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2025
The hard copy loose-leaf edition of the Laws of Hong Kong has been phased out following completion, in the first quarter of this year, of a project to verify all the current consolidated legislation published on Hong Kong e-Legislation (HKeL), the Department of Justice announced today. The department said the HKeL is now the only official source of Hong Kong’s current consolidated laws, and that the final issue of the loose-leaf edition was issued earlier this month. Under the department’s verification project, all copies of the current consolidated legislation published on HKeL were subjected to a rigorous verification process. This included checking for accuracy against official copies of legislation in the loose-leaf edition and the Government Gazette. With the project’s completion, all verified copies published on HKeL have legal status. Users can access and download the verified copies on HKeL free of charge on any device. The department rolled out the Bilingual Laws Information System website in 1997. The website’s contents initially had no official status and were for information only. The department therefore established Hong Kong e-Legislation in 2017 and subsequently embarked on its verification project. Besides its ongoing efforts to proceed with back-capturing past printed gazettes and create electronic versions of them for upload to HKeL, the department is gradually converting printed copies of the loose-leaf edition into electronic format for addition to the website.
The Electoral Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2025 was published in the Government Gazette today. The bill amends electoral laws to ensure the smooth running of two important elections due to be held later this year, namely the 2025 Election Committee Subsector (ECSS) By-elections and the 2025 Legislative Council General Election (LCGE). In particular it seeks to introduce adjustments to the delineation of geographical constituencies for the LCGE; empower the Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC) to use counting machines in LegCo functional constituency elections and consolidate ballot paper accounts for relevant constituencies; and improve arrangements for the publication of ECSS registers. The Chief Executive announced this week that the date for this year’s LCGE will be December 7, and that the ECSS by-elections will be held on September 7. The Government said it will continue to liaise closely with the EAC, and will prepare for the elections in accordance with the relevant electoral legislation to ensure that they are held in a fair, just, honest, safe and orderly manner. The bill will be introduced into LegCo for a first reading on March 26.
A 61-year-old female visitor to Hong Kong from the Mainland was today jailed for 54 days by Sha Tin Magistrates’ Courts for working illegally. Immigration officers followed up on an advert on social media in which a service provider offered to submit driving licences applications at the Transport Department on behalf of others. The officers identified a suspect and initiated an operation last Wednesday. On being arrested, the 61-year-old woman admitted that she had come to Hong Kong to submit applications for others and was to receive a monetary reward of $100 for each application. A female Hong Kong resident, aged 33, was arrested on suspicion of employing the illegal worker and is being investigated. The department said it will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.
The Government today launched a scheme to provide convenient immigration arrangements for individuals invited to Hong Kong from countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The policy is aimed at strengthening the city’s economic and trade exchanges, and its cultural co-operation, with the bloc. Under the Immigration Facilitation Scheme for Invited Persons, relevant policy bureaus and departments will invite ASEAN nationals who they believe can make considerable contributions to Hong Kong’s economic development, or who they wish to attend important events in the city, to take advantage of expedited immigration arrangements. The Immigration Department will provide one-stop processing of applications from invitees through an electronic platform, relax the application criteria for self-service immigration clearance, and simplify the information required for visa applications. Stressing that ASEAN has a long-standing relationship with Hong Kong and is the city’s second largest trading partner, the Government said it attaches great importance to co-operation with ASEAN countries. It added that self-service immigration clearance services at Hong Kong’s control points will greatly enhance clearance efficiency for invitees. Click here for details of the scheme.
The Conference on Climate Change & International Trade Law was held in hybrid format in Hong Kong today, attracting about 600 registrations from jurisdictions in the Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Latin America, Europe and Africa. Jointly organised by the UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) and the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy of the Department of Justice, the conference discussed how international trade law can effectively support the achievement of climate action goals set by the international community. Secretary for Justice Paul Lam, UNCITRAL Secretary Anna Joubin-Bret and Deputy Director General, Department of Treaty & Law of the Ministry of Commerce Tian Ya gave opening remarks, while Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan delivered closing remarks. International Law Commission Member Ma Xinmin gave a keynote address, with prominent speakers from around the world joining the panel discussions. Noting that various local climate change initiatives have demonstrated Hong Kong's status as an international financial centre as well as a green and sustainable finance hub, Mr Lam said the wide spectrum of issues discussed at the conference illustrates how international trade law can effectively support the climate action goals set by the global community. The International Legal Talents Training Academy will continue to work with UNCITRAL in different areas and is planning to co-organise the 6th UNCITRAL Asia Pacific Judicial Summit in Hong Kong later this year.
