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2026
The Immigration Department today announced that enhancements for Hong Kong residents using automated passenger clearance services in the Macao Special Administrative Region will take effect on January 19. The enhancements will be launched in collaboration with the Public Security Police Force, the Identification Services Bureau and the Public Security Forces Affairs Bureau of Macao. The new measures include adjusting the eligible age for mutual use of automated immigration clearance services and relaxing the requirements for the use of self-service enrolment kiosks for enrolment of such services. At present, Hong Kong residents aged 11 or above holding a valid Hong Kong permanent identity card are eligible for using the automated passenger clearance services in the Macao Special Administrative Region after enrolment. Under the new measure, Hong Kong residents aged seven to 10 holding a valid Hong Kong permanent identity card will also be eligible for using the automated passenger clearance services in the Macao SAR after enrolment. Similarly, Macau residents aged seven to 10 holding a valid Macau permanent identity card may use e-Channels to complete the automated immigration clearance after enrolment. Moreover, Hong Kong non-permanent residents aged 18 or above, holding a valid Hong Kong identity card and a valid Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Document of Identity for Visa Purposes with a validity of more than 90 days may perform the self-service enrolment for using the automated passenger clearance services in the Macao SAR at designated locations in Macau. Under the new measure, these people may also do so at the enrolment kiosks installed at designated control points or at various Registration of Persons Offices in Hong Kong. Meanwhile, Macau residents aged 18 or above holding a valid Macau non-permanent identity card and a valid visit permit for residents of Macau to the Hong Kong SAR may also perform the self-service enrolment for using e-Channel services at designated locations in the Macao SAR. For enquiries, call 2824 6111, fax 2877 7711 or send an email to [email protected].
Police announced today that the identification and forensic examination of remains from the Tai Po Wang Fuk Court fire have been completed, with a total of 168 deceased persons confirmed. A fireman, two interior decorators, five construction workers, nine Indonesian domestic helpers and one Filipina domestic helper were among the deceased which comprised 58 males and 110 females, aged between six months and 98. Four of them were certified dead after being taken to hospital, while the remains of the other 164 were recovered at the scene. All bereaved families have been notified of the confirmed identities of the deceased, and all remains recovered in the incident have been positively identified, leaving no unidentified remains outstanding. Additionally, all enquiries regarding the Wang Fuk Court fire received by the Casualty Enquiry Unit have been verified, with no missing persons unaccounted for. Police continue to probe the fire, with a death investigation report to be submitted to the coroner, who will then review it and decide whether an inquest should be held. Should a hearing be convened, Police will submit the deceased individual's particulars to the court. These particulars will not be disclosed at this stage to respect the wishes of the grieving relatives. Call the Police casualty enquiry hotline at 1878 999 for enquiries.
The second edition of the Hong Kong Common Law Practical Training Course, co-organised by the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy and the Supreme People’s Court (SPC), is being held from today to January 22. Speaking at the course’s opening ceremony today, Secretary for Justice Paul Lam stressed that it is key to implementing the national policy of strengthening Mainland judges’ ability to handle foreign-related cases, in line with anticipated priorities in the 15th Five-Year Plan. The Department of Justice highlighted that this year’s course builds on last year’s inaugural course and focuses on company law. The course has attracted the participation of 24 senior judges from 22 courts on the Mainland – including the SPC and courts in 12 provinces and three directly-administered municipalities. The department said the course will feature an in-depth exploration of Hong Kong’s robust company law framework through lectures, dialogue sessions and interactive exercises on topics such as company structures, guarantees and liquidations. Speakers include leading Hong Kong legal scholars, experts and judges, who will share practical insights into the city’s common law system and company law. With the Ceremonial Opening of the 2026 Legal Year taking place this month, the department said course participants will attend this important annual legal event, and will also visit courts and international legal institutions in Hong Kong to learn more about the city’s development as a legal hub and a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region. The Secretary for Justice outlined that the last year’s course was the academy’s inaugural event following its launch in 2024, and that positive results had been recorded. He thanked the SPC for its continued support for and trust in the academy. The department said the academy will continue to organise capacity-building programmes aimed at leveraging the unique advantages of the “one country, two systems” principle and Hong Kong’s common law system. By doing so, it will promote judicial and legal exchanges and mutual learning between the Mainland and Hong Kong, and further contribute to the country’s efforts to develop foreign-related rule of law, the department added.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government welcomed the judgment handed down by the Court of First Instance today to dismiss Chow Hang-tung’s application for a judicial review on the clothing policy for persons in custody (PICs). The court judgment pointed out that the current clothing policy for PICs, including the requirement for female PICs to wear trousers in summer daytime, was formulated by the Correctional Services Department (CSD) as authorised by the Prison Rules. The court was satisfied that the CSD had the expertise and experience in the relevant context, and that it had carefully considered various factors, and had taken professional opinion into account when making the decision, as well as reviewed the policy continuously. The court ruled that Chow Hang-tung had failed to demonstrate that the current policy constituted less favourable treatment of a particular gender. It pointed out that there was currently no factual evidence to support any assertion that there was widespread concern about the health effects of wearing trousers in summer. In addition, the rule was not absolute, but instead allowed individual PICs to apply for exceptional arrangements in special circumstances. At the same time, the court also rejected Chow Hang-tung’s assertion that her request to the CSD in July and August 2024 for wearing shorts and had been refused. The Security Bureau said the Court of First Instance’s ruling confirmed that the CSD’s approach is reasonable, justified and lawful. According to Rule 26 of the Prison Rules, the CSD must provide every PIC with a uniform that meets a scale imposed by the Commissioner of Correctional Services. Over the years, the CSD had appointed task groups from time to time to review the clothing arrangements of PICs. These reviews gave ample consideration to numerous factors so as to continuously refine clothing arrangements according to the prevailing circumstances. Such factors included the type of correctional institutions, PICs’ varying daily routines and activities involved, the need for thermal, physical and psychological comfort for PICs of both genders, privacy and decency of PICs, and the security, good order and discipline of the prison. The bureau added that Chow Hang-tung’s assertion that she had requested to wear shorts in summer and was rejected by the CSD is entirely inconsistent with the facts, and was rejected by the court. Besides, the current clothing policy for PICs already provides a degree of flexibility. For example, a PIC may make an application to wear other clothing on medical or non-medical grounds to the CSD which would make appropriate arrangements having considered the actual circumstances and relevant factors. The bureau added that the CSD will continue to impartially implement the relevant rules of the Prison Rules in accordance with the law, and commit to providing a secure, safe, humane, decent and healthy custodial environment.
The Law Reform Commission today published Cyber-Dependent Crimes & Jurisdictional Issues, a report that recommends the introduction of new legislation to address five types of “cyber-dependent” crimes. The Government said it welcomed the report and will conduct a thorough study of its recommendations. The five types of “cyber-dependent” crimes identified are ones that can be committed only by using information and communications technology, namely illegally accessing programs or data, illegal interception of data, illegal interference with data, illegal interference with computer systems, and making available a device, program or data for use in committing a cyber-related crime. The commission’s Cybercrime Sub-committee has studied current laws in Hong Kong, as well as corresponding legislation in Australia, Canada, the Chinese Mainland, New Zealand, Singapore, the US, and England and Wales. It highlighted that, at present, different computer-related offences are covered in Hong Kong’s Crimes Ordinance and the Telecommunications Ordinance, but that some of these are outdated. Moreover, all of the other jurisdictions studied have legislated against the five types of cyber-dependent crime identified either through bespoke cyber-crime legislation or amending parts of existing codified laws. One of the report’s recommendations is that accessing programs or data without lawful authority should be a summary offence. It stresses that an aggravated form of the offence arises if the unauthorised access is accompanied by intent to carry out further criminal activity. The commission also recommends that unauthorised interception of computer data carried out for dishonest or criminal purposes should be an offence. It says this would protect both private and non-private communications, and would apply to data generally. In addition, the report proposes that both illegal interference with computer data and computer systems, and knowingly making available a device, program or data for use in committing a cyber-related crime, should be offences. In line with international norms, it recommends that Hong Kong law should provide for the extra-territorial application of the five cyber-dependent offences proposed. It adds that Hong Kong courts should have jurisdiction in cases where connections with Hong Kong exist. The report also advises that, as the severity of the harms caused by cyber-crime are wide-reaching, each of the proposed offences should carry a maximum sentence for summary convictions of two years’ imprisonment, and one of 14 years’ imprisonment for convictions on indictment. For aggravated forms of Interference Offences involving danger to life – for example, interference with a railway signal system – the proposed maximum penalty is life imprisonment. The commission said the report represents its first set of findings following the issuance of a consultation paper by its Cybercrime Sub-committee in 2022, and that responses to the paper were taken into account in formulating the recommendations contained in the report. It added that the report adopted the guiding principle of balancing the rights of users of information and communications technology and the interests of persons in the information technology industry against the need to protect the public against being disturbed or attacked when using or operating computer systems. In a statement, the Security Bureau said the Government will carefully consider how to follow up on the report and implement its recommendations. The commission’s Cybercrime Sub‑committee is also conducting further research into other aspects relating to cybercrime. The Government said it will study all of the commission’s findings carefully and thoroughly with a view to formulating comprehensive legislation that addresses the challenges to public order arising from advancements in information technology.
