{"total-count": 71, "returned-count": 71, "results": [{"title": "National Security Education Day - Immigration Service Institute of Training and Development Open Day held today (18.4.2026)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202604/18/P2026041700502.htm", "date": "18.4.2026", "description": "To support National Security Education Day, the Immigration Service Institute of Training and Development (ISITD) held an open day today (April 18), drawing the participation of over 2 500 citizens. Through activities such as exhibitions, guided tours of training facilities, interactive experiences and booth games, the open day aimed to showcase the Immigration Department (ImmD)'s unwavering commitment to fending off national security risks and firmly guarding the country's southern gateway, raise public awareness of national security, and strengthen public sense of national identity. The open day featured a rich programme, with many thematic exhibitions and interactive booths set up to introduce the public to the technologies used by the ImmD in areas such as the detection of forged documents, counter-terrorism operations, management of detention centres and tactical equipment. The ISITD also opened training facilities, including the mock immigration clearance hall and the mock courtroom, so that members of the public could gain a deeper understanding of the ImmD's work in safeguarding national security. In addition, the Immigration Department Youth Leaders Corps (IDYL) set up a game booth with the theme \"food security\", one of the 20 major fields of national security. Apart from sharing the crops harvested during their earlier farming experiences in local farm and the Chaoshan region, IDYL members also illustrated in a fun and engaging manner to the public the important concept that \"food is closely related to the fate of the country and the livelihood of the people\", thereby enhancing public awareness of food security. The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, attended the open day. Accompanied by directorate officers of the ImmD, he toured the exhibition booths and interacted with the public. He also encouraged members of the Immigration Service to continue to uphold their mission and remain steadfast in safeguarding national security. Ends/Saturday, April 18, 2026 Issued at HKT 22:42 NNNN"}, {"title": "HKSARG officials conclude visit to Beijing (16.4.2026)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202604/16/P2026041600880.htm", "date": "16.4.2026", "description": "The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan; and the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Miss Janice Tse Siu-wa, visited Beijing today (April 16). The Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Xia Baolong, met with the delegation this morning to discuss and exchange on the work of Hong Kong to proactively align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan, and to better integrate into and serve the overall national development. The Executive Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Xu Qifang, and Deputy Director Ms Zhang Dongmei also joined the meeting. The delegation of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government officials concluded their visit to Beijing and returned to Hong Kong this afternoon. Ends/Thursday, April 16, 2026 Issued at HKT 23:26 NNNN"}, {"title": "HKSARG officials to visit Beijing (15.4.2026)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202604/15/P2026041500242.htm", "date": "15.4.2026", "description": "The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan; and the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Miss Janice Tse Siu-wa, will depart for Beijing this afternoon (April 15) to call on the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council regarding aligning with the National 15th Five-Year Plan. The delegation will return to Hong Kong tomorrow afternoon (April 16). During Mr Chan Kwok-ki's absence, the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, will be the Acting Chief Secretary for Administration. During Mr Paul Chan's absence, the Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong, will be the Acting Financial Secretary. During Miss Tse's absence, the Under Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Clement Woo, will be the Acting Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs. Ends/Wednesday, April 15, 2026 Issued at HKT 11:00 NNNN"}, {"title": "National Security Education Day 2026 cum Hong Kong Police Force Fun Day held today (12.4.2026)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202604/12/P2026041200308.htm", "date": "12.4.2026", "description": "In support of National Security Education Day, the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) today (April 12) held the National Security Education Day 2026 cum Hong Kong Police Force Fun Day to enhance public awareness of national security, strengthen the cultivation of national identity, and provide the community with a better understanding of the HKPF’s work and achievements in safeguarding national security through a series of activities. Addressing the ceremony, the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, said that national security concerns the well-being of 1.4 billion compatriots including Hong Kong people, and serves as the cornerstone of the country’s peace and stability. In safeguarding national security and stopping violence and curbing disorder, he commended the Force for unequivocally and fearlessly discharging their duties, making enormous and irreplaceable contributions to building an impregnable defence for Hong Kong’s national security, and rendering Hong Kong one of the world’s safest cities. Citing the white paper on “Hong Kong: Safeguarding China’s National Security Under the Framework of One Country, Two Systems” published by the State Council Information Office in February, he emphasised that safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development interests remains the overarching principle under the policy of “one country, two systems”. He added that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region must faithfully fulfil its constitutional responsibility to safeguard national security, and create high-standard security in support of the high-quality development of the “one country, two systems” policy. He said that the Government will, through various channels, continuously strengthen publicity and public education on the matter, lead and support all sectors of society to thoroughly study and better comprehend the white paper’s important substance and requirements, thereby enhancing citizen’s awareness of national security and their positivity and spontaneity in safeguarding it. In his opening remarks, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Chow Yat-ming, said that under the protection of the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security, Hong Kong has transitioned from chaos to order and entered a new stage of advancing from stability to prosperity. The hard-earned stability vividly exemplifies the country’s strong support and protection for Hong Kong. He noted that the Force also fulfils an important role as a guardian, upholding the belief that safeguarding national security is an ongoing endeavour with no end point, and it will enforce the law decisively, advance public education in a steady and substantive manner, and enhance the national security system. Mr Chow further emphasised that no one can remain a mere spectator in safeguarding national security - every citizen has a duty to play their part. He expressed hope that, through National Security Education Day, members of the public would better understand and embrace the principles set out in the white paper, enhance their awareness of national security, and work together to safeguard national security and Hong Kong’s stability. The event, held at the “Little Grape”-themed park located at Harcourt Garden in Admiralty, featured “NSafe Voyage”, a national security education exhibition zone that resembled a vessel, to deepen public understanding of the white paper. The “NSpeed Promotional Truck” and the new “NSmarties AI Interactive Platform” engaged the public, especially the younger generation, through interactive games conveying the message that safeguarding national security is everyone’s responsibility and a duty to be fulfilled. In addition, specialised equipment from various units, including the Counter Terrorism Response Unit, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau, and the Police Dog Unit, was on display, showcasing the Force’s professionalism and the diversity of its work. Ends/Sunday, April 12, 2026 Issued at HKT 13:55 NNNN"}, {"title": "CS concludes visit to Shaanxi Province (5.4.2026)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202604/05/P2026040500374.htm", "date": "5.4.2026", "description": "​The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, visited Shaanxi Province for two consecutive days from yesterday (April 4), where he called on local leaders and exchanged views with officials on strengthening the development of various aspects between the two places, including cultural exchanges, educational co-operation, and innovation and technology. ​Mr Chan called on the Secretary of the CPC Shaanxi Provincial Committee, Mr Zhao Yide, yesterday to exchange views on deepening Hong Kong-Shaanxi exchanges and co-operation. The Executive Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the CPC Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Xu Qifang, also attended the meeting. Mr Chan said that since the signing of the Strengthening Hong Kong/Shaanxi Co-operation Agreement and a series of Memoranda of Understanding in areas such as legal services, innovation and technology, education, and tourism in 2024, exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong and Shaanxi have yielded fruitful results under the support of the Central Government and through the joint efforts of both places. He added that co-operation in various aspects between the two places, in particular in the areas of cultural exchanges, educational co-operation, and innovation and technology, can be strengthened to achieve complementary advantages in the future. ​During the meeting, Mr Chan expressed his gratitude for the invitation by the Shaanxi Provincial People's Government to the memorial ceremony for legendary emperor Huang Di during the Ching Ming Festival. He said that the event was significant, connecting descendants of the Yan and Huang emperors from around the world to worship together the earliest mythical ruler Huang Di, and to pass on the good moral quality of treasuring historical legacies for the Chinese nation. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government's participation can help Hong Kong citizens to gain a deeper understanding of the origin of the Chinese civilisation, building a stronger sense of national identity and affection. He also expressed hope for strengthening co-operation in patriotic education with Shaanxi in the future, enabling Hong Kong citizens, especially the younger generation, to gain a deeper understanding of and identification with the nation and Chinese culture. Mr Chan concluded his visit to Shaanxi Province after attending the memorial ceremony for legendary emperor Huang Di during the Ching Ming Festival this morning, and returned to Hong Kong this afternoon. Ends/Sunday, April 5, 2026 Issued at HKT 19:00 NNNN"}, {"title": "CS to visit Shaanxi Province (3.4.2026)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202604/03/P2026040300289.htm", "date": "3.4.2026", "description": "The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, will depart for a visit to Shaanxi Province tomorrow morning (April 4) to meet and exchange with local leaders, deepen co-operation between Shaanxi and Hong Kong, and to attend a memorial ceremony for legendary emperor Huang Di during the Ching Ming Festival. Mr Chan will return to Hong Kong in the afternoon on April 5. During Mr Chan's absence, the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, will be the Acting Chief Secretary for Administration. Ends/Friday, April 3, 2026 Issued at HKT 15:00 NNNN"}, {"title": "CS leads delegation of Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town to visit Beijing Municipal Administrative Center and Xiong'an New Area in Hebei (1.4.2026)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202604/01/P2026040100703.htm", "date": "1.4.2026", "description": "The delegation of the Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town under the Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis, led by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (April 1) continued its visit. Representatives from the eight University Grants Committee-funded universities also joined the delegation today. They visited the Beijing Municipal Administrative Center and Xiong'an New Area in Hebei, which are listed as part of the \"one core and two wings\" national development strategy, to learn about practical experience in large-scale new area planning and construction, with a view to providing solid reference for the planning and construction of the Northern Metropolis University Town (NMUT). In the morning, the delegation visited the Beijing Municipal Administrative Center, touring the planning exhibition hall, the Yunhe Business District, the Beijing Library and the Grand Canal Museum of Beijing. They learned about the overall planning and development of the Center, its experience in attracting and concentrating higher education resources, as well as promoting the integration of the industry, academic and research sectors. They also observed the canal-side development and conservation and the construction of major public cultural facilities there. Mr Chan said that the Beijing Municipal Administrative Center has been developed into a world-class harmonious and liveable demonstration area through high-standard planning, green and smart development, and a model of integration between campus and city. He said he hopes to draw on its valuable experience in relieving city functions, sharing resources, and innovation ecosystems, thereby providing practical inspiration for the top-level design, smart campus development and sustainable growth of the NMUT. In the afternoon, the delegation visited Xiong'an New Area in Hebei, touring the comprehensive service centre of Xiong'an's start-up area. They learned about its planning and construction, as well as its \"one-stop\" integrated services for relieving Beijing of functions that are not essential to its role as the nation's capital. Subsequently, the delegation visited the University Town of Fifth Cluster North Collaborative Innovation Exhibition Hall and the Beijing Forestry University Xiong'an Campus Smart Exhibition Hall and project construction site. Mr Chan said that the first batch of Beijing universities' campuses in Xiong'an has entered a large-scale construction stage, achieving campus-city integration, deep integration of industry and education, and smart and green development, injecting strong innovative vitality into the new area. He added that the delegation learned about Xiong'an New Area's experience in fields such as higher education institution and industry linkage, infrastructure-led development, and sustainable planning. It will provide valuable insights for the high-quality planning and construction of the NMUT, helping it develop into a hub for international education, innovation, and technology. Mr Chan, the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, and other members of the delegation returned to Beijing tonight and will continue their visit tomorrow (April 2). Ends/Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Issued at HKT 20:18 NNNN"}, {"title": "CS leads delegation of Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town to continue visit to Zhejiang (31.3.2026)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202603/31/P2026033100680.htm", "date": "31.3.2026", "description": "The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (March 31) led the delegation of the Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town under the Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis to continue its visit to Zhejiang. The delegation conducted on-site visits to study the development models of local university towns, industry-academic-research integration mechanisms, and strategies for attracting top international institutions. In the morning, the delegation first visited the Xiasha Higher Education Park in Hangzhou, the largest higher education park in Zhejiang. The park has 14 higher education institutions with more than 200 000 full-time students. It is a modern university town that emphasises sharing of resources and deep integration of industry, academic and research sectors. The delegation toured various institutions in the park, including the Hangzhou Dianzi University, the China Jiliang University, Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, Zhejiang Gongshang University. The delegation particularly focused on the industrial innovation centre of the higher education park in Qiantang District and the science and technology innovation building of Zhejiang Sci-Tech University to learn more about the integrated development model of education chains, industrial chains, talent chains, and innovation chains of the higher education park. Thereafter, the delegation held an exchange meeting with representatives from the Department of Education of Zhejiang Province, the Qiantang District People's Government of Hangzhou Municipality and heads of various higher education institutions in the park. They also listened to a briefing on the planning and construction concept and the latest developments of the Xiasha Higher Education Park, as well as the positioning, layout and interactive co-operation among institutions within the park by Deputy Director of the Department of Education of Zhejiang Province Mr Shu Peidong and others. Mr Chan said that the valuable experience of the Xiasha Higher Education Park in overall planning and construction, funding and financing, development models, management, and policy support could be drawn on by Hong Kong. He hoped that through this visit, the delegation would learn more about how the strategy and operation model of the park could effectively create synergy and promote the development of institutions, and learn from the successful experiences of higher education parks to better promote the deep integration of industry, academia and research in the Northern Metropolis University Town (NMUT). In the afternoon, the delegation visited the Zhejiang University International Campus (Haining), which was jointly developed by Zhejiang University and Haining City. The International Campus adopts an international collaborative education model, partnering with various world-renowned institutions to establish international co-operative research centres and laboratories. It has successfully attracted top research talent and has built an integrated ecosystem of industry academia and research. The delegation learned about the campus's international collaborative education model and met with the Executive Vice President of Zhejiang University, Professor Wang Lizhong, the Dean of Zhejiang University International Campus, Dr Gu Zhen, and other representatives to discuss strengthening exchanges in higher education fields and talent cultivation co-operation between the two places. Mr Chan said that Hong Kong is planning and developing the NMUT, aiming to build the city into an international education hub. By attracting leading Mainland and top international universities and research centres, as well as world-class scholars and outstanding students to develop in Hong Kong, the NMUT will promote deeper integration between Hong Kong's strengths in academic fields and industries, achieving the goal of driving industrial development through education. He said that the valuable experience of Zhejiang University International Campus (Haining) would provide insights for the development of the NMUT, making a better collaboration result between education fields and industries in the NMUT, thereby helping Hong Kong contribute more on building China into a leading country in education. Mr Chan, the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, and members of the delegation will depart for Beijing this evening and continue the visit tomorrow (April 1). Ends/Tuesday, March 31, 2026 Issued at HKT 19:33 NNNN"}, {"title": "Government announces appointments to Fight Crime Committee (31.3.2026)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202603/31/P2026033000178.htm", "date": "31.3.2026", "description": "The Government announced today (March 31) the reappointment of the following 10 members to the Fight Crime Committee, whose term of appointment commences on April 1, 2026: Mr George Lau Ka-keung Dr Eugene Chan Kin-keung Mr Chan Man-chau Mr Chong Chong-yip Professor Lau Sin-ting Mr Stanley Li Sai-wing Mr Roland Wong Ka-yeung Mr Wong Wing-lik Mr Yeung Ka-shing Dr Stanley Yim Yuk-lun The Chief Secretary for Administration and Chairman of the Committee, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, thanked the 10 members for their continuous contributions and dedication to the Committee, and said he looked forward to continuing to work closely with all members. The Fight Crime Committee is responsible for drawing up plans to reduce crime, co-ordinating efforts in fighting crime and monitoring the results, and determining ways in which the public can be encouraged to contribute to the fight against crime. Ends/Tuesday, March 31, 2026 Issued at HKT 11:00 NNNN"}, {"title": "CS leads delegation of Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town to visit Zhejiang (30.3.2026)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202603/30/P2026033000717.htm", "date": "30.3.2026", "description": "​The delegation of the Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town (WG) under the Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis, led by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, arrived in Ningbo today (March 30) to begin a four-day visit to Zhejiang, Beijing, and the Xiong'an New Area in Hebei. The delegation will conduct on-site visits to study the development models and practical experience of local university towns, with a view to providing solid policy reference for the planning and construction of the Northern Metropolis University Town (NMUT). The delegation first visited the Ningbo Higher Education Park. Planned and constructed in 1999, the Ningbo Higher Education Park is the first higher education park in the country. A number of higher education institutions are located in the park, and shared resources such as libraries and sports facilities are available. The delegation toured various institutions in the park, including Zhejiang Wanli University, NingboTech University, and the School of Software Technology, Zhejiang University. The delegation particularly focused on the University of Nottingham Ningbo China, which was jointly established by Zhejiang Wanli University and the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom, to gain an in-depth understanding of the positioning, characteristics, and development strategies of different institutions in the park. They also studied the overall planning model and construction style of the park. Afterwards, the delegation held an exchange meeting with representatives from the Department of Education of Zhejiang Province, the Ningbo Municipal Government, the Ningbo Municipal Education Bureau, and heads of various higher education institutions in the park. They also listened to a briefing on the development of the Ningbo Higher Education Park by member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Ningbo Municipal Committee and Vice Mayor of the Ningbo Municipal People's Government, Mr Xu Yan, Deputy Director of the Department of Education of Zhejiang Province Mr Shu Peidong, and other representatives. Mr Chan said that the Chief Executive announced in the 2025 Policy Address the establishment of a research task force under the WG to study the development model for the NMUT. He hoped that through this visit, the delegation could draw on the successful experience of the Ningbo Higher Education Park over the past two decades, and understand how different institutions could better promote the integrated development of industry, academia and research through government policy support and resource concentration in the park. He also hoped that the visit could help promote exchanges and co-operation in the education field between the two places. In the evening, Mr Chan and the delegation arrived in Hangzhou, where they met with member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee and Executive Vice Governor of Zhejiang Province, Mr Xu Wenguang, and other Zhejiang provincial officials. They exchanged views on further deepening Zhejiang-Hong Kong co-operation, particularly on strengthening exchanges, co-operation, and development with Mainland institutions in the education field. Mr Chan said that in recent years, Zhejiang Province has fully implemented its strategy of modernisation of education and the strategy to build a strong province in higher education, achieving rapid development with remarkable and widely recognised results. Zhejiang and Hong Kong have signed multiple co-operation agreements, which set out more practical and diversified collaborative projects in the education field, with the aim of jointly nurturing and supplying new-era talent for the country's high-quality development. Mr Chan expressed hope of bringing the successful experience of Zhejiang Province back to Hong Kong to support the city in developing into an international hub for post-secondary education, and contributing Hong Kong's strengths to building China into a leading country in education, while continuing to promote deeper exchanges and co-operation between Zhejiang and Hong Kong in the education field. Mr Chan, the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, and other members of the delegation will continue their visit tomorrow (March 31) and visit the Xiasha Higher Education Park in Hangzhou. Ends/Monday, March 30, 2026 Issued at HKT 19:18 NNNN"}, {"title": "CS leads delegation of Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town under Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis to visit Zhejiang, Beijing and Xiong'an New Area in Hebei (29.3.2026)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202603/29/P2026032900205.htm", "date": "29.3.2026", "description": "The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, will lead the research task force set up by the Working Group on Planning and Construction (WG) of the University Town under the Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis to visit Zhejiang, Beijing, and the Xiong'an New Area in Hebei tomorrow (March 30). The delegation will conduct site visits to local higher education infrastructure and exchange views with university experts and scholars on their successful experiences and development strategies, to efficiently advance the construction of the Northern Metropolis University Town. Members of the delegation led by Mr Chan include the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin; the Head of the Chief Executive's Policy Unit, Dr Stephen Wong; the Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan; the Director of the Northern Metropolis Co-ordination Office, Miss Linda So; and representatives from other WG members. The delegation will visit local higher education campuses and university towns and exchange views with officials, experts and scholars on the operation and development, and the industry-education collaboration of the campuses. The delegation will also visit local Department of Education and exchange views on strengthening education co-operation. Mr Chan and Dr Choi will return to Hong Kong on April 2 and April 3 respectively. During Mr Chan's absence, the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, will be the Acting Chief Secretary for Administration. During Dr Choi's absence, the Under Secretary for Education, Dr Sze Chun-fai, will be the Acting Secretary for Education. Ends/Sunday, March 29, 2026 Issued at HKT 15:00 NNNN"}, {"title": "Prime Minister of Singapore visits Hong Kong Park in the Loop in Northern Metropolis (27.3.2026)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202603/27/P2026032700703.htm", "date": "27.3.2026", "description": "The Prime Minister and Minister for Finance of Singapore, Mr Lawrence Wong, accompanied by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong; the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn; the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong; and the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan, visited the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone (the Hong Kong Park in the Loop) in the Northern Metropolis (NM) today (March 27). Ms Linn and a representative of the Northern Metropolis Co-ordination Office first introduced the overall planning and latest development of the NM, as well as the adoption of multipronged measures to accelerate the development and attract investment. Afterwards, the delegation visited the wet laboratory buildings in the Hong Kong Park in the Loop, which were officially inaugurated in December last year, and was briefed by Professor Sun on the Park’s overall planning, industrial layout and progress in attracting enterprises and investment. Mr Chan said that the visit allows the Prime Minister of Singapore and his delegation to gain a deeper understanding of the overall planning and future development direction of the Northern Metropolis, and to learn about the potential investment and collaboration opportunities it offers to the Singaporean business community and enterprises. The visit also further enhances exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong and Singapore. He also noted that the Hong Kong Park of the Loop is one of the four major co-operation platforms in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. It is set to develop into a world-class technological innovation hub connecting the Mainland and the international community, as well as an important source for the country to foster new quality productive forces. He looks forward to more co-operation between Singapore and Hong Kong in areas such as innovation and technology, talent exchange and industrial collaboration, jointly promoting regional innovation and technology development. The delegation members from Singapore include Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs, Ms Sim Ann; Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ms Low Yen Ling; and Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Education and Ministry of National Development, Dr Syed Harun Alhabsyi. Ends/Friday, March 27, 2026 Issued at HKT 20:45 NNNN"}, {"title": "Arrangements for residents of seven fire-affected Wang Fuk Court blocks to collect belongings from their units (27.3.2026)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202603/27/P2026032700661.htm", "date": "27.3.2026", "description": "The Government today (March 27) announced details of arrangements for residents of the seven fire-affected blocks at Wang Fuk Court, Tai Po, to return to their units to collect personal belongings. From April 20 to May 5, residents of the seven blocks will be assigned designated time slots to return to their units in batches. The Head of the Task Force on Emergency Support and Fund-Raising and Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, stated that the arrangements involve meticulous planning, substantial manpower deployment and support measures. After considering factors such as building conditions, visitors' safety and manpower support, the access arrangements will not only be organised by block but also by floor and unit, in batches. The five blocks - Wang Sun House, Wang Yan House, Wang Tao House, Wang Kin House and Wang Shing House - will each be opened for three days. Approximately 10 floors will be opened in total daily in the morning and afternoon sessions. Units on each floor will be opened on a staggered basis, both horizontally and vertically, to prevent residents of adjacent units and units immediately above or below from visiting the units at the same time, so as to ensure smooth traffic flow and minimise possible risks. Wang Cheong House and Wang Tai House, which sustained more severe fire damage and require additional support for residents, will each be opened for six days, with approximately five floors to be opened daily. The seven blocks will be opened in three rounds. The first round (April 20 to 22) involves Wang Sun House. It will be opened first to test and refine the process. The second round (April 23 to 28) involves the opening of Wang Cheong House, paired successively with Wang Yan House and Wang Tao House. The third round (April 29 to May 4) involves the opening of Wang Tai House, paired successively with Wang Kin House and Wang Shing House. Under this arrangement, the opening of all seven blocks will be completed in 15 days. Details of the timetable are provided in the Annex. Regarding the number of people allowed to return to their units, a maximum of four residents may enter together for a single entry and exit. In some units where certain areas have been cordoned off due to structural damage, only two residents are permitted to enter. A small number of units were severely damaged by the blaze, resulting in significant structural damage. Only one resident is permitted to enter those units. Excluding walking time, residents may stay inside the unit for up to three hours. Each day will have two visiting sessions: the morning session from 9am to 1pm, and the afternoon session from 2.30pm to 6.30pm. Mr Cheuk added, \"The lifts in the affected blocks are out of service, so walking up the stairs will be physically demanding. Residents of higher floors may need to climb 20 to 30 flights of stairs, which is not easy. They should seriously consider their physical condition and act within their limits.