The Chief Executive's 2020 Policy Address -
SupplementChapter I - Foreword
To give a full account of the Government’s work, it has been our
practice to publish a document to supplement the Policy Address
listing out those ongoing and new initiatives. Last year, we
introduced a new format using more infographics to make the
document more readable and expanded it to cover on a cumulative
basis the progress made since the beginning of the current-term
Government. This comprehensive account has generally been welcomed
by the media and the community at large.
The year 2020 is an exceptional year for Hong Kong, with the
COVID-19 pandemic bringing unprecedented challenges to the economy
and disruptions to school learning, businesses and social life and
reinforcing the need for public health vigilance and the wider
application of technology. As a result of unjustified response
towards the enactment of The Law of the People’s Republic of China
on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region (the National Security Law), Hong Kong has
been put at the forefront of China-US tension and has been subject
to unfair commentaries internationally and various sanctions by
the US Government. That said, the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region (HKSAR) Government remains steadfast in fully and
effectively implementing the National Security Law in discharging
the HKSAR’s constitutional responsibilities to safeguard national
sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. Taking account of
these exceptional happenings in the past year, we have included
two new chapters in this Supplement to report on the Government’s
work in upholding the fundamental policy of “One Country, Two
Systems” as well as actions relating to combating the pandemic.
There are eight chapters in this Supplement. From Chapter IV
onwards, each chapter is compiled around a theme and describes My
Belief, Progress Made since 1 July 2017 and New Initiatives. The
2017, 2018 and 2019 Policy Addresses and related documents
contained about 700 new initiatives, of which 95% have been
completed or are being taken forward as scheduled. About 200 new
initiatives are included in this Supplement and the 2020 Policy
Address delivered by the Chief Executive today.
Chapter II - Upholding and Improving the “One Country, Two
Systems” PracticeMy Belief
“… In view of the increasingly pronounced national security
risks faced by the HKSAR, the enactment of a national security
law at the state level is both necessary and urgent in order to
plug the loophole in national security in Hong Kong… I am
confident that after the implementation of the national security
law, the social unrest which has troubled Hong Kong people for
nearly a year will be eased and stability will be restored,
thereby enabling Hong Kong to start anew, focus on economic
development and improve people’s livelihood.”
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), being an
inalienable part of the People’s Republic of China, is directly
under the Central People’s Government and exercises a high
degree of autonomy. The Chief Executive is accountable to both
the HKSAR and the Central People’s Government. Under this “dual
responsibility”, the Chief Executive is required to
comprehensively, accurately and firmly implement the “One
Country, Two Systems” principle, uphold the Basic Law, defend
the rule of law and promote the relationship between the Central
Government and the HKSAR.
The “One Country, Two Systems” is the best institutional
arrangement to ensure Hong Kong’s long-term prosperity and
stability after our return to the Motherland. It is a workable
solution and an achievable goal welcomed by the people. Thus,
everybody with a passion for Hong Kong has the responsibility to
ensure that, here in Hong Kong, “One Country, Two Systems”
advances in the right direction, the obligation to say “no” to
any attempt to threaten our country’s sovereignty, security and
development interests, as well as the duty to nurture our next
generation into citizens with a sense of national identity, an
affection for Hong Kong and a sense of social responsibility.
The National Security Law is the turning point for Hong Kong to
find a way out of the impasse and restore order from chaos. The
HKSAR Government has the primary responsibility in the
implementation of the National Security Law, and will spare no
effort in fulfilling it. By establishing and improving the legal
system and enforcement mechanisms to safeguard national
security, Hong Kong will be able to stay clear of riots and
return to stability.
Judicial independence is the linchpin in upholding the rule of
law. The Basic Law clearly stipulates that the HKSAR enjoys
independent judicial power, including that of final
adjudication, and that our courts shall exercise judicial power
independently, free from any interference. We will continue to
steadfastly safeguard judicial independence.
InfographicsStatistics related to the social unrest since the second
half of 2019
The Police have arrested over 10 000 persons. Among these,
over 2 200 persons have been prosecuted and about 530 persons
have to bear legal consequence.
Rioters hurled over 5 000 petrol bombs during the violent
incidents, with over 10 000 petrol bombs seized by the Police:
3 900 of them were seized in one single incident.
740 traffic lights, 1 521 traffic bollards and 87 traffic
signs were damaged.
About 22 000 square metres of paving blocks of footpaths were
removed, enough to fill 48 basketball courts.
About 60 kilometres of railings were removed, which is 136
times the height of Two IFC.
85 (out of 93) heavy rail stations, and 62 (out of 68) light
rail stations were vandalised, with numerous facilities
repeatedly damaged.
Civil Service Establishment (2017-18 to 2020-21)
2017-18: 181 705
2018-19: 188 451
2019-20: 191 816
2020-21 (expected): 197 845
From 2017-18 to 2020-21, the civil service establishment has
increased by 11%.
Government Recurrent Expenditure (2017-18 to
2020-21)
2017-18: $362 billion
2018-19: $403 billion
2019-20: $442 billion
2020-21 (estimates): $487 billion
From 2017-18 to 2020-21, the government recurrent expenditure
has increased by 35%.
Youth members in advisory and statutory bodies
(ASBs)
The overall ratio of appointed youth members in ASBs has
increased from 7.8% in 2017 to 13% as at mid-2020, with a view
to gradually moving towards the target of 15% by mid-2022 set
by the current-term Government.
Women members in ASBs
The proportion of female non-official members in ASBs has
increased from 31% in 2015 to about 34% as at December 2019,
very close to the target of 35%.
Non-refoulement ClaimsNew claims received
2015 (Q4): 5 053 (peak from 2014 to September 2020)
2020 (as at end September 2020): 682
Claims pending screening by Immigration
Department
2016 (Q1): 11 201 (peak from 2014 to September 2020)
2020 (as at end September 2020): 298
Appeal cases pending handling by Torture Claims Appeal
Board
2018 (Q4): 6 520 (peak from 2014 to September 2020)
2020 (as at end September 2020): 1 870
Number of claimants repatriated
2018 (Q4): 2 527 (peak from 2014 to September 2020)
2020 (as at end September 2020): 440
As at end September 2020, there are still some 13 000
claimants / claimants whose claims had been rejected,
pending either screening of their claims, determination of
their appeals, repatriation, or being stranded in Hong Kong
for various reasons (e.g. imprisoned or pending judicial
review).
Progress Made
A total of 54 new initiatives were announced since July 2017
under “Good Governance”, of which 49 have been completed or are
progressing on schedule.
Key initiatives completed or major progress made are as follows:
National Security
On 30 June 2020, The Law of the People’s Republic of China
on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region (NSL) was promulgated for
implementation by the HKSAR Government. The Committee for
Safeguarding National Security of the HKSAR chaired by the
Chief Executive held its first meeting on 6 July 2020 and
enacted the Implementation Rules, which came into effect
on 7 July 2020, to enhance enforcement capability. (SB)
Set up dedicated offices in the Hong Kong Police Force
(Police Force) and Department of Justice to implement the
NSL, which provides the legal basis to prevent, suppress
and punish four types of offences endangering national
security; as well as established co-ordination mechanisms,
strengthened intelligence collection and analysis, and
stepped up the work on preventing terrorist activities.
(SB, DoJ)
Set up in April 2018 an inter-departmental
Counter-terrorism Unit led by the Police Force to
strengthen capacity in combating terrorist activities.
(SB)
Invoked in September 2018 relevant provisions in the
Societies Ordinance (Cap. 151) to prohibit the operation
of the Hong Kong National Party which was advocating
independence of Hong Kong. (SB)
National Anthem Ordinance
Enacted the National Anthem Ordinance on 12 June 2020,
signifying the HKSAR Government’s fulfilment of its
constitutional responsibility to implement the National
Anthem Law locally in accordance with Article 18 of the
Basic Law. (CMAB)
The Central Military Dock
Handed over the Central Military Dock to the Hong Kong
Garrison on 29 September 2020, marking the completion of
the responsibilities according to the arrangements for the
use of military sites in Hong Kong. (SB)
Promotion of the Constitution and the Basic Law
Organised in 2020 special publicity and education
programmes in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the
promulgation of the Basic Law, in addition to year-round
activities to promote understanding of the Constitution,
the Basic Law and “One Country, Two Systems”, under the
auspices of the Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee.
(CMAB)
Arranged since 2017 seminars, exhibitions and publicity on
the Constitution Day and the National Security Education
Day which fall on 4 December and 15 April respectively.
(CMAB, SB)
Strengthening National and Chinese History
Education
Strengthened school curriculum and life-wide learning
activities to help students understand the history,
culture and developments of our country and the
constitutional order established under the Constitution
and the Basic Law. (EDB)
Included Chinese History as an independent compulsory
subject for the junior secondary level since the 2018/19
school year. (EDB)
Boosting Implementation Capabilities of the Civil
Service
Increased the civil service establishment by about 19 600
posts (11%) between 2017–18 and 2020–21 to implement new
initiatives and ensure steady development of the civil
service. The projected establishment by end-March 2021
will be 197 845 posts. (CSB)
Invited in July 2018 all serving civil servants joining
the service between 1 June 2000 and 31 May 2015 to choose
to retire at 65 (for civilian grades) or 60 (for
disciplined services grades). At the end of the option
period, some 47 000 civil servants, representing about 83%
of those eligible have opted to retire later. (CSB)
Set up the new Civil Service College in a composite
development on a site in Kwun Tong. Construction is
expected to commence in 2022. Meanwhile, a civil service
training advisory board has been set up. (CSB)
Increased the number of short-term internship placements
from 2 890 to 3 600 in 2020 to expose more post-secondary
students to the work of the Government and public
organisations. (CSB)
Tightened the scrutiny of probationary civil servants to
instil a stronger sense of discipline and integrity among
civil servants, especially in light of a number of civil
servants being arrested during the social unrest. (CSB)
Completed four projects in recent years to provide staff
quarters for eligible disciplinary staff. Another four
projects are under construction. Provision of car parking
spaces has been increased in these quarters to meet
operational needs. The rank and file quarters for the Fire
Services Department at Pak Shing Kok is the first
government building project constructed using Modular
Integrated Construction technology. (SB)
Continued to enhance Government licensing services to
facilitate businesses. Of the 277 measures committed in
2018–19 and 2019–20 under the “Be the Smart Regulator”
Programme, 76% have been implemented. (EffO/ITB)
Launched the “Streamlining of Government Services”
Programme in 2019. In the year, 36 bureaux and departments
proposed 74 streamlining measures covering about 110
government services, with an estimated total annual
transaction volume of 27 million. (EffO/ITB)
Set up the Policy Innovation and Co-ordination Office in
April 2018 to assist in co-ordinating major government
initiatives and provide “first-stop” and “one-stop”
consultation services for non-governmental organisations.
(PICO/CSO)
Upgraded the Project Cost Management Office (PCMO) in
April 2019 to the Project Strategy and Governance Office
(PSGO) to implement various measures to optimise the
performance of infrastructure projects. In the past four
years, the PCMO/PSGO scrutinised more than 280 public
works projects of a total estimated cost of $520 billion
and achieved cost savings of $70 billion through
optimising project designs. (DEVB)
The Judiciary
Continued to appoint eminent judges from other common law
jurisdictions as non-Permanent Judges (CLNPJs) of the
Court of Final Appeal (CFA) in accordance with the Basic
Law. Since July 2017, three CLNPJs have been appointed by
the Chief Executive, including the first two lady judges
to sit on the CFA. (CSO)
Maintained oversight of the implementation of the new High
Court and District Court projects by the central steering
committee established under the Judiciary. The statutory
rezoning procedures for the latter’s development site is
expected to be completed within 2020. (CSO, DEVB)
Enacted the relevant legislative amendments to extend the
retirement ages of Judges at the High Court and above as
well as Magistrates generally by five years. (CSO)
Public Participation
The Chief Executive has chaired six summits on different
policy areas since 2017, including new directions of
taxation, poverty alleviation, disability inclusion and
quality education, to exchange views with stakeholders
directly on the relevant strategies, policies and
measures. (Relevant bureaux)
Increased the overall ratio of appointed youth members in
advisory and statutory bodies (ASBs) from 7.8% in 2017 to
13% as at mid-2020, with a view to reaching the 15% target
by end-June 2022. (HAB)
Increased the proportion of female non-official members in
ASBs from 31% in 2015 to about 34% as at December 2019,
very close to the target of 35%. (LWB)
Encouraged bureaux and departments to identify more
suitable ethnic minority talents for appointment to ASBs
and provided more opportunities for ethnic minorities to
seek employment in the Government. (CSO, CSB)
District Administration
Completed in end-September 2019 the pilot of district
visits by Secretaries of Department and Directors of
Bureau, with a total of 276 visits conducted (i.e. one
visit every two working days on average). (HAB)
Implemented 27 projects under the Signature Project Scheme
spearheaded by the respective District Councils (DCs) with
24 of them in operation. (HAB)
Regularised the additional dedicated allocation of $20.8
million for the promotion of arts and cultural activities
under the community involvement programme and provided
additional resources to enhance the manpower support for
DCs. (HAB)
Increased the annual recurrent provision for District-led
Actions Scheme from $63 million to $80 million from
2020–21 onwards to further address long-standing problems
and capitalise on opportunities in the districts. (HAB)
Integrity
Launched an e-learning platform in 2020 to enhance the
integrity training for government officers on common
corruption pitfalls. (ICAC)
Launched in 2019 the “Youth-for-Youth” Co-creation Project
to engage young people as partners in creative multi-media
production to reinforce the core value of integrity in the
younger generation. (ICAC)
Organised a series of commemorative events for the 45th
anniversary of the Independent Commission Against
Corruption in 2019, including a television drama series.
(ICAC)
Launched in 2019 an Ethics Promotion Campaign for the
Insurance Industry and offered other tailor-made
anti-corruption services to individual insurance companies
to enhance an integrity culture in the industry. (ICAC)
Launched in 2018 a youth promotional programme to
disseminate anti-corruption messages via multi-media
platforms. (ICAC)
Strengthened international efforts since 2017 to promote
Hong Kong’s robust anti-corruption regime and probity
environment and provided advice and assistance to other
jurisdictions. Established connections with
anti-corruption institutions of over 50 countries and
conducted training courses for over 400 graft fighters
from all over the world. (ICAC)
Held the first tripartite meeting involving the
anti-corruption agencies in the Guangdong Province, Hong
Kong and Macao in May 2019 and worked with the Shenzhen
Qianhai Anti-Corruption Bureau to jointly launch pilot
training programmes in Qianhai for the Guangdong-Hong
Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). (ICAC)
Completed a review of works supervision system of the
Development Bureau and works departments and recommended a
series of corruption prevention measures for reducing the
possible risk of corruption in the system. (ICAC)
Developed an Integrity Management System (IMS) covering
elements on integrity policy and requirements, integrity
capacity building and integrity risk management to enhance
public works contractors’ awareness of and capabilities in
integrity management and corruption prevention. (ICAC)
Completed the second round consultation with the industry
on the extent of adopting IMS as a listing requirement of
Government’s approved public works contractors by 30
September 2020. (DEVB, ICAC)
Non-refoulement Claims
Largely completed the screening of pending non-refoulement
claims (which once accumulated to over 11 000 in early
2019) and substantially reduced the number of appeal cases
pending the handling of the Torture Claims Appeal Board
(TCAB) (from the peak of 6 500 to about 2 000 in
end-August 2020). It is expected that TCAB could complete
the handling of these cases by mid-2021 the earliest. In
2019, the number of new claims dropped significantly by
around 80% from the peak. (SB)
Crimes Ordinance
Commenced the preparation of legislation to amend the
Crimes Ordinance (Cap. 200) to introduce new criminal
offences on voyeurism, non-consensual photography of
intimate parts and distribution of intimate images, etc.
(SB)
Public Elections
Worked with the Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC) to
conduct the 2019 DC Ordinary Election in a fair, open and
honest manner in accordance with the law amid very
difficult circumstances caused by the social unrest.
(CMAB)
Reviewed the subsidy rate of financial assistance and the
election expenses limits for the seventh-term Legislative
Council (LegCo) General Election and introduced subsidiary
legislation to effect the required legislative amendments.
(CMAB)
Put forward two sets of subsidiary legislation that aim to
revise the requirement on disclosure of personal data in
the LegCo and DC elections. (CMAB)
Secured in November 2019 the passage of necessary
technical legislative amendments for public elections.
(CMAB)
Worked with EAC to follow up on the postponement of the
2020 LegCo General Election as a result of the Coronavirus
Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. (CMAB)
Public Finance
Increased recurrent government expenditure from $361.8
billion to $486.6 billion between 2017–18 and 2020–21,
representing an average annual growth of 10.4%. As at
end-March 2020, the fiscal reserves stood at $1,160.3
billion. (FSTB)
Continued to invest in infrastructure to meet Hong Kong’s
needs and create jobs. From 2017–18 to 2020–21, the
average capital works expenditure per year amounted to
$75.5 billion. (FSTB, DEVB)
Rolled out three rounds of measures under the
Anti-epidemic Fund and measures in the 2020–21 Budget
totalling over $300 billion to provide relief to
businesses and individuals hard hit by the COVID-19
pandemic. (FSTB)
Legal Aid
Increased the financial eligibility limits for legal aid
applicants by 36.9% with effect from 26 June 2020. The
limit for Ordinary Legal Aid Scheme increased from
$307,130 to $420,400 while the limit for Supplementary
Legal Aid Scheme increased from $1,535,650 to $2,102,000.
(CSO)
Records Keeping and Archives
The Law Reform Commission (LRC) completed in March 2019 a
public consultation on archives law. The Government will
examine in detail the recommendations after receiving the
report from LRC. (CSO)
Provided records management training for over 3 000
government officers from January to September 2020. The
target number of persons trained will increase to 10 000
per annum by 2021. (CSO)
Making preparations for rolling out the electronic
record-keeping system to all government bureaux and
departments by end-2025 to enhance efficiency in
preserving and managing government records. (CSO)
Access to Information
The LRC completed in March 2019 a public consultation on
access to information. The Government will examine in
detail the recommendations and consider how to further
improve the access to information regime after receiving
the report from LRC. (CMAB)
New InitiativesNational Flag and National Emblem Ordinance
Introduce amendments to the National Flag and National
Emblem Ordinance upon the enactment of the amendments to
the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the National
Flag and the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the
National Emblem by the Standing Committee of the National
People’s Congress. (CMAB)
Rule of LawVision 2030 for Rule of Law
Launch the 10-year initiative "Vision 2030 for Rule
of Law" during the Hong Kong Legal Week 2020 to
enhance the community’s understanding and practice of
the rule of law. (DoJ)
The Legal Hub
Open the Hong Kong Legal Hub in November 2020. The
project, which comprises the former Central Government
Offices and the former French Mission Building, aims to
attract reputable international legal services and
dispute resolution institutions to provide services or
set up offices in Hong Kong. Around 20 selected local,
regional and international law-related organisations are
gradually moving in and commencing operations. (DoJ)
Oath-taking by Public Officers
Put in place the oath-taking requirement for public
officers in accordance with Article 6 of the NSL.
(Relevant bureaux)
Revise and improve the relevant local legislation to
better implement the Interpretation of Article 104 of the
Basic Law by the National People’s Congress Standing
Committee in November 2016. (CMAB)
Require civil servants to take an oath or sign a
declaration that they will uphold the Basic Law, bear
allegiance to the HKSAR, and be responsible to the HKSAR
Government to genuinely manifest the established
responsibilities of civil servants under the Basic Law and
the Civil Service Code. (CSB)
Enhancing National Studies Training for Civil
Servants
Enhance national studies training for civil servants by
further increasing the number of training places in the
national studies programmes jointly organised with nine
institutions in the Mainland, and extend the Civil Service
Staff Exchange Programme between Hong Kong and the
Mainland to cover the Mainland municipalities in the GBA,
and continue to enhance the contents of the thematic
visits to the Mainland municipalities in the GBA. (CSB)
Better Use of Government Funds
Optimise the use of funding schemes/ funds set up by the
Government by cutting red tape, streamlining application
and vetting procedures, strengthening promotion and
focusing on how to help the target beneficiaries utilise
the existing funding schemes. (Relevant bureaux)
Public Sector Reform
Adopt innovation and technology and streamline business
processes to meet the rising expectations and changing
needs of businesses and the public under the “new normal”.
Measures include:
implement e-licensing for all licensing applications
by mid-2022 under the “Be the Smart Regulator”
programme. Past examples include licensing services
for 31 licences/certifications in respect of lift,
electricity and gas safety, and third party
certification mechanism on the building safety
requirements for educational premises and child care
centres; (Relevant bureaux)
reform some 900 government services under the
“Streamlining of Government Services” programme to
reduce documentation requirements, share application
information among different bureaux/departments and
schemes, and adopt people-centric design and
end-to-end process re-engineering; and (Relevant
bureaux)
introduce smart elements in prisons; apply artificial
intelligence, big data analytics, etc., to further
enhance the effectiveness of passenger, vehicle and
cargo clearance; explore the introduction of
innovative immigration clearance mode; and make better
use of technology for monitoring stock level of
dangerous drugs as well as formulating better
firefighting and rescue strategies. (SB)
Integrity
Publish by end-2020 a corruption prevention guide for
reference by non-disciplined service departments and
public bodies with regulatory or enforcement functions,
containing recommendations on corruption prevention
measures. (ICAC)
Issue in end-2020 a Corruption Prevention Guide on Works
Supervision to non-works departments and public bodies for
use in the administration of their works projects. (ICAC)
Produce in 2020 a series of picture books under the
“Reading for Integrity” Project to instil moral values
into young children. (ICAC)
Electoral Arrangements
Explore the use of electronic poll registers in Hong Kong
public elections to verify the identity of electors and
distribute ballot papers (i.e. electronic mode of ballot
paper distribution) with a view to implementing the
relevant measure in the 2021 LegCo General Election.
(CMAB)
Explore the setting up of polling-cum-counting stations in
the Mainland to facilitate registered electors to vote in
the 2021 LegCo General Election. (CMAB)
The Hong Kong Chronicles Project
Support the Hong Kong Chronicles Project undertaken by the
Hong Kong Chronicles Institute to record the development
of Hong Kong to promote the inheritance of history,
culture and convention of the city. The compilation work
is expected to take about eight years and its first
volume, Overview & Chronology, is scheduled for
release in December 2020. (HAB)
Chapter III - Together, We Fight the VirusMy Belief
Any fight against a pandemic will only succeed if actions are
guided by science and evidence and is supported by solidarity at
the national, regional and territory levels. Politicisation must
be strongly resisted.
Hong Kong has been extensively affected by the Coronavirus
Disease-2019 (COVID-19), a pandemic sweeping across the world.
In the past eight months, Hong Kong people have shown their
determination and perseverance in overcoming the difficulties
and disruptions caused by the social distancing measures and
border control restrictions.
Hong Kong has a robust system for fighting epidemics and has
gone through the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
outbreak. Much has been improved in the hardware and technology
to tackle the current public health crisis but we are
consolidating our experiences and are sparing no effort in
making improvements.
The local economy has been hard hit by the epidemic and is
facing unprecedented challenges. The Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government is standing shoulder to
shoulder with the community in this battle. We have announced in
the 2020–21 Budget and implemented through three rounds of
Anti-epidemic Fund (AEF) a full array of measures to support
enterprises, preserve jobs and relieve people’s burden. We have
gone through three waves of the epidemic and are enhancing Hong
Kong’s capacity to confront the next wave. There is no room for
complacency.
During this difficult period, the Central Government has shown
great care for Hong Kong in all aspects, ranging from assistance
in substantially ramping up our virus testing capability,
providing supplies of hospital beds and equipment to the
Hospital Authority (HA), to facilitating the completion of the
community treatment facility (CTF) at AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE)
within a few weeks. The Central Government will further support
the HKSAR Government to expand the CTF in AWE and build a
temporary hospital nearby to cope with future outbreak.
InfographicsConfirmed COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong: seven-day moving
average from January to September 2020
The numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong from
January to September 2020 peaked in end-March (seven-day
moving average had surged to around 50 cases) and end-July
2020 (seven-day moving average had surged to around 130
cases).
There was hardly any local production of masks in Hong Kong in
January 2020.
20 production lines subsidised under the Local Mask Production
Subsidy Scheme have committed to a monthly supply of 34
million masks to the Government and 7.6 million masks to the
local market.
Through the Hong Kong Productivity Council, the Government
provided technical advice to facilitate the establishment of
another 35 production lines in Hong Kong.
There is now an abundant supply of masks in the local market,
with an estimated production capacity of over 100 million
masks per month.
Capacity of Quarantine, Isolation and Treatment
Facilities
There were only 90 units in dedicated quarantine centres in
end-January 2020. With the concerted efforts of various
departments, the Government has significantly increased the
quarantine units to 1 650 units in end-March 2020, 2 250 in
end-June 2020 and 2 860 in end-September 2020 (including 640
beds at the dedicated quarantine facility at the
AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE) for residents of residential care homes
for the elderly/persons with disabilities). The total number
of quarantine units are projected to reach 4 860 by
end-December 2020.
The Hospital Authority's isolation facilities provided 1 250
isolation beds in public hospitals in end-January 2020. The
number increased to 1 670 in end-March 2020, 1 750 in end-June
2020 and 1 910 in end-September 2020. The number is projected
to reach 2 730 by end-January 2021.
The Government has assisted the Hospital Authority to
establish the Community Treatment Facility at AWE with 900
beds (as at end-September 2020). The number is projected to
reach 1 850 beds by end-December 2020.
Testing capacity
The testing capacity of the public sector progressively
increases from about 3 600 tests per day in late June to over
7 000 tests per day.
Number of regulations made under Cap. 599
7 regulations: Cap 599C to Cap. 599I are made in response to
COVID-19.
Daily average number of passengers at land boundary
control pointsDetails of the daily average number of passengers at land boundary control points from January to August 2020 are as below (In response to the development of the COVID-19 epidemic, the passenger clearance services at the following land boundary
control points were suspended by phases starting from the end of January 2020:
West Kowloon Station of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, Hung Hom, Man Kam To and Sha Tau Kok (with effect from 30 January 2020); and Lo Wu, Lok Ma Chau Spur Line and Lok Ma Chau (with effect from 4 February 2020);
only the passenger clearance facilities at Shenzhen Bay and Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port remain open.):
January 2020: 502 023
February 2020: 28 568
March 2020: 14 283
April 2020: 1 057
May 2020: 1 698
June 2020: 3 088
July 2020: 3 307
August 2020: 1 822
Daily average number of passengers at Hong Kong
International Airport
Details of the daily average number of passengers at Hong Kong
International Airport from January to August 2020 (traffic of
July to August 2020 is provisional) are as below:
January 2020: 184 000
February 2020: 65 000
March 2020: 19 000
April 2020: 1 100
May 2020: 1 200
June 2020: 2 000
July 2020: 3 100
August 2020: 2 700
Measures Taken
Hong Kong’s prevention and control work against COVID-19 started
immediately upon notification of Department of Health (DH) by
National Health Commission (NHC) about the situation in Wuhan on
31 December 2019. The Government has since taken measures to
fight the pandemic under the three principles of speedy response
in light of the situation, moving ahead of the times to prepare
for the worse and operating in an open and transparent manner.
