Addenda to Code of Practice for Bamboo Scaffolding Safety and Code of Practice for Metal Scaffolding Safety gazetted
The Labour Department (LD) today (July 31) published the addenda to the Code of Practice for Bamboo Scaffolding Safety (Bamboo CoP) and the Code of Practice for Metal Scaffolding Safety (Metal CoP) in the Gazette to take immediate effect to enhance scaffolding safety.
The Labour Department, Photo source: reference image
A spokesperson for the LD said, "The major revisions to the Bamboo CoP and the Metal CoP include: (i) setting out the material requirements for scaffolding toe-boards to ensure that their strength is sufficient to prevent workers and objects from falling from scaffolds, and that the materials used do not increase the fire risk; (ii) requiring that protective screens (including protective nets, tarpaulins, plastic sheeting and canvas) installed on the scaffolding should fulfil the relevant requirements specified in the Practice Note for Registered Contractors 85 issued by the Buildings Department (BD) to ensure they meet the required standard of fire retardant performance; and (iii) requiring that the design and installation of catch-fans should fulfil the relevant requirements specified in the Guidelines on the Design and Construction of Bamboo Scaffolds issued by the BD."
The spokesperson said that the Bamboo CoP and the Metal CoP provide contractors with practical guidance on how to comply with the requirements set out in the occupational safety and health legislation regarding scaffolding work for safeguarding workers' safety.
The spokesperson added, "These CoPs have a special legal status. In criminal proceedings, if a relevant person fails to observe any provision of these CoPs, that failure may be taken by the court as a relevant factor in determining whether or not a person has breached the relevant safety and health legislation."
The addenda to the CoPs can be downloaded from the LD website (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/content2_8b.htm). Enquiries about the CoPs can be made by calling 2559 2297.
Bamboo scaffolding, Photo by Bastille Post
Regular quotas for Hong Kong private cars using HZMB to Macao open for application
The Transport Department (TD) announced today (July 31) that a total of 1400 regular quotas for Hong Kong cross-boundary non-commercial private cars using the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) to Macao (Hong Kong quotas) will be open for application from August 7, making better use of the HZMB's carrying capacity and promoting convenient cross-boundary travel.
This batch of quotas accepts individuals or companies engaged in specific employment or business activities in Macao to apply for individual or company quotas respectively under "quotas with eligibility criteria". All Hong Kong permanent residents and registered companies may apply for "open quotas".
A spokesman for the TD said, "The 'open quotas' not subject to the eligibility criteria were first introduced in May 2026 and were well received by the public and local companies. By relaunching both 'quotas with eligibility criteria' and 'open quotas', we aim to offer different options to enable Hong Kong residents to drive to Macao for work, business, visiting families or sight-seeing conveniently. The Hong Kong and Macao governments will continue to adhere to the principle of making better use of the HZMB's carrying capacity and improve the arrangements concerned, thereby strengthening ties between the two places."
Application details
The 1400 Hong Kong quotas in this batch comprise 400 additional quotas agreed between the governments of Hong Kong and Macao, and 1000 reallocated quotas upon expiry. Details of different categories and their eligibility criteria are tabulated below:
| Category of Hong Kong quotas | Quotas with eligibility criteria (allocated based on existing eligibility criteria) | Open quotas (open to all individuals/companies) |
| Individual quotas | 500 (reallocated quotas) - open to Hong Kong permanent residents who are employed with remuneration in Macao or who have established a registered company in Macao
| 200 (new quotas) - open to all Hong Kong permanent residents
|
| Company quotas | 500 (reallocated quotas) - open to companies registered in both Hong Kong and Macao, or companies registered in Hong Kong that are associated with another company registered in Macao
| 200 (new quotas) - open to all companies registered in Hong Kong
|
| Total | 1 000 | 400 |
(allocated based on existing eligibility criteria)
(open to all individuals/companies)
- open to Hong Kong permanent residents who are employed with remuneration in Macao or who have established a registered company in Macao
- open to all Hong Kong permanent residents
- open to companies registered in both Hong Kong and Macao, or companies registered in Hong Kong that are associated with another company registered in Macao
- open to all companies registered in Hong Kong
The TD reminds applicants that:
- Any individual or company can only hold one Hong Kong quota. Holders of existing individual or company quotas issued in or after July 2024 are not eligible for this batch;
- Each individual or company can only submit one application under quotas with eligibility criteria or open quotas. They will be disqualified if otherwise;
- To further ensure applicants' eligibility, during ballot registration, all applicants must fill in the reference numbers of their valid required supporting documents; and
- Applicants under quotas with eligibility criteria are also required to upload a copy of the required supporting documents (including a valid Business Registration Certificate of a Macao-registered company, a valid Non-resident Worker's Identification Card issued by the Macao Public Security Police Force or a Macao Permanent Resident Identity Card and a valid employment contract with receipts of income covering the recent three months issued by the employer in Macao).
Eligible applicants may submit their applications from 9am on August 7 until 5pm on August 20, 2026, through the GovHK website (www.gov.hk/en/residents/transport/crossboundary/hzmballot.htm), after which a ballot will be conducted. Successful balloting applicants must submit the required documents for the TD's vetting to prove that they have met the eligibility criteria on or before August 20.
Validity period of quotas
The new quotas will be valid starting from September 30, 2026, or after (subject to application progress) until September 29, 2029. The TD will arrange open applications for and reallocation of the quotas upon their expiry.
For details of the application criteria, procedures and licensing requirements of Hong Kong quotas, please visit the TD's website or call the hotline 2804 2600 for enquiries.
Source: AI-found images
