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2026
The Police Force's National Security Department arrested a man and woman in Kowloon on October 6 on suspicion of “doing with a seditious intention an act that had a seditious intention” under Section 24 of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. The two arrested individuals, both 38, including a male licensed insurance broker, were suspected of operating pages on various social media platforms and publishing seditious posts that incited hatred against the constitutional order of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The arrested man also profited by selling insurance products. Prior to the operation, the Police obtained court search warrants to search the residences of the suspects and seize relevant exhibits. The two individuals will be released on bail for further investigation.
The Police Force has alerted the public to fraudulent websites purporting to be its “eTraffic Ticket Platform”. The websites falsely claim that discounts are available for early fine payment, in an attempt to deceive citizens into providing their credit card details and personal information. The genuine web address of the Police Force’s “eTraffic Ticket Platform” is https://www.etrafficticket.gov.hk. Members of the public are urged to remain vigilant. The force emphasised that no discounts are offered for the payment of traffic ticket fines. Moreover, SMS messages about electronic Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) will only be issued under the sender name “#HKPF-eTT”, and these FPNs, whether issued via SMS messages or email, will never contain any hyperlinks. Anyone who has submitted personal information via the fraudulent websites should report the matter to the force by calling 18222. Call 181 181 for platform enquiries.
Eligible Hong Kong residents can enrol for the “collaborative inspection” automated channel service via the Immigration Department’s “HK e-Channel” mobile application from today. Expected to be commissioned in this quarter, the redeveloped Huanggang Port is installed with 134 “collaborative inspection” automated channels and 68 traditional manual counters. Enrolled passengers using the former will only need to queue up and resent their identity documents once to complete immigration clearance procedures for both Hong Kong and Shenzhen. Hong Kong residents aged seven or above who fulfil the following criteria can enrol for the service starting from today: Individuals who have registered for the Mainland’s e-Channel and hold a Hong Kong permanent identity card paired with a Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong & Macao Residents (Home Visit Permit) or a Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (Non-Chinese Citizens) are eligible. Individuals holding a Hong Kong identity card and a Home Visit Permit who have registered for the Mainland’s e-Channel. Individuals holding a Hong Kong identity card and an “Exit-Entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao” with a valid endorsement for travelling to Hong Kong. Eligible Hong Kong residents aged 18 or above can use a smartphone with biometric authentication technology to download the department’s “HK e-Channel” mobile application, select “Collaborative Inspection”, authenticate their identity via “iAM Smart”, and follow the instructions to complete enrolment for the service. For eligible Hong Kong residents aged seven to 17, parents or legal guardian must complete the enrolment procedures on their behalf using the “HK e-Channel” mobile application. In addition, all eligible Hong Kong residents can proceed to the e-Channel enrolment offices or self-service kiosks at the Huanggang Port for on-site enrolment. Eligible Hong Kong residents aged 18 or above can also enrol and complete the immigration clearance procedures for both regions simultaneously at the “collaborative inspection” automated channels. Mainland visitors holding an “Exit-Entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong & Macao” with a valid endorsement for travelling to Hong Kong can also proceed to the e-Channel enrolment offices at the Huanggang Port for on-site enrolment. Eligible Mainland visitors aged 18 or above can enrol and complete the immigration clearance procedures for both regions simultaneously at the “collaborative inspection” automated channels. When enrolling for the “collaborative inspection” automated channel service, eligible Hong Kong residents and Mainland visitors aged 14 or above can also enrol for the “Face Scan” clearance service, in which mode there is no need to present identity documents. The department reminds passengers they are still required to carry their valid travel documents conforming to the immigration requirements of both regions when using the new channels to travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland. Furthermore, passengers can also choose to use the traditional manual counters for immigration clearance.
