The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today announced arrangements for the expansion of the “Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles” scheme to cover all nine Mainland cities in the Greater Bay Area.

The scheme has been operating smoothly since being launched late last year. Initially it covered four Mainland cities, namely Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Zhongshan and Jiangmen.

As at the end of last month, around 8,400 applications had been approved for entry into Hong Kong, with around 6,700 travel bookings being made. During the Mainland’s Labour Day Golden Week, in early May, bookings were oversubscribed by two to three times.

As for the “Park & Fly” service, which allows travellers to park at the Hong Kong Port part of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB), over 8,600 user registration applications had been received, with more than 4,000 bookings being made.

In view of factors such as port operations, overall road traffic conditions, user feedback and public adaptation, the Guangdong and Hong Kong governments have agreed to gradually expand the Southbound Travel Scheme to all of Guangdong Province.

As a first step, the scheme will be expanded to all nine Mainland cities in the bay area in the middle of this year. This involves adding Shenzhen, Foshan, Dongguan, Huizhou and Zhaoqing to the scheme.

Guangdong and Hong Kong will allow Guangdong vehicles from the five new cities to use the “Park & Fly” service at the port carpark from June 15.

From July 25, Guangdong vehicles from the five cities will also be allowed to enter Hong Kong via the HZMB.

On the same day, the travel booking quota for vehicles entering Hong Kong will be increased from 100 to 200 per day. The “Park & Visit” service will also be launched at the Hong Kong Port carpark for Guangdong vehicles from all nine cities. Each vehicle will be able to remain in Hong Kong for up to three days.

Guangdong and Hong Kong will continue to monitor arrangements and aim to expand the scheme to all 21 cities in Guangdong by the first quarter of next year.

Secretary for Transport & Logistics Mable Chan thanked the central government and the Guangdong Provincial Government for their staunch support in taking the scheme forward.

“The Southbound Travel Scheme has been implemented in a prudent and orderly manner, and has achieved readiness for further gradual expansion.”

She added that the Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to take the scheme forward to help drive economic growth for Hong Kong and to promote the integrated development of Guangdong and Hong Kong.

A smart port is one that makes global connections easier through advanced technologies and efficient logistics.

Spearheaded by the Transport & Logistics Bureau, Hong Kong’s Port Community System (PCS) is an essential piece of digital infrastructure bolstering the city’s smart port development.

The PCS began pilot trials in early 2023 and was officially launched in January of this year. It allows enterprises to perform cargo tracking and cross-border customs clearance via a single platform.

End-to-end visibility

One PCS registrant, and an early adopter of the system during its pilot phase, is a logistics company headquartered in Japan.

Operating across markets in Asia, Europe and the Americas, the company has over 700 offices and distribution centres worldwide, and specialises in sectors including healthcare and automobiles. Its Hong Kong branch, a key regional hub, offers a comprehensive suite of freight services, such as international forwarding and door-to-door delivery.

With the PCS, the firm has embraced the integration of data on freight logistics and customs clearance status. Its Deputy Head of Air Freight Forwarding Group Kazunori Goto said that the PCS enhances operational efficiency and sidesteps human error.

He explained that, prior to the PCS being introduced, data was scattered across multiple platforms. Staff members lacked real-time visibility and spent significant time reconciling conflicting data.

“The PCS has effectively resolved these challenges. It provides a standardised customs clearance status that interfaces directly with our internal system.

“This enables us to offer seamless end-to-end cargo visibility for every shipment, while substantially reducing the subsequent manual follow-up workload for our teams.”

Specifically, Mr Goto mentioned that staff previously had no direct access to customs data from the China International Trade Single Window.

“With the adoption of the PCS, we can now conveniently obtain this critical data via API (application programming interface) integration. This has not only shortened our operational processing time, but also significantly reduced manual data entry errors.”

Digital empowerment

The PCS is developed and managed by the Logistics & Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre (LSCM).

LSCM Chief Executive Officer Simon Wong said the system’s development has followed an industry demand-oriented approach, and is being rolled out in three phases.

“In the final stage, we will connect and complete end-to-end workflows for multimodal transportation, and build a comprehensive digital ecosystem to enable the industry to reap the benefits of artificial intelligence-powered digital services.”

Mr Wong said that by linking to the PCS, enterprises can simply enter an ocean or airway bill number to check real-time information covering everything from cargo receipt to loading, departures, arrivals and customs clearance.

Notably, the PCS provides a “One-Data-Multiple-Declarations” function, which enables auto-filled data and one-click submissions to both Hong Kong customs and the China International Trade Single Window, thereby reducing repetitive data entry and mistakes.

The system also sends real-time alerts about shipping delays and temperature anomalies, allowing companies to adjust vehicles and warehousing arrangements.

Moreover, the PCS utilises blockchain technology to guarantee data safety and prevent unauthorised access.