The key measures taken include:
Leadership
Included the disease as a scheduled disease under the
Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance (Cap. 599) on
8 January 2020 upon notification from NHC, and raised the
COVID-19 response level to the highest-level “Emergency”
on 25 January 2020 upon confirming the first infection
case, with the Chief Executive chairing the
inter-departmental Steering Committee-cum-Command Centre
to formulate strategies and measures in light of the
development of the disease. Twenty-two meetings of the
Steering Committee have been held up to end-September 2020
in addition to many more core group and subject group
meetings. (FHB)
The Chief Executive appointed four experts: Professor
Gabriel Leung, Professor Keiji Fukuda, Professor Yuen
Kwok-yung and Professor David Hui on 25 January 2020 to
advise the Government on various aspects of the
anti-epidemic work. Up till end-September 2020, 17
meetings of the Expert Advisory Panel have been held in
addition to many individual consultations. (FHB)
Maintained close liaison with the NHC as well as health
authorities in the Guangdong Province and Macao SAR
Government. (FHB)
Made regular reports to the Executive Council whose
endorsement is required for the making of regulations
under (Cap. 599). (FHB)
Adopted the “Suppress and Lift” strategy by implementing
and constantly adjusting various social distancing and
border control measures to reduce the risk of importation
and transmission of the virus in the community, having
regard to three considerations, namely: (i) public health
protection; (ii) economic impact on Hong Kong; and (iii)
social acceptance. (FHB)
Transparency
Conveyed updated and accurate messages to the public
speedily and effectively via senior officials’ press
conferences, Centre for Health Protection and HA daily
press briefings; a dedicated government webpage
(coronavirus.gov. hk) to provide integrated and one-stop
information; and simple and easy-to-understand text and
data via social media. In the past nine months, about 400
press conferences/briefings have been held, about 2 000
press releases issued and over 4 000 posts released via
social media on COVID-19. (FHB)
The Chief Executive released monthly reports on the
Government’s work in fighting the virus. A total of eight
such reports have been issued so far. (CEO)
Launched the Local Situation Dashboard in collaboration
with the Smart City Consortium to provide the public with
the latest information on local COVID-19 cases. The
Dashboard has more than 37 million views. (ITB)
Testing, Quarantine, Treatment Facilities and Contact
Tracing
Adopted a three-pronged approach in testing to achieve
“early identification, early isolation and early
treatment” and prevent community transmission of the virus
by asymptomatic patients: (i) ongoing testing for
epidemiological surveillance conducted by DH and HA; (ii)
targeted group testing progressively implemented by the
Government since mid-July 2020; and (iii) the Universal
Community Testing Programme (UCTP). To meet the testing
requirement, testing capacity in public and private
sectors has been significantly ramped up. (FHB)
Offered to all citizens a free virus testing service from
1 to 14 September 2020 with the support of the Central
Government. A total of about 1 783 000 specimens had been
collected under the UCTP for COVID-19 nucleic acid test.
(FHB, CSB)
Offered to targeted groups that are of higher-risk,
high-exposure and from important infrastructure services
free virus testing services on a voluntary basis since
mid-July 2020. A total of over 517 000 samples had been
tested under the Targeted Group Testing Scheme. (Relevant
bureaux)
Enhanced surveillance and arranged COVID-19 testing by HA
for all inpatients newly admitted to public hospitals, and
extended the arrangement of distribution of specimen
collection packs to 46 general outpatient clinics since
end-September 2020 to facilitate individuals to undergo
testing. (FHB)
Implemented measures to enhance service capacity and
ensure proper care of COVID-19 patients in HA, including
deploying around 1 250 Tier-1 isolation beds and
retrofitting certain general wards into standard negative
pressure wards to provide around 660 Tier-2 isolation beds
to address the increase in service demand. (FHB)
Set up the CTF with 900 beds in AWE to provide triage and
isolation for confirmed patients with mild symptoms and in
stable condition. (FHB)
Set up designated quarantine facilities at the Hong Kong
Jockey Club PHAB Camp in Pok Fu Lam, the Helping Hand
Cheung Muk Tau Holiday Centre for the Elderly in Sai Kung,
and the AWE to look after residents of Residential Care
Homes for the Elderly or Persons with Disabilities
(RCHE/RCHD) who are close contacts of confirmed cases.
(FHB)
Launched the Special Chinese Medicine Out-patient
Programme in the Chinese Medicine Clinics cum Training and
Research Centres in April 2020 to provide free Chinese
medicine out-patient rehabilitation services to discharged
persons who have received COVID-19 treatment. (FHB)
Gazetted the legislative amendments in August 2020 to
extend the power currently given to health officer under
Prevention and Control of Disease (Disclosure of
Information) Regulation (Cap. 599D) to other authorised
officers taking part in contact tracing. Suitable public
officers will be seconded to the contact tracing team to
enhance manpower support as needed. (FHB)
Application of Technology
Jointly developed the electronic wristband and
“StayHomeSafe” mobile application with local research and
development institutes, universities and start-ups to help
ascertain that persons under home quarantine are staying
at the designated place. They have so far been used on
over 280 000 people, representing the largest scale of
such application in the world. (ITB)
Completed 118 additional quarantine units at Chai Wan Lei
Yue Mun Park and Holiday Village in less than one month
using the Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) method.
Subsequently, another 1 950 quarantine units were provided
at Lei Yue Mun Park and Holiday Village, Sai Kung Outdoor
Recreation Centre, Pat Heung Junior Police Call Permanent
Activity Centre and a site at Penny’s Bay also using MiC
method. (DEVB)
Funded 49 COVID-19 related research projects undertaken by
universities at a total cost of $170 million under the
Health and Medical Research Fund. (FHB)
Distance Business Programme
Launched a time-limited programme to support private
enterprises with business continuation through adoption
of information technology (IT) solutions in areas like
cyber security, digital payment, virtual meeting, remote
document management, etc., under the second round of
AEF. (ITB)
Anti-epidemic Measures to Relieve Hardship
Launched different measures totalling over $300 billion to
help businesses stay afloat, keep workers in employment,
relieve the financial burden of individuals and businesses
and assist the economy to recover once the epidemic is
contained. Measures include:
three rounds of measures under the AEF, and other
epidemic related measures amounting to about $191
billion; and
a relief package of over $120 billion in the 2020–21
Budget. (Relevant bureaux)
Launched the Local Mask Production Subsidy Scheme to
stabilise market supply of surgical masks. The 20
subsidised production lines have committed a monthly
supply of some 34 million masks to the Government and some
7.6 million masks to the local market. (CEDB)
Distributed two rounds of reusable CuMask+™ and another 34
million surgical masks to citizens free of charge, some 30
million surgical masks to elderly homes, frontline workers
in government contracts and other vulnerable groups; and
around 6 million donated masks to the needy through
non-governmental organisations. (ITB, CEDB, HAB, LWB, FHB)
New InitiativesSurveillance, Testing and Contact TracingStrengthening Testing Capacity to Prepare for Another
Surge
Encourage and assist private laboratories in Hong Kong
to enhance COVID-19 testing capacity to meet the future
travelling needs of inbound and outbound passengers,
increase accessibility and improve affordability. The
current private sector testing capacity has already
reached several tens of thousands a day. (FHB)
Enhance testing capacity in the public sector. DH’s
satellite laboratory at the Hong Kong Children’s
Hospital and the new laboratories at the Chinese
University of Hong Kong and the University of Hong Kong
have been set up. They together with other measures will
progressively increase the testing capacity of the
public sector from about 3 600 tests per day in
late-June to over 7 000 tests per day. DH will also
procure testing services from local private laboratories
if necessary. (FHB)
Exploiting Information Technology to Enhance Contact
Tracing
Improve the efficiency of contact tracing operations and
ensure timely release of information on confirmed cases
to the public through appropriate platforms using IT. An
internal information portal specifically designed for
contact tracing will be developed to link up various
relevant departments, agencies and existing information
systems for centrally and electronically collecting
information needed for contact tracing. (FHB, ITB)
Develop a voluntary exposure notification system for
targeted trades and premises. (ITB)
Border Control Measures
Relax entry control and quarantine arrangements for
travellers between Hong Kong and Guangdong Province, as
well as between the Hong Kong and Macao SARs with a view
to gradually resuming normal cross-boundary activities
without compromising public health, through mutual
recognition of COVID-19 tests via a health code. (FHB,
CMAB)
Review and streamline the boundary crossing workflow
including quarantine, immigration and customs clearance
processes at boundary control points, with a view to
integrating necessary epidemic prevention and control
measures and ensuring safe and smooth cross-boundary
flows when travelling gradually resumes. (FHB)
Enter into discussions with overseas places to
facilitate the establishment of travel bubbles. (CEDB,
FHB)
Quarantine, Isolation and Treatment Facilities
Complete the construction of Penny’s Bay Quarantine Centre
Phases III and IV in December 2020 for provision of
another 2 000 quarantine units. By then, Hong Kong will
have a total of over 4 000 units for dedicated quarantine
purpose. In case there is another surge before the
additional quarantine units are put into operation, the
Government has engaged hotels providing up to 1 000
guestrooms to cater for the needs of close contacts as
quarantine hotels. (FHB, DEVB)
Assist HA to establish more community treatment and
isolation facilities. With the support of the Central
Government, further expand CTF in AWE to provide an extra
1 000 additional beds to a total of around 1 900 beds,
some of which are equipped with negative pressure
facilities. (FHB, DEVB)
With the Central Government’s assistance, construct a
temporary hospital on a three-hectare piece of land near
AWE to provide negative pressure wards that can
accommodate over 800 beds. (FHB, DEVB)
Preventive Measures
Procure vaccines meeting the requirements of safety,
efficacy and quality for the Hong Kong population for
safeguarding the health of our citizens. (FHB)
Fund and support all subvented, contract, self-financing
and private RCHEs and RCHDs to apply anti-virus coating on
their premises under the AEF. (LWB)
Enhance anti-epidemic work in public markets, including
stepping up cleaning and disinfection, installing body
temperature checking system, improving air ventilation and
market toilets, and adopting anti-microbial coating
technology to improve hygiene of various public markets.
(FHB)
Provide a one-off subsidy to tenants of public markets
under the AEF to promote contactless payment in public
market stalls to safeguard public health. (FHB, THB)
Use robots for terminal patrol, cleansing and
environmental monitoring at the airport. (THB)
Encourage wider application of anti-microbial technology
in public transport. (THB)
Carry out inspection of communal/ external drainage pipes
for buildings in estates/courts under the Hong Kong
Housing Authority’s rental housing and various subsidised
sale flats schemes and step up various anti-epidemic
measures in public rental housing estates and shopping
centres/markets. (THB)
Adjustment to Hospital Services Provision in light of
COVID-19Telemedicine
Continue to change HA’s service model where practicable
and provide services for patients using video
conferencing technologies. (FHB)
Provide telehealth services for elderly persons living
in remote areas through the installation of relevant
facilities at village offices and the use of e-payment.
(ITB, FHB)
Support for Chronic Disease Patients in the
Mainland
Implement a support scheme for the chronic disease
patients who are unable to return to Hong Kong to
receive their scheduled medical consultation in HA due
to immigration restriction under COVID-19. Eligible
patients would receive regular general or specialist
consultation sessions at The University of Hong Kong –
Shenzhen Hospital up to July 2021 or until the lapse of
the quarantine arrangement of both sides, whichever is
earlier. (FHB)
Hospital Development
Review the design of hospital projects under the two
10-year Hospital Development Plans taking into account
the experience in combating COVID-19 and incorporate
required provisions for general wards in individual
hospitals to be readily converted into Tier-2 isolation
wards for use in epidemic situation. (FHB)
Promote the wider use of new technologies in public
hospitals, including piloting the use of location-based
services and navigation technology in selected public
hospitals, the Bed Booking System for
Convalescent/Rehabilitation Beds and the Blood Taking
Scheduling System in selected Specialist Out-patient
Clinics starting from March 2021. (FHB, ITB)
e-Learning
Continue to use the Community Care Fund to support needy
students in primary and secondary schools to purchase
mobile computer devices for e-learning through schools. It
is expected that about 100 000 students in 800 schools
will benefit from the programme in the 2020/21 school
year, representing a three-time increase in the total
number of beneficiary students of the 2018/19 and 2019/20
school years. (EDB)
Reserve $10 million for application by schools to purchase
portable WiFi routers and mobile data cards for needy
students who are unable to acquire appropriate Internet
services, so as to implement e-learning under the “new
normal”. (EDB)
Encourage schools to actively apply for funding under the
Priority Themes and the Dedicated Funding Programme for
Publicly-funded Schools of the Quality Education Fund
(QEF) to support e-learning and the blended mode of
teaching under the “new normal”, as well as to enhance
support for schools and teachers. (EDB)
Reserve $2 billion in the QEF to launch a three-year
programme to assist schools to continue to implement the
blended mode of learning and teaching, to ensure that
students with limited economic means would have equal
access to quality education under the “new normal”. (EDB)
Work with the Hong Kong Education City in the 2020/21
school year to explore and build a more comprehensive and
user-friendly teaching resources sharing platform to
facilitate gainful use of the learning and teaching
resources in the Education Bureau’s website and in the
Hong Kong Education City, as well as to encourage teachers
to share quality learning resources. (EDB)
Anti-epidemic Measures to Relieve Hardship
Continue to implement those outstanding AEF measures to
provide support to businesses and individuals. (Relevant
bureaux)
Chapter IV - Housing and Land SupplyMy Belief
“Our people will call Hong Kong their home only when there is
adequate housing for all to enjoy living in this city, and it is
the Government’s responsibility to provide suitable housing for
families in different income brackets.”
The housing policy of the current-term Government comprises four
elements:
(1) housing is not a simple commodity; while maintaining
respect for a free market economy, the Government has an
indispensable role to play in this area;
(2) we will focus on home-ownership and strive to build a
housing ladder to rekindle the hope of families in different
income brackets to become home-owners;
(3) we will focus on supply and, based on the Long Term
Housing Strategy, increase the supply of housing units; and
(4) when new supply is not yet available, we will optimise
the existing housing resources to help families that have
long been waiting for public rental housing (PRH) and
residents in poor living conditions.
To implement the aforesaid housing policies and meet the demand
for land and housing in the course of our economic development,
it is imperative for us to increase land supply and develop land
resources in a resolute and persistent manner. To prevent the
acute problem of land shortage from emerging again, the
determination of the Government to identify and produce land and
build a land reserve should never waver in face of short-term
changes in economic environment or fluctuations in property
prices.
InfographicsImproved Housing Ladder
Moving up along the housing ladder from the 1st rung to the
5th rung:
The 1st rung: Public Rental Housing
The 2nd rung:
* Green Form Subsidised Home Ownership Scheme
* Tenants Purchase Scheme (39 estates)
The 3rd rung: Home Ownership Scheme
The 4th rung: Starter Homes
The 5th rung: Private Residential Property
Major Development Projects
Kai Tak development will provide a total of 50 000 housing
units. 12 land parcels were sold or delivered for housing
development between January 2018 and April 2020.
Yuen long South development will provide a total of 32 850
housing units. Statutory planning procedures started, with
target to complete the first batch of public housing units in
2028.
Hung Shui Kiu /Ha Tsuen New Development Area (NDA) will
provide a total of 61 000 housing units. Works commenced in
July 2020; resumption of 12 hectares of private land is
underway.
Kwu Tung North / Fanling North NDA will provide a total of 72
000 housing units. Resumed 68 hectares of private land in
end-2019 with works progressing as planned; 2 private housing
sites scheduled for sale in 2020-21; the first batch of public
housing units will be completed in 2026.
Tung Chung New Town Extension will provide a total of 62 100
housing units. The first land parcel of reclaimed land for
housing development was handed over to the Hong Kong Housing
Authority in March 2020 to deliver some 10 000 public housing
units in 2024.
Reclamation and Associated Development
Tung Chung New Town Extension project is under active
construction. Further studies on the artificial islands in the
Central Waters, Lung Kwu Tan reclamation and re-planning of
Tuen Mun West, and Sunny Bay reclamation projects are being
planned.
Brownfield Development
There are a total of 1 579 hectares (ha) of brownfields in the
New Territories, including:
51% (803 ha) covered by development projects;
5% (76 ha) within conservation-related zones; and
44% (700 ha) remaining scattered brownfield sites not
covered by development projects; 450 ha to review in two
phases:
160 ha of high possible development potential [Review
Progress: Completed]
290 ha of medium possible development potential
[Review Progress: To be completed within this year]
Progress
8 brownfield clusters including Ping Shan North, Ping Shan
South, Shap Pat Heung, Tai Kei Leng, Sha Po, Nai Wai, Lam
Tei North and Tai Hang (Over 20 000 public housing units)
Most engineering feasibility studies commenced
Transform into "spade-ready" sites within 6
years
Progress Made
A total of 63 new initiatives were announced since July 2017 in
respect of the policy areas of housing and land supply, of which
55 have been completed or are progressing on schedule.
Key initiatives completed or major progress made are as follows:
Housing SupplyPolicy and Long Term Housing Strategy
Revised the public/private split of new housing supply
from 60:40 to 70:30 in 2018. According to this ratio,
the housing supply targets for public and private
housing for the 10-year period from 2020–21 to 2029–30
are 301 000 units and 129 000 units respectively. (THB)
Established a housing ladder with five rungs meeting the
needs of families of different means, supplemented by
transitional housing to provide early relief to families
living in poor conditions. (THB)
Subsidised Sale Flats Supply
Regularised Green Form Subsidised Home Ownership Scheme
(GSH) and White Form Secondary Market Scheme (WSM); and
introduced Starter Homes (SH) pilot projects. Since
January 2018, about 6 200 GSH flats have been sold/are
being sold and about 4 700 GSH flats will be available
for sale in the coming months. WSM quotas were increased
from 2 500 in 2018 to 4 500 in 2020. (THB)
Sped up the sales of Tenants Purchase Scheme (TPS)
flats. The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HKHA) approved
the sales arrangements of recovered TPS flats in July
2020, with a view to putting up these flats for sale to
Green Formers on a trial basis from the next GSH
exercise. (THB)
Revised the pricing mechanism of Home Ownership Scheme
(HOS) in 2018 such that prices are delinked from market
prices and kept at an affordable level. Since then, a
total of about 9 300 flats have been sold and 7 000
flats are being sold under HOS 2020. To maintain
relativity among different rungs of the housing ladder,
the discount rate for GSH units is 10% more than that
for the preceding HOS sale exercise, and for SH pilot
projects, about 10–20% less than HOS. (THB)
Entrusted the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) with a new
mission to actively provide more SH or other types of
subsidised sale flats (SSFs) in its redevelopment
projects. The URA sold 450 units at its first SH pilot
project eResidence at Ma Tau Wai Road in mid-2019, and
plans to sell the remaining 43 units by early 2021. The
URA has also decided to assign the redevelopment project
adjacent to eResidence as another SH project, which is
expected to provide about 260 units for sale in 2024.
(DEVB, THB)
Successfully tendered the second SH pilot project at
Anderson Road in May 2020. (THB)
Public Housing Supply
Allowed a further increase of domestic plot ratio for
public housing sites in selected Density Zones of the
Main Urban Areas and New Towns by 10% (i.e. up to
maximum 30% increase in total) where technically
feasible. (THB)
Re-allocated nine private housing sites in Kai Tak
Development and Anderson Road Quarry for public housing
in 2018 to provide some 11 000 units. (THB)
Revised the land premium arrangement for Hong Kong
Housing Society’s (HKHS) subsidised housing projects,
which will enable HKHS to continue to provide rental
units and SSFs and implement the re-development
programme of aged rental estates on a financially
sustainable basis. (THB)
HKHA is exploring the feasibility of redeveloping
individual factory estates under suitable conditions and
arrangements for public housing use. The study includes
technical assessments on air quality, noise, traffic,
infrastructure, air ventilation, etc., to ascertain the
feasibility of residential development at the factory
estate sites. (THB)
Effective Use of Public Housing Resources
HKHA joined the HKHS’ enhanced “Letting Scheme for
Subsidised Sale Developments with Premium Unpaid” on a
trial basis in July 2019. As at end-September 2020,
about 330 and 260 applications from owners and tenants
had been approved respectively with more than 40 tenancy
agreements signed. (THB)
Facilitated HKHS’ launch of “Flat for Flat Pilot Scheme
for Elderly Owners”, allowing eligible elderly owners of
HKHS’ SSFs with premium unpaid to sell their original
flats and then buy a smaller one in either HKHA’s or
HKHS’ Secondary Market. (THB)
HKHA launched a trial scheme in December 2019 for
granting lifetime full rent exemption to
under-occupation households whose family members are all
aged 70 or above upon their transfer to suitably-sized
flats. As at end-September 2020, about 270 applications
have been approved with 35 households successfully
transferred to suitably-sized flats. (THB)
Maintaining a Healthy Private Residential
Market
Amended the Lands Department (LandsD) Consent Scheme,
requiring developers to offer for sale no less than 20%
of the total number of residential units that are
subject to the relevant pre-sale consent at each turn of
sale, regardless of the sales method. (THB)
Raised the cap on the value of properties eligible for a
mortgage loan of maximum cover of 90% loan-to-value
(LTV) ratio from $4 million to $8 million for first-time
home buyers, and that of maximum cover of 80% LTV ratio
from $6 million to $10 million. From October 2019 to
August 2020, around 25 200 applications were approved,
with over 90% being first-time home buyers. (FSTB)
URA commenced two pilot Civil Servants’ Co-operative
Building Society Scheme redevelopment projects in
Kowloon City in May 2020 to provide about 3 000 flats,
of which one-third (around 1 000 flats) will be
subsidised housing. (DEVB)
Facilitating Initiatives on Transitional
Housing
Established a Task Force on Transitional Housing to
assist and facilitate the implementation of projects by
non-governmental organisations (NGOs). (THB)
Raised the three-year (2020–21 to 2022–23) transitional
housing target from 10 000 to 15 000 units with
dedicated funding of $5 billion. As at October 2020, 1
165 units have been completed, about 8 600 units are in
projects announced and about 2 900 units are in projects
under study. (THB)
Provided professional advice and consultancy services by
the URA, Hong Kong Construction Association and other
organisations so as to assist NGO’s participation in
transitional housing projects. (THB)
Land SupplyTask Force on Land Supply
Accepted in full the multi-pronged land supply strategy
and eight land supply options worthy of priority study
and implementation as recommended by the Task Force on
Land Supply (TFLS) following an extensive public
engagement. (DEVB)
Taking forward the eight land supply
options1
recommended by the TFLS, including:
undertaking studies for eight brownfield clusters to
provide over 20 000 public housing units;
launched in May 2020 the three-year Land Sharing
Pilot Scheme;
commenced in September 2019 the study for developing
32 hectares of land of Fanling Golf Course into
public housing;
pressed ahead with the New Development Area (NDA)
and other major development projects including Kai
Tak Development (12 land parcels sold/delivered for
housing development between January 2018 and April
2020); Tung Chung East (reclamation commenced in
December 2017, and handed over the first parcel of
reclaimed land to the HKHA in March 2020); Kwu Tung
North/Fanling North (commenced works in September
2019 and resumed 68 hectares of private land in
December 2019); Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen (commenced
works in July 2020 and 12 hectares of private lots
to be resumed in October 2020); and Yuen Long South
(commenced statutory planning procedures);
strive for early commencement of the studies related
to the artificial islands in the Central Waters,
reclamation projects at Lung Kwu Tan and Siu Ho Wan,
and re-planning of Tuen Mun West area; and
commenced works to relocate the Sha Tin Sewage
Treatment Works to cavern in February 2019. (DEVB)
1 The eight options are: (i)
expediting brownfield development; (ii) drawing up details
of the Land Sharing Pilot Scheme to unleash development
potential of private agricultural land; (iii) developing 32
hectares of land east of Fan Kam Road of the Fanling Golf
Course for housing development and commencing relevant
detailed technical study; (iv) expediting studies on the
some 1 000-hectare Kau Yi Chau artificial islands; (v)
expediting studies on near-shore reclamation projects
including Lung Kwu Tan, Sunny Bay and Siu Ho Wan; (vi)
continuing cavern and underground space development and
studies; (vii) pressing ahead with New Development Area
projects; and (viii) commencing studies on the River Trade
Terminal site and the coastal areas of Tuen Mun.
Short to Medium-term Measures
Relaunched the Re-vitalisation Scheme for Industrial
Buildings. As at end-August 2020, 31 planning
applications for increasing the redevelopment plot ratio
were approved, providing a total gross floor area of
about 575 000 square metres upon completion of
redevelopment. (DEVB)
Launched a $1 billion funding scheme to support the use
of vacant government sites by NGOs. As at September
2020, 13 applications were approved. (DEVB)
Pursued more vigorously the “single site, multiple use”
model in multi-storey development to facilitate
“Government, Institution or Community” projects with
cross-department facilities and earmarked $22 billion
for the first batch of projects. (DEVB, FSTB)
Promulgated seven streamlining measures relating to
development control of the Buildings Department, LandsD
and Planning Department in three batches by the Steering
Group on Streamlining Development Control. (DEVB)
Set up a dedicated Land Supply Section in the LandsD in
2019 to expedite land sale and processing of high yield
lease modification and land exchange cases. (DEVB)
Taking forward the studies on three urban squatter areas
(Cha Kwo Ling Village, Ngau Chi Wan Village and Chuk
Yuen United Village) with a view to completion in 2021,
to be followed by rezoning, funding application, land
resumption and clearance etc., with a view to commencing
works in around 2025. (DEVB)
Reviewing the suitability of private land zoned for
high-density housing development but without any
specific development plan for public housing
development. The Development Bureau plans to complete
the review by end-2020. (DEVB)
Rezoned 38 sites since July 2017. Rezoning of another 8
sites is in progress and some 25 sites will commence
rezoning process. (DEVB)
Implemented the enhanced compensation and re-housing
arrangements for government development clearance
exercises which significantly improve the rehousing
prospect of squatter residents and cash allowances for
residents and business operators. (DEVB)
Medium and Long-term Measures
Established the Sustainable Lantau Office in December
2017 to take forward the co-ordination, planning and
implementation of development projects and initiatives
in conservation, local improvement and leisure and
recreation in Lantau. (DEVB)
Set up the Lantau Conservation Fund (LCF) to promote and
implement conservation of rural Lantau and to pursue
minor local improvement works in remote villages and
communities. The LCF Advisory Committee was established
on 1 October 2020 to vet and monitor projects to be
funded by the LCF. Application is planned to commence in
December 2020. (DEVB)
Earmarked funding for environmental education and
community action projects on nature conservation in
South Lantau under the Environment and Conservation
Fund. Eleven projects were approved. (ENB, DEVB)
Commenced investigation and design study with associated
site investigation works for the re-location of Diamond
Hill Fresh Water and Salt Water Service Reservoirs to
caverns in December 2018. Continue the planning and
engineering feasibility study on development of selected
strategic cavern areas at Lantau, Tsing Yi and other
suitable locations, as well as the construction of stage
one works for the re-location of Sha Tin Sewage
Treatment Works to caverns. Having established the
feasibility of relocating the Public Works Central
Laboratory in Kowloon Bay to caverns in March 2020, we
will kick off the next stage of investigation and design
by mid-2021. (DEVB)
New InitiativesHousingTransitional Housing
Seek funding from the Community Care Fund for launching
a pilot programme to support NGOs renting hotels and
guesthouses with substantial vacancies with a view to
increasing the provision of transitional housing to
those waiting for public housing for some time and
living in inadequate housing. (THB)
Develop transitional housing, including projects at Nam
Cheong Street, Lok Sin Tong Primary School and Trackside
Villas in Tai Po, for which intake has commenced in
2020, as well as the project in Kong Ha Wai providing
around 2 000 units which has been approved by Town
Planning Board. The Task Force on Transitional Housing
has identified land for providing a total of 12 700
units from 2020–21 to 2022–23. Over $1.2 billion has
been approved to date to subsidise NGOs to pursue
eligible transitional housing projects. (THB)
Redevelopment of Tai Hang Sai Estate
Facilitate collaboration between URA and the Hong Kong
Settlers Housing Corporation Limited to take forward the
redevelopment of Tai Hang Sai (THS) Estate, with a view
to making the best use of the development potential of
the site and implementing the project as soon as
possible. According to preliminary estimate,
redevelopment of THS Estate may double the existing
provision of about 1 600 flats. (THB)
Shek Lei Interim Housing
Complete the clearance of the Shek Lei Interim Housing
by end-2022 and redevelop the site for public housing
development with target completion in 2028–29. Subject
to the Town Planning Board’s approval to relax the
planning restrictions of the site to optimise its
development potential, it is estimated about 1 600 units
could be produced. (THB)
Cash Allowance Trial Scheme
Devise a trial scheme to provide cash allowance for
low-income households who have been waiting for PRH
allocation over a prolonged period of time. To
complement the said measure, the Working Family
Allowance Scheme will introduce a set of higher income
limits for other eligible non-PRH households. (THB, LWB)
Study on Tenancy Control of Subdivided Units
Strive to complete the Study on Tenancy Control of
Subdivided Units by the first half of 2021 and submit
the report for Government’s consideration. (THB)
Land SupplyExpediting Development by Rationalising and
Streamlining Approval Processes
Expand the remit of the Steering Group on Streamlining
Development Control to streamline approval processes and
rationalise requirements not only in respect of those
under the planning, lands and buildings regimes but also
those involving departments outside of DEVB (e.g.
