Tag Archives: China

     Following is a question by Professor the Hon Alex Fan and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (October 28):

Question:

     In 1983, the Law Reform Commission of Hong Kong (LRC) recommended introducing Community Service Orders (CSOs) as a form of sentence in Hong Kong. The recommendation was implemented in 1984 through the Community Service Orders Ordinance (Cap. 378) (the Ordinance). Under the Ordinance, a court may order a person of or over 14 years of age and convicted of an offence(s) punishable with imprisonment to perform unpaid work for a number of hours not exceeding 240 hours within a period of 12 months. Over the years, the Community Service Orders Scheme (the Scheme) has provided the courts with a sentencing alternative to imprisonment, enabling offenders to turn over a new leaf while giving back to society. Information from the Social Welfare Department (SWD) indicates that the SWD conducted a total of 2 371 social enquiries for the Scheme in the 2024-2025 financial year. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the figures relevant to CSOs for the past three years (financial years 2022-2023 to 2024-2025) (set out in the table below);

Table 1

Item	2022-2023	2023-2024	2024-2025
Number of Suitability Reports for CSOs prepared by SWD probation officers
Number of cases assessed as suitable for a CSO
Number of cases in which a CSO was imposed by the court
Average hours for which CSOs were imposed by the court, and number of cases in the following categories:
(i) 60 hours or less
(ii) 61-120 hours
(iii) 121-180 hours
(iv) 181-240 hours
Number of cases with successfully completed CSOs
Number of cases with uncompleted CSOs, and those among them with CSOs revoked due to a breach of the CSO requirements

Table 2 Imposition of CSOs by type of offence
Year:

Type of offence	Number of cases in which a CSO was imposed	Average hours for which CSOs were imposed	Number of cases
			60 hours or less	61-120 hours	121-180 hours	181-240 hours
e.g.: (i) Shoplifting
e.g.: (ii) wounding and serious assault
e.g.: (iii) Serious drug offences
……
Total

(2) whether statistics have been compiled on the recidivism rate following completion of CSOs; if so, of the details; if not, whether consideration will be given to compiling such statistics and publishing the data on a regular basis to facilitate assessment of the effectiveness of the Scheme;

(3) given that, in its 1983 report, the LRC recommended against imposing a CSO on a mentally-ill person, of the considerations currently taken by the SWD for an individual with poor mental health when assessing the suitability of an offender for a CSO; and of the number of offenders assessed as unsuitable for a CSO primarily due to mental health reasons in the past three years;

(4) given that quite a number of overseas jurisdictions have successively refined similar regimes (for example, the upper limit on unpaid work hours is 300 hours both in England and Wales and in Scotland, and the Imposition of community and custodial sentences guideline issued by the Sentencing Council for England and Wales even categorises unpaid work hours into three tiers, i.e. 40-80 hours, 80-150 hours and 150-300 hours, based on the seriousness of offence), whether the Government will draw on overseas experience to examine the upper limit on the number of hours, establish guidelines on the number of hours based on the seriousness of offence, and incorporate elements such as training and treatment into CSOs; if so, of the expected time for commencement of the aforementioned examination; if not, the reasons for that; and

(5) given that the Ordinance has been in force for over 40 years since 1984, whether the Government has conducted a comprehensive review of the CSO regime; if so, of the details; if not, whether it will consider conducting a comprehensive review to ensure that the CSO regime is advancing with the times to suit current social conditions; if so, of the expected time for its commencement; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

     Community Service Order (CSO) is a community-based sentence pursuant to the Community Service Orders Ordinance (Cap. 378) (the Ordinance). According to the Ordinance, the court may order a person who is aged 14 or above and convicted of an offence that is punishable by imprisonment, to perform unpaid community work under a CSO, which specifies a number of hours, not exceeding 240 hours, of unpaid community work to be completed within 12 months. Having consulted the Security Bureau, the response to the question is as follows:

(1) and (3) Under the CSO Scheme, as directed by the court, Probation Officers of the Social Welfare Department (SWD) would submit a social enquiry report, to assess whether an offender is suitable for serving the CSO as well as the offender’s rehabilitation needs, having regard to the nature of offence, the offender’s background, physical and mental health, family support, the feasibility of fulfilling the CSO, and past work experience, etc, for the court’s reference in determining the sentence.

     Regardless of the offender’s mental health condition, Probation Officers would consider the aforementioned factors in making a recommendation to the court as to whether a CSO should be made. The SWD does not maintain the number of the cases that are assessed to be unsuitable for a CSO due to mental health issues.

     Relevant figures of CSO cases in the past three years are tabulated at Annex.

(2) The Government does not keep data on recidivism rate upon completion of CSOs and currently has no plan to conduct related research. 

(4) and (5) The SWD implements the CSO Scheme under the framework of the Ordinance, to arrange suitable unpaid community work for offenders put under a CSO. When the CSO is made by the court, the Probation Officer will arrange unpaid community work for the offenders, and provide suitable training depending on the respective work requirements, as well as supervise, guide and counsel the offenders put under the CSO, to strengthen their law-abiding awareness and assist them in re-integrating into society.

     Where necessary, the SWD would review the nature of various unpaid community work. In addition to considering factors including the required knowledge and skills, degree of safety, whether the privacy of offenders can be protected, and the alignment with the objectives of the CSO, it is also necessary to ensure that offenders can gain work experience and skills in the course of service, so as to broaden their horizons, as well as reach out to and help people in need. These are to enable offenders to gain satisfaction, build a positive, constructive and meaningful life, thereby creating a positive impact in the society and themselves.

     The Government considers that the CSO Scheme is currently operating smoothly, and is effective in assisting the court in making community-based sentencing decisions. The Government will continue to monitor the operation of the Scheme, and will review, as appropriate, whether there is a need to study further optimisation of the community-based sentencing framework. read more

     Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, at the visit to the Northern Metropolis for Consular Corps today (October 28): 

Commissioner Cui (Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Mr Cui Jianchun), Consuls-General, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, 

     Good morning. May I first extend my warmest welcome to you all to the Northern Metropolis, and my thanks to the Commissioner’s Office of China’s Foreign Ministry in the HKSAR for inviting the consular community to this meaningful visit.  

     This is a wonderful occasion for the HKSAR Government to update our global partners on the latest developments of Hong Kong, and to show the existing and exciting opportunities in the Northern Metropolis to enterprises and talent at home and abroad.

     Since it started in 2021, the Northern Metropolis has grown from a large-scale land development project into an initiative of national strategic importance. It was mentioned in the National 15th Five-Year Plan in March 2026. And we have also included a dedicated chapter on the initiative in both Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan and the Chief Executive’s 2026 Policy Address, announced this September. All these show how important the Northern Metropolis is to Hong Kong’s future.

     Simply put, the Northern Metropolis is in northern Hong Kong and adjoins Shenzhen. It covers about 30 000 hectares, or about one-third of Hong Kong’s total area. It mainly covers the existing Yuen Long District and North District.  

     While the HKSAR Government will continue to develop our most competitive sectors, such as finance, in our traditional central business districts at the Harbour Metropolis, the Northern Metropolis is being developed with the objectives of a university town, innovation and technology, industry, and an environment suitable for living, work, and travel.  

     The Northern Metropolis will provide much-needed land for Hong Kong’s economic and social development, and will also be an important strategic vehicle for high-quality post-secondary education development, integration of technological and industry innovation, and attracting international high-calibre talent.

     The full development of the Northern Metropolis is expected to take around 10 to 20 years. By then, it will provide about 650 000 job opportunities and be home to about 2.5 million residents.

     Given the mass scale of the project, one common misconception is that the Northern Metropolis is still only a plan on paper. That is not true. It has already begun to deliver real results and will gradually enter its maturity phase.  

     Today, you will visit the Loop and Hung Shui Kiu. These visits will give you a clearer picture of the latest progress. You will also see what opportunities may be open to investors, professionals, researchers and students from your country.

     I wish you all a rewarding visit today and look forward to working with our global partners to foster the development of the Northern Metropolis. This is the place where Hong Kong will build stronger links with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and contribute to the overall national development. It will also bring new opportunities to overseas businesses and talent, and strengthen Hong Kong’s status as Asia’s world city. Thank you. read more

     Following is the speech by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at the Global University Presidents and Leaders Summit 2026 today (October 28):

Professor Priscilla Leung (Founding President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Association for External Friendship), Professor Yao (Vice-President (Research and Innovation) and Tong Tin Sun Chair Professor of Machine Learning of the Lingnan University, Professor Xin Yao), Professor Schleiff (President of the Goethe University Frankfurt, Professor Dr Enrico Schleiff), Professor Vasdekis (Rector of the Athens University of Economics and Business, Professor Vassilis Vasdekis), Professor Ren (Vice-President for Undergraduate and Postgraduate Education of the Communication University of China, Professor Ren Meng-shan), Professor Sharma (Associate Professor in Legal and Dispute Studies of the RMIT University and Associate Director of the Hong Kong WTO Research Institute, Dr Rajesh Sharma), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen: 

     Good morning. It is my pleasure to join you today at the Global University Presidents and Leaders Summit 2026. To those joining us from abroad, a very warm welcome to Hong Kong and I wish you a pleasant stay in our city.

     We are all living in the era of big data. Advances in big data, artificial intelligence (AI), computing capabilities are transforming not only how we conduct research and develop new technologies, but also the knowledge and skills required of our future generations. Universities thus have an increasingly important role to play. Beyond advancing knowledge and nurturing talent, they provide the fertile soil where young researchers can explore new frontiers, and scientific discoveries can be translated into practical applications.

     Hong Kong’s vision is clear – to develop into an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre that brings together research excellence, global talent and industry opportunities. To this end, we are leveraging the “dual base” advantage of the State Key Laboratories in Hong Kong and the InnoHK research clusters. Our State Key Laboratories strengthen Hong Kong’s links with the national research system and provide strong fundamental research support, while InnoHK has successfully collaborated with more than 30 world-renowned universities and research institutes from 15 different economies, pooling together around 3 000 researchers locally and worldwide.

     A notable example is AIR@InnoHK, our dedicated research cluster for AI and robotics. Its researches span big data analytics, machine learning to robotics. For instance, the Hong Kong Generative AI Research and Development Centre is developing locally trained AI foundation models, and the Multi-Scale Medical Robotics Centre is bringing together engineers, clinicians and researchers from local and overseas institutions to develop robotic technologies for medical diagnosis and treatment. In addition to AIR@InnoHK, our research clusters in health technologies, sustainable development, energy, advanced manufacturing and materials further broaden the opportunities for interdisciplinary research and collaboration.

     Research capabilities aside, nurturing I&T talent remains the HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) Government’s long-term priority. As mentioned in Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan, we will better support the development of technology talent, particularly the young generation, and accelerate the development of a strategic technology talent pool. We have launched the STEM Internship Scheme to subsidise short-term internships so that university students could gain first-hand experience from the I&T industry, and cultivate their early interest in pursuing a career in I&T after graduation. Meanwhile, our I&T parks, such as the Hong Kong Science Park and Cyberport, also support talent through various internship, training and entrepreneurship programmes. For example, the Global Internship Programme under the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation provides overseas young talent with opportunities to connect with tech professionals and gain exposure to the largest tech ecosystem in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.

     In parallel, we are actively attracting world-class talent to come to Hong Kong. The Government’s HK$3 billion Frontier Technology Research Support Scheme supports eight local universities in recruiting top-notch international researchers to undertake basic research in frontier technologies in Hong Kong. By bringing together promising talent from abroad, we hope to create more opportunities for knowledge exchange and collaboration.

     Equally important is creating an environment where talent can thrive, collaborate and pursue long-term opportunities. We are therefore expanding our I&T infrastructure and strengthening the connections between research and industry. The Loop Hong Kong Park (the Loop) is designed to be a world-class I&T hub connecting the Chinese Mainland and the world to facilitate cross-boundary flow of innovative elements like data, capital, people and biosamples. In particular, the Loop Academy One in the Loop, will bring together the strength of the academia, research and industry and provide an ideal ground for research teams to test new ideas and bring their innovations into reality. As a natural extension of the Loop, the San Tin Technopole serves as Hong Kong’s flagship I&T industrial base. Together, they form a comprehensive industrial ecosystem that is physically connected to the vibrant supply chains and market of the Greater Bay Area, with over 88 million population and an annual GDP (gross domestic product) of over RMB15 trillion.