Mr Wong explained that the data recorded covers cargo movement transfers, document numbers, warehousing, land transport tracking, customs declaration records and operational timestamps.

“Once this information is recorded on the blockchain system, it cannot be altered unilaterally. This provides credible evidence for trade financing, cargo traceability and other logistics services.”

Public reputation

Deputy Secretary for Transport & Logistics Amy Chan revealed that the industry’s response to the system has been highly positive since its launch, with over 6,000 enterprises getting on board to date.

Among the registrants are shipping companies, trading firms, freight forwarders and warehousing companies. Most of these are small and medium-sized enterprises.

Citing registrants’ feedback, Ms Chan said the system is viewed as highly cost-effective, and urged more firms to make use of it to realise the scale benefits of data interconnectivity.

“Looking ahead, we will actively explore connecting the PCS with more ports worldwide and international shipping data platforms to further strengthen Hong Kong’s digital connectivity as an international maritime hub.”

Ms Chan also outlined that the bureau is planning a number of pilot programmes in areas such as trade finance, offshore cargo tracking and smart customs, with a view to expanding PCS application scenarios.

“Nine banks in Hong Kong have already recognised the reliability of the trusted cargo status data for use in processes such as risk management, thereby facilitating trade finance.”

She added that the Government is expanding offshore cargo tracking to offer banks more comprehensive data, which will make it easier for Hong Kong’s offshore trading firms to secure financing.

In addition, the Government this month launched the Future Innovative Logistics Acceleration Scheme to encourage industry adoption of logistics data platforms, such as the PCS, that are operated by the Government or public organisations, with a goal of benefiting 100 logistics enterprises.

The Development Bureau (DEVB) and the Department of Housing & Urban-Rural Development of Guangdong Province (DHURDGP) today signed an agreement to jointly promote construction standardisation between Guangdong and Hong Kong to enhance the competitiveness of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area's (GBA) construction industry.

The Cooperation Agreement on Guangdong-Hong Kong Construction Standardisation was signed by Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn and Director‑General of the DHURDGP Guo Haoyu.

Under the mechanism, the Guangdong and Hong Kong governments will jointly set up a working group and a technical committee, and invite experts from relevant sectors to form expert committees. 

The Building Technology Research Institute and the Guangdong Provincial Academy of Building Research Group will serve as the secretariats for Hong Kong and Guangdong respectively. 

Both sides will jointly co‑ordinate and steer the formulation of construction standards in designated areas.

Ms Linn said that the signing of the agreement signifies a major milestone for Guangdong and Hong Kong in deepening institutional alignment and promoting the overall upgrading and mutual recognition of construction standards.

Reflecting the national policy directions, it capitalises on Hong Kong’s international advantages to bridge national and international standards, thereby enhancing the global competitiveness of the country's construction industry, she added.

Before the signing ceremony, Ms Linn and Mr Guo exchanged views on the latest developments of the construction industry in Guangdong and Hong Kong, as well as deepening co‑operation between the two places and promoting high-quality development of the construction industry in the GBA. 

They also explored how construction standardisation could drive the collaborative development of the construction industry and advanced construction technologies.

The Land Registry logged 8,537 sale and purchase agreements received for registration for all building units in May, a drop of 1.8% compared with April and up 32.5% year on year.

The total consideration for building unit sale and purchase agreements in May decreased 0.1% from the previous month to 72.8 billion, representing a 46.1% year-on-year increase.

A total of 7,138 agreements were for residential units, down 3.1% from the previous month and up 39.8% from a year ago.

The total consideration for residential units was $65.6 billion, an increase of 3% compared with the previous month and a rise of 71.5% year on year.

There were 450,201 land register searches last month.

The Highways Department (HyD) held its 40th anniversary celebration ceremony today, highlighting four decades of contributions to Hong Kong’s transport infrastructure and regional connectivity. 

Financial Secretary Paul Chan, Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong, Secretary for Transport & Logistics Mable Chan and Director of Highways Tony Yau officiated at the event.

Over 300 distinguished guests attended, including representatives from the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Executive Council members, over 30 Legislative Council members, heads of bureaus and departments, and construction industry leaders.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Chan commended the HyD for its pivotal role in the city’s growth. He noted that through the joint efforts of the HyD and other government departments, Hong Kong has established an extensive road and railway network. This infrastructure spans the territory and connects directly with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, facilitating public mobility, supporting economic development and promoting regional integration.

Mr Chan also praised department staff for remaining steadfast at their posts to monitor roads, bridges, tunnels and street lighting, ensuring a smooth and reliable transport system.

The Government will increase investment in public works over the coming years, particularly by accelerating the development of the Northern Metropolis. This infrastructure-led strategy aims to create development capacity, strengthen Hong Kong’s long-term growth and open up broader opportunities for the construction industry.

He remarked that technology empowerment is essential to enhance the quality and efficiency of infrastructure, noting it will continuously elevate design, construction and maintenance standards.