Transport Department and Environmental Protection
Department), with the overriding policy objective of
increasing and expediting the housing and land supply.
The expanded mandate will cover both public and private
sector development projects. (DEVB)
Development Projects Facilitation Office
Establish a Development Projects Facilitation Office in
DEVB to facilitate the processing of development
approval applications for large-scale private
residential development projects leading up to
commencement of works, by co-ordinating with the bureaux
and departments involved to expedite the approval
process and help resolve issues including escalation to
higher level set up such as the Committee on Planning
and Land Development chaired by the Secretary for
Development for steer if necessary. (DEVB)
Investing in Capital Works
Invest substantially in new infrastructure development
projects, including the Tung Chung New Town Extension.
(DEVB)
Pressing Ahead with Planning of New Development
Areas
Collect stakeholders’ views on the preliminary outline
development plan of the San Tin/Lok Ma Chau Development
Node from December 2020 to January 2021 and complete by
early 2021 the first-stage study of phase one
development of New Territories North. (DEVB)
Conserving the Environment
Consult the relevant panel of the Legislative Council in
the coming year on practicable proposal to amend the
Town Planning Ordinance (Cap. 131) to better protect
areas of high ecological values in the rural parts of
the New Territories that are subject to development
pressure. (DEVB)
Choi Hung Road Playground and Sports Centre
Site
Commence studying the overall planning and long-term
development of the Choi Hung Road Playground and Sports
Centre (including Choi Hung Road Market) site to improve
recreational and sports facilities and integrate other
uses under the principle of “single site, multiple use”
to make better use of land resources and meeting
societal needs at the same time. (DEVB)
Chapter V - Unlimited Business OpportunitiesMy Belief
“To maintain a city’s competitiveness is like sailing a boat
against the current and it must forge ahead in order not to be
driven back. Hence, Hong Kong must keep consolidating its
existing strengths, exploring new advantages, expanding economic
and trade ties with the world, and fostering closer exchange and
co-operation with the Mainland.”
“The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government
is determined to boost the development of new and emerging
industries in addition to our traditional industries, and
considers that both innovation and technology and the creative
industries have a competitive edge and much potential. They will
not only promote a diversified economy, but also create more
quality employment opportunities for our young people.”
Hong Kong has been acclaimed as the world’s most open, freest
and most competitive city by many international organisations.
Leveraging our unique strengths under “One Country, Two
Systems”, we will continue to provide a business-friendly
environment, uphold operation of the market and promote free
trade. We will also strive to develop new areas of economic
growth.
The National 13th Five-Year Plan pledges support for Hong Kong
to reinforce and enhance its status as an international
financial, transport and trade centre; develop its innovation
and technology (I&T) industry; and establish itself as a
centre for international legal and dispute resolution services
in the Asia-Pacific region. The Belt and Road Initiative, as
well as the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA)
development have brought enormous opportunities for the economic
development of Hong Kong. The HKSAR Government will do its best
as a “facilitator” and “promoter”, seizing opportunities to
actively connect with the world to explore more business
opportunities.
InfographicsInternational Financial CentreStock Market (Main Board) Daily Average Turnover
Value
The daily average turnover value of the stock market (Main
Board) has increased by 60.5% from $76 billion in September
2019 to $122 billion in September 2020.
Hang Seng Index Movement
The Hang Seng Index has risen from below 28,000 points in
early November 2019, to a high above 29 000 points in
mid-January 2020, then dropped to a low below 22 000 points
in March 2020, and then recovered to roughly around 25 000
points in early September 2020.
Stock Connect
The daily trade value of Northbound Stock Connect has
increased from RMB 10 billion in 2017 to RMB 90 billion in
August 2020; the daily trade value of Southbound Stock
Connect has increased from HK$10 billion in 2017 to HK$23
billion in August 2020.
Bond Connect
Foreign holding of Mainland onshore bonds through channels
including Bond Connect has increased from RMB 882.4 billion
in 2017 to RMB 2,802.9 billion in August 2020.
The average daily turnover of Bond Connect has increased by
12 times from RMB 1.5 billion in July 2017 to RMB 19 billion
in September 2020.
Asset and wealth management centre
Size of asset and wealth management business
Hong Kong's asset and wealth management business has
increased from HK$24 trillion in 2017 to HK$29 trillion in
2019. 64% of assets are sourced from non-Hong Kong
investors.
The size of private equity business in Hong Kong was US$163
billion in June 2020, which ranks 2nd in Asia by asset under
management.
Initial Public Offering (IPO)
The number of IPO in Hong Kong for the year 2017, 2018, 2019
and 2020 (as of September) were 174, 218, 183 and 99
respectively, while the total IPO funds raised and global
ranking were HK$128.5 billion (ranked third), HK$288 billion
(ranked first), HK$314.2 billion (ranked first) and HK$211
billion (currently ranked third) respectively.
Green FinanceGrowing size and diversity of green bonds arranged and
issued in Hong Kong2017 Amount:US$3.2 billion
Financial Institutions: 0%
Corporate - Real Estate: 4%
Corporate – Energy: 32%
Corporate – Others: 12%
Policy/ Development Banks: 52%
Multilateral Development Banks: 0%
Government: 0%
2019 Amount: US$10 billion
Financial Institutions: 49.4%
Corporate - Real Estate: 18.8%
Corporate – Energy: 6.2%
Corporate – Others: 11.2%
Policy/ Development Banks: 4%
Multilateral Development Banks: 0.3%
Government: 10.1%
Sources: Climate Bonds Initiative and the Hong Kong Monetary
Authority
FinTech DevelopmentFigures at a glance
No. of FinTech companies in Hong Kong (2020): Over 600
Accumulated investment in Hong Kong-based FinTech companies
(2014-2019): US$1.47 billion (Source: Accenture data)
Fintech adoption rate by consumers in Hong Kong (from 2017
to 2019): From 32% to 67% (Source: Ernst & Young Global
Fintech Adoption Index 2019)
Percentage of banks adopted or plan to adopt Fintech
solutions: 86% (Source: Survey on Fintech Adoption and
Innovation in the Hong Kong Banking Industry)
Support for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
From July 2017 to end September 2020:
The SME Financing Guarantee Scheme (SFGS) approved $63 billion
of loans, from which 22 000 enterprises and over 300 000
employees benefited.
The Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales
(BUD Fund) approved $1.1 billion of grants, from which over 1
600 enterprises and 19 000 employees benefited.
The SME Export Marketing Fund (EMF) approved $740 million of
grants, from which 12 000 enterprises and 82 000 employees
benefited.
The Distance Business Programme was introduced in May 2020 and
approved $864 million of grants, involving 15 548 applications
(95% cases for SMEs).
The Technology Voucher Programme approved $460 million of
grants, involving 2 900 applications.
Under the 100% Credit Limit Top-up Scheme introduced by the
Hong Kong Export Credit Insurance Corporation, $6.6 billion of
additional coverage was approved from June to end September
2020, involving 6 424 applications.
Under the Pre-approved Principal Payment Holiday Scheme
introduced by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, an aggregate
amount of $580 billion of loan was approved from April to end
August 2020, involving 48 000 applications.
Total number of government funding schemes for enterprises is
40.
One-stop services for SMEs include:
"Four-in-one" SME Centres, which provide one-stop consultation and referral services; and
SME ReachOut Service Team, which promotes and helps identify suitable funding schemes and loan guarantee schemes for SMEs.Innovation and Technology (I&T)
Committed over $100 billion funding for I&T development
Hong Kong’s I&T Ecosystem ranks the 5th in the
International Institute for Management Development World
Digital Competitiveness Ranking 2020 (11th in 2018)
Input
Secured $3 billion for Hong Kong Science and Technology
Parks Corporation (HKSTPC) to develop research and
development (R&D) related facilities
Injected $20 billion into Research Endowment Fund and
launched Technology Talent Scheme
Introduced enhanced tax deduction incentives for
qualifying R&D expenditure
Secured $7 billion for HKSTPC and $200 million for
Cyberport to support tenants
Earmarked $8.5 billion for expansion of Science Park and
Cyberport
Reserved $20.8 billion for developing the Lok Ma Chau
Loop into Hong Kong-Shenzhen I&T Park
Implemented new pro-innovation government procurement
policy and TechConnect (block vote)
Output
InnoHK Research Clusters: The first batch of R&D
Centres will open in Q4 2020/Q1 2021
Research fellows supported: 70/year
Start-ups: 3 360 (2020)
Venture capital investment in Hong Kong: $36.9 billion
(2017-2019)
Locally developed tech applications in fighting
COVID-19:
Electronic wristband
“StayHomeSafe” mobile app
Local Situation Dashboard
CuMask+TM
Progress Made
A total of 194 new initiatives were announced since July 2017
relating to diversifying Hong Kong’s economy, of which 185 have
been completed or are progressing on schedule.
Key initiatives completed or major progress made are as follows:
Talent Hub
Established the Human Resources Planning Commission in
April 2018 chaired by the Chief Secretary for
Administration and launched a one-stop online manpower
information portal in December 2019 to provide
comprehensive information to facilitate the local labour
force to make informed choices in respect of career,
training and development pathways. (CSO)
Promulgated the first Talent List of Hong Kong in August
2018 covering 11 professions. (LWB)
Increased the annual quota under the Quality Migrant
Admission Scheme to 2 000 with effect from September 2020,
with a view to enlarging Hong Kong’s talent pool and
reinforcing our role as Asia’s World City. In the first
half of 2020, 735 quota were allotted. (SB)
Government-to-Government Business
Signed four new free trade agreements (FTAs) with 13
economies, thereby doubling the number of FTAs signed by
the HKSAR Government to eight; and signed four investment
agreements (IAs) with 13 economies. They include:
FTA and IA forged between Hong Kong and the ten member
states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN), which have come into effect gradually since
June 2019;
FTA and IA signed with Australia that came into effect
in January 2020;
FTA signed with Georgia that came into effect in
February 2019;
the HKSAR and Macao SAR Closer Economic Partnership
Arrangement (CEPA) that came into effect in January
2018;
IA signed with the United Arab Emirates that came into
effect in March 2020; and
IA signed with Mexico in January 2020. (CEDB)
Concluded comprehensive avoidance of double taxation
agreements (CDTAs) with 45 tax jurisdictions. The target
is to further expand our treaty network, bringing the
total number of CDTAs to 50 by end-2022. (FSTB)
Expanded the overseas Economic and Trade Office (ETO)
network, with the Bangkok ETO commencing operation in
February 2019. (CEDB)
Enhanced Co-operation with the Mainland
Signed the Agreement on Trade in Goods with the Mainland
on 14 December 2018 under the framework of the Mainland
and Hong Kong CEPA. The Agreement fully implements zero
tariff on goods of Hong Kong origin imported into the
Mainland through the introduction of a general rule of
origin. (CEDB)
Signed an amendment agreement to the CEPA Agreement on
Trade in Services in November 2019 which came into effect
in June 2020. The new liberalisation measures cover legal
services, construction and related engineering services,
financial services, testing and certification, television
and motion pictures. (CEDB)
Extended the Single E-lock Scheme to 52 clearance points
in Guangdong Province, of which 43 cover the nine Mainland
municipalities in the GBA. (CEDB)
Established a high-level co-operation mechanism with
Sichuan to deepen co-operation with various provinces and
municipalities in areas such as trade, finance, I&T,
creative industries and youth exchanges. (CMAB)
Greater Bay Area Development
As a member of the Leading Group for the Development of
the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area set up by
the Central Government in 2018, the Chief Executive has
attended three plenary meetings and secured 24 policy
initiatives that are beneficial to Hong Kong’s
participation in the GBA development. Of these, 19 have
been fully or partially implemented. Notable ones are
the assessment of 183 days for personal tax purpose,
support for Hong Kong youth to start business in the
Mainland cities of the GBA and according Hong Kong
permanent residents the same status as local residents
when purchasing residential properties in the Mainland
cities in the GBA. (CMAB)
Set up a high-level Steering Committee for the
Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay
Area chaired by the Chief Executive, with membership
comprising all Secretaries of Departments and Directors
of Bureaux, to more efficiently steer, co-ordinate and
take forward the development of the GBA. (CMAB)
Belt and Road Initiative
Signed the “Arrangement between the National Development
and Reform Commission and the Government of the Hong
Kong Special Administrative Region for Advancing Hong
Kong’s Full Participation in and Contribution to the
Belt and Road Initiative” (the Arrangement) in December
2017. The Joint Conference mechanism set up between Hong
Kong and the relevant Mainland authorities on the
implementation of the Arrangement held its third meeting
in August 2020. Launched the Belt and Road Joint
Conference Policy Exchange and Capacity Building
Programme in December 2019 to forge collaboration on
capacity building with relevant Mainland authorities for
enhanced professionalism. (CEDB)
Established the Mainland and Hong Kong Belt and Road
Task Group to co-ordinate related matters in the trade
and economic co-operation areas by the HKSAR Government
and the Ministry of Commerce. The second high-level
meeting was held in November 2019. (CEDB)
Explore facilitation policy measures and assist local
institutions in coming up with more flexible and
innovative operation models to foster closer higher
education co-operation in the GBA. (EDB)
Formulated a five-pronged Belt and Road key strategy
(viz. enhancing policy co-ordination; fully leveraging
Hong Kong’s unique advantages; making the best use of
Hong Kong’s position as a professional services hub;
promoting project participation; and establishing
partnership and collaboration to guide the HKSAR
Government’s participation in and contribution to the
Belt and Road Initiative). (CEDB)
Co-organised the fourth annual Belt and Road Summit with
the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) on 11
and 12 September 2019, which attracted around 5 000
government officials, entrepreneurs and professionals
from nearly 70 countries and regions. More than 700
one-on-one business matching meetings for over 240
projects were staged. The fifth Summit in dual track
(online and offline) will be held on 30 November to 1
December 2020. (CEDB)
Established exchange and collaboration platforms for
promoting Belt and Road participation of Hong Kong
enterprises and professional services sector, including
the seminar on “Strategies and Opportunities under the
Belt and Road Initiative – Leveraging Hong Kong’s
Advantages, Meeting the Country’s Needs” in Beijing in
February 2018, and sharing sessions under the theme
“Belt and Road: Hong Kong-IN”, etc. (CEDB)
Supported HKTDC’s enhancement of its Belt and Road
Portal for a more comprehensive and up-to-date one-stop
Belt and Road platform in July 2019 and its introduction
of SME Transformation Sandbox in April 2020 to support
enterprises in capitalising on new business
opportunities, including at the Mainland’s overseas
Economic and Trade Co-operation Zones (ETCZs). (CEDB)
Carried out a number of business and professional
missions to Southeast Asia, Middle East and Europe,
etc., to showcase Hong Kong’s professional strengths and
seek out new business prospects. (CEDB)
Secured the support of the Ministry of Commerce to
promote interested Hong Kong enterprises to establish
presence in the Mainland’s overseas ETCZs. (CEDB)
Relaxed the visa requirements for nationals of Belarus,
Vietnam, Panama and Armenia visiting Hong Kong after
reviewing the visa requirements of these Belt and Road
countries. Extended the mutual visa-free access period
for Belarus. (SB)
New Directions for Taxation
Implemented the two-tiered profits tax rates regime which
reduces the tax burden on enterprises, especially small
and medium enterprises (SMEs). About 89 000 profits tax
payers in the year of assessment 2018/19 benefited with
total tax savings amounted to $6 billion. (FSTB)
Council of Advisers on Innovation and Strategic
Development
Established the Chief Executive’s Council of Advisers on
Innovation and Strategic Development in March 2018 to give
advice on Hong Kong’s strategic positioning in the global
and regional contexts and directions of economic
development. (PICO/CSO)
Innovation and TechnologyPolicy Steer and Co-ordination
Established the Steering Committee on I&T chaired by
the Chief Executive in December 2017 to steer Hong
Kong’s I&T and smart city development. (ITB)
Committed a total of $100 billion to give technology
development in Hong Kong a big boost. (ITB)
Implemented the new pro-innovation government
procurement policy since April 2019. (FSTB)
Increased Resources for Research and
Development
Introduced the enhanced tax deduction for qualifying
research and development (R&D) expenditure incurred
by enterprises from 1 April 2018. The total amount of
relevant R&D expenditure for claiming tax deduction
in the year of assessment 2018/19 was about $1.82
billion, representing an increase of 26% as compared
with $1.44 billion in 2017/18. (ITB)
Doubled the ceilings of the annual funding provided by
the I&T Fund to each State Key Laboratory and Hong
Kong branch of Chinese National Engineering Research
Centre from $5 million to $10 million, and to the
technology transfer office of each designated university
and each of the six universities under the Technology
Start-up Support Scheme for Universities from $4 million
to $8 million from 1 April 2019 to promote technology
transfer as well as realisation of R&D outcomes.
(ITB)
Supporting Technology Enterprises
Started co-investing in local I&T start-ups with
partner venture capital funds through the Innovation and
Technology Venture Fund (ITVF) in 2019. By September
2020, the ITVF has closed 19 deals with a total
investment of around $90 million. (ITB)
Secured an injection of $7 billion into the Hong Kong
Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC) for
enhancing support for its tenants. (ITB)
Injected $200 million into the Corporate Venture Fund in
April 2019, which has invested in 15 start-ups with a
total investment of $87 million. (ITB)
Injected $200 million into Cyberport in 2018 for
enhancing support for its start-ups and tenants,
including the increase in financial subsidy under the
Cyberport Incubation Programme from $330,000 to a
maximum of $500,000, and the launch of the Easy Landing
Scheme and the Overseas/Mainland Market Development
Support Scheme. (ITB)
Injected $100 million into Cyberport in 2018 to promote
the development of the e-sports industry. Opened the new
dedicated e-sports competition venue in the Cyberport
Arcade in July 2019. Introduced the E-sports Industry
Facilitation Scheme and the E-sports Internship Scheme
in April 2019, with 71 projects and 36 intern positions
approved by end-August 2020. (ITB)
Took forward the experience-sharing and
business-promotion platform established in conjunction
with the HKTDC and I&T sector in June 2020, to share
with overseas governments and markets Hong Kong’s
research outcome and experience in applying technology
to fight the epidemic and address livelihood needs,
especially the Belt and Road countries, and at the same
time open up more business opportunities for Hong Kong’s
I&T sector. (CEDB, ITB)
Promoting Technology Application and
Re-industrialisation
Launched the $2 billion Re-industrialisation Funding
Scheme in July 2020 to subsidise manufacturers to set up
new smart production lines in Hong Kong. (ITB)
Regularised the Technology Voucher Programme in February
2019 and introduced several rounds of enhancement
measures, including raising the Government’s funding
ratio to 75% and increasing the cumulative funding
ceiling per applicant to $600,000 in April 2020. (ITB)
Developing the Advanced Manufacturing Centre and
Microelectronics Centre by HKSTPC, with a view to
promoting re-industrialisation. (ITB)
Providing Technological Research Infrastructure
Commenced land decontamination and advance engineering
works at the Lok Ma Chau Loop in June 2018, with a view
to providing the first batch of land parcels in 2021 for
development of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and
Technology Park (HSITP). We will seek funding approval
for Main Works Package 1 and the development of the
first batch of buildings in the HSITP soon. (ITB)
Commenced operation of the Cyberport Smart-Space 8
co-working space in Tsuen Wan in July 2018, with its
occupancy rate at 100% as at end-August 2020. (ITB)
Secured an injection of $3 billion into the HKSTPC in
2018 for developing R&D-related facilities, such as
the Biobank and the Robotics Catalysing Centre, which
have been progressively commissioned. (ITB)
Completed the construction of the Data Technology Hub by
HKSTPC, which is expected to commence operation in the
fourth quarter of 2020. (ITB)
Earmarked $5.5 billion for Cyberport 5 expansion and $3
billion for Science Park Expansion Programme Phase 2.
(ITB)
Opening Up Government Data
Promulgated the open data policy in October 2018 to
promote opening up data owned by government, public and
private organisations. Over 880 new datasets in
machine-readable formats had been opened up by
government departments since 2019. As at end-September
2020, 4 187 datasets and around 1 400 application
programming interfaces (APIs) are provided in the Public
Sector Information Portal. (ITB)
Popular Science Education
Allocated $500 million for organising the annual City
I&T Grand Challenge. The first Grand Challenge is
expected to be launched in end-2020. (ITB)
Commence the pre-construction works of the expansion of
Hong Kong Science Museum in the fourth quarter of 2020,
and continue to revamp its permanent exhibitions. (HAB)
Established the Science Promotion Unit in the Leisure
and Cultural Services Department in April 2020. A series
of programmes to promote and popularise science to the
general public are under planning and will be launched
by phases in 2021. (HAB)
Smart City
Published the first Smart City Blueprint for Hong Kong
in December 2017, with over 70 initiatives in six smart
areas. Major developments include the launch of Faster
Payment System (FPS), adoption of smart solutions at the
Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), launching the
Next Generation Government Cloud Platform and Big Data
Analytics Platform and commissioning of the “iAM Smart”
platform in December 2020. (ITB)
Set up a Smart Government Innovation Lab in April 2019
to facilitate government departments to make wider use
of the solutions offered by the local information
technology sector to improve public services. So far, 38
business needs of departments have been matched, and 44
thematic workshops have been arranged. (ITB)
Provided funding to support 74 technology projects
proposed by 28 departments through the TechConnect
(block vote) to promote the use of technology for
enhancing operational efficiency and improving public
services. (ITB)
Launched the all-in-one “HKeMobility” mobile application
in July 2018, which allows the public to acquire
real-time traffic and transport information anytime and
anywhere. As at mid-2020, the number of downloads of
“HKeMobility” has exceeded 2.2 million. (THB)
Set up the Technical Advisory Committee on the
Application of Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Technologies in
Hong Kong in the Transport Department in November 2019,
which is actively studying the necessary legislative
amendments to create favourable conditions for the
development and application of AVs. (THB)
Commenced preparatory work for the $1 billion Smart
Traffic Fund, which will accept applications from the
first quarter of 2021 onwards. (THB)
Disseminated real-time parking vacancy information of
about 73% of the hourly parking spaces in Kowloon East
to the public, covering about 6 300 parking spaces.
(DEVB)
Launched a chatbot (“Bonny”) on the GovHK portal in
December 2019 to facilitate the public to search and
access over 3 300 government forms and related
e-Government services. (ITB)
Launched the “Leading Towards Robotics Technologies”
campaign in 2020 to inspire government departments to
apply robotics technologies to enhance public services
and city management. (ITB)
Introduced smart elements in prison management
(Correctional Services Department); launched the
enhanced “Post-dispatch Advice Computer System” to
provide emergency service callers with comprehensive and
appropriate first-aid advice (Fire Services Department);
rolled out the “e-Ticketing Pilot Scheme” for issuing
fixed penalty tickets against illegal parking (Hong Kong
Police Force); and commenced procurement of advanced
equipment such as CT scanners and auto-detection devices
to enhance cross-boundary clearance efficiency and step
up enforcement against smuggling and other offences
(Customs and Excise Department). (SB)
Launched the Big Data Analytics Platform in December
2019 by the Hospital Authority (HA) for local academics
to explore its clinical dataset for developing research
ideas and carrying out collaborative research projects
with the HA. (FHB)
Applied smart safety devices in public works contracts
by phases to enhance construction safety. (DEVB)
Social Innovation
Since the establishment of the Social Innovation and
Entrepreneurship Development Fund (SIE Fund) in 2013,
over $400 million has been allocated and 230 projects
funded under three priority areas of work, namely,
capacity building, innovative programmes and research,
benefiting around 250 000 persons. An injection of $500
million to the SIE Fund will be made in 2021–22. (ITB)
Transportation and Logistics
Established the Air Accident Investigation Authority under
the Transport and Housing Bureau on 10 September 2018.
(THB)
Injected $200 million into the Maritime and Aviation
Training Fund in May 2019. (THB)
Enhanced Hong Kong’s status as an international aviation
hub by actively expanding our aviation network and
intermodal connectivity, and enhanced high-value air cargo
handling capacity. In 2019, around 120 airlines operated
more than 1 100 flights daily between HKIA and around 220
destinations worldwide. In the past three years, the HKIA
has attained three International Air Transport Association
accreditations related to handling of high-value air
cargo. (THB)
Assisted the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) in taking
forward the Three-Runway System Project. AAHK awarded 30
major contracts with a total sum of about $75.2 billion.
(THB)
Enhanced Hong Kong’s position as a global maritime hub:
including
(i) establishment of the first-ever overseas branch of
The International Chamber of Shipping in Hong Kong in
2019;
(ii) designating Hong Kong by the Baltic and
International Maritime Council as the fourth
arbitration venue, alongside London, New York and
Singapore;
(iii) setting up regional offices of the Hong Kong
Shipping Registry in three cities (London, Shanghai
and Singapore) in 2020; and (iv) enacting the Inland
Revenue (Amendment) (Ship Leasing Tax Concessions)
Ordinance 2020 to provide tax concessions to
qualifying ship leasing business. (THB)
Set up a dedicated task force comprising industry members
to study tax measures to encourage more commercial
principals of the maritime industry to choose Hong Kong as
their base of operation. (THB)
Launched a $345 million pilot subsidy scheme to provide
financial incentive to qualified third-party logistics
service providers for adopting technology to enhance
productivity. (THB)
Concluded the feasibility studies for two port back-up
sites in Tsing Yi and Kwai Chung with a view to releasing
the sites by phases through public tender for developing
multi-storey port back-up and modern logistics facilities
starting 2021. (THB)
Finance
Established the Financial Leaders Forum, chaired by the
Financial Secretary, in August 2017 to provide policy
steer on strategic and forward-looking proposals to
strengthen Hong Kong’s position as an international
financial centre. (FSTB)
International Asset Management Centre
Commenced operation of the open-ended fund company
regime since 30 July 2018. (FSTB)
Commenced operation of the limited partnership fund
regime since 31 August 2020. (FSTB)
Offered profits tax exemption under the Inland Revenue
Ordinance (Cap. 112) to different types of onshore and
offshore privately offered funds with effect from 1
April 2019. (FSTB)
Entered into mutual recognition of funds arrangements
with the Mainland, Switzerland, France, the United
Kingdom, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. (FSTB)
Launched northbound trading of Bond Connect in July
2017. As at August 2020, the amount of foreign holdings
of bonds through Bond Connect has reached Renminbi 2,800
billion. Hong Kong ranked second in Asia (after Mainland
China) in 2019 in terms of asset under management by
private equity funds (reaching US$163 billion). (FSTB)
Fostering Development of the Financial Services
Industry
Incorporated the Financial Services Development Council
as a company limited by guarantee with effect from
September 2018, which is being supported by Government
subvention to strengthen its capacity to conduct
strategic studies, provide advice, foster market
development and nurture talent. (FSTB)
Launched a new listing regime in Hong Kong since April
2018 for three types of issuers, including
pre-revenue/pre-profit biotech issuers; issuers from
emerging and innovative sectors with weighted voting
rights structures; and qualifying issuers seeking
secondary listing through a new concessionary route.
Since the implementation of the listing reform, some 30
new economy companies have listed under the new regime,
raising over $300 billion of funds through initial
public offerings. (FSTB)
Leveraged the opportunities presented by the GBA
development to promote the sustainable development of
the financial services industry with various measures,
including preparation for launching the cross-boundary
wealth management connect pilot scheme. (FSTB)
Strengthened Hong Kong’s position as an international
insurance centre through enactment of three pieces of
primary legislation in July 2020 to introduce new
measures, including offering half-rate profits tax
concessions for marine insurance and specialty
insurance, enabling the setting up of special purpose
vehicles in Hong Kong for issuance of insurance-linked
securities, expanding the scope of insurable risks by
captive insurers set up in Hong Kong as well as
enhancing the legal framework for the regulation of
insurance groups. (FSTB)
Financial Innovation
Issued the inaugural green bond under the Government
Green Bond Programme in May 2019. (FSTB)
Elevated Hong Kong’s position as a regional green and
sustainable finance hub to promote more entities to make
use of Hong Kong’s financial platform for green and
sustainable investment and financing. Launched a Green
Bond Grant Scheme in June 2018 to subsidise eligible
green bond issuers in obtaining certification under the
Green Finance Certification Scheme. A total of US$10
billion of green bonds were arranged and issued in Hong
Kong in 2019, which was over three-fold of that in 2017.
(FSTB)
Launched the FPS in September 2018. As at end-August
2020, the FPS has recorded 6 million registrations. In
August 2020, the FPS processed 11.7 million transactions
(worth HK$120 billion and Renminbi 2 billion). Starting
from November 2019, taxes, rates and Government rent,
and water charges can be paid by using the FPS, and
counters and self-help kiosks of four Government
departments will soon accept FPS payments. (FSTB)
Granted licences to eight virtual banks by the Hong Kong
Monetary Authority (HKMA) as at August 2020, of which
five already commenced operations. (FSTB)
Under the Open API Framework, 20 retail banks have
launched over 500 and 300 APIs respectively under the
first two phases, covering information of deposits,
loans, insurance, investments and other banking products
and services. The HKMA is conducting a study on the
implementation of Phases III and IV Open APIs, which
covers the pace, scope, and standards for
implementation. (FSTB)
Conducting a Proof-of-Concept (PoC) trial by
eTradeConnect on connecting the People’s Bank of China
Trade Finance Platform. (FSTB)
Authorised four virtual insurers under the Fast Track as
at August 2020, of which two carry on life insurance
business and two carry on non-life insurance business.
(FSTB)
Published a new licensing framework for virtual asset
trading platforms in November 2019 by the Securities and
Futures Commission. (FSTB)
Took forward the development of the eMPF Platform to
standardise, streamline and automate the Mandatory
Provident Fund (MPF) scheme administration processes to
create room for fee reduction. The eMPF Platform is
expected to be fully functional in 2025 at the earliest.
(FSTB)
Financial Safety
Implemented the new auditor regulatory regime on 1
October 2019 to enhance the independence of the local
regulatory regime for listed entity auditors and to
align with international standards and practices, which
in turn strengthens investor protection and confidence
in Hong Kong capital markets. (FSTB)
Commenced operation of the new regulatory regime for
insurance intermediaries on 23 September 2019, which
replaced the previous self-regulatory regime. (FSTB)
Commenced operation of the Banking (Amendment) Ordinance
2018, which empowers the HKMA to prescribe rules on
recovery planning and financial exposure limits for
authorised institutions, and a series of subsidiary
legislation to align Hong Kong’s regulatory requirements
on banks’ exposure limits, capital, disclosure and
liquidity with international standards. (FSTB)
Enacted the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist
Financing (Financial Institutions) (Amendment) Ordinance
2018 and the Companies (Amendment) Ordinance 2018 on 24
January 2018. Commenced operation of both amended
ordinances on 1 March 2018, ensuring that the regulatory
framework of Hong Kong is in line with the international
standards set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
(FSTB)
Became the first jurisdiction in the Asia-Pacific region
to achieve an overall compliant result in the fourth
round of mutual evaluation by the FATF. In the Mutual
Evaluation Report published in September 2019, the FATF
commended Hong Kong for having established a strong
legal foundation and effective system for combating
money laundering and terrorist financing. (FSTB)
Tourism
The Financial Secretary convened the high-level tourism
co-ordinating meetings, directing bureaux and departments
to drive the implementation of various tourism-related
measures in the areas of tourist support and management,
planning of tourism facilities and transport support, and
tourism diversification through enhanced co-operation and
co-ordination. (CEDB)
Established the Travel Industry Authority in end-2019.
(CEDB)
Protection of Consumer Interests
Provided a dedicated funding of $238 million since 2018–19
to support the Competition Commission’s litigation work.
(CEDB)
Trade and Investment
Through the HKTDC, identified platforms in the Mainland
for organising promotional activities to assist Hong Kong
enterprises in developing the Mainland market; explored
new trade platforms in developed markets outside the US to
open up more channels for Hong Kong enterprises to get in
touch with overseas buyers; and strengthened promotion
activities in emerging markets. (CEDB)
Through InvestHK, attracted more overseas and Mainland
companies to set up offices in Hong Kong, with the total
number increased from about 8 200 in 2017 to over 9 000 in
2020. (CEDB)
Support to Small and Medium Enterprises
Launched the new 90% and Special 100% Guarantee Products
under the SME Financing Guarantee Scheme (SFGS) in
December 2019 and April 2020 respectively to help SMEs in
obtaining commercial loans to ease their cash flow
problem. Introduced additional support measures including
raising the maximum loan amount, extending the loan
repayment period, providing interest subsidy and principal
moratorium to help alleviate the financial burden of
enterprises. Increased total government commitment under
the SFGS to $183 billion. Since July 2017, loans amounting
to $60 billion have been approved under the SFGS,
benefiting more than 20 000 enterprises involving about
300 000 employees. (CEDB)
Injected $3.5 billion and $2 billion respectively into the
Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales
(BUD Fund) and SME Export Marketing Fund (EMF), and
introduced a series of enhancements, including expansion
of funding scope and increase in funding limits for each
enterprise. Since July 2017, $1 billion grant has been
approved under BUD Fund, benefiting 1 580 enterprises and
18 000 employees; and $700 million has been approved under
EMF, benefiting 4 100 enterprises and 23 000 employees.
(CEDB)
Consolidated the services of four SME centres and
introduced “four-in-one” integrated services to provide
“one-stop” consultation and referral services, and set up
the SME ReachOut service team to help SMEs identify
funding schemes that suit their needs and answer questions
relating to their applications. About 70 000 enquiries
have been handled. (CEDB)
Introduced a range of business support measures by the
Hong Kong Export Credit Insurance Corporation (ECIC),
including free pre-shipment cover, premium discount,
additional free buyer credit checks and expedited claims
settlement etc. Introduced the “100% Credit Limit Top-Up
Scheme” in June 2020 by ECIC to run for a period of six
months, under which it would automatically double the
credit limits of policyholders or uplift the limits to the
amount applied for, whichever is smaller, subject to a cap
of $100 million. As at end-September 2020, 6 424 credit
limits were uplifted under the Scheme, involving a total
of around $15 billion of credit limits, of which $6.61
billion (44%) represented the top-up portions. (CEDB)
Convention and Exhibition
Took forward plans to increase the supply of convention
and exhibition facilities to maintain and enhance Hong
Kong’s role as a premier international convention,
exhibition and sourcing centre. (CEDB)
Legal Services
Established the Mediation Mechanism for Investment
Disputes in accordance with the IA signed under the CEPA
framework. Announced the lists of designated mediation
institutions and mediators on 14 December 2018. Published
mediation rules drafted by the Department of Justice (DoJ)
and adopted by designated mediation institutions and
mediators in Hong Kong. (DoJ)
Signed with the Mainland the Arrangement on Recognition
and Enforcement of Judgments in Civil and Commercial
Matters and the Arrangements Concerning Mutual Assistance
in Court-ordered Interim Measures in Aid of Arbitral
Proceedings (Interim Measures Arrangement). As of 27
August 2020, Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre
has processed 25 interim measures applications to preserve
evidence or assets worth Renminbi 9.4 billion in total and
court orders in respect of Renminbi 8.7 billion worth of
assets have been issued. (DoJ)
Launched the inaugural Hong Kong Legal Week in November
2019, which is held annually in the first week of November
to promote legal and dispute resolution services of Hong
Kong. (DoJ)
Held the first meeting of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao
Bay Area Legal Departments Joint Conference on 12
September 2019 to discuss suggestions to promote legal
developments in the GBA, including further promotion of
mediation in the GBA. Signed a Framework Arrangement on
Exchange and Mutual Learning in Legal Aspects with the
Guangdong High People’s Court of Guangdong in September
2019. Carried out various activities pursuant to the
Arrangement, including seminars about common law in
Shenzhen in September 2019 and the Guangdong-Hong
Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Judicial Case Seminar in
January 2020 in Guangzhou. Held the Inaugural Seminar on
the Legal Challenges and Strategies under the Belt and
Road Initiative in Beijing on 26 November 2019. (DoJ)
Sought liberalisation measures in Guangdong Province to
remove the minimum capital injection ratio for partnership
with Mainland law firms and allow direct employment of the
Mainland and Hong Kong lawyers in the partnership
associations’ own name. (DoJ)
The decision of the Standing Committee of the National
People’s Congress on special examination for legal
practitioners in the GBA allows Hong Kong eligible legal
practitioners to practise specific areas of Mainland law
after passing the relevant examination. The passing of the
related laws and regulations for the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong
Kong Modern Service Industry Co-operation Zone allows
wholly owned Hong Kong enterprises to choose Hong Kong law
as the governing law in a contract in civil and commercial
matters. (DoJ)
Telecommunications and Broadcasting
Released a total of 4 500 MHz of 5G spectrum to the market
in 2019 and facilitated the timely launch of 5G commercial
services in the second quarter of 2020. (CEDB)
Opened up over 1 000 suitable government premises and
adopted a “demand-led” model to include more government
and public facilities (e.g. sheltered bus stops and
payphone kiosks) for mobile service operators to install
base stations. (CEDB)
Awarded six tenders for the subsidy scheme to extend
fibre-based networks to villages in remote areas. Extend
the new broadband networks in phases starting from 2021,
benefiting some 110 000 villagers. (CEDB)
Launched the “Community Care Fund Digital TV Assistance
Programme” in January 2020 to provide digital TV sets or
set-top boxes to needy households so that they can
continue to access free TV services upon the
implementation of Full Digital TV Broadcast on 1 December
2020. (CEDB)
Completed the public consultation on the review of
telecommunications regulatory framework in early 2019. We
will work on the relevant legislative amendments. (CEDB)
Creative Industries
Injected $1 billion into the CreateSmart Initiative in May
2018 to promote further development of the design sector
and other non-film creative industries. Made financial
commitment of $600 million as at end-June 2020. (CEDB)
Set aside $300 million for the Hong Kong Design Centre
(HKDC) to implement various initiatives to reinforce Hong
Kong’s status as a city of design excellence in Asia.
(CEDB)
Promoted design thinking within the Government actively,
including provision of training to about 7 000 civil
servants in the past three years, and promulgation of
guidelines in April 2019 to encourage departments to apply
design thinking in the procurement process. (CEDB)
Supported government departments and non-profit making
organisations, through the CreateSmart Initiative, to
apply design thinking to enhance the quality of public
services and facilities. Pilot projects included enhancing
support and services for SMEs. (CEDB)
Provided funding support for the HKDC to set up an event
space at No. 7 Mallory Street in Wan Chai to promote
design and design thinking to the public. (CEDB)
Implemented the Design and Fashion Project in Sham Shui Po
to nurture young designers and support start-ups, promote
fashion design, as well as boost district economy and
tourism. Commenced construction works of the project in
early 2019, which is expected to complete in 2023–24.
(CEDB)
Completed the review on the operation of the Film
Development Fund, and injected $1 billion into the Fund in
May 2019 to promote further development of the local film
industry through nurturing talent, enhancing local
production, expanding markets and building audience. Made
financial commitment of $300 million as at end-June 2020.
(CEDB)
Secured support from relevant Central authorities in April
2019 to implement five measures to facilitate the entry of
Hong Kong’s film industry into the Mainland market,
thereby expanding the market space for local films and
film practitioners in the Mainland. (CEDB)
Construction Industry
Took forward the strategic initiatives to implement
“Construction 2.0” progressively and led the industry to
make changes by advocating “Innovation”,
“Professionalisation” and “Revitalisation”. Actively
promoted the application of I&T, including digital
works supervision systems, building information modelling
(BIM) and established the Construction Innovation and
Technology Fund (CITF). (DEVB)
Established the Centre of Excellence for Major Project
Leaders by the Project Strategy and Governance Office
(PSGO) to provide high-level training programmes for major
project leaders. PSGO has been collaborating and
exchanging experience with counterparts in the Mainland,
Australia, Singapore and the United Kingdom (UK) and
entered into Memorandum of Understandings with the
Ministry of Finance in Singapore and the Infrastructure
and Projects Authority in UK. (DEVB)
Required capital works contracts with pre-tender estimate
exceeding $300 million to adopt digital works supervision
system from April 2020 onwards to strengthen site
supervision. (DEVB)
Opened the Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) Display
Centre in November 2018 with the joint efforts of the
Development Bureau and the Construction Industry Council
(CIC). (DEVB)
Promoted the use of MiC proactively. Designated government
buildings such as schools, dormitories and office
buildings, etc., in capital works projects are required to
adopt MiC from April 2020 onwards. MiC played an
instrumental role in providing quarantine facilities and a
temporary hospital in a timely manner for tackling the
Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. (DEVB)
Topped out the first batch of MiC pilot projects,
including InnoCell at HKSTPC and Disciplined Services
Quarters for the Fire Services Department at Pak Shing Kok
in Tseung Kwan O in May 2020 and August 2020 respectively.
(DEVB)
Set up a pre-acceptance mechanism for MiC systems and
granted a 6% concession of the floor area constructed by
MiC for new buildings. (DEVB)
Required public works projects to adopt BIM technology
from January 2018 onwards. As at end-August 2020, the
estimated total contract value of public works projects
which have adopted such technology has exceeded $147
billion. (DEVB)
Supplying prefabricated reinforcing bar (rebar) products
by the four steel rebar prefabrication yards included in
the Civil Engineering and Development Department’s List of
Approved Steel Reinforcing Bar Prefabrication Yards for
local construction projects in 2020. The total production
is on the increasing trend. (DEVB)
Set up the $1 billion CITF in October 2018 to encourage
wider adoption of innovative technologies and stimulate
the provision of cutting-edge solutions by local I&T
enterprises for industry enhancement. So far, the Fund has
approved more than 1 200 applications and subsidised over
700 enterprises for adoption of innovation construction
technologies in local building projects such as MiC and
BIM, with a total approved funding of more than $270
million. (DEVB)
Offering quality training to trainees of the Hong Kong
Institute of Construction, which was established in 2018.
In particular, its Diploma in Construction Programmes have
been accredited under the Qualification Framework by the
Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and
Vocational Qualifications. About 70 000 participants have
completed its programmes every year, covering both
full-time and part-time training courses. (DEVB)
Allocated a funding of $200 million in May 2020 to
strengthen construction manpower training in trades of
keen demand with a view to upskilling the workers and
attracting more young people to join the construction
industry. (DEVB)
Established a new registration system in collaboration
with the Mainland Authorities that enables architectural
and engineering related consultant firms on the HKSAR
Government’s approved lists and related registered
professionals to provide professional services for
development projects in the GBA. (DEVB)
Invited the CIC to extend its waiver of registration and
renewal fees for registered workers for a further 12
months to support the construction industry, involving
about $9 million in total. (DEVB)
Agriculture and Fisheries Industry
Commenced environmental impact assessment for designating
new fish culture zones in end-2019, and resumed issuance
of new marine fish culture licences starting from early
2020. (FHB)
Introduced measures to remove barriers in making
applications for the Sustainable Agricultural Development
Fund and Sustainable Fisheries Development Fund for
promoting sustainable development of agriculture and
fisheries industry, with a view to making good use of the
funds to improve the operating environment for the trade.
(FHB)
Put into effect the relevant legislative amendment to
facilitate relocation of chicken farms in July 2020, which
helps chicken farms improve their bio-security measures,
with a view to further enhancing the prevention and
control of avian influenza. (FHB)
Obtained approval from the Legislative Council (LegCo) in
July 2020 to increase the approved commitment of the
fishing moratorium loan scheme by $210 million. (FHB)
New InitiativesFinancial ServicesStrategic Investments Using Future Fund
Prepare for the launch of Hong Kong Growth Portfolio to
make strategic investments in projects with a Hong Kong
nexus, with a view to enhancing returns while
reinforcing Hong Kong’s status as a financial,
commercial and innovation centre, and raising Hong
Kong’s productivity and competitiveness in the long run.
(FSTB)
Consolidating Hong Kong’s Position as Asia’s Premier
Fund Hub for Private Equity
Provide tax concession for carried interest issued by
private equity funds operating in Hong Kong subject to
the fulfilment of certain conditions with a view to
consolidating Hong Kong’s position as Asia’s premier
fund hub for private equity. We have consulted the
industry and are formulating the legislative proposal
with the target to introduce an amendment bill into the
LegCo shortly. (FSTB)
Fintech Proof-of-Concept Subsidy Scheme
Launch the Fintech Proof-of-Concept Subsidy Scheme to
provide financial incentives for financial institutions
to partner up with Fintech companies to conduct PoC
projects, with a view to encouraging innovation and
accelerating technology transformation. (FSTB)
Supervising Virtual Asset Services
Establish a robust regulatory framework to supervise
virtual asset trading platforms through a licensing
system and attract high quality virtual asset service
providers to domicile in Hong Kong. This would allow us
to capitalise on financial innovation whilst managing
money laundering and market manipulation risks, thereby
promoting the orderly development of the market. (FSTB)
Reconnect with Markets and Explore New
Opportunities
Pursue the expansion of the overseas ETO network to foster
closer economic and trade relations with our trading
partners, thereby bringing about more business
opportunities for Hong Kong. The Dubai ETO, our first ETO
in the Middle East region and the 14th ETO, is expected to
commence operation in early 2021. (CEDB)
Devote extra efforts and resources to strengthen in phases
external promotion work taking into account the latest
epidemic situation, with a view to restoring confidence in
Hong Kong. Detailed measures include:
Explore with overseas economies with stabilised
epidemic situation the gradual resumption of
cross-border travel. Such arrangement would be guided
by science and based on the advice of our health
professionals according to the “Suppress and Lift”
strategy;
Adopt different engagement strategies by the overseas
ETOs, taking into account the epidemic situation and
the specific concerns on Hong Kong in their host
countries. The ETOs will promote Hong Kong’s role as a
major international business and financial centre, as
well as Hong Kong’s institutional advantages, core
competitiveness, our level playing field and business
friendly environment;
Dynamically adjust InvestHK’s promotion strategies by
leveraging the digital platforms;
Review by the Hong Kong Tourism Board of the
positioning of tourism in Hong Kong in light of the
“new normal” due to the sustained epidemic situation
and will, in association with the travel and related
trades, launch promotions and offers in source markets
with readiness for travelling to Hong Kong;
Actively develop its digital platform by HKTDC to
connect buyers and suppliers worldwide and help Hong
Kong enterprises explore business opportunities and
develop overseas markets; and
Explore with foreign chambers of commerce to offer
internship and work opportunities in recommended
companies of relevant industries (such as creative
industries) to young graduates for 12 months. (CEDB)
Encourage the Hong Kong professional services sectors in
stepping up promotion of Hong Kong’s competitive edges and
their services to the GBA Mainland cities and overseas
markets after the pandemic situation has stabilised. Set
aside a dedicated funding of $50 million under the
Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme to
sponsor major professional bodies’ participation in
relevant exchanges, promotion and professional standard
enhancement activities organised by the Government, HKTDC
and overseas ETOs. (CEDB)
Support interested Hong Kong enterprises and the
professional services sector to explore opportunities in
the Mainland’s overseas ETCZs by promoting pilot matching
of selected ETCZs in ASEAN with such enterprises with a
view to enhancing business collaboration. (CEDB)
Launch a Mainland Enterprises Partnership Exchange and
Interface Programme to serve as a “one-stop” platform for
fostering exchanges and business matching with Hong Kong
professional services sector. Stage the second edition of
the Belt and Road Joint Conference Policy Exchange and
Capacity Building Programme in conjunction with relevant
Mainland authorities with a view to jointly enhancing
professional capacity for pursuing the Belt and Road
Initiative. (CEDB)
Launch publicity programmes in the Mainland to rebuild the
confidence in Hong Kong to pave way for the resumption of
economic activities and people flow between the two places
in an orderly manner after the epidemic. (CMAB)
Strive to establish after-sales service centres of Hong
Kong insurers in the Mainland cities of the GBA, with a
view to providing comprehensive support, including claims
and renewal and surrender of policies, to holders of Hong
Kong policies by phases. (FSTB)
Strive to implement the “unilateral recognition” policy
for Hong Kong motor vehicles entering Guangdong (GD)
through the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) control
point. The policy extends the coverage of third-party
insurance policies issued by Hong Kong insurers to cover
third-party liability in the Mainland, thereby deeming
such policies as equivalent to the mandatory traffic
accident liability insurance in the Mainland. (FSTB)
Support the Hong Kong Vocational Training Council and the
Shenzhen Polytechnic in exploring the joint development of
vocational training and coaching programmes, and
attracting students from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao to
take part in vocational coaching and internships. (EDB)
Discuss with the relevant Mainland authorities the
possibility of permitting the use of Hong Kong-registered
drugs and common medical devices in designated Hong
Kong-owned healthcare institutions in the GBA by
implementing the measure at the University of Hong
Kong-Shenzhen Hospital on a pilot basis. (FHB)
Cross-border Transportation
Implement the “Quota-free scheme for Hong Kong private
cars travelling to Guangdong via the Hong
Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge” (the Scheme) after the
commissioning of Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Tunnel, allowing
eligible Hong Kong private cars to travel between Hong
Kong and GD via HZMB without the need to obtain a regular
quota. (THB)
Commission an automated parking system at the Hong Kong
Boundary Crossing Facilities Island for private vehicles
from the Mainland and Macao. (THB)
Innovation and Technology DevelopmentThe Loop
Take forward the development of the HSITP located in the
Lok Ma Chau Loop in full swing. We will explore with
Shenzhen regarding the use of the existing facilities in
the Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Zone, before the
completion of the HSITP’s first batch of buildings for
the institutes that are interested in joining it to
kick-start the research, so as to better leverage the
complementary strengths and to create synergy between
Hong Kong and Shenzhen. (ITB)
Smart City Blueprint 2.0
Release Smart City Blueprint for Hong Kong 2.0 in
November 2020, which will set out more than 130 smart
city initiatives, including new proposals as well as
enhancements and expansions to existing initiatives. In
the coming year, two of the more livelihood measures
are:
use Internet of Things technology, launch the smart
toilet pilot programme to improve hygienic
conditions and services at public toilets; and (FHB)
explore smart village pilot projects using
technology to solve daily issues faced by residents
living in rural or remote areas, such as attending
healthcare consultations by elders and traffic
management. (ITB)
iAM Smart Platform
Launch the “iAM Smart” service platform in December 2020
to provide a one-stop platform for the public to access
government services. In the first phase, some 20
frequently used public services will be made available,
including online application for vehicle licence renewal
and electronic submission of tax returns. Other online
public services will be included in the platform
incrementally. (ITB)
Licensing of Employment Agencies
Without affecting the regulatory and enforcement work,
streamline the licence renewal process for employment
agencies (EAs) and reduce the information required for
licence renewal applications as far as possible,
including rolling out a new e-service system by early
2022 to allow EAs to submit licence applications and
check their application status easily and conveniently.
(LWB)
Higher Education Employment Information
e-Platform
Integrate the Higher Education Employment Information
e-Platform of the Labour Department into its Interactive
Employment Service website to achieve synergy in serving
job seekers with higher education both within and
outside Hong Kong. (LWB)
Creative Industries Development
Provide another $1 billion injection into the CreateSmart
Initiative to continue with the Government’s commitment in
promoting creative industries as Hong Kong’s new economic
drivers. (CEDB)
Construction Industry
Implement the integrated capital works platform in phases
from 2021 onwards to enable data integration and analysis
of works information for continuous monitoring and review
of project performance with a view to enhancing the
management of the Capital Works Programme. (DEVB)
Co-ordinate efforts of works departments for taking
forward research and development studies and piloting
innovative construction methods, new materials and digital
technology, etc., for enhancing the cost-effectiveness,
delivery capacity and performance of capital works
projects. (DEVB)
Commence trial operation of an automated system for
concrete cube testing in January 2021. (DEVB)
Explore further the use of remote monitoring, wireless
sensors networks, internet of things and other innovative
technologies to push forward digitisation of works
supervision system, reduce interpersonal contact and
improve occupational safety and health on site. (DEVB)
Agriculture and Fisheries Industry
Strive to promote high value-added and sustainable
development of the agriculture industry. Commence works of
the Agricultural Park Phase 1 with phased completion from
2021 to 2023. (FHB)
Support Hong Kong fishermen to participate in the
development of deep sea mariculture in the GBA, including
providing assistance under the Sustainable Fisheries
Development Fund, establishing a modern demonstration
farm, and providing training to facilitate the mariculture
sector to switch to deep water mariculture. (FHB)
Job Creation
Provide an 18-month subsidy under the Green Employment
Scheme to private companies and suitable organisations to
employ about 550 university graduates of the 2019 and 2020
cohorts to work in environment-related fields, and offer
them training in various environmental subjects. (ENB)
Create around 30 000 time-limited jobs in both the public
and private sectors in the coming two years for people of
different skills sets and academic qualifications under
the second round of the Anti-epidemic Fund (AEF). Around
26 000 jobs have already been created. Proposals for
creating the remaining 4 000 jobs are in the pipeline.
(CSB)
Provide subsidies under the AEF to prospective employers
of engineering graduates with a view to sustaining the
provision of vocational training opportunities. A total of
1 000 trainees concerned have commenced training by phase
from July 2020, and their eligible employers will start
receiving a monthly subsidy of $5,610 per trainee for up
to 18 months in October 2020 the earliest. (LWB)
Job AdvancementLawTech
Enhance the capability of the profession to harness
modern technology in the provision of legal and dispute
resolution services. Further to the establishment of the
LawTech Fund and COVID-19 Online Dispute Resolution
(ODR) Scheme under the second round of AEF, the DoJ will
actively explore the development of “Hong Kong Legal
Cloud”, a state-of-the-art online facility equipped with
advanced information security technology, to provide the
local legal and dispute resolution profession a secured,
reliable and affordable way for storing their
information, thereby facilitating the overall
development of legal and dispute resolution services in
Hong Kong in the long run. (DoJ)
COVID-19 Online Dispute Resolution Scheme
Establish a COVID-19 ODR Scheme, engaging eBRAM Centre
to provide ODR services for COVID-19 related disputes,
with post-dispute dispute resolution agreement by the
private parties. (DoJ)
Encourage the Early Deployment and Adoption of
5G
Encourage the early deployment and adoption of 5G by the
public and private sectors with a view to enhancing Hong
Kong’s competitiveness. The Government has launched the
Subsidy Scheme for Encouraging Early Deployment of 5G
under the second round of AEF. Depending on the final
response, we will consider extending the Scheme to
further promote the use of 5G. (CEDB)
Supporting Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
Support business enterprises affected by the pandemic to
carry out promotional activities targeting the local
market by making full use of both virtual and physical
exhibitions, and maintain Hong Kong’s leading position
as the hub for large-scale commodity shows by expanding
the scope of the SME EMF for two years. (CEDB)
Update the online procurement plans of Government
departments more frequently in order to keep enterprises
(especially SMEs and start-ups) abreast of Government’s
latest procurement plans and encourage them to
participate in tendering. (FSTB)
Investing in Capital Works
Continue to invest substantially in infrastructure
development and various new projects. These projects cover
land and housing supply, healthcare facilities, education,
culture and recreation, water supply, drainage and
sewerage aspects, etc., including the Tung Chung new town
extension, new acute hospital at Kai Tak, special school
with boarding facilities, pier improvement programme,
redevelopment of Yuen Long Stadium, the Boardwalk
underneath the Island Eastern Corridor, Tin Shui Wai New
Public Market, and other projects that are closely related
to people’s livelihood. We expect the annual capital works
expenditure will continue to grow from 2021–22 onwards and
exceed $100 billion in coming years. (DEVB)
Speed up the contract award of capital works projects
which have secured funding. (DEVB)
Adopt parallel tendering and shorten tender evaluation to
expedite tendering process of works project, where
appropriate, so as to speed up infrastructure development.
Of the 86 major public works projects (at a total of $144
billion) approved by the Finance Committee of the LegCo in
2019–20 session, works contracts for 47 projects have been
awarded, and contracts for the other 39 projects are in
the process of tendering. (DEVB)
Collaborate with works departments to explore the
possibility of fast tracking the project schedule and
shortening the time for completion of specific tasks for
early delivery of housing, transportation, hospital and
social infrastructure projects. (DEVB)
Business Support Measures
Launch the Convention and Exhibition Industry Subsidy
Scheme under the first round of AEF. The part of the
Scheme relating to exhibitions and international
conventions held at the Hong Kong Convention and
Exhibition Centre and AsiaWorld-Expo will last for the one
year period starting from 3 October 2020 to 2 October
2021, while the other part relating to events organised by
HKTDC will also last for a one year period from a date to
be announced later when it resumes holding events. (CEDB)
Support businesses and relieve individuals’ financial
burden through time-limited measures including rental and
fee concessions for eligible tenants of government
premises, and short-term tenancies and waivers
administered by the Lands Department; waivers/concessions
of 35 groups of government fees and charges; and fee
review moratorium. These measures benefit a wide range of
sectors and will involve a total revenue forgone of about
$3.5 billion on the part of the Government. (FSTB)
Chapter VI - Liveable CityMy Belief
“A liveable environment makes Hong Kong people happy, hopeful,
confident about the future and have a sense of belonging to Hong
Kong.”
“Public expectations for a ‘liveable city’ are rising. In
addition to ample land and housing supply, green countryside, a
beautiful harbour, a sustainable environment and heritage
conservation are indispensable for a quality city.”
“Hong Kong has a long history as the meeting point of East and
West and a melting pot of the two cultures. We should honour the
invaluable legacy of the ‘Pearl of the Orient’ and create a
cosmopolitan city that embraces culture, arts and sports. This
will give our citizens a home where they can enjoy physical
health and cultural richness.”
I set out the policy direction of “according priority to
transport infrastructure” in my 2018 Policy Address. Through
creating capacity, our transport infrastructure will not only be
able to cope with foreseeable demand, but also provide
reasonable buffer capacity to support possible long-term
developments in the future.
InfographicsPublic TransportDistribution of Average Daily Public Transport
Patronage in 2019
Railway: 5.10 million (41.0%)
Franchised Buses: 4.09 million (32.9%)
Public Light Buses: 1.77 million (14.2%)
Taxis: 0.85 million (6.9%)
Residents' Services: 0.21 million (1.7%)
Tramways: 0.15 million (1.2%)
Ferries: 0.12 million (1.0%)
EnvironmentImproved Air Quality
Compared with the 2017 levels, in 2019 the annual average
ambient concentrations of respirable suspended particulates
(PM10) has decreased by 9%, fine suspended particulates
(PM2.5) has decreased by 14%, sulphur dioxide (SO2) has
decreased by 38%, and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) has decreased
by 5%.
Renewable EnergyFeed-in Tariff (FiT) Scheme
Citizens can sell renewable energy to two power companies2008-2018
About 200 private renewable energy systems were connected to the power grids2018-2020
More than 10 000 FiT applications were approvedElectricity generation capacity
Amount to about 150 000 kilowatts, roughly equivalent to 136 times of electricity generation capacity of Government's largest solar farm
Arts & CultureIncreased recurrent funding to support arts &
cultural development
2017-18: $4,288.5 million
2018-19: $4,752.8 million
2019-20: $5,142.4 million
2020-21 (Estimate): $5,430.5 million
The recurrent funding to support arts & cultural
development has increased by 27% over the past four years.
Sports and RecreationEnhanced support for sports development
To enhance the support for sports development, the
Government has since 2017-18 committed $60 billion of new
funding for various initiatives, including $31.9 billion for
the development of the Kai Tak Sports Park, $20 billion for
the Five-year Plan for the development of sports and
recreational facilities, $6 billion additional funding to
the Elite Athletes Development Fund, $1 billion injection
into the Arts and Sport Development Fund (Sports Portion),
$500 million injection into the Major Sports Events Matching
Grant Scheme, $250 million injection into the Hong Kong
Athletes Fund, $130 million for the Team Sports Development
Programme and $100 million to support disability sports.
Promoting Building Safety1. Operation Building Bright 2.0
- Allocated $6 billion to support the repair and maintenance of 5 000 old private buildings2. Building Maintenance Grant Scheme for Needy Owners
- Allocated $2 billion to assist around 25 000 needy owners to repair and maintain their properties3. Lift Modernisation Subsidy Scheme
- Allocated $4.5 billion to modernise 8 000 lifts4. Fire Safety Improvement Works Subsidy Scheme
- Allocated $5.5 billion to improve the fire safety standards of 6 000 to 6 500 old composite (commercial and domestic) buildingsNew Public Markets
The six new public market projects include Tin Shui Wai
market, Tung Chung Town Centre market, Tseung Kwan O market,
Kwu Tung North New Development Area (NDA) market, Tung Chung
New Town Extension market and Hung Shui Kiu NDA market.
Progress Made
A total of 177 new initiatives were announced since July 2017,
of which 165 have been completed or are progressing on schedule.
Key initiatives completed or major progress made are as follows:
TransportDeveloping Transport Infrastructure
Commissioned the Hong Kong Section of the
Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link in
September 2018, with daily average patronage of 47 000
as of end-2019. (THB)
Commissioned the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) in
October 2018, with more than 80 000 cross-boundary
vehicles of the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao being
eligible to travel on HZMB. (THB)
Commissioned the Central-Wan Chai Bypass and Island
Eastern Corridor Link in February 2019, reducing the
journey time between Central and Island Eastern Corridor
in North Point to around five minutes only. (THB)
Commissioned the Heung Yuen Wai Highway in May 2019
improving traffic in the North District and providing
the access road to the new Liantang/Heung Yuen Wai
Boundary Control Point with cargo clearance services
opened in August 2020. (DEVB)
Invited MTR Corporation Limited to proceed with the
detailed planning and design for the Tung Chung Line
Extension and Tuen Mun South Extension in the first half
of 2020. (THB)
Commissioned Tuen Ma Line Phase 1 in February 2020
connecting Wu Kai Sha and Kai Tak, shortening the
journey time between Tai Wai and Diamond Hill stations
from 17 to 9 minutes. (THB)
Improving Public Transport Services
Three franchised bus companies, viz. Citybus Limited,
New Lantao Bus Company (1973) Limited and New World
First Bus Services Limited, opened up their real-time
arrival information in machine-readable formats on the
Public Sector Information Portal (DATA.GOV.HK) in August
2019 for free use by the public and the industry. (THB)
Improved in-harbour and outlying island ferry services:
completed tender exercise for the “Central – Hung Hom”
and “water taxi” ferry services, with the “Central –
Hung Hom” route commencing operation in June 2020 and
the operator actively gearing up for the “water taxi”
service. (THB)
Extended the Special Helping Measures to more outlying
island ferry routes to maintain affordable fare level
from April 2020. (THB)
Committed to subsidising the replacement of existing
vessels of outlying island routes with greener vessels
in phases starting from 2021. (THB)
Completed the legislative work in the first half of 2020
to relax the vehicle length and maximum gross weight
restriction of light buses, and preparing legislative
amendments concerning the design of emergency exits,
etc., so as to allow more choices for the trade while
accommodating the development needs of the industry.
(THB)
Pedestrian-friendly Environment
Carried out detailed design for a new footbridge across
Kwun Tong Road near MTR Kowloon Bay Station Exit A (in
progress) and another footbridge across Wai Yip Street
near Siu Yip Street (largely completed). (DEVB)
Endorsed nine premium waiver applications from
landowners for the construction of footbridges and
subways at their own cost under the policy of
Facilitating Provision of Pedestrian Links by the
Private Sector. (DEVB)
Enhanced the connectivity, improved the environment and
released development potential to expedite the
transformation of Kowloon East into the second core
business district. More than 70 traffic and pedestrian
environment improvement works items have been completed.
16 hectares of open spaces and public spaces have been
provided or enhanced. (DEVB)
Press ahead with the Universal Accessibility Programme
to proactively retrofit barrier-free access facilities
(e.g. lifts) at walkways and extended its coverage to
walkways in estates under the Tenants Purchase Scheme,
Buy or Rent Option Scheme and public rental housing
(PRH) estates with non-residential properties divested
under the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HKHA). As of
September 2020, 163 items were completed. (THB)
Promoted “Walk in HK” to foster a pedestrian-friendly
environment: completed the first batch of works to
enhance pedestrian connectivity between Wan Chai and
Sheung Wan in June 2020 while other improvement measures
will be implemented by phase; finalise the overall
walkability strategy for Hong Kong and extend the
coverage of walking route search function under
“HKeMobility” to 18 districts by end-2020; consult
respective District Councils (DCs) on the projects for
provision of cover for walkways connecting to public
hospitals from the fourth quarter of 2020; and invite 18
DCs to nominate the second round projects for provision
of cover for walkways starting from the fourth quarter
of 2020. With regard to the provision of cover for
walkway projects nominated by the DCs in the first
round, the first project was completed in February 2020
while nine projects have commenced construction
progressively. The remaining eight projects are under
planning and design. (THB)
Relieving the Burden of Public Transport
Expenses
Launched the non-means tested Public Transport Fare
Subsidy Scheme in January 2019 to relieve the fare
burden of commuters, benefiting an average of 1.9
million passengers per month. The Scheme was further
enhanced with effect from 1 January 2020 by raising the
subsidy rate from one-fourth to one-third of the monthly
public transport expenses exceeding $400, as well as
lifting the subsidy cap from $300 to $400 per month.
(THB)
Completed the review of the Fare Adjustment Arrangement
for Franchised Buses. Among others, the Weighted Average
Cost of Capital of the franchised bus industry was
adjusted. Profits achieved by a franchised bus operator
exceeding the rate of return on average net fixed assets
of 8.7% shall be shared on a 50:50 basis between the
franchised bus operator and passengers through fare
concessions. The new arrangement took effect in January
2019. (THB)
Exempted franchised bus operators from paying tolls of
seven government tunnels and two government roads with
effect from 17 February 2019. Each franchised bus
operator has set up its own dedicated fund account for
keeping the toll savings for relieving fare increase
pressure. (THB)
Waive the tolls of the new Tuen Mun – Chek Lap Kok
Tunnel and the Lantau Link upon commissioning of the
former scheduled for the end of 2020 at the earliest;
and waive the tolls of the new Tseung Kwan O – Lam Tin
Tunnel and the Tseung Kwan O Tunnel upon commissioning
of the former scheduled for the end of 2021 at the
earliest. (THB)
Established an International Expert Panel in January
2020 for gauging advice on the development of the
Electronic Road Pricing Pilot Scheme in Central (Pilot
Scheme), following stakeholder consultation on the
concept and preliminary ideas of the Pilot Scheme in
mid-2019. (THB)
Increasing the Provision of Parking Spaces
Drawn up short-term and medium-to long-term measures to
increase the number of car parking spaces in Hong Kong.
These include designating suitable on-street locations
as night-time parking spaces, providing public parking
spaces at suitable “Government, Institution or
Community” facilities and public open space projects in
line with the “single site, multiple uses” principle,
taking forward pilot projects of automated parking
systems and reviewing the standards on provision of
parking spaces and loading/ unloading bays in housing
developments stipulated in the Hong Kong Planning
Standards and Guidelines. (THB)
Environment and Nature ConservationEnhancing Waste Management
Enhanced support for waste reduction and recycling
through new collection services and infrastructures,
including launching new collection service on waste
paper and pilot scheme on waste plastics collection, as
well as “Reduce and Recycle 2.0” Campaign. (ENB)
Commenced the operation of the O·PARK1 and WEEE·PARK in
2018. So far, treated a total of around 70 000 tonnes of
food waste and 50 000 tonnes of regulated waste
electrical and electronic equipment respectively. (ENB)
Launched a pilot collection scheme to collect food waste
from some commercial and industrial premises and
transport it to the O·PARK1 for recycling from July
2018; actively preparing to launch a larger scale second
phase of the pilot scheme in 2021, which will not only
cover food waste from commercial and industrial sector,
but also progressively include domestic sector. (ENB)
Introduced the Bill on municipal solid waste charging
into the Legislative Council (LegCo) in November 2018.
(ENB)
Launched a two-year pilot project on collection and
recycling of plastic recyclable materials in three
different districts (namely Eastern District, Kwun Tong
and Sha Tin) to provide free collection of
non-industrial and non-commercial waste plastics
progressively from January 2020; and further processing
them into recycled raw materials or products to ensure
that they are properly handled. (ENB)
Recruiting about 80 schools for a two-year pilot
programme under which smart water dispensers with
exteriors designed by students will be provided to
participating schools, and supporting schools to carry
out relevant education and experiential activities, such
as signing a charter on ceased sale of bottled water.
(ENB)
Ceased to provide plastic straws and polyfoam food
containers in premises serving mainly government
employees in January 2019 to promote “plastic-free”
culture in the community. Government departments, when
inviting tenders for new contracts and renewing existing
contracts for restaurants at government venues, will
also require caterers to avoid using disposable plastic
tableware. (ENB)
Implement the “Plastic-free” School Lunch Pilot Scheme
after the resumption of school lunch to encourage
primary and secondary schools to use reusable lunch
boxes in serving school lunch, and students to bring
along their own reusable lunch boxes. (ENB)
Commenced a study on the production of biochar from yard
waste in March 2020; a yard waste processing centre is
expected to commence operation in early 2021 to turn
waste into resources. (ENB)
Launched a pilot waste reduction and recycling
outreaching service to provide on-site technical support
for the implementation of source separation and clean
recycling of waste at community level. (ENB)
Improving Air Quality
Reduced general concentrations of four major air
pollutants by 5% to 38% in the past three years through
various measures. (ENB)
Enhanced regional collaboration on the establishment of
a domestic marine emission control area in Mainland
waters by requiring vessels to use low sulphur fuel with
sulphur content not exceeding 0.5% within Hong Kong
waters since 1 January 2019. (ENB)
Reviewed the emission allowances of power plants and
issued the Eighth Technical Memorandum for allocation of
emission allowances in 2019 to tighten the emission caps
of power plants from 2024 and onwards. (ENB)
Established a policy to consider adopting green
technologies to enhance environmental performance such
as reducing the emission of air pollutants in the design
and procurement of new government vessels. (ENB)
Completed the preparations for launching a new scheme in
October 2020 to progressively phase out about 40 000
Euro IV diesel commercial vehicles (DCVs) by end-2027 at
a total cost of another $7.1 billion following phasing
out 80 000 pre-Euro IV DCVs under the $11.4 billion
incentive-cum-regulatory scheme. (ENB)
Completed the preparations for launching a pilot subsidy
scheme in October 2020 to promote installation of
electric vehicle charging-enabling infrastructure in car
parks of existing private residential buildings with
earmarked funding of $2 billion. (ENB)
Completed the review on the scope of the Pilot Green
Transport Fund and injected an additional $800 million
into the Fund to support the wider use of new energy
transport technologies. The Fund has also been renamed
as the New Energy Transport Fund. (ENB)
Issued technical guidelines for electric public light
buses (fast charging type) and the associated charging
facilities and prepared for a pilot scheme to subsidise
the purchase of about 40 electric public light buses and
installation of the associated charging facilities for a
trial. (ENB)
Tightened the emission requirements for franchised buses
in low emission zones to Euro V standards by end of
2019. (ENB)
Earmarked $350 million to carry out a pilot trial of
four electric ferries in in-harbour routes and appointed
a consultant to prepare the design and specifications
for the procurement of the electric ferries and the
associated charging facilities. The trial of the
electric ferries is expected to commence in 2022–23.
(ENB)
Completed the consultation with the trade for tightening
the content limits of volatile organic compounds of
regulated architectural paints. (ENB)
Extended the Cleaner Production Partnership Programme to
March 2025 with a funding of $311 million to encourage
Hong Kong-owned factories to adopt cleaner production
technologies, thereby continually improving regional
environmental quality. (ENB)
Nature and Countryside Conservation
Established a Clean Shorelines Liaison Platform to
co-ordinate and promote shorelines cleanup actions
through different media and channels. (ENB)
Established the Countryside Conservation Office in July
2018 and Countryside Conservation Funding Scheme, and
provide over $60 million of funding support to 10
conservation projects. (ENB)
Designated/planning three new marine parks (on top of
the original five and one marine reserve) to increase
the total sea area of marine park/reserve by 150% from 3
400 to 8 500 hectares. (ENB)
Expand the Sham Wan Restricted Area on Lamma Island and
extend the restricted period to better conserve breeding
ground for green turtles. (ENB)
Completed the consultancy study on enhancement of the
recreation and education potential of country parks and
special areas and the related enhancement proposals in
2019, and opened three new viewing platforms for public
use in the same year. (ENB)
Climate Change and Energy
The Council for Sustainable Development has completed a
public engagement exercise and will submit a report to
the Government shortly, to facilitate the formulation of
Hong Kong’s long-term decarbonisation strategy. (ENB)
Achieved in 2019 (one year earlier than scheduled) the
original five-year target of reducing the electricity
consumption of government buildings by 5%. (ENB)
Moving steadily towards the target of reducing carbon
intensity by 65% to 70% by 2030, as set out in the Hong
Kong’s Climate Action Plan 2030+ by implementing various
mitigation measures. Hong Kong’s carbon intensity in
2018 was about 36% lower than that in the baseline year
of 2005. (ENB)
Public sector took the lead in developing renewable
energy (RE) and implementing RE projects, including
pilot projects of floating photovoltaic (PV) systems at
Shek Pik Reservoir and Plover Cove Reservoir, as well as
a pilot PV project at the South East New Territories
Landfill. (ENB)
Supported the private sector in developing RE, including
introducing the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) Scheme with about
150 million kWh of electricity to be generated each year
by systems already approved, suitably relaxing the
restrictions on installation of PV systems on the
rooftops of New Territories Exempted Houses (i.e.
“village houses”), introducing Solar Harvest to install
PV systems for eligible schools and welfare
non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for free,
introducing legislative amendments so that individuals
who have installed RE systems on their residential
premises need not apply for business registration or
file profits tax returns for the FiT payments they
receive, etc. Together with other measures, the total RE
generated can meet the electricity demand of some 45 000
households, roughly equivalent to all households in
Aberdeen, Ap Lei Chau and Wong Chuk Hang. (ENB)
Implemented various energy saving measures, such as
raising statutory building energy efficiency standards
and developing district cooling systems. Provided
further tax incentive for energy-efficient and RE
installations in buildings from 2018–19 onwards, and
established the E&M InnoPortal in June 2018 to
promote the use of innovation and technology in
enhancing energy efficiency and developing RE. (ENB)
Working with the power companies under the post-2018
Scheme of Control Agreements to further promote the
development of RE as well as energy efficiency and
conservation through, among others, introducing FiT and
RE Certificates schemes. (ENB)
Rolled out measures under “Energy Saving Plan for Hong
Kong’s Built Environment 2015~2025+” to enhance energy
efficiency of government buildings, including
retro-commissioning, encouraging departments to seek
green building certification for buildings under their
management, and implementing energy saving projects.
(ENB)
Treasuring Our Water
Implemented a number of water saving measures, including
launching the first stage of Mandatory Water Efficiency
Labelling Scheme which requires the use of water
efficient products in designated parts of new plumbing
works, implementing Automatic Meter Reading in new
buildings to provide timely information on water
consumption, and publishing sample contract clauses to
facilitate engagement of contractors by property owners
and management agents to carry out leak investigation
and repair works for private water mains. The Hong Kong
Institute of Construction has launched a certificate
course in leakage detection in underground water pipes
to help nurture professionals. (DEVB)
Completed reviewing the Total Water Management Strategy
and updated the strategy in the third quarter of 2019.
The updated strategy adopts a two-pronged approach of
containing fresh water demand growth and building
resilience in water supply with diversified water
resources. (DEVB)
Regional Co-operation
Continue to press ahead with the ecological civilisation
construction in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater
Bay Area (GBA), in accordance with the strategic policy
of the Outline Development Plan for the GBA. (ENB)
External Lighting
Appointed a Working Group on External Lighting to review
the effectiveness of the Charter on External Lighting
and measures to better manage external lighting. We will
map out the way forward having regard to the
recommendations of the Working Group. (ENB)
Sewage Treatment
Rolled out 22 sewerage projects worth $33.5 billion from
2018 to 2020, including the construction and upgrading
of seven sewage treatment works, rehabilitation of about
18 kilometres of aged sewers over the territory,
installation of dry weather flow interceptors and
extension of sewerage system to 48 remote villages which
collectively serve a population of over one million, and
commenced planning of the installation of compact and
high-efficiency dry weather flow interceptors at five
districts in Victoria Harbour (Hung Hom, Causeway Bay
Typhoon Shelter, Wan Chai East, Shau Kei Wan Typhoon
Shelter and Tsuen Way Bay). (ENB)
Urban Forestry
Established the dedicated Tree Risk Inspection Squad to
strengthen tree audits and site patrol in 18 districts;
provided additional venues for arboricultural field
training; and hosted the International Urban Forestry
Conference in January 2020. (DEVB)
Reported the progress of implementation on the
Registration Scheme for Tree Management Personnel to the
Panel on Development of the LegCo in July 2020 and roll
out the Registration Scheme by December 2020. (DEVB)
Launched the Urban Forestry Support Fund under which the
Study Sponsorship Scheme and the Trainee Programme were
rolled out in July and August 2020 respectively, and the
“People • Trees • Harmony” promotion campaign is in
progress. (DEVB)
Heritage Conservation
Together with the Hong Kong Jockey Club, completed
revitalisation of the Central Police Station Compound to
become Tai Kwun – Centre for Heritage and Arts. Tai Kwun
received the Award of Excellence in the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)
Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation.
This is the Awards’ highest honour and Tai Kwun is the
second Hong Kong project winning this laurel in 2019,
following the Blue House Cluster honoured in 2017. (DEVB)
Launched Batch VI of the Revitalising Historic Buildings
Through Partnership Scheme in end-2019. As of September
2020, a total of 12 projects have been completed under the
Scheme receiving in total five UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards
for Cultural Heritage Conservation. (DEVB)
Pressing ahead with the Conserving Central initiative
announced in 2009 with the restoration of the Former
French Mission Building due to be completed in end-2020
and the first phase opening of the revitalised Central
Market Building in the third quarter of 2021. (DEVB)
City ManagementManagement of Public Works
Established the Centre of Excellence for Major Project
Leaders (CoE) in July 2019 and delivered the first Major
Projects Leadership Programme in August 2019. (DEVB)
Invited leaders of the construction industry in Hong
Kong to participate in the CoE programmes for exchanging
expertise and sharing experience with government major
project leaders. (DEVB)
Entered into Memorandum of Understandings with the
Infrastructure and Projects Authority of the United
Kingdom Government and the Ministry of Finance of the
Singapore Government in March 2018 and July 2019
respectively to foster partnership for enhancing cost
effectiveness and productivity of the construction
industry and uplifting project governance and
performance. (DEVB)
Building Safety
Launched “Operation Building Bright 2.0” in 2018 with
two funding injections totalling $6 billion to assist
owner-occupiers of 5 000 eligible old buildings to
conduct inspection and repair works over seven years. As
of June 2020, around 920 buildings are participating.
(DEVB)
Launched “Fire Safety Improvement Works Subsidy Scheme”
in 2018 and injected an additional $3.5 billion into the
Scheme to subsidise more eligible owners of old
composite buildings to implement fire safety enhancement
measures as required by the Fire Safety (Buildings)
Ordinance (Cap. 572). A new round of applications has
opened from 2 July to 30 October 2020. (SB)
Launched the $2 billion Building Maintenance Grant
Scheme for Needy Owners in July 2020 to subsidise around
25 000 owners for maintaining their properties. (DEVB)
Launched the $2.5 billion Lift Modernisation Subsidy
Scheme in 2019 to subsidise the modernisation of about 5
000 lifts and expanded the Scheme with additional
funding of $2 billion to cover about 8 000 lifts. (DEVB)
Drinking Water Safety
Implemented the Action Plan for Enhancing Drinking Water
Safety in Hong Kong in September 2017 with the following
measures:
launched the Enhanced Water Quality Monitoring
Programme in December 2017, following the
establishment of the Hong Kong Drinking Water
Standards, to monitor consumers’ drinking water
quality;
strengthened the regulation on plumbing materials
and commissioning requirements for new plumbing
works;
launched Quality Water Supply Scheme for Buildings –
Fresh Water (Management System) in November 2017 to
encourage property owners and management agents to
implement Water Safety Plan (WSP) for their
buildings;
set up the Drinking Water Safety Advisory Committee
which comprises academics and experts of the related
fields in January 2018;
started to implement WSP by the HKHA in PRH estates
in the fourth quarter of 2018 in phases; and
launched the $440 million WSP Subsidy Scheme in July
2020 to subsidise around 5 000 private buildings for
implementing WSP for Buildings. (DEVB)
Reviewed the Waterworks Ordinance (Cap. 102).
Legislative amendment will be carried out in order to
further safeguard drinking water safety. (DEVB)
Building Management
Promulgated New Codes of Practice and launched new
support measures, including Building Management Dispute
Resolution Service, Central Platform on Building
Management, Pilot Scheme on Free Outreach Legal Advice
Service on Building Management and the regularised
Owners’ Corporations Advisory Services Scheme, to assist
owners in discharging their building management
responsibilities. (HAB)
Property Management
Commenced the licensing regime under the Property
Management Services Ordinance (Cap. 626) in August 2020
which will help raise the professional standards of the
property management services and benefit the residents
and users of more than 40 000 private buildings in Hong
Kong. The licensing regime will be fully in force after
a three-year transitional period. (HAB)
Enhancing the Living Environment
Commenced improvement works at Hoi Bun Road Park and its
adjacent area in December 2018, with the soccer pitch
completed in June 2020. The improvement works at Lam Wah
Street Playground and its adjacent area commenced in
July 2020. (DEVB)
Prequalification of tenders and formulation of detailed
tender requirements for the District Open Space, Sports
Centre cum Public Vehicle Park project at Sze Mei
Street, San Po Kong are in progress. (DEVB)
Completed detailed design of the distinctive play
facilities at Kai Tak Runway Park in August 2020. (DEVB)
Commenced the Revitalisation of Tsui Ping River project
in July 2020. (DEVB)
Reviewed, evaluated and identified suitable nullahs for
revitalization. (DEVB)
Enhanced the design of the improvement works for the
Yuen Long Town Centre Nullah to promote the quality and
ecological value of the local environment. (DEVB)
Allocated a total of $6.5 billion to connect the
harbourfront promenade and optimise the open space. In
the past three years, five kilometres of promenade has
been opened for public use. The goal is to extend the
promenade from the current 23 km to 34 km by 2028 and
provide open space amounting to about 35 hectares on
both sides of Victoria Harbour. (DEVB)
Fostered a “bicycle-friendly” environment in new towns
and New Development Areas (NDAs) and completed the first
phase of improvement to cycle tracks and parking
facilities at about 100 sites in new towns in mid-2018.
