end-of-life care. For example, the Visiting Health Teams of the Elderly Health Service under the Department of Health (DH) provide health education on ageing, life-and-death education, loss and grief management, and psychological needs of patients needing end-of-life care. These health talks are conducted in residential care homes for the elderly, elderly community centres and Elderly Health Centres for elderly persons and their carers. Between 2025 and September 2026, the DH’s Elderly Health Service organised more than 450 related health talks, with a cumulative attendance of over 9 900 elderly persons and their carers. The Hospital Authority (HA) also operates the “Smart Patient Website” providing diversified information on palliative care, and has launched the “Smart Patient” talk series to introduce concepts such as ACP and AMDs to patient groups and the public. In this connection, the “Smart Patient Series” held four life-and-death education sharing sessions between 2025 and September 2026 under the theme “Journey Together in the Last Voyage”, covering topics such as how to make ACPs and AMDs, bereavement and grief management, end-of-life care for terminally ill patients and preparation for dying-in-place. The total number of on-site and online participants exceeded 2 100. In addition, various hospitals in the HA organised more than 50 educational seminars and talks between 2019 and 2025. Moreover, the HHB has established collaborative networks with relevant government departments and social service organisations. Notably, the two end-of-life care service projects launched by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, namely the Jockey Club End-of-Life Community Care Project (JCECC) and the JCECC: Unison, collaborate with universities and various non-profit-making organisations to enhance public understanding of end-of-life care (including AMDs) through talks, online learning platforms and seminars.

     The Hong Kong Public Libraries collaborate with organisations to organise talks on life-and-death education every year, covering various topics including the “three instruments of peace”. The Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund has also subsidised ventures related to life-and-death education and the “three instruments of peace”.

     On the promotion of will-making, the HYAB continues to enhance public understanding of matters related to wills through various channels, including the distribution of a new thematic leaflet prepared in 2025 at the Home Affairs Enquiry Centres and the Estate Beneficiaries Support Unit of the Home Affairs Department. The leaflet introduces what constitutes a valid will, the contents that a will may cover, and the benefits of making a will. In addition, the HYAB uploads relevant articles onto the Family and Women Portal to introduce and promote the related information. The HYAB will continue to use different channels to enable more members of the public to understand the benefits and importance of making a will.

     On the promotion of EPAs, the DoJ provides practical details relevant to EPAs and promotes the use of EPAs through radio programmes and an Announcement in the Public Interest. In addition, the DoJ sponsored the Community Legal Information Centre website of the University of Hong Kong to prepare content on EPA-related topics.

(4) and (5) The Government understands that it is increasingly common for Hong Kong residents to hold cross-boundary assets (particularly in the Mainland); however, as the HYAB pointed out in its earlier reply to a relevant question raised in the Legislative Council, there are certain differences between the two places in probate mechanisms and succession procedures. Regarding the notarisation for Hong Kong wills in the Mainland, in general, an individual has to follow the notarisation procedures in the Mainland and provide the necessary materials (such as identification documents of the applicant, documents required to be notarised such as will) to prove that the applicant is a qualified executor of the estate, and prove the legality of the relevant documents. In the event that the estate in Hong Kong has to be dealt with on the basis of a Mainland will, the relevant documents must first undergo notarisation and authentication procedures in the Mainland before they can be submitted to the Probate Registry in Hong Kong. Cross-boundary mutual recognition arrangements are not straightforward; the Government will monitor the relevant situations and in due course explore arrangements that may facilitate members of the public.

     Under the EPAO, a donor must specify in the prescribed form the particular matters, property or affairs that the attorney is authorised to deal with. The EPAO does not list specific categories of assets under “property and financial affairs” but covers them in a general manner. As the legal effect of an EPA granted under the EPAO is in principle limited to within Hong Kong, arrangements for dealing with Mainland assets should be made in accordance with the relevant systems and procedures under Mainland law as necessary. Where virtual assets or interests in overseas special purpose vehicles are involved, professional legal advice should be sought. read more