John Lee Tours Housing Projects, Engages Public Ahead of 2025 Policy Address in Kwun Tong District

2025-08-23 13:30 Last Updated At：18:13

CE visits Kwun Tong District to gather public views on Policy Address (with photos/video)

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, visited Kwun Tong District today (August 23) to tour the Choi Hing Road Light Public Housing project (Choi Hing Road project), Lower Ngau Tau Kok Estate and the East Kowloon Cultural Centre (EKCC) and listen to the views of members of the public on the upcoming Policy Address.

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CE visits Kwun Tong District to gather public views on Policy Address Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Source: AI-found images

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CE visits Kwun Tong District to gather public views on Policy Address Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Source: AI-found images

The Secretary for Housing, Ms ‍Winnie Ho; the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun; the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law; the Permanent Secretary for Housing/Director of Housing, Miss Charmaine Lee; the Director of Home Affairs, Ms Priscilla To; the Director of Social Welfare, Mr Edward To; and the Acting Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Miss Eve Tam, also joined relevant parts of the visit.

Mr Lee and the officials, accompanied by the District Officer (Kwun Tong), Mr Denny Ho, first visited the Choi Hing Road project to learn about its operation and intake progress. He visited a household that had already moved in and listened to their sharing about life changes before and after relocation. He also toured a new home with a household that had just completed the intake procedures. Additionally, he inspected the project facilities to learn about the application of technology in property management and the nearby transport facilities. He also visited the weekend bazaar booths, interacting with residents and listening to their views on government policies.

Mr Lee said that housing is the top priority of the current-term Government, which is expediting the speed and efficiency of increasing the public housing supply and has innovatively introduced Light Public Housing (LPH). He pointed out that LPH adopts a Modular Integrated Construction approach for expeditious building. Construction works of all the 13 projects have gradually commenced, with the first two projects at Yau Pok Road and Choi Hing Road having commenced intake. The first phase of the 18-storey, elevator-equipped Choi Hing Road project was completed in less than one and a half years, breaking the record for rapid construction of high-rise buildings in Hong Kong. He was pleased to learn that the residents reflected a significant improvement in their living environment compared to subdivided flats, and he looks forward to the completion of more projects so that more members of the public with urgent housing needs could be allocated to adequate housing as soon as possible to improve their quality of life.

Mr Lee and the officials then arrived at Lower Ngau Tau Kok Estate. Accompanied by representatives from the District Services and Community Care Team (Care Team) (Kwun Tong) and Kwun Tong District Council members, he visited service booths set up by the Care Teams in the Estate to learn about the health checks, free Chinese medicine consultations, and anti-mosquito campaign services offered to residents. During the visit, Mr Lee interacted with members of the public on-site and listened to their views.

Mr Lee and the officials then visited the EKCC to inspect its facilities and learn about its efforts in promoting long-running performances and arts technology. He highlighted that the EKCC is a new and world-class major performance venue, expected to be in full operation by the end of this year. It will foster the curation of more signature performing arts programmes, promoting the industrialisation and integration of cultural tourism development, and establishing Hong Kong as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchanges.

Mr Lee remarked that he attaches importance to various policy areas such as housing, people's livelihoods, and culture. He could better understand the needs and expectations of members of the public through direct engagement, which inspired him during the preparation for the Policy Address. He and his team will continue to visit different districts to listen to and consider opinions from various sectors of society, work tirelessly to pursue development and economic growth, and improve people's livelihood.

The public consultation exercise for the 2025 Policy Address was launched in mid-June. Mr Lee appealed to members of the public to actively give their views on issues of their interest to the Government.

Six illegal workers and an employer arrested in Hong Kong's anti-illegal worker operation Contribute.

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.

John Lee Tours Housing Projects, Engages Public Ahead of 2025 Policy Address in Kwun Tong District