SUCCESS Activity

Hong Kong Origin Certification System (Seminar)

(This seminar will be held at Trade and Industry Tower on 13 March 2026)

This seminar is held by the "SUCCESS" of the TID. The seminar will introduce the Hong Kong Origin Certification System, administered by the TID. The system’s objective is to facilitate the export of Hong Kong products to other markets or meeting the requirements of importing authorities, as well as to enable traders to enjoy preferential tariff treatment under free trade agreements between Hong Kong and other economies. Representatives from the Centre for Food Safety, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will also introduce latest facilitation measures for exports of food products to the Mainland under the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA). (This seminar will be conducted in Cantonese.)

More Details and Registration

SUCCESS-supported Activities

I. New Productive Forces Job Fair 2026

(This job fair will be held at HKPC Building on 7 March 2026)

This job fair is organised by the HKPC. SUCCESS is one of the supporting organisations. Over 40 enterprises, organisations and government departments will participate in this job fair, providing over 10,000 job opportunities related to artificial intelligence (AI) and information technology.  The fair will also feature interactive workshops and industry-themed sharing sessions, offering AI-powered resume optimisation, CV clinic, professional CV photo-shooting, interview skills workshop, etc., to help participants master AI applications and improve their job-seeking skills.

More Details and Registration (in Chinese only)

II. Agentic AI: from automation to autonomy (Online Course)

(This course will be live-streamed on 17 March 2026)

This course is offered by the HKPC. SUCCESS is one of the supporting organisations.  This online course will explore how to use AI to improve workflows, how to begin an AI transformation and what to expect during the transition.  (This course will be conducted in Cantonese.)

More Details and Registration

III. The Irreplaceability of You in the AI era: From Identity Threat to Identity Integration (Online Course)

(This course will be live-streamed on 24 March 2026)

This course is offered by the HKPC. SUCCESS is one of the supporting organisations.  This online course will explore identity-centric strategies to turn AI from a rival into a catalyst for professional growth, and provide practical strategies and techniques to encourage employees to leverage AI in their work. (This course will be conducted in Cantonese.)

More Details and Registration

HKIRC and PCPD Co-organise “AI Security and Cybersecurity Summit for Enterprises” — Registration Now Open

The Hong Kong Internet Registration Corporation Limited (HKIRC) and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) will co-organise the “AI Security and Cybersecurity Summit for Enterprises” (Summit) on 31 March 2026. Registration is now open to all sectors!
 
With the Digital Policy Office acting as a strategic partner, the Summit will feature two key thematic areas – “AI Security” and “Cybersecurity”, each presenting dedicated keynote presentations and panel discussions. The event will bring together leading experts, industry leaders, policymakers and company directors to explore the evolving AI security and cybersecurity threat landscape, exchange innovative solutions, and share insights into strengthening cybersecurity and data protection in the age of AI.
 
The Summit is free of charge and open for registration on a first-come first-served basis. For details, please visit the event website https://pcpd.org.hk/ai_cybersecurity_summit/en/index.html. Interested parties are requested to complete and submit the online registration form on the Summit website by 5:00 pm on 27 March 2026 (Friday).

More Details and Registration
 

Hong Kong and Kyrgyz Republic enter into tax pact

The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, had an online bilateral meeting on 2 March 2026 with the Minister of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic, Mr Bakyt Tolomushevich Sydykov, and signed on behalf of the HKSARG a comprehensive avoidance of double taxation agreement (CDTA) with the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Mr Hui said, "As stated in the newly announced 2026-27 Budget, we will further expand our CDTA network. This CDTA with the Kyrgyz Republic is the 56th that Hong Kong has concluded, signifying the ongoing achievements of the HKSAR Government's continuous efforts. We will continue to actively seek to sign CDTAs with more tax jurisdictions to enhance the attractiveness of Hong Kong as a business and investment hub and consolidate the city's status as an international economic and trade centre."

At the meeting, Mr Hui presented to Mr Sydykov the advantages of Hong Kong as an international financial centre and its latest developments, including the efforts made to establish Hong Kong as a regional gold reserve hub.

Mr Hui added, "This CDTA sets out the allocation of taxing rights between Hong Kong and the Kyrgyz Republic, which will enable investors to better assess their potential tax liabilities from cross-border economic activities and avoid double taxation. This will create a more attractive business environment for promoting bilateral trade and investment."

In accordance with this CDTA, any tax paid by Hong Kong residents in the Kyrgyz Republic will be allowed as a credit against the tax payable in Hong Kong in respect of the same income in accordance with the provisions of the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap. 112) (IRO). In addition, if a Hong Kong company holds at least 20 per cent of the share capital of the dividend-paying company, the Kyrgyz Republic's withholding tax rate on such dividends, currently at up to 10 per cent, will be reduced to 5 per cent; while the maximum withholding tax rate on interest and royalties received by Hong Kong residents, currently at 10 per cent, will be reduced to 8 per cent.