Mr Chan expressed hope that the HyD and other works departments would actively explore high-quality Mainland standards and technologies to boost project quality. This approach will enable Hong Kong to leverage its role as a “super connector” and “super value adder” by aligning national standards with international standards and rules.

Furthermore, he encouraged the department to maintain its pioneering spirit and collaborate with all sectors of the community to build a more liveable, efficient and convenient city for the public.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ms Chan described roads and railways as vital arteries connecting a city, praising the HyD team for its four decades of quiet contribution to improving the public’s daily lives. 

She pointed out that Hong Kong's road network has expanded significantly from about 1,323 km when the department was established in 1986 to more than 2,200 km today, marking a 70% increase.

“Looking back at the many milestones the HyD has achieved, from the early Island Eastern Corridor, to the Tsing Ma Bridge, the Tung Chung Line, the Airport Express and Stonecutters Bridge, and more recently completed East Rail Line Cross-Harbour Extension and Central Kowloon Route (Yau Ma Tei Section), as well as the formulation of the Hong Kong Railway Standards, all of these reflect the professional dedication of generations of HyD colleagues and industry partners in their pursuit of excellence.”

She expressed hope that HyD colleagues would adopt a dual-innovation mindset covering policy and technology, enabling the department to play a more active role in integrating into the national development strategy.

“Through the advancement of strategic projects including the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Rail Link, the Northern Link, Tsing Lung Bridge and the Northern Metropolis Highway, the Government will build a broad network of roads and railways under the 'Eight Vertical and Eight Horizontal' layout, fully unlocking Hong Kong's future development potential, deepening connectivity with the Greater Bay Area, and leveraging today's planning to achieve Hong Kong's long-term development.”

Mr Yau noted that 40 years ago today, the Highways Office was upgraded to the HyD, reflecting the Government's determination to advance transport infrastructure to support Hong Kong's development.

He stated that the department is fully prepared to take forward the major road and railway infrastructure projects for the Northern Metropolis. These include the Northern Metropolis Highway, Route 11, the Tsing Lung Bridge, the Northern Link and the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Rail Link, which will unlock new growth opportunities for the city.

At the same time, the department will continue road maintenance and district works to ensure road safety.

To celebrate the milestone, the HyD is holding a roving exhibition at various locations in Hong Kong from late May to mid-July.

The exhibition reviews the department's achievements and future blueprints in expanding the road network, maintaining infrastructure and advancing railway development. It also features interactive games and displays historical artifacts, including vintage street name plates and thematic manhole covers.

A delegation led by Chief Executive John Lee will visit Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in June to establish new trade routes for Hong Kong.

Commissioner for Belt & Road Nicholas Ho believes that Hong Kong and Central Asian countries have significant bilateral development potential.

Mr Ho said there are areas of co-operation that Hong Kong and Central Asia can further explore.

“Number one is natural resources. These state-owned companies are looking for a platform, a market to list their companies and to fundraise. Hong Kong can empower that.

“Second is green development. Hong Kong has a comprehensive green economic engine, from green finance to green industry, green technologies, green standards, and green professional services; with these, we can help Central Asian countries to reach carbon neutrality a lot sooner.

“Third is digital economy. Many Central Asian countries are driving artificial intelligence and digital development, and they are hoping that Hong Kong can help them get there faster.

“Fourth is tourism infrastructure. Central Asia has a lot of rich tourism assets, and Hong Kong service providers and hospitality brands can help invest and develop Central Asian countries to unlock these tourism treasures.”

Opening doors

Mr Ho added that Hong Kong is the ideal Belt & Road trading hub. Compared with 2020, Hong Kong's total merchandise trade with Central Asia had increased by 27% in 2025.

He expressed confidence that the Chief Executive's visits will further promote economic and trade development between Hong Kong and Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

“For this mission, we are hoping to first expand into new markets. Second is to build these communication mechanisms.

“We are hoping that this mission will open big doors between government to government, and also chamber to chamber, business to business. These are important communication channels.

“Third is the hub to hub model, we hope that Hong Kong can be Central Asian companies’ hub to access the Greater Bay Area (GBA), the Chinese Mainland, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and beyond. And in return, we are hoping that Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan can be Hong Kong companies, GBA companies and ASEAN companies’ hub to access into Central Asia.”

Trading partners

Kazakhstan has the most developed economy in Central Asia and is rich in oil resources. In 2025, Kazakhstan was Hong Kong’s largest trading partner and the leading export market in the region.

Hong Kong has also made a significant investment in Kazakhstan, with the city ranked as the country’s 10th largest net-investor globally and its fourth largest Asian net-investor as of January 2026.

Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) Principal Economist Alice Tsang said the council tracks the development of this emerging market closely because there is always new potential.

“We can see that more Kazakhstan companies are actually seeking for listing in Hong Kong, as well as (organisations) like the Development Bank of Kazakhstan also have a 'dim sum' bonds issuance in Hong Kong, so we can see that in the services sector there will be huge potential; in particular, there are 14 Hong Kong companies already registered in the Astana International Financial Centre.

