Fines, penalties and forfeitures pump HK$2.1 billion into government coffers

Fines worth HK$2.1 billion (US$268.39 million) flowed into Hong Kong’s coffers in 2025‑26, nearly 26 per cent more than initially forecast, following an increase in cigarette penalties and a surge in forfeitures. According to budget estimates analysed by the South China Morning Post, the HK$2.1 billion income amounted to 0.3 per cent of the government’s total revenue. The funds were primarily from court fines and forfeiture orders, statute penalties, forfeitures from breaches of contracts and...

By Jess Ma