     During this transformative epoch, nurturing future talent requires more than academic training. It calls for closer collaboration among government, academia, industry, research institutions and investment sectors. Hong Kong is committed to playing an active role in this endeavour. By combining our research strengths, international connections and growing I&T ecosystem, we aim to build a Hong Kong that not only participates in the technological transformation of our time, but helps shape its direction – for our city, for our nation, and for the broader international community.

     On this note, I wish you all a successful and inspiring Summit. Thank you.

read more

     In response to rumours circulated online regarding the fire incident at the Integrated Waste Management Facilities Phase 1 (I.PARK1) on October 26, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) made the following statement today (October 28) :
 
     Regarding the fire incident that occurred at I.PARK1 on October 26, preliminary information indicates that the fire originated at the roof of the incinerator building’s third incineration module area where finishing work was still in progress. It is preliminarily suspected that the fire originated from construction materials, rather than from the operation of the incinerator or the waste stored. The EPD will work with the Police, the Fire Services Department and the Labour Department to investigate the cause of fire, and has instructed the contractor to submit an incident report on the fire within seven days from the day of the incident. Meanwhile, the EPD is evaluating the damage and the impact on the facility and its processing capacity, and will urge the contractor to conduct repairs as soon as possible.
 
     I.PARK1 has temporarily suspended waste reception since yesterday. The EPD has arranged to extend the operating hours of its West New Territories Landfill Extension. The waste originally destined for I.PARK1 has thus been transported to the landfill for disposal to maintain the normal operation of the city’s overall waste management system. The EPD will resume waste reception at I.PARK1 as soon as possible, following a comprehensive examination of the facility’s structure and all critical systems, and upon confirming that it is suitable to restart the facility’s safe operation.
 
     The EPD must state in the strongest terms that allegations circulated online about the “design defects of the incinerator” and “collapse of incineration module under construction”  are groundless and entirely fictitious. The EPD urges the public not to be misled by these false messages and to stop sharing them. read more

     ​Following is a question by the Hon Kenneth Lau and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (October 28):

Question:

     The development of island tourism and “island hopping tours” is one of the key strategies set out in the Development Blueprint for Hong Kong’s Tourism Industry 2.0. However, there are currently no direct ferry routes connecting several major outlying islands, and residents and visitors often need to interchange at the Central or Sai Kung piers, which is time-consuming and increases transport expenses, thereby reducing the appeal of “island hopping tours”. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the respective average patronage on weekdays and holidays of the six major outlying island ferry routes, namely (i) “Central-Cheung Chau”; (ii) “Central-Mui Wo”; (iii) “Peng Chau-Mui Wo-Chi Ma Wan-Cheung Chau”; (iv) “Central-Peng Chau”; (v) “Central-Yung Shue Wan”; and (vi) “Central-Sok Kwu Wan”, in the past three years and after the fare adjustment in April this year; and of the respective rates of change in their patronage;

(2) whether the authorities have plans to enhance kaito ferry or water taxi services by launching routes connecting various outlying islands or attractions on the outer islands of Sai Kung (e.g. “Cheung Chau-Lamma Island”, “Tseung Kwan O-Kiu Tsui-Leung Shuen Wan”), eliminating the need for interchange at the Central or Sai Kung piers; if so, whether short-term or seasonal routes will be operated on a trial basis to gauge market response, and of the implementation timetable; if not, the reasons for that;

(3) as some kaito operators have reflected that the application procedures for the existing kaito licences are lengthy, making it difficult for the trade to make deployment immediately and arrange new routes in response to peak tourist seasons or passenger flows, whether the authorities will consider streamlining the relevant approval procedures; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(4) to enhance the attractiveness of “island hopping tours”, whether the authorities will consider introducing an “island hopping pass” for inbound visitors (e.g. a three-day unlimited ferry ride pass), so that visitors can take ferries to specified island attractions within a limited time frame to develop island tourism; if so, of the details; if not, how the authorities will reduce visitors’ transport expenses on “island hopping tours”?

