Additional facilitation measures to assist cross-boundary vehicles stranded in Mainland or Macao to return to Hong Kong for vehicle examination

The Transport Department (TD) announced on 17 February 2023 that additional measures will be implemented from 1 to 31 March 2023 to further enable cross-boundary vehicles with expired Hong Kong vehicle licences and stranded in the Mainland or Macao, to return to the pre-booked designated car testing centre in Hong Kong directly on a specified date for vehicle examinations in order to renew their Hong Kong vehicle licences.

The additional facilitation measures will allow the eligible cross-boundary vehicles to return to Hong Kong on a specific date through a designated route via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) to a pre-booked designated car testing centre for vehicle examination and completion of subsequent licensing renewal procedures.  Under the additional measures, vehicle owners must confirm that the vehicle should be roadworthy for road safety concern in their applications.

Eligible vehicle owners are required to submit application forms to the TD two weeks in advance of the planned date of return with the following documents: 

• Copy of Mainland approval notice
• Copy of Hong Kong vehicle registration document
• Copies of the designated driver/reserve driver's identity document and valid Hong Kong Full Driving Licence
• Copy of Hong Kong third party risk insurance/cover note valid on the day of return
• Copy of Mainland compulsory traffic accident liability insurance/Macao statutory vehicle insurance for motor vehicles valid on the day of return
• Booking record of the service at vehicle examination centre
• Declaration on vehicle performance

TD strengthens assistance to taxi trade and vehicle owners in applying for HKeToll

The TD announced on 17 February 2023 that in order to strengthen assistance to the taxi trade in applying for HKeToll services, starting from 20 February 2023, in addition to the four customer service centres run by the toll service provider, the TD has set up two dedicated service counters at the Rumsey Street and Tsuen Wan Government multi-storey car parks to handle the applications for vehicle tags and driver cards for the taxi trade.  The service hours are from 10am to 9pm daily.

Taxi owners and drivers can make reservations on the HKeToll website, https://www.hketoll.gov.hk/Landing, or mobile app from 18 February 2023.  Taxi owners and drivers who have made reservations can go to the four customer service centres or two new dedicated service counters to process applications for vehicle tags and driver cards.  Dedicated service counters will also teach taxi drivers how to split tunnel tolls using the HKeToll app.  The toll service provider has also sent ambassadors to nine dedicated liquified petroleum gas (LPG) stations in the territory to assist taxi owners and drivers in making reservations.  Details of the dedicated service counters and LPG stations are set out at Annex 1.

To avoid confusion and to minimise waiting times, the dedicated service counters will only provide services to taxi owners and drivers who have made an appointment.  The TD appeals to the taxi trade to make use of the reservation service as far as possible.  One hour of free parking will be provided to reservation holders who drive to the dedicated service counters.

In addition, the TD has been sending letters to some 800 000 vehicle owners in Hong Kong from 17 to 24 February 2023 to inform them of their current e-contact means (email address or Hong Kong mobile phone number) currently registered with the TD.  A sample of the envelope and letter is shown at Annex 2.

The Tsing Sha Control Area (Eagle's Nest Tunnel, Sha Tin Heights Tunnel and Tai Wai Tunnel) will implement the HKeToll starting from 5am on 7 May 2023.  As of 16 February 2023, more than 460 000 vehicle tags were issued.

Starting from 24 February 2023, TD will also set up a total of 34 consultation counters in the territory to assist vehicle owners in applying for HKeToll services, including applying for a vehicle tag, opening an HKeToll account, associating a vehicle to the account and setting up a payment means.  The service hours of 25 consultation counters at MTR stations will be from 9am to 9pm daily, while the service hours of the nine consultation counters located in the New Territories at the Home Affairs Department will be from 9am to 7pm from Mondays to Fridays (except public holidays).  Details of the consultation counters are at the Annex.

For relevant press releases, please visit https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202302/17/P2023021700332.htm and https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202302/21/P2023022100372.htm.
 

Qualifying standards for environment-friendly commercial vehicles to remain unchanged from April 2023 to March 2024

The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) announced on 20 February 2023 that the qualifying standards (QS), first registration tax (FRT) concession rates and their concession caps for environment-friendly commercial vehicles (EFCV) would remain unchanged for the period from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024, inclusive.