Ahead of the highly anticipated opening of the redeveloped Huanggang Port, the Security Bureau hosted a community experience day today, welcoming 1,500 members of the public to tour the new Huanggang Port Building Hong Kong Port Area. Participants travelled from designated pick-up points across various districts via franchised buses and cross-boundary coachs. Guided by officers from the Fire Services Department and the Correctional Services Department, the visitors explored the port building in groups. The tour began at the public transport interchange, where participants were briefed on upcoming transit arrangements. They then moved through the main building to explore its interior design features and passenger-friendly amenities, including the free government Wi-Fi service. On the fifth floor, Immigration Department officers demonstrated the new "collaborative inspection" automated channels in the departure hall, giving residents a firsthand look at the innovative "collaborative inspection and joint clearance" mode. The tour continued on the fourth-floor arrival hall, where Hong Kong Customs officers explained the streamlined passenger clearance and inspection procedures. Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung visited the venue and spoke with attendees to gather feedback and hear about their visit experiences. Expressing his gratitude for the public’s positive response, Mr Tang noted that residents are eagerly awaiting the port’s opening, which promises a faster and more convenient travel experience. He also distributed gift packs and took photos with the visitors. The bureau described the event’s atmosphere as enthusiastic and highly engaging. It added that the event deepened public understanding of the new facility’s transport logistics, customs operations and passenger services. Moving forward, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will maintain close co-operation with Shenzhen authorities to finalise preparations for the port’s official opening.
The Department of Health (DH) and the Police Force today seized over 5,900 items of suspected unregistered pharmaceutical products and/or Part 1 poisons from two premises in Tsim Sha Tsui during a raid. The operation was conducted after intelligence indicated that certain premises were suspected of providing injectable treatments involving unregistered pharmaceutical products to the public. One of the premises raided operated as a company claiming to provide medical health management services. The DH said the case remains under investigation and did not rule out further arrests. It reminded the public that injection procedures are medical procedures which must only be performed by locally registered medical practitioners or registered dentists. For queries about disease prevention and treatment, consult a registered doctor instead of blindly trusting unproven medical claims. Under the Pharmacy & Poisons Ordinance, any product that meets the definition of a pharmaceutical product must meet the criteria of safety, efficacy and quality and must be registered with the Pharmacy & Poisons Board of Hong Kong before it may be distributed in the city. The illegal supply or possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products or Part 1 poisons is a criminal offence. Upon conviction, each offence carries a maximum penalty of a fine of $100,000 and two years imprisonment. The DH stressed that it will continue taking enforcement action if it suspects that a person has illegally supplied and/or possessed unregistered pharmaceutical products. If healthcare professionals are involved, the case will be referred to the relevant professional regulatory body for follow-up. The department has been taking stringent enforcement action against such offences to safeguard public safety. From 2021 to June 2026, its Drug Office handled 138 cases resulting in convictions. The maximum penalty has been 10 months' imprisonment or a fine of up to $242,000. The DH will continue to closely monitor pharmaceutical products on the market and take appropriate follow-up action upon receiving intelligence or complaints. The department also noted that it has sent a letter to all doctors and private healthcare facilities in Hong Kong, reminding them that they must comply with the law in Hong Kong, as the illegal sale or possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products is a criminal offence.
The Police Force’s National Security Department today arrested a man and a woman on suspicion of committing seditious acts. Police reported that people were observed standing outside MTR Prince Edward Station holding bouquets and shouting seditious slogans on the evening of August 31. The arrestees are a 37-year-old local man and a 58-year-old local woman. Police arrested them for the offence of “doing an act that has a seditious intention with a seditious intention”, in contravention of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. Prior to the arrests, Police obtained court warrants to search their residences and seize relevant items. The two arrestees are currently being detained for further enquiries, and the force's arrest operation remains ongoing. Similar operations have been conducted recently. A local man and two local women were arrested on September 27 and 28, following the September 3 arrests of two local men and a local woman. All six of those arrestees have been released on bail pending further investigations. Police stated that the so-called “831 incident” lacks any factual basis, describing it as a lie perpretrated by individuals with ulterior motives to attack the HKSAR Government, smear the Police Force, and attempt to achieve their political objectives by endangering public peace. Authorities emphasised that the acts in question constitute a serious crime and carry a maximum penalty of seven years’ imprisonment upon first conviction.
