Digital Policy Office introduces initiatives to promote cybersecurity in 2025
The Digital Policy Office (DPO) introduced the key initiatives for promoting cybersecurity this year at the 2025 Cybersecurity Initiatives Briefing today (March 27). Representatives from the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau (CSTCB) of the Hong Kong Police Force, the Hong Kong Internet Registration Corporation (HKIRC) and the Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Centre (HKCERT) also shared the latest trends in cybercrime and a series of measures to strengthen capability of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) on cybersecurity defence.
The Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Tony Wong, said that as smart technologies become increasingly prevalent, enterprises are relying more on information systems for their operations. This growing dependence necessitates a heightened focus on cybersecurity to strengthen defences against emerging threats to avoid reputational and financial losses. In introducing the cybersecurity initiatives co-ordinated by the DPO this year, Mr Wong said in addition to the ongoing collaborations with the CSTCB, HKIRC, HKCERT and various stakeholders to provide local enterprises (in particular SMEs) with information security incident response support, issue security threat alerts, offer preventive guidelines and security education, and continue to strengthen the Hong Kong Cybersecurity Attack and Defence Drill, the DPO will also co-ordinate with the HKIRC and HKCERT to launch two new initiatives, the Cybersec One Programme and the Cybersecurity Vendor Connect Programme, to further raise SMEs' awareness of information security and support them in addressing cybersecurity risks.
The Chief Superintendent of the CSTCB, Mr Lam Cheuk-ho, announced the latest technology crime figures at the briefing. A total of 33 903 cases were recorded in 2024, representing a slight decrease of 0.6 per cent when compared to 2023. The data shows that while the majority of technology crimes are Internet-related deception, some also involve cyberattacks against enterprises, including system intrusions, distributed denial of service (DDoS) and ransomware. Mr Lam emphasised that in the face of rampant cybercrimes, the Police will not only continue to strengthen law enforcement but also adopt a multipronged approach to promote Hong Kong's cybersecurity, including assisting the Government in taking forward the legislation, raising public awareness and strengthening public-private collaborations.
At the briefing, the Chief Executive Officer of the HKIRC, Mr Wilson Wong, introduced some common website vulnerabilities. He noted that although patching vulnerabilities promptly can reduce losses, once a brand's reputation is damaged, regaining customer confidence can become very difficult. He called on organisations to register for the services of the Cybersec One Programme, which provides free risk assessments, vulnerability identification, and staff training to enhance information security of organisations. The General Manager of Digital Transformation Division, Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) and spokesperson of the HKCERT, Mr Alex Chan, also pointed out that SMEs are generally facing challenges such as insufficient cybersecurity expertise and budget and resource constraints. He added that the HKCERT will launch the Cybersecurity Vendor Connect Programme to help organisations find suitable and cost-effective cybersecurity solutions.
In conclusion, Mr Tony Wong emphasised that cybersecurity is not just an issue to individual sectors; it also affects the health and stability of Hong Kong's overall digital economy and social development. It is a task that all sectors and the public need to pay attention to and participate in. The DPO will continue to launch a variety of activities and provide training to enhance Hong Kong's overall capabilities to tackle risks in cybersecurity, and he appealed for media support in jointly disseminating important cybersecurity messages to the general public.
Digital Policy Office introduces initiatives to promote cybersecurity in 2025 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Digital Policy Office introduces initiatives to promote cybersecurity in 2025 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
C for T meets taxi trade and reiterates determination to continuously combat illegal carriage of passengers for reward activities and formulate legislative proposals on regulation of online car hailing platforms within 2025
The Commissioner for Transport, Ms Angela Lee, met with some 20 taxi trade representatives and Legislative Council Member concerned this afternoon (May 15), and exchanged views on their concerns about illegal carriage of passengers for reward activities, regulating online car hailing platforms and improving taxi service quality, reiterating the Government's determination to continuously combat illegal hire car services in accordance with the law and formulate legislative proposals on regulation of online car hailing platforms within 2025. Representatives of the Transport and Logistics Bureau also attended.
Trade representatives comprising various stakeholders, including trade associations, taxi dealers, taxi fleet operators and vehicle owners, attended the meeting. Ms Lee said, "Combating illegal carriage of passengers for reward activities, regulating online car hailing platforms and improving taxi service are the common goals of both the Government and the trade. We had candid exchanges at the meeting and we understand the taxi trade's concern regarding online car hailing platforms and illegal hire car activities. The Government is determined to continuously combat illegal carriage of passengers for reward activities with a view to protecting the safety and interests of the public."
The Transport Department (TD) sternly pointed out that any online car hailing platform operator providing carriage of passengers for reward services must comply with the laws and regulations. The Hong Kong Police Force have been continuously combating illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward across the territory during the past several months. Appropriate enforcement actions will be taken immediately for cases with sufficient evidence and enforcement actions are ongoing. Meanwhile, the Government is proactively studying legislative amendments, so that vehicles involved in the offence of illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward can be impounded even if the driver's identity cannot be confirmed, heightening the deterrent effect against illegal carriage of passengers for reward activities.
In addition, the TD has stepped up publicity on the penalties of illegal carriage of passengers for reward. For the first conviction, the maximum fine is $10,000 with six months of imprisonment while the vehicle licence concerned will be suspended and the vehicle will be impounded for six months. Drivers are urged not to defy the law. Further, passengers using illegal hire car services may be at risk, as the vehicle's third party insurance may become invalid in case of a traffic accident.
At the meeting, the taxi trade also made suggestions on regulating online car hailing platforms and their vehicles and drivers. Ms Lee said that the Government is actively conducting a study on the overall demand and supply of personalised point-to-point transport services. She stressed that the service sustainability will be taken into account, meeting passengers' needs for point-to-point services while safeguarding passenger safety and upholding service quality. The Government will holistically consider the report to be submitted by the Working Group for Enhancing Personalised Point-to-Point Transport Services under the Transport Advisory Committee, the views collected including the taxi trade's views and relevant data in formulating legislative proposals on regulation of online car hailing platforms and licensing requirements for their vehicles and drivers within 2025, aiming to promote the platforms' operations in a regulated manner.
Ms Lee was pleased to note that the taxi trade representatives shared the need to act in concert to improve taxi service quality, including pressing ahead for the taxi fleets' completion of gearing-up work for the commissioning of their services by end-July 2025, thereby improving passengers' riding experiences and enhancing the trade's competitiveness. The TD will continue to maintain close communication with the taxi trade to achieve the common goal of bringing mutual benefits to the transport sector and commuters at large.
C for T meets taxi trade and reiterates determination to continuously combat illegal carriage of passengers for reward activities and formulate legislative proposals on regulation of online car hailing platforms within 2025 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