“We believe that there are more Hong Kong businessmen or companies that are interested in these new Central Asian markets.”

Rail links

The most populous Central Asian country, Uzbekistan is home to more than 38 million people. It also boasts a diverse range of natural resources, including hydrocarbons, gold and cotton.

In 2025, Uzbekistan was Hong Kong’s third largest trading partner in Central Asia. 

Uzbekistan is actively working to open and integrate into international transport corridors, with the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway as one of its top priorities. Once completed, the railway will provide Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan with their first direct rail connections to China.

HKTDC Director of Research Bruce Pang noted that some of the countries have introduced serious economic reforms.

“They want to diversify their economy. Like Uzbekistan, the policy-makers vow to better upgrade their light industry. So we may expect more imported products from their light industries.”

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today welcomed the State Council's approval of exemption of the requirement of a guarantee and implementation of temporary ship nationality registration for Hong Kong and Macau yachts temporarily entering and exiting the Chinese Mainland through designated ports in the nine cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), and only navigating within these cities.

The Transport & Logistics Bureau noted that under the new policy, the exemption for the requirement for a guarantee will significantly reduce the financial burden on owners of Hong Kong and Macau yachts when handling cross-boundary procedures.

Meanwhile, the temporary ship nationality registration allows Hong Kong and Macau yachts to obtain temporary ship nationality certificates issued by Chinese Mainland without affecting their original ship registration, enabling individual yacht travel within the waters of the nine Chinese Mainland cities in the GBA.

In addition, the Marine Department is actively co-ordinating with the Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration on facilitation measures for southbound travel for yachts from the Chinese Mainland. 

The Development Bureau announced today two new measures to accelerate industrial development: a three-year “Pay for What You Build” pilot scheme, and an arrangement to grant tenancies of up to 21 years.

The changes will reduce initial capital outlays and financing costs, thereby enhancing investment incentives.

Pay for What You Build

The “Pay for What You Build” pilot scheme, which will start accepting applications on June 1, is applicable to all lease modification and land exchange applications for non-residential developments across Hong Kong.

It allows lot owners to carry out phased development, provided that the gross floor area (GFA) under the initial phase of a development amounts to at least 60% of the total permissible maximum GFA for the whole development and that the initial phase is completed on time. The land premium will be assessed based on the market value of the GFA under the initial phase only.

The bureau highlighted that under the new arrangement land premium assessment will be based on how developers plan to use the land rather than on the maximum possible market value.

Developers can decide whether to take forward the remaining portion of the total permissible maximum GFA after completion of the first phase. If they choose to do so, they must make a lease modification application within 10 years, and will be required to pay land premiums based on the prevailing market value at the time.

Moreover, the entire site will be subject to alienation restrictions for 10 years after the completion of the initial phase, unless approval is obtained from the Lands Department, through a lease modification application, to develop the remaining portion of the permissible maximum GFA.

These restrictions are imposed because different owners, under fragmented ownership, might fail to reach a consensus on whether to proceed with the remaining development, the bureau explained.

If a developer does not apply for lease modification upon expiry of the 10-year period, the Government may, on application from other lot owners, allow unused development potential from the site to be transferred to other sites in the same area.

Tenancies of up to 21 years

The bureau is also introducing a more flexible arrangement for government tenancies. For sites provided through short-term tenancies, the Lands Department may, with policy support from relevant bureaus, provide tenancies with a total tenure not exceeding 21 years.

To break this down, upon expiration of the first fixed term, which may be up to seven years, tenants can exercise the option to renew. There will be a maximum of two renewals, each of up to seven years. In other words, the longest possible tenancy arrangement is “7+7+7” years.

The length of an individual tenure may be adjusted based on the needs of a specific industry.

Rent review will take place only when a tenancy is due for renewal, and the rent could increase or decrease.

The bureau said that compared to the current fixed tenancy term of a maximum of seven years only, the new arrangement provides greater certainty. Meanwhile, the lengthened payback period facilitated by the new arrangement is conducive to industry investment.

The bureau added that it will work with relevant policy bureaus to identify which government sites are suitable for adopting the new arrangement.

The Inter-departmental Task Force on Monitoring Fuel Supply announced today that the Government will provide a fuel subsidy of $0.5 per litre of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for taxis, public light buses and school private light buses, from May 31 until July 30.

It is expected that about 16,900 LPG (including LPG-hybrid) taxis, 3,440 LPG public light buses and 170 LPG school private light buses will benefit from the subsidy.

The Government said the two-month temporary measure aims to alleviate operating costs for local passenger transport commercial vehicles which primarily use LPG as fuel, thereby reducing the pressure for fare increases.

In practice, oil companies will offer a discount of $0.5 per litre of LPG at all 66 LPG filling stations across Hong Kong for all LPG taxis, public light buses and school private light buses. No registration or application is required.