(DEVB, THB)
Completed and fully opened the 60 km long cycle track
network in the New Territories from Tuen Mun to Ma On
Shan for public use in September 2020. (DEVB)
Open Space
Launched the five-year plan to transform more than 170
public play spaces in 2019. Implementation of 17
transformation projects in 2020–21 is in progress, of
which funding for seven transformation projects has been
approved. (HAB)
Arts and Culture
Set aside $20 billion to improve and develop cultural
facilities to consolidate Hong Kong’s position as an
international cultural metropolis. (HAB)
Commissioned the Xiqu Centre and Freespace in West Kowloon
Cultural District (WKCD). Re-opened the renovated Hong
Kong Museum of Arts with an increase in total exhibition
area by about 40% and increased the total number of
galleries from 7 to 12. (HAB)
Pressed ahead with the M+ and Hong Kong Palace Museum in
the WKCD with scheduled commissioning in 2021 and 2022
respectively. The East Kowloon Cultural Centre is expected
to commission in 2023. (HAB)
Increased funding for arts and culture by 27% from about
$4.28 billion in 2017–18 to about $5.43 billion in
2020–21. (HAB)
Supported artists and arts groups from Hong Kong to
perform and organise exhibitions on the Mainland
(especially the GBA) and overseas, as well as organised
many international cultural activities, such as the
Festival Hong Kong 2019 – A Cultural
Extravaganza@Shanghai, the 11th Asia Cultural Co-operation
Forum, the 2nd Museum Summit, etc. (HAB)
Sports Development
Commenced the pre-construction activities on the expansion
of the Hong Kong Sports Institute to equip local athletes
with world-class training and support facilities and
strengthen support services to athletes on physical
fitness, sports science, sports medicine, etc. (HAB)
Commenced the contract for design, construction and
operation of Kai Tak Sports Park in February 2019. The
Sports Park is scheduled for completion in 2023. (HAB)
Increased progressively annual subvention for 60 national
sports associations (NSAs) from about $300 million in
2019–20 to more than $500 million over a four-year period
under an enhanced Sports Subvention Scheme. The additional
subvention is used to enhance the promotion and
development of sports in the community, youth training
programmes, public participation, squad training at all
levels, overseas exchange programmes and competitions; and
enhance the corporate governance of NSAs. NSAs can also
make use of the additional resources to improve their
manpower and staff remuneration. (HAB)
Launched the Five-Year Plan for Sports and Recreation
Facilities in 2017. Sixteen projects have been approved,
including heated swimming pools, football pitches, tennis
courts, basketball courts, etc., for community use. (HAB)
Earmarked $130 million for a five-year development
programme to enable the relevant NSAs to formulate and
implement training programmes for Hong Kong representative
teams for team ball games in the Asian Games. (HAB)
Launched the $500 million “Major Sports Events Matching
Grant Scheme” in 2019 to encourage the business and
private sector to provide sponsorships to NSAs in hosting
more new and high level sports events. A total of 15 major
sports events were recognised as “M” Mark events in 2019,
including three new “M” Mark events. (HAB)
Municipal Services
Resumed the supply of public niches by allocating the
newly built niches in phases. (FHB)
Completed district consultation for the site selection of
a Joint-user Complex (including a new public market) in
Tseung Kwan O and the detailed design for overhauling the
Aberdeen Market. (FHB)
Introduced newly designed gravidtraps to formulate
quantitative indices for the surveillance of mosquito
infestation with a view to strengthening mosquito
prevention and control work. (FHB)
Implemented in 2019 a guideline on incorporating rodent
proofing design in new private buildings and carrying out
rodent control work in construction and demolition sites,
as well as a similar design guide on government works and
buildings. (FHB)
Continue to implement the Enhanced Public Toilet
Refurbishment Programme, expedite refurbishment and
facelifting works, and conduct trial uses of technologies
to improve hygiene and management of public toilets. (FHB)
Animal Welfare
Completed the first election of the Veterinary Surgeons
Board of Hong Kong in September 2020 in accordance with
the law, and the newly constituted Board has come into
operation in October 2020. (FHB)
Provided public funding through the University Grants
Committee since the 2019/20 academic year to the Jockey
Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences at
City University of Hong Kong for the city’s first ever
publicly funded undergraduate programme in veterinary
medicine. (EDB)
New InitiativesTransportSmart Mobility
Improve the quality of taxi service by leveraging on
technology (e.g. exploring the feasibility of installing
electronic taxi meters for e-payment system and
electronic driver identification plate) and organising
commendation schemes. Preparing legislative amendments
on increasing the penalties for illegal carriage of
passengers for hire or reward, and for various
malpractices in relation to taxi services. (THB)
Take forward various smart mobility initiatives: release
machine-readable traffic datasets via the Public Sector
Information Portal to share with the public; disseminate
real-time traffic information collected from traffic
detectors starting from early 2021; actively studying
relevant legislative amendments to promote the
application of I&T on vehicles, including the trial
and use of autonomous vehicles in Hong Kong and the
review on restrictions on the use of in-vehicle visual
display units. (THB)
Substantially completed the detailed feasibility study
(the Study) for the Environmentally Friendly Linkage
System (EFLS) for Kowloon East (KE). The Study suggested
implementing a “multi-modal” EFLS, which comprises a
package of green initiatives that serve complementarily
to enhance connectivity in KE. We plan to announce the
results of the Study for the EFLS for KE in the fourth
quarter of 2020, and gather the views of public. (DEVB)
Complete the installation of about 1 200 traffic
detectors along major roads and all strategic routes by
end-2020 to provide additional real-time traffic
information starting from early 2021. (THB)
Commission a pilot real-time adaptive traffic signal
systems with sensors for pedestrians and vehicles at
five road junctions starting from the fourth quarter of
2020 to help optimise the green times allocated to
vehicles and pedestrians. (THB)
Facilitate public transport operators’ plans to
introduce new electronic payment systems for public
transport fare collection, including MTRCL to introduce
QR code as an additional means for fare payment in MTR
domestic network in the fourth quarter of 2020. (THB)
Install relevant devices for provision of real-time
arrival information for Green Minibuses in phases
starting from the fourth quarter of 2020. (THB)
Complete the Proof-of-concept trials on the use of video
analytics to detect illegal parking and improper use of
loading and unloading bays by December 2020. (DEVB)
Put in place a Traffic Data Analytics System for
collating and analysing traffic data by end-2021 to
enhance traffic management and efficiency. (ITB, THB)
Release real-time information of franchised buses
through information display panels at 1 300 covered bus
stops, including government Public Transport
Interchanges by 2021. (THB)
Install new on-street parking meters by phases starting
from the fourth quarter of 2020 to support payment of
parking fees through multiple payment means (including
Faster Payment System and remote payment through a new
mobile app “HKeMeter”) and provide real-time parking
vacancy information. (THB)
Commission automated parking system pilot projects in
batches starting from 2021, to pave the way for wider
application in short-term tenancy public car parks and
public car parks in government premises and to encourage
adoption in public car parks in private developments.
(THB)
Pedestrian-friendly Environment
Promote walkability between Admiralty and Wan Chai
through improvement of the existing pedestrian walkway
systems under the policy of Facilitating Provision of
Pedestrian Links by the Private Sector, public works and
redevelopment projects, so as to facilitate people to
walk from the hinterland to the harbourfront and through
the promenade to different places. (DEVB)
Expand walking route search function on Transport
Department’s all-in-one mobile app “HKeMobility” to 18
districts by end-2020. (THB)
Establish “bicycle-friendly” new towns and NDAs,
including the completion of feasibility study on
fostering a pedestrian and bicycle friendly environment
in Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen NDA and Yuen Long South
Development in March 2021. (THB, DEVB)
Implement pedestrian enhancement measures in 2020 for
two pilot areas, namely Central and Sham Shui Po,
including traffic calming measures and decluttering of
non-essential traffic signs. (THB)
Urban RedevelopmentRevitalisation of Yau Ma Tei Fruit Market
Take forward the revitalisation of the Yau Ma Tei Fruit
Market for boosting local retail business and economy as
well as developing it into a new attraction for tourists
taking into account Urban Renewal Authority’s ongoing
Yau Mong District Study proposing master planning
concept for the wider area. (HAB, DEVB)
Harbourfront and Open Space
Commence works on the Boardwalk underneath the Island
Eastern Corridor to connect Causeway Bay and Quarry Bay,
and infuse creative elements into the harbourfront park
at Eastern Street North in Sai Ying Pun that will
feature a large-scale play facility, a sizable water-fun
area and an all-weather observation deck overlooking the
sea. Both projects are scheduled to commence in 2021
with a view to phased completion in 2024. (DEVB)
Assist the Harbourfront Commission to continue its
active community engagement, including curating artworks
in collaboration with local creative talent, holding
design competitions on public furniture and inviting
professional input to turn the design concepts for the
two harbourfront projects at Golden Bauhinia Square and
Wan Chai Ferry Pier respectively into concrete
proposals. (DEVB)
Under the administration of NGOs, the open community
garden at Belcher Bay promenade in Sai Wan will commence
operation in October 2020, while the community living
room at Quarry Bay harbourfront will be open in
late-2021. (DEVB)
Speed up the five-year modification programme covering
more than 170 public play spaces managed by the Leisure
and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) across the
territory to bring early fun to children while creating
more jobs for the construction sector. (HAB)
Regularise LCSD’s trial scheme of Inclusive Parks for
Pets (IPPs), which was first launched in six parks, and
to provide over 30 additional IPPs in 18 districts from
December 2020. These parks will be equipped with basic
ancillary facilities for pets and more than 10 of them
will be provided at waterfront promenades or nearby
parks. (HAB)
Environment and Sustainable DevelopmentCarbon Emission Reduction and Energy Saving
Draw up, with reference to the views collected last year
by the Council for Sustainable Development through
public engagement and the Council’s recommendations,
Hong Kong’s long-term decarbonisation strategy and
climate action roadmap up to 2050, and join the global
efforts in combating climate change. (ENB)
Decarbonise through substantially reducing the share of
coal (from about half in 2015 to about a quarter in
2020) in Hong Kong’s fuel mix for electricity
generation. We will also step up our efforts in
promoting energy efficiency and conservation. (ENB)
The power companies will progressively install smart
meters for about three million customers across the
territory before the end of 2025. So far, more than 500
000 have been installed. (ENB)
Tighten the statutory energy efficiency standards for
buildings every three years; expand the scope of the
Mandatory Energy Efficiency Labelling Scheme; and
support the development and use of innovative energy
saving technologies through the “E&M InnoPortal”.
(ENB)
Improve the energy performance of government buildings
and infrastructure by a further 6% in the coming five
years, through energy audits, retro-commissioning, use
of innovative technologies, and renewable energy, etc.
The annual saving in energy cost would then be about
$200 million. (ENB)
Retrofit under the “Green Schools 2.0” programme
energy-efficient lighting and air-conditioners, and
install real-time energy monitoring systems for schools,
motivating teachers and students to practise low-carbon
living. Some 110 schools have applied to join the
programme. (ENB)
Invite applications for the $200 million Green Tech Fund
before the end of the year. This will give new impetus
to deep decarbonisation and the development of green
technologies. Since the 2017–18 financial year, the
Environment and Conservation Fund has earmarked $25
million to encourage community organisations to carry
out projects with climate change as the theme. (ENB)
Air Quality
Formulate Hong Kong’s first roadmap on the
popularisation of electric vehicles in the first quarter
of 2021 to set forth long-term policy objectives and
plans to promote the use of electric vehicles and their
associated supporting facilities, and prepare a target
for banning the sales of conventional fuel propelled
private cars, with a view to leading Hong Kong into zero
vehicle emission in future. (ENB)
Update the Clean Air Plan by the first half of 2021 to
examine long term targets and measures to further
improve air quality, with a view to continuing reducing
emissions of air pollutants from various sources. (ENB)
Review the Eighth Technical Memorandum with a view to
further tightening the air pollutant emission caps for
power companies from 2026 onwards. (ENB)
Prepare a proposal to tighten the content limit of
volatile organic compounds in architectural paints.
(ENB)
Waste Management
Tender for the development of a modern pulping facility
in EcoPark by 2024 to transform waste into resources and
diversify outlets for local waste paper. (ENB)
Formulate a long-term strategy blueprint on waste
management to set forth long-term policy objectives and
plans to promote waste reduction and recycling, with a
view to achieving transformation of waste into resources
and supporting circular economy. (ENB)
Explore the installation of food waste grinders in NDAs
and housing projects to complement measures to reduce
food waste disposal. (ENB)
Optimise the use of food waste and sewage sludge
anaerobic co-digestion technology to expedite the
enhancement of the overall food waste treatment
capability in Hong Kong. (ENB)
Eco-Tourism
Support eco-tourism, better serve visitors and help
revitalise desolate villages, the Countryside
Conservation Office will work with relevant
bureaux/departments to jointly develop a set of
licensing requirements and procedural guidelines
designed especially for guesthouses and catering
businesses in countryside areas, making reference to the
special nature and restrictions of rural settings. (ENB,
HAB, FHB)
Environment and Related Funds
Set aside an extra of about $200 million under relevant
environment related funds, which is approximately
equivalent to one year allocation under the Environment
and Conservation Fund, to launch more green projects. In
addition to creating more employment opportunities, the
projects will also help step up the promotion of
community participation in low-carbon living and
environmental protection covering sustainable
development areas such as energy, air quality, waste
reduction, conservation, water quality, and cleaning up
of the shoreline. (ENB)
Arts, Culture, Leisure and Sports
Launch a 101 Academy series on LCSD’s new Edutainment
Channel, which provides a systematic introduction to basic
knowledge in culture, arts, science, recreation and sports
as well as horticulture to members of the public in order
to arouse their interest in these disciplines. (HAB)
Feature an online interactive programmes series, which
provides interactive courses and programmes as well as
virtual tours, etc., to bring new experiences to the
public by application of different technologies. The
series will include virtual museum tours, a trial scheme
of Online Interactive Sports Training Programmes and
virtual guided tours to places with blossoming flowers and
inclusive parks for pets. (HAB)
Ride on the global advancement of technology in the
cultural ecosystem, we will develop the East Kowloon
Cultural Centre as an advanced arts and cultural hardware,
providing the latest stage technology and equipment to
support novel applications for stage productions and also
explore the setting up of designated facilities as Testbed
Studio equipped with Extended Reality technology and
immersive audio visual systems to facilitate arts
practitioners to work, explore and learn together. (HAB)
Open a two-kilometre cycle track from Tsing Tsuen Bridge
to Bayview Garden in Tsuen Wan in early 2021, and to
continue planning and design of the remaining track of
about 20 kilometres of the Tsuen Wan to Tuen Mun Section.
(DEVB)
Design and construct a GreenWay of 13 kilometres in total
length for shared use by pedestrians and cyclists in the
Kai Tak Development Area in two phases. The first phase of
7.5 kilometres is scheduled for completion by 2023, and
the remaining phase of 5.5 kilometres will be completed
after 2025. (DEVB)
Incorporate the design of cycle tracks in the harbourfront
projects funded by the $6.5 billion dedicated funding to
enable cycling along the harbourfront areas in the
longer-term. (DEVB)
City Management
Complete Phase 2 of the QR Code labelling for about 200
000 trees by early 2022 and commence a three-year study to
collect and analyse data from tilt sensors to test their
effectiveness in identifying trees at risk of collapse.
(DEVB)
Apply smart water supply initiatives, including the launch
of automatic water supply suspension notification system
in December 2020 to enhance customer services. (DEVB)
Adopt new technologies for signboard control with a view
to protecting public safety, including uploading the first
batch of legal signboards’ information to Geoinfo Map for
public’s viewing in September 2021 and commencing the
trial run of the Defective Signboard Diagnostic System by
end-2021. (DEVB)
Provide free public WiFi services, and adopt relevant
technologies to detect illegal dumping, wild animals and
flooding, and strengthen security in rural villages. (ITB,
ENB, DEVB)
Explore using robotics and artificial intelligence to
assist in early detection of hill fire in country parks.
(ITB, ENB)
Collaborate with the Hong Kong Green Building Council to
explore the development of a sustainability evaluation
system to enhance the performance and sustainability of
infrastructure projects to reinforce the international
status of Hong Kong’s infrastructure development. (DEVB)
Municipal ServicesEnvironmental Hygiene
Conduct trial of thermal imaging cameras with artificial
intelligence function to monitor and analyse rodent
activities with a view to quantifying rodent
infestation, and strengthening targeted anti-rodent
work. (FHB)
Public Markets
Commission the Tin Shui Wai temporary market shortly and
introduce a new operation mode for strengthening the
management role of the service contractor with the aim
of enhancing business vibrancy in the market while
meeting the needs of the public. (FHB)
Commence preliminary planning for the construction of a
public market in Tseung Kwan O and complete the site
selection for the new public market in Kwu Tung NDA
shortly. (FHB)
Commence the overhaul works of the Aberdeen Market and
include the overhaul of Yeung Uk Road Market, Ngau Tau
Kok Market and Kowloon City Market as well as the minor
refurbishment or improvement works in selected markets
under the Market Modernisation Programme for early
implementation. (FHB)
Public Toilets
Conduct trial of antibacterial coating for sanitary
wares in public toilets to improve their hygiene. (FHB)
Develop a Smart Toilet System for improving the planning
and delivery of public toilet services. (FHB)
Animal Welfare
Formulate legislative proposals and draft the amendment
bill to enhance animal welfare after reporting the public
consultation results to LegCo in April 2020. (FHB)
Food Safety
Complete public consultation on proposals to strengthen
the regulatory regime of harmful substances in food,
including industrially-produced trans fat and mycotoxins
and introduce relevant legislative amendments into the
LegCo after collating the views received. (FHB)
Cease radiation testing against every consignment of
imported Japanese food and subsume the testing under the
routine annual food surveillance programme of the Centre
for Food Safety based on risk assessment for better trade
facilitation, while ensuring food safety. (FHB)
Chapter VII - Nurturing TalentMy Belief
“My vision for education is to ensure that our children in Hong
Kong will grow up to be persons with a sense of national
identity and a love for our nation, and to become honest and
sincere persons with a good character and a sense of
responsibility towards society. On the Government level, I
firmly believe that talent is the most important element in the
future development of Hong Kong and that education is the key to
nurturing talent. With this in mind, I would like to say that
expenditure on education is the most meaningful investment of
the Government for the future.”
“When I ran for the post of Chief Executive, I pledged to
allocate $5 billion for education. Over the past three years,
the allocation has been increased repeatedly so as to introduce
more education improvement measures. Currently, new resources
invested into education amount to over $13 billion in recurrent
expenditure and much of the funding is provided in response to
the long-standing aspirations of the education sector. To create
a stable, caring, inspiring and satisfying teaching and learning
environment for students, teachers, parents and school
principals, we must start with ‘treating our teachers better’. I
wish to have a sincere conversation with our education
practitioners and establish a partnership with the sector.
Together, we will strive for the enhancement of education
quality in Hong Kong so that education will re-emerge as
education and our school campus will no longer be embroiled in
political disputes or radical social acts.”
“The role of the Government in education is not only confined to
the provision of resources. From the academic structure to the
curriculum, and from teacher training to student assessment, the
Government has a vital and indispensable role to play.”
InfographicsGrowth in Expenditure on EducationTotal recurrent expenditure:
* 2017-18: $80.2 billion
* 2018-19: $85.5 billion
* 2019-20: $92.4 billion
* 2020-21 (Estimate): $99.6 billion
Total recurrent expenditure has increased by 24% from
2017-18 to 2020-21.
Diversified Avenues for Higher Education (undergraduate
places)Number of places/recipients in 2019/20 academic year
available for Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education
Examination candidates:
* 15 000 University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded
First-year-first-degree intake places
* 16 032 students under Non-means-tested Subsidy Scheme for
Self-financing Undergraduate Studies in Hong Kong (including
top-up degrees for eligible sub-degree holders)
* 3 176 subsidised undergraduate places under Study Subsidy
Scheme for Designated Professions / Sectors
* 617 students admitted to over 120 Mainland universities
via Scheme for Admission of Hong Kong Students to Mainland
Higher Education Institutions
* 3 218 students benefitted from Mainland University Study
Subsidy Scheme
* 5 000 UGC-funded Senior Year Intake places (for eligible
sub-degree holders)
* 100 Hong Kong Scholarship for Excellence Scheme places
Manpower Resources
The first Talent List of Hong Kong has come into effect since
August 2018.
11 Professions in Talent List
Waste Treatment Specialists
Asset Management Professionals
Marine Insurance Professionals
Creative Industries Professionals
Fintech Professionals
Actuaries
Innovation and Technology Experts
Data Scientists & Cyber Security Specialists
Marine Engineers & Superintendents of Ships
Naval Architects
Dispute Resolution Professionals & Transactional Lawyers
Nurturing Innovation and Technology TalentPrimary School and Secondary School
* One-off STEM education grant
* IT Innovation Lab in Secondary Schools initiative
University and postgraduate programmes
* Research funding schemes under the Research Grants Council
(RGC)
* Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme
* Tuition Waiver for Local Research Postgraduate Students
* STEM Internship Scheme
* Technology Start-up Support Scheme for Universities
Researchers
* Fellowship Schemes under the RGC
* Postdoctoral Hub
* Researcher Programme
* Reindustrialisation and Technology Training Programme
In the past three years, the Government has invested over
$6.8 billion in training programmes for I&T talent.
Progress Made
A total of 39 new initiatives were announced since July 2017 and
all have been completed or are progressing on schedule.
Key initiatives completed or major progress made are as follows:
Investment for the Future
Allocated a total of over $13 billion recurrent
expenditure for implementing various measures to promote
quality education. (EDB)
Latest Development in Education
Provided a Promotion of Reading Grant to all public sector
primary and secondary schools starting from the 2018/19
school year, and regularised the Pilot Scheme on the
Promotion of Reading Grant for Kindergartens starting from
the 2019/20 school year. (EDB)
Provided a recurrent Life-wide Learning Grant to public
sector schools and schools under the Direct Subsidy Scheme
(DSS) to support primary and secondary schools in taking
forward life-wide learning with enhanced efforts starting
from the 2019/20 school year. (EDB)
Set up in 2019 a $2.5 billion Student Activities Support
Fund to support students with financial needs in public
sector schools and DSS schools to participate in
out-of-classroom learning activities organised or
recognised by schools. (EDB)
Set aside $3 billion from the Quality Education Fund (QEF)
for the implementation of a four-year Dedicated Funding
Programme for Publicly-funded Schools starting from the
2018/19 school year for launching school-based curriculum
and/or student support measures, as well as relevant
school improvement works and/or procurement of supplies.
As at September 2020, the QEF has approved more than 930
applications with a funding amount of over $700 million.
(EDB)
Made Chinese History an independent compulsory subject to
be taught at the junior secondary level starting from the
2018/19 school year. The revised curriculum framework has
been implemented progressively in all schools from
Secondary One with effect from the 2020/21 school year.
(EDB)
Allowed aided secondary schools with surplus teachers
arising from the reduction of Secondary One classes from
the 2013/14 to 2017/18 school years to apply for extension
of the retention period of the surplus teachers concerned
to the 2021/22 school year to stabilise the teaching
force. (EDB)
Allowed aided primary schools to apply for retaining the
redundant teachers arising from class reduction due to the
decline in Primary One student population up to a maximum
of three school years starting from the 2019/20 school
year. Besides, starting from Primary One in the 2019/20
school year, for schools with class reduction after the
annual student headcount, the basis for calculating the
number of approved classes will be adjusted downward from
25 to 23 students per class. The adjusted basis will be
applied to that cohort of students progressively until
they have reached Primary Six. (EDB)
Starting from the 2017/18 school year, the
teacher-to-class ratio is improved, providing around 2 200
additional regular teaching posts. (EDB)
Completed the review carried out by eight task forces set
up to conduct in-depth studies in various aspects of
quality education in accordance with the spirit of
professional leadership and active engagement of
stakeholders. (EDB)
Professional Development of Teachers
Implemented in one go the all-graduate teaching force
policy in public sector primary and secondary schools
starting from the 2019/20 school year. (EDB)
School-based Management
Provided at least one full-time school-stationed school
executive officer in each public sector and DSS school
starting from the 2019/20 school year to strengthen the
administrative support for schools. In addition, a new
recurrent School-based Management Top-up Grant is offered
to these schools for enhancing the operation of their
management committees/ incorporated management committees/
school management committees (SMCs) and strengthening the
training of school managers/SMC members. (EDB)
Parent Education and Home-School Co-operation
Provided Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) of schools and
Federations of PTAs with additional resources for
enhancing home-school co-operation and promoting parent
education starting from the 2019/20 school year. (EDB)
Enhancing Teaching Facilities in Primary and Secondary
Schools
Provided a subsidy for all public sector and DSS schools
to cover operational expenses of the school’s
air-conditioning facilities starting from the 2018/19
school year. New air conditioning systems have been
installed for teaching facilities without such provision.
(EDB)
Commenced a time-limited minor works programme for
carrying out simple minor internal conversion works at
some 600 aided school premises constructed according to
past building standards to facilitate more flexible use of
existing space by schools, thereby enhancing the teaching
and learning environment and efficacy. (EDB)
Healthy Development of Post-secondary Education
Approved in one go $10.3 billion for 15 hostel projects to
provide around 13 000 hostel places in University Grants
Committee-funded universities. (EDB)
Earmarked $16 billion for enhancing or refurbishing
university campus facilities. (EDB)
Allocated $1.26 billion for the Enhancement and Start-up
Grant Scheme for Self-financing Post-secondary Education.