To improve roadside air quality and safeguard public health, the Government has been offering tax incentives since 1 April 2008, to encourage commercial vehicle owners to choose EFCVs with exhaust emissions that outperform the prevailing statutory emission standards.  The EPD reviews the QS of EFCV models annually in the light of vehicle technological advancement, market availability and the prevailing statutory emission standards for the first registered vehicles.

The EPD regularly updates the list of EFCV models as new models enter the local market.  Details of the tax concession scheme for EFCVs are available at https://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/air/prob_solutions/environment_friendly_commercial_vehicles.html.

For relevant press release, please visit https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202302/20/P2023022000274.htm.
 

First phase of Hong Kong-Asian Film Collaboration Funding Scheme opens for application from 10 February to 30 June 2023

The first phase of the Hong Kong-Asian Film Collaboration Funding Scheme under the Film Development Fund is open for applications from 10 February to 30 June 2023.  The Scheme aims to provide funding to film projects co-produced with filmmakers from Asian countries to produce films which are rich in Hong Kong and Asian cultures, enabling Hong Kong films to go global, as well as achieving in-depth exchanges and mutual learning.

The Scheme will be launched in two phases and a maximum of eight film projects will be funded.  Each approved film project will receive a grant up to $9 million.

Details of the Scheme and the relevant application form are available on the website of the Hong Kong Film Development Council (https://www.fdc.gov.hk/en/hkafcfs).

For relevant press release, please visit https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202302/10/P2023020900241.htm.
 

Mainland authorities implementing "exit endorsement for talents" on a pilot basis with effect from 20 February 2023

The HKSAR Government welcomed the announcement by the Mainland authorities that the exit endorsement for talents travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao will be implemented in the Mainland cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) on a pilot basis starting from 20 February 2023, with a view to facilitating GBA Mainland talents to travel southbound to Hong Kong for exchanges and visits in the fields of scientific research, education, healthcare, law and business, etc.

Under the new measure, six categories of talents (i.e. outstanding talents, scientific research talents, education talents, healthcare talents, legal talents and other talents) who meet the eligibility criteria set by the Mainland authorities can apply to the Mainland authorities for the exit endorsement for talents with a validity period of five years, three years or one year, and travel to and from Hong Kong multiple times within the validity period of the exit endorsement.  They can stay in Hong Kong for not exceeding 30 days during each visit.  Compared with the current seven-day period of stay for the exit endorsement for business visits, the exit endorsement for talents will greatly facilitate eligible high-end talents visiting Hong Kong.  If the holders of the exit endorsement for talents also meet the criteria for the "Pilot Scheme on Immigration Facilitation for Visitors Participating in Short-term Activities in Designated Sectors" as expanded by the HKSAR Government earlier on 1 February 2023, they may also come to Hong Kong to participate in designated short-term activities as visitors without the need to apply for employment entry permits.

Launching the exit endorsement for talents alongside the full resumption of normal travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland will help promote the interaction of talents within the GBA, creating stronger impetus for growth for Hong Kong and the entire GBA as well as achieving a win-win situation.

According to the prevailing arrangement, Mainland residents visiting Hong Kong must hold a valid Exit-entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao (EEP, commonly known as "Two-way Permit") with the relevant exit endorsement for travelling to Hong Kong.  The application, approval and issuance of EEP and exit endorsement are within the remit of the Mainland authorities.  As a solid result of taking forward the GBA development, the new measure facilitates Hong Kong's further integration into the national development and bringing together talents for exchanges in Hong Kong.  The HKSAR Government will continue to maintain close liaison with the Mainland authorities with a view to further enhancing talent exchanges and interactions in the GBA on this good basis.

For relevant press release, please visit https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202302/09/P2023020900699.htm.
 

Toys and Children's Products Safety Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 2) Notice 2023 gazetted

The Government published in the Gazette the Toys and Children's Products Safety Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 2) Notice 2023 on 17 February 2023.  The Notice seeks to update the safety standards for four classes of children's products listed in Schedule 2 (Schedule 2 products) under the Toys and Children's Products Safety Ordinance (Cap. 424).