The Judiciary will launch a two-year pilot scheme involving live broadcasts of substantive appellate proceedings in the Court of Final Appeal (CFA) on April 1. The first two hearings under the scheme will be broadcast live on April 1 and 7. Members of the public may view the webcasts by visiting the CFA website on computers or mobile devices installed with common browsers. The Judiciary said the move will enhance the transparency of court procedures and strengthen public confidence in the judicial process. It plans to implement live broadcasting for all substantive appeal cases in the CFA, except for cases where protection of the interests of children or mentally disabled adults, privacy, trade secrets or commercial confidentiality is required. Proceedings related to national security, high-profile public order cases, and highly politically charged cases will also be exceptions. The Judiciary explained that these exceptions are intended to preserve judicial decorum, prevent excessive pressure on litigants and lawyers, and safeguard the fair and proper administration of justice. Where such exceptions apply, people may still attend the hearings in person, unless otherwise directed by the CFA. Members of the public, including the media, must not record live webcasts or use live broadcast footage for any purpose. After each live webcast ends, video of the court proceedings will be uploaded to and kept on the CFA website for one month. The Judiciary conducted four trial runs, featuring live broadcasts of court proceedings in four selected CFA cases, last year, in order to test the technical, logistical and operational arrangements. Under the pilot scheme, the live broadcasts will be conducted on the Judiciary’s in-house platform, replacing the outsourcing arrangements used in the four trial runs. The Judiciary said this approach will ensure the most cost-effective use of public resources. Upon completion of the pilot scheme, the Judiciary will review and consider long-term arrangements for live broadcasting of court proceedings.
Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung today officiated at the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps (HKACC) new headquarters and training centre located at Shiu Fai Terrace in Wan Chai, marking a new chapter in the corps’ development. Speaking at the event, Mr Tang noted that the domestically developed C919 passenger aircraft began regular flights between Hong Kong and Shanghai in January this year, and that last month's Budget highlighted the support for the C919 to enter the international market. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is promoting Hong Kong as Asia’s first aircraft components handling and trading centre, indicating promising prospects for the future of the city’s aviation industry and an increasing demand for talent. The security chief said the new headquarters will provide a perfect place for members to explore their aviation dreams, and encouraged them to equip themselves to contribute to the aviation industry of Hong Kong and the nation. The new headquarters is equipped with flight simulators, virtual reality equipment and drill practice areas, giving members various learning and training opportunities to enhance their aviation knowledge, positive thinking, discipline and team spirit. It also features a national education exhibition, showcasing the country’s achievements and developments to strengthen young people’s national identity and sense of pride. During the ceremony, corps members performed a flag-raising ceremony and a Chinese-style drill demonstration, followed by a review conducted by Mr Tang. The guests enjoyed a performance by the HKACC band before touring the main facilities at the new headquarters. On April 1, 2024, the Government Flying Service incorporated the HKACC as a department-funded youth uniformed group, further enhancing support for the corps in order to promote youth development and train more talent for Hong Kong’s aviation industry.
The Security Bureau today said the last of six Hong Kong residents lured to Myanmar to engage in illegal work and rescued following Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung’s participation in the operation in Thailand, arrived in Hong Kong this morning. Mr Tang departed for Thailand earlier to participate in the co-ordination and rescue operation of Hong Kong detainees in Myanmar. The citizen concerned had stayed in Thailand yesterday to assist in the Thai Police investigation as a witness for the case of people being lured to Myanmar to engage in illegal work. A member of the bureau’s dedicated task force also stayed in Thailand to accompany and assist the rescued Hong Kong resident. They returned home in the small hours of today.
The Civil Aid Service (CAS) today expressed deep sorrow over the passing of a 57-year-old member who fell unconscious after completing a fitness assessment at the CAS headquarters in Yau Ma Tei last night and later died in hospital. The man joined the CAS in 1986 and was a Grade III member. The CAS extended its deepest condolences to his family and will provide appropriate assistance to them.
Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan today said the Department of Justice is studying a Court of Final Appeal (CFA) judgment with a view to finding ways to further improve the enforcement mechanism of national security in Hong Kong. Mr Cheung made the remarks after attending a radio programme this morning, where he addressed media questions about the CFA judgment concerning a case involving three former members of a disbanded group who did not comply with Police’s request for information. “We are carefully studying the judgment handed down by the Court of Final Appeal. We will see how the judgment can further improve the law enforcement mechanism of national security in Hong Kong, but I will say that the judgment and the case law will contribute significantly to the development of jurisprudence of the national security related law in Hong Kong.”