To ensure proper use of public funds, the Government and oil companies have signed agreements which set out responsibilities and terms. These arrangements include the Government’s reimbursement to oil companies for the actual amount of subsidies provided; the requirement for oil companies to maintain complete and accurate books and records; the requirement to submit reports to the Government every week; and auditing arrangements. In addition, the Transport Department has steered oil companies in completing system enhancements and testing to ensure smooth implementation.

The Transport Department will also display posters at its licensing offices and LPG filling stations. Leaflets will be distributed at major taxi stands, public light bus stands and all dedicated LPG stations to inform frontline drivers of the subsidy details.

The Government today gazetted four pieces of subsidiary legislation in order to establish a legal framework for the regulation of ride-hailing services.

The Road Traffic (Ride-hailing Service) Regulation sets out the details of the regulatory regime, including the validity period and renewal arrangement for ride-hailing service licences, ride-hailing vehicle permits and ride-hailing vehicle driving permits; the fees associated with the aforementioned licences and permits; and the obligations imposed on the holders of such licences and permits.

The Road Traffic (Limit on Number of Ride-hailing Vehicle Permits) Notice specifies the limit on the number of vehicle permits that may be issued ‒ at the current stage, the Government proposes capping the number of permits at 10,000.

Meanwhile, the Road Traffic (Driving Licences) (Amendment) Regulation 2026 introduces a combined driving test for taxis and ride-hailing vehicles, and the Road Traffic (Amendment) (Ride-hailing Service) Ordinance 2025 (Commencement) Notice prescribes the commencement dates of the various provisions of the Road Traffic (Amendment) (Ride-hailing Service) Ordinance 2025.

With the busy traffic in Hong Kong and the fact that nearly 90% of the public rely on public transportation for their daily journeys, the Government needs to impose an overall control on the number of ride-hailing vehicles, the Transport & Logistics Bureau explained.

Based on the data collected from a survey administered by the Transport Department, and having holistically considered all relevant factors and views from various sectors of society, the Government proposed setting the limit on vehicle permits at 10,000 at this stage, believing that this can balance considerations regarding road resources and the public transport ecosystem, and allow the ride-hailing regulatory regime to be implemented smoothly.

The Government will table the four pieces of subsidiary legislation before the Legislative Council tomorrow for negative vetting.

Light Public Housing (LPH) will be open for Phase 4 applications from June 2, the Housing Bureau announced today.

This phase comprises a total of about 11,330 units on Olympic Avenue in Kai Tak (Phase 2), Yan Po Road in Tuen Mun, Tsing Fat Street in Tuen Mun, and Hang Kwong Street in Ma On Shan, with intake anticipated from the third quarter of this year onwards.

LPH on Olympic Avenue, which is adjacent to Kai Tak MTR Station, will provide about 4,580 units for one to two persons, three to four persons and four to five persons. The estimated monthly rent ranges from about $1,310 to $2,990.

The Yan Po Road LPH project in Tuen Mun will provide about 2,850 units, including units for one to two persons, three to four persons and four to five persons. The site is adjacent to Yan Po Road Public Transport Interchange as well as bus stops on Yan Po Road, while also linked by MTR bus routes to/from Tuen Mun and Siu Hong MTR Stations. The estimated monthly rent ranges from about $900 to $2,010.

The Tsing Fat Street site, also in Tuen Mun, will provide about 3,040 units for one to two persons, and three to four persons, at a monthly rent between $900 and $1,610. A bus terminus will be built nearby.

On Hang Kwong Street in Ma On Shan, adjacent to Ma On Shan MTR Station, there will be about 860 units for households of one to two persons, three to four persons and four to five persons. Monthly rent ranges from $1,180 to $2,650.

Eligible citizens will receive application forms by post on or before June 2 sent by the Housing Bureau. While application forms submitted between June 2 and 23 will be handled with priority, the bureau will still accept enrolment afterwards. Those who have applied before need not apply again.

Highlighting that the living environment of LPH is far better than substandard subdivided units and that residents will be given one-off special allowances ranging from $1,950 to $13,000, the bureau encouraged eligible citizens in need to submit their applications as soon as possible.

Completed application forms may be submitted by post or deposited into drop-in boxes. If the applicant and all family members have registered for “iAM Smart+”, they may fill in, sign and submit an e-Form by scanning the exclusive QR code on the application form.

For enquiries, call 3464 0700 or email lphapp@hb.gov.hk.

The Government today launched a one-month public consultation on proposed amendments to the Fire Services Ordinance and its related subsidiary legislation.

The proposed changes aim to modernise the fire safety legislative framework, enhance public safety and streamline enforcement effectiveness, while meeting public expectations for improved fire safety.

Following the No. 5 alarm fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, the Government established the Task Force on Strengthening Fire Safety Governance, chaired by the Secretary for Security, to implement medium-to-long-term initiatives to improve fire safety governance.