This CDTA will come into force after completion of ratification procedures by both sides. In Hong Kong, the Chief Executive in Council will make an order under the IRO, which will be tabled at the Legislative Council for negative vetting. Details of the CDTA are available on the Inland Revenue Department website.

For relevant press release, please visit https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202603/02/P2026030200229.htm.

Online appointment for counter services for direct issue of Hong Kong Full Driving Licence to be fully implemented from 16 March 2026 

The Transport Department (TD) announced on 2 March 2026 that the full implementation of online appointment for counter services for applications for the direct issue of the Hong Kong Full Driving Licence ("direct issue") will be launched from 16 March 2026 with increased booking slots. Such counter services will also be extended to all four Licensing Offices to provide greater convenience to applicants and make better use of resources. The "Online Same-day Queue Ticket" arrangement will be cancelled on 16 March 2026.

From 16 March 2026, to ensure fair use of services by applicants in an orderly manner, all applicants must make an advance appointment for "direct issue" counter services via the designated online appointment booking system (ABS) (www.gov.hk/en/residents/transport/drivinglicense/diabs.htm) (open on 10 March 2026), and submit their applications at the designated Licensing Office according to the booked date and time. This will save queuing time and also improve crowd management. Applicants who have already secured an appointment for counter service via the ABS beforehand are not affected.

To allow applicants to make appointments for additional slots in an orderly manner, the TD will launch the enhanced ABS on 10 March 2026, and open new booking slots from 16 March to 10 April 2026 (four weeks in total) in batches from 10 to 13 March 2026.

Following the full implementation of online appointment for counter services, the 24-hour Appointment Booking Service at 3763 8080 will stop providing bookings for "direct issue" counter services concurrently.

For booking arrangements and other details, please refer to relevant press release https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202603/02/P2026030200004.htm.

Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme invites new round of applications (deadline: 31 May 2026)

The Main Programme under the Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme (PASS) is inviting a new round of applications for project proposals starting 1 March 2026 from non-profit-distributing organisations such as professional bodies, trade and industrial organisations and research institutes.

PASS, with a total allocation of $200 million, aims at funding non-profit-making industry-led projects to increase exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong's professional services and external counterparts, promote relevant publicity activities, and enhance the standards and external competitiveness of Hong Kong's professional services.

The maximum grant for each approved project under the Main Programme of PASS is $3 million or 90 per cent of the approved project cost, whichever is lower. A wide range of professional services, such as accounting, legal and dispute resolution, architecture, engineering, healthcare, information and communications technology, design and technical testing and analysis, are eligible for the Main Programme. Sector-specific projects and cross-sectoral projects are both welcome. Expenses directly incurred for implementing a project, such as manpower costs, venue and set-up costs, production and promotion costs, and the project team and active participants' travel and accommodation costs outside Hong Kong, are typically eligible for funding support under the Scheme. Funding support may also be provided for travel and accommodation costs incurred by participants of relatively longer professional internships or attachment programmes outside Hong Kong which are funded by the Main Programme.

Up to early February 2026, around 130 projects had been funded under the Main Programme, including project deliverables in and outside Hong Kong. The deliverables include capacity-building programmes for enhancing the standards of local professionals, such as training programmes, workshops and study tours; outreach and promotional activities for showcasing the strengths of Hong Kong's professional services, such as roadshows, promotional seminars and participation in exhibitions outside Hong Kong; exchange activities for deepening interaction between Hong Kong professionals and their external counterparts, such as visits to other economies and international conferences and seminars held in Hong Kong; and research projects on potential external markets for Hong Kong professional services and development of best practice guidelines and manuals for professionals. Details about the Main Programme and its funded projects are available at www.pass.gov.hk/main/en/home.

Furthermore, with a view to stepping up the promotion of Hong Kong's competitive edges and professional services to the Mainland and overseas markets, $50 million has been set aside for the Professionals Participation Subsidy Programme (PSP) under PASS to subsidise Hong Kong major professional bodies to participate in relevant activities organised by the Government (such as Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council after the pandemic situation has stabilised. Details of the PSP and its list of activities are available at www.pass.gov.hk/psp. Hong Kong professionals from the eligible professional sectors under PASS may make use of the PSP subsidy to join the relevant activities.

The Main Programme and the PSP receive applications for project and activity proposals all year round, and they are processed on a quarterly basis. The deadline for the new round of applications is 31 May 2026. A briefing session will be held in March 2026 for organisations interested in applying for the PASS funding. One-on-one consultations are also available upon request for discussing preliminary project ideas or projects in the planning stage. To register for the briefing session, schedule a consultation, or for other enquiries, please contact the PASS Secretariat at 3655 5418 or pass@cedb.gov.hk.

