2023 in Hong Kong

Events in the year 2023 in Hong Kong.

Incumbents

6 January: The largest trial for the national security law against 47 pro-democracy activists begins in Hong Kong two years after their arrest.

1 March : The Hong Kong Government lifts all mandatory mask-wearing requirements, and dropped all COVID-19 Restriction Law.

26 April – A 23-year-old Hong Kong woman studying in Japan is arrested by Hong Kong police upon returning to the city for allegedly “inciting secession” due to her online posts supporting pro-democracy protests while abroad; she is released on bail, but her passport is confiscated during investigation.

2 May : The government propose 2023 Hong Kong electoral changes. Direct elected seats decreased from 452 out of 479 to 88 out of 470, and will establish the District Council Eligibility Review Committee for review the eligibility of every District Council Candidates.

The United States Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act goes into effect, restricting imports of Xinjiang goods presumed to be produced with forced labor.

3 July : The police reward 1 million Hong Kong Dollars for arrest of 8 people who violate the Hong Kong National Security Law, accusing them of endangering national security and colluding with foreign forces.
6 July : The 2023 Hong Kong electoral changes confirmed and approved by Legislative Council.
10 July: The final version of 2023 Hong Kong electoral changes officially published and effective.
The High Court denies a government request to ban the dissemination of the protest anthem ''Glory to Hong Kong.''

1 September: Hong Kong raises its typhoon warning signal to level 10, the highest level, as Super Typhoon Saola approaches.
7-8 September: After Typhon Haikui makes landfall Hong Kong, flooding reaches record levels, the heaviest since meteorological records began when measured by one hour rainfall. .
8 September: MTR awards the contract for the design and construction of Kwu Tung station on the MTR Northern Link of the East Rail line to Bouygues.
13 September: Hong Kong authorities prosecute Kurt Leung Kui-ming for importing 18 “seditious” pro-democracy books from the United Kingdom, invoking the offense of “importing seditious publications” for the first time under the National Security Law.

13 October : The Government published gazette notice to announce 1 April 2024 as the day to implement municipal solid waste charging.
18 October : Hong Kong Legislative Council passed a bill banning restaurants from providing single-use plastic tableware, tentative effective on 22 April 2024.
25 October: Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announces plans to formulate a new local version national security law by implementing basic law article 23 to supplement existing Hong Kong national security law in 2024, making two national security law co-exists together once the new law pass.

10 December: The 2023 Hong Kong District Council elections were held.
14 December: Hong Kong police announce HK$1 million bounties for five activists residing overseas, including Simon Cheng, charging them with inciting secession under the national security law.
18 December: Jimmy Lai, the 76-year-old founder of the pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, begins his Hong Kong national security trial. He faces three charges of “foreign collusion” and one sedition charge under the National Security Law, which carries a potential sentence of life imprisonment.
28 December: SMS Sender Registration Scheme will start implement. Under the SMS Registration scheme, SMS sender who have officially registered will have a prefix "#" in the sender IDs, while non-register sender ID will not have prefix "#".