Labour Department suspends recognition of safety training courses operated by training course provider
The Labour Department (LD) today (March 9) suspended the recognition of the Mandatory Basic Safety Training Course (Construction Work) (commonly known as the Green Card Course) organised by the Hong Kong Unity Construction Workmate Home Limited (HKUCWHL) under the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance (Cap. 59) for a period of six months, until September 8, 2026.
The LD found that the HKUCWHL had violated the approval conditions for operating the course, including a trainer disclosing all examination questions and answers to trainees before the examination, failing to conduct a post-examination review, and conducting activities not related to the safety training. In addition, invigilators failed to detect cheating by a trainee during the examination.
After conducting thorough investigations and gathering evidence, and taking into account the explanations and representations provided by the HKUCWHL and the trainer involved, the LD decided to suspend its recognition of the Green Card Course for six months in view of the serious nature of the breaches. The trainer involved was also removed from delivering the respective course at the organisation. At the request of the LD, the HKUCWHL has recalled and cancelled 18 Green Cards. Seven Green Cards that have not yet been recalled have also been invalidated. The relevant Green Card numbers are listed in the Annex.
A spokesman for the LD said, "The LD is highly concerned about the quality of mandatory safety training courses. In response to the recommendations in the report released by the Office of The Ombudsman on its direct investigation into the 'Government's Regulation of Occupational Safety and Health in the Construction Industry', the LD has increased manpower to monitor compliance with approval conditions by recognised training course providers, with a view to maintaining the standard of the training courses since April 2025 and ensuring workers receive appropriate occupational safety and health (OSH) training. If a training course provider does not comply with the approval conditions set by the LD, its recognition to operate the relevant courses will be withdrawn or suspended. The LD will continue to closely monitor the quality of all training course providers and their trainers and strive to enhance the standard of OSH in Hong Kong."
After imposing the above sanctions, there are 123 training course providers offering the recognised Green Card Course. Relevant course information has been uploaded to the LD's website (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/osh/content5.htm) for public reference. Individuals interested in enrolling may contact these training course providers. For enquiries, please call the LD's OSH Training Centre hotline at 2940 7064, or the department's OSH advisory service hotline at 2559 2297.
The Labour Department (LD), Photo source: reference image
InvestHK and HKCEA co-host Mainland Spring Reception and Mainland enterprises GoGlobal Forum
Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) and the Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association (HKCEA) jointly organised a Mainland Spring Reception today (March 10), gathering representatives of Mainland enterprises and business leaders to celebrate the Chinese New Year. The two parties also held the GoGlobal Forum before the reception to explore development opportunities and discuss how enterprises can leverage Hong Kong as their home port to realise international expansion plans. Both events were attended by nearly 800representatives from Mainland enterprises.
The reception was officiated by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan; Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Mr Zhang Yong; the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau; the Director-General of Investment Promotion at InvestHK, Ms Alpha Lau; and the Chairman of the HKCEA, Mr Wang Haimin.
In his speech, Mr Chan pointed out that this year marks the beginning of the country's 15th Five-Year Plan, and the next five years will be a crucial period for the country's development. Under the "one country, two systems" framework, Hong Kong possesses unique institutional strengths and serves as an international hub for finance, trade, shipping, and innovation and technology. It is essential for Hong Kong to leverage these strengths to accelerate its integration into the national development strategy. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government looks forward to continuing to work closely with Mainland enterprises to promote Hong Kong's prosperity and stability, and to contribute to the nation's development.
Mr Chan also noted that Mainland enterprises have long been based in Hong Kong, actively supporting the Government in driving the city's economic development and playing a pivotal role across various industries. In recent years, Mainland enterprises have accelerated their global expansion, with many of them have been using Hong Kong as a platform for fund raising, showcasing their products and services, conducting R&D activities, and managing international operations. The Government will take a multipronged approach to welcome more Mainland enterprises to Hong Kong, enabling them to fully utilise the city's one-stop financial support and international advantages to strengthen their own development.
At the GoGlobal Forum, Mr Yau said that in the face of significant opportunities arising from the Global South markets and the Belt and Road Initiative, Hong Kong, as the preferred platform for Mainland enterprises going global, is fully prepared to provide one-stop support services in navigating them to go global. He said he looks forward to seeing more Mainland enterprises expanding globally via Hong Kong, working hand in hand to achieve mutual benefits and write a new chapter for Mainland enterprises going global.
Mr Wang said that the HKCEA has united a broad spectrum of Mainland enterprises setting up in Hong Kong. It has become a cornerstone in supporting Hong Kong's economic development and maintaining the city's long-term prosperity and stability, further inspiring Mainland enterprises to regard Hong Kong as their home and leveraging the city for growth with confidence and momentum. Looking ahead, the HKCEA is eager to strengthen co-operation with all sectors and move forward together, contributing to Hong Kong's transition from stability to prosperity and facilitating the steady and sustained implementation of "one country, two systems".
The Commerce and Economic Development Bureau established the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global (GoGlobal Task Force) last October, integrating Hong Kong's overseas offices, including those under InvestHK, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, as well as Hong Kong offices on the Mainland, to set up a one-stop platform. The GoGlobal Task Force also brings together Hong Kong's professional services ecosystem to provide one-stop support to Mainland enterprises expanding overseas via the city. It will continue to organise various activities to promote Hong Kong's unique advantages as a platform for Mainland enterprises to go global.
The annual spring reception is a flagship event jointly organised by InvestHK and the HKCEA to express gratitude to Mainland enterprises for their contributions to Hong Kong's socio-economic development. The GoGlobal Forum gathered representatives from Hong Kong's professional services sectors and Mainland enterprises to share insights on Hong Kong's unique advantages as a globally connected business hub, alongside successful case studies of going global via the city. InvestHK will continue to support the work of the GoGlobal Task Force.
InvestHK and HKCEA co-host Mainland Spring Reception and Mainland enterprises GoGlobal Forum Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
InvestHK and HKCEA co-host Mainland Spring Reception and Mainland enterprises GoGlobal Forum Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
InvestHK and HKCEA co-host Mainland Spring Reception and Mainland enterprises GoGlobal Forum Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
InvestHK and HKCEA co-host Mainland Spring Reception and Mainland enterprises GoGlobal Forum Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
InvestHK and HKCEA co-host Mainland Spring Reception and Mainland enterprises GoGlobal Forum Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
