Chief Executive in Council adopts recommendation on Statutory Minimum Wage rate
The Chief Executive (CE) in Council has adopted the recommendation of the Minimum Wage Commission (MWC) on raising the Statutory Minimum Wage (SMW) rate from its prevailing level of $42.1 per hour to $43.1, an increase of $1.0 or 2.38 per cent.
The Government will publish the Minimum Wage Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 3) Notice 2026 in the Gazette next Friday (February 20) and table it in the Legislative Council (LegCo) on February 25. Subject to the approval of the LegCo, the revised SMW rate will come into force on May 1 this year.
When conducting the review under the new annual review mechanism of the SMW, the MWC adopted the formula approved by the CE in Council to recommend the new SMW rate (please refer to the Annex).
The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, said that the MWC had thoroughly drawn up the implementation arrangements for adopting the formula, examined the data of each indicator in the formula, and assessed the relevant impacts. The indicators adopted in the formula are objective and easily comprehensible, which enhance the transparency and predictability of the SMW adjustment, minimise controversy and are conducive to fostering harmonious labour relations. An annual review also allows closer alignment of the SMW with socioeconomic changes. He is very pleased with the MWC's smooth completion of the review under the new mechanism, and paid warm tribute to the Chairperson of the MWC, Ms Priscilla Wong, for leading all MWC members in making valuable contributions.
Mr Sun said, "After careful consideration, the Government is of the view that the MWC has ably discharged its statutory function of reviewing the SMW rate. The recommendation of the MWC is in line with the policy objectives of the SMW to maintain an appropriate balance between forestalling excessively low wages and minimising the loss of low-paid jobs, while giving due regard to sustaining Hong Kong's economic growth and competitiveness."
The 2026 Report on Reviewing the Statutory Minimum Wage Rate has been uploaded to the MWC's website (www.mwc.org.hk).
The Government will publish the Employment Ordinance (Amendment of Ninth Schedule) Notice 2026 in the Gazette on February 20 and table it in the LegCo on February 25. The Notice concurrently amends the monthly monetary cap on the requirement for employers to record the total number of hours worked by employees in a wage period. An employer will be exempted from the requirement to record the total number of hours worked by an employee in a wage period if the wages payable to the employee for that wage period are not less than $17,600 (currently $17,200) per month. The revised monthly monetary cap will come into force on the same day as the revised SMW rate takes effect, which is May 1 this year.
Photo source: online image
Auction of personalised vehicle registration marks to be held on February 28
The Transport Department (TD) today (February 10) announced that an auction of personalised vehicle registration marks (PVRMs) will be held on February 28 (Saturday) in Meeting Room S221, L2, Old Wing, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai.
"A total of 222 approved PVRMs will be put up for public auction. A list of the marks has been uploaded to the department's website, www.td.gov.hk/en/public_services/vehicle_registration_mark/index.html," a department spokesman said.
The reserve price of each of these marks is $5,000. Applicants who have paid a deposit of $5,000 should also participate in the bidding (including the first bid at the reserve price). Otherwise, the PVRM concerned may be sold to another bidder at the reserve price.
People who wish to participate in the bidding at the auction should take note of the following points:
(1) Bidders are required to produce the following documents for completion of registration and payment procedures immediately after a successful bidding:
(i) the identity document of the successful bidder;
(ii) the identity document of the purchaser (if the purchaser and the successful bidder are different persons);
(iii) a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation (if the purchaser is a body corporate); and
(iv) a crossed cheque made payable to "The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region" or "The Government of the HKSAR". For an auctioned mark paid for by cheque, the first three working days after the date of auction will be required for cheque clearance confirmation before processing of the application for mark assignment can be completed. Successful bidders may also pay through the Easy Pay System (EPS), but are reminded to note the maximum transfer amount in the same day of the payment card. Payment by post-dated cheque, cash, credit card or other methods will not be accepted.
(2) Purchasers must make payment of the purchase price through EPS or by crossed cheque and complete the Memorandum of Sale of PVRM immediately after the bidding. Subsequent alteration of the particulars in the Memorandum will not be permitted.
(3) A PVRM can only be assigned to a motor vehicle which is registered in the name of the purchaser. The Certificate of Incorporation must be produced immediately by the purchaser if a vehicle registration mark purchased is to be registered under the name of a body corporate.
(4) The display of a PVRM on a motor vehicle should be in compliance with the requirements stipulated in Schedule 4 of the Road Traffic (Registration and Licensing of Vehicles) Regulations.
(5) Any change to the arrangement of letters, numerals and blank spaces of a PVRM, i.e. single and two rows as auctioned, will not be allowed.
(6) The purchaser shall, within 12 months after the date of auction, apply to the Commissioner for Transport for the PVRM to be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser. If the purchaser fails to assign the PVRM within 12 months, allocation of the PVRM will be cancelled and arranged for reallocation in accordance with the statutory provision without prior notice to the purchaser.
"Upon completion of the Memorandum of Sale of PVRM, the purchaser will be issued a receipt and a Certificate of Allocation of Personalised Registration Mark. The Certificate of Allocation will serve to prove the holdership of the PVRM. Potential buyers of vehicles bearing a PVRM should check the Certificate of Allocation with the sellers and pay attention to the details therein. For transfer of vehicle ownership, this certificate together with other required documents should be sent to the TD for processing," the spokesman added.
For other auction details, please refer to the Guidance Notes - Auction of PVRM, which is available at the department's licensing offices or can be downloaded from its website, www.td.gov.hk/en/public_services/vehicle_registration_mark/pvrm_auction/index.html.
The Transport Department (TD), Photo by Bastille Post
