The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, had a bilateral meeting with the Ambassador of Norway to China, Mr Vebjørn Dysvik, in Beijing today (December 16) and signed on behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government a comprehensive avoidance of double taxation agreement (CDTA) with the Government of the Kingdom of Norway.      Mr Hui said, "Norway is an important trading partner of Hong Kong in Northern Europe. This

Hong Kong Customs mounted enforcement operations to combat illicit cigarette smuggling activities involving air passengers and shut down related illicit cigarette storage centres between September and December, successfully neutralising a transnational syndicate that smuggled illicit cigarettes through air passengers. A total of about 11.64 million illicit cigarettes and 1.4 million alternative smoking products were seized, with an estimated market value of about $56.5 millio

​The General Assembly of the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT), at its 85th session, decided on the establishment of the UNIDROIT Asia-Pacific Liaison Office in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People's Republic of China. The Office is expected to open at the Hong Kong Legal Hub in the second half of 2026, as part of UNIDROIT's centenary celebration next year.       The proposal for the establishment of the Office

The Government today (December 9) launched a public consultation on the implementation of the Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF) and amendments in relation to the Common Reporting Standard (CRS) promulgated by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Hong Kong.      Hong Kong has long been supportive of international efforts to enhance tax transparency and combat cross-border tax evasion. Since 2018, Hong Kong has been exchanging financial acc

The Labour Department (LD) today (December 3) announced the imposition of an administrative sanction on Ying Garden O/B Cheer Power Holdings Limited. With effect from December 1, 2025, the approvals-in-principle for importing workers granted to the company under the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme (ESLS) have been withdrawn, and any applications for importing workers submitted by the company will not be processed for a period of two years.      "The LD earlier received a

Hong Kong Customs detected a suspected smuggling case involving an ocean-going vessel on November 19. A large batch of suspected smuggled goods with an estimated market value of about $195 million was seized.      Through intelligence analysis and risk assessment, Customs discovered that criminals intended to use an ocean-going vessel to smuggle goods, and thereby formulated enforcement actions. A suspicious container scheduled to depart from Hong Kong to Indonesia via an oce

A money service operator license holder was convicted by the Eastern Magistrates' Courts on November 4 for failing to comply with customer due diligence and record-keeping requirements, and providing false or misleading documents to Customs officers under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (Ordinance). The company was fined a total of $328,000, the highest fine on record among similar cases.      During a compliance inspection in March last ye

The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a series of territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations codenamed "Blockade" and "Twilight", a joint operation with the Labour Department codenamed "Rainbow" and joint operations with the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed "Champion" from November 14 to yesterday (November 20). A total of 33 suspected illegal workers, 10 suspected employers and two overstayers were arrested.      During operation "Blockade", ImmD investigators discove

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:      The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public in Hong Kong that Blackridge Partners Ltd/Blackridge Partners Limited as referred to on the website ( https://blackridgepartnersltd.com ) does not have the authorization of the Monetary Authority (MA) under the Banking Ordinance (the Ordinance) to carry on banking business, or the business of taking deposits, in Hong Kong; a

Hong Kong Customs will set up a booth at the JMA Hong Kong International Jewelry Show (JMA), to be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), from tomorrow (November 27) for four consecutive days to publicise the Dealers in Precious Metals and Stones Regulatory Regime and will provide on-site counter services to assist non-Hong Kong dealers in submitting cash transaction reports during their participation in the exhibition.      According to the Anti-Mone