GREEN$ ePIS to Go Fully Digital by April 2026, Expanding Gift Redemption Options for Users

GREEN$ Electronic Participation Incentive Scheme to be fully digitalised

The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) announced today (July 25) that, along with technological advancements, the GREEN$ Electronic Participation Incentive Scheme (GREEN$ ePIS) will be fully digitised on April 1, 2026. The digitalisation will enhance the connections of GREEN$ ePIS with more reward platforms and gift redemption locations in the market. Members of the public will no longer be required to visit GREEN@COMMUNITY to redeem a limited selection of around 10 types of gifts. Instead, they can redeem their favourite or required gifts at more than 500 supermarkets and retail stores, as well as free MTR tickets and local ecotours, through the GREEN$ mobile app.

The EPD spokesperson said, "Among the approximately 1.06 million current users of GREEN$ ePIS, about 920 000 users (i.e. 87 per cent), are already using the mobile app, allowing them to transition seamlessly to full digitisation. To encourage physical card users to switch to the GREEN$ mobile app promptly and enjoy the benefits of digitalisation, the EPD will launch a summer promotion to offer an extra 50 GREEN$ points to those who return their physical cards and switch to the use of the GREEN$ mobile app during the period from August 1 to September 30, 2025."

All the facilities of GREEN@COMMUNITY will post notices to inform the public of the arrangements. The public will have time to adapt and transition to the new arrangements, with physical gifts remaining available for redemption at GREEN@COMMUNITY until the first quarter of 2026. Physical cards will cease operation on April 1, 2026. Staff of GREEN@COMMUNITY will assist the public in installing the GREEN$ mobile app, and demonstrate how to use the e-point redemption feature. For the few people without smartphones, their existing physical cards will not be cancelled. They can register their cards at designated facilities of GREEN@COMMUNITY and continue to use the GREEN$ points in the physical cards for redeeming gifts.

Time-saving and convenient with more choices

The five most popular gifts at GREEN@COMMUNITY in the past years have been daily necessities including rice, cooking oil, toilet paper, and soy milk (see Annex for details). These popular items can all be redeemed using GREEN$ points after being converted into MoneyBack points at over 500 supermarkets and retail stores across the city. The GREEN$ mobile app also allows users to redeem points from the MTR's carbon emission reduction reward platform Carbon Walletfor free MTR tickets and local ecotours.

Members of the public can continue to donate GREEN$ points to charitable organisations after the full digitisation. The EPD will follow up with the concerned charitable organisations on the arrangements for redemption of e-rewards following the digitisation.

The e-reward redemption option has been well received by the public since its launch. Following the introduction of the MoneyBack redemption function in December 2024, the monthly GREEN$ points used to redeem MoneyBack points have grown over two times from 7 million points last December to 24 million points in May this year, with about 28 000 users enjoying the MoneyBack point conversion feature (see Annex for details).

As the e-reward redemption option is currently in its initial trial phase, a redemption limit (3,000 points per account each month) is set to allow more users to try out the new e-reward redemption option. The EPD is planning to introduce more e-reward platforms for point conversions within this year to provide the public with more choices, and the current monthly redemption limit will be lifted progressively.

The service contracts for Carbon Wallet and MoneyBack were awarded through open tender processes. Service providers participating in the bidding submitted quotations based on their respective costs and other commercial considerations. The service contracts encompass the provision of e-points for conversion and other related services (including promotions, technical support for reward platforms and customer service etc).

Smart city, smart recycling

With years of efforts by the EPD and support from the public, GREEN$ ePIS has gradually evolved from an incentive scheme into a platform that facilitates collaborative efforts from various sectors of society to promote green waste reduction and a recycling culture. It has successfully mobilised the public to participate in waste separation, recycling as well as fostering recycling habits, driving the quantity of recyclables collected by GREEN@COMMUNITY at the same time. In 2024, about 41 800 tonnes of recyclables (excluding food waste) were collected at GREEN@COMMUNITY, an increase by nearly 60 per cent compared to 2023, while in the first half of 2025, about 22 700 tonnes (excluding food waste) were collected, representing a further increase of about 20 per cent compared to the same period last year. (see Annex for details)

The spokesperson said, "Through relentless efforts, the current-term Government has successfully reversed the long-standing trend of increasing waste volume and declining recycling rates in Hong Kong. The GREEN$ mobile app was also awarded the Google Play Hong Kong 'Best App for Good' award in 2024. We look forward to collaborating with all individuals and organisations supporting waste reduction and recycling to further promote GREEN$ ePIS, working together to further enhance Hong Kong's culture of green waste reduction and recycling."

GREEN$ Electronic Participation Incentive Scheme to be fully digitalised Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

GREEN$ Electronic Participation Incentive Scheme to be fully digitalised Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation

The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted an anti-illegal worker operation codenamed "Contribute" today (January 15).During the operation, ImmD Task Force officers raided premises under renovation in a newly built public housing estate in Sheung Shui district.A total of six suspected illegal workers and one suspected employer were arrested. Thearrested suspected illegal workers comprise six men, aged 22 to 41. Furthermore, one man, aged 45, suspected of employing the illegal workers, was also arrested. An investigation into the suspected employers is ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.

Apart from mounting the enforcement operation, ImmD officers and a promotional vehicle have been deployed to distribute "Don't Employ Illegal Workers" leaflets and convey the message in the estate.

An ImmD spokesman said, "Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties."

The spokesman stressed that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years' imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years' imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.

According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee's identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.

Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) and/or forced labour victims. When any TIP and/or forced labour indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP and/or forced labour elements. Identified TIP and/or forced labour victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP and/or forced labour victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.

For reporting illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 3861 5000, by fax at 2824 1166, email to anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit "Online Reporting of Immigration Offences" form at www.immd.gov.hk.

Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases