Guidelines on Dissemination of Information through Government Websites (Hong Kong)

What the law is

W3C's policy register lists the Guidelines on Dissemination of Information through Government Websites, dated 1999, referencing WCAG 2.0. They are government policy for government sites.

The Disability Discrimination Ordinance is the general law covering discrimination in the provision of services. It does not name a WCAG version, which is the familiar pattern: a general duty in statute, a technical standard in policy.

This applies to you if…

• You run or supply a Hong Kong government website, where the guidelines apply directly.
• You provide services to the public in Hong Kong, where the Ordinance reaches you even though it names no technical standard.

What it technically requires

• WCAG 2.0 for government sites, per the guidelines. WCAG 2.2 covers it entirely.
• For a private service, there is no named technical bar, so the practical answer is the same one that applies in every general-duty jurisdiction. Build to WCAG 2.2 AA and you are ahead of any argument about what reasonable means.

All roads lead to WCAG. Start with Level AA, the legal standard or the full 55-rule library. Unfamiliar term along the way? The A to Z glossary decodes it.

How it is enforced

Government policy is enforced internally. The Ordinance runs through the Equal Opportunities Commission and the courts.

Key dates

1. 1999Guidelines on Dissemination of Information through Government Websites issued

Primary sources

• W3C Web Accessibility Initiative, Web Accessibility Laws and Policies

Other laws

• United StatesADAWCAG 2.1 AA (Title II rule, de facto standard in Title III cases)
• European UnionEAAAnnex I, EN 301 549 (includes WCAG 2.1 AA)
• United States (federal)Section 508WCAG 2.0 AA (incorporated by the 2017 refresh)
• United States (aviation)ACAAWCAG 2.0 AA, named in 14 CFR 382.43
• United States (telecoms)Section 255WCAG 2.0 A and AA, through the Revised 255 Guidelines
• European UnionWeb Accessibility DirectiveEN 301 549 V3.2.1, which carries WCAG 2.1 AA
• California, USUnruh ActWCAG 2.1 AA (what courts and settlements expect)
• Manitoba, CanadaManitoba AMAWCAG 2.1 AA (Accessible Information and Communication Standard)
• ArgentinaArgentina Ley 26.653WCAG 2.0, referenced by the law
• ChinaChina PPD LawNo WCAG version named in the law itself
• ColombiaColombia guidelinesWCAG 2.1
• TaiwanTaiwan 110.07WCAG 2.1 derivative
• Saudi ArabiaSaudi SWAWCAG 2.1 AA
• QatarQatar Law No. 2WCAG 2.1 AA
• United Arab EmiratesUAE requirementsWCAG 2.1 AA
• Ontario, CanadaAODAWCAG 2.0 AA (excl. 1.2.4 & 1.2.5)
• United KingdomUK Equality ActWCAG A and AA, named in PSBAR regulation 9 as amended from time to time
• United States (healthcare)HHS Section 504WCAG 2.1 AA (2024 final rule)
• New York, USNew York HRLWCAG 2.1 AA (what complaints and settlements cite)
• Colorado, USColorado HB21-1110WCAG 2.1 AA (written into state standards)
• Canada (federal)Accessible Canada ActCAN/ASC-EN 301 549 → WCAG 2.1 AA
• NorwayNorway (Universal Design)WCAG 2.0 AA private / 2.1 AA public
• IsraelIsrael IS 5568WCAG 2.0 AA (via IS 5568)
• AustraliaAustralia DDAWCAG 2.2 AA (AHRC 2025 guidance)
• GermanyGermany BFSGEN 301 549 → WCAG 2.1 AA
• FranceFrance RGAARGAA (WCAG-based) / EN 301 549
• ItalyItaly Stanca ActWCAG 2.1 AA (AgID guidelines)
• JapanJapan JIS X 8341-3JIS X 8341-3:2016 = WCAG 2.0 AA
• SpainSpain RD 1112/2018UNE-EN 301549, which incorporates WCAG 2.1 AA
• NetherlandsNetherlandsEN 301 549, which incorporates WCAG 2.1 AA
• IrelandIrelandEN 301 549, which incorporates WCAG 2.1 AA
• BrazilBrazil LBIeMAG, aligned with WCAG, plus ABNT NBR 17225 for web content
• IndiaIndia RPwDGIGW 3.0, which references WCAG 2.1
• New ZealandNew ZealandWCAG 2.2 Level AA
• South KoreaSouth KoreaKWCAG 2.2, a national standard aligned with WCAG
• SwitzerlandSwitzerland BehiGeCH-0059, which references WCAG 2.1 AA
• DenmarkDenmarkEN 301 549, which incorporates WCAG 2.1 AA