Expanding scope of regulated mercury-added products under Mercury Control Ordinance
The Government will gazette the Mercury Control Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 3) Notice 2025 on May 30 and table it before the Legislative Council on June 4 to include a number of mercury-added products newly regulated by international convention under the Mercury Control Ordinance (Cap. 640) (the Ordinance) to reduce the risk of the public's exposure to these mercury-added products, so as to safeguard public health and protect the environment.
A spokesman for the Environment and Ecology Bureau said today (May 28) that the newly regulated mercury-added products will be listed in Schedule 3 to the Ordinance, including some electronic/electrical/lighting products and cosmetics. For details, please refer to the Annex. The amendments related to the first eight mercury-added products will take effect from December 31, 2025. The effective date(s) of the amendments related to the other eight mercury-added products will be announced separately after the relevant international convention becomes applicable to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).
In terms of enforcement, once the amendments to the Ordinance come into effect, the manufacture, import, export and supply of the relevant regulated mercury-added products will be prohibited. Anyone who contravenes the above regulations commits an offence and, upon conviction, is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for one year. The Government has set a grace period (until January 2029) for the supply of newly regulated mercury-added products to help the public adapt. After the specified deadline (i.e. after January 2029), if anyone continues to supply the relevant regulated mercury-added products, the authorities will initiate prosecution after collecting sufficient evidence and will also include the above implementation arrangements in the relevant guidelines.
The spokesman said, "Bringing these mercury-added products under the regulation of the Ordinance can safeguard public health and protect the environment. It will at the same time enable the HKSAR to implement the amendments made to the Minamata Convention on Mercury to phase out mercury-added products."
The Convention is an international convention aimed at protecting human health and the environment from the harmful effects caused by the anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds. At the fourth and fifth meetings of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention in 2022 and 2023, the Parties agreed to phase out 16 mercury-added products progressively between 2025 and 2027, taking into account the availability of mercury-free substitutes.
Appointment of non-official members to ICAC-related committees announced
The Government announced today (January 1) that the Chief Executive has made appointments and reappointments to the four Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) advisory committees, namely the Advisory Committee on Corruption (ACOC), the Operations Review Committee (ORC), the Corruption Prevention Advisory Committee (CPAC) and the Citizens Advisory Committee on Community Relations (CACCR), and to the ICAC Complaints Committee (ICC). All of the appointments and reappointments are for a term of two years with effect from January 1, 2026.
ACOC
The Chief Executive has reappointed Mr Bernard Charnwut Chan (in his capacity as the Chairman of the ORC), Professor Simon Ho Shun-man (in his capacity as the Chairman of the CACCR), Dr Kelvin Wong Tin-yau (in his capacity as the Chairman of the CPAC) and Mr Victor Lam Hoi-cheung as members of the ACOC. Ms Mary Huen Wai-yi and Mr David Liao Yi-chien have been newly appointed to the Committee as members.
Ms Huen is the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of a bank. She is the Chairperson of the Hong Kong Association of Banks. She is also a member of the Banking Advisory Committee of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the Hospital Authority and the Human Resources Planning Commission.
Mr Liao is the Co-Chief Executive of a bank. He is also a member of the Advisory Committee on Attracting Strategic Enterprises, the Advisory Committee on the Northern Metropolis and the Exchange Fund Advisory Committee.
The ACOC advises the Commissioner of the ICAC on any aspects of the problem of corruption in Hong Kong, and keeps the operational, staffing and administrative policies of the ICAC under review.
ORC
The Chief Executive has reappointed Mr Bernard Charnwut Chan as the Chairman of the ORC. Ms Clara Chan Yuen-shan, Mr Felix Li Kwok-hing and Ms Vivien Lau Man-yee have been reappointed to the Committee as members. Ms Kuok Hui-kwong has been newly appointed to the Committee as a member.
Ms Kuok is the Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of a hotel group. She is also a member of the Appeal Board on Public Meetings and Processions and the Security and Guarding Services Industry Authority.
The ORC oversees all ICAC investigations and corruption complaints received to ensure that they are handled effectively and efficiently. It also examines circumstances where search warrants are authorised by the Commissioner, where persons have been put on bail for more than six months, and where investigations have been lasting for over a year or require substantial resources.
CPAC
The Chief Executive has reappointed Dr Kelvin Wong Tin-yau as the Chairman of the CPAC. Ms Carrie Lau Ka-wai and Mr Rex Mok Chung-fai have been reappointed to the Committee as members. Mr Donald Choi Wun-hing has been appointed as a new member of the Committee.
Mr Choi is the Managing Director of the Urban Renewal Authority. He is also a member of the Antiquities Advisory Board.
The CPAC receives and calls for reports from the ICAC about practices and procedures of government departments, public bodies and the private sector which may be conducive to corruption. It also advises the Commissioner on what areas should be examined and the degree of priority to be accorded to each.
CACCR
The Chief Executive has reappointed Professor Simon Ho Shun-man as the Chairman of the CACCR. Miss Pinky Lau Pik-yiu, Dr James Wong Kong-tin, Miss Jenny Yung Ching-yi and Ms Cally Kwong Mei-wan have been reappointed as members of the CACCR. Dr Kalwan Kwan Ming-tak has been appointed as a new member of the Committee.
Dr Kwan is the Honorary Lecturer of the Department of Sociology of the University of Hong Kong.
The CACCR advises the Commissioner on appropriate measures to foster public support in combating corruption and to educate the public against the evils of corruption. It also monitors community response to the ICAC's work and public attitudes towards corruption in general.
ICC
The Chief Executive has reappointed Executive Council Member Dr Lam Ching-choi as the Chairman of the ICC. Legislative Council (LegCo) Member Miss Grace Chan man-yee and Mr Lau Chun-hung have been reappointed as members of the ICC. LegCo Members Mr Chan Hok-fung and Ms Judy Chan Kapui, and Ms Irene Chow Man-ling have been appointed as new members of the ICC.
Mr Chan works in the banking industry. He is also a Non-executive Director of the Urban Renewal Authority.
Ms Chan is a full-time LegCo Member. She is also a member of the Fisheries Development Loan Fund Advisory Committee and the Hong Kong Housing Authority.
Ms Chow is the Executive Director of an investment company. She is also a member of the Airport Authority and the Standing Commission on Civil Service Salaries and Conditions of Service.
The ICC monitors the handling of non-criminal complaints against the ICAC, reviews the ICAC procedures and practices which may lead to complaints, and makes recommendations when necessary.
The Government extends its sincere appreciation to all outgoing members whose terms of office expired after December 31, 2025. Their valuable contributions to the work of the respective committees are greatly appreciated.
The updated non-official membership lists of the four ICAC advisory committees and the ICC are in the Annex.