(EDB)
Implemented the eighth Matching Grant Scheme costing $2.5
billion. (EDB)
Regularised the Hong Kong Scholarship for Excellence
Scheme starting from the 2019/20 academic year, with the
maximum amount of scholarship set at $300,000 per awardee
per annum. (EDB)
Increased the number of scholarships offered under the
Belt and Road Scholarship Scheme from the initial 10 to
100 now per year, covering all countries along the Belt
and Road (B&R). (EDB)
Increased the number of subsidised places in undergraduate
programmes under the Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated
Professions/Sectors to about 3 000 per cohort starting
from the 2018/19 academic year. The Scheme has been
expanded to cover sub-degree programmes with about 2 000
subsidised places per cohort starting from the 2019/20
academic year. In the 2019/20 academic year, about 7 900
undergraduate programme students and 2 500 sub-degree
programme students benefited under the Scheme. (EDB)
Launched the Non-means-tested Subsidy Scheme for
Self-financing Undergraduate Studies in Hong Kong, up to
$32,100 per student per year (for the 2020/21 academic
year), benefiting about 16 000 undergraduates in the
2019/20 academic year. (EDB)
Revamped the Committee on Self-financing Post-secondary
Education with effect from November 2019 with a
strengthened role and functions to offer strategic and
policy advice on the development of the self-financing
post-secondary education sector. (EDB)
Launched the Targeted Taught Postgraduate Programmes
Fellowships Scheme in the 2020/21 academic year on a pilot
basis for five cohorts. The Scheme will benefit 4 500
meritorious students in total. (EDB)
Nurturing Technology Talent
Injected $20 billion into the Research Endowment Fund; set
up a $3 billion Research Matching Grant Scheme; increased
by $190 million recurrent funding for three new Fellowship
Schemes to enhance research capability of the higher
education sector. (EDB)
Injected $3 billion into the Research Endowment Fund to
provide non-means-tested tuition waiver for local research
postgraduate students. In 2019/20, about 1 700 students
benefited from the scheme. (EDB)
Launched in August 2018 the Technology Talent Scheme
(comprising the Postdoctoral Hub and the
Re-industrialisation and Technology Training Programme)
and in June 2020 the STEM Internship Scheme, as well as
streamlined and merged in July 2020 the Researcher
Programme and Postdoctoral Hub to become the Research
Talent Hub to nurture and bring together more technology
talent. Since July 2017, over 8 000 technology talents in
total have benefited under these schemes. (ITB)
Launched the Technology Talent Admission Scheme in June
2018 and expanded the coverage and applicable technology
areas in January 2020 to fast-track the admission of
technology talent. (ITB)
Established the InnoHK research clusters to promote
developing Hong Kong as the hub for global research
collaboration. The first batch of research and development
centres are expected to commence operation in the fourth
quarter of 2020/ the first quarter of 2021. (ITB)
Launched the IT Innovation Lab in Secondary Schools
Programme for three years starting from 2020/21 school
year, with a total funding of $500 million to provide more
resources for secondary schools to conduct information
technology (IT)-related extra-curricular activities to
enable students to better master and apply IT. (ITB)
Vocational and Professional Education and
Training
Regularised the Pilot Training and Support Scheme of the
Vocational Training Council (VTC) starting from the
2019/20 academic year. The Scheme offers 1 200 training
places per year under the “Earn and Learn” model to enable
trainees to join industries which require specialised
skills. (EDB)
Followed up on the recommendations made by the Task Force
on Promotion of Vocational and Professional Education and
Training (VPET), including the establishment of the
Steering Committee on Promotion of VPET and Qualifications
Framework in September 2020 to strengthen co-ordination of
the overall strategy to promote VPET, foster closer
industry partnership, and further promote VPET in an
innovative and co-ordinated manner. (EDB)
Provided subsidies for trainees under the Training and
Support Scheme of VTC for three years starting from the
2020/21 academic year to take part in study and exchange
programmes outside Hong Kong, attend short-term skills and
practical courses and visit institutions/ enterprises in
those places, with a view to facilitating skills exchange
and broadening their exposure. If the Scheme proves to be
effective, we will consider extending it to cover students
of suitable VPET programmes in the VTC and other
institutions. (EDB)
Promulgated the report of Manpower Projection to 2027 in
December 2019 to support the planning and development of
VPET. (LWB)
Supporting Students with Different Needs
Restructured the various funding programmes for integrated
education and extended the Learning Support Grant to all
public sector ordinary schools with an increase in grant
rate for tier-3 support. (EDB)
Provided a special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCO)
to every public sector ordinary school. For schools with a
comparatively large number of students with special
educational needs, the SENCO post has been upgraded to a
promotion rank. (EDB)
Extended the School-based Educational Psychology Service
to all public sector ordinary schools. Starting from the
2019/20 school year, school-based speech therapist posts
are created in public sector ordinary schools in phases.
(EDB)
Enhanced the support for students with autism spectrum
disorders (ASD) by assisting public sector ordinary
primary and secondary schools to deploy a 3-tier
intervention model with proven effectiveness in phases
from the 2020/21 school year, which is expected to benefit
about 10 000 students with ASD. The support will also
include the provision of tier-2 support by
non-governmental organisations on school-based small group
training on social adaptive skills. (EDB)
Enhanced the staff establishment of the boarding sections
of aided special schools starting from the 2020/21 school
year to provide better services to boarders. Measures
include upgrading the ranks of warden and assistant warden
of boarding sections with a capacity of 40 or above, and
increasing the number of assistant wardens and
houseparents-in-charge; improving the Saturday and Sunday
manning ratios; and providing an additional grant to the
boarding sections of schools for children with physical
disability, moderate intellectual disability (ID), severe
ID and visual impairment cum ID to employ personal care
workers or hire related services. (EDB)
Provided sufficient resources to each public sector
primary school for employing at least one graduate social
worker and enhancing the provision of school social
workers in special schools to better cater for the needs
of the students. (EDB)
Injected $800 million into the Gifted Education Fund in
2019 for generating investment income to support the
service enhancement of the Hong Kong Academy for Gifted
Education, implement measures recommended by the Advisory
Committee on Gifted Education, and to encourage gifted
education providers to provide quality advanced learning
programmes for gifted students. (EDB)
Implemented various measures to strengthen support for
non-Chinese speaking students (please refer to Chapter
VIII for details). (EDB)
Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority
Made a new commitment of about $360 million in early 2019
to provide funding support to enable the Hong Kong
Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) to
administer the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education
Examination for four cohorts from 2019 to 2022. A study on
possible options to resolve the long-term financial
problem of the HKEAA is being conducted. (EDB)
Kindergarten Education
Adjusted the salary-related portion of the subsidies for
teaching staff according to the annual civil service pay
adjustment starting from the 2018/19 school year. The
two-year tide-over grant (2017/18 to 2018/19 school years)
has also been extended by three years to the 2021/22
school year. (EDB)
Implemented measures to strengthen the professional
development of principals and teachers in kindergartens.
Starting from the 2018/19 school year, each principal and
teacher of kindergartens joining the kindergarten
education scheme should participate in 60 hours of
continuous professional development activities for every
three-year cycle. (EDB)
Conducted consultation on a review of the new kindergarten
education policy, including exploring the feasibility of
putting in place a salary scale for kindergarten teachers.
(EDB)
Qualifications Framework
Injected $1.2 billion into the Qualifications Framework
Fund in 2018 for the continued implementation of various
initiatives of the Qualifications Framework. Over 2 500
practitioners and 400 education and training providers
benefited in 2019–20. (EDB)
Continuing Education
Injected an additional $10 billion into Continuing
Education Fund (CEF) in 2018 and implemented a series of
enhancement measures in 2019. Over 9 800 registered CEF
courses are available as compared with 7 800 registered
courses before enhancement. (LWB)
Facilitation Measures for Non-local Talents
Continue to make arrangements to facilitate non-local
talents and professionals to undertake certain short-term
activities in designated sectors in Hong Kong, including
the pilot scheme launched in June 2020 to facilitate
eligible overseas persons to take up short-term
assignments in arbitration proceedings in Hong Kong. In
addition, professionals and skilled persons coming to Hong
Kong for employment are welcome to come with their family
members under the dependant visa regime. (SB, DoJ)
Training Initiatives
Implemented new facilitation measures to empower training
institutions in the public
sector1
to contribute to developing Hong Kong as a Regional
Training Hub. Over 5 600 non-local trainees from B&R
countries, Greater Bay Area cities and other overseas
countries attended training courses/academic programmes
provided by these institutions in 2018 and 2019. (ICAC,
CSB, SB, THB)
1 The training institutions are: the
Independent Commission Against Corruption; Civil Service
Training and Development Institute; Fire and Ambulance
Services Academy; Hong Kong Police College; Hong Kong
International Aviation Academy; and MTR Academy.
New InitiativesStriving for Quality Education
Strengthen the Government’s role in policy making,
implementation and monitoring, with reviews and
enhancements in such areas as education policy, teachers’
quality and curriculum design. In the coming year, the
major tasks include:
review the implementation of the existing education
policies to ensure effective monitoring and
accountability in school management, administration,
finance and implementation of rules and regulations.
By enhancing communication with school sponsoring
bodies and training for school managers, the Education
Bureau (EDB) will specify the powers, responsibilities
and requirements of all parties concerned to
strengthen school management and administration, as
well as enhance the management and quality of the
teaching force;
enhance the quality of teachers by measures covering
the entry to the profession, training and management.
EDB will enhance liaison with teacher education
institutions putting heavier emphasis on teachers’
professional conduct in pre-service training for
prospective teachers; and step up training
requirements for newly appointed and serving teachers
and teachers to be promoted, covering professional
roles, values and conduct of teachers; education
development at the local, national and international
levels; national education; national security
education, etc.;
continue to handle cases involving teachers’
misconduct or illegal behavior according to the
Education Ordinance (Cap. 279) and established
practices. Appropriate penalty will be imposed on
substantiated cases in a fair and reasonable manner.
EDB will also continue to support schools on stringent
selection and enhanced management of staff to guard
against appointment of improper persons to serve as
teachers; and
continue to optimise the school curriculum, taking
into account the six directional recommendations put
forward by the Task Force on Review of School
Curriculum. (EDB)
Promote national security education in schools to
cultivate among students a correct understanding of the
concepts of national security through relevant subjects
and learning activities inside and outside classroom;
provide guidelines as well as teacher training and
resource materials to schools on school administration and
education to facilitate school personnel and students to
understand and comply with the National Security Law; and
work with post-secondary institutions to promote national
security education at the post-secondary level. (EDB)
Launch public consultation in late-2020 on the proposed
legislative amendments to the Post Secondary Colleges
Ordinance (Cap. 320), following the recommendation of the
Task Force on Review of Self-financing Post-secondary
Education. (EDB)
Attracting Talent
Task the Chief Secretary for Administration, through the
Human Resources Planning Commission under his
chairmanship, to co-ordinate with relevant policy bureaux
in reviewing and enhancing Hong Kong’s talent attraction
regime in a holistic manner, taking into account views
from the business sector and stakeholders. (CSO)
Review the coverage of the Talent List and the weight of
the score awarded to the qualified talents of the relevant
professions in the overall scores of the Quality Migrant
Admission Scheme to better reflect the latest trends in
the employment market, without prejudice to the training
and employment opportunities of local talents. (LWB)
Work in partnership with relevant agencies, including the
Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Cyberport, the Hong
Kong Productivity Council, universities, the five research
institutes, the West Kowloon Cultural District, the
Financial Services Development Council and the financial
services regulators, etc., to adopt a strategic approach
to promote actively around the world the opportunities in
Hong Kong for high quality talents, focusing on attracting
those in demand. Promotion will also be undertaken in Hong
Kong to raise the awareness of local talents of the same
opportunities where applicable, and help students and
young professionals prepare themselves for the future.
(CEDB, Relevant bureaux)
Provision of New Teaching Facilities
Support the provision of new teaching facilities and
student hostel for the Hong Kong Academy for Performing
Arts on Hong Kong Island to enrich teaching and learning
infrastructure and experience and foster the long-term
development of tertiary education in performing arts.
(HAB)
Continue to improve the teaching and learning environment
of public sector schools by building new school premises
or providing for in-situ expansion. At present, a total of
10 public sector school projects are at the construction
stage, whereas another 23 projects are under planning
(including two special schools in Kowloon Tong, of which
one has boarding facilities). (EDB)
Vocational and Professional Education and
Training
Work closely with the Steering Committee on Promotion of
VPET and Qualifications Framework established in September
2020 to further promote VPET in an innovative and
co-ordinated manner, taking account of recommendations of
the Task Force on Promotion of VPET. (EDB)
Launch a pilot scheme in the 2020/21 academic year, under
which an external consultant will be engaged to provide
one-stop professional service on VPET for teachers of
selected secondary schools, in order to enhance the
promotion of VPET in secondary education. The Government
will also encourage PTAs and Federations of PTAs to
organise more VPET promotion activities to strengthen
parent education and facilitate parents’ acceptance of
their children’s decisions to pursue VPET pathways. (EDB)
Commence a review on sub-degree education and launch a
pilot project on applied degrees in late-2020. (EDB)
Embracing Blockchain Technology
Launch the pilot implementation by the Joint Universities
Computer Centre of a common online platform to facilitate
verification of higher education qualification using
blockchain technology starting from mid-2021. (ITB)
Promotion of Applied Learning
Further promote Applied Learning as a valued senior
secondary elective subject, and provide students with the
subsidy and more diversified courses to broaden their
studies and learning experience, so as to facilitate their
diversified development. (EDB)
Chapter VIII - Caring SocietyMy Belief
“Care for children, family support, patient care, poverty
alleviation and elderly care are essential for building a
compassionate and inclusive society.”
“Senior citizens in Hong Kong have contributed immensely to the
prosperity of our city. The Government should continue to
allocate resources and utilise innovation and technology so that
our senior citizens can enjoy the golden period in their
twilight years.”
“Our society has great respect for self-reliance and values
Government efforts to provide education, training and retraining
to help people adapt to new economy and trades. For those unable
to support themselves, the Government has to put in place a
sustainable welfare system to provide appropriate assistance.”
“We appreciate that young people have great hopes and
aspirations for the future of Hong Kong and also understand that
they have their own ideas and views on social issues. We should
understand the feelings and needs of our young people as they
learn to become independent and prepare themselves to contribute
to society.”
To make better use of the resources, we should promote
cross-sector and cross-profession collaboration as well as
public-private partnership in adherence to the following
principles:
(1) pro-child;
(2) pro-family;
(3) pro-work;
(4) pro-user; and
(5) pro-health.
InfographicsPrimary Healthcare
The first District Health Centre (DHC) at Kwai Tsing recorded
over 29 000 service attendances and conducted 5 800 health
risk assessments.
Following the establishment of the first DHC in Kwai Tsing
District, we expect to establish DHCs in six more districts
(namely Tuen Mun, Yuen Long, Tsuen Wan, Wong Tai Sin, Sham
Shui Po, and Southern District) by 2022.
Total Recurrent Funding to the Hospital Authority
(HA)
2017-18: $55.6 billion
2018-19: $63.7 billion
2019-20: $71.4 billion
2020-21: $75.0 billion
Cumulative increase in total recurrent funding for HA from
2017-18 to 2020-21 is 35%.
Elderly Services
Estimated recurrent expenditure in 2020-21 is 42% higher than
that in 2018-19
2018-19 (Actual): $8.6 billion
2019-20 (Revised estimate): $10.5 billion
2020-21 (Estimate): $12.3 billion
2020-21 (Estimate) is 17% higher than 2019-20 (Revised
estimate)
2020-21 (Estimate) is 42% higher than 2018-19 (Actual)
Pro-familyNumber of households benefited from the Working Family
Allowance (WFA) Scheme
March 2018: 27 600
September 2020: 56 500 (increased by 105%)
Maximum amount of allowance received by a 4-member
household
Previous Low-income WFA Scheme: $2,600
Current WFA Scheme: $4,200 (increased by 60%)
Number of Places for Pre-school Rehabilitation
Services2017-18
Integrated Programme in Kindergarten-cum-Child Care
Centre: 1 980
Special Child Care Centre: 1 834
Early Education & Training Centre: 3 454
On-site Pre-school Rehabilitation Services: 3 000
Total: 10 268
2018-19
Integrated Programme in Kindergarten-cum-Child Care
Centre: 1 980
Special Child Care Centre: 1 960
Early Education & Training Centre: 3 520
On-site Pre-school Rehabilitation Services: 5 187
Total: 12 647
2019-20
Integrated Programme in Kindergarten-cum-Child Care
Centre: 1 980
Special Child Care Centre: 2 020
Early Education & Training Centre: 3 771
On-site Pre-school Rehabilitation Services: 7 074
Total: 14 845
2020-21 (Estimate)
Integrated Programme in Kindergarten-cum-Child Care
Centre: 1 980
Special Child Care Centre: 2 304
Early Education & Training Centre: 4 068
On-site Pre-school Rehabilitation Services: 8 074
Total: 16 426
*To increase the number of places for On-site Pre-school
Rehabilitation Services to 10 000 by 2022/23 school year.
Progress Made
A total of 240 new initiatives were announced since July 2017
under “Improving People’s Livelihood” and “Connecting with Young
People”, of which 235 have been completed or are progressing on
schedule.
Key initiatives completed or major progress made are as follows:
Healthcare ServicesPrimary Healthcare
Set up the Steering Committee on Primary Healthcare
Development and the Primary Healthcare Office in
November 2017 and March 2019 respectively to steer the
development of primary healthcare services. (FHB)
Commenced operation of the first District Health Centre
(DHC) in Kwai Tsing District since September 2019, with
satellite centres being set up in five sub-districts
progressively. Operation service contracts for two more
DHCs (Sham Shui Po and Wong Tai Sin) have been awarded.
(FHB)
Earmarked suitable sites for setting up DHCs in all
other districts and secured the support of the relevant
District Councils on the locations of nine DHCs. (FHB)
Prevention and Control of Diseases
Launched “Towards 2025: Strategy and Action Plan to
Prevent and Control Non-communicable Diseases in Hong
Kong” in May 2018 to safeguard people’s health. (FHB)
Expanded the eligible groups under the Vaccination
Subsidy Scheme since the 2018/19 season to cover people
aged between 50 and 64, and provided outreach
vaccination services for primary school students,
resulting in an increase in the overall seasonal
influenza vaccination uptake rate by 46% when compared
with that of the 2017/18 season. Regularised the School
Outreach Vaccination Pilot Programme to cover primary
schools, and kindergartens and child care centres (CCCs)
starting from the 2019/20 and 2020/21 season
respectively. Besides, starting from the 2019/20 school
year, provided human papillomavirus vaccination to
Primary Five female students. Provided pertussis
vaccinations for pregnant women since July 2020. (FHB)
Launched the Hong Kong Cancer Strategy in July 2019,
covering directions, strategies and expected outcomes in
areas ranging from cancer prevention, screening,
diagnosis, treatment, technology and support, research
and surveillance activities. Launched an online resource
hub in July 2020 to provide health information related
to cancer. (FHB)
Launched in October 2020 the “Hong Kong Viral Hepatitis
Action Plan 2020–2024” with a view to reducing the
number of people suffering from viral hepatitis. (FHB)
Regularised the Dementia Community Support Scheme and
expanded to cover all 41 district elderly community
centres in Hong Kong since May 2019. (FHB)
Extended the multi-disciplinary service model of the
common mental disorder clinic to five hospital clusters.
(FHB)
Launched in 2019 three territory-wide mental health
prevalence surveys covering children, adolescents and
elderly persons. (FHB)
Introduced the Smoking (Public Health) (Amendment) Bill
2019 into the Legislative Council (LegCo) in February
2019 to prohibit the import, manufacture, sale,
distribution and advertisement of alternative smoking
products, including e-cigarettes, heat-not-burn products
and herbal cigarettes. (FHB)
Designated 11 bus interchange facilities located at
tunnel portal areas or leading to expressways or tunnels
as no smoking areas. (FHB)
Development and Positioning of Chinese Medicine
Allocated more resources to continue to develop Chinese
medicine, including the construction of the Chinese
Medicine Hospital and the Government Chinese Medicines
Testing Institute. Commenced the tendering procedure for
the operation of the Chinese Medicine Hospital in
September 2019. (FHB)
Provided an annual quota of around 620 000 for
Government-subsidised Chinese medicine general
consultation, tui-na and acupuncture services in 18
Chinese Medicine Clinics cum Training and Research
Centres, with effect from March 2020. The fee for each
consultation/treatment per visit is at $120. (FHB)
Rolled out various funding schemes under the
$500-million Chinese Medicine Development Fund, which
benefited different levels of the Chinese medicine
industry, non-profit-making organisations and academic
institutions promoting the development of Chinese
medicine in Hong Kong. (FHB)
Enhancing Healthcare Services
Introduced since 2018–19 a triennium funding arrangement
for the Hospital Authority (HA) to increase HA’s
recurrent funding progressively, having regard to
population growth and demographic changes. Overall, a
total recurrent funding of $75 billion is provided to
the HA in 2020–21, representing an increase of 35% over
the provision in 2017–18. (FHB)
Commenced inpatient services at Tin Shui Wai Hospital
since November 2018, with 24-hour Accident and Emergency
services. (FHB)
Commenced services at the Hong Kong Children’s Hospital
by phases since December 2018 to treat complex, serious
and uncommon paediatric cases requiring
multi-disciplinary management. (FHB)
The Steering Committee on Genomic Medicine has completed
its work and published a report. The Hong Kong Genome
Institute was set up in May 2020. (FHB)
Enhanced cancer diagnosis and treatment services.
Specific measures included recruiting 14 additional
Cancer Case Managers (CCM) and expanding the CCM
programme from currently covering colorectal cancer and
breast cancer patients to gynaecological cancer and
haematological cancer patients, serving additional 1 270
patients; providing additional 4 000 attendances for
radiography services; increasing around 1 700 quotas for
Specialist Outpatient Clinic and Nurse Clinic
attendances in oncology; and recruiting additional
Medical Social Workers to offer psychosocial support to
around 5 600 additional attendances, etc., in 2020–21.
(FHB)
Relaxed the means test mechanism under the Samaritan
Fund and Community Care Fund Medical Assistance
Programmes since early 2019. The enhancement measures
include modifying the calculation of annual disposable
financial resources for drug subsidy application by
counting only 50% of the patients’ household net assets
and refining the definition of “household” adopted in
financial assessment. (FHB)
Provided assistance for patients with uncommon diseases,
including extending the scope of the assistance
programme and providing patients with subsidies for
specific drug treatments. (FHB)
Formulated recommendations by the Special Task Group
formed under the HA Board to enhance the HA’s
administrative efficiency, including simplifying the
resource bidding process; streamlining meetings of
Co-ordinating Committees, Central Committees and other
management meetings at cluster and hospital levels; and
streamlining the decision making processes of the HA
Board and its committees. (FHB)
Launched a three-year programme Healthy Teeth
Collaboration in July 2018 to provide free oral
checkups, dental treatments and oral health education
for adults aged 18 or above with intellectual
disabilities. (FHB)
Implemented an outreach dental programme in Special
Child Care Centres (SCCCs) under the Social Welfare
Department (SWD) to provide children under age six with
intellectual disabilities with free on-site dental
check-up and oral health education. If necessary,
children can be referred to the Special Oral Care
Service at Hong Kong Children’s Hospital for follow up
treatment. (FHB)
Under the Outreach Dental Care Programme for the
Elderly, a total of 23 outreach dental teams have been
set up in ten non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to
provide free outreach dental services for elders in
residential care homes, day care centres and similar
facilities in the territory. The target group of the
Elderly Dental Assistance Programme was expanded to
cover elderly persons aged 65 or above receiving the Old
Age Living Allowance (OALA), and the service scope of
the programme was refined in February 2019. The
programme has been extended for three years up to
February 2022. (FHB)
Sustainable Development of Healthcare System
The HA will employ all qualified local medical graduates
and provide them with relevant specialist training.
(FHB)
Implemented the Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme (VHIS)
in April 2019. As at end-March 2020, the number of VHIS
policies reached 522 000. As at end-July 2020, 67
Certified Plans had been certified and were available in
the market, offering 257 products for consumers. (FHB)
Amended legislation to allow paired and pooled organ
donations in Hong Kong. The HA launched a pilot Paired
Kidney Donation Programme in the fourth quarter of 2018.
(FHB)
Enhancing Public Health Regulation
Passed the Private Healthcare Facilities Bill in
November 2018 to implement a new regulatory regime for
private hospitals, day procedure centres, clinics and
health services establishments to ensure public safety
and enhance consumer rights. (FHB)
Passed the Pharmacy and Poisons (Amendment) Bill 2019 in
July 2020 to provide a clear and dedicated regulatory
framework on the use of advanced therapy products to
safeguard public health and facilitate the relevant
scientific development. (FHB)
Employees’ Benefits and SupportLabour Protection
Launched the HKMC Annuity Plan in July 2018. Lowered the
minimum eligible age for the Plan from 65 to 60 since
February 2020. About 8 900 polices have been sold, with
a total premium of over $5.6 billion, since the launch
of the Plan. (FSTB)
Strengthened the protection of the rights and benefits
of employees injured at work, including enhancing Claims
Support Services; establishing a platform with relevant
stakeholders for implementing a pilot scheme on
enhancing the follow-up procedures for sick leave
relating to work injury; and strengthening the
enforcement of the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance
(Cap. 282). (LWB)
Actively preparing for the launch of a three-year Pilot
Rehabilitation Programme for Employees Injured at Work
targeting injured employees from the construction
industry, and preparing an Amendment Bill for
introduction into the LegCo in the 2020–2021 legislative
session to empower the Occupational Safety and Health
Council to administer the Programme. (LWB)
Strengthened the referral mechanism for relatively
risk-prone renovation and maintenance works, and
launched the Construction Safety Ambassador Pilot
Scheme. (LWB)
Drafting the enabling legislation for implementing the
abolition of the arrangement of using employers’
mandatory contributions under the Mandatory Provident
Fund (MPF) System to offset severance payment/long
service payment. (LWB)
Implemented new measures for enhancing the protection of
non-skilled employees engaged by government service
contractors since April 2019, which includes increasing
the weighting of wage levels in tender assessments. As a
result, such wages in contracts awarded since have
increased by more than 24%. (LWB)
Employees Retraining
Injected $2.5 billion into the Employees Retraining Fund
in 2020 for the Employees Retraining Board (ERB) to
strengthen support to employees affected by economic
downturn. (LWB)
Enhanced Employment Support
Launched in September 2020 a pilot scheme on retention
allowance to encourage the elderly, young people and
persons with disabilities to undergo and complete
on-the-job training. (LWB)
Enhanced the Work Orientation and Placement Scheme in
both 2018 and 2020 to encourage employers to hire and
train job seekers with disabilities, including
increasing the allowance payable to employers and
extending the maximum period of allowance. (LWB)
Extended the follow-up period for post-placement support
for “On the Job Training Programme for People with
Disabilities”, “Sunnyway – On the Job Training Programme
for Young People with Disabilities” and supported
employment service from 6 to 12 months from December
2018. (LWB)
Published since 2018 the success rates of persons with
disabilities as well as those for other candidates to
enhance the transparency of civil service recruitment,
and doubled the places under the Internship Scheme for
Students with Disabilities from an average of 50 to 100.
(CSB)
Employees’ Welfare
Implemented five-day statutory paternity leave with
effect from 18 January 2019. (LWB)
Set up the sixth families clinics and enhanced the
clinical psychological services and specialised dental
services for civil service eligible persons. (CSB)
Implemented in March 2020 a Pilot Scheme on Civil
Service Chinese Medicine Clinics, providing Chinese
medicine services for civil service eligible persons as
part of their medical benefits. (CSB)
Social Welfare Planning and Administration
Launched a new phase of the Special Scheme on Privately
Owned Sites for Welfare Uses in April 2019 for NGOs to
apply for the development or redevelopment of the sites
they own, thereby increasing the provision of much-needed
welfare facilities. (LWB)
Implemented new arrangement for the land premium policy
for religious bodies to encourage the religious community
to provide different categories of social services and to
optimise the use of land resources. (HAB)
Earmarked $20 billion with the target to purchase 120
premises for the provision of about 160 welfare
facilities. (LWB)
Set up a Task Force in November 2017 to conduct a
comprehensive review on how to optimise the Lump Sum Grant
Subvention System. It is expected that the review will be
completed by the first quarter of 2021 the earliest. (LWB)
Pro-child
Injected $300 million into the Child Development Fund in
2018–19 for launching more projects which aim to boost the
self-motivation and confidence of children from low-income
families and help them plan for their future. So far, the
Fund has supported 234 projects, and over 20 000 children
have been benefited. (LWB)
Established the Commission on Children in June 2018 to
address the diversified issues related to children.
Launched the Funding Scheme for Children’s Well-being and
Development in April 2019 to undertake promotional and
public educational projects with the participation of
children and stakeholders. (LWB)
Formulated an appropriate planning ratio for subsidized
CCC places on the basis of population and included in the
Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines in March 2020
with a view to reserving suitable premises in housing
development projects for CCC operations and meeting
service demands in the new community. (LWB)
Set up five specialised co-parenting support centres
across the territory in October 2019 to strengthen support
for the divorced/separated parents with parenting needs,
enhance their children’s ability in coping with family
changes as well as to co-ordinate and arrange children
contact. (LWB)
Included CCC as one of the types of social welfare
services required by the Government under the new phase of
the Special Scheme on Privately Owned Sites for Welfare
Uses launched in April 2019. (LWB)
Strengthened child care centre services, including
improving its long-term planning and manning ratio as well
as subsidy level. In addition, the Neighbourhood Support
Child Care Project was enhanced to strengthen the child
care services provided by community nannies. The above
measures are able to encourage women with small children
to pursue or to continue their employment. (LWB)
Pre-school Rehabilitation Services
Regularised the On-site Pre-school Rehabilitation
Services (OPRS) in October 2018 with the number of
service places increased from about 3 000 under the
pilot scheme to over 8 000 in the 2020/21 school year in
phases. The plan is to further increase the number of
service places to 10 000 by the 2022/23 school year.
(LWB)
Waived the means test for children on the waiting list
of SCCCs (including residential SCCCs) applying for
training subsidy and provided additional training
subsidy places since October 2017. (LWB)
Commenced implementation of a 20-month pilot project in
the 2020/21 school year at kindergartens/
kindergarten-cum-child care centres participating in the
OPRS to provide early intervention services for children
with signs of special needs, awaiting assessment by
Child Assessment Centres (CACs) or assessed by CACs to
have borderline developmental problems. (LWB)
Pro-family
Set up the Special Needs Trust in March 2019 to provide
affordable trust services for parents of children with
special needs. (LWB)
Increased the number of Parents/ Relatives Resource
Centres for persons with disabilities progressively from 6
to 19 since March 2019. (LWB)
Regularised the Pilot Project on Strengthening Support for
Persons with Autism and their Parents/Carers and set up
three Support Centres for Persons with Autism. In 2019–20,
the number of these centres has been increased from three
to five. (LWB)
Streamlined the application and project management
procedures of the Community Investment and Inclusion Fund
since November 2017 to encourage more organisations, in
particular those of a smaller scale, to apply for grants
to implement diversified social capital development
projects. (LWB)
Regularised the community support programme for residents
of new public rental housing (PRH) estates through the
Community Investment and Inclusion Fund in April 2019 to
help new residents and families integrate into the
community as soon as possible. (LWB)
Injected an additional $500 million into the Community
Investment and Inclusion Fund in 2020 to support social
capital development projects (including community support
projects for residents of new PRH estates) and build
mutual help networks in the community through cross-sector
collaboration. The funding injection should enable the
continual operation of the Fund until 2024, for supporting
about 140 projects benefiting more than 140 000 people.
(LWB)
Regularised the “Pilot Scheme on Relaxing the Household
Income Limit of the Fee-waiving Subsidy Scheme under the
After School Care Programme for Low-income Families and
Increasing Fee-waiving Subsidy Places” under the Community
Care Fund in October 2020 by inserting a one-third
reduction of fees and strengthening after school care
service with a host of enhancement measures. More than 5
700 students and their families are expected to benefit
from these measures. (LWB)
Regularised the provision of a student grant from the
2020/21 school year, with each secondary day school,
primary school and kindergarten student receiving an
annual grant of $2,500, benefiting about 900 000 students
in Hong Kong. (EDB)
Women Affairs
Secured the passage of legislation to increase statutory
maternity leave from 10 weeks to 14 weeks in July 2020,
and advanced implementation to December 2020, a year ahead
of the original schedule. The additional maternity leave
pay paid by employers will be fully reimbursed by the
Government, subject to a cap of $80,000. About 27 000
female employees will benefit each year. (LWB)
Extended the maternity leave for all female employees of
the Government to 14 weeks from 10 October 2018 onwards.
As at 30 September 2020, more than 3 200 government
employees benefited from this initiative. (CSB)
Completed the Consultancy Study on the Long-term
Development of Child Care Services in November 2018, and
put forward a series of short-term and long-term measures
to improve the quality and quantity of child care services
in Hong Kong. Completed a feasibility study in April 2020
on the provision of after-school care service for children
aged three to six in suitable welfare facilities, and
re-engineered the Mutual Help Child Care Centres in phases
from 2020–21 onwards to provide after-school care service
for pre-primary children through additional provision of
social workers and supporting staff. (LWB)
Enhanced the manning ratios for qualified child care
workers serving in aided CCC to 1:6 (for children aged 0
to under 2) and 1:11 (for children aged 2 to under 3) in
September 2019. By making reference to the enhanced
manning ratios of day CCC, those of residential CCC were
also adjusted accordingly in September 2019. (LWB)
Imposed since 2018–19 the requirement for provision of
babycare rooms and lactation rooms in the conditions of
sale of all commercial land sale sites. (DEVB)
The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong published in 2018 a
“Guidance for Boards and Directors” to give practical
advice to boards and directors on their roles to promote,
among others, board diversity. With effect from 1 January
2019, listed companies are required to disclose the
board’s policy on board diversity, including gender
diversity. (FSTB)
Completed district consultation for the establishment of a
designated cremation facility and provided more spaces for
keeping abortuses with a view to improving the handling of
abortuses in a holistic manner. (FHB)
Poverty Alleviation and Social Security
Launched in 2018, the Higher OALA (currently at $3,715 per
month) is benefiting some 530 000 recipients. (LWB)
Introduced OALA under the Guangdong Scheme and Fujian
Scheme in January 2020. Over 12 000 portable OALA
recipients are now living in the Mainland. (LWB)
Conducted the first major review of the Comprehensive
Social Security Assistance (CSSA) Scheme since 1999 and
started implementing a series of improvements, involving
additional recurrent expenditure of about $1 billion.
(LWB)
Increased the rates of allowance and significantly relaxed
the eligibility criteria of the Low-income Working Family
Allowance Scheme in April 2018, and renamed it as the
Working Family Allowance (WFA) Scheme. As at end-September
2020, there were about 56 000 active beneficiary
households under the WFA Scheme, doubling the number
before the improvements. A further increase in the
allowance rates took effect from the claim month of July
2020. (LWB)
Allocated to the Short-term Food Assistance Service
Projects a total of $659 million since 2018. (LWB)
Provided a one-off special allowance under the
Anti-epidemic Fund to eligible beneficiary household under
the WFA Scheme and means-tested Student Financial
Assistance for pre-primary, primary and secondary
students. The disbursement of the special allowance
commenced in batches in June 2020, benefiting about 200
000 households, involving about $900 million. (LWB)
Elderly Services
Increased the number of service quotas of subsidised home
care services by 3 500 (from 8 365 in July 2017 to 11 865
in October 2020), and will further increase by 1 500 in
2021; and increased the vouchers under the Pilot Scheme on
Community Care Service Voucher for the Elderly from 3 000
in July 2017 to 8 000 in October 2020. (LWB)
Commenced the purchase of an additional 5 000 EA1 places
under the Enhanced Bought Place Scheme in 2019–20 to
increase the supply of subsidised residential care places
for the elderly and enhance the overall service quality of
private residential care homes for the elderly. (LWB)
Launched the $1 billion Innovation and Technology Fund for
Application in Elderly and Rehabilitation Care in December
2018. A total grant of about $190 million have been
approved, subsidising over 900 elderly and rehabilitation
service units to procure or rent over 4 000 technology
products. (LWB)
Providing Support for Persons in Recovery
Created new clinical psychologist posts at Integrated
Community Centres for Mental Wellness from October 2018 to
enhance professional support for persons in recovery and
persons with suspected mental health problems. (LWB)
Supporting the Disadvantaged
Injected $400 million into the Partnership Fund for the
Disadvantaged in 2018–19 to continue to promote
cross-sector collaboration in helping the disadvantaged.
The injected fund was evenly allocated to the regular
portion of the fund and the dedicated portion for
after-school learning and support programmes, which will
benefit some 130 000 grassroot students. (LWB)
Provided subvention to NGOs for setting up five Cyber
Youth Support Teams to reach out to at-risk and hidden
youths to provide early intervention and support. The
service commenced operation on 1 December 2018. (LWB)
Raised the ceiling of cash assistance under the District
Support Scheme for Children and Youth Development since
2018–19 to $2,000 per person per year, and increased the
annual quota to 10 000 to better cater for the development
needs of deprived children and youths at the district
level. (LWB)
Injected $50 million into the Trust Fund for Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2018 to continue to provide
support for SARS patients and their families. (LWB)
Provided in 2020–21 two rounds of grants of the one-off
living subsidy for low-income households not living in PRH
and not receiving CSSA (first round already launched in
July 2020). (HAB)
Enhancing Support for Persons with Disabilities
Launched the Arts Development Fund for Persons with
Disabilities and earmarked $250 million in March 2019 to
provide funding support for arts programmes or activities
for persons with disabilities with a view to enhancing
their arts knowledge, fostering their interests in arts
and developing their potentials. (LWB)
Increased the number of places of pre-school
rehabilitation services, day and residential
rehabilitation services, and those provided under the
Bought Place Scheme for Private Residential Care Homes for
Persons with Disabilities (RCHDs) from 37 945 to 42 619
from 2017 to 2020. (LWB)
Provide in 2021 an additional 40 designated residential
respite places through the Bought Place Scheme for Private
RCHDs. (LWB)
Youth Development
Established the Youth Development Commission (YDC) chaired
by the Chief Secretary for Administration in April 2018 to
oversee the formulation and co-ordination of youth
policies and steer bureaux and departments concerned to
take forward the relevant initiatives. In March 2020, the
Government announced the re-appointments of the
Vice-chairman and 31 non-official members, as well as the
appointments of eight new members. To further enhance
youth participation and facilitate the YDC to listen to
young people’s views, the Government has appointed more
young people to the YDC for the new term. The average age
of the eight new members is 26. (HAB)
Continue to arrange policy thematic meetings to invite
relevant policy bureaux, with a view to further enhancing
the operation of the YDC and communicate with young people
in a more open, direct and interactive manner. During
these meetings, YDC members and young people engage in
focused discussion on specific policy issues, particularly
those that are related to education, career pursuit and
home ownership as well as young people’s participation in
politics, public policy discussion and debate. (HAB)
Launched the YDC Youth Ambassadors (YA) Scheme in 2018 and
recruited around 100 YAs. A series of training sessions
and activities, including thematic seminars and exchanges
and training outside Hong Kong have been organised for the
YAs. Arrangements have also been made for them to serve as
volunteers in large-scale and international events
organised by the Government. (HAB)
Pioneered the Space Sharing Scheme for Youth in 2017,
which has met with enthusiastic response from property
owners and NGO operators. So far, 12 projects have been
rolled out to provide floor space to youth entrepreneurs
at concessionary rental and relevant ancillary support to
young entrepreneurs and artists. (HAB)
Rolled out a pilot scheme on youth entrepreneurship in
Shenzhen in 2018 and launched two brand-new funding
schemes under the Youth Development Fund in 2019 to
support youth start-ups who intend to start their
businesses in Hong Kong and Mainland cities of the
Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). Through
the new funding schemes, more than $100 million will be
granted to support 16 NGOs in implementing youth
entrepreneurship projects, under which subsidies will be
provided for around 200 youth start-ups, while incubation
services will be rendered to about 4 000 young people.
(HAB)
Continue to enhance the breadth and depth of youth
exchange and internship programmes, benefiting over 70 000
participants each year. In particular,
Thematic Youth Internship Programmes to the Mainland
were expanded from two programmes in 2017 to a total
of seven in 2019, with five more in the pipeline;
United Nations Volunteers-Hong Kong Universities
Volunteer Internship Programme was further expanded to
sponsor 30 Hong Kong university students per cycle to
take up short-term work assignments in United Nations
agencies in more overseas destinations;
Scheme on Corporate Summer Internship on the Mainland
and Overseas launched in 2018 provides quality
internship opportunities outside Hong Kong to more
than 200 students every year; and
on-going enhancement measures were introduced to our
funding schemes for internship and exchange in order
to better meet young people’s needs. (HAB)
Increased the number of offers for the Multi-faceted
Excellence Scholarship to 40 to promote the culture of
multi-faceted excellence. (HAB)
Increased the recurrent subvention for 13 subvented
bodies, including 11 uniformed groups and 2 NGOs involved
in youth development, by a total of $10 million from
2019–20, in order to enhance our support for their youth
development work. (HAB)
Regularised the Member Self-recommendation Scheme for
Youth (MSSY), under which young people aged between 18 and
35 with a commitment to serve the community are recruited
regularly to participate in government advisory
committees. So far, 35 committees have joined the Scheme
covering a total of 71 seats and 50 members have been
appointed. Given the positive feedback, starting from MSSY
Phase IV, the number of participating committees in each
phase will be increased from 10 to 15. At present, around
340 posts are held by young people who have been appointed
to advisory and statutory bodies (ASBs) directly or
indirectly through MSSY. The overall ratio of appointed
youth members in ASBs has increased from 7.8% in 2017 to
13% as at mid-2020 and is gradually moving towards the
target of 15% set by the current-term Government. (HAB)
Recruited policy and project co-ordination officers to
work in the Policy Innovation and Co-ordination Office to
involve young people in policy research and project
co-ordination. (PICO/CSO)
Made considerable progress under the Youth Hostel Scheme
(YHS) to relieve the short-term accommodation needs of
working youth, including relaxing the requirement to allow
YHS tenants to apply for PRH, commencing the operation of
the first youth hostel in Tai Po, starting the
construction of the largest youth hostel in Yuen Long, and
launching a new project in Wan Chai. We will continue to
take forward all youth hostel projects in collaboration
with the NGOs concerned to provide a total of around 1 760
places within the next two years, as well as another 1 600
places through five other projects currently in progress.
(HAB)
Strengthening Support for Ethnic Minorities
Set up in mid-2018 the Steering Committee on Ethnic
Minority Affairs, chaired by the Chief Secretary for
Administration. Under the supervision of the steering
committee, around 30 new measures to enhance support for
ethnic minorities (EMs) have been rolled out, covering
areas such as education, employment, social welfare and
social integration. (CSO)
Provided tiered subsidy for kindergartens under the
kindergarten education scheme admitting non-Chinese
speaking (NCS) students, as well as public sector ordinary
schools and Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) schools admitting
NCS students with special educational needs. (EDB)
Adjusted the additional funding models for schools
admitting NCS students starting from the 2020/21 school
year and stepped up monitoring and support. Provided all
schools admitting a relatively small number of NCS
students (i.e. ordinary schools admitting less than 10 NCS
students and special schools admitting less than six NCS
students) with a new two-tiered subsidy with additional
funding. The amount of additional funding provided to
schools admitting NCS students will be adjusted based on
the annual change of the Composite Consumer Price Index
and/or the annual Civil Service Pay Adjustment. (EDB)
Continue to provide NCS students with the support for
Chinese language learning, including the provision of
teacher professional development programmes, school-based
professional support services and learning and teaching
resources, with a view to facilitating the implementation
of the Chinese Language Curriculum Second Language
Learning Framework; and providing different language
learning opportunities for NCS students to boost their
confidence in learning Chinese. We will also explore how
to gauge their progress in learning Chinese language
through longitudinal studies, and provide feedbacks to
schools to further enhance support services. (EDB)
Strengthened education for NCS parents and helped them
understand the importance of enrolling their children as
early as possible in kindergartens using Chinese as the
medium of instruction, enhance their communication with
schools, and make suitable arrangements to cater for their
children’s daily learning. Provide a series of parent
education programmes for parents of NCS students starting
from the 2020/21 school year to help them support their
children’s learning, encourage their children to master
Chinese language, and gain better understanding of the
multiple pathways available to their children. (EDB)
Completed a comprehensive review of the Chinese language
proficiency requirements for all civil service grades,
with a view to providing more opportunities for EMs to
seek employment in the Government. We also launched an
internship programme in 2019 for EM university students on
a pilot basis. (CSB)
Enhanced the training on cultural sensitivity/equal
opportunities for civil service new recruits and frontline
staff. (CSB)
Enhanced the training support for EMs by the ERB starting
from 2019–20, including expanding the dedicated language
and industry-specific training courses, and allowing more
flexibility in the education attainment criteria for
course enrolment. (LWB)
Engaged an NGO in 2019–20 to raise EMs’ awareness of
domestic violence and sexual violence through community
education programmes, and encourage victims to seek help.
(LWB)
Arranged translation and production of more publicity and
educational materials to enable EMs to make better use of
the services offered by the Department of Health (DH) and
enhance the effectiveness of health education on
communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases and
mental health, etc. (FHB)
Enhanced the translation services for EMs provided by the
Centre for Harmony and Enhancement of Ethnic Minority
Residents (CHEER Centre), including introduction of
translation services in Vietnamese; enhanced the services
of support service centres for EMs, particularly for EM
new arrivals and youths; and implemented the
District-based Programmes for Racial Harmony to encourage
interaction and exchange between the EM and local
communities. (HAB)
Eliminating Discrimination
Formulated legislative proposal to amend the Sex
Discrimination Ordinance (Cap. 480) to provide protection
from harassment for breastfeeding women. (CMAB)
Enhanced protection from discrimination and harassment
under the Sex Discrimination Ordinance (Cap. 480),
Disability Discrimination Ordinance (Cap. 487), Family
Status Discrimination Ordinance (Cap. 527), and Race
Discrimination Ordinance (Cap. 602), with legislative work
completed following passage in June 2020 of the
Discrimination Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments)
Ordinance 2020. (CMAB)
Improved the Administrative Guidelines on Promotion of
Racial Equality to provide guidance to all government
bureaux and departments as well as related organisations
so that Hong Kong residents, regardless of their race, can
enjoy equal access to public services. (CMAB)
New InitiativesSupport for Low-skilled Workers and Low-income and
Unemployed FamiliesIncrease the Number of Statutory Holidays
Increase progressively the number of statutory holidays
under the Employment Ordinance (Cap. 57) from the
existing 12 days to 17 days, so that it will be on a par
with that of the general holidays, in consultation with
the Labour Advisory Board. (LWB)
Pay MPF Contributions for the Low-income Group
Put in place the measure of the Government paying the 5%
contributions for low-income persons whose monthly
income is less than the Minimum Relevant Income, upon
full implementation of the eMPF Platform in around 2025.
(FSTB)
Further Improve Government Service Contracts
Complete the review on the effect of the measures
implemented to improve the wages of low-skilled workers
in Government contracts to identify room for further
improvement. (LWB)
Employees Retraining
Strengthen support to employees affected by economic
downturn through the ERB’s new tranche of the “Love
Upgrading Special Scheme” to be implemented from January
2021 for six months until mid-2021. The new tranche will
provide training and allowance for 20 000 trainees,
doubling the number of the current tranche. (LWB)
Step up the efforts in encouraging employers of sectors
facing persistent manpower shortage (including the
caring sector) to participate in ERB’s
“First-Hire-Then-Train” Scheme by exploring adjustment
to the training and working hour arrangements under the
Scheme to attract employees to enroll in frontline care
posts in Residential Care Homes for the Elderly and
arranging employers to join the “Employment Programme
for the Elderly and Middle-aged” to apply for on-the-job
training allowance. (LWB)
Improve Access to CSSA for Unemployed
Provide a time-limited unemployment support special
scheme through the CSSA system. The CSSA asset limits
for able-bodied persons have been temporarily relaxed by
100% from 1 June 2020. The relevant arrangement has been
extended to 31 May 2021, providing a 12-month special
scheme in total. We will closely monitor the situation
to provide appropriate assistance. (LWB)
Regularising Short-term Food Assistance Service
Projects
Regularise the Short-term Food Assistance Service
Projects from August 2021 upon the completion of the
existing service contracts. The Government will earmark
$415 million a year in recurrent expenditure for the
service under the Lump Sum Grant Subvention System.
(LWB)
Support for People with Disabilities
Explore the provision of residential respite service in
special schools with a boarding section (where vacant
boarding places are available) for graduates who have such
need during long holidays. (EDB)
Examine the feasibility of arranging for residents of
hostels for severely mentally handicapped persons who are
in need of pairing Day Activity Centre services to receive
the services at their hostels where physical space
permits. (LWB)
Support for Senior CitizensCombining the Normal and Higher Old Age Living
Allowance
In light of the financial implications of the merger of
Normal and Higher OALA with higher payment rate adopted
and with asset limits significantly relaxed, the timing
of implementing this measure will be reassessed. (LWB)
Extending the Public Transport Fare Concession Scheme
for the Elderly and Eligible Persons with Disabilities (the $2
Scheme)
In light of the financial implications of the $2 Scheme
amid the aging population and further lowering the
eligible age from 65 to 60, the timing of implementing
this measure and other possible enhancement measures
will be reassessed. (LWB)
Social Welfare Planning and Administration
Incorporate the planning ratios of rehabilitation services
concerned (including long-term residential care services,
day rehabilitation services, pre-school rehabilitation
services and community support services) into the Hong
Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines in 2021–22 to
ensure the sustainable development of the services. (LWB)
Healthcare ServicesGerontechnology Platform
Design, develop and operate an inclusive
“Gerontechnology Platform” under the Social Innovation
and Entrepreneurship Development Fund to link up
different stakeholders on the supply and demand sides
and enhance synergy by way of engagement, cross-sector
partnership and collaboration. The goal is to foster the
development and application of gerontechnology as a
means to enhancing the well-being, quality of life,
independence and self-reliance of the elderly as well as
providing support to their families, caregivers,
healthcare staff and institutions, particularly under
the “new normal”. (ITB)
Mental Health
Provide targeted and relief support for persons with the
most pressing mental health needs, subsequent to the
launch of the “Shall We Talk” initiative in July 2020 to
promote and educate the public on mental health. A sum
of $300 million will be earmarked under the Beat Drugs
Fund to provide financial support for the initiative.
The Advisory Committee on Mental Health will be
responsible for co-ordinating the initiative (with an
estimated annual funding of about $100 million), and
will work with the service providers and NGOs in the
sector to identify needs and set priorities, with a view
to facilitating or promoting projects as appropriate.
(FHB, SB)
Further strengthen child and adolescent psychiatric
service, it is proposed that the Student Mental Health
Support
Scheme1
will be gradually extended to cover all primary and
secondary schools in the public sector and schools under
the DSS across the territory in phases starting from the
2021/22 school year. (FHB)
Prevention and Control of Diseases
Regularise the seasonal influenza vaccination school
outreach service for kindergartens,
kindergarten-cum-child care centres and CCCs. (FHB)
Women Affairs
Based on the latest recommendations of the Cancer Expert
Working Group on Cancer Prevention and Screening of the
Cancer Co-ordinating Committee on breast cancer screening,
the Government will adopt a risk-based approach for breast
cancer screening. DH will provide breast cancer screening
for eligible women having regard to their risk of
developing breast cancer. (FHB)
Youth DevelopmentSubsidising and Promoting Youth Outdoor Adventure
Training Activities
Invite the YDC to introduce a new funding scheme under
the Youth Development Fund to sponsor eligible NGOs in
providing local outdoor adventure training activities
for young people. (HAB)
Youth Entrepreneurship
Invite the YDC to raise the funding of the current-round
Funding Scheme for Youth Entrepreneurship in the GBA,
with a view to supporting more youth start-ups to
strengthen their corporate governance, adaptability and
digital competence. Afterwards, the Government will
establish the Alliance of Hong Kong Youth Innovative and
Entrepreneurial Bases in the GBA to serve as a one-stop
information, publicity and exchange platform to further
support innovation and entrepreneurship by Hong Kong
youth in the GBA. (HAB)
1 The Food and Health Bureau has,
in collaboration with the Education Bureau, the HA and the
SWD, launched the Student Mental Health Support Scheme based
on the medical-educational-social collaboration model since
the 2016/17 school year. Interdisciplinary teams comprising
psychiatric nurses from the HA, designated teachers and
school social workers are formed in schools to provide
support services for students with mental health needs.
Abbreviations
AAHK - Airport Authority Hong Kong
AEF - Anti-epidemic Fund
API - application programming interface
ASB - advisory and statutory body
ASD - autism spectrum disorders
ASEAN - Association of Southeast Asian Nations
AV - Autonomous Vehicle
AWE - AsiaWorld-Expo
B&R - Belt and Road
BIM - building information modelling
BUD Fund - Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic
Sales
CAC - Child Assessment Centre
CCC - Child Care Centre
CCM - cancer case manager
CDTA - comprehensive avoidance of double taxation agreement
CEDB - Commerce and Economic Development Bureau
CEF - Continuing Education Fund
CEPA - Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement
CFA - Court of Final Appeal
CIC - Construction Industry Council
CITF - Construction Innovation and Technology Fund
CLNPJ - non-permanent judge from another common law
jurisdiction
CMAB - Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau
CoE - Centre of Excellence for Major Project Leaders
COVID-19 - Coronavirus Disease-2019
CSB - Civil Service Bureau
CSO - Chief Secretary for Administration's Office
CSSA - Comprehensive Social Security Assistance
CTF - community treatment facility
DC - District Council
DCV - diesel commercial vehicle
DEVB - Development Bureau
DH - Department of Health
DHC - District Health Centre
DoJ - Department of Justice
DSS - Direct Subsidy Scheme
EA - employment agency
EAC - Electoral Affairs Commission
ECIC - Hong Kong Export Credit Insurance Corporation
EDB - Education Bureau
EffO - Efficiency Office
EFLS - Environmentally Friendly Linkage System
EM - ethnic minority
EMF - SME Export Marketing Fund
ENB - Environment Bureau
ERB - Employees Retraining Board
ETCZ - Economic and Trade Co-operation Zone
ETO - Economic and Trade Office
FATF - Financial Action Task Force
FHB - Food and Health Bureau
FiT - Feed-in Tariff
FPS - Faster Payment System
FSTB - Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau
FTA - free trade agreement
GBA - Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area
GD - Guangdong
GSH - Green Form Subsidised Home Ownership Scheme
HA - Hospital Authority
HAB - Home Affairs Bureau
HKDC - Hong Kong Design Centre
HKEAA - Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority
HKHA - Hong Kong Housing Authority
HKHS - Hong Kong Housing Society
HKIA - Hong Kong International Airport
HKMA - Hong Kong Monetary Authority
HKSAR - Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
HKSTPC - Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation
HKTDC - Hong Kong Trade Development Council
HOS - Home Ownership Scheme
HSITP - Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park
HZMB - Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge
I&T - innovation and technology
IA - investment agreement
ICAC - Independent Commission Against Corruption
ID - intellectual disability
IMS - Integrity Management System
IPP - Inclusive Parks for Pet
IT - information technology
ITB - Innovation and Technology Bureau
ITVF - Innovation and Technology Venture Fund
KE - Kowloon East
LandsD - Lands Department
LCF - Lantau Conservation Fund
LCSD - Leisure and Cultural Services Department
LegCo - Legislative Council
LRC - Law Reform Commission
LTV - loan-to-value
LWB - Labour and Welfare Bureau
MiC - Modular Integrated Construction
MPF - Mandatory Provident Fund
MSSY - Member Self-recommendation Scheme for Youth
NCS - Non-Chinese Speaking
NDA - New Development Area
NGO - non-governmental organisation
NHC - National Health Commission
NSA - national sports association
NSL - The Law of the People's Republic of China on
Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region
OALA - Old Age Living Allowance
ODR - Online Dispute Resolution
OPRS - On-site Pre-school Rehabilitation Services
PCMO - Project Cost Management Office
PICO - Policy Innovation and Co-ordination Office
PoC - Proof-of-Concept
Police Force - Hong Kong Police Force
PRH - public rental housing
PSGO - Project Strategy and Governance Office
PTA - Parent-Teacher Association
PV - photovoltaic
QEF - Quality Education Fund
R&D - research and development
RCHD - Residential Care Home for Persons with Disabilities
RCHE - Residential Care Home for the Elderly
RE - renewable energy
rebar - reinforcing bar
SARS - Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
SB - Security Bureau
SCCC - Special Child Care Centre
SENCO - special educational needs co-ordinator
SFGS - SME Financing Guarantee Scheme
SH - Starter Homes
SIE Fund - Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development
Fund
SMC - school management committee
SME - small and medium enterprise
SSF - subsidised sale flat
SWD - Social Welfare Department
TCAB - Torture Claims Appeal Board
TFLS - Task Force on Land Supply
THB - Transport and Housing Bureau
$2 Scheme - Public Transport Fare Concession Scheme for the
Elderly and Eligible
Persons with Disabilities
THS - Tai Hang Sai
TPS - Tenants Purchase Scheme
UCTP - Universal Community Testing Programme
UK - the United Kingdom
UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organisation
URA - Urban Renewal Authority
US - the United States
VHIS - Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme
VPET - Vocational and Professional Education and Training
VTC - Vocational Training Council
WFA - Working Family Allowance
WKCD - West Kowloon Cultural District
WSM - White Form Secondary Market Scheme
WSP - Water Safety Plan
YA - Youth Ambassador
YDC - Youth Development Commission
YHS - Youth Hostel Scheme