The Government today announced that a resident who has completed a sentence in the Philippines has returned to Hong Kong safely accompanied by officers from the Immigration Department (ImmD). He reunited with his family at the Hong Kong airport upon arrival in the city and expressed gratitude to the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government for their years of assistance, which enabled his prompt return to the city to reunite with his family after being released. His family was delighted with the reunion and thanked the Hong Kong SAR Government and the ImmD for maintaining close contact with them and for providing proactive responses to their assistance requests. The Government stated that it has always attached great importance to cases involving Hong Kong residents detained or imprisoned overseas, safeguarding their legal rights and remaining committed to providing assistance to them. Upon the ImmD's receipt of the request-for-assistance from the resident's family in 2003, the Hong Kong SAR Government maintained close contact with the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the HKSAR (OCMFA) and the Embassy, making every effort to provide practicable assistance to the resident and his family. The Embassy also attached great importance to the case, having arranged officials to pay visits to the detained Hong Kong resident during his sentence and actively approached the local judicial authorities to follow up on the situation. Upon learning that the resident had completed his sentence in the Philippines, the ImmD and the Embassy actively liaised with relevant Filipino authorities to follow up and immediately issued him with travel documents to expedite the overall repatriation procedure. The Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit of the ImmD also sent officers to the Philippines to co-ordinate the relevant repatriation arrangements with the Embassy and the Filipino authorities. The Hong Kong SAR Government expressed gratitude to the OCMFA and the Embassy for their support and assistance in facilitating the prompt return of the resident following his release, which resulted in a prompt and smooth repatriation arrangement. The ImmD will continue to follow up on the case and provide practicable assistance to the resident.
The Immigration Department estimates that around 7.44 million travellers, including Hong Kong residents and visitors, will pass through Hong Kong's sea, land and air control points during the Mainland's upcoming National Day Golden Week period, from October 1 to 7. The information was released today by the interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements, led by the Chief Secretary. The department, in consultation with the "Shenzhen General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection" and other Mainland authorities, estimates that around 6.31 million passengers will pass through land boundary control points (BCPs). The number of outbound and inbound passengers using land BCPs will be comparatively higher on the weekend. Around 587,000 passengers are expected on Saturday, and around 586,000 on Sunday. The department estimates that passenger traffic at the Lo Wu Control Point, the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point and the Shenzhen Bay Control Point will be heavy, with daily average forecasts of about 220,000, 190,000 and 150,000 passengers at the three points respectively. Residents and visitors can visit Easy Boundary, a one-stop information platform on immigration clearance launched by the Security Bureau. It carries information on average waiting times for passengers and private cars at land BCPs, as well as waiting times for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge cross-boundary shuttle bus and the Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang cross-boundary shuttle bus.
The Government will expand two immigration facilitation schemes starting October 1 to boost economic and trade interactions and exchanges by allowing more visitors to Hong Kong. Among them, the coverage of the Immigration Facilitation Scheme for Invited Persons will extend beyond current Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states to countries and regions in Central Asia and the Middle East. Newly covered Central Asian countries include Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Gulf Cooperation Council nations will also be included: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Consequently, all bureaus and departments can issue invitations under the initiative to facilitate invited people to visit Hong Kong for exchanges. The second one to be expanded is the Immigration Facilitation Scheme for Visitors Participating in Short-term Activities in Designated Sectors (STV Scheme). Following a review, the STV Scheme will add the social welfare sector to its existing 17 categories, enabling non-local talent to enter Hong Kong for specified short-term activities such as symposiums, workshops and research. Additionally, more authorised organisations and specified short-term activities are added across three existing fields, including international/mega events, higher education and finance. Invited people can visit Hong Kong for these activities as visitors without needing employment visas or entry permits from the Immigration Department. All participating bureaus and departments will ensure the implementation of the scheme consistently meets relevant policy objectives, avoiding displacement of the local workforce and minimising abuse risks.
The Immigration Department (ImmD) announced today a relaxation of the eligibility criteria for enrollment in the Pilot Seamless e-Channel service at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) Hong Kong Port with immediate effect. Under the revised arrangements, Hong Kong permanent residents aged 11 or above holding a valid smart identity card are now eligible to enrol if they have arrived in or departed from Hong Kong via the port’s Passenger Clearance Building six times or more within the past 90 days. In addition to using the ImmD’s Contactless e-Channel mobile application, eligible residents aged 18 or above can now complete their enrolment directly via designated e-Channels at the HZMB Hong Kong Port. Eligible passengers using the designated e-Channels for immigration clearance will be automatically identified for enrolment into the Seamless e-Channel service and shown an on-screen prompt message. Travellers can choose to opt in, allowing them to simultaneously pass through immigration and complete the registration process. Once enrolled, passengers can utilise the Seamless e-Channel service for their subsequent departures. Since its launch on June 25 this year, approximately 14,000 eligible Hong Kong permanent residents have enrolled in the Seamless e-Channel service, with total passenger throughput exceeding 100,000 trips. The ImmD will continue to review system operations and collect performance data to evaluate the feasibility of extending the Seamless e-Channel service to other immigration control points and expanding eligibility for other passengers. Enquiries can be made by calling the hotline at 2824 6111, by faxing 2877 7711, or via email.