You are here
RSS list
2026
Six pieces of subsidiary legislation relating to the operation of the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area and Related Extended Areas, collectively known as the Hong Kong Port Area, were published today in the Government Gazette. The six pieces of legislation are designed to support the operational needs of the Hong Kong Port Area after the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area Ordinance is commissioned on July 31. The redeveloped Huanggang Port in Shenzhen is implementing a “colocation arrangement”, meaning that Hong Kong and Mainland immigration and customs clearance will occur in the same building, on the Shenzhen side, rather than at two separate checkpoints. The designated Hong Kong Port Area is part of this combined facility, which is being positioned as the most important 24-hour passenger land boundary control point between Hong Kong and Shenzhen. The new regulations grant entry and exit permissions for cross-boundary drivers, passengers and other travellers. With regard to law enforcement, the subsidiary legislation will allow detention quarters to be set up at the Hong Kong Port Area, allowing the Immigration Department to carry out routine immigration control and law enforcement duties. Additionally, with the Hong Kong Port Area designated as a specified control point, people carrying a large quantity of currency or cash-equivalents with a total value more than $120,000 will have to make a declaration to Hong Kong Customs. On the traffic and transport management fronts, the “permitted area” for New Territories taxis will be expanded to all roads within the Hong Kong Port Area. The subsidiary legislation also exempts Mainland mobile network operators approved by the Mainland authorities from the requirement to provide public mobile radiocommunications services in the Hong Kong Port Area. The Government stressed that the subsidiary legislation will enable various departments to discharge their duties in the Hong Kong Port Area in accordance with the law and to facilitate preparatory work for the official opening of the Huanggang Port to the public. This work includes a series of system tests, trials and drills due to be conducted jointly with the Mainland authorities, to ensure that all operational and clearance arrangements are sound and comprehensive. The Government will table the subsidiary legislation in the Legislative Council for negative vetting.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, the National Development & Reform Commission (NDRC) and relevant central ministries today held the ninth Joint Conference on Advancing Hong Kong's Full Participation in & Contribution to the Belt & Road Initiative in Beijing. Secretary for Justice Paul Lam, in his capacity as chairperson of the Working Group on Belt & Road Development under the Steering Group on Integration into National Development, led a delegation to attend the conference. NDRC Vice Chairman Zhou Haibing also attended the meeting, alongside representatives from the commission, the Hong Kong & Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and the Supreme People's Court. Other attendees included representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Commerce, the People's Bank of China, the State-owned Assets Supervision & Administration Commission of the State Council, the National Financial Regulatory Administration, the State Administration for Market Regulation, and the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong SAR. Addressing the conference, Mr Lam said the Hong Kong SAR Government has been taking forward Belt & Road co-operation to achieve deeper and more concrete outcomes, fully participating in and contributing to the initiative under the guidance of major national steps to support high-quality co-operation and integrate into national development. He expressed gratitude to the central government for its staunch support for hosting the International Organization for Mediation headquarters in Hong Kong, emphasising that this will strengthen the city’s role as an international dispute resolution services centre as well as a hub for international mediation. He added that public consultation is underway on formulating Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan, which outlines directions to deepen participation in the initiative and enable the city to better leverage its unique advantages under "one country, two systems". Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Algernon Yau, who serves as the Hong Kong-side Convenor of the Joint Conference, highlighted the Hong Kong SAR Government’s commitment to promoting all-round, multifaceted cooperation under the initiative. During the meeting, Mr Yau reported on relevant work progress, including forging additional free trade and investment agreements, advancing plans to establish a new Economic & Trade Office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and accelerating the work of the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global to help Mainland businesses expand overseas through Hong Kong's platform. Today’s session also covered work proposals submitted by the Hong Kong SAR Government for consideration by central ministries, alongside Hong Kong’s key priority areas for future participation in the initiative, while representatives from relevant Mainland ministries detailed their supportive measures and provided feedback on the proposals.
