Hong Kong's Environment Secretary Discusses Energy Strategies at APEC Meeting in Busan

2025-08-28 18:40 Last Updated At：18:48

SEE continues to attend APEC Energy Ministerial Meeting in Korea

The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, continued to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Energy Ministerial Meeting (EMM) held in Busan, Korea, today (August 28).

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SEE continues to attend APEC Energy Ministerial Meeting in Korea Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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SEE continues to attend APEC Energy Ministerial Meeting in Korea Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The discussion of the first thematic session of the meeting focused on expanding the energy mix. Mr Tse said in the meeting that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has been stabilising energy prices and supply by measures such as regulating the electricity market, increasing the use of clean energy and strengthening regional co-operation. Related to these measures, Hong Kong's first offshore liquefied natural gas receiving terminal commenced operation in 2023, which enables Hong Kong to procure natural gas at more competitive prices. Mr Tse stated that Hong Kong will continue to strengthen regional co-operation and explore ways to import more zero-carbon energy in line with the city's sustainable development.

In the second thematic session on strengthening grid resilience, Mr Tse said that to cope with increasing impacts brought by inclement weather caused by climate change, Hong Kong's power companies have been adopting advanced technologies, such as AI-driven monitoring systems of critical power facilities and forecasting models on flooding projections to strengthen the grid's resilience. He also shared the progress of fully covering Hong Kong with the Smart Metering System and how users can achieve energy conservation and convenient maintenance using the system.

In the afternoon, Mr Tse attended the third thematic session and shared Hong Kong's experiences in using AI technologies. He cited the example of the AI agent Engentica, launched this year in the building electrical and mechanical industry, which can optimise and adjust chillers through live weather data, automatically diagnose faults, and predict maintenance needs, thereby enhancing the operational efficiency and reliability of infrastructures. Mr Tse expressed his hope to continue collaborating with APEC member economies on AI projects to jointly drive AI development.

During the EMM today, Mr Tse met with the Administrator of the National Energy Administration, Mr Wang Hongzhi, to discuss ways to strengthen regional co-operation and share the HKSAR's progress towards achieving the targets of net-zero electricity generation and carbon neutrality. Mr Tse also had bilateral meetings with representatives from Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia to exchange views on energy issues.

Mr Tse will meet with representatives of an energy company and visit a hydrogen energy facility tomorrow (August 29) to learn about the latest developments in hydrogen technology in Korea.

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.

Hong Kong's Environment Secretary Discusses Energy Strategies at APEC Meeting in Busan

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