Here are 9 major Hong Kong laws and policies that took effect in 2024

From enacting the city’s own security law to lifting all property cooling measures, the Post recaps nine significant changes this year

Reading Time:4 minutes

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and Legco members pose for pictures after the passing of the
Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. Photo: Eugene Lee

Published: 1:45pm, 31 Dec 2024Updated: 5:40pm, 31 Dec 2024

Hong Kong introduced a number of major policies and laws in 2024, including restricting media access to the city’s vehicle registry and banning the use of single-use plastics.

The Post takes a look at nine significant changes this year.

Vehicle registry

Authorities announced in January that journalists would need permission from the city’s transport commissioner to access the personal information of vehicle owners, saying applications might be rejected on national security grounds or if a case was not in the public interest.

Commissioner for Transport Angela Lee Chung-yan said she would personally review any applications from media outlets to access the government’s vehicle registry to determine whether the “benefits to public interest outweighed the owner’s rights to privacy”.

In June 2023, the Court of Final Appeal ruled in favour of freelance producer Bao Choy Yuk-ling and said that journalistic work was a valid reason for accessing official records, with the data used for a documentary critical of police action during the 2019 anti-government protests.

Property cooling measures

In his February budget blueprint, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po announced the scrapping of all property cooling measures, hoping to revive Hong Kong’s real estate market.