Wild Animals Protection (Amendment) Bill 2026 gazetted
The Government published the Wild Animals Protection (Amendment) Bill 2026 (the Bill) today (October 30) to enhance the protection for cetaceans appearing in Hong Kong waters.
The Bill proposes to grant the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation power to designate, where necessary, an area within Hong Kong waters as a Temporary Marine Restricted Area (TMRA) for safeguarding the health or well-being of cetaceans in the designated area, as well as to impose restrictions or prohibitions on persons, vessels and activities within the TMRA. The Bill also introduces new offences and enforcement powers against non-compliance of control measures within the TMRA.
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department. Photo source: reference image
"The presence of cetaceans, especially whales, often attracts significant public attention and draws people to approach them for viewing. The presence of people and vessels near an injured or stranded cetacean may cause disturbance or distress to it, hinder rescue operations and pose risks to the safety of other marine users. The Bill aims to empower the Government to implement appropriate control measures in a swift and flexible manner when necessary, with a view to enhancing the protection of cetaceans and safeguarding the safety of other marine users," a spokesman for the Government said.
In addition, the Bill proposes conferring legal status on the current Code of Conduct for Dolphin Watching (Code), so that the proof of contravention with the Code may be admissible as evidence in legal proceedings related to hunting and wilful disturbance of protected wild animals under section 4 of the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance (Cap. 170). This will facilitate prosecution and strengthen the protection for local dolphins.
The Government consulted the Nature Conservation Subcommittee of the Advisory Council on the Environment, and the Legislative Council (LegCo) Panel on Environmental Affairs on the Bill on June 30 and July 10, 2026, respectively. Members of the Subcommittee and the Panel expressed support to the proposed amendments. Other relevant stakeholders also generally supported the legislative proposal.
The presence of cetaceans in Hong Kong. Photo source: reference image
The Bill will be introduced into the LegCo for First Reading and Second Reading on November 11.
SFST leads financial regulators for meeting with Shanghai counterparts to strengthen financial co-operation
The 10th Working Meeting of Hong Kong-Shanghai Financial Co-operation was held in Shanghai today (October 30). Representatives from government departments, financial regulators and exchanges of the two places discussed ways to strengthen financial co-operation between Hong Kong and Shanghai.
The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Christopher Hui, and the Director-General of the Shanghai Office for Advancing International Financial Center Development, Mr Li Junjie, introduced the market overview and the latest developments of the financial services sectors of the two places respectively at the meeting. Representatives of both sides discussed issues of mutual concern, including strengthening co-operation and connectivity between the two financial markets; enhancing business co-operation in cross-boundary Renminbi business, commodities, gold and futures markets, as well as insurance; and deepening talent exchanges.
Mr Hui said, "Since its establishment, the Hong Kong-Shanghai financial co-operation mechanism has been an important platform for the two places to deepen exchanges and seek mutual development. It is a milestone of profound significance as we convened the 10th working meeting this year. Against the backdrop of the country's accelerated establishment of a new development paradigm, Hong Kong is proactively implementing the key strategies set out in the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030) and the 2026 Policy Address. Both Hong Kong and Shanghai are core financial engines of the country. Today's meeting has mapped out a clear roadmap for the financial development of the two places. I am confident that Hong Kong and Shanghai will continue to complement each other's strengths with a view to enhancing co-operation and connectivity between our financial markets, and rendering all-round support to Mainland enterprises in 'going global'."
Mr Li said at the meeting that Shanghai and Hong Kong are two "locomotives" in the country's building of a financial powerhouse. Under the new landscape, the two places should leverage their respective strengths while creating greater synergy. In recent years, the mutual market access mechanism between the financial markets of Shanghai and Hong Kong has been further enhanced, the complementary effects of the offshore financial strategies of the two places have become more prominent, and the connotation of co-building a financial product and service system has been further expanded. Taking this meeting as an opportunity, Shanghai and Hong Kong will translate the consensus reached at the meeting into concrete co-operation projects, elevating the synergistic financial development of the two places to a new level.
Mr Hui also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Financial Dispute Resolution Centre of Hong Kong and the Financial Ombudsman Service Shanghai. The MOU aims to promote an alternative dispute resolution mechanism for financial disputes, thereby elevating the level of protection for financial consumers and facilitating the robust development of regional and cross-boundary financial markets.
Upon his arrival in Shanghai yesterday (October 29), Mr Hui met with the new Chairman of the Shanghai Gold Exchange, Mr Guo Dayong. He also had a short meeting with the Director of the Shanghai State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, Mr Zhou Xiaoquan.
Furthermore, he attended and delivered a speech at the "Hong Kong-Shanghai Connection, Assisting Enterprises to Navigate the World - 2026 Hong Kong-Shanghai Co-operation Exchange Forum and Symposium on Serving Chinese Enterprises in Going Global" hosted by the Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, where he engaged in detailed exchanges with representatives of about 20 Shanghai enterprises.
The Permanent Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Financial Services), Mrs Angelina Cheung, also joined the visit. Mr Hui returned to Hong Kong this afternoon.
SFST leads financial regulators for meeting with Shanghai counterparts to strengthen financial co-operation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SFST leads financial regulators for meeting with Shanghai counterparts to strengthen financial co-operation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SFST leads financial regulators for meeting with Shanghai counterparts to strengthen financial co-operation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SFST leads financial regulators for meeting with Shanghai counterparts to strengthen financial co-operation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SFST leads financial regulators for meeting with Shanghai counterparts to strengthen financial co-operation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SFST leads financial regulators for meeting with Shanghai counterparts to strengthen financial co-operation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SFST leads financial regulators for meeting with Shanghai counterparts to strengthen financial co-operation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