Reply:

President,

     Hong Kong has 1 180km of coastline and 263 islands. The Government will make good use of these natural resources and advantages to develop island tourism, on the premise of respecting and protecting the ecological environment and giving full consideration to the carrying capacity of the coastlines and islands. In addition to participating in island tourism offerings of the tourism trade or hiring pleasure vessels to explore tailor-made island tour routes, tourists may also utilise existing waterborne public transport to visit tourist hotspots such as Cheung Chau, Mui Wo, Tai O and Sai Kung outlying islands.
     ​
     As far as ferry services are concerned, there are currently 14 licensed ferry routes and 68 kaito ferry routes that provide waterborne transport to/from outlying islands. Licensed outlying island ferry routes provide daily public transport services essential for outlying island residents, while most kaito ferry services operate on a subject-to-demand basis, providing waterborne transport to remote locations that are generally inaccessible by land (such as remote islands in the vicinity of Sai Kung, Tai Po and North District). Both also provide appropriate shuttle services for tourists visiting outlying island attractions.

     Having consulted the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB), the reply to the Member’s question is as follows:

(1) The average daily patronage and year-on-year changes of the six major outlying island ferry routes on weekdays and holidays in the past three years (i.e. from October 2023 to September 2026), as well as their average daily patronage and changes over the same period on weekdays and holidays following the most recent fare adjustment, are set out in the Annex.

(2) Currently, six licensed outlying island ferry routes (such as the “Peng Chau-Mui Wo-Chi Ma Wan-Cheung Chau (Inter-islands)” route and the “Tuen Mun-Tung Chung-Sha Lo Wan-Tai O” route) and most kaito ferry routes (especially those that ply between islands in the vicinity of the eastern waters and islands in Sai Kung) have one or more berthing points in addition to the origin and destination, facilitating passenger travel between different islands. Meanwhile, the Water Taxi licensed ferry route provides services across the Victoria Harbour but not to/from the outlying islands.

     The Transport Department (TD) welcomes and encourages ferry operators to proactively consider introducing suitable new routes, including those with multiple berthing points, to attract more citizens and tourists on board. Furthermore, the TD maintains close communication all along with relevant policy bureaux/departments and industry stakeholders to assess passenger demand for waterborne transport services and take the initiative to invite operators to commission specific new routes in response to such demand. For example, at the TD’s invitation, an operator commissioned the “Sha Tau Kok-Lai Chi Wo/Ap Chau/Kat O” kaito ferry route in early 2024 to tie in with the Second Phase Opening-up of Sha Tau Kok.

     Demand for most kaito ferry services is relatively unstable due to factors such as weather conditions and holidays. Therefore, the TD allows operators to flexibly adjust services subject to operational conditions and passenger demand, such as strengthening frequency during peak seasons. The TD also welcomes ferry operators to operate new routes on a trial basis to gauge market response.

(3) The TD has set up an online channel to facilitate the submission of new and renewal applications for kaito ferry licences. Those interested in operating kaito ferry services may submit their applications at any time of the year. The TD has provided information on all existing kaito ferry routes on its website, and will list out proposed new routes in its regularly conducted public invitations for interested applicants’ reference.

     Upon receipt of applications for kaito ferry services, the TD will process according to established procedures, taking into account such factors as the proposed service details, berthing facility arrangements, passenger demand and existing public transport services. The TD will also consult relevant departments (such as the Marine Department, Civil Engineering and Development Department and the relevant District Offices) on the applications and conduct berthing trials to ensure service safety. The TD will continue to actively follow up on any applications for kaito ferry services, including proactively providing assistance to applicants in need and maintaining close liaison with relevant departments to expedite the approval process.

(4) The CSTB has all along been actively promoting island tourism through the Hong Kong Tourism Board, including a dedicated page for island tourism on the one-stop travel information portal DiscoverHongKong.com, as well as the release of promotional videos and social media clips. It also encourages the trade to leverage the island resources to develop island-hopping tours and offer more distinctive island tourism products.

     Regarding ferry services, the TD has always encouraged ferry operators to, having regard to such factors as the overall economic environment and their own operational and financial situation, offer passengers (including tourists) diverse fare concessions, such as multi-ride tickets (including monthly tickets, same-day return tickets and holiday return tickets), as far as possible in order to reduce the burden on passengers and expand customer base. In addition, the TD provides free ferry rides to eligible organisations through the Visiting Scheme to Outlying Islands (VSOI) to encourage them to hold activities on the outlying islands, with a view to promoting local economic development and boosting the patronage of the outlying island ferry services. In the past year, a total of approximately 40 000 passenger trips were made on outlying island ferry services free of charge under the VSOI. read more