For relevant press release, please visit https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202603/01/P2026030100203.htm.

Determined to tackle issue of substandard subdivided units with Basic Housing Unit regime opens for registration

The current-term Government is determined to tackle the long-standing, big and difficult issue of substandard subdivided units (SDUs) in Hong Kong. The Basic Housing Unit (BHU) regime is rolled out starting from 1 March 2026 under the principle of "registration first, enforcement later" with 48-month transitional arrangements, aiming to eradicate substandard SDUs in an orderly manner and enhance the living conditions of grassroots tenants.

Under the Basic Housing Units Ordinance (Cap. 658), a new regime (i.e. the BHU regime) for the letting of SDUs in residential buildings is rolled out in phases starting from 1 March 2026. From 1 March 2026 onwards, the Dedicated Team on Subdivided Units of the Housing Bureau (HB) begins to accept applications for registration of pre-existing SDUs, as well as applications for BHU recognition of SDUs complying with minimum standards of living conditions. The 48-month transitional arrangements (i.e. until 28 February 2030) under the BHU regime allow reasonable time for SDU owners/operators to gradually adapt to the statutory requirements. Meanwhile, the criminal offence of illegal letting of SDUs with no registration and no recognition will only come into effect 12 months after the commencement of the Ordinance (i.e. 1 March 2027).

A Government spokesman stressed that with accumulation of the issue of substandard SDUs over the years, it had come to a critical point and there had been undisputed consensus in the community that grass-root SDU tenants should have a safe, hygienic and reasonable living environment. The Government has always accorded top priority to the well-being of SDU tenants and will implement the BHU regime in an orderly and steady manner, focusing on registration in the first year and commencing enforcement in the second year, instead of taking immediate enforcement action in one go. 

During the first year of the implementation of the new regime (i.e. from 1 March 2026 until 28 February 2027), the HB primarily motivates owners of pre-existing SDUs to submit their registration applications as soon as possible in order to obtain a 36-month grace period (i.e. from 1 March 2027 to 28 February 2030) for more time in arranging their tenancies and alteration works in a flexible and people-oriented manner. The application procedure for grace-period registration is simple and no application fee will be charged. Such 48-month arrangements of registration and grace-period provide owners/operators with reasonable time to carry out necessary alteration works and submit recognition applications. Pre-existing SDUs, regardless of whether they comply with the minimum standards of living conditions or not, are welcome to apply for registration for free to obtain the grace period.

Starting from the second year of the implementation of the new regime (i.e. upon the expiry of the registration period, from 1 March 2027, onwards), the HB will adopt a pragmatic, people-oriented and risk-based approach when taking enforcement actions in a reasonable, compassionate and orderly manner against illegal letting of SDUs with no registration and no recognition, so as to ensure that SDU households will not be displaced due to relevant enforcement actions.

Under the BHU regime, SDUs must comply with minimum standards of living conditions (i.e. a total of eight aspects on minimum area, minimum height, fire safety, structural safety, separate toilet, water supply requirements, lighting and ventilation, as well as separate water and electricity meters) and obtain BHU recognition before they can be legally let out for habitation in the future, so as to ensure a safe, hygienic and reasonable living environment. In this connection, the HB has issued the Code of Practice on the Minimum Standards of Living Conditions for Basic Housing Units, which sets out in detail how SDUs can comply with the various requirements of minimum standards to obtain BHU recognition, thereby providing clear guidance for owners/operators and the industry practitioners. To encourage SDU owners/operators to submit registration and recognition applications as early as possible, the Government provides "early-bird" reduction/waiver on application fees for recognition, i.e. no application fee will be charged for SDUs with early registration/application.

The relevant application forms of registration and recognition, application guide, Code of Practice, etc, have been uploaded to the BHU thematic website (www.bhu.gov.hk/eng). Owners/operators may submit their duly completed registration/recognition application forms to the Dedicated Team through the following methods: (a) by post to the Dedicated Team on Subdivided Units of the HB, P.O. Box 90888, Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office; (b) by depositing into the drop-in box located at the office of the Dedicated Team (address: 30/F, Revenue Tower, 5 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong) during office hours (from 9am to 6pm, Mondays to Fridays, except public holidays); or (c) if the applicant has registered for "iAM Smart+", he/she may opt to complete, sign and submit the electronic application form and relevant documents at the BHU thematic website.

For enquiries, please call 3611 0248, send email to bhu@hb.gov.hk, mail to the Dedicated Team on Subdivided Units of the HB, P.O. Box 90888, Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office, or visit the office of the Dedicated Team (address: 30/F, Revenue Tower, 5 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong) in person during office hours (from 9am to 6pm, Mondays to Fridays, except public holidays).