The four classes of Schedule 2 products are "bunk beds for domestic use", "child safety barriers for domestic use", "children's high chairs and multi-purpose high chairs for domestic use" and "wheeled child conveyances".  The Notice will take effect on 1 August 2023.

The Ordinance stipulates that a person must not manufacture, import or supply a Schedule 2 product unless it complies with all the applicable requirements contained in at least one set of the safety standards specified in Schedule 2.  These standards are international standards or standards adopted by major economies.  The Government keeps in view updates or amendments to the safety standards made by the standardisation bodies concerned and, as a regular exercise, applies up-to-date, operative versions to products supplied in Hong Kong.  The last update commenced operation in September 2022.

For relevant press release, please visit https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202302/17/P2023021700189.htm.
 

Commencement notice for Copyright (Amendment) Ordinance 2022 and related code of practice gazetted

The Government published in the Gazette the Copyright (Amendment) Ordinance 2022 (Commencement) Notice (the Commencement Notice) on 17 February 2023.  The Copyright (Amendment) Ordinance 2022 (the Amendment Ordinance) will come into operation on 1 May 2023.

The Amendment Ordinance updates the Copyright Ordinance (Cap. 528) to strengthen copyright protection in the digital environment, including introducing an exclusive technology-neutral communication right for copyright owners and criminal sanctions against infringements of the concerned new right, a "safe harbour" regime for incentivising online service providers (OSPs) to co-operate with copyright owners in combating online piracy, and several new and expanded copyright exceptions (including allowing the use of copyright works in certain common Internet activities, and facilitating online learning and the operation of libraries, museums and archives) to maintain an appropriate balance between copyright protection and reasonable use of copyright works.

The Commencement Notice has been tabled at the Legislative Council for negative vetting on 22 February 2023.

To tie in with the operation of the "safe harbour" regime under the Amendment Ordinance, the Government also gazetted on 17 February 2023 the code of practice which provides practical guidance of the relevant practices and procedures that OSPs may adopt upon being notified of online piracy on their service platforms in accordance with the "safe harbour" regime under the Amendment Ordinance.

The Government will launch a series of publicity and educational activities to enhance awareness and understanding of the Amendment Ordinance amongst various stakeholders and the general public.  These include providing relevant information on the Amendment Ordinance on the website of the Intellectual Property Department (https://www.ipd.gov.hk/en/home/index.html), distributing promotional leaflets, conducting briefings targeting different stakeholders and launching Announcements in the Public Interest through electronic media.

Upon commencement of the Amendment Ordinance, the Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) will continue to step up inspections and enforcement in co-operation with copyright owners.  Depending on the circumstances and evidence of individual cases, the C&ED will take enforcement actions in accordance with the Copyright Ordinance as amended to further combat online piracy.

For relevant press release, please visit https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202302/17/P2023021700191.htm.
 

Public may download local COVID-19 records compatible with EU Digital COVID Certificate mechanism from 7 March 2023

The Government announced on 21 February 2023 that, starting from 7 March 2023, members of the public can download local vaccination, testing or recovery records compatible with the EU Digital COVID Certificate (EU DCC) mechanism for outbound travel purposes via the COVID-19 Electronic Vaccination and Testing Record System (eVT) or the "iAM Smart" mobile application.  A Government spokesperson reminded members of the public to ascertain the latest immigration requirements of their destinations, including those for vaccination or testing, before departure.

The EU DCC mechanism is recognised and is in common use across 27 EU member states and some 50 participating countries and territories (listed in Annex).  Upon completion of technical onboarding, the EU announced on 21 February 2023 the inclusion of records issued by Hong Kong in specified formats in the EU DCC mechanism.  Vaccination, testing or recovery records issued by Hong Kong in specified formats are recognised by EU member states as well as participating countries and territories of the EU DCC mechanism.  Holders can present the records in an electronic format or have the electronic records printed in a paper format for travelling purposes.

Starting from 7 March 2023, members of the public who hold valid local vaccination, paid testing or recovery records can download relevant EU DCC mechanism-compatible records via the eVT by inputting their identity document number and other data required by the system.  They can also download the relevant records after identity confirmation through the "iAM Smart" mobile application.  Details of the downloading procedures will be available on the eVT website.

For relevant press release, please visit https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202302/21/P2023022100292.htm.