Tag Archives: China

The following is issued on behalf of the Law Reform Commission:

     The Law Reform Commission (LRC) today (December 31) announced that Professor Fu Hualing, Mr Stephen Hung Wan-shun and Mrs Janice Choi Kwan Wing-kum have been appointed by the Chief Executive as new members of the LRC for three years. The appointments of Professor Fu and Mr Hung will take effect on January 1, 2021, while Mrs Choi’s appointment will commence on March 1, 2021.

     Professor Fu is the Dean of Faculty of Law of the University of Hong Kong and his research interests include human rights and public law. The LRC believes that the expertise of the legal scholar will benefit the LRC in law reform.

     Mr Hung was the President of the Law Society of Hong Kong from 2014 to 2016. Specialising in criminal law, he is a current member of the LRC Sub-committee on Causing or Allowing the Death of a Child or Vulnerable Adult. His professional standing and substantial expertise in criminal law will certainly be conducive to the LRC’s future studies in this regard.

     Mrs Choi is the Advisor and Legal Director of Sunwah Group and a current Standing Committee Member of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong. The LRC believes that Mrs Choi’s legal background and extensive experience in the commercial sector will sustain the LRC’s broad expertise in delivering effective law reform.

     The Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC, who is also the Chairman of the LRC, expressed her heartfelt thanks to the outgoing members, namely Professor Michael Hor, Mr Robert Pang, SC, and Mr Allan Leung, for their valuable contributions and advice to the LRC during their two consecutive terms.

     With these latest appointments, the LRC will comprise the following members:

The Secretary for Justice (Chairman)
The Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal (ex-officio member)
The Law Draftsman (ex-officio member)
Mr Justice Andrew Cheung Kui-nung
Ms Alexandra Lo
Ms Melissa Wu
Ms Winnie Tam, SC
Ms May Chan Suk-mei
Professor Tan Cheng-han
Professor Lutz-Christian Wolff
Professor Fu Hualing
Mr Stephen Hung Wan-shun
Mrs Janice Choi Kwan Wing-kum read more

     The Transport Department (TD) announced today (December 31) that a test launch of the Green Minibus (GMB) Real-time Arrival Information System is being conducted on three Hong Kong Island GMB routes, namely Nos. 69 (Cyberport – Quarry Bay (Shipyard Lane)), 69A (Cyberport – Aberdeen) and 69X (Cyberport – Causeway Bay (Lockhart Road)), with effect from today to facilitate passengers’ trip planning.
 
     Passengers can check the estimated arrival times of the next three GMBs that will arrive at GMB stops (including the termini and specified en-route stops) of the above routes through the TD’s mobile application “HKeMobility”. The relevant data will also be released in machine-readable format via Public Sector Information Portal (data.gov.hk) for public use free of charge. Current users of “HKeMobility” have to update the mobile application in order to access the relevant information.
 
     A spokesman for the TD said, “Opening up data is an important government policy initiative to promote innovation and technological development. At present, major public transport operators have already provided passengers with real-time arrival information. The GMB Real-time Arrival Information System can meet passengers’ needs so as to facilitate their commuting and trip planning. It can also enhance the image and competitiveness of the GMB trades.”
 
     The TD has posted publicity materials at the termini and inside the GMB compartments of the GMB routes concerned to inform passengers of the test-launch arrangements. The system contractor will also arrange for service ambassadors to be at the Cyberport and Causeway Bay GMB termini at designated periods to assist passengers in checking the estimated arrival times of the routes concerned through “HKeMobility”.
 
     The TD and the system contractor are closely monitoring the operation of the System. Subject to the system performance, extending the dissemination of real-time arrival information to the first batch of about 70 GMB routes is targeted for March 2021.
 
     The GMB Real-time Arrival Information System was one of the initiatives promulgated in the Chief Executive’s 2018 Policy Address. Apart from facilitating passengers’ trip planning, the System also enables GMB operators to make use of the data for fleet management so as to enhance operational efficiency. The TD will extend the dissemination of real-time arrival information to the rest of the GMBs in phases, with a view to achieving full implementation in 2022.
 
     For details, please visit the TD’s website (www.td.gov.hk).
  read more

     The Freight Containers (Safety) (Amendment) Ordinance 2020 (Commencement) Notice was gazetted today (December 31).        The Secretary for Transport and Housing has appointed March 1, 2021, as the da… read more

     The Transport Department (TD) today (December 31) invited tenders for a contract on telecommunication services for the area traffic control system for Kowloon, Tsuen Wan, Sha Tin and Tseung Kwan O (Contract No. TD 65/2020). &n… read more

     The Government gazetted today (December 31) subsidiary legislation related to the commencement of the insurance group-wide supervision (GWS) framework on March 29, 2021.
 
     Enacted in July 2020, the Insurance (Amendment) (No. 2) Ordinance 2020 introduces a GWS framework for the Insurance Authority (IA) to exercise direct regulatory powers over Hong Kong-incorporated holding companies of insurance groups. For the purpose of implementing the GWS framework, the Government has gazetted the following four pieces of subsidiary legislation:
 
(a) the Insurance (Amendment) (No. 2) Ordinance 2020 (Commencement) Notice;
(b) the Insurance (Designation and Annual Fees for Designated Insurance Holding Companies) Regulation;
(c) the Insurance (Prescribed Fees) (Amendment) Regulation 2020; and
(d) the Insurance (Group Capital) Rules. 

     “At present, the IA is the group supervisor of three international insurance groups. The selection of Hong Kong as the jurisdiction for carrying out GWS for the international insurance groups has clearly demonstrated the advantages that Hong Kong possesses as an international financial centre and insurance hub,” a spokesman for the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau said.
 
     “The implementation of the GWS framework will help align Hong Kong’s insurance regulatory regime with international standards and practices. It is a testament of the Government’s commitment to reinforce Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre and establish Hong Kong as a preferred base for large insurance groups in Asia Pacific,” the spokesman added.
 
     The Insurance (Amendment) (No. 2) Ordinance 2020 (Commencement) Notice appoints March 29, 2021, as the date on which the GWS framework will become effective. The Insurance (Designation and Annual Fees for Designated Insurance Holding Companies) Regulation and the Insurance (Prescribed Fees) (Amendment) Regulation 2020 provide for the collection of various fees for recovering the cost of the IA in carrying out GWS. The Insurance (Group Capital) Rules prescribes group capital adequacy requirements as well as supervisory reporting to the IA and public disclosure in relation to group capital adequacy. 
 
     The four pieces of subsidiary legislation will be tabled before the Legislative Council for negative vetting on January 6, 2021. read more