For specific arrangements on reduction/waiver of application fees for recognition during the first three years of the roll-out of the BHU regime and other details, please refer to the BHU thematic website and relevant press release https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202603/01/P2026022800505.htm.

Immigration Department relaxes eligibility criteria for enrolment of e-Channel service for frequent visitors and simplifies enrolment procedure

The Immigration Department (ImmD) has, with effect from 27 February 2026, relaxed the eligibility criteria for the self-service immigration clearance (e-Channel) service for frequent visitors and simplified the enrolment procedure for the e-Channel service to further facilitate visitors and enhance clearance efficiency.

Under the new arrangement, frequent visitors, including those holding valid travel documents and multiple visit visas, who have visited Hong Kong via Hong Kong International Airport two or more times in the past 24 months and who meet the relevant criteria, may enrol for the e-Channel service free of charge. This enables them to perform self-service immigration clearance at all control points in Hong Kong using the e-Channel and enjoy a more convenient and efficient travel experience.

In addition, the enrolment procedure for the e-Channel services has been simplified. When registering at designated enrolment offices, eligible visitors holding valid electronic travel documents are only required to present their valid travel document used for entry, have their photo taken and sign a consent form. Fingerprint collection is no longer required. The enrolment procedure for visitors holding non-electronic travel documents remains unchanged.
 
To perform arrival clearance, a newly enrolled visitor should place their travel document on the document reader of the e-Channel. Upon entering the e-Channel, visitors using electronic travel documents should look at the camera for facial recognition, while those using non-electronic travel documents should place their enrolled finger flat on the fingerprint scanner for fingerprint verification. Upon successful identity verification and completion of arrival clearance, a landing slip will be issued. The procedure for departure clearance is similar, except that no landing slip will be issued.
 
For details on the locations and opening hours of the enrolment offices and the e-Channel service for visitors, please visit the ImmD website (www.immd.gov.hk/eng/services/echannel_visitors.html). For enquiries, please contact the ImmD by calling the enquiry hotline (2824 6111), by fax (2877 7711) or by email (enquiry@immd.gov.hk).

For relevant press release, please visit https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/26/P2026022600617.htm.

Pesticides Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 2) Notice 2026 gazetted

The Government published the Pesticides Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 2) Notice 2026 (the Notice) in the Gazette on 20 February 2026 and tabled it at the Legislative Council (LegCo) on 25 February 2026. The Notice aims to amend Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the Pesticides Ordinance (Cap. 133), listing two types of pesticides called carbosulfan and fenthion (ultra-low-volume formulations at or above 640 grams of active ingredient per litre) respectively, in order to give effect to the amendment to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade in 2025 (the amendment) to list these two pesticides in its Annex III. The amendment to the Pesticides Ordinance will tighten the regulatory regime regarding these two pesticides, thereby safeguarding public health and protecting the environment. 

A spokesman for the Environment and Ecology Bureau said, "Carbosulfan and fenthion (ultra-low-volume formulations at or above 640g active ingredient per litre) are already regulated by pesticide permit conditions under the Pesticides Ordinance. Any person who imports, manufactures, sells, supplies, is in possession of or uses, etc, such pesticides must hold a valid permit. After carbosulfan and fenthion (ultra-low-volume formulations at or above 640g active ingredient per litre) are listed in Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the Pesticides Ordinance, their exports will be further restricted." 

The Convention is an international treaty for safeguarding human health and protecting the environment. The Convention, which implements a prior informed consent procedure in the international trade of specified hazardous chemicals, aims to promote shared responsibility and co-operative efforts among parties to the Convention, with a view to protecting human health and avoiding potential harm to the environment caused by such chemicals. The treaty entered into force in the People's Republic of China in 2005 and has been applicable to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region since 2008. The amendment entered into force for all Convention parties, including the People's Republic of China, on 22 October 2025.

The Notice stipulated that the amendment to the Pesticides Ordinance will enter into force in Hong Kong on 17 April 2026. Any person who exports, imports, manufactures, sells, supplies, possesses or uses, etc, carbosulfan and fenthion (ultra-low-volume formulations at or above 640g active ingredient per litre) without holding a pesticide permit commits an offence. Offenders will be liable to a fine at level 5 ($50,000) and imprisonment for one year upon conviction.

For relevant press release, please visit https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/20/P2026021600266.htm.

 

 

Topical Issues

GDETO Newsletter

The latest issue of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong (GDETO) Newsletter has been published.

More Details (in Chinese only)

Commercial Information Circulars (CICs) of the Mainland

The TID issued a number of Commercial Information Circulars (CICs) on the Mainland's trade and economic rules and regulations.  The latest CICs have been published. 

More Details