A core component of these measures is a comprehensive review of the ordinance, its subsidiary legislation and the statutory responsibilities of various stakeholders.

The Security Bureau emphasised that the Government attaches great importance to maintaining high fire safety standards to protect lives and property.

To consolidate Hong Kong's regulatory framework, the bureau proposed amending the principal ordinance alongside three pieces of subsidiary legislation: the Fire Service (Installation Contractors) Regulations, the Fire Service (Installations & Equipment) Regulations, and the Fire Services (Fire Hazard Abatement) Regulation.

These amendments will strengthen the registration regime for fire service installation contractors, enhance maintenance and inspection standards for building fire equipment and optimise fire hazard abatement procedures.

The bureau noted that the updates will also bolster the Fire Services Department’s enforcement powers in specific areas, including combating illicit fuelling activities.

In response to the public's expectations for enhanced fire safety, the Government will finalise the legislative proposal swiftly after the public consultation, aiming to introduce the Bill to the Legislative Council this year.

Members of the public can submit their views in writing by email or by mail to the Legislation Amendment Working Group, South Wing, 5/F, Fire Services Department Headquarters Building, 1 Hong Chong Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon, on or before June 25.

Click here for the consultation document.

The Environment & Ecology Bureau today said that to ensure the proper implementation of the diesel subsidy, the Government has been enforcing the “pay later” arrangement for reimbursing the price difference to oil companies in order to ensure the proper use of public funds.

The Government has, since April 30, been implementing the Diesel Subsidy Scheme, which runs for a period of two months, with a view to supporting public and commercial vehicles and vessels and related industries that use diesel as fuel.

Under the subsidy scheme, users who consume diesel locally may receive a subsidy of HK$3 per litre of diesel when they purchase diesel to reduce the selling price by HK$3 per litre accordingly.

Recently, there have been views suggesting that the increase in diesel prices is due to oil companies and distributors profiteering from the subsidy scheme by increasing prices in advance since the announcement of the subsidy scheme on April 10.

There are also claims that the pump price of diesel had already increased by almost HK$3 per litre within the intervening 20 days.

The Government emphasised that these claims do not correspond with the facts, and it is necessary for the Government to make clarifications to set the record straight.

Global prices
Firstly, the prices of fossil fuels have been rising around the world, as affected by the situation in the Middle East, and the price rises are by no means unique to Hong Kong. It is necessary to consider the broader picture and the situation in other regions instead of inferring that oil companies might increase their prices in advance to profiteer merely based on the fact that fuel prices are on the rise.

If compared with the position before the conflict in the Middle East, the international refined oil product price for diesel had increased by around HK$10 per litre at most, whilst the maximum increase of the local diesel pump price was HK$7.5. From mid-April to now, the international refined oil product price has increased by around HK$0.5 (+6.67%).

Over the same period, the maximum retail price of diesel in the Chinese Mainland had increased twice by a total of around HK$0.4 (+4.0%), while the local diesel pump prices had increased by HK$0.6 (+1.66%).

Furthermore, some oil companies have reduced their diesel retail pump prices as of today, but it is expected that the diesel price may fluctuate as affected by the conflict in the Middle East.

'Pay later' arrangement
Secondly, it is the Government's responsibility to ensure the proper use of public funds. In designing the subsidy scheme, the Government has introduced multiple layers of safeguards to ensure that users will benefit from the subsidy.

Among the safeguards, the subsidy scheme has introduced a “pay later” arrangement, where oil companies and distributors must first sell subsidised diesel to consumers at a price reduced by HK$3 per litre, and specify the subsidy amount and the selling price on the receipts issued to their customers.

Oil companies and distributors must then submit a report to the Government one week later to apply for reimbursement of the amounts they have advanced.

The Government will then verify the reports, sales records and invoices submitted by the oil companies and distributors, and will only reimburse the price difference if the information provided is confirmed to be accurate.

Should there be issues arising, the Government reserves the right to refuse to reimburse the price difference, and to refer the case to law enforcement agencies for follow-up. Therefore, should oil companies attempt to profiteer, they will not be reimbursed the price difference they have advanced.

The operation of the subsidy scheme has been largely normal and smooth since its implementation. The Government is receiving weekly reports from the oil companies and distributors, and is conducting the necessary checks.

Audit report
Thirdly, upon the completion of the subsidy scheme, oil companies and distributors will need to submit to the Government an audited audit report, which will require them to state the comparison of the change in the average retail price after deducting all discounts, excluding the HK$3 per litre subsidy, with the corresponding import prices before and during the subsidy period.

Should there be changes in this ratio, these may suggest profiteering which can be easily detected by auditors. The Government may then use the audit report to take the necessary follow-up action with the oil companies and distributors.

The Government reiterated that it will spare no effort to implement the arrangements by gatekeeping to ensure that the subsidy scheme will benefit users who are affected by surging diesel prices. 

The Buildings Department approved 14 building plans in March - six on Hong Kong Island, five in Kowloon and three in the New Territories.

Of the approved plans, five were for apartment and apartment/commercial developments, four were for commercial developments, and five were for community services developments.

Consent was given for works to start on six building projects. Upon completion, they will provide 6,182 sq m of domestic gross floor area involving 172 units, and 20,687 sq m of non-domestic gross floor area.

Additionally, the department has received notification of commencement of superstructure works for four building projects.

It also issued 18 occupation permits - four on Hong Kong Island, six in Kowloon and eight in the New Territories.

The buildings certified for occupation comprise 31,910 sq m of gross floor area for domestic use, involving 775 units, and 48,386 sq m for non-domestic use.

Meanwhile, the department received 2,678 reports about unauthorised building works in March, issued 754 removal orders, and gave five demolition consents.

The tender for Tung Chung Town Lot No. 54 at Area 106A in Tung Chung has been awarded on a 50-year land grant to Able Best Limited, the highest tenderer, at a premium of $1,627,000,000, the Lands Department announced today.

This piece of land, designated for private residential purposes, has a site area of 14,152 sqm. The gross floor area is in a range from 29,720 sq m to 49,532 sq m.

The Government today introduced three legislative amendments in the Legislative Council to impose clear legal obligations and prohibit smoking at all construction sites.

The move aims to reduce fire risks and safeguard the safety of workers and the public.

The three legislative amendments are the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 2) Order 2026, the Fixed Penalty (Smoking Offences) (Specification of Authorities and Public Officers) (Amendment) Notice 2026, and the Construction Sites (Safety) (Amendment) Regulation 2026.

The Government will publish the Amendment Order and the Amendment Notice in the Gazette on Friday.

The Amendment Order designates construction sites as no smoking areas and the Amendment Notice specifies that Occupational Safety Officers (OSOs) of the Labour Department will carry out enforcement work in relation to all smoking offences at construction sites under the Fixed Penalty (Smoking Offences) Ordinance.

Any person smoking in a construction site commits an offence. OSOs can issue a fixed penalty notice to offenders with a fixed fine of $3,000.

The Amendment Order is applicable to all types of construction sites, including building maintenance sites. Domestic premises and private quarters occupied by residents are not included.

Meanwhile, the Amendment Regulation requires that contractors and subcontractors must take all reasonable steps to ensure that no person smokes or carries a lighted smoking product, or uses a naked light to light a smoking product, at a construction site.

Those violating the Amendment Regulation are liable on conviction to a maximum fine of $400,000.

The Amendment Order and the Amendment Notice will be subject to the negative vetting procedure, while the Amendment Regulation will be subject to the positive vetting procedure.

The Government will strive to facilitate LegCo’s scrutiny work and looks forward to having the chamber’s support for early passage of the three amendments, enabling the smoking ban at all construction sites to be implemented as soon as possible. 

(To watch the full media session with sign language interpretation, click here.)

Chief Executive John Lee said today the Government will consider views from all parties and strike a balance among different factors when it comes to enacting subsidiary legislation on ride-hailing.

The Government put in place a legal framework for the regulation of ride-hailing services, and enacted principal legislation, last October. This stipulated that it is necessary for the Government to impose control on the total number of ride-hailing vehicle permits issued.

Ahead of this morning’s Executive Council meeting, Mr Lee said a balance will be struck among three factors at the first stage of implementing overall control.

He remarked: “First, address the public’s travel needs so that their riding experience remains more or less the same.

“Second, take into account Hong Kong’s unique circumstances, including road capacity and the fact that nearly 90% of daily passenger trips are made using public transport services.

“Third, establish a mechanism to monitor actual market operations and data. Conduct dynamic assessments and reviews.”

Mr Lee reaffirmed that the Government’s objective in setting up the regulatory regime for ride-hailing services is to ensure that they operate within a lawful, appropriate and safe framework, while also fostering healthy competition and complementarity between taxi and ride-hailing services, thereby enhancing the overall quality of point-to-point transport services and providing the public with more convenience and options.

The Chief Executive added that while putting a regulatory regime in place, the Government will introduce enhanced penalties and tighten vehicle empowerment arrangements to combat unlicensed vehicle operations, so as to protect lawful and compliant operators, as well as passengers.

The Government will consider views from all parties, as well as relevant data, and aim to submit subsidiary legislation to the Legislative Council within the first half of this year.

The Housing Bureau announced that the latest quarterly Composite Waiting Time for Subsidised Rental Housing is 4.7 years, marking the lowest level in over eight years. Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho noted it is also the first time that the waiting time has dropped below five years.

“We are confident that within this term of Government, the Composite Waiting Time would be capped at five years.”

As the Government strives to fulfil low-income families’ housing needs, about 9,650 Light Public Housing (LPH) units have been fully occupied as at the first quarter of 2026, while 20,150 units will be completed in the remainder of 2026, gradually moving towards the target of completing the construction of 30,000 LPH units by 2027-28.

Better living

Ms Zhuang and her son, who moved into an LPH unit in Kai Tak last year, are two of the citizens who benefit from the LPH policy. She previously rented a subdivided flat in To Kwa Wan, where conditions and hygiene were far from ideal. With the extra space at the new home, they can spend more time together and are in a happier living situation.

“Since moving into LPH, my son’s concentration has improved, and his attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms have eased thanks to the better living environment.”

Total solution

In the first quarter of 2026, about 8,400 general applicants have been housed to public rental housing (PRH) or LPH. Around 47% of them were housed to LPH units. Notably, the waiting time for PRH units in urban districts was about six years, while that for LPH units in the New Territories was only about two years.

Ms Ho said LPH provides a total solution for those stuck in poor living conditions, and urged families in need to consider moving into the extended urban areas, such as Tuen Mun, as years of poor living conditions may take a great toll on the young.

“The four-year difference means if you have a child in primary one, a six-year-old, within four years, he is already a 10-year-old.

“Four years in a very poor living condition without the confidence to interact or talk to other people will affect him for the rest of his life.

“When I see children move into LPH, they have more open space to play. They have this neighbourhood, friendship.”

Moreover, she pointed out that moving into LPH, as compared with renting subdivided units, is a financially advantageous option for families in need.

“On average, each family can save $5,500 per month.”

For less financial burden, a better family relationship and improved living conditions, households in need should look at LPH as a much better option, the housing chief advised.

The Housing Bureau announced today that the latest quarterly Composite Waiting Time for Subsidised Rental Housing (CWT) is 4.7 years, 0.4 years down from the last quarter, marking the lowest record in over eight years.

This figure is calculated based on general applicants (ie family and elderly one-person applicants) that were housed to public rental housing (PRH) or Light Public Housing (LPH) in the past 12 months as at end-March 2026, the bureau explained.

It also highlighted that compared with the highest level of 6.1 years before the current-term Government took office, the CWT has been shortened by nearly 1.5 years, and has fallen below five years for the first time.

In the first quarter of 2026, the bureau has arranged about 8,400 general applicants to be housed to PRH or LPH. These units included about 1,200 newly completed PRH flats, about 3,300 recovered PRH flats, and about 3,900 LPH units. Around 47% of the applicants were housed to LPH units, significantly higher than last quarter’s proportion at 16%.

The average waiting time of general applicants who were housed to LPH in the past 12 months is three years.

The waiting time for PRH units in the urban districts in the past 12 months was about six years, while the waiting time for LPH units in the New Territories was only about two years.

Since the first LPH project began allocation in March 2025, the Government’s overall supply of subsidised rental housing has risen to about 7,500 units per quarter, which is around double the average quarterly supply of 3,500 units during the three years before the current-term Government took office.

As at end-March 2026, there were about 103,400 general applications for PRH, and about 81,100 non-elderly one-person applications under the Quota & Points System. Compared with the highest level of 156,400 cases and 143,700 cases of general applications and non-elderly one-person applications, the number of applications reduced significantly by over 30% and over 40% respectively.

Among them, the number of non-elderly one-person applicants aged below 30 recorded a sharp decline of about 60% over the 10-year period, from about 71,300 at end-March 2016 to about 29,500 at end-March 2026.

The bureau said the CWT is anticipated to be capped at five years, indicating a downward trend.

For the next five years from 2026-27 onwards, the overall public housing production, including LPH, will be about 196,000 units, 80% higher than when the current-term Government took office. About 115,000 PRH flats will be completed, reaching the peak in supply. In respect of LPH, about 9,650 have been fully occupied as at the first quarter of 2026; while about 20,150 and 200 units will be successively completed in the remainder of 2026 and early 2027, gradually attaining the target of completing the construction of about 30,000 LPH units by 2027-28.

The CWT will move towards the target of reducing it to 4.5 years in 2026-27, the bureau added.

The Inter-departmental Task Force on Monitoring Fuel Supply today announced that the Government will waive 50% of the toll for commercial vehicles using government tolled tunnels, and the Tsing Sha Control Area, from May 17 to July 16.

Commercial vehicles include buses, goods vehicles, light buses and taxis registered with the Transport Department. Private cars and motorcycles are not eligible for the waiver.

The two-month measure aims to alleviate operating costs for commercial vehicles, and to assist drivers and operators in coping with rising fuel prices, the task force explained.

The department said it has steered the toll service provider to adjust the HKeToll system. Commercial vehicle owners only need to pay the reduced amount, as displayed via the system. Payment methods and time limits remain unchanged.

Separately, taxi passengers are reminded that they must continue to pay statutory tolls in full during the waiver period. Placards will be displayed in taxi compartments regarding the tolls.