The Department of Justice announced today the establishment of an "Expert Committee on Professional Services for Going Global", which will advise it on leveraging Hong Kong’s legal and other professional services sectors in support of Chinese Mainland enterprises seeking to “go global”. Chaired by Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan, the 13-strong committee comprises, for a term of two years, experts from the legal, financial and accounting sectors from both the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong, as well as outstanding business and corporate representatives. It will provide advice and assistance to better meet the needs of Chinese Mainland enterprises looking to expand overseas, and will co-ordinate with Hong Kong’s professional services sectors, including its legal, accounting and financial sectors, to support these efforts. Mr Cheung highlighted that the Hong Kong Professional Services GoGlobal Platform, officially launched by the department on December 13 with the support of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, marks a new phase of collaborative support for Mainland enterprises going global. The expert committee will support and promote the work of the platform by gathering strategic advice from its members.
The Fire Services Department yesterday introduced new measures, with immediate effect, to enhance the management of fire service installations and the transparency of relevant information. The department issued two circular letters to regulate registered fire service installation contractors (RFSICs). The letters direct RFSICs to enhance the management of fire service installations and equipment (FSI) and to increase the transparency of information relating to the operational status of FSIs. When there is any defect in FSIs such as hose reels and manual call points, RFSICs must affix a Damage Notice complying with standard requirements in a prominent position on the FSI to facilitate easy identification. This is to guide the public to avoid using non-operable FSIs during emergencies. In addition, RFSICs are required to apply seals to the main power switches of FSI systems to prevent power from being turned off by mistake. They must also facilitate inspections by property management staff to assess power supply status and ensure timely follow-up actions. The department also reminds RFSICs that before turning off FSIs for works, pre-assessment should be conducted on whether functions of other FSIs will be affected, and all areas being affected should be reported concurrently to the FSD. RFSICs must put up large-sized notices at prominent locations such as main building entrances and lift lobbies, clearly outlining information including dates of any FSI operation suspension and areas that will be affected, to keep occupants, property management staff, and other relevant parties informed. This is to raise occupants’ awareness of fire safety when FSIs are not in working order or being shut down. The department emphasises that RFSICs must strictly adhere to the new requirements. Any misconduct or negligence may result in disciplinary actions by the department, including being removed from the register of RFSICs.
The Government today reminded members of the public that, starting from January 25, all seated passengers on public transport and in commercial vehicles must wear seat belts. In addition, drivers of all vehicles must not place more than two mobile telecommunications devices (MTDs) in front of themselves during driving. Under new rules, all passenger seats on public and private buses, all rear passenger seats on private light buses and goods vehicles, and all driver seats and passenger seats on special purpose vehicles must be equipped with seat belts if the vehicles are first registered on or after January 25. Drivers and passengers occupying seats of these types of vehicles, whether newly registered or not, will be required to wear seat belts if they are provided. Going forward, offending vehicle owners, drivers or passengers will all be liable to a maximum fine of $5,000 and imprisonment for up to three months. The Government said that around 3,500 franchised buses are now equipped with seat belts, representing about 60% of the entire fleet in Hong Kong. As for the MTD requirement, from January 25 drivers must have more than two devices – whether mobile phones, tablet computers or laptop computers – in front of them as they drive. The diagonal length of individual screens must not exceed 19 cm, and MTDs must not obstruct a driver’s view of the road or of any device fitted for viewing roads. Offenders will be liable to a maximum fine of $2,000. Call 2804 2600 for details.
The interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements today said that around 950,000 visitors arrived in Hong Kong over New Year holidays between the New Year’s Eve and yesterday, representing an increase of about 40% over the same period last year. The working group remarked that all aspects of receiving visitors to Hong Kong operated smoothly. Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki, who leads the working group, said the New Year's Eve and New Year holidays coincided with a three-day New Year public holiday on the Mainland. Coupled with an array of festive activities, including the Hong Kong New Year Countdown, visitors were attracted to experience the festive ambience in the city. During the New Year's Eve and New Year holidays, Mainland inbound visitors accounted for over 740,000, representing an increase of about 48% year-on-year. Whereas the number of non-Mainland inbound visitors was around 210,000, representing an increase of about 19%. Mainland visitor arrivals peaked at around 220,000 on January 1. Visitors went to various major tourist attractions in Hong Kong during the New Year's Eve and New Year holidays as well as attractions within country parks, including the East Dam of High Island Reservoir at Sai Kung and Tai Tong Sweet Gum Woods at Tai Lam Country Park.
Starting from tomorrow, the service hours of the Police Force's Tai Po fire casualty enquiry hotline, 1878 999, will be adjusted. The new service hours will be 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays. The force explained that the latest adjustment was made in view of public demand for the service.