What Changed
- The Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 1) Order 2026 was gazetted on November 6, 2026.
- Park Company directors and staff are designated as public servants under POBO, barring them from soliciting or accepting advantages and penalising corrupt business dealings with the company.
- The Order will be tabled before the Legislative Council on November 11, 2026, and will commence operation on January 29, 2027, subject to negative vetting.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government gazetted the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 1) Order 2026 (the Order) on November 6, 2026. The legislation formally designates the Hung Shui Kiu Industry Park Company Limited (Park Company) as a public body under Schedule 1 of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (Cap. 201) (POBO).
This designation directly impacts the Park Company's leadership, personnel, and external business partners. Following the amendment, all directors on the Board of Directors and employees of the Park Company will be legally classified as public servants under the POBO. As a result, they will be subject to stringent statutory anti-corruption controls, including an absolute prohibition from soliciting or accepting any advantage in connection with their work. Furthermore, private enterprises, foreign investors, contractors, and individuals having business dealings with the Park Company will be subject to relevant sections of the POBO, which make bribery and corrupt dealings involving public bodies and public servants a criminal offence under various circumstances.
According to a spokesperson for the Development Bureau, the Park Company is wholly owned by the Hong Kong SAR Government through the Financial Secretary Incorporated. It is tasked with developing and operating the Hung Shui Kiu Industry Park to accelerate industrial growth within the Northern Metropolis. Given its public function of attracting enterprises, driving investment, and interacting with external commercial parties, the Government determined that regulating the Park Company as a public body serves the public interest. Schedule 1 of the POBO currently specifies over 140 public bodies, including similar entities responsible for industrial development.
The Order will be tabled before the Legislative Council (LegCo) at its sitting on November 11, 2026. Subject to negative vetting by LegCo, the Order is scheduled to commence operation on January 29, 2027.
Who May Be Affected
Board directors and staff of Hung Shui Kiu Industry Park Company Limited, as well as external businesses, investors, and individuals engaging in commercial interactions with the company.
Cross-Border Context
International and mainland Chinese businesses participating in Northern Metropolis industrial projects will fall under Hong Kong's strict public-sector anti-corruption framework when dealing with the Park Company.
What to check next
- Verify Legislative Council sitting proceedings on November 11, 2026, regarding the negative vetting outcome of the Order.
This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. Consult the official text and obtain advice appropriate to your circumstances where needed.