Remarks by SFST on enhanced regulation of licensed money lenders at media session
Following are the remarks by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, at a media session after attending a radio programme this morning (March 15):
Reporter: About the money lenders regulations, so what are the impacts of these new measures that you are expected? The second question is regarding the Middle East situation. Can you recap in English, what's the situation's impact on Hong Kong's, especially financial and family office business? And how would it affect the foreign investment? Thank you.
Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury: In response to your first question about the measures that we put together in the money lenders regime. I would say that the proposed measures that we have are very targeted in terms of issues that we need to deal with. I think one of the issues that we come across very often is that many households are being used as referees in some of these lending activities of their domestic helpers. So that's why from August 1 this year, we require that no more such requirement can be imposed on in the lending activities, in a sense that no referee will be required in such lending activities with a view to protecting our citizens.
Secondly, I would say, in terms of the overall approach that we take to deal with this money lending regime is that we are applying a rather equivalent requirement, not just to domestic helpers but everybody with a monthly income below $12,000. In this regard, we have applied a ratio which is applicable to the proportion of money on a monthly basis that need to repay the debt, and at the same time to make sure that all the lenders in this regime will be able to share information such that there's no one single individual who try to borrow from different lenders can circumvent the requirement.
In response to your second question about how we see the Middle East. As you all can see, on the financial services side, the stability, the safety and also sophistication of financial centre are more robust than ever in terms of how we are being viewed internationally and also domestically. That's why against this backdrop, we are proposing some measures to strengthen our role as an asset and wealth management centre in the current regime where many investors would like to diversify their investments. And that's why we have a law in place to be proposed to the legislature with a view to extending the tax concession that we are going to give to family offices and also to the funds that are eligible, in such a way that they will be qualified for tax concession for a wider spectrum of products. At the same time, in two weeks' time, we are going to launch our annual Wealth for Good Summit for family offices such that we can bring these advantages to the international family office ecosystem. As we gather from Invest Hong Kong, in fact a few of the Middle Eastern families are already in town, trying to anticipate our event and at the same time to know more about what we have to offer for family offices and also corporate investors in terms of our asset management businesses.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)
Source: AI-found images
Taxi drivers required to provide e-payment means for passengers' convenience from April 1
The Transport Department (TD) today (March 15) reminded taxi drivers that, starting from April 1, 2026, they must provide electronic payment means (e-payment means) to facilitate passengers' payments of taxi fares. Before boarding, passengers may check the stickers on taxi windows or ask the driver about the e-payment means available. Passengers may also continue to pay in cash. Drivers who have yet to install e-payment means are urged to do so as soon as possible to familiarise themselves with the operations.
From April 1, all taxi drivers are required to provide at least two types of e-payment means, including one QR code e-payment means (such as AlipayHK, WeChat Pay HK or BoC Pay) and one non-QR code e-payment means (such as Octopus cards, credit cards or Faster Payment System (FPS)). Drivers may flexibly choose the e-payment means based on their operational needs. Stickers showing the available e-payment means should be displayed at designated positions on taxi windows for passengers' easy reference. There are e-payment platforms (e.g. Octopus Mobile POS) available in the market supporting multiple payment means to enable drivers to meet the mandatory requirement.
A spokesman for the TD said, "The new requirement aims to leverage the use of electronic technology to further enhance the overall quality of taxi services. Different types of e-payment means can provide convenience to passengers, especially tourists, in settling fares, cater for their different needs, and improve the operational efficiency of the taxi trade at the same time."
Since August 2025, the TD has been steering major e-payment platforms and the taxi trade to step up publicity and public education to familiarise taxi drivers with the mandatory requirement. The TD has also hosted over 20 workshops at community halls and centres across the territory and 11 outreach activities at taxi stands to proactively engage drivers, so that they understand the operations of e-payment means, and assist them to register as users. To date, about 1 900 drivers have joined the workshops. An additional workshop for drivers to register as users will be held from 6pm to 9pm on March 20 at the hall of Henry G. Leong Yaumatei Community Centre.
In addition, dedicated service counters have been set up at three Government carparks on Rumsey Street in Sheung Wan and in Kwai Fong and Tsuen Wanfrom March 7 to April 4 from 9.30am to 5.30pm to further support drivers in installing and registering for e-payment means early. Taxi drivers can make reservations by phone (38425821), email (taxiteam@td.gov.hk) or fax (28242176) to save waiting time. Over 1600 drivers have made bookings so far. Reservation holders who drive to the counters will enjoy one hour of free parking.
The TD has strengthened publicity through multiple channels, including dedicated liquefied petroleum gas filling stations for taxis, taxi stands at the airport, boundary control points and major stations, designated pre-service training schools for taxi drivers and taxi driver identity plate agents. Publicity has also been carried out regularly via placards inside taxi compartments, the Radio Announcement in the Public Interest, posters, social media, websites, taxi trade conferences and taxi newsletters. The Government noted that the taxi trade is ready for the new requirement.
Members of the public may refer to the TD's leaflet on taxi e-payment means (see Annex, Chinese only) coupled with infographics on the Agent T Facebook page (www.facebook.com/AgentT.hk) on the new requirement, or call the hotline at 28042600 for details.
Taxi drivers required to provide e-payment means for passengers' convenience from April 1 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Taxi drivers required to provide e-payment means for passengers' convenience from April 1 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Taxi drivers required to provide e-payment means for passengers' convenience from April 1 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Taxi drivers required to provide e-payment means for passengers' convenience from April 1 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Taxi drivers required to provide e-payment means for passengers' convenience from April 1 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Taxi drivers required to provide e-payment means for passengers' convenience from April 1 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Taxi drivers required to provide e-payment means for passengers' convenience from April 1 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Taxi drivers required to provide e-payment means for passengers' convenience from April 1 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Taxi drivers required to provide e-payment means for passengers' convenience from April 1 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
