Government Announces Legal Notices for eMPF Platform Onboarding of Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes

Gazettal of legal notices for onboarding of Mandatory Provident Fund schemes to eMPF Platform

To prepare for the onboarding of Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) schemes to the eMPF Platform, the Government published in the Gazette today (April 25) the following legal notices:

(i) the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes (Specification of Dates for Purposes of Section 19M(2)(a)) (Amendment) (No. 3) Notice 2025 (Mandatory Use (Amendment) (No. 3) Notice 2025); and

(ii) the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes (Appointment of Dates for Purposes of Section 19U(4)) (Amendment) (No. 3) Notice 2025, the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes (Appointment of Dates for Purposes of Section 19Y(3)) (Amendment) (No. 3) Notice 2025, and the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes (Appointment of Dates for Purposes of Section 19Z(4)) (Amendment) (No. 3) Notice 2025 (collectively Fee Control (Amendment) (No. 3) Notices 2025).

The Mandatory Use (Amendment) (No. 3) Notice 2025 specifies July 3, 2025, as "material day" for AMTD MPF Scheme, BCT Strategic MPF Scheme, and Manulife RetireChoice (MPF) Scheme administered by the Bank Consortium Trust Company Limited (BCT), such that BCT is mandated to use the eMPF Platform to perform scheme administration functions in relation to these MPF schemes. On cost savings and fee-setting of MPF schemes to be charged by MPF trustees on scheme members, the Fee Control (Amendment) (No. 3) Notices 2025 appoint October 3, 2025, as "material day" for the constituent funds of the three MPF schemes mentioned above, such that BCT is mandated to make corresponding reduction in its fees charged on scheme members in relation to the constituent funds of these MPF schemes.

Relevant legal notices for the remaining MPF schemes will be published in the Gazette when the respective onboarding dates are ascertained having regard to the onboarding preparation status of the MPF trustees concerned.

If scheme members/employers have any question regarding the detailed operation of the eMPF Platform, they may visit the Platform's official website (empf.org.hk), or call the Platform's customer service hotline (183 2622). Scheme members/employers may also visit the three eMPF service centres located on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon and the New Territories.

The aforementioned legal notices will be tabled at the Legislative Council for negative vetting on April 30, 2025.

Hong Kong Customs detects two drug trafficking cases at airport

Hong Kong Customs detected two drug trafficking cases involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (January 11) and seized a total of about 11.5 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $2.3 million.

The first case involved a 39-year-old non-local male passenger arriving in Hong Kong from Ko Samui, Thailand, yesterday. During customs clearance, about 5.5kg of suspected cannabis buds were found inside his check-in suitcase. The man was subsequently arrested.

The second case involved another non-local male passenger, aged 37, who also arrived in Hong Kong from Ko Samui, Thailand, yesterday. During customs clearance, about 6kg of suspected cannabis buds were found inside his check-in suitcase. He was subsequently arrested.

The arrested persons have each been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. The cases will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Court tomorrow (January 13).

Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.

Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Hong Kong Customs detects two drug trafficking cases at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects two drug trafficking cases at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases