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...