Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Office to set up booth at Entrepreneur Day to introduce Greater Bay Area opportunities and youth start-up support
The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Office (the Office), under the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau, will set up a booth at the Entrepreneur Day exhibition at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on December 4 and 5 to introduce entrepreneurial opportunities arising from the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), and the various support services available.
A spokesman for the Office said today (December 3) that the GBA, as one of the most open and economically vibrant regions of the country, plays a key strategic role in the overall national development. The GBA has a population of over 87 million, and its total economic output exceeded RMB14.5 trillion last year. The development of the GBA is full of vitality and opportunities. The Office has been committed to promoting the significant opportunities brought about by the development of the GBA to local, Mainland, and overseas stakeholders through diversified channels and means. By setting up a booth at the Entrepreneur Day exhibition, the Office aims to provide aspiring entrepreneurs, including young people who wish to start businesses in the Mainland cities of the GBA, with practical information on relevant policies and support measures.
The booth to be set up by the Office at the exhibition will feature rich content, providing comprehensive information ranging from policy overviews to practical support services. This will help participants grasp the opportunities of the GBA's development and create greater room for business and career development. There will also be limited-edition souvenirs distributed while stocks last.
The Office booth will be located at Hall 1E (Booth 1E - F02) and will be open from 9am to 6.30pm on December 4 and from 9am to 6pm on December 5. Admission to the exhibition is free. Interested participants may preregister on the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC)'s website (www.hktdc.com/event/eday/en).
The Entrepreneur Day exhibition is organised by the HKTDC, and is designed to foster entrepreneurship and offer support to start-ups through abundant opportunities and customised support services. Participants can connect with fellow entrepreneurs and investors, forge partnerships, engage with industry leaders and expedite their business growth.
For further information about the GBA, please visit the Office's one-stop dedicated website (www.bayarea.gov.hk/en).
Photo source: the official website of HKTDC
Re-launch of Reporting Scheme for Unauthorised Building Works in New Territories Exempted Houses
Following the direction of earlier proposals, the Buildings Department (BD) announced today (April 1) the re-launch of the Reporting Scheme for Unauthorised Building Works (UBWs) in New Territories Exempted Houses (NTEHs). The reporting period will last for one year from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027.
"In view of the history and unique circumstances of the NTEHs (commonly known as village houses), the Government launched a one-off administrative reporting scheme in 2012 as a special arrangement. Under the scheme, owners could report to the BD about UBWs that were erected before June 28, 2011, posed lower risks or constituted less serious contravention of the law. The reporting period ended in December 2012. The Development Bureau (DEVB) put forward proposals to amend the Buildings Ordinance in December 2024, which included rationalising the policy for handling UBWs. The DEVB also pointed out that in response to the views of villagers and Legislative Council members that the reporting period was too short, the Government prepared to re-launch the Reporting Scheme to allow owners who at that time did not report their UBWs to do so," a spokesman for the BD said.
Relevant stakeholders and Legislative Council members generally considered the above proposals practical and feasible, and they welcomed the proposals. The DEVB and the BD have also consulted Heung Yee Kuk on the relevant implementation arrangements.
The re-launched Reporting Scheme will maintain the original criteria, including:
(1) The types of UBWs that can be reported and their erection dates are the same as the original Reporting Scheme, meaning that only UBWs erected before June 28, 2011, posed lower risks or constituted less serious contravention of the law and were not the First Round Targets (Note) are eligible. Examples include signboards projecting from the external walls of village houses; enclosed rooftop structures with a coverage of not more than 50 per cent of the roofed-over area of the main building.
(2) Same as the original Reporting Scheme, owners are required to conduct safety inspections on the reported UBWs every five years.
"The BD will not require the immediate removal of the reported UBWs unless their structures become obviously dangerous. Regarding UBWs in village houses, the BD is prioritising the handling of First Round Targets. If any relevant UBWs remain not reported after the application deadline of March 31, 2027, the BD will, after dealing with the First Round Targets, take priority enforcement action against the non-reported UBWs. The BD will formulate enforcement strategy for the reported UBWs at a later stage in accordance with the risks and the actual situation," the spokesman added.
To enhance the efficiency of processing applications, reports must be submitted via the electronic platform on the BD's website by technically competent persons or registered professional engineers appointed by owners. In accordance with the user-pays principle, an administrative fee of $600 is payable for each application. Upon successful reports, owners must also pay the relevant administrative fee when conducting safety inspections of the reported UBWs every five years.
Details of the re-launched Reporting Scheme are available on the BD's website at https://www.bd.gov.hk/en/safety-inspection/ubw/UBW-in-new-territories-exempted-houses/index_relaunch_reporting_scheme.html; Villagers who wish to report can call 2626 1616 for enquiry. The BD will also use different channels such as distributing leaflets and posters to Rural Committees to enable villagers to know more about the re-launch of the Reporting Scheme.
Owners who had successfully participated in the Reporting Scheme in 2012 are not required to submit reports again. However, they must continue to comply with the requirements of the original Reporting Scheme, including conducting safety inspections of the reported UBWs every five years, submitting safety certificates and paying administrative fees to the BD.
Note: The First Round Targets refer to UBWs with higher potential risks and more serious nature, such as village houses of four storeys or more, and enclosed rooftop structures covering more than 50 per cent of the roofed-over area.
Source: AI-found images