Secretary for Justice Paul Lam will lead a delegation of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government officials departing for Beijing tomorrow to attend the ninth Joint Conference on Advancing Hong Kong's Full Participation in and Contribution to the Belt & Road Initiative on Friday morning. Heading the delegation, Mr Lam serves as the chair of the sub-group on Belt & Road development under the Steering Group on Integration into National Development. The delegation includes Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Algernon Yau and Under Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Joseph Chan. Mr Lam will return to Hong Kong on Friday afternoon. During Mr Lam's absence, Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan will be Acting Secretary for Justice. Meanwhile, Under Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Bernard Chan will serve as Acting Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development in Mr Yau’s absence.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today welcomed the Legislative Council’s passage of the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area Bill. The bill’s passage marks a major milestone in implementing the central authorities’ authorisation. It provides a legal basis for the co-location arrangement at the redeveloped port and advances preparatory work for its opening. Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung said the redevelopment is a key project proactively aligning the Hong Kong SAR Government with the country's 15th Five-Year Plan. It will better integrate the city into national development and enhance the infrastructure connectivity of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. “Huanggang Port is also an important project to improve people's livelihoods,” Mr Tang said. “Getting the port ready for a smooth opening at an early date is the expectation of the general public and the common goal of the governments of Hong Kong and Shenzhen to facilitate cross-boundary travel and the two-way flow of people between the two places,” he added. The Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area Ordinance will be published in the Government Gazette on July 20 and take effect on July 31. The official establishment of the port area allows Hong Kong and Shenzhen to fully launch subsequent preparations. These tasks include joint system tests, trials and drills to ensure that all facilities and operational plans are ready. The Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to work closely with Guangdong and Shenzhen authorities to advance preparations. Once both sides confirm the port is ready for safe operation, the governments of Guangdong and Hong Kong will finalise and announce the official opening date.
Four young inmates have met the general entrance requirements for local universities in this year's Diploma of Secondary Education Examination, the Correctional Services Department announced today. Fourteen inmates, from correctional institutions at Sha Tsui, Pik Uk and Lai King, received results today. They sat a combined total of 83 examination papers and obtained level 2 or above in 66, or 79.5%, of these. A candidate at Sha Tsui Correctional Institution (STCI) scored 22 marks across five subjects – the highest score of the 14 inmates. This included achieving level 5* grades in Chinese Language and Tourism & Hospitality Studies and an “Attained” in Citizenship & Social Development. STCI Superintendent Poon Ho-lam highlighted that sitting their exams not only boosted the young inmates' self-confidence, but also helped them to find a clear direction in life. He urged them to maintain a proactive and earnest attitude, and to meet challenges ahead with determination. Mr Poon called on the public to give rehabilitated people fair opportunities and accept and support their reintegration into society.
The Police Force’s National Security Department (NSD) arrested five people in Mong Kok today on suspicion of committing seditious acts. The operation was launched following a referral from the Customs and Excise Department, which had earlier intercepted an overseas shipment containing a batch of books with seditious intent. Following investigations, NSD officers searched two shops in Mong Kok. They arrested two men, aged 37 and 57, and three women, aged between 30 and 59, on suspicion of “doing an act that has a seditious intention with a seditious intention”, contravening section 24 of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. Police investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly displayed items with seditious intent and sold publications with seditious content inside the shops. These publications contained content inciting hatred against the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, the judiciary and law enforcement agencies. A batch of books was seized during the operation. All five individuals remain in custody for further investigation.
The Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area Bill was published in the Government Gazette today. The bill turns the central authorities’ recent formal authorisation for Hong Kong to exercise jurisdiction over the "Huangang Port Area and Related Extended Areas" (HKPA) into Hong Kong law, and provides the legal basis for running a joint checkpoint at the redeveloped port. It will be introduced into the Legislative Council (LegCo) for first and second readings tomorrow. On July 8, the State Council issued an Official Reply in relation to the commissioning of the HKPA, stipulating its co-ordinates and extent. The reply also spelled out that the HKPA is to be commissioned from 00.00 hours on July 31, and will be subject to the jurisdiction of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in accordance with its laws. As to the HKPA's official opening date, the reply said this will be agreed upon by the governments of Guangdong and Hong Kong. The Hong Kong SAR Government said it is obliged to complete relevant local legislative work before July 31, in order to ensure that central authorities' authorisation is duly implemented. The main provisions of the bill include: declaring certain Chinese Mainland areas of the Huanggang Port as the HKPA; providing for the application of Hong Kong laws in the HKPA and for the jurisdiction of Hong Kong courts in this connection; extending the territorial scope of certain pre-existing rights and obligations to include the HKPA; and making provisions to assist in the construction of certain future documents and court orders. At present, the superstructure of the Huanggang Port Building is substantially completed. Interior fitting-out works and the installation of required facilities are underway. The Government emphasised that the early passage of the bill will facilitate preparatory work to ensure that the port is ready for operation. It added that it will fully co-operate with LegCo to strive for early completion of the local legislative work, and work closely with the Guangdong and Shenzhen authorities to take forward all preparatory work at full steam.
Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Rosanna Law inspected a passing-out parade for 13 probationary inspectors and 131 recruit police constables at the Police College today, urging them to serve as the public's trusted guardians. Speaking at the ceremony, Miss Law highlighted that the country has officially entered a new phase under the National 15th Five-Year Plan this year, heralding unprecedented development opportunities for Hong Kong. She noted that Hong Kong serves as an important gateway for the nation's opening up. The city leverages the strong support of the motherland while maintaining close global connections under the "one country, two systems" principle. The city has been proactively aligning with the national development strategies and deepening its integration into the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Miss Law emphasised that a safe, stable and lawful society forms the foundation of all development. Therefore, the Police Force’s role in steadfastly upholding the rule of law and maintaining social order remains of paramount importance. Having worked closely with the Police Force across various government roles over the years, Miss Law observed that Hong Kong faces both new opportunities and challenges amid a complex, changing geopolitical environment. Safeguarding national security, she added, must remain the top operational priority for the Police Force. She expressed her hope that police officers will consistently uphold professionalism, impartiality, empathy and the highest standards of integrity, regardless of shifts in the social climate. Miss Law urged the graduates to act strictly in accordance with the law, safeguard social order, and think from the citizens' perspectives. By devoting themselves to public well-being, she said they will provide a solid security guarantee for the smooth implementation of the National 15th Five-Year Plan in Hong Kong.
The Government today launched a one-month public consultation on proposals to improve the laws on sexual offences in Hong Kong, aiming to fortify safeguards for victims while ensuring the laws keep pace with changing times. The Government stated that it attaches great importance to the well-being of the general public, particularly children and persons with mental impairment (PMIs), and to shielding them against sexual exploitation and abuse. Currently, numerous sexual offences in Hong Kong are based on similar provisions instituted in English laws back in 1956. The Government said that as social perceptions related to sexual offences evolve over time, the existing provisions show inadequacies. It therefore considers it necessary to address shortcomings in these provisions. Over several years, the Law Reform Commission (LRC) undertook a review of sexual offences and published four consultation papers on specific aspects. These were followed by two reports containing a total of 72 final recommendations. The Government subsequently crafted a range of legislative amendment proposals based on the LRC's recommendations and with reference to the development of relevant laws in other major common law jurisdictions. These proposals cover non-consensual sexual offences involving children, sexual offences involving PMIs, miscellaneous sexual offences, and other related amendments, to strengthen protections for victims of sexual offences. Members of the public are invited to submit their views by August 5 via email, fax to 2524 3762, or mail to Security Bureau A Division, 8th Floor, East Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar. Click here for the consultation paper.
The Greater Bay Area Foreign-Related Adjudication Talent Training Course, jointly organised by the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy and the High People's Court of Guangdong Province, started today in Guangzhou. During the opening ceremony, Secretary for Justice Paul Lam highlighted that the course is tailored for judges from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and nearby provinces. The initiative follows collaborations between the academy and the Supreme People's Court and the Shanghai High People's Court. Mr Lam noted that the course aims to deepen judicial exchanges between Hong Kong and the Mainland, aligning with the National 15th Five-Year Plan’s goals to strengthen co-ordination in regional development and boost the GBA’s role as an engine for high-quality development. This effort contributes to the construction of a collaborative mechanism for cultivating foreign-related legal talent within the GBA. The training course focuses on Hong Kong's common law system and the practical application of guarantee law in foreign-related hearings through lectures and dialogues. To enhance participants' cross-boundary case capabilities, judges from Hong Kong's Court of First Instance of the High Court and senior legal professionals have been invited to deliver lectures. More than 100 senior judges specialising in foreign-related and bankruptcy adjudication from 68 courts across 32 cities in Guangdong Province and neighbouring areas, such as Guangxi, Hainan and Hunan are taking part in the three-day training course.