Government announces quarterly land sale programme for October to December 2025
The Government announced today (October 9) the quarterly land sale programme for the third quarter of 2025-26, i.e. October to December 2025.
The Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, said in the third quarter of 2025-26, the Government will put up for tender a residential site at Choi Hing Road, Jordan Valley, Kowloon. The site is able to provide around 570 flats. It is selected from the Annual Land Sale List announced in February this year and is situated in a mature urban neighbourhood at New Clear Water Bay Road with comprehensive surrounding facilities and a traffic network. The site is originally zoned as "Government, Institution or Community". The Government is now rezoning the site for "Residential" use and expects the procedures to be completed within the quarter.
The Government will require the developer of the site to set aside part of its floor area for social welfare facilities. Separately, the relaxation of the gross floor area (GFA) exemption arrangement for car parks in private developments, as announced by the Chief Executive in his 2025 Policy Address, will be applicable to this residential site. The developer is not required to construct underground car parks to enjoy full GFA exemption for no more than two storeys of above ground car parks. The measure would help lower construction costs and shorten construction time.
Apart from government land sale, residential land supply this quarter also includes Tuen Mun Area 16 Station Package One property development project that was recently put up for tender by the MTR Corporation, capable of providing around 1 280 flats. As for private development and redevelopment projects, eight projects are expected to complete the land administration procedures in the third quarter, providing a total supply of around 4 570 flats, representing a relatively high level in recent years for two consecutive quarters. It also reflects that developers are recently more active in premium negotiations with the Government. Out of the eight projects, two projects are larger in scale and located in an area of high development potential in the Northern Metropolis, including a land exchange case at Hung Shui Kiu Area 19B in the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area under the "Enhanced Conventional New Town Approach" earlier announced by the Development Bureau, providing around 1 900 flats; and another case situating in Sheung Shui, providing over 2 500 flats. The project details will be announced by the Lands Department after the completion of procedures.
"Taking all sources of land supply into account, the total private housing land supply in the third quarter of this financial year would support the development of around 6 420 units. Together with the supply from the first two quarters, the total private housing land supply of the first three quarters of this financial year is expected to support some 12 430 units, which is around 94 per cent and is very close to our annual target of private housing supply (13 200units). This figure has not yet reflected projects not requiring lease modification from the third quarter, as such figures are only available at a later stage. We are pleased to see the good progress in supply and the rather active performance of private development projects this year. The Government will continue to carefully plan for projects to be rolled out in the next quarter, taking into account the demand and supply situation of the private market," Ms Linn said.
The Government will continue to sustain its effort in rolling out land in a prudent and pragmatic manner and will flexibly adjust its land disposal strategy according to market situation, in order to meet the development needs of society.
The list of the sites to be tendered in October to December 2025 is in the Annex. The actual tender timetable will be drawn up taking into account the progress of necessary preparatory work. The Lands Department will announce the detailed land sale arrangements before individual sites are put up for tender.
Source: AI-found images
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