\" Under the \"one social worker per household\" service, social workers will notify households of their arranged date and time slot, assist with pre-registration of the persons who will go to the units, and provide the relevant guidance notes to residents. Social workers will brief residents on the conditions of their units, including whether some areas have been reinforced or cordoned off. If a unit is severely damaged, social workers will show residents the photos to prepare them mentally or assist in their making informed decisions on returning to their units or, alternatively, authorising a suitable relative or friend to go on their behalf. On the day of returning to their units, the pre-registered persons for each household will be accompanied by social workers to register at Kwong Fuk Community Hall. To ensure residents' safety, they must wear safety helmets, protective gloves and face masks when entering the estate and going upstairs. Police officers or Civil Aid Service (CAS) members will accompany residents while they go up and down the buildings and enter units. For units with fatalities or for residents with special needs, the Social Welfare Department will arrange accompanying personnel. Each floor, the main and rear entrances, and the stairwells will be guarded by police officers. A special team comprising social workers, clinical psychologists, mobilised civil servants, and CAS members will also stand by on different floors to provide additional support. Mr Cheuk continued, \"The post-fire environment is harsh. Arranging access is not easy. Many bureaux and departments have to commit substantial manpower and resources and eliminate safety hazards for this to happen. The seven blocks involve over 1 700 households and nearly 7 000 people who will return to their units. We must co-ordinate and divide duties among many departments, in terms of resident escort, crowd management, emotional support, and emergency response. The deployment is therefore highly challenging and complex. Over 1 000 colleagues of different departments, including the Police, the Housing Department, the Home Affairs Department, the Social Welfare Department and the CAS, as well as civil servants mobilised by the Civil Service Bureau, will participate daily in carrying out the arrangements. The current arrangements are made after repeated discussion and are reasonable and justified. We urge residents to follow the assigned times so that all households can return to collect their belongings as soon as possible.\" Ends/Friday, March 27, 2026 Issued at HKT 19:12 NNNN"}, {"title": "Global Talent Summit Week flagship events conclude while reinforcing Hong Kong's role as international talent hub (19.3.2026)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202603/19/P2026031900348.htm", "date": "19.3.2026", "description": "Hong Kong Talent Engage (HKTE) announced today (March 19) that the flagship events of the Global Talent Summit Week (GTS Week), the International Talent Forum and the CareerConnect Expo, were held in two consecutive days and have concluded. Nine satellite events being held concurrently will continue until March 29. The GTS Week brought together experts from the political, business and academic sectors worldwide to share insights on the future integration of education, technology and talent, and worked with local and overseas partners to organise a series of activities, successfully showcasing Hong Kong's role and strengths as an international talent hub and the country's gateway for talent. The outline of the nation's 15th Five-Year Plan explicitly supports Hong Kong in building an international hub for high-calibre talent. The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, remarked that talent is the core for developing new quality productive forces. As the nation's international gateway and a \"super connector\", Hong Kong plays an important role in connecting global minds and driving innovative development. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will proactively align with the strategy for building a talent hub under the 15th Five-Year Plan, and fully leverage Hong Kong's unique advantages of being backed by the motherland and connected to the world under the \"one country, two systems\" principle to build a more internationally competitive system for attracting and nurturing talent, drawing top-notch talent from around the world. In doing so, Hong Kong will contribute to the nation's endeavours in building a great country, while pioneering a new phase of high-quality development for the city. ​ The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, delivered a speech to kick off the second-day programme of the International Talent Forum. He remarked that rapid advances in technology are accelerating changes in the global landscape. In such intense competition, science and technology are key, while talent remains the foundation. Through the activities of this year's GTS Week, the Government believes that stakeholders can gain deeper insights into future development trends. At the same time, a clear message is being sent to global talent: with the strong support of the nation and its own unique advantages, Hong Kong is the best place for career development. By bringing together talent, Hong Kong will contribute to the country's long‑term growth. ​ Witnessed by Mr Sun, the Director of HKTE, Mr Felix Chan, signed a co-operation agreement with the President of the Junior Chamber International Hong Kong, China, Mr Daryl Lin. Through the organisation's network of over 150 000 young leaders and members across 114 countries and regions worldwide, the agreement aims to invite global talent to explore development opportunities in Hong Kong and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. ​ The second-day programme of the Forum also featured thematic panel discussions, including one focused on collaborative development of industry, academic, research and application hosted by the Hong Kong Talents Group; a seminar on Hong Kong's innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem hosted by the Chairman of Innovating Hong Kong Global Talent Carnival; and a session on building Hong Kong's future talent pipeline hosted by the Hong Kong Institute of Human Resource Management. ​ This afternoon, in the Forging a National High-calibre Talent Hub Symposium hosted by HKTE, Mr Chan Kwok-ki and Vice Minister of Human Resources and Social Security Mr Yu Jiadong delivered speeches. Mr Sun made conclusion remarks. The Symposium brought together about 100 representatives from government units responsible for the talent work on the Chinese Mainland and the Macao Special Administrative Region, as well as delegates from top universities on the Chinese Mainland. Participants shared experiences in attracting, retaining, nurturing and recruiting talent, and discussed talent attraction and development strategies under the 15th Five-Year Plan. ​ Mr Felix Chan said, \"The GTS Week has clearly showcased Hong Kong's unique strengths as a connector between the Chinese Mainland and the world, as well as its development opportunities. It has set a benchmark for international talent events in Asia. The Forum and Expo alone recorded more than 10 000 on-site and over 170 000 online participants over two days, exceeding expectations. HKTE sincerely thanks all partners for their support, and will continue to promote Hong Kong's advantages and attract high-calibre talent from overseas, supporting their settlement and contributing new impetus to the city's long-term socio-economic development.\" ​ Mr Felix Chan invites global talent and members of the public to continue following the other satellite events of the GTS Week. Interested parties can visit the GTS Week website ( gts.hkengage.gov.hk/en ) or HKTE's social media platforms for information on the satellite events, or email enquiries to gts@hkengage.gov.hk . Ends/Thursday, March 19, 2026 Issued at HKT 20:58 NNNN"}, {"title": "Entertainment Expo Hong Kong 2026 Kick-off Ceremony held today (17.3.2026)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202603/17/P2026031700214.htm", "date": "17.3.2026", "description": "The kick-off ceremony of the Entertainment Expo Hong Kong 2026 was held today (March 17) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), bringing together an array of major international entertainment events. The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law; the Chairman of the Hong Kong Film Development Council (HKFDC), Dr Wilfred Wong, and representatives of the organisers of the events under the Expo officiated at the kick-off ceremony. Funded by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) and the Film Development Fund (FDF), the Expo is spearheaded by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. As one of Asia's most significant mega events in the entertainment industry, the five-week Expo encompasses events spanning various fields of film, television, music and digital entertainment, including exhibitions, a film festival, award ceremonies, summits and a financial forum. The Expo presents a rich and diverse programme for industry professionals and the public, attracting representatives from different countries and regions. The Expo also celebrates two major milestones this year - the 30th anniversary of the Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FILMART) and the 50th anniversary of the Hong Kong International Film Festival. To further promote the Hong Kong film industry and facilitate international networking for Hong Kong filmmakers, CCIDA and the HKFDC are organising different events during FILMART. Miss Law attended one of the flagship events, the Hong Kong Night networking reception at the HKCEC this evening, which drew filmmakers and industry representatives from around the world, underscoring Hong Kong's position as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. Another project during FILMART, Producers Connect, is also being organised to foster exchanges between global and local producers to explore cross-regional collaborations and co-productions; and the debut \"AI Academy, AI Hub\" thematic workshops are being launched with an aim to assist the industry in seizing new opportunities presented by artificial intelligence for the long-term development of the film industry. As in previous editions, this year's FILMART has exhibitors coming from a wide range of countries and regions, including provinces and cities on the Chinese Mainland, as well as major film organisations from overseas and leading film companies in Hong Kong. The Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau, and Dr Wong attended the opening ceremony of the Guangdong Pavilion this afternoon, demonstrating support for promoting deeper co-operation in the film and television industry in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The series of Hong Kong Entertainment Expo 2026 events will run until April 19. For more information on the Expo, please visit eexpohk.hktdc.com/en/ . Ends/Tuesday, March 17, 2026 Issued at HKT 18:50 NNNN"}, {"title": "Launching ceremony of "China in Splendour: The Ethos and Spirit of the Pillars of Our Time" Thematic Exhibition held today (13.3.2026)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202603/13/P2026031300674.htm", "date": "13.3.2026", "description": "The Education Bureau (EDB) held the launching ceremony of \"China in Splendour: The Ethos and Spirit of the Pillars of Our Time\" Thematic Exhibition today (March 13). The ceremony was officiated by the Acting Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing. The exhibition introduces the life stories of a number of pillars of our time as well as their contributions to the country, enabling students to connect what they learn with knowledge from various subjects, with a view to inspiring the younger generation to contribute to the future development of the country and to pass on the spirit of these pillars of our time. Addressing the event, Mr Cheuk said that these pillars have enabled the country to shine brightly on the world stage in various areas, such as culture, technology, defence, agriculture, medicine, architecture and sports. Their inspiring and motivational stories serve as exemplary demonstrations of patriotic spirit, and as real-life and vivid teaching materials for patriotic education. The spirit they exude - hard work, unwavering persistence, devotion to our country and its people, and selfless contribution - is truly moving and commands deep respect. He encouraged students present to learn from the efforts and perseverance of each of these figures, to cultivate their own sense of patriotism, and to contribute to the country's future development. He continued by noting that President Xi Jinping has pointed out that patriotism is at the core of Chinese national spirit, and Hong Kong compatriots have long upheld the glorious tradition of loving the country and loving Hong Kong, which constitutes an important foundation for the steadfast and successful implementation of \"one country, two systems\". The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government attaches great importance to patriotic education. On campus, the EDB continues to adopt all-round, comprehensive, cross-key-stage, and interdisciplinary approaches to integrate patriotic education into daily learning and teaching. The school curriculum covers elements such as the Constitution and the Basic Law; national symbols including the national flag, national anthem, and national emblem; as well as national security, national history and affairs, Chinese culture and national geography. These are combined with values education and related activities, enabling students not only to acquire knowledge of the country but also to develop an emotional identification with its close ties to the country. From an early age, this fosters their growth into good national citizens with a strong sense of national identity. To further promote patriotic education, the HKSAR Government set up the Working Group on Patriotic Education under the Constitution and Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee in 2024. The Working Group has been co-ordinating with government departments and non-governmental organisations to promote patriotic education, dovetailing with the Patriotic Education Law of the People's Republic of China to inherit and promote the spirit of patriotism. Other guests attending the ceremony included the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin; the Director-General of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Dr Wang Weiming; the Permanent Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Ms Maggie Wong; the Deputy Secretary for Education, Dr Gloria Chan; the Chairperson of the Curriculum Development Council, Professor Isabella Poon; representatives of the Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers (HKFEW), including Professor Lau Chi-pang, Mr Wong Kam-leung, Mr Tang Fei and Mr Ng Wun-kit; members of the Working Group on Patriotic Education; and principals, teachers and students of primary and secondary schools. \"China in Splendour: The Ethos and Spirit of the Pillars of Our Time\" Thematic Exhibition is organised by the EDB and co-organised by the Patriotic Education Centre under the HKFEW. The exhibition runs from now until late October this year and is targeted at all primary and secondary students in Hong Kong (including special schools). Schools interested in visiting may apply via the Patriotic Education Centre. For details, please visit the Centre's website ( www.hkpec.hk ). Ends/Friday, March 13, 2026 Issued at HKT 19:55 NNNN"}, {"title": "Commission on Children convenes 27th meeting (5.3.2026)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202603/05/P2026030500627.htm", "date": "5.3.2026", "description": "The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (March 5) chaired the 27th meeting of the Commission on Children. At the meeting, members were briefed by the Department of Health (DH) on the physical and mental impacts on children from the use of electronic screen products. In light of the advancement in information and communication technology, children's use of the Internet and electronic screen devices has become increasingly pervasive. The Government set up an interdepartmental expert advisory group in October last year to review the health effects of electronic screens and social media on children and provide related health recommendations, with a view to encouraging children to establish regular and healthy lifestyles and avoid excessive use of electronic screen products. The Education Bureau (EDB), the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) and the DH also provided members with an overview of the Government's implementation of sex education and associated support measures. The EDB, using values education as a core framework, has connected sex education with other cross-curricular domains through different subjects and life-wide learning activities, etc, aiming to cultivate students' proper values and attitudes holistically. The DH provides students with sex education information through multiple channels, including outreach health seminars, educational counselling, websites and social media platforms. The HKPF promotes sex education and crime prevention information through outreach talks, online/offline promotional materials, etc, to help children develop proper values and positive attitudes towards life and practise appropriate behaviour while building healthy interpersonal relationships. Relevant government departments will continue to collaborate with parents and all sectors of society to implement sex education and values education, enabling children to grow up healthily. Members welcomed the various measures implemented by the Government in promoting the healthy use of electronic screen products among children and sex education for children and exchanged views on how to further advance the relevant work. Ends/Thursday, March 5, 2026 Issued at HKT 18:52 NNNN"}, {"title": "Panel of Advisors to Committee on Education, Technology and Talents convenes second engagement session (3.3.2026)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202603/03/P2026030300518.htm", "date": "3.3.2026", "description": "The Committee on Education, Technology and Talents (CETT), chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, held the second engagement session with the Panel of Advisors to the CETT today (March 3). The theme of the session was \"Building Hong Kong into an International Post-Secondary Education Hub\". The Government strives to establish the \"Study in Hong Kong\" brand, promote the nurturing of local talent and attract outstanding non-local students and scholars to Hong Kong through a series of policy measures. At the engagement session, members of the Panel of Advisors pointed out that Hong Kong's post-secondary institutions are highly internationalised and diversified, boasting five of the world's top 100 universities, achieving new heights in academic influence, research standards, and internationalisation and laying a solid foundation for building an international hub for post-secondary education. In light of the changes in the global education landscape, the Panel of Advisors exchanged views on different strategies and measures to enhance Hong Kong's status as an education hub during the engagement session. The Panel of Advisors supported the Government and local institutions in taking the initiative to seize opportunities by continuously optimising campus facilities and accommodation provisions, thereby fully leveraging the advantages of Hong Kong's education, creating a diverse and inclusive international learning environment to attract more high-calibre non-local students to study in Hong Kong. Ways to enhance the promotion of the unique strengths of Hong Kong’s post-secondary and basic education were also discussed. Regarding the promotion of Vocational and Professional Education and Training (VPET), the Panel of Advisors focused on exploring how to enhance its social acceptance and attractiveness so that VPET can better fulfil its role in cultivating diverse talent, as well as supporting and promoting socio-economic development. The Panel of Advisors also attached great importance to the development of the Northern Metropolis University Town. It suggested institutions to establish closer collaboration among industry, academic and research sectors, to introduce more branded programmes, research collaborations and exchange projects, and in line with the industry-driven and infrastructure-led approach of the Northern Metropolis, to cultivate talent suitable for Hong Kong's economic development to strengthen its impetus. Mr Chan expressed gratitude for the insightful suggestions provided by members in the engagement session and stated that the Government will study the opinions in detail, as well as maintain close communication and co-operation with the members to formulate strategies for building Hong Kong into an international hub for post-secondary education. The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin; the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong; the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun; Permanent Secretaries or representatives of the three bureaux and members of the Panel of Advisors attended the engagement session today. Ends/Tuesday, March 3, 2026 Issued at HKT 17:13 NNNN"}, {"title": "Remarks by CS on 2026-27 Budget (25.2.2026)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/25/P2026022500449.htm", "date": "25.2.2026", "description": "Following are the remarks by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, at a media session at the Legislative Council Complex after the Financial Secretary delivered his Speech on the 2026-27 Budget today (February 25): Just now, the Financial Secretary delivered the 2026-27 Budget. Over the past year, despite a complex and volatile external environment marked by global geopolitical tensions, our economy has demonstrated remarkable resilience. We achieved steady growth in 2025, and our fiscal position has improved significantly. This is a hard-earned result. This year marks the beginning of the National 15th Five-Year Plan - a critical blueprint for national development over the next five years. Against this important backdrop, this Budget proactively aligns with the country's strategic directions, enhancing Hong Kong's better integration into and contribution to the overall national development. Some highlights of the Budget include: First, stepping up innovation and technology (I&T) development. The Budget aligns with the National AI+ Initiative to promote deep integration of AI with different industries. Resources are injected to speed up the development of the Hetao Co-operation Zone (Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone) Hong Kong Park, San Tin Technopole and the Hung Shui Kiu Industry Park. AI training programmes will also be enhanced to improve AI literacy and application across the community. Second, strengthening our status as an international financial centre. The Budget introduces a host of measures covering securities, bonds, offshore Renminbi business, asset management and digital assets. While reinforcing our traditional strengths, emerging sectors are also being explored. Mutual-market access will be enriched and Hong Kong's function as a key platform for \"bringing in and going global\" will be reinforced, thereby contributing to the country's goal of becoming a financial powerhouse. Third, enhancing the competitiveness of our traditional industries. Amid external uncertainties, the Budget rolls out a series of measures, including attracting new and large-scale international exhibitions to Hong Kong. Smart transformation of the logistics industry will be promoted, and cargo sources will also be expanded with a view to consolidating Hong Kong's status as a trade, shipping and aviation hub. Fourth, nurturing and attracting talent. Talent is key to economic development. The Budget supports the integrated development of education, technology and talent. It sets aside $10 billion in loans to support campus development in the Northern Metropolis University Town. While continuing to attract talent from the Mainland and overseas, efforts will be stepped up to nurture local talent in various sectors including I&T, finance and legal services, providing a solid foundation for Hong Kong's future development. The Budget also takes care of people's livelihoods. While maintaining fiscal prudence, it introduced targeted measures to support members of the public and local enterprises. Resources have also been set aside to follow up on the long-term housing arrangements for those affected by the Tai Po fire, and to inject $300 million into the Urban Renewal Authority for the launch of an enhanced version of the \"Smart Tender\" service, with the aim of addressing the issue of bid-rigging in building repair works. In summary, I think this is a comprehensive, pragmatic and forward-looking Budget. Under the leadership of the Chief Executive, the Government will continue to deploy resources effectively, promote economic development - particularly the accelerated development of the Northern Metropolis - and improve people's livelihoods. Together, we will seize new opportunities and sharpen Hong Kong's core competitiveness. I call on all sectors of the community to give their full support to this Budget. Let's work together to promote Hong Kong's high-quality development and build an even better Hong Kong. Thank you very much. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.) Ends/Wednesday, February 25, 2026 Issued at HKT 14:12 NNNN"}, {"title": "DCS chairs 11th meeting of Task Force on District Governance (24.2.2026)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/24/P2026022400415.htm", "date": "24.2.2026", "description": "The Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, chaired the 11th meeting of the Task Force on District Governance today (February 24) to follow up on the initiatives in accordance with the work assigned by the Steering Committee on District Governance. The meeting co-ordinated various departments in formulating specific implementation measures on issues of local concern and continuously reviewed the work progress and performance. Mr Cheuk said, \"The Task Force has continuously steered departments in implementing the strategies formulated by the Steering Committee, introducing various policies and measures targeting district issues of key public concern and achieving fruitful results. The Task Force will continue to lead departments in addressing people's livelihood concerns through concrete actions, comprehensively enhancing district governance and building a better community. The Task Force will also strengthen the promotion of work achievements to enhance citizens' sense of happiness and fulfillment.\" The Steering Committee chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration has formulated strategies for 12 district issues (Note), including various measures to strengthen community support and enhance district facilities, thereby creating a higher-quality living environment for the public. At the meeting, the Task Force followed up on the implementation progress and outcomes of relevant initiatives. The meeting discussed the achievements of the Care Teams, which completed their first-term services in October 2025. Over the two-year period, Care Teams made around 610 000 visits to elderly households and other households in need, provided around 100 000 instances of basic home or other support services, and organised around 50 000 district-level activities. Their achievements are evident to all. Moreover, Care Teams assisted in emergency and incident responses. In the event of emergencies and incidents in the districts (such as during the Wang Fuk Court Fire in Tai Po, the discovery of wartime bombs in Quarry Bay, Super Typhoon Ragasa, and successive heavy rainstorms affecting Hong Kong), Care Teams swiftly mobilised their members and volunteers to attend to the needs of affected individuals and provide them with adequate assistance. In particular, during the aftermath support for the Wang Fuk Court Fire, more than 1 900 Care Team members and volunteers from all 18 districts across Hong Kong responded promptly to the Government's call and actively participated in emergency assistance. In terms of resources, the Government provided the Care Teams with part of the funding they need, while the operating organisations supported the Care Teams' services through sponsorships, donations, or internal resources of the organisations. The total expenditure for the overall service plan of the first-term Care Teams was $444 million, of which $411 million was covered by Government funding disbursed according to the funding agreements (i.e., 92 per cent), while the remaining expenditure (i.e., 8 per cent) was met by community resources gathered by the Care Teams. Notably, the Government allocated $452 million as funding for the first-term Care Teams, but only 91 per cent of this amount was ultimately utilised, despite services exceeding the key performance indicator requirements that were delivered. This reflects the Care Teams' prudent use of public funds in accordance with guidelines and their effective mobilisation of community resources. To enable the public to better understand the work of the Care Teams' services, the Work Reports of the first-term Care Teams have been released today. Members of the public can visit the Care Teams website ( www.had.gov.hk/tc/public_services/district_services_community_care_teams/index.htm ) to view the Work Reports of the individual teams. The meeting also followed up on the progress of 12 district initiatives. In terms of care for the elderly, as at end-January 2026, the Care Teams in all districts had visited or reached out to over 91 000 singleton and doubleton elderly households, carers of elderly persons and persons with disabilities. More than 2 900 households (involving over 3 470 elderly persons or persons with disabilities) were referred by the Care Teams to receive subsidies for installation of emergency alarm systems. As regards enhancing district facilities, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department is expediting the renovation of public markets and cooked food markets. The stall enhancement works in the Ap Lei Chau Market Cooked Food Centre and the Luen Wo Hui Market Cooked Food Centre will be completed by April and July this year respectively, while the stall enhancement works in the Yue Wan Market Cooked Food Centre are expected to commence in March this year. The Highways Department has selected 14 suitable footpath locations for surface material replacement works, under which the existing paving slabs will be replaced with concrete pavement to enhance durability by minimising problems such as loosening or breakage of paving slabs resulting from load-bearing, compression or heavy usage; the Housing Department has also been carrying out minor improvement works at public housing estates to enhance the environment, and has so far completed external wall repainting works at five estates. In respect of enhancing the environment, relevant departments plan to complete six beautification projects in 2026, including thematic planting in various park projects and housing development schemes. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department has already completed the planting of flowering trees, such as pink trumpet trees and silk floss trees, along the main pedestrian pathways at Sha Tin Park and Che Kung Miu Road Playground in January this year, bringing vibrant colours to the community. Mr Cheuk thanked all departments for their dedicated efforts in advancing the above work and achieving notable results. He encouraged all departments to continue their efforts in the new year and to respond to public expectations through more solid and effective work, tangibly enhancing the quality of life and well-being of the public. Note: The 12 key issues are: (1) expanding after-school care and enhancing support for parents; (2) caring for the elderly and enhancing community support; (3) fostering clean markets and mobilising the community to participate in anti-rodent work; (4) enhancing public order and combating crimes on all fronts; (5) improving pedestrian facilities and ensuring road safety; (6) enhancing the community environment and strengthening local characteristics; (7) improving the environment of public housing estates and creating comfortable homes; (8) caring for the elderly and promoting digital inclusion; (9) improving the waiting environment at public transport interchanges to enhance the travel experience; (10) combating air-conditioner water dripping to improve community environment; (11) cleaning pedestrian walkways to improve city streets; and (12) strengthening thematic planting. Ends/Tuesday, February 24, 2026 Issued at HKT 18:20 NNNN"}, {"title": "Visitor arrivals to Hong Kong surge during Chinese New Year holidays (24.2.2026)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/24/P2026022400549.htm", "date": "24.2.2026", "description": "The interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements, led by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (February 24) announced that the nine-day Chinese New Year Golden Week of the Mainland (February 15 to 23) concluded smoothly yesterday. According to the Immigration Department (ImmD), around 1.77 million visitors arrived in Hong Kong over the Golden Week, representing an increase of 14 per cent over the same period last year. Mainland inbound visitors accounted for around 1.5 million, representing an increase of 14 per cent. The number of non-Mainland inbound visitors was around 270 000, also representing an increase of 14 per cent. Mr Chan said, \"During this Chinese New Year Golden Week, Hong Kong was filled with a festive atmosphere, with residents and visitors alike participating in a wide array of celebratory activities, including the Cathay International Chinese New Year Night Parade on the first day of the Chinese New Year, the fireworks display on the second day, the Chinese New Year Raceday on the third day, and the Chinese New Year Cup football match on the fifth day. These diverse and enriching events were well received by both residents and visitors, not only creating a joyous atmosphere throughout the city but also effectively attracting crowds, stimulating consumption, and bringing opportunities to various industries such as retail, catering and tourism, showcasing Hong Kong's vibrant and welcoming metropolitan charm.\" Visitor flow, situation at control points, and traffic and public transport arrangements During the nine-day Chinese New Year Golden Week, the daily average of Mainland visitors was around 170 000. The arrival of Mainland visitors peaked on February 18 (the second day of Chinese New Year) with around 210 000 Mainland visitors arriving in Hong Kong. During the Golden Week, the Express Rail Link West Kowloon Control Point received the highest number of Mainland visitors, followed by the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point. To cope with the increased passenger flow during the Chinese New Year Golden Week, relevant departments deployed additional manpower and operated additional counters and channels to facilitate passenger and vehicular flows. The Security Bureau activated the Emergency Monitoring and Support Centre during the holidays to closely monitor and co-ordinate public order across various districts, including various boundary control points (BCPs). The overall operation of the control points and traffic were smooth and orderly. Overall traffic conditions were generally smooth during the Golden Week. The Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre of the Transport Department (TD) operates round the clock to holistically monitor traffic conditions and public transport services across the territory, including BCPs, major stations and various tourist hotspots. The TD steered local and cross-boundary public transport operators (PTOs) to enhance their carrying capacity by increasing the frequency of bus services connecting land-based BCPs and strengthening cross-boundary coach services to meet passenger demand. PTOs also deployed additional staff to maintain order and reserved sufficient vehicles and manpower to further enhance services when necessary. Mega events and major tourist attractions The Cathay International Chinese New Year Night Parade on the first day of the Chinese New Year drew many residents and visitors, while the Chinese New Year Fireworks Display over Victoria Harbour on the second day of the Chinese New Year attracted over 360 000 residents and visitors. The race day on the third day of Chinese New Year also attracted over 20 000 visitors to experience the unique atmosphere of horse racing tourism of Hong Kong. Visitors went to different parts of Hong Kong during the Chinese New Year Golden Week, with high visitor flows observed at major tourist attractions including the West Kowloon Cultural District, Ocean Park, Hong Kong Disneyland, the Peak Tram and Ngong Ping 360. Smooth and effective crowd management measures were implemented. Regarding popular attractions in the Sai Kung East Country Park, various departments managed the increased number of visitors during the Chinese New Year Golden Week according to the measures devised beforehand. In the area of the East Dam of the High Island Reservoir in Sai Kung, the Police implemented traffic control measures as needed; the TD co-ordinated with the minibus operator to increase the service frequency of Route 9A (Pak Tam Chung - East Dam of High Island Reservoir); the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) published visitor flow information of the East Dam via its \"Enjoy Hiking\" website and strengthened cleaning services. The AFCD has also erected additional barriers and warning signs at the Po Pin Chau Viewing Platform, and deployed patrol staff during the Chinese New Year Golden Week holiday as planned, to urge visitors to pay attention to safety. As for the campsites at Ham Tin Wan, Sai Wan and Long Ke Wan, the AFCD implemented a management plan formulated before the Chinese New Year Golden Week holiday. This included providing additional large waste collection bins during the period, arranging daily campsite cleaning and bin clearances, deploying staff as planned for patrols and reminding campers of camping etiquette and regulations. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department arranged toilet attendants to be on duty daily at the Ham Tin public toilet. The AFCD also strengthened enforcement against illegal activities. During the Golden Week, there were a total of 32 enforcement cases along Sections 1 and 2 of the MacLehose Trail and at designated campsites nearby, including campsites at Ham Tin Wan, Sai Wan and Long Ke Wan. These cases involved offences such as littering and illegal use of fire outside designated barbecue areas or campsites. There were no instances of severe damage occurring at the aforementioned popular attractions and campsites within the Sai Kung East Country Park during the Golden Week. Traffic in the East Dam area was also generally smooth. The AFCD will review its long-term management strategies in light of the Golden Week experience, including the introduction of reservation and fee-charging mechanisms to better manage visitor flows. Inbound tour groups and hotel occupancy rates In terms of Mainland inbound tour groups, around 2 400 Mainland inbound tour groups brought nearly 84 000 visitors to Hong Kong during the nine-day Chinese New Year Golden Week, with around 74 per cent engaged in overnight itineraries. The number of tour groups exceeded the record of last year's eight-day Chinese New Year Golden Week by 9 per cent. The tour groups were generally orderly. The overall hotel occupancy rate reached 90 per cent in general. Mr Chan expressed gratitude to all relevant government departments, organisations, and industry partners for their collaborative efforts and close co-ordination in receiving visitors, providing citizens and visitors with a festive atmosphere, along with a warm, welcoming experience in Hong Kong, while celebrating the joyous, harmonious and vibrant Chinese New Year holidays. Ends/Tuesday, February 24, 2026 Issued at HKT 18:10 NNNN"}, {"title": "CS inspects operations at Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point (17.2.2026)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/17/P2026021700277.htm", "date": "17.2.2026", "description": "The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (February 17), the first day of the Chinese New Year, inspected the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point to learn about the arrangements and operation conditions for customs clearance, diverting passenger movements, public order maintenance, etc at the control point during the Chinese New Year period. Mr Chan was accompanied by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung; the Director of Immigration, Mr Benson Kwok; and the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Chan Tsz-tat. He also met the frontline staff of the Immigration Department (ImmD), the Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) and the Hong Kong Police Force on duty to extend his Chinese New Year greetings, and expressed his gratitude to them for performing their duties with dedication during the holidays, enabling visitors to continue to enjoy quality and efficient services during the arrival and departure peaks. Mr Chan was pleased to note that the relevant government departments have been diligently co-ordinating the ancillary arrangements of boundary control points (BCPs) and transportation, as well as maintaining close liaison with relevant organisations and the travel trade to be well prepared for crowd management, information dissemination and public transportation arrangements, with a view to ensuring the smooth operation of various aspects in receiving visitors. The ImmD has operated additional and temporary counters and channels at various BCPs to divert passenger and vehicular flows. Relevant departments of the BCPs have minimised leave for frontline officers to enable a flexible deployment of manpower. The Inter-departmental Joint Command Centre set up by the Police, the ImmD, the C&ED, and other relevant departments commenced operation last Saturday (February 14) to monitor the real-time situation at various BCPs, and to take timely contingency actions as necessary for flexible deployments. Moreover, the Emergency Monitoring and Support Centre of the Security Bureau (SB), and the Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre of the Transport Department will closely monitor the public order and traffic situation at various BCPs and districts to respond promptly to different kinds of emergencies. Mr Chan appealed to visitors arriving in Hong Kong during the Chinese New Year holidays to plan their itineraries ahead of time. He encouraged them to stay overnight after participating in various local celebratory activities for the Chinese New Year to fully experience Hong Kong's festive culture as well as its unique city charm. Members of the public and visitors may also visit the Hong Kong Tourism Board's one-stop Chinese New Year festive webpage ( www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/what-s-new/events/chinese-new-year.html ) and the SB's one-stop information platform on immigration clearance \"Easy Boundary\" ( www.sb.gov.hk/eng/bwt/status.html?type=outbound ) to obtain useful information such as opening hours and waiting times of major tourist attractions, respective average waiting times for passengers and private cars at land BCPs as well as those for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge shuttle bus and the Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang cross-boundary shuttle bus to plan their trips and save waiting times. Mr Chan expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Government colleagues and practitioners of various industries for their hard work during the Chinese New Year period. He also expressed his wishes for the stability and peace of the motherland, a thriving economy, and every success to the community. Ends/Tuesday, February 17, 2026 Issued at HKT 11:46 NNNN"}, {"title": "Principal Officials of HKSAR Government continue year-end household visits across 18 districts (14.2.2026)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/14/P2026021300700.htm", "date": "14.2.2026", "description": "​Principal Officials (POs) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government continued to participate in the year-end household visits across 18 districts co-ordinated by the Home Affairs Department today (February 14), touring various districts including Central and Western, Sha Tin, Eastern, Kowloon City and Sham Shui Po Districts to visit different families, learn about their living conditions, distribute blessing bags in celebration of the Chinese New Year, share the festive joy and celebrate the Chinese New Year together. The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, accompanied by the Acting District Officer (Central and Western), Miss Enson Chow, visited a young family and an elderly family living in Kennedy Town to understand their daily lives, together with District Council (DC) members and representatives from the District Services and Community Care Team (Care Team) of Central and Western District. The officials presented the families with Chinese New Year blessing bags, extended greetings to members of the public, and wished them every success in the Year of the Horse. Accompanied by the District Officer (Sha Tin), Mr Frederick Yu, the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, together with DC members and representatives from the Care Team of Sha Tin District, visited grassroots families and an elderly singleton living in Mei Lam Estate to chat with them and extend his New Year greetings and regards. Accompanied by the District Officer (Eastern), Mr Henry Lai, the Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong, together with a DC member and a representative from the Care Team of Eastern District, visited a young family and an elderly singleton living in Yiu Tung Estate to learn about their daily lives and extend Chinese New Year wishes. Accompanied by the District Officer (Kowloon City), Mr Ivanhoe Chang, the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, together with DC members and representatives from the Care Team of Kowloon City District visited a young family and elderly doubletons living in Tak Long Estate. Accompanied by the District Officer (Sham Shui Po), Mr Oscar Wong, the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, together with DC members and representatives from the Care Team of Sham Shui Po District visited an elderly family and an ethnic minority family in Sham Shui Po. The POs of the HKSAR Government will continue to pay household visits in the coming two days to express tokens of care and wishes to members of the public, and join them in celebrating the Chinese New Year. Ends/Saturday, February 14, 2026 Issued at HKT 18:54 NNNN"}, {"title": "Principal Officials of HKSAR Government commence year-end household visits across 18 districts (13.2.2026)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/13/P2026021300361.htm", "date": "13.2.2026", "description": "​With the Chinese New Year just around the corner, Principal Officials (POs) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government have started travelling to all 18 districts throughout Hong Kong today (February 13) to visit different families for four consecutive days (February 13 to 16) to chat with them, learn about their living conditions, distribute blessing bags in celebration of the Chinese New Year, share the festive joy and celebrate the Chinese New Year together. The year-end household visits across 18 districts are co-ordinated by the Home Affairs Department. The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee; the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak; and the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, accompanied by the Director of Home Affairs, Ms Priscilla To, and the District Officer (Yau Tsim Mong), Mr Eric Lee, visited two elderly families living in Prosperous Garden today to understand their daily lives and present them with Chinese New Year blessing bags. Mr Lee, Miss Mak and Mr Sun, together with a District Council (DC) member, an Area Committee member and a representative from the District Services and Community Care Team (Care Team) of Yau Tsim Mong District, also visited the Salvation Army Yaumatei Multi-service Centre for Senior Citizens to send seasonal greetings to members of the public and wish them a healthy and happy Year of the Horse. Accompanied by the District Officer (Kwun Tong), Mr Denny Ho, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, and the Permanent Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr Patrick Li, together with DC members and representatives from the Care Team of Kwun Tong District, visited elderly doubletons and an ethnic minority family living in Shun Lee Estate to understand their daily lives and needs, and convey care and seasonal greetings to them. Accompanied by the District Officer (Wan Chai), Ms Fanny Cheung, the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, together with DC members and representatives from the Care Team of Wan Chai District, visited a young person and elderly doubletons living in Lai Tak Tsuen to engage them in warm conversations and send them greetings. In addition, accompanied by the District Officer (Sham Shui Po), Mr Oscar Wong, the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, together with DC members and representatives from the Care Team of Sham Shui Po District, visited a young family and elderly doubletons living in Sham Shui Po. Accompanied by the District Officer (Sai Kung), Miss Kathy Ma, the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, together with a DC member and a representative from the Care Team of Sai Kung District, visited an elderly singleton and a family living in Tseung Kwan O. Accompanied by the District Officer (North), Ms Winkie Chick, the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, together with DC members and representatives from the Care Team of North District, visited a young family and an elderly doubletons household living in Queen's Hill Estate. The POs of the HKSAR Government will continue to pay household visits in various districts in the coming three days to express care to members of the public through face to face interactions, convey positive messages and well wishes, and join the community in celebrating the New Year. Ends/Friday, February 13, 2026 Issued at HKT 19:10 NNNN"}, {"title": "Volunteers of 15th NG, 12th NGD and 9th NSOG contribute over 360 000 hours of service (7.2.2026)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/07/P2026020600596.htm", "date": "7.2.2026", "description": "​The National Games Coordination Office (Hong Kong) (NGCO) today (February 7) staged a Volunteer Recognition Ceremony of the 15th National Games (NG), the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities (NGD) and the 9th National Special Olympic Games (NSOG) in Hong Kong. The ceremony recognised the exceptional dedication and effort of volunteers who devoted themselves throughout the test events and the official events. The ceremony was held at the Hong Kong Velodrome, with officiating guests including the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr Martin Liao; the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law; the Permanent Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ms Vivian Sum; the Head of the NGCO, Mr Yeung Tak-keung; the Chairman of the Hong Kong Volunteers Association, Mr Andy Kwok; and the Chairperson of the Agency for Volunteer Service, Ms Melissa Kaye Pang. Nearly 3 000 volunteer representatives attended the event, where awards were presented to selected volunteers and volunteer groups for their exceptional service. Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Chan expressed that Hong Kong's involvement in jointly hosting the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG is a testament to the trust and support from the country. The successful execution of events in the Hong Kong competition region was made possible not only through the collaborative efforts of various government departments and sectors of society, but also through the support of a passionate team of volunteers. Over the past year, more than 15 000 volunteers participated, accumulating over 360 000 hours of service. The volunteers exemplified Hong Kong's hospitality to the events and showcased enthusiasm and efficiency. He also thanked the Hong Kong Jockey Club for their full support for the volunteer programme, as well as the Hong Kong Volunteers Association and the Agency for Volunteer Service for their assistance in recruiting, training, and managing the volunteer team. The ceremony began with performances by members of the Hong Kong Rope Skipping Association, China and the mascots of the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG, Xiyangyang and Lerongrong. After the volunteer awardees and groups received their accolades, some volunteers shared personal stories, highlighting the motivations and sentiments behind their service. Additionally, members of the Hong Kong men's handball team, who reached the semifinals in the 15th NG, attended the event to interact with the audience and perform alongside a singer. Ends/Saturday, February 7, 2026 Issued at HKT 16:46 NNNN"}, {"title": "CS chairs interdepartmental working group meeting on festival arrangements (6.2.2026)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/06/P2026020600576.htm", "date": "6.2.2026", "description": "The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (February 6) chaired a meeting of the interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements to holistically co-ordinate and steer the preparatory work of various government departments for welcoming visitors to Hong Kong during the Chinese New Year Golden Week of the Mainland (i.e. from February 15 to 23). The Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung; the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law; the Under Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Liu Chun-sun; the Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong, and representatives from other relevant government departments also attended. Mr Chan said, \"We are approaching the nine-day Chinese New Year Golden Week of the Mainland. Various celebration activities will take place to create a rich New Year ambience for residents and visitors. We estimate a notable increase in visitor arrivals during the Chinese New Year Golden Week of the Mainland. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government will make good preparations for receiving visitors, including diligently co-ordinating the ancillary arrangements of boundary control points (BCPs) and transportation, as well as maintaining close liaison with relevant organisations and the travel trade to prepare well for crowd management, information dissemination and arrangements of public transportation and BCPs, with a view to ensuring the smooth operation of various aspects in receiving visitors and offering a high-quality experience to them.\" Estimated visitor flow and preparatory work According to the Immigration Department (ImmD)'s estimate, around 1.43 million Mainland visitors will visit Hong Kong via various sea, land and air control points during the nine-day Chinese New Year Golden Week of the Mainland. Compared with last year's Chinese New Year Golden Week of the Mainland, the daily average visitor arrivals will increase by about 6 per cent. According to the estimate of the Travel Industry Authority (TIA) and the trade, it is anticipated that 2 200 inbound tour groups will visit Hong Kong during the Chinese New Year Golden Week of the Mainland, with the average daily number of inbound tour groups notably higher than that of last year’s Labour Day and National Day Golden Week of the Mainland. Major tourist spots have formulated special arrangements to handle the estimated increase in people flow. The Hong Kong community is expected to become more vibrant and highly patronised during the Chinese New Year Golden Week of the Mainland, bringing opportunities to various sectors. There will be a rich array of activities across the territory during the Chinese New Year Golden Week of the Mainland. Major events include the Cathay International Chinese New Year Night Parade on February 17 (Lunar New Year's Day) and the Lunar New Year Fireworks Display on February 18 (the second day of Lunar New Year). The Hong Kong Police Force will ensure sufficient police manpower to implement corresponding crowd management measures and special traffic arrangements as necessary for the events to be conducted in a safe and orderly manner. District offices will also closely monitor the flow of visitors within their respective districts and notify relevant departments having regard to the actual circumstances with a view to strengthening management of the relevant spots. Co-ordinate control points, traffic and public transport facilities The HKSAR Government has given due consideration to the relevant circumstances, including the schedules and arrangements of mega events in Hong Kong during the Chinese New Year holiday this year, as well as the experience of extending the operating hours of individual BCPs during the 2024 Chinese New Year, and decided, in discussion with relevant Mainland authorities, to maintain the existing operating hours of the BCPs during this year's Chinese New Year holiday. The Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang Port and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) Port will maintain a 24-hour operation as usual. The HKSAR Government appeals to visitors to plan ahead for their itineraries and stay overnight after participating in various local celebratory activities for the Chinese New Year to fully enjoy the rich and diverse celebratory activities to be held across various districts in the city and experience Hong Kong's unique city charm. Relevant departments have minimised leave for frontline officers to enable flexible deployment of manpower and operation of additional counters, temporary counters and channels, with a view to diverting passenger and vehicular flow. The Inter-departmental Joint Command Centre set up by the Police, the ImmD, the Customs and Excise Department (C&ED), and other relevant departments will be activated from February 14 (Saturday) to February 23 (Monday) to monitor the real-time situation at various control points. The Joint Command Centre will maintain close liaison with the Mainland port authorities through the established port hotlines and real-time notification mechanism and take timely contingency actions as necessary to flexibly deploy manpower at BCPs to ensure smooth operation of the land control points. The Security Bureau will activate the Emergency Monitoring and Support Centre during the Chinese New Year Golden Week of the Mainland to closely monitor and co-ordinate the public order situation at various BCPs and facilitate interdepartmental follow-up actions where necessary to respond promptly to various kinds of emergencies. For public transport arrangements, the Transport Department (TD) has proactively approached various public transport operators to enhance their capacity and reserve sufficient vehicles and manpower to meet the travel needs of visitors during peak periods. Among them, the MTR Corporation Limited will significantly enhance the service of the East Rail Line at different periods during the period between February 13 (Friday) and February 23 (Monday). Most local railway lines will operate overnight on February 16 (Monday, Lunar New Year’s Eve). Services on the relevant railway lines will be strengthened after the Night Parade on February 17 (Lunar New Year’s Day) and the Fireworks Display on February 18 (the second day of Lunar New Year) for the convenience of residents and visitors. The TD will also cater for the arrangements of BCPs and has co-ordinated with relevant operators to enhance transportation services connecting various BCPs, including increasing the frequency of HZMB shuttle bus (Gold Bus) to about one minute during peak hours, and Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang cross-boundary shuttle bus (Yellow Bus) to about two minutes at its highest frequency, as well as increasing the quota of cross-boundary coaches to strengthen services, and formulating a contingency plan by implementing special traffic control measures as necessary, including providing a dedicated passage for public transport vehicles at the HZMB Port, the Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang Port and the Shenzhen Bay Port to ensure smooth public transport services. Furthermore, in the early hours from February 17 (Tuesday, Lunar New Year's Day) to February 19 (Thursday, the third day of Lunar New Year), after the service hours of the East Rail Line trains to Lo Wu Station, special bus service of KMB Route No. N73 (MTR Sheung Shui Station to San Tin) will be provided to carry passengers to interchange to the Yellow Bus for their journey to the Mainland via the Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang Port, which operates round-the-clock. The Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre of the TD will operate 24 hours a day during the Chinese New Year Golden Week of the Mainland to closely monitor the traffic conditions and public transport services in all districts (including tourist hotspots), BCPs, and major stations across Hong Kong and take prompt measures to address service demands and disseminate the latest traffic updates through various channels. In view of the anticipated large number of tourists visiting Sai Kung High Island Reservoir East Dam and campsites including Ham Tin Wan Campsite during the Chinese New Year Golden Week of the Mainland, the Police have taken targeted measures, including deploying uniformed officers at strategic locations at Pak Tam Chung, Sai Kung Man Yee Road and East Dam, for traffic and crowd management during peak visitor arrival and departure periods. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), in addition to safety measures implemented earlier such as adding barriers and putting up warning signs, will implement temporary crowd control measures at the entrance of the High Island Geo Trail - Po Pin Chau Section when necessary to prevent overcrowding at the site. The TD has co-ordinated with the operator to enhance the service of GMB Route No. 9A (Pak Tam Chung - High Island Reservoir East Dam) subject to passenger demand. Furthermore, the Government has strengthened management efforts at Ham Tin Wan, Sai Wan, and Long Ke Wan. For instance, at the campsite and public toilets in Ham Tin Wan, the AFCD and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will jointly implement special management arrangements this weekend (February 7 and 8) and from February 14 to 23. These measures include deploying staff daily to clean the campsite and empty trash bins, assigning toilet attendants on duty, enhancing campsite patrols and public education, and installing network cameras to monitor the cleanliness of the areas around the public toilets. Management of tour groups and protection of visitors The TIA has reminded travel agents receiving Mainland inbound tour groups to stagger arrival times as far as possible, and co-ordinate with relevant parties including attractions to adopt appropriate diversion measures to enable proper management of visitor flows and tour buses, with a view to offering a pleasant travel experience to visitors. The TIA will also conduct inspections in districts where relatively more registered shops for inbound tour groups are located, and offer assistance to visitors and tourist guides to protect inbound tour group visitors' rights. Additionally, the Police will continue to step up enforcement actions against the illegal acts of taxi drivers including overcharging and refusing hire. The C&ED will also step up inspection of shops serving visitors to combat unfair trade practices. To ensure smooth traffic flow in tourist areas such as the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront and the Peak, the Police will step up enforcement actions against offenses causing traffic congestion. Illegally parked vehicles that cause serious obstruction or pose an immediate danger will be ticketed and towed away immediately without prior warning. Weather forecast As Hong Kong will still be in winter during the Chinese New Year Golden Week of the Mainland, it is expected that the city may occasionally experience temperature drops due to the monsoon. The chances of being affected by severe weather such as heavy rain or tropical cyclones are relatively low. The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) will release relevant weather information as early as possible. Travellers are advised to check the HKO’s nine-day weather forecast and the latest weather warnings before travelling. Information dissemination To assist visitors in planning their itineraries, the interdepartmental working group and relevant departments will strengthen information dissemination, including the latest inbound visitor arrivals, the situation at various BCPs, information on events, transport arrangements, and latest weather forecast, to enable residents and visitors to plan their itineraries according to the latest situation. The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has launched a one-stop Chinese New Year festive webpage ( www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/what-s-new/events/chinese-new-year.html ), which consolidates major Chinese New Year events in Hong Kong and practical information for the Chinese New Year Golden Week of the Mainland. The webpage includes information about the opening hours and waiting times of major tourist attractions, information on unique celebratory activities, and updates on public transport and cross-border service arrangements, enabling visitors to plan their trips in advance and experience Hong Kong’s festive culture in depth. The HKTB has also stepped up promotions on the Mainland by partnering with popular platforms and influencers to showcase authentic local delicacies and unique Chinese New Year experiences to attract more Mainland visitors to visit and spend in Hong Kong and enhance their overall travel experiences. Residents and visitors may visit \"Easy Boundary\" ( www.sb.gov.hk/eng/bwt/status.html?type=outbound ), a one-stop information platform on immigration clearance launched by the Security Bureau, to obtain useful information on \"Easy Boundary\" in one go, including the respective average waiting times for passengers and private cars at land BCPs, as well as for the HZMB cross-boundary shuttle bus and the Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang cross-boundary shuttle bus, to plan their trips and save waiting times. Ends/Friday, February 6, 2026 Issued at HKT 17:10 NNNN"}, {"title": "Sixth-term Commission on Poverty convenes fifth meeting (5.2.2026)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202602/05/P2026020500488.htm", "date": "5.2.2026", "description": "The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, chaired the fifth meeting of the sixth-term Commission on Poverty (CoP) this afternoon (February 5). At the meeting, members were briefed by a university research team on the review results of Targeted Poverty Alleviation Schemes. Members were pleased to note that the Strive and Rise Programme, the Pilot Programme on Community Living Room, and the School-based After School Care Service Scheme have achieved their key performance indicators, with certain indicators exceeding expectations. This reflects the schemes' positive impact on service beneficiaries' living standards and personal development, and further affirms the direction of the strategy of targeted poverty alleviation and its effectiveness. The review findings will be incorporated into the proposed Report on Impact of Targeted Poverty Alleviation Strategy in Hong Kong. Members also noted that the Report will quantify at a macro level the social value transferred to households that benefit from regular housing, health, education, and welfare measures. Such an analysis would reflect in a more comprehensive manner the Government's efforts and effectiveness in alleviating poverty. The Government will prepare the Report according to the timetable and consult the CoP with a view to releasing it in mid-2026. Ends/Thursday, February 5, 2026 Issued at HKT 17:30 NNNN"}, {"title": "Steering Committee on District Governance convenes sixth meeting (22.1.2026)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202601/22/P2026012200615.htm", "date": "22.1.2026", "description": "The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, chaired the sixth meeting of the Steering Committee on District Governance today (January 22) to steer and direct various bureaux and departments in formulating strategies on issues of district concern and to follow up on the implementation progress of the 12 key district initiatives identified at the first five meetings. Mr Chan said, \"Since their establishment, the Steering Committee and the Task Force on District Governance have adhered to people-oriented principles, and have actively responded to people's livelihood concerns by formulating and implementing a series of clearly targeted, pragmatic and forward-looking policy measures to create a better community environment and enhance people's well-being. In the new year, the Steering Committee will continue to steer bureaux and departments to perform their duties with responsibility and determination, and ensure each people-oriented initiative is fully and effectively implemented.\" At the meeting, the Steering Committee followed up on the work progress of 12 district issues of public concern (Note) identified at previous meetings, and provided directives to relevant bureaux and departments in a wide range of areas covering support for children and the elderly, community facilities, and environmental hygiene improvements, all aimed at enhancing people’s quality of life. In terms of support for parents, 202 primary schools with more than 9 600 students have participated in the School-based After School Care Service Scheme (the Scheme). Participating parents generally recognised that the Scheme has helped support their employment and childcare needs. The Government will continue to encourage more schools to join the Scheme, providing better support for families in need of care services. As regards care for the elderly, in order to promote digital inclusion, the Digital Policy Office (DPO) has launched the \"Smart Silver\" Digital Inclusion Programme for Elders (the Programme) since December 2024, providing funding support to 12 district organisations to set up 40 community-based help desks across all 18 districts. These help desks provide training on digital technologies and technical support for elderly people aged 60 or above, particularly singleton or doubleton elders living in old districts and public housing. From launch to December last year, the Programme has already served over 100 000 elderly people. The DPO will continue to assist elderly people in learning about and using smartphones and other digital communication technologies through the Programme, thereby helping them integrate into the community. In terms of environmental hygiene, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) continues to carry out rodent control actions in 93 major rodent black spots, and has achieved the target of reducing the number of black spots by 60 percent before the end of 2025. The FEHD will continue the efforts to foster clean markets and improve the community environment through publicity and education, enforcement actions and enhanced daily cleaning. In regard to combating water dripping from air-conditioners in buildings, the FEHD will build on the experience gained last summer to study the application of AI image recognition technology to automatically detect dripping sources, and will strengthen collaboration with the property management sector to tackle the problem of dripping air conditioners and improve the living environment for the public. In accordance with the overall strategies set by the Steering Committee on District Governance, the Task Force on District Governance, chaired by the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, will continue to co-ordinate bureaux and departments in taking forward the various district initiatives to raise people’s standard of living with concrete results and enhance their sense of achievement, satisfaction and security. Note: The 12 district issues are (1) expanding after-school care services and enhancing support for parents; (2) caring for the elderly and enhancing community support; (3) fostering clean markets and mobilising the community to participate in anti-rodent work; (4) enhancing public order and combating crimes on all fronts; (5) improving pedestrian facilities and ensuring road safety; (6) enhancing the community environment and strengthening local characteristics; (7) improving the environment of public housing estates and creating comfortable homes; (8) caring for the elderly and promoting digital inclusion; (9) improving the waiting environment at public transport interchanges to enhance the travel experience of people; (10) combating water dripping from air-conditioners in buildings to improve the community environment; (11) cleaning pedestrian walkways to improve the cityscape; and (12) strengthening thematic plantings. Ends/Thursday, January 22, 2026 Issued at HKT 19:35 NNNN"}, {"title": "Starry Lee Wai-king resigns as Convenor of Working Group on Patriotic Education (22.1.2026)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202601/22/P2026012200256.htm", "date": "22.1.2026", "description": "​The Government today (January 22) announced that Dr Starry Lee Wai-king has tendered her resignation to the Chief Secretary for Administration as Convenor of the Working Group on Patriotic Education (the Working Group) under the Constitution and Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee (CBLPSC), with immediate effect. Dr Lee has served as Convenor of the Working Group since its establishment in April 2024. Following her election as President of the Eighth Legislative Council, she has tendered her resignation. The Chief Secretary for Administration and CBLPSC Chairman, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, expressed his sincere thanks for Dr Lee's valuable contributions. He said, \"Dr Lee has proactively led the work of the Working Group and provided a wealth of valuable advice to the Government on promoting patriotic education and enhancing the sense of patriotism and national sentiment of the public. She has made significant contributions to the work of the Working Group.\" The Government will appoint a new Convenor to the Working Group and announce the appointment in due course. The Working Group on Patriotic Education is responsible for advising the Government on the overall programme and strategy for promoting patriotic education, the implementation of related work, co-ordination and collaboration between government departments and non-governmental organisations, as well as other relevant matters. Ends/Thursday, January 22, 2026 Issued at HKT 15:30 NNNN"}, {"title": "V Mark opening ceremony held today (10.1.2026)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202601/10/P2026011000488.htm", "date": "10.1.2026", "description": "V Mart, the new cultural and creative arts bazaar at Victoria Park, co-organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and Po Leung Kuk, held the opening ceremony today (January 10). V Mart has commenced operation after a trial run on December 12 last year. It will showcase a diversity of intriguing themes from time to time appealing to local residents and tourists. With the coming Chinese New Year, V Mart's theme will be \"New Year Pet Cuties\", featuring a pet-friendly area and pet photo spots. A series of events including Doggies Sports Day, New Year pet style competition and pet adoption day will be held. Addressing the opening ceremony, the Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau, said that through cross-sectoral collaboration with Po Leung Kuk, V Mart would transform the time-honoured Victoria Park into a market with multifarious themes, adding to community vibrancy and showcasing the unique charm of Hong Kong where East meets West and tradition meets modernity. Other officiating guests at the ceremony included the Chairman of Po Leung Kuk, Ms Amanda Ho; Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Manda Chan and Vice Chairman of Po Leung Kuk, Mr Louie Lam. Located at the Water Fountain Plaza and the South Pavilion Plaza in Victoria Park, V Mart is one of the nine hotspot projects announced in last May by the Working Group on Developing Tourist Hotspots led by the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration. V Mart opens from noon to 9pm on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays (operation period subject to changes in light of major events to be held at Victoria Park) up to end-November this year. Ends/Saturday, January 10, 2026 Issued at HKT 20:52 NNNN"}, {"title": "About 950 000 visitors arrive in Hong Kong over New Year holidays (5.1.2026)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202601/05/P2026010500670.htm", "date": "5.1.2026", "description": "The interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements, led by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (January 5) announced that the New Year's Eve and New Year holidays concluded smoothly yesterday (January 4), with around 950 000 visitors arriving in Hong Kong between December 31, 2025, and January 4, 2026, representing an increase of about 40 per cent over the same period last year. All aspects of receiving visitors to Hong Kong operated smoothly. Benefitting from the Mainland's \"adjusted holiday\" arrangement, Mainland inbound visitors accounted for over 740 000, representing an increase of about 48 per cent year on year. The number of non-Mainland inbound visitors was around 210 000, representing an increase of about 19 per cent. Mr Chan said, \"The New Year's Eve and New Year holidays coincided with a three-day New Year public holiday on the Mainland (January 1 to 3). Coupled with an array of festive activities, including the Hong Kong New Year Countdown, these events attracted visitors to experience the festive ambience in the city. The series of festive events, fully showcasing Hong Kong's multifaceted charm, were popular among local citizens and visitors and created a lively atmosphere in the community.\" Visitor flow, situation at control points, and traffic and public transport arrangements In view of the countdown activities, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and relevant departments of Guangdong Province and Shenzhen Municipality implemented two special boundary-crossing arrangements, including extending the passenger clearance service at the Lo Wu Control Point to 2am of the New Year's Day, as well as extending the passenger and passenger vehicle clearance services at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point to operating overnight, in order to facilitate the passenger flow between Hong Kong and the Mainland for citizens and visitors to enjoy the festive season. During the New Year's Eve and New Year holidays, Mainland inbound visitor arrivals peaked on January 1, with around 220 000 visitors arriving in Hong Kong. During this period, the Express Rail Link West Kowloon Control Point received the highest number of Mainland visitors, followed by the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point. To cope with the increased passenger flow during the New Year's Eve and New Year holidays, relevant departments have deployed additional manpower and operated additional counters and channels to facilitate passenger and vehicular flows. The public may visit \"Easy Boundary\", a one-stop information platform on immigration clearance, to obtain information on the average waiting time for passengers and private cars at land boundary control points (BCPs), as well as for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge shuttle bus (Gold Bus) and the Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang shuttle bus (Yellow Bus) to plan their cross-boundary trips. The Security Bureau also activated the Emergency Monitoring and Support Centre during the holidays, to closely monitor and co-ordinate public order across various districts, including various BCPs. The overall operation of the control points and traffic were smooth and in order. The Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre of the Transport Department (TD) also operated round the clock to holistically monitor traffic conditions and public transport services across the territory, including BCPs, major stations and various tourist hotspots. The TD steered local and cross-boundary public transport operators (PTOs) to enhance their carrying capacity, including increasing the frequency of bus services connecting various land-based BCPs and strengthening cross-boundary coach services, to meet passenger demand. In addition, PTOs deployed additional staff to maintain order and reserved sufficient vehicles and manpower to further enhance services when necessary. During the New Year's Eve and New Year holidays, the overall traffic conditions were generally smooth. Mega events and major tourist attractions The Hong Kong Tourism Board's countdown event held on New Year's Eve at the Chater Road Pedestrian Precinct in Central attracted a lot of residents and visitors. A variety of countdown events also took place across Hong Kong, creating a vibrant festive atmosphere for both residents and visitors. Relevant special traffic arrangements and crowd control measures were implemented smoothly. Visitors went to various major tourist attractions in Hong Kong during the New Year's Eve and New Year holidays, including Hong Kong Disneyland, Ocean Park, Ngong Ping 360, the Peak Tram, and the West Kowloon Cultural District. All major tourist spots were operating with high patronage and in good order. During the New Year's Eve and New Year holidays, many visitors visited attractions within country parks, including the East Dam of High Island Reservoir at Sai Kung and Tai Tong Sweet Gum Woods at Tai Lam Country Park. Through concerted efforts of various departments, orders at the East Dam and Tai Tong were well maintained, and the traffic conditions were generally smooth. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) enhanced promotional efforts on reminding visitors to use hiking trails properly and promoted hiking safety and hiking etiquette, as well as published visitor flow information of the East Dam area on the \"Enjoy Hiking\" website and red leaf index of the Tai Tong Sweet Gum Woods on the \"Nature In Touch\" website, enabling visitors to better plan their trips. The Government has noted a significant increase in visitors to other popular countryside attractions and campsites during the holiday period. The AFCD and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) have arranged for contractors to enhance cleaning services according to the situation and closely monitored the hygiene conditions at the attractions and campsites. The FEHD will deploy additional staff during future holidays according to needs to handle cleaning duties. To cater for the needs of passengers travelling to Sai Kung High Island Reservoir East Dam, the TD requested the operator to arrange flexible deployment of vehicles to enhance the service of Green Minibus Route No. 9A (Pak Tam Chung - The East Dam, High Island Reservoir) with regard to passenger demand in co-ordination with the Police's traffic control measures to ease passenger waiting times. The overall services were generally smooth. Inbound tour groups and hotel occupancy rates In terms of Mainland inbound tour groups, around 630 Mainland inbound tour groups brought over 23 000 visitors to Hong Kong during the New Year's Eve and New Year holidays, with around 60 per cent engaged in overnight itineraries. The tour groups were generally in good order. The overall hotel occupancy rate reached 90 per cent in general. Mr Chan expressed gratitude to all relevant government departments, organisations, and industry partners for their collaborative efforts in preparing to welcome visitors, providing visitors and citizens with an enjoyable holiday experience and celebrating the New Year together. Ends/Monday, January 5, 2026 Issued at HKT 19:10 NNNN"}, {"title": "Opening ceremony of "Yau Ma Tei Police Station: A Cinematic Journey" exhibition held today (1.1.2026)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202601/01/P2025123100235.htm", "date": "1.1.2026", "description": "The opening ceremony of the \"Yau Ma Tei Police Station: A Cinematic Journey\" exhibition, presented by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, was held at the Old Yau Ma Tei Police Station today (January 1). The exhibition will open to the public from tomorrow (January 2). An admission ticket costs $30, a concessionary ticket costs $10, while admission of children aged six or below is free. Members of the public may book tickets through the online booking system . There is no physical ticket sale onsite. Officiating at today's opening ceremony were the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing; the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung; the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law; the Commissioner of Police, Mr Chow Yat-ming; the Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Dr Peter Lam; and actor Simon Yam. The \"Yau Ma Tei Police Station: A Cinematic Journey\" exhibition is one of the major projects of the Government's Working Group on Developing Tourist Hotspots. It is also the second tourist attraction themed around Hong Kong films, following the \"Kowloon Walled City: A Cinematic Journey\" Movie Set Exhibition opened last year. Situated at 627 Canton Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, the Old Yau Ma Tei Police Station is a Grade‑2 historic building. The exhibition showcases film sets reconstructed by Hong Kong film professionals, collectable items and original pieces, presenting the city's memories of the era portrayed in Hong Kong crime film classics, and allowing visitors to experience Hong Kong's film culture and the unique creativity of local filmmakers. To coincide with the exhibition and promote district tourism, the Yau Tsim Mong District Office has also launched the Yau Ma Tei Dining and Shopping Festival as well as a Mini Bazaar starting today. Visitors who have visited the exhibition may enjoy a wide range of special offers at participating merchants. The Mini Bazaar, which operates on weekends and public holidays in the initial phase (until March 1), is located opposite the main entrance of the Old Yau Ma Tei Police Station, and sells cultural and creative products as well as local traditional snacks. For further details of the \"Yau Ma Tei Police Station: A Cinematic Journey\" exhibition, please visit ymtps.ccidahk.gov.hk . Ends/Thursday, January 1, 2026 Issued at HKT 20:31 NNNN"}, {"title": "Appointments to Constitution and Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee announced (31.12.2025)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202512/31/P2025123100429.htm", "date": "31.12.2025", "description": "The Government today (December 31) announced the appointment of six new members and the reappointment of seven incumbent members to the Constitution and Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee (CBLPSC) for a term of two years with effect from January 1, 2026. The seven reappointed incumbent members are Mr Davis Chan Wai-lun, Ms Venus Kuk Wing-yee, Mr Kwok Wing-keung, Mr Lee Leun-fai, Mr Perry Suen Pang, Mr Anfield Tam Ching-hin and Mr Henry Tong Sau-chai. The new members are Ms Katherine Cheung Marn-kay, Ms Lee Tung, Mr Robert Andrew Lui Chi-wang, Ms Pamela Mak Mei-yee, Mr Ivan Yiu Pang-fai and Mr Zhang Tao. The Chief Secretary for Administration and CBLPSC Chairman, Mr Chan Kwok-Ki, expressed sincere thanks to the outgoing members Ms Debbie Cheung Sui-ki, Mr Stanley Choi Tak-shing, Ms Fang Xin, Mr Vincent Lam Tak-hing, Mr Rex Mok Chung-fai and Mr Eric Yeung Chuen-sing for their contributions. He also welcomed the six new members and said he looked forward to working with them closely. Following is the membership list of the CBLPSC with effect from January 1, 2026: Chairperson -------------- Chief Secretary for Administration Non-official members ————— Mr Davis Chan Wai-lun Ms Katherine Cheung Marn-kay Ms Quince Chong Wai-yan Mr Chris Ip Ngo-tung Ms Venus Kuk Wing-yee Mr Kwok Wing-keung Mr Ken Lee Kwong-yu Mr Lee Luen-fai Ms Lee Tung Mr Robert Andrew Lui Chi-wang Ms Pamela Mak Mei-yee Ms Melissa Kaye Pang Mr Perry Suen Pang Mr Anfield Tam Ching-hin Mr Henry Tong Sau-chai Mr Ivan Yiu Pang-fai Mr Zhang Tao Official members ------------------- Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Secretary for the Civil Service Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Secretary for Education Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Secretary for Security Director of Home Affairs Director of Information Services Director of Leisure and Cultural Services Director-General of Trade and Industry Solicitor General Ends/Wednesday, December 31, 2025 Issued at HKT 15:30 NNNN"}, {"title": "Appointments to Working Group on Patriotic Education announced (31.12.2025)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202512/31/P2025123100435.htm", "date": "31.12.2025", "description": "​The Government today (December 31) announced the reappointment of 13 incumbent members to the Working Group on Patriotic Education under the Constitution and Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee (CBLPSC) for a term of two years with effect from January 1, 2026. The 13 reappointed incumbent members are Convenor Dr Starry Lee Wai-king and members Mr Stanley Choi Tak-shing, Professor Gu Min-kang, Mr Kwok Wing-keung, Ms Cally Kwong Mei-wan, Professor Lau Chi-pang, Mr Lee Luen-fai, Dr James Li Tsz-shu, Ms Melissa Kaye Pang, Mr Henry Tong Sau-chai, Mr Wong Kam-leung, Ms Connie Wong Wai-ching and Mr Yang Yong. The Chief Secretary for Administration and CBLPSC Chairman, Mr Chan Kwok-Ki, said he looked forward to continuing to work with them closely to take forward patriotic education. Following is the membership list of the Working Group on Patriotic Education with effect from January 1, 2026: Convenor ------------ Dr Starry Lee Wai-king Non-official members -------------------------- Mr Stanley Choi Tak-shing Professor Gu Min-kang Mr Kwok Wing-keung Ms Cally Kwong Mei-wan Professor Lau Chi-pang Mr Lee Luen-fai Dr James Li Tsz-shu Ms Melissa Kaye Pang Mr Henry Tong Sau-chai Mr Wong Kam-leung Ms Connie Wong Wai-ching Mr Yang Yong Official members -------------------- Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Secretary for the Civil Service Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Secretary for Education Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Secretary for Security Director of Home Affairs Director of Information Services Director of Leisure and Cultural Services Director-General of Trade and Industry Solicitor General Ends/Wednesday, December 31, 2025 Issued at HKT 15:30 NNNN"}, {"title": "Appointments to Commission on Children announced (31.12.2025)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202512/31/P2025123100252.htm", "date": "31.12.2025", "description": "The Government announced today (December 31) the reappointment of two incumbent non-official members and the appointment of two new non-official members to the Commission on Children (CoC). The new members are Mrs Chandni Rakesh and Dr Winnie Tso Wan-yee. Their appointments will take effect on January 1, 2026, for a term of two years. The Chief Secretary for Administration and Chairperson of the CoC, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, welcomed the appointments. He looked forward to the members' valuable advice on the wide-ranging issues of concern relating to children, and their collaborative efforts with the Government to promote children's healthy growth and development as well as safeguarding their rights and well-being, thereby building a pro-child and inclusive community. He also expressed his appreciation to the outgoing member for the efforts and contributions made to the CoC. The CoC was established on June 1, 2018. Its major functions are to develop policies, set strategies and priorities related to the development and advancement of children, oversee the implementation of relevant policies and services, promote children's rights and fund public educational projects. The membership list of the CoC with effect from January 1, 2026, is as follows: Chairperson ------------- Chief Secretary for Administration Vice-chairperson ------------------ Secretary for Labour and Welfare Non-official members ---------------------- Ms Karin Ann Mr Chan Kin-ping Miss Anna May Chan Mei-lan Mrs Jennifer Cheng Yu Ngar-wing Professor Eric Chui Wing-hong Ms Kathy Chung Lai-kam Ms Heidi Hui Sim-kiu Dr Kevin Lau Chung-hang Ms Joyce Lee Yuen-sum Ms Yolanda Ng Yuen-ting Ms Cindy Pun Siu-fung Mrs Chandni Rakesh Dr Tang Chun-pan Mr Tony Tse Tsz-fung Dr Winnie Tso Wan-yee Mr Alan Tsoi Ka-lun Dr Rizwan Ullah Mr Gary Wong Chi-him Ms Donna Wong Chui-ling Ms Wong May-kwan Ms Grace Yu Ho-wun Ex-officio members -------------------- Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Secretary for Education Secretary for Health Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Commissioner of Police Director of Health Director of Home Affairs Director of Social Welfare Chairperson of Family Council Chairperson of Women's Commission Ends/Wednesday, December 31, 2025 Issued at HKT 12:00 NNNN"}, {"title": "Interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements releases latest information and appeals to public and visitors to plan cross-boundary trips early during New Year holidays (30.12.2025)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202512/30/P2025123000286.htm", "date": "30.12.2025", "description": "The interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements, led by the Chief Secretary for Administration, released the following information today (December 30) on the traffic and public transport arrangements during the New Year holidays. From January 1 to 4, in anticipation of a large number of members of the public, visitors and cross-boundary vehicles visiting various land-based boundary control points (BCPs), the Transport Department (TD) urged cross-boundary travellers to use public transport services between Hong Kong and the Mainland or Macao, plan their trips early and allow sufficient travelling time. The TD has been steering local and cross-boundary public transport operators (PTOs) to strengthen their services during the New Year holidays to meet passenger demand, including: Early morning of New Year's Day (1) Lo Wu Control Point (passenger clearance services to be extended to 2am on New Year's Day) The operating hours of the MTR East Rail Line will be extended correspondingly, with the last departure from Admiralty to Lo Wu extended to 0.56am; (2) Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang Port (LMC/HG Port) (24-hour operations as usual) Travellers may take the MTR East Rail Line or other public transport services to Sheung Shui, interchange with franchised bus route No. N73 to Lok Ma Chau (San Tin) Public Transport Interchange, and then transfer to the Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang cross-boundary shuttle bus (Yellow Bus) to the Mainland; PTOs will also strengthen the LMC/HG Port short-haul cross-boundary coach and the Yellow Bus services to cater for the peak passenger demand; (3) Shenzhen Bay Port (SBP) (passenger and passenger vehicle clearance services to provide 24-hour operations) Franchised bus operators will operate two special overnight bus routes, Nos. NB2 and NB3, to provide services to and from Yuen Long/Tin Shui Wai and Tuen Mun respectively during the overnight period. Travellers may also take the MTR Tuen Ma Line to Yuen Long/Tin Shui Wai and Tuen Mun Stations, and interchange with route Nos. NB2 and NB3 to SBP respectively; The governments of Guangdong and Hong Kong have also allocated special cross-boundary coach quotas for the operation of overnight services; and (4) Hong Kong Port of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) (24-hour operations as usual) The frequency of the HZMB shuttle bus (Gold Bus) will be increased, if needed. New Year's Day daytime and long weekend of Mainland (January 1 to 4) BCP shuttle bus services will be strengthened, including increasing the frequencies of the Gold Bus and the Yellow Bus to cater for passenger demand; Cross-boundary coach services will be strengthened, including allocating additional cross-boundary coach quotas and enhancing the LMC/HG Port short-haul cross-boundary coach services; The frequency of local franchised bus B routes connecting various land-based BCPs will also be increased to a level higher than that of normal weekends, and the operators will reserve sufficient vehicles and manpower to meet passenger demand; and The train services of the MTR East Rail Line between Admiralty and Lo Wu/Lok Ma Chau will be enhanced at different times during the above period to provide convenience for the travelling public and visitors. Travel outside peak periods The TD anticipates that the waiting time for public transport services, including the Gold Bus and the local franchised bus B routes, may be longer during peak periods of cross-boundary travel. Passengers should avoid travelling during peak hours, observe order while queuing and heed advice from on-site police and PTO staff. Passengers planning to take cross-boundary coaches are also advised to reserve their coach tickets in advance. Of note, motorists of cross-boundary private cars crossing the border are advised that, subject to actual traffic conditions, special traffic arrangements may be implemented at the Lok Ma Chau and the Shenzhen Bay Port during New Year holidays to secure smooth access for public transport vehicles to the above BCPs. Cross-boundary private cars may experience longer waiting times when crossing the BCPs during the peak periods. Motorists should pay extra attention to variable message signs and traffic signs along the roads. In case of traffic congestion, they should remain patient and follow the instructions of on-site police. Information dissemination For the HZMB, to plan their journeys ahead, members of the public can make use of the TD's HKeMobility mobile app or website ( hkemobility.gov.hk/en/traffic-information/live/cctv ) to access snapshots of traffic conditions at inbound and outbound vehicle plazas of the HZMB Hong Kong Port. They can also check real-time situations of the vehicle clearance plaza of the Zhuhai Port through the WeChat official accounts \"hzmbzhport\" or \"zhuhaifabu\" ( traffic-info.gzazhka.com:5015/#/ ) (Chinese only). Moreover, motorists are reminded to always comply with the traffic control measures implemented by the Zhuhai authority when driving on the HZMB Main Bridge. Vehicles must not occupy the emergency lane unless instructed by the Zhuhai authority. Residents and visitors may visit \"Easy Boundary\" ( www.sb.gov.hk/eng/bwt/status.html?type=outbound ), a one-stop information platform on immigration clearance launched by the Security Bureau, or the HKeMobility to obtain useful information, including the respective average waiting time for passengers and private cars at land-based BCPs, as well as for the Gold Bus and Yellow Bus to plan their trips and save waiting time. Members of the public are advised to check the latest traffic news through radio and television broadcasts, the TD's website ( www.td.gov.hk ) and the HKeMobility. The TD's Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre operates round the clock to closely monitor the traffic conditions and public transport services of various districts, the BCPs and major stations, and to implement contingency measures when necessary to meet service demands. The interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements is tasked with holistically co-ordinating and steering the preparatory work of various government departments for welcoming visitors to Hong Kong during the New Year's Eve and New Year holidays, as well as strengthening information dissemination to enable the public and visitors to plan their itineraries according to the latest situation. Ends/Tuesday, December 30, 2025 Issued at HKT 11:50 NNNN"}, {"title": "Government, business sector and community partner with mentees to nurture dreams in third graduation ceremony of Strive and Rise Programme (28.12.2025)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202512/28/P2025122800256.htm", "date": "28.12.2025", "description": "​The Graduation Ceremony of the Strive and Rise Programme (Third Cohort 2025) was held at the Kai Tak Arena today (December 28). Nearly 4 000 graduates, having completed their one-year intensive foundation programme with the support of the government, the business sector and the community, demonstrated their achievements in the ceremony and expressed their gratitude to the mentors. The ceremony was officiated by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki. The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak; the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun; the Acting Secretary for Education, Dr Sze Chun-fai; the Director of Social Welfare, Mr Edward To; and the Acting Director of Home Affairs, Ms Belinda Wong, also attended the ceremony to witness the graduation of the mentees. Mr Chan expressed his gratitude to all partners and mentors in the ceremony. He remarked that the successful implementation of the Programme hinges on the close collaboration among the government, the business sector and the community in supporting mentees in pursuing their dreams, while participating partners and departments also offered a wealth of group activities and nominated outstanding mentors to inspire mentees for personal growth and exploration. Reflecting on the past three cohorts of the Programme, Mr Chan noted that the number of enterprises and groups supporting the Programme increased from over 100 in the first cohort to over 400 in the third cohort. The number of Mainland study and exchange tours rose from five in the first cohort to 35 in the third cohort, setting footprints in an array of destinations such as Harbin, Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Ningxia, Sichuan, Xian, Wuhan, Hainan and the Greater Bay Area. The number of star mentors also registered a significant jump from over 10 in the first cohort to 50 in the third cohort, testifying that the Programme is keeping pace with the time in various dimensions. In particular, Mr Chan thanked the mentors for their outstanding contributions to nurturing the younger generation. They have walked alongside the mentees, boosting their self-confidence, developing a positive outlook on life, and helping them set clear goals for the future and pursue with resilience. About 400 mentors have participated in the Programme for all three cohorts, with some continuing their support in the fourth cohort. Mr Chan encouraged the graduates to actively participate in the activities of the Alumni Club to expand their social networks and sustain the Programme's effectiveness. Among the graduates of the third cohort of the Programme, 150 mentees were awarded for their active participation, improvement and outstanding achievements. Performances by mentees, including band shows and singing, dancing and ocarina, were also featured at the ceremony to showcase their achievements to the audience. Videos were also shown at the ceremony to feature the thoughts of mentors and mentees. The Programme is formulated and implemented by an interdepartmental task force led by the Chief Secretary for Administration. Through the tripartite collaboration among the government, the business sector and the community, the Programme provides focused support for Secondary One to Secondary Four students from underprivileged families. It comprises three key elements, including mentorship, personal development plans and financial support. The fourth cohort of the Programme will soon commence and offer a one-year intensive foundation training. Through mentorship and a structured programme, mentees will broaden their horizons, reinforce self-confidence, develop a positive outlook on life, explore more possibilities for personal development, set goals for the future and strive for upward mobility. Ends/Sunday, December 28, 2025 Issued at HKT 18:17 NNNN"}, {"title": "Online ticket booking for "Yau Ma Tei Police Station: A Cinematic Journey" exhibition to start tomorrow (26.12.2025)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202512/26/P2025122500592.htm", "date": "26.12.2025", "description": "​The \"Yau Ma Tei Police Station: A Cinematic Journey\" exhibition, presented by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, will open to the public at the Old Yau Ma Tei Police Station on January 2, 2026. Standard ticket is at $30, concessionary ticket for students, elderly, Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients and people with disabilities is at $10 each, while admission of children aged six or below is for free. Tickets are available online from 10am tomorrow (December 27) for visits from January 2 to 31, 2026. Through the online booking system ( cultural.cityline.com/en/2026/ymtacinematicjourneyjan2026.html ), visitors may book tickets for admission on a day in the coming 30 days; a maximum of four tickets is allowed per transaction. There is no ticket sale onsite. Each session lasts for 25 minutes. For better user experience, the maximum number of visitors for each session is capped at 20 persons. The exhibition will open daily for the first two weeks (January 2 to 11) after inauguration, with extended opening hours from 9am to 10pm. Starting from January 12, normal opening hours will resume (see website), and the exhibition will be closed on Mondays (except public holidays). The \"Yau Ma Tei Police Station: A Cinematic Journey\" is designed by local filmmakers with exceptional creativity. It allows visitors to experience firsthand the interior design, ambience, and iconic scenes of Hong Kong police and crime films inside a real police station, showcasing the unique creativity behind. The Old Yau Ma Tei Police Station, situated at 627 Canton Road, is a building in British Edwardian architectural style and a Grade‑2 historic building. The opening of the Old Yau Ma Tei Police Station is one of the projects announced in May 2025 to be implemented by the Working Group on Developing Tourist Hotspots led by the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration. CCIDA has revitalised the ground floor of the historic building and infused it with Hong Kong's classic police and crime film culture to stage the \"Yau Ma Tei Police Station: A Cinematic Journey\" exhibition, promoting film tourism and local film culture. To coincide with the \"Yau Ma Tei Police Station: A Cinematic Journey\" exhibition, the Yau Tsim Mong District Office, in collaboration with the Yaumati Kaifong Welfare Advancement Association Limited, will organise the Yau Ma Tei Dining and Shopping Festival from January 1 to February 22. The festival aims to promote tourism in Yau Ma Tei by offering a wide range of dining and shopping discounts and offers. In addition to general discounts and offers, visitors who have visited the exhibition will also have exclusive special offers upon presentation of proof of their visit. For further details of the \"Yau Ma Tei Police Station: A Cinematic Journey\" exhibition, please visit ymtps.ccidahk.gov.hk . Ends/Friday, December 26, 2025 Issued at HKT 14:00 NNNN"}, {"title": "Interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements releases latest information and appeals to public and visitors to plan cross-boundary trips early for Christmas long weekend (24.12.2025)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202512/24/P2025122400199.htm", "date": "24.12.2025", "description": "The interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements, led by the Chief Secretary for Administration, released the following information today (December 24) on the traffic and public transport arrangements for the upcoming Christmas long weekend (December 24 to 28). During the Christmas long weekend, in anticipation of a large number of members of the public, visitors and cross-boundary vehicles visiting various land-based boundary control points (BCPs) during the Christmas long weekend, the Transport Department (TD) urged cross-boundary travellers to use public transport services travelling between Hong Kong and the Mainland or Macao and to plan their trips early and allow sufficient travelling time. The TD has co-ordinated with local and cross-boundary public transport operators (PTOs) to strengthen their services during the long weekend to accommodate diverse travelling needs of passengers, including: Increasing the frequency of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) shuttle bus (Gold Bus) to an average of about one minute during peak hours, if needed; Increasing the frequency of the Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang cross-boundary shuttle bus (Yellow Bus) to an average of about two minutes during peak hours, if needed; Increasing the quota of cross-boundary coaches to strengthen services; The frequency of local franchised bus B routes connecting various land-based BCPs will also be increased to a level higher than that of normal weekends, and the operators concerned will reserve sufficient vehicles and manpower to meet passenger demand; and The MTR Corporation Limited will enhance the train services of the East Rail Line between Admiralty and Lo Wu/Lok Ma Chau at different times during the above period to provide convenience for the travelling public and visitors. It is anticipated that the waiting time for public transport services including the Gold Bus and the franchised bus B routes may be longer. Passengers should make their journeys during non-peak hours, observe order while queuing and heed advice from on-site Police and staff of PTOs concerned. Passengers planning to take cross-boundary coaches are also advised to reserve their coach tickets in advance. Of note, motorists of cross-boundary private cars crossing the border are advised that, subject to actual traffic conditions, special traffic arrangements may be implemented at the Lok Ma Chau Control Point and the Shenzhen Bay Port during the above period to secure smooth access for public transport vehicles to the above control points. Cross-boundary private cars may need to queue up for a longer waiting time for crossing the BCPs during peak periods. Motorists should pay extra attention to variable message signs and traffic signs along the roads. In case of traffic congestion, they should remain patient and follow the instructions of on-site Police. For the HZMB, to plan their journeys ahead, members of the public can make use of the TD's HKeMobility mobile app or website ( hkemobility.gov.hk/en/traffic-information/live/cctv ) to access snapshots of traffic conditions at inbound and outbound vehicle plazas of the HZMB Hong Kong Port. They can also check real-time situations of the vehicle clearance plaza of the Zhuhai Port through the WeChat official accounts \"hzmbzhport\" or \"zhuhaifabu\" ( traffic-info.gzazhka.com:5015/#/ ) (Chinese only). Moreover, motorists are reminded to always comply with the traffic control measures implemented by the Zhuhai authority when driving on the HZMB Main Bridge. Vehicles shall not occupy the emergency lane unless instructed by the Zhuhai authority. The public and visitors may visit the one-stop information platform on immigration clearance \"Easy Boundary\" ( www.sb.gov.hk/eng/bwt/status.html?type=outbound ) launched by the Security Bureau or the TD's HKeMobility mobile app for the latest information on various land-based BCPs more conveniently. The TD will provide information on the services and waiting times of the Gold Bus, the Yellow Bus and the MTR on the platform. Members of the public are advised to check the latest traffic news through radio and television broadcasts, the TD's website and HKeMobility during the long weekend. The interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements is tasked with holistically co-ordinating and steering the preparatory work of various government departments for welcoming visitors to Hong Kong during the Christmas and New Year festive periods, as well as strengthening information dissemination to enable the public and visitors to plan their itineraries according to the latest situation. Ends/Wednesday, December 24, 2025 Issued at HKT 10:07 NNNN"}, {"title": "Interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements releases latest information on cross-boundary passenger traffic estimation and arrangements for Christmas and New Year festive periods (23.12.2025)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202512/23/P2025122300617.htm", "date": "23.12.2025", "description": "The interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements, led by the Chief Secretary for Administration, released the following information today (December 23) on the latest situation and arrangements for the upcoming Christmas and New Year festive periods. The Immigration Department (ImmD) estimates that around 11.52 million passengers (including Hong Kong residents and visitors) will pass through Hong Kong's sea, land and air control points during the upcoming Christmas and New Year festive periods (from December 24 to 28, December 31, 2025 to January 4, 2026). The ImmD, in consultation with the Shenzhen General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection and other Mainland authorities, estimates that around 9.65 million passengers will pass through land boundary control points. The number of outbound and inbound passengers using land boundary control points (BCPs) will be relatively higher on December 25 (Thursday) and December 28 (Sunday), with around 689 000 passengers and 695 000 passengers respectively. The ImmD estimates that the passenger traffic at the Lo Wu Control Point, the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point and the Shenzhen Bay Control Point will be heavy, with a daily average forecast of about 225 000, 201 000 and 161 000 passengers respectively. In view of a series of New Year's Eve countdown events, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has discussed with the Shenzhen Municipal Government to extend the service hours of BCPs on New Year's Eve. The Mainland port authorities have duly reported to the national port authorities for approval according to the required procedures. Further details will be announced as soon as possible. The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) BCP and the Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang BCP will maintain 24-hour operation as usual on New Year's Eve. To cope with the anticipated heavy traffic during the festive period, the ImmD has minimised leave for frontline officers for flexible deployment and operation of additional counters, temporary counters and channels. Additional security guards will also be deployed to provide crowd management support. Furthermore, the ImmD, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Customs and Excise Department and the MTR Corporation Limited will set up a joint command centre at the Lo Wu Control Point to make necessary arrangements. The ImmD will also establish close communication with Mainland authorities, including the Shenzhen General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection. To ensure a smooth passenger traffic flow, passenger conditions will be closely monitored and appropriate traffic diversion plans will be adopted when necessary. The ImmD advises all land boundary passengers to plan in advance, avoid making their journeys during busy periods and keep track of radio and TV broadcasts on traffic conditions at various control points. Residents and visitors may also visit \"Easy Boundary\" ( www.sb.gov.hk/eng/bwt/status.html?type=outbound ), a one-stop information platform on immigration clearance launched by the Security Bureau, to obtain useful information in one go, including the respective average waiting time for passengers and private cars at land BCPs, as well as for the HZMB cross-boundary shuttle bus and the Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang cross-boundary shuttle bus, so as to plan their trips and save waiting time. For travellers making journeys to the Mainland, the ImmD reminds them to carry their proof of identity and valid travel documents for crossing the boundary. Hong Kong residents should also check the validity of their Home Visit Permits. Non-permanent residents must carry their valid smart identity card as well as their Document of Identity for Visa Purposes or valid travel document. Holders of the acknowledgement receipt issued due to reported loss or replacement of their Hong Kong identity cards, or children under 11 years old who hold Hong Kong identity cards, should carry a valid travel document or Re-entry Permit. About 700 e-Channels have been installed at various control points. To further enhance the clearance efficiency of control points and allow more Hong Kong residents to use the fast and convenient e-Channel service, the ImmD has adjusted the applicable age for e-Channel service for holders of smart identity cards. Eligible Hong Kong permanent residents aged 7 to 10 years old, who are at least 1.1 metres tall and hold a smart identity card and a valid HKSAR passport, can use the e-Channels without prior enrolment for self-service immigration clearance via face recognition technology at all control points. Moreover, the Contactless e-Channel service is available at all control points now. All eligible Hong Kong residents, after enrolment, can generate an encrypted QR code through the Contactless e-Channel mobile application to enter the e-Channel and then verify their identity with the facial verification technology for automated immigration clearance. In addition, the ImmD has extended the e-Channel service to holders of a valid People's Republic of China (PRC) electronic ordinary passport aged 7 or above and are in transit through Hong Kong to and from another country or territory. Eligible PRC passport holders can use the e-Channel service when entering Hong Kong without prior enrolment for e-Channel service via face recognition technology. Additionally, all control points have introduced self-service departures for visitors to Hong Kong (Smart Departure), which provides greater travel convenience for visitors. The service employs facial recognition technology for identity verification, which allows eligible visitors holding electronic travel documents aged 7 or above to perform self-service departure clearance through Smart Departure e-Channels without prior enrolment. Furthermore, the ImmD has adjusted the applicable age for e-Channel service for holders of Electronic Exit-Entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao (e-EEP). Eligible holders of e-EEP aged 7 or above, who are at least 1.1 metres tall, can use the e-Channels without prior enrolment for self-service immigration clearance via fingerprint recognition technology at all control points. Hong Kong residents who require assistance while travelling outside Hong Kong may call the 24-hour hotline of the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit of the ImmD at (852) 1868, call the 1868 hotline using network data or use the 1868 Chatbot via the ImmD Mobile App, send a message to 1868 WhatsApp assistance hotline or 1868 WeChat assistance hotline or submit the Online Assistance Request Form. The interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements is tasked with holistically co-ordinating and steering the preparatory work of various government departments for welcoming visitors to Hong Kong during the New Year's Eve and New Year festive periods, as well as strengthening information dissemination to enable the public and visitors to plan their itineraries according to the latest situation. Ends/Tuesday, December 23, 2025 Issued at HKT 18:55 NNNN"}, {"title": "Appointment of Deputy Leader of AI Efficacy Enhancement Team announced (19.12.2025)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202512/19/P2025121900745.htm", "date": "19.12.2025", "description": "The Government announced today (December 19) the appointment of Mr Duncan Chiu as a Deputy Leader of the AI Efficacy Enhancement Team. The appointment is for a term of two years up to December 17, 2027. The Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration and Leader of the AI Efficacy Enhancement Team, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, welcomes the appointment. He said, \"As the Government accelerates the promotion of artificial intelligence applications, it is especially important to draw on the advice of the industry. Mr Duncan Chiu, as a Legislative Council Member for the Technology and Innovation Constituency since 2022, has insightful views on promoting technology adoption, AI application, and smart city development. He will bring new perspectives and front-line market experience to the Team, helping to spur government departments' technological innovation through AI empowerment.\" In the 2025 Policy Address, the Chief Executive announced the setting up of the AI Efficacy Enhancement Team to co-ordinate and steer government departments to effectively apply AI technology to their work, explore process re-engineering, and promote technological reform in departments to improve efficacy. The Team comprises: Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration (Leader) Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry (Deputy Leader) Mr Duncan Chiu (Deputy Leader) Head of Chief Executive's Policy Unit Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service Permanent Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Treasury) Permanent Secretary for Housing Permanent Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Commissioner for Census and Statistics Commissioner for Digital Policy (Secretary-General) Commissioner for Labour Commissioner for Transport Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene Director of Home Affairs Director of Leisure and Cultural Services Ends/Friday, December 19, 2025 Issued at HKT 18:50 NNNN"}, {"title": "Government announces senior appointments (19.12.2025)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202512/19/P2025121900473.htm", "date": "19.12.2025", "description": "The Government announced today (December 19) the following senior appointments after the open-cum-in-service recruitment exercises: (a) Mr Chan Chak-ming will take up the appointment as the Director of Legal Aid on January 1, 2026, to succeed Mr Chris Chong Yan-tung who will proceed on pre-retirement leave on the same day; and (b) Ms Irina Fan Yuen-yee will take up the appointment as the Government Economist on January 5, 2026, to succeed Mr Adolph Leung Wing-sing who had retired earlier. Commenting on the appointments of Mr Chan and Ms Fan, the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, said, \"Mr Chan is a distinguished lawyer who has extensive experience in the legal sector. He has a deep understanding of the legal profession and rich public service experience both locally and internationally. With his professional competence, leadership capabilities and strategic vision, I am confident that he will lead the Legal Aid Department in delivering quality legal aid services. \"Ms Fan has profound experience in economic analysis and proven leadership and management skills. I am confident that she will be able to lead the Office of the Government Economist to continue providing professional analyses and advice on economic matters to the Government.\" On the retirement of Mr Chong, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, said, \"I thank Chris for his dedicated service and contributions over the years and sincerely wish him a happy retirement.\" On the retirement of Mr Leung, the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, said, \"I thank Adolph for his contributions over the years and sincerely wish him a happy retirement.\" Mrs Yeung thanked Mr Chong and Mr Leung for their loyal and dedicated services to the community. She wished them a fulfilling and happy retirement. Mrs Yeung said, \"Mr Chong has served with zeal and commitment in the civil service for over 33 years. As the Director of Legal Aid, Mr Chong has led the Department in rising to challenges. He devoted himself wholeheartedly to making exemplary contributions to delivering quality service to the public, including enhancing the department's case management and accounting systems to respond to ever-changing public expectations, thereby ensuring access to justice and upholding the rule of law. \"Mr Leung has served with diligence and commitment in the civil service for nearly 30 years. During his tenure as Government Economist, he led the Office of the Government Economist in providing the Government with high-quality economic analyses to support the formulation of policies and measures in different areas. His strategic insights and analytical acumen have been instrumental in shaping policies.\" Brief biographical notes of the four officers are set out below: Mr Chris Chong Yan-tung -------------------------------- Mr Chong joined the Government as Legal Aid Counsel in October 1992. He was promoted to Assistant Principal Legal Aid Counsel in June 2006, Deputy Principal Legal Aid Counsel in June 2011, and to Deputy Director of Legal Aid in September 2013. He has been the Director of Legal Aid since March 2022. Mr Adolph Leung Wing-sing ----------------------------------- Mr Leung joined the Government as Senior Economist in September 1995 and was promoted to Principal Economist in December 2009. He was appointed as Deputy Government Economist in April 2018 before being appointed as Government Economist in April 2022. Mr Chan Chak-ming ------------------------- Mr Chan was admitted as a solicitor in Hong Kong and in England and Wales in 1997 and 2002 respectively. He was admitted as a lawyer in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in 2021. He has held various senior positions in law firms and consulting firms providing legal services. He was the elected President of the Law Society of Hong Kong from 2021 to 2024, and has been involved in different international and regional law associations. He has been an Adjunct Professor at the City University of Hong Kong and the Hang Seng University of Hong Kong. Ms Irina Fan Yuen-yee --------------------------- Ms Fan has over 25 years of research experience with extensive exposure to Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland, the Asia-Pacific region and international markets. She has held senior positions in the financial services and banking sectors. Prior to joining the Government, she was the Director of Research of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. Ends/Friday, December 19, 2025 Issued at HKT 16:00 NNNN"}, {"title": "Remarks by DCS at media session (18.12.2025)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202512/18/P2025121800683.htm", "date": "18.12.2025", "description": "The Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing; the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak; and the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, met the media this afternoon (December 18) on the Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. Following are the remarks at the question-and-answer session: Reporter: Why did the Government decide to hand out more money to affected homeowners and tenants? Secondly, how likely is the annual rent subsidy for $150,000 to be extended after two years? Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration: As we have explained in the opening remarks, while the Government has been trying to provide some emergency accommodation for the affected victims, including both landlords and tenants, we have (learned), through the feedback of our social workers assigned to look after individual households and also through district feedback, that many residents actually wanted to have another option of a rental subsidy to be given to them, so that they can, from the private market, rent suitable accommodation, which can fit into their daily routines, such as going to work, going to school, and going to see doctors. Also, because many residents have lived in Tai Po for a long time, they have their social network there. If they stay in the transitional housing elsewhere in Hong Kong, they have this problem of social dislocation. So we decided that - and also we have surveyed the stock of our public housing accommodation in Tai Po - actually we don't have any more such units left. So we think a sensible, practicable and effective solution is really to offer them this rental subsidy, which we think is not an excessive demand; it is reasonable. Your second question is whether the rental subsidy will end after two years. I think Secretary Mak has already said that we think a normal tenancy lasts for about two years. We believe, within these two years, the final solution, or solutions, for the long-term housing and accommodation needs of the victims will already be offered and introduced. Of course, when the final offers have come out, we have to ascertain the response of the residents. We have two years to consider whether, if necessary, this rental subsidy may continue, but the overarching principle is that we can assure the victims that our solutions will be reasonable and no one will be left homeless - I mean, for the landlords - because of the lack of support from the Government. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.) Ends/Thursday, December 18, 2025 Issued at HKT 19:45 NNNN"}, {"title": "CS chairs interdepartmental working group meeting on festival arrangements (17.12.2025)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202512/17/P2025121700719.htm", "date": "17.12.2025", "description": "The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (December 17) chaired a meeting of the interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements to holistically co-ordinate and steer the preparatory work of various government departments for welcoming visitors to Hong Kong during the New Year's Eve and New Year holiday. The Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing; the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law; the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung; the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, and representatives from other relevant government departments also attended. Mr Chan said, \"A series of events will be held in Hong Kong during the New Year's Eve and New Year holiday, and the New Year day also marks the start of a three-day long holiday on the Mainland. A notable increase in the number of visitors during the period is expected. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government will make good preparations for receiving visitors, including actively co-ordinating the ancillary arrangements of boundary control points (BCPs) and transportation, as well as maintaining close liaison with relevant organisations and the travel trade to ensure effective crowd management, information dissemination, and arrangements of public transportation and BCPs, with a view to ensuring the smooth operation of various aspects of receiving visitors and offering them a high-quality experience.\" New Year's Eve countdown arrangements The New Year's Eve countdown event this year will forgo the fireworks display and take place in an alternative format to welcome the New Year together with the public and visitors. The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) will separately announce the detailed arrangements for the countdown event. Special boundary-crossing and corresponding public transport service arrangements In view of a series of New Year's Eve countdown events, the HKSAR Government has discussed with the Shenzhen Municipal Government to extend the service hours of BCPs on New Year's Eve. The Mainland port authorities have duly reported to the national port authorities for approval according to the required procedures. Further details will be announced as soon as possible. The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge BCP and the Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang BCP will maintain 24-hour operation as usual on New Year's Eve. Relevant departments have minimised leave for frontline officers to enable flexible deployment of manpower and operation of additional counters, temporary counters and channels, with a view to diverting passenger and vehicular flow. The Inter-departmental Joint Command Centre set up by the Hong Kong Police Force, the Immigration Department, the Customs and Excise Department (C&ED), and other relevant departments will be activated from December 31, 2025 to January 4, 2026, to monitor the real-time situation at various control points. The Joint Command Centre will maintain close liaison with the Mainland port authorities through the established port hotlines and real-time notification mechanism, and take timely contingency actions as necessary to flexibly deploy manpower at the BCPs to ensure smooth operation of the land control points. The Security Bureau will also activate the Emergency Monitoring and Support Centre from December 31, 2025 to January 4, 2026 to closely monitor and co-ordinate public order at various BCPs and facilitate inter-departmental follow-up actions where necessary to respond promptly to various kinds of emergencies. For public transport arrangements, the Transport Department (TD) has proactively approached various public transport operators to enhance their capacity during the holiday. The MTR Corporation Limited will cater for the arrangements of the Lo Wu BCP to extend services of the East Rail Line to and from MTR Lo Wu Station correspondingly, and the majority of MTR railway lines will operate overnight on New Year's Eve. Furthermore, bus routes will be arranged between MTR Sheung Shui Station and San Tin Yellow Bus Station to facilitate passengers using the East Rail Line in crossing the boundary via the Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang BCP, which operates round-the-clock, after the end of services to Lo Wu. The TD will also cater for the arrangements of BCPs to enhance cross-boundary transportation services connecting various BCPs, including increasing the frequency of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) shuttle bus (Gold Bus), the Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang cross-boundary shuttle bus (Yellow Bus) and cross-boundary coach. Local public transport and cross-boundary coach services at countdown or other large-scale events will be strengthened upon event conclusion to accommodate the travel needs of departing residents and visitors, and the TD will formulate a contingency plan by establishing a dedicated passage at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge BCP, the Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang BCP, and the Shenzhen Bay BCP etc. when necessary, to ensure the smooth operation of public transport services. Various public transport operators will reserve sufficient vehicles and manpower to meet the travel needs of visitors. The Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre (ETCC) of the TD will operate 24 hours a day, closely monitor the traffic conditions and public transport services in all districts, BCPs, and major stations across Hong Kong, take prompt measures to address service demands, and disseminate the latest traffic updates through various channels. Crowd management and special traffic arrangements The Police will arrange sufficient manpower to implement corresponding crowd management measures and special traffic arrangements as necessary to ensure that all events will be conducted in a safe and orderly manner. Various district offices will closely monitor the flow of visitors in their respective areas, and report to relevant departments having regard to the actual circumstances to strengthen management arrangements of the relevant spots. Major tourist attractions have formulated special arrangements to handle the estimated increase of people flows. In view of the potential notable increase in the number of tourists visiting Sai Kung High Island Reservoir East Dam during the New Year's Eve and New Year holiday, the Police have taken targeted measures, including deploying uniformed officers at strategic locations at Pak Tam Chung, Man Yee Road and East Dam, for traffic and crowd management during peak tourist arrival and departure periods. To cater for the needs of passengers travelling to Sai Kung High Island Reservoir East Dam, the TD has co-ordinated with the operator to enhance the service of GMB Route No. 9A (Pak Tam Chung - the East Dam) subject to passenger demand. Service frequencies will be flexibly strengthened in co-ordination with the traffic control measures implemented by the Police to ease passenger waiting times. Management of tour groups and protection of visitors For management of tour groups, the Travel Industry Authority (TIA) has reminded travel agents receiving Mainland inbound tour groups to stagger arrival times as far as possible, and will co-ordinate with various parties to adopt appropriate diversion measures in tourist attractions to enable proper management of visitor flows and tour buses, with a view to offering a pleasant travel experience to visitors. The TIA will also conduct inspections in districts where relatively more registered shops for inbound tour groups are located, and offer assistance to visitors and tourist guides to protect inbound tour group visitors' rights. Additionally, the Police will continue to step up enforcement actions against the illegal acts of taxi drivers, including overcharging and refusing hire. The C&ED will also step up the inspection of shops serving visitors to combat unfair trade practices. Weather forecast As winter sets in, Hong Kong occasionally experiences temperature drops due to the influence of winter monsoons, but the chances of being affected by severe weather such as heavy rain or tropical cyclones are relatively low. The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) will release relevant weather information as early as possible. Travellers are advised to check the HKO's nine-day weather forecast and the latest weather warnings before travelling. Information dissemination To assist visitors in planning their itineraries, the interdepartmental working group will strengthen information dissemination, including the latest inbound visitor arrivals, the situation at various BCPs, information on events, transport arrangements, and the latest weather forecast, to enable residents and visitors to plan their itineraries according to the latest situation. The HKTB has listed festive event arrangements for the Christmas and New Year holiday on its dedicated webpage. Before the New Year holiday, the HKTB will provide the waiting time at major attractions in Hong Kong, including Hong Kong Disneyland, Ocean Park Hong Kong, the Peak Tram, Ngong Ping 360, and Hong Kong Observation Wheel, as well as the Star Ferry, a popular choice for many visitors, on their webpage to help the local public and visitors plan their itineraries. Residents and visitors may also visit \"Easy Boundary\" ( www.sb.gov.hk/eng/bwt/status.html?type=outbound ), a one-stop information platform on immigration clearance launched by the Security Bureau, to obtain useful information in one go, including the respective average waiting time for passengers and private cars at land BCPs, as well as for the Gold Bus and Yellow Bus to plan their trips and save waiting time. Ends/Wednesday, December 17, 2025 Issued at HKT 19:59 NNNN"}, {"title": "CS to attend 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and 9th National Special Olympic Games Closing Event in Shenzhen (14.12.2025)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202512/14/P2025121400402.htm", "date": "14.12.2025", "description": "The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, will depart for Shenzhen tomorrow afternoon (December 15) to attend the Closing Event of the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games. The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, will join the visit. Mr Chan will return to Hong Kong the same evening. Ends/Sunday, December 14, 2025 Issued at HKT 17:00 NNNN"}, {"title": "Remarks by DCS at media session (10.12.2025)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202512/10/P2025121000542.htm", "date": "10.12.2025", "description": "The Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, together with the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, met the media today (December 10) on the Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. Following are Mr Cheuk’s remarks: Reporter: Does the Government intend to redevelop the Tai Po site, and how will authorities settle the affected residents in the long run? And how much, in number terms, from the fund will be needed to do so? And as of today, how much is left in the $3.4 billion fund, and how can the fund’s transparency be assured? And how is the progress on forming the independent committee? The government mentioned it was looking for a judge a few days ago. So when will the committee start working and investigating? Can you tell us the timeline? Thank you. Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration: I try to respond to your questions, not particularly in the order you asked those questions. I think the forming of the independent committee is being very vigorously pursued. And I think at the appropriate juncture, the Government will make the announcement. As regards how much is left in in our Support Fund (Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po) for helping the persons affected by the fire, I just mentioned that so far, our commitment is about $460 million. So we have about $2.8 billion left in the Support Fund. And what's your first and second question? Reporter: The intention of the Tai Po site. Will it be redeveloped as considered? Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration: I also did mention that the Chief Executive has asked the Deputy Financial Secretary to look into the long-term housing and accommodation needs of the victims of this fire. So I think there are obviously many possibilities, and there are different options, many factors to consider, and I think the ultimate use of the fire site will depend on what are the propositions that we come up with. So it has to await that side of the work to be complete. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.) Ends/Wednesday, December 10, 2025 Issued at HKT 17:18 NNNN"}, {"title": "Government continues to follow up on support and relief work and investigations on Tai Po fire (1.12.2025)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202512/01/P2025120100011.htm", "date": "1.12.2025", "description": "A Government spokesman said yesterday (November 30) that the Task Force on Investigation and Regulation, the Task Force on Emergency Support and Fund-Raising, and the Task Force on Emergency Accommodation Arrangements, led respectively by the Chief Secretary for Administration, the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, and the Deputy Financial Secretary, are making every effort to press ahead with the support and relief work and investigations on the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. The Government has been offering an emergency cash subsidy of $10,000 per affected household since November 27 evening to provide immediate relief for affected residents. As at 1pm yesterday, the Government has registered more than 1 900 households for the subsidy and disbursed the emergency cash subsidies to 1 420 households. In addition, the Government will provide a token of solidarity of $200,000 to the family members of each deceased victim, and a living allowance of $50,000 will be provided to each affected household starting this week. For the Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po established by the Government, as at noon yesterday, the donations received have reached $900 million, apart from the start-up capital of $300 million from the Government, bringing the fund's total to around $1.2 billion. The fund will be used for assisting the residents in rebuilding homes and providing long-term and persistent support. As well, the supplies donation online platform established by the Government and the information technology sector began operation yesterday ( www.taipodonation.hk ) to facilitate registration of supplies donations from organisations and members of the public, enabling the Government to better consolidate information and distribute supplies to residents in need as necessary. The Government has also set up a central supplies station at the Tai Po Community Centre to co-ordinate and properly manage the donated materials received. On emergency accommodation support, as of this morning, 683 residents have been accommodated, through the co-ordination of the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau, in youth hostels/camps or hotel rooms. Another 1 144 residents have moved into transitional housing units provided by the Housing Bureau or the Housing Society. Furthermore, two shelters remain open for residents in need. All units in the transitional housing projects are equipped with basic facilities including an individual bathroom with toilet as well as a cooking area. Subject to the size of the projects, different facilities, such as laundry rooms and convenience stores, are also available. Members of the public in need may call the Task Force on Transitional Housing of the Housing Bureau at 3611 8482 to obtain more information about the admission of different projects. Accommodation is free of charge. Pets are also welcome. To provide further convenience for victims admitted into transitional housing, starting from today (December 1), the first departure of the residents' service connecting Good House in Tai Po and the MTR Tai Po Market Station will be advanced to 7.30am departing from Good House Monday to Friday. As of this morning, social workers of the Social Welfare Department (SWD) have been in contact with about 1 300 affected households, and 3 200 affected residents have been registered for the \"one social worker per household\" support service. Social workers will maintain liaison with the affected households, and those not yet in touch with the SWD are advised to leave their contact information by calling 182 183 as soon as possible. In view of affected residents gradually relocating from temporary shelters to various communities, the Primary Healthcare Commission will leverage the District Health Centres (DHCs)/DHC Expresses as hubs to provide personalised case management services to residents affected by the incident, and co-ordinate healthcare professionals from various disciplines to provide medical, nursing and medication services, as well as psychological support. Those affected may also visit the Hospital Authority's Family Medicine Clinics for services, and will later be able to make priority bookings through the system. In addition, the medical stations currently set up at temporary shelters will remain in operation. As for funeral-related matters, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will arrange dedicated staff to assist each family of the deceased, enabling them to make arrangements at their preferred time and location. The Government will waive fees for columbarium and related services, and provide $50,000 to the families of each deceased individual through the \"one social worker per household\" service to cover funeral and related expenses. The FEHD has set up a service counter at the Fu Shan Public Mortuary and will proactively contact the families to offer assistance. Once the families have made decisions regarding their preferred arrangements, the FEHD will follow up promptly. For the latest updates and information about the support services, please visit the Government's one-stop dedicated website: www.taipofire.gov.hk . Following the completion of inspection on the overall structural safety of Wang Yan House, Wang Tao House and the first two floors of Wang Cheong House on November 29, the Independent Checking Unit of the Housing Bureau (ICU), together with more than 100 professionals from the Housing Department, further completed the inspections of Wang Kin House, Wang Tai House, Wang Shing House and Wang Chi House as at 5pm yesterday. More than 1 500 units in total have been inspected in these two days. The inspection of Wang Sun House and Wang Cheong House has also commenced. The Police have arranged sufficient manpower to remain on standby. Once the safety of the remaining two buildings is confirmed, the Police will immediately deploy officers to conduct searches inside. According to the initial assessment of the professionals, there is no imminent danger in terms of the overall structural safety of the buildings inspected, but the structure of some units may be subject to more serious damage. The Housing Bureau has already engaged contractors for emergency maintenance to complete the relevant support works as soon as possible in order to allow officers of the Police Force and the Fire Services Department (FSD) to enter the units for evidence and other operations. Regarding the handling of reported missing persons, the Police completed searches at two buildings on November 29 and deployed more than 600 officers from the Disaster Victim Identification Unit to conduct searches in three other buildings yesterday. As of 4pm yesterday, the Police handled 30 sets of human remains in the buildings, including 12 sets found by firefighters but yet to be removed, and 18 sets that were newly discovered. The numbers of deceased and injured have been updated to 146 and 79 respectively. The Police will continue to follow up on the alleged missing persons, aiming to confirm their status and the number of casualties as soon as possible. The FSD also handled all the 347 assistance calls received during the fire. The Police have accorded top priority to the case and are gathering evidence through various channels for a thorough and in-depth investigation. The Housing Bureau also noted that, with Prestige Construction & Engineering Company, Limited being the contractor of the maintenance project of Wang Fuk Court, the Independent Checking Unit (ICU) under the Bureau had issued orders in accordance with the Buildings Ordinance on November 29 to temporarily suspend the relevant external wall maintenance works with immediate effect. The ICU had also identified in a special inspection operation that plastic sheeting had been used to cover the windows in the maintenance project in Yee Kok Court in Sham Shui Po. The registered contractor of the project has been requested to remove the plastic sheeting immediately. Legal advice is being sought when considering prosecution. For the sake of prudence, the ICU has ordered the temporary suspension of the works and requested the contractor to conduct an independent safety audit to review their safety management system. Taking cognisance of the outcome of the safety audit, the contractors are required to submit an improvement plan and implement improvement measures, with a view to demonstrating that they have an effective safety management system in place before the resumption of works can be considered. On the other hand, the Buildings Department continued its special inspection operation. As of yesterday, 319 buildings undergoing external wall maintenance have been inspected and samples have been taken for testing from buildings installed with scaffold nets. Apart from the two buildings where plastic sheeting was found blocking the windows as announced on November 29 (being removed successively at the Government's instructions), no other buildings were found using foam boards or plastic sheeting to block windows. The Labour Department (LD) launched a territory-wide special enforcement operation since November 28, targeting the fire protection facilities and fire emergency preparedness of building maintenance work sites with large-scale scaffolding erected. This includes checking if protective screens (also known as scaffold nets) on scaffolds are in compliance with recognised standards for fire-retardant materials to enhance occupational safety of workers. As at yesterday, the LD has inspected 51 construction sites, issued a total of 45 written warnings and 12 improvement notices, and has taken out two prosecutions. Ends/Monday, December 1, 2025 Issued at HKT 0:56 NNNN"}, {"title": "Hong Kong mourns Tai Po fire victims as government support efforts continue (30.11.2025)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202511/30/P2025113000032.htm", "date": "30.11.2025", "description": "The Government mourned the victims of the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po and expressed profound condolences at the Central Government Offices yesterday morning (November 29), with national and regional flags at all government buildings flying at half-mast. Members of the public also visited condolence points in various districts to sign condolence books and mourn the victims. Meanwhile, multiple government departments under the Task Force on Investigation and Regulation, the Task Force on Emergency Support and Fund-Raising, and the Task Force on Emergency Accommodation Arrangements, led respectively by the Chief Secretary for Administration, the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, and the Deputy Financial Secretary; continue to work tirelessly, pushing forward follow-up support and relief efforts on all fronts. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government wishes to express its sincere gratitude to the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and all relevant departments of Guangdong Province for their staunch support and prompt assistance, including the provision of numerous pieces of necessary equipment to the HKSAR, such as drones, exoskeleton devices, protective gear, and medical supplies. This significantly assisted the relevant departments in their emergency response and the follow-up efforts. The Government has been offering an emergency cash subsidy of $10,000 per affected household to provide immediate relief for affected residents. As at 3.30pm yesterday, the Government has registered more than 1 800 households for the subsidy and disbursed the emergency cash subsidies to 929 households. In addition, the Government will provide a token of solidarity of $200,000 to the family members of each deceased victim, and a living allowance of $50,000 will be provided to each affected household starting next week. As of yesterday morning, social workers of the Social Welfare Department (SWD) have been in touch with about 1 300 households, and 3 200 affected residents have been registered for support services under the \"one social worker per household\" arrangement. The SWD will continue to engage other affected households. Residents not yet in touch with the SWD are advised to leave their contact information by calling 182 183. In addition, the Government will further strengthen the \"one social worker per household\" service by mobilising civil servants. For each household, in addition to one social worker, two to three civil servants will be assigned to provide voluntary support, such as running errands or collecting supplies, with the aim of delivering more comprehensive assistance. Regarding fundraising and relief supplies, the Government has established a Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. Apart from the $300 million injection from the Government, as at 3pm yesterday, the support fund has raised around $800 million, bringing the fund’s total to around $1.1 billion. The Government will also set up a central supplies station at the Tai Po Community Centre to co-ordinate and properly manage the donated materials received. Members of the public may also provide their contact information and details of the items they wish to donate via WhatsApp at 9213 2388 for timely follow-up by the Government. In addition, the Government is working with the information technology sector to expedite the development of an online platform to facilitate registration of supplies donations from organisations and members of the public. In order to alleviate the financial pressure of affected owners at Wang Fuk Court, the Hong Kong Housing Authority has immediately relaxed the provisions regarding mortgage repayment periods and repayment amounts under the Deed of Guarantee. Such relaxation allows banks and financial institutions concerned to offer special mortgage arrangements to the mortgagors of subsidised sale flats with premium unpaid, including deferred repayment of mortgage instalments or principal. On emergency accommodation support for residents affected by the fire, as of this afternoon, around 517 residents have been accommodated, through the co-ordination of the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau, in youth hostels/camps or hotel rooms. Another 1 038 residents have moved into transitional housing units provided by the Housing Bureau or the Housing Society. Furthermore, two shelters remain open for residents in need. To facilitate the victims staying at transitional housing units, the residents' service connecting Good House (transitional housing project in Tai Po) and MTR Tai Po Market Station commenced operation this morning, while the frequency of the residents' service plying between Trackside Villas (another transitional housing project in Tai Po) and MTR Tai Po Market Station has been strengthened since yesterday. The Transport Department has also steered public transport operators to enhance the service of franchised bus and green minibus routes travelling Ting Kok Road to accommodate the needs of affected residents admitted into Good House and Lok Sin Village (another project). As for the funeral-related matters, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will arrange dedicated staff to assist each family of the deceased, enabling them to make arrangements at their preferred time and location. The FEHD has set up a service counter at the Fu Shan Public Mortuary to offer assistance to families. Regarding mental health support, the Fire Services Department's (FSD) Psychological Services Unit is also providing emotional support and psychological counselling to the family members of the deceased fireman, as well as to other FSD members engaged in frontline firefighting and rescue, and supporting personnel. The Unit will also conduct post-operational psychological debriefings to help them process their emotions. The FSD also expresses its gratitude to the Police and the Correctional Services Department for promptly deploying their teams of clinical psychologists to assist in providing professional psychological services to FSD personnel. To pool strengths from the education sector in a more focused manner, the Education Bureau has initiated the establishment of a territory-wide education sector support group for special incidents, comprising education bodies of primary and secondary schools, kindergartens and special schools; school councils; and various school heads' associations. It serves as an exchange platform for keeping abreast of the situation of all schools in Hong Kong, providing affected students with more tailored assistance, and garnering and unifying support to help students and teachers overcome trauma with a view to facilitating a speedy recovery of the community. For the latest updates and information about the support services, please visit the Government's one-stop dedicated website: www.taipofire.gov.hk . Regarding the handling of alleged missing persons, the Police deployed over 600 officers of the Disaster Victim Identification Unit to conduct searches at two of the buildings yesterday. The search operation was completed at about 2.30pm yesterday, during which no human remains were found. The Police have arranged sufficient manpower to remain on standby. Once the relevant departments confirm the safety of each building, the Police will immediately deploy officers there to conduct searches. The Police will continue to follow up on the alleged missing persons, aiming to confirm their status and the number of casualties as soon as possible. On the investigations and monitoring fronts, the FSD conducted functional tests on the fire alarm systems (including fire alarm bells) at all eight domestic blocks of Wang Fuk Court after the fire. The department found that the fire alarm systems were not in effective working order. The FSD will continue to carry out inspections on other fire service installations and equipment in all domestic blocks of Wang Fuk Court and will collect relevant evidence. Should any person be found to have contravened the provisions of the Fire Services Ordinance, appropriate enforcement action will be taken. If any matters beyond the scope of the Fire Services Ordinance are identified, the case will be referred to the relevant law enforcement authorities for follow-up action. The interdepartmental Fire Investigation Task Force, led by the Fire Services Department, held its first meeting on November 28 to investigate the cause of the fire, how it spread, and to determine the factors that led to heavy casualties. The three personnel of the construction company who were arrested on November 27 have been released on bail. The Police have accorded top priority to the case and are conducting a thorough and in-depth investigation, gathering evidence through various channels. The Independent Checking Unit of the Housing Bureau (ICU), together with professionals from the Housing Department led by two Deputy Directors and five Chief Structural Engineers at directorate level, visited Wang Fuk Court yesterday to inspect the overall structural safety of the damaged buildings. As at 1pm yesterday, the ICU has completed the inspections on the structural safety of the whole blocks of Wang Yan House and Wang Tao House as well as the first two floors of Wang Cheong Court. Based on the visual inspections of the situations on site, the ICU assessed that Wang Yan House and Wang Tao House should have no imminent danger in terms of structural safety. Preliminary observations suggested that the structure of some units may have shown more serious damages, and temporary support may be necessary. Contractors for emergency maintenance have already been mobilised to conduct relevant works. The ICU has continued to deploy manpower to conduct on-site sampling at Wang Fuk Court and four other Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) courts that have been issued notices under the Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme, including Sui Wo Court in Sha Tin, Ching Lai Court in Sham Shui Po, Yee Kok Court in Sham Shui Po, and On Kay Court in Kwun Tong. Samples collected from different positions of the protective nets have been sent to the Government Laboratory for testing yesterday. In the four HOS courts other than Wang Fuk Court, in case any flammable material is identified on the external walls, the ICU would instruct the contractors to remove it immediately. The Buildings Department (BD) announced yesterday that the BD has issued orders under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) requiring the immediate temporary suspension of works on 28 private building projects with Prestige Construction & Engineering Company, Limited (PC&E) as the registered contractor, as well as two other private building maintenance projects in which plastic sheetings were found to be used. The BD has also ordered at once the two registered contractors concerned (Fulam Construction Engineering Company Limited and Yuen Fat Construction Engineering Limited) to remove the plastic sheetings, and will seek legal advice for considering legal penalties. Contractors responsible for the above-mentioned 30 projects are required to conduct independent safety audits for the projects and submit to the BD improvement plans and implement improvement measures before the department considers if and when the works can be resumed. Furthermore, the BD will continue its special inspection operation. As of November 29, 250 buildings undergoing external wall maintenance have been inspected and samples have been taken for testing from buildings installed with scaffold nets. If further buildings are found to be using foam or plastic sheeting to block up windows, or if sampling results indicate that the scaffold nets fail to meet fire-retardant standards, follow-up actions will be promptly announced. The Labour Department (LD) launched a territory-wide special enforcement operation since November 28, targeting the fire protection facilities and fire emergency preparedness of building maintenance work sites with large-scale scaffolding erected. This includes checking if protective screens (also known as scaffold nets) on scaffolds are in compliance with recognised standards for fire-retardant materials to ensure occupational safety of workers. As of November 29, the LD inspected 46 work sites, with a total of 39 written warnings and two improvement notices issued. Ends/Sunday, November 30, 2025 Issued at HKT 1:23 NNNN"}, {"title": "Follow-up support efforts for Tai Po fire continue (28.11.2025)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202511/28/P2025112801022.htm", "date": "28.11.2025", "description": "A Government spokesperson today (November 28) said that the fire-fighting and rescue operations at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po have been completed, and various bureaux and departments are focusing on stepping up follow‑up support and recovery work. The Government yesterday (November 27) established a Task Force on Investigation and Regulation, a Task Force on Emergency Support and Fund-Raising, and a Task Force on Emergency Accommodation Arrangements, led respectively by the Chief Secretary for Administration, the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, and the Deputy Financial Secretary, to actively take forward the relevant work. To expedite the handling of enquiries related to missing persons, the Police have activated the Major Incident Investigation and Disaster Support System (MIIDSS - supercomputer) to help identify the casualties. They will also deploy the Disaster Victim Identification Unit to systematically confirm the identities of the victims and provide evidence for subsequent investigations and follow‑up work. An identification centre has also been set up to assist families in conducting preliminary identification of the deceased through photographs. Following initial identification, the Police will arrange formal identification procedures. In accordance with the Coroners Ordinance (Cap. 504), the bodies of the victims in the fire will be transferred to the public mortuary. The Department of Health's Forensic Pathology Service is collecting evidence for the Police's Disaster Victim Identification Unit and fully assisting in the identification of the deceased. Considering that bereaved families may have difficulty providing identification documents and medical records of the deceased, forensic pathologists will exercise discretion on a case-by-case basis and provide appropriate support. They will also endeavour to assist bereaved families in applying for a waiver of post-mortem procedures according to their wishes. To provide immediate relief for affected residents, the Government began offering an emergency cash subsidy of HK$10,000 per affected household last night. Applications were processed for 78 households last night, with HK$780,000 disbursed. As at 4pm today, the Tai Po District Office is processing applications from over 1 200 households, and the emergency cash subsidies will be disbursed over today and tomorrow. In addition, the Government will provide a token of solidarity of HK$200,000 to the family members of each deceased victim, and starting next week, a living allowance of HK$50,000 will be provided to each affected household. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will arrange dedicated staff to assist each family of the deceased in handling funeral arrangements, including body claims, cremation services, and applications for niche allocations. The FEHD will also maintain close co-ordination with social workers under the Social Welfare Department (SWD)'s \"one social worker per household\" initiative. The FEHD will provide extra cremation sessions and make available niches at public columbaria under the Department, enabling families to arrange cremations and post-funeral matters promptly at their preferred time and location. The Government will waive fees for cremation services and niches at public columbaria, bear funeral expenditures, and provide $50,000 to the families of each deceased individual. On replacements of identity documents, residents affected by the fire may visit the Immigration Headquarters during office hours without an appointment for replacements of Hong Kong identity cards or HKSAR travel documents, any Registration of Persons Office for replacements of identity cards, and any Immigration Branch Office for replacements of travel documents. Meanwhile, the Immigration Department has deployed officers to various temporary shelters to assist the affected residents of Wang Fuk Court with pre-registration and will arrange dedicated vehicles to take them to the Immigration Headquarters in Tseung Kwan O later to complete the procedures for replacements of personal documents, including Hong Kong identity cards and HKSAR travel documents (such as the HKSAR passport, the Document of Identity for Visa Purposes, and the Re-entry Permit) and the Hong Kong Birth Certificate. Relevant fees will be waived. A special service session will be arranged at the Immigration Headquarters in Tseung Kwan O outside office hours tomorrow (November 29, Saturday) to process relevant applications. For the Hong Kong and Macao Residents Entry and Exit Permit (Home Return Permit), the Immigration Department has liaised with the China Travel Service (Holdings) Hong Kong Limited to provide a special service period to assist residents in need to apply for Home Return Permits and other travel documents issued by Mainland authorities at the adjacent China Travel Service Document Services HK Limited Tseung Kwan O Centre, after completing their relevant applications at the Immigration Headquarters. In addition, the Government is striving to provide emergency accommodation support for residents affected by the fire. As of this morning, around 205 residents have been accommodated, through the co-ordination of the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau, in youth hostels/camps or hotel rooms. Another 601 residents have moved into transitional housing units provided by the Housing Bureau. Furthermore, nine shelters remain open, with around 720 residents staying overnight yesterday. An interdepartmental support station is set up at each shelter, and Care Teams across all 18 districts will take turns to be on duty to assist residents. To accommodate the needs of residents admitted into Lok Sin Village and Good House, two transitional housing projects in Tai Po, the Transport Department (TD) has co-ordinated with KMB to enhance the service of route Nos. 72C, 73P, 74E, 75K, 75P and 275R travelling Ting Kok Road, as well as relevant operators to strengthen the service of the New Territories Green Minibus (GMB) route Nos. 20B, 20C, 20E, 20G, 20R and 20T. Starting from November 29, the GMB operator concerned will provide additional temporary service connecting Good House and MTR Tai Po Market Station. Regarding Trackside Villas, another transitional housing project in Tai Po, the TD is working with the relevant operator and stakeholder to follow up and further enhance services to Tai Po Market Station. The TD will continue to maintain close liaison with operating organisations of transitional housing projects concerned to cater for residents' needs. With the support from the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL), the Government will provide the affected residents with Octopus cards with $2,000 of stored credit through the SWD, with each resident receiving one card to facilitate their daily travel. The MTRCL has also set up a support desk at the MTR Tai Po Market Station to facilitate express registration for residents whose JoyYou Card, Octopus cards for persons with disabilities, and Octopus cards for students that have been lost or damaged. Separately, the Financial Secretary convened a co-ordination meeting this afternoon with financial regulators to enhance support for residents affected by the fire . The Insurance Authority has set up a dedicated task force to co-ordinate the insurance sector's responses on the handling of public enquiries and claims. Insurers are also offering various forms of assistance, including prioritising claims processing, expediting payouts, offering premium holidays or extended payment deadlines, and providing interest relief on policy loans. On other emergency support, the SWD has registered more than 900 households for the provision of \"one social worker per household\" services in order to render necessary assistance according to their welfare needs. The SWD will continue to reach out to other unregistered households, or they may leave their contact information by calling 182 183; social workers will assist to follow up. In addition, the SWD has arranged respite services for dozens of elderly residents and persons with disabilities. Social welfare organisations were also engaged to provide burial services for residents in need. Meanwhile, the Civil Service Bureau today mobilised more than 200 additional staff to form Quick Response Units to provide support at temporary shelters and other locations in Tai Po, including distributing supplies to affected residents. They include civil servants from the Civil Engineering and Development Department and the Immigration Department, as well as staff from the Independent Commission Against Corruption. To support schools and students to cope with the incident, the Education Bureau (EDB) will offer $100,000 to each primary and secondary school (including special schools) and $50,000 to each kindergarten in Tai Po District under the Special Incident Assistance Grant. If any school premises are damaged, the EDB will arrange emergency repair works. In addition, the EDB will hold five online seminars on psychological support this coming weekend to assist school personnel and parents in taking care of students or children with traumatic experiences. Regarding fundraising and relief supplies, members of the public can visit 122 post offices across the territory (including three mobile post offices) to donate to the government-established Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. A receipt will be issued upon completion as confirmation. To further facilitate the public, the Faster Payment System (FPS) channel for the relief fund has been activated (FPS Identifier: 124037276). In addition, the Government is working with the information technology sector to expedite the development of an online platform for registering donated supplies, to allow organisations and members of the public to register the items they can donate, enabling the Government to better consolidate the information and distribute the supplies to residents in need when necessary. Members of the public may provide their contact information and details of items they can donate via WhatsApp at 9213 2388 for timely follow-up by the Government. The Government has established a dedicated website Support Services for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po ( www.taipofire.gov.hk ), providing a one-stop platform for relevant information and updates on accommodation support, relief supplies, government dedicated fund, financial support, as well as medical and counselling services, to facilitate public access. Regarding the investigations and regulation, the three personnel of the construction company arrested yesterday are still being detained for enquiries. The Fire Services Department has established an interdepartmental investigation team with participating departments including the Hong Kong Police Force, the Buildings Department, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, the Housing Department, the Labour Department, and the Government Laboratory. The investigation will commence shortly. On the protective nets used at Wang Fuk Court, the contractor submitted a test report to the Independent Checking Unit of the Housing Bureau (ICU) in October 2024. Upon review, the ICU did not identify any non-compliance issues against the fire-retardant requirements as stipulated in the Buildings Ordinance and relevant practice notes/circular letters. In addition, officers of the ICU visited Wang Fuk Court in November 2024 to oversee how the registered inspectors and contractor conducted on-site sampling and burned the material of the protective nets, but no combustible feature was detected. In light of the fire incident and to conduct sampling and testing at the work sites, the ICU conducted preliminary on-site sampling of the protective nets yesterday at five Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) courts that have been issued notices under the Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme and are currently undergoing major maintenance works (apart from Wang Chi House of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, others include Sui Wo Court in Sha Tin, Ching Lai Court in Sham Shui Po, Yee Kok Court in Sham Shui Po, and On Kay Court in Kwun Tong). The preliminary results of the tests conducted by the Government Laboratory have not identified any non-compliance issues against the fire-retardant requirements of protective nets as stipulated in the Buildings Ordinance and relevant practice notes/circular letters. The ICU has also conducted on-site sampling of the styrofoam materials used for protecting the windows at Wang Chi House of Wang Fuk Court, which was not affected by the fire incident. Tests by the Government Laboratory confirmed that the styrofoam material is flammable. Except for Wang Fuk Court, the ICU has not identified any cases of using styrofoam boards as the protective materials for the external walls or windows at the other four HOS courts. The ICU will continue to conduct on-site sampling at the seven buildings affected by the fire incident in Wang Fuk Court. Immediate referral will be made to the law enforcement agencies for prosecutions if any non-compliance issues are found. The Buildings Department (BD) commenced inspections yesterday in batches of existing buildings that are undergoing major external wall repairs and with scaffold nets installed for checking of records or relevant test documents regarding the fire-retardant properties of materials such as scaffold nets; and collecting samples for testing. As of 5pm today, the BD inspected 127 buildings and collected samples, which are sent in batches to the Government Laboratory, local private laboratories, and Mainland laboratories for testing. Results are expected within one to three days. The BD aims to complete inspections and sampling in batches within next week at the latest. In the inspections conducted so far, the BD has discovered two buildings with foam boards covering windows and has requested their immediate removal. The BD will notify residents by letter and seek legal advice for considering legal penalties. ​The BD has issued circular letters to all registered building professionals and registered contractors, requiring them to review records or test documents for materials such as scaffold nets for ongoing works, regardless of whether the projects are new building constructions or maintenance of existing buildings. The review includes checking whether the materials are in good condition and meeting fire-retardant performance standards and requirements. Reports must be submitted to the BD within seven days, and the BD will immediately conduct audit checks for sampling and testing. The Architectural Services Department (ArchSD) has also requested the contractors of 24 public works building projects to review the records or test documents of materials, such as scaffold protective nets. A report must be submitted to the ArchSD within seven days. Ends/Friday, November 28, 2025 Issued at HKT 23:59 NNNN"}, {"title": "Government undertakes comprehensive follow-up on Tai Po fire (27.11.2025)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202511/27/P2025112700980.htm", "date": "27.11.2025", "description": "​A Government spokesman said today (November 27) that, in view of the No. 5 alarm fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po that has caused multiple casualties, the Chief Executive convened another cross-departmental meeting this morning to co-ordinate all policy bureaux and departments, actively advancing the response efforts in four key areas: extinguishing the fire and rescuing trapped residents, treating the injured, providing post-incident support, and conducting a comprehensive investigation. In terms of rescue efforts, among the eight buildings in Wang Fuk Court, the fires in seven affected blocks are largely under control. The Fire Services Department (FSD) is continuing its full effort to complete the search and rescue and firefighting operations on the remaining floors. During the fire, the FSD received 346 requests for assistance and has handled 296 of them. On medical support, the Primary Healthcare Commission co-ordinated professionals from the public and private medical sectors, including over 250 doctors and more than 250 other healthcare professionals from the private sector, to set up medical stations at all temporary shelters. The medical stations provide appropriate medical assistance for residents in need from 8am to 8pm daily, including basic medical assessments and referral services, treatment of mild injuries, drug prescriptions (including necessary medication refills based on one's medical history), and psychological support, with a view to assisting in managing non-emergency medical needs. As for post-incident support, the Chief Executive has instructed the Civil Service Bureau to activate the \"Government-wide Mobilisation\" mechanism to ensure sufficient manpower for all necessary follow-up actions. Meanwhile, all government-organised celebratory events will be cancelled or postponed, and officials will reduce attendance at non-essential public activities to focus on relief and recovery efforts. The Government will arrange memorial activities, including flying flags at half-mast at government buildings, holding memorial services and setting up condolence books to allow the public to express their sorrow and condolences. Further details will be announced later. To meet the short- and medium-term accommodation needs of affected residents, the Government has opened nine shelters, which are currently being used by over 500 residents. The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau has contacted youth hostels and hotels, which will provide around 1 000 units for affected residents to stay in immediately for one to two weeks. The Government is also co-ordinating resources for transitional housing and dedicated rehousing units from the Hong Kong Housing Society, with an estimated 1 800 units to be made available later to meet the accommodation needs of the affected residents. In addition, the Social Welfare Department (SWD) has mobilised social workers, clinical psychologists and support staff to provide \"one social worker per household\" assistance to affected residents, including emotional support, financial assistance, and residential care and occasional child care services. The SWD will maintain close liaison with relevant government departments to provide all necessary assistance to those affected. The Education Bureau (EDB) immediately contacted the school heads associations in Tai Po and schools near Wang Fuk Court to co-ordinate class suspension arrangements for the affected schools. It also deployed staff to the temporary shelters to provide emotional support for affected students. The EDB will maintain close communication with the school heads associations and schools in the district, and continue to provide them with necessary assistance and support services. Starting tonight, the Government will provide an emergency cash subsidy of HK$10,000 to each affected household to offer immediate relief. At the same time, the Government has established the \"Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po\", allocating HK$300 million as start-up capital to assist residents and support all relevant work. The fund began accepting donations from 7pm this evening. Its designated bank accounts at the Bank of China (Hong Kong) are: HKD donation account 012-875-2-190159-7 and foreign-currency donation account 012-875-2-190160-7, enabling contributions from all sectors of the community to support the victims. As for funeral arrangements for the deceased, if affected residents require cremation services or columbarium niches, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will make special arrangements and provide full support. Regarding investigations, Police arrested two male directors and a male engineering consultant of a construction company in the small hours today. They are being detained for further enquiries. Police have also seized for further inspection materials at the scene that may not have met regulatory standards. Once the fire is extinguished and on-site safety is confirmed, Police will co-ordinate with the FSD to gather evidence and conduct a thorough investigation to ascertain the cause of the fire. Separately, the Buildings Department (BD) and the Independent Checking Unit of the Housing Bureau today issued a letter to all registered building professionals and registered contractors requiring them to review relevant records or test certificates relating to fire retardant properties of the protective nets and the like used in scaffolds for ongoing projects (buildings under construction or existing buildings under maintenance). They must submit a report to the BD within seven days, after which the BD will conduct audit checks. At the same time, the Architectural Services Department (ArchSD) has required contractors of building projects under public works contracts to review and submit the above-mentioned information within seven days. The ArchSD will also conduct audit checks. The BD also launched today a special operation to inspect in batches all existing buildings that are currently undergoing external wall renovations with scaffolding and protective nets. The BD will proactively check the records or test certificates relating to fire retardant properties of the protective nets and the like used in scaffolds, and collect samples for testing. Regarding sample testing, the Government is also appealing for assistance from the Mainland to enhance testing capacity. The registered contractor responsible for the maintenance works at Wang Fuk Court is currently involved in 11 other private residential building projects. The BD inspected the relevant sites today and will take any appropriate follow-up action. In addition, the Development Bureau (DEVB) today met with the industry to discuss the roadmap for advancing the replacement of bamboo scaffolding with metal scaffolding. At the meeting, the DEVB also requested the industry's co-operation with the above-mentioned inspection and audit checks. The BD will review the relevant requirements, guidelines and legislation regulating the erection of scaffolding (whether metal or bamboo) and associated protective nets, and will consider whether there is a need for strengthening or enhancement. As at 8pm today, the No. 5 alarm fire in Tai Po has resulted in 65 deaths and 77 injuries, including one fireman among the deceased. To better co-ordinate the follow-up actions, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has established three working groups, namely an inspection and regulatory working group led by the Chief Secretary for Administration, an emergency assistance and fundraising working group led by the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, and an emergency residential arrangement working group led by the Deputy Financial Secretary, and has been actively taking forward the relevant work. Ends/Thursday, November 27, 2025 Issued at HKT 23:59 NNNN"}, {"title": "Remarks by CS at media session (26.11.2025)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202511/26/P2025112600315.htm", "date": "26.11.2025", "description": "The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, together with the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, met the media today (November 26) on the distribution of thank you cards to voters during the 2025 Legislative Council (LegCo) General Election. Following are Mr Chan's remarks at the media session: Reporter: Good morning. A few questions. First one, why did the Government come up with such incentives? And secondly, what do you make of private business sectors coming up with discounts and promotions on polling day? Thank you. Chief Secretary for Administration: Thank you very much. First of all, I would like to say thank you to the many private companies and the private sector for providing some facilitation and special offers to those who vote in the LegCo election. I think encouraging more people to vote is very important, and it is also very important for the future of Hong Kong. We encourage the private sector to provide, as far as they can, facilitation and special offers to encourage (voting in) the LegCo election; it is very, very important for Hong Kong's future. I really encourage that. Thank you. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.) Ends/Wednesday, November 26, 2025 Issued at HKT 13:30 NNNN"}, {"title": "2025 Fight Crime Conference concludes successfully (22.11.2025)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202511/22/P2025112100647.htm", "date": "22.11.2025", "description": "The Fight Crime Committee (FCC) today (November 22) held the 2025 Fight Crime Conference at the Central Government Offices with nearly 400 participants exchanging views on topics relating to law and order and crime-fighting strategies in Hong Kong. Officiating at the conference, the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, said that this year marks the fifth anniversary of the promulgation and implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law, and the conference has made \"promoting and safeguarding national security\" one of its themes, which comes at the right time. He pointed out that Hong Kong is at the critical juncture of advancing from stability to prosperity, and that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government is fully committed to deepening reforms, developing the economy and improving people's livelihood, while stability is the foundation for development and reform. He stressed that only by strengthening the solid defence in national security can Hong Kong effectively respond to various risks and challenges on a solid foundation. The conference also focused on discussing areas of work relating to scam prevention and crime fighting, as well as the drug abuse problem, addressing issues of current concern to the public. Mr Lee said that in the face of rapidly evolving technology and ever-changing criminal methods, it is essential to continuously enhance public awareness of crime prevention. He said he hopes that the FCC and the District Fight Crime Committees will continue to assist the Government in promoting the work of crime prevention, contributing to maintaining Hong Kong's law and order. In his welcoming remarks, the Chief Secretary for Administration and Chairperson of the FCC, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, said that since their establishment in the 1970s, the FCC and District Fight Crime Committees have been close partners of the Government and vital forces in maintaining Hong Kong's prosperity and stability. He said he strongly believes that the FCC and District Fight Crime Committees will continue to serve as participants and guardians to safeguard community safety. Through the conference, the FCC and District Fight Crime Committees will pool their wisdom and reach consensus to carry out related work more comprehensively, with a view to building Hong Kong into a better and safer home. The conference comprised three plenary sessions, namely: (1) national security education in the community; (2) drug abuse; and (3) deception, with the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC; the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung; and the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), Mr Yip Wan-lung, as moderators respectively. Members of the FCC as well as chairpersons and representatives of the District Fight Crime Committees were invited to share their experiences. In his closing remarks, Mr Tang said that the discussion and sharing at the conference were meaningful and that relevant opinions will be considered and followed up. He said that the HKSAR Government will do its utmost to safeguard national sovereignty, maintain public order and combat crimes, with a view to creating a safe and stable environment for Hong Kong so that society can focus on economic development and improving people's livelihood. Taking the opportunity of the conference, Mr Lee, Mr Chan and Mr Tang also encouraged the public to fulfil their civic responsibility by casting their votes in the Legislative Council (LegCo) General Election on December 7, to elect patriotic and capable LegCo Members to contribute to Hong Kong's development and people's livelihood. Other officials attending the conference included the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun; the Permanent Secretary for Security, Mr Patrick Li; the Acting Commissioner of Police, Mr Kan Kai-yan; the Under Secretary for Security, Mr Michael Cheuk; the Under Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr Clarence Leung; the Under Secretary for Education, Dr Sze Chun-fai; the Commissioner of Correctional Services, Mr Wong Kwok-hing; and the Director of Home Affairs, Ms Priscilla To. Ends/Saturday, November 22, 2025 Issued at HKT 13:50 NNNN"}, {"title": "CS attends press conference on overall operations of 15th National Games in Shenzhen (21.11.2025)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202511/21/P2025112100350.htm", "date": "21.11.2025", "description": "Vice President of the Organising Committee of the 15th National Games (NG) and Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, attended a press conference held by the Organising Committee of the 15th NG in Shenzhen today (November 21). Mr Chan, along with relevant officials from the General Administration of Sport of China (GASC), Guangdong Province and the Macao Special Administrative Region, introduced the overall operations of the 15th NG. Mr Chan stated at the press conference that this year's NG represents an innovative practice of sports collaboration among Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, showcasing the infinite possibilities for the joint development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). The successful hosting of the NG not only enhances Hong Kong's ability to host large-scale sporting events but also promotes deep integration and collaboration among GBA cities. It fosters people-to-people exchanges within the GBA and lays a solid foundation for the three places to cohost mega events, further enhancing the overall competitiveness of the GBA and jointly contributing to the country's development. Regarding how to further develop Hong Kong's sports industry by leveraging the momentum of the NG, Mr Chan noted that this marks the eighth time Hong Kong has participated in the NG since its return to the motherland, and it is also the most successful edition, with a total of 19 medals: nine golds, two silvers and eight bronzes. This not only reflects that the skills of athletes have been on the rise but also shows that Hong Kong is moving in the right direction in training elite athletes and formulating policies on sports developments. At the same time, it demonstrates the results of the joint efforts of the Government and various sectors of the community in promoting the development of sports over the years. Mr Chan said, the HKSAR Government has allocated abundant resources to support sports development. The Government has designated over $1 billion for the Hong Kong Sports Institute in 2025-26 to support its training for over 1 600 elite athletes. In addition to physical training resources, the Government continuously enhances support for elite athletes, including increasing the direct financial subsidies for athletes, allowing them to focus on training within a more financially stable context. He added, with the successful experience of hosting various events of the 15th NG in the Hong Kong competition region, the HKSAR Government will continue to actively attract more international mega sports events to Hong Kong, further promote the local sports industry, enhance professional levels and move towards industrialisation, as well as leverage large-scale events to boost sports tourism, related support services and relevant innovative services, with a view to building a more comprehensive sports industry ecosystem. The HKSAR Government will also continue to step up its promotion of sports at the community and school levels, increase and optimise sports and recreational facilities, and encourage all sectors to jointly cultivate a strong sporting culture. Mr Chan said, \"Hong Kong athletes have achieved historic results in the 15th NG, presenting a golden opportunity for Hong Kong's sports development. The HKSAR Government will work together with all sectors to convert the success of the NG into long-term momentum, further improving local sports standards and promoting a culture of 'sports for all'. This will position sports as a vital force in uniting society and enriching cultural life, aiming to achieve the goal of 'benefitting ordinary people'.\" Regarding the positive impacts of hosting the NG for Hong Kong, Mr Chan said that the successful completion of 15th NG not only elevated the international image of the entire GBA, including Hong Kong, but has also resulted in substantial and lasting benefits in areas such as infrastructure, talent development and regional collaboration. These outcomes will continue to exert positive influence after the conclusion of the 15th NG, injecting new momentum into Hong Kong's long-term development. He cited that in terms of venues and facilities, iconic world-class facilities such as the Kai Tak Sports Park have become significant platforms for promoting Hong Kong's sports and tourism industries. The Kai Tak Sports Park successfully hosted events such as rugby sevens, handball (men) and fencing during the 15th NG, demonstrating its ability to host international competitions. Kai Tak Stadium, which accommodates 50 000 spectators, significantly enhances Hong Kong's competitiveness in hosting large-scale competitions, further consolidating Hong Kong's position as a hub for international mega events. He added that the success of the NG has fully showcased Hong Kong's capabilities in event organisation and management. During the preparation process, Hong Kong cultivated a group of professionals with a global perspective, who will continue to play key roles in related fields, promoting and supporting the development of Hong Kong's sports industry. In addition, the Hong Kong competition region has appointed over 16 000 volunteers, forming the largest-ever event volunteer team, which extensively demonstrates the public's active participation and support for the sports industry. This powerful social force has established a solid societal foundation for Hong Kong's long-term development of sports. Mr Chan noted that the NG has significantly enhanced the overall international image and influence of the GBA, further solidifying Hong Kong's status within the international sports arena. This has generated positive effects and tangible benefits in areas such as tourism promotion and talent attraction. With the successful hosting of the NG, these productive achievements will greatly contribute to Hong Kong's development and foster regional integration as powerful momentum, while promoting culture exchanges and trade collaboration in the GBA. Mr Chan said, \"Hong Kong will maintain close co-operation with the GASC to further promote the joint development of the sports industry in the GBA and attract more major events to be held in Hong Kong and the GBA, thereby contributing to building a world-class bay area and the country's efforts to become a sporting powerhouse.\" Officials attending today's press conference included Deputy Director of the GASC Mr Tong Lixin; Vice President of the Organising Committee of the 15th NG and Standing Committee member of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, Mr Wang Xi; Mr Chan; and Vice President of the Organising Committee of the 15th NG and Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government, Ms O Lam. Ends/Friday, November 21, 2025 Issued at HKT 12:10 NNNN"}, {"title": "DCS chairs 10th meeting of Task Force on District Governance (19.11.2025)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202511/19/P2025111900562.htm", "date": "19.11.2025", "description": "The Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, chaired the 10th meeting of the Task Force on District Governance today (November 19) to follow up on the initiatives in accordance with the work assigned by the Steering Committee on District Governance. The meeting co-ordinated various departments in formulating specific implementation measures on issues of local concern and continuously reviewed the work progress and performance. Mr Cheuk said, \"With the concerted efforts of all departments, various measures have been steadily implemented in accordance with the overall strategies set by the Steering Committee, effectively improving environmental hygiene, enhancing community development, and strengthening district services. The Task Force will continue to co-ordinate departments in stepping up the speed and efficiency in addressing a range of pressing district concerns, continuously improving people's livelihood and well-being.\" The Steering Committee chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration has formulated strategies for 12 district issues (Note), including various measures to strengthen community support. These initiatives actively address the needs of the public and seek to enhance their quality of life and satisfaction. At the meeting, the Task Force followed up on the implementation progress and outcomes of relevant initiatives. These include: 200 primary schools have participated in the School-based After School Care Service Scheme, providing a total of about 10 600 service places; the Government has launched the first phase of the Carer Support Data Platform, which integrates the data of the Housing Department and the Social Welfare Department to identify high-risk cases with relatively limited community support, with Care Teams having visited or reached out to over 18 000 singleton and doubleton elderly households, carers of elderly persons and persons with disabilities and referred more than 900 cases to social welfare service units as of end-October; the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has taken enforcement actions against shopfront extension under the Public Health and Municipal Services (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 to safeguard environmental hygiene; as of September 30, the FEHD has issued over 7 000 \"Statutory Nuisance Notices\" in response to environmental nuisances caused by air-conditioner water dripping, with the vast majority of cases already rectified; and relevant departments continue to improve the waiting environment at public transport interchanges, including the ventilation system and lighting. Mr Cheuk thanked all departments for their dedicated efforts in advancing the above work and achieving notable results. He urged all departments to uphold the spirit of unity and pragmatism and to continue actively following up on various livelihood-related issues, effectively enhancing the quality of life and well-being of the public. The Government is making full preparations for the Legislative Council General Election to be held on December 7. As an important election following the enhancement of the district governance system, it carries significant implications for Hong Kong's community development, economic growth and people's livelihood. Mr Cheuk directed heads of departments to put in place comprehensive arrangements and ensure close co-ordination, carrying out all related tasks in a thorough, detailed and pragmatic manner. He requested all departments to provide practicable facilitation measures to support staff in voting and to make good use of government district facilities and networks to widely disseminate messages encouraging voter turnout. These efforts will help deepen public understanding of the election and the importance of voting, motivating citizens to cast their ballots and elect capable and committed Members of the Legislative Council who will contribute to community development and Hong Kong's prosperity and progress. Note: The 12 key issues are: (1) expanding after-school care and enhancing support for parents; (2) caring for the elderly and enhancing community support; (3) fostering clean markets and mobilising the community to participate in anti-rodent work; (4) enhancing public order and combating crimes on all fronts; (5) improving pedestrian facilities and ensuring road safety; (6) enhancing the community environment and strengthening local characteristics ; (7) improving the environment of public housing estates and creating comfortable homes; (8) caring for the elderly and promoting digital inclusion; (9) improving the waiting environment at public transport interchanges to enhance the travel experience; (10) combating air-conditioner water dripping to improve community environment; (11) cleaning pedestrian walkways to improve city streets; (12) strengthening thematic planting. Ends/Wednesday, November 19, 2025 Issued at HKT 18:26 NNNN"}, {"title": "Youth Development Commission convenes 20th meeting (18.11.2025)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202511/18/P2025111800625.htm", "date": "18.11.2025", "description": "​The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, chaired the 20th meeting of the Youth Development Commission (YDC) today (November 18). At the meeting, members were briefed by government representatives on the new initiatives relating to youth development in \"The Chief Executive's 2025 Policy Address\". Members were pleased to note that the Policy Address has introduced a series of measures to promote youth exchange and development, providing continuous all-round support for young people to unleash their potential. Among other initiatives, the Government will launch the Young Talent Training Programme, which includes (i) providing more opportunities for young people to intern at international organisations and attend international conferences; (ii) introducing a new media thematic internship programme on the Mainland; (iii) strengthening the Youth Financial Education Programme; and (iv) launching new mediation workshops to enhance young people's understanding of the mediation industry. Furthermore, the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) reported on the latest progress of promoting youth innovation and entrepreneurship at the meeting. The Alliance of Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurial Bases in the Greater Bay Area, established by the HYAB together with the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the People's Government of Guangdong Province, and the Human Resources and Social Security Department of Guangdong Province, has pooled resources from 70 member organisations to provide a one-stop information, publicity and exchange platform to support Hong Kong young people who start businesses in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). Funded projects under the new round of the HYAB Funding Scheme for Youth Entrepreneurship in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the HYAB Funding Scheme for Experiential Programmes at Innovation and Entrepreneurial Bases have also commenced progressively since this year. The funding schemes respectively provide capital funding and entrepreneurial support and incubation services for youth start-ups and facilitate young people in exploring the on-site entrepreneurial environment in the GBA and other Mainland provinces and municipalities. Mr Chan said, \"The latest Policy Address continues to inject fresh impetus into youth development work. The Government will continue to work hand in hand with the YDC in future, rallying the strength of all sectors of society to implement the various youth development measures in the Policy Address and the Youth Development Blueprint, helping young people achieve their aspirations and realise their full potential.\" ​At the meeting, Mr Chan also appealed to members to cast their votes on the polling day of the Legislative Council (LegCo) General Election on December 7 and to help promote the election among their family members, relatives, friends and affiliated associations, so as to elect a new term of responsible, visionary and capable LegCo Members. Ends/Tuesday, November 18, 2025 Issued at HKT 18:50 NNNN"}, {"title": "DCS chairs first meeting of Working Group on Ageing Society Strategies (14.11.2025)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202511/14/P2025111400634.htm", "date": "14.11.2025", "description": "The Working Group on Ageing Society Strategies (the Working Group), led by the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, held its first meeting today (November 14). Led by Mr Cheuk, policy bureaux discussed the strategic directions and initial plans of the Working Group at the meeting. The Working Group also received an analysis of future population trends and the economic implications of Hong Kong's ageing society, presented respectively by the Census and Statistics Department and the Office of the Government Economist. Societal ageing is a global trend and Hong Kong is no exception. Over the next two decades, the Hong Kong population will age more rapidly. By 2046, more than one in three Hong Kong residents will be 65 or older. The Chief Executive announced the establishment of the Working Group in the 2025 Policy Address to tackle challenges of Hong Kong's ageing society. Mr Cheuk said, \"The challenges and opportunities arising from an ageing society impacts various facets, spanning multiple policy areas. Therefore, the Working Group includes members from all 15 policy bureaux.\" Mr Cheuk added, \"The Working Group will look into how community resources and market participation may be capitalised to drive cross-sector collaboration and synergise with government policy initiatives to formulate timely strategic responses to societal ageing. The Working Group will also monitor the implementation of the announced measures on promoting the silver economy, and consider additional measures to develop silver economy in Hong Kong.\" The Working Group will submit a report to the Chief Executive next year. The Working Group comprises: Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration (Leader) Secretary for Labour and Welfare (Deputy Leader) Directors of the other 14 Bureaux Head, Chief Executive's Policy Unit Ends/Friday, November 14, 2025 Issued at HKT 17:20 NNNN"}, {"title": "Civil service groups fully mobilised to support voting together in Legislative Council Election (12.11.2025)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202511/12/P2025111200570.htm", "date": "12.11.2025", "description": "The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, and the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, met with staff-side representatives from the four civil service central consultative councils and representatives from the four major service-wide staff unions today (November 12) to plan the next steps in motivating civil servants to cast their votes to support the Legislative Council (LegCo) Election on December 7. Representatives from the consultative councils and unions pledged their full mobilisation to support the LegCo Election, and reported on the election-related publicity work they have conducted or are actively working on to promote voting among civil servants. They also stated that they will encourage their families and friends to fulfil their civic responsibilities by voting, electing the new-term LegCo members to build a better Hong Kong together. Following the meeting, Mr Chan and Mrs Yeung, along with representatives from the civil service unions, visited multiple floors of the Queensway Government Offices. They urged colleagues from various departments to vote together in the LegCo Election. The Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Clement Leung, colleagues from the Civil Service Bureau and representatives from various government departments also attended the visits. Mr Chan said that the LegCo and the work of the civil service are closely intertwined. Electing pragmatic and capable legislators carries profound significance to promoting good governance and long-term stability in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. As members of the Government, civil servants should lead by example by voting, demonstrating through their actions their support for the Government in administering Hong Kong and their efforts to encourage all voters to cast their votes. It is equally crucial for civil service unions to promote and engage in election-related publicity and activities, uniting the civil service to elect capable leaders for Hong Kong on the polling day. Mrs Yeung said that the LegCo serves as a vital partner of the Government in administering Hong Kong. It is of great importance for civil servants of all ranks to unite in their commitment to the election, working together to actively fulfil their civic responsibilities and encouraging families and friends to vote together in the LegCo Election, which also represents a significant force in collectively propelling social development. On the polling day, civil servants on duty across various posts will strive to ensure that the election proceeds in a fair, impartial, honest, safe and orderly manner. The Government also has appropriate arrangements to enable civil servants to cast their votes. Ends/Wednesday, November 12, 2025 Issued at HKT 17:26 NNNN"}, {"title": "Remarks by SCMA at media session (10.11.2025)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202511/10/P2025111000778.htm", "date": "10.11.2025", "description": "The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, together with the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, met the media on the determination results of the Candidate Eligibility Review Committee on the 2025 Legislative Council General Election this afternoon (November 10). Following are the remarks by Mr Tsang at the media session: Reporter: We would like to ask about the arrangement for election forums. In the previous elections, the government has not spelled out the structures and arrangements of each forum. But why would the government have such an arrangement this time, and why do you ditch the arrangement for the candidates to questioning each other? Thank you. Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs: We have stressed once and again that the government attaches great importance to the successful conduct of the LegCo election. For this time, we would like to organise and conduct the election forum so as to let our citizens and our voters to have a better understanding of the election platforms and also the beliefs of candidates, so that they can consider how to make that choice in voting. So this time, in terms of the scale, in terms of the organisation, that we trusted the government to organise such an election forum would be better. We decided to make the arrangement to organise the election forum this time. Thank you. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.) Ends/Monday, November 10, 2025 Issued at HKT 20:15 NNNN"}, {"title": "CS attends press conference on preparations for 15th National Games in Guangzhou (8.11.2025)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202511/08/P2025110800670.htm", "date": "8.11.2025", "description": "Vice President of the Organising Committee of the 15th National Games (NG) and Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, attended a press conference on preparations for the 15th NG held by the Organising Committee of the 15th NG in Guangzhou today (November 8). Mr Chan, along with relevant officials from the General Administration of Sport of China, Guangdong Province and the Macao Special Administrative Region, introduced the progress of the preparations for the 15th NG. Addressing the press conference, Mr Chan said the NG this year is of extraordinary significance as it is jointly hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao for the first time. It fully reflects the country's high level of trust and expectations for Hong Kong, and demonstrates the enormous potential and promising prospects of co-ordinated sports development in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), injecting new momentum and energy into promoting developments in the GBA and facilitating high-quality regional development. On how the Games would promote Hong Kong's economic development and consolidate its status as a hub for international mega events, Mr Chan said that the 15th NG this year is the largest NG in history. It is expected that there will be nearly 4 000 people in total participating in the games in Hong Kong, including over 2 100 athletes and over 1 800 officials and technical officials. In addition, hundreds of media representatives will also come to Hong Kong to cover the games. Mr Chan said he believes that the games will attract a large number of visitors to watch the games in Hong Kong, experiencing the city's charm and passion for sports. Mr Chan said, \"Through organising the NG, Hong Kong showcases the city's capability to organise large-scale competitions. It further solidifies Hong Kong's reputation as an international capital of mega events, laying a solid foundation for attracting more premier sports events to be held in Hong Kong in the future. In addition, organising large-scale sports events will leverage the 'sports plus tourism' synergistic effect to drive the development of tourism, hotel, retail, and food and beverage industries. As more tourists from the Mainland and overseas are attracted to Hong Kong to enjoy the games and visit other GBA cities, it brings long-term benefits to the tourism trade and creates more collaboration opportunities in the GBA.\" Regarding the arrangements of the cross-boundary road cycling event, Mr Chan said, \"As the first-ever cross-boundary event in the history of the NG, it highlights the unique feature of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao cohosting the NG. To ensure the smooth implementation of the event, the three places have maintained close liaison to create a smooth and convenient cross-border clearance experience through advanced technologies and effective collaboration mechanisms, achieving the goal of 'contactless clearance'.\" He noted that an innovative mode of \"pre-entry clearance and closed-loop management\" is adopted for the event, conducting advance identity verification of relevant personnel, with a view to facilitating their entry to the closed-loop area and immigration clearance. During the event, athletes will wear wristbands with a global positioning system and equipment of radio frequency identification. Live broadcast monitoring and drone inspection systems will be equipped along the race course to keep track of the real-time movements and locations of all participants. In addition, athletes and equipment vehicles will be bound with magnetic chips, allowing efficient transmission of clearance information to the backend system, delivering a \"contactless clearance\" with zero delay, zero waiting time, and uninterrupted passage without stopping. He further stated that throughout the preparation and organisation process, Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao have maintained close communication. This includes visits to cross-boundary routes and co-ordination among relevant departments and units for several working meetings. The governments of the three places have engaged in substantial and meticulous co-ordination across various areas, such as managing road closures, implementing temporary control measures at control points, ensuring closed-loop arrangements throughout the events, providing motorcade escorts, \"contactless clearance\", and preventing race convoys and athletes from deviating off course. This cross-boundary collaboration mode not only ensures the smooth execution of the event but also fosters people-to-people exchanges in the GBA, deepens regional co-operation mechanisms, and enhances the GBA's overall capabilities comprehensively in holding large-scale competitions. It also provides practical opportunities and lays a solid foundation for future co-operation in the GBA. Mr Chan said, \"By hosting the 15th NG, Hong Kong and other cities in the GBA can build closer sports partnerships, further break down geographical boundaries, achieve resource sharing and complementary advantages, and jointly advance the development of the sports industry of the GBA. This will attract more large-scale international sports events to Hong Kong and the GBA, continuously enhancing the region's global influence and sports competitiveness.\" Officials attending today's press conference included Deputy Director of the General Administration of Sport of China Mr Li Jing; Vice President of the Organising Committee of the 15th NG and Standing Committee member of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, Mr Wang Xi; Mr Chan; and Vice President of the Organising Committee of the 15th NG and Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government, Ms O Lam. Mr Chan will attend the second plenary meeting of the Organising Committee and the second meeting of heads of delegations tomorrow (November 9). Ends/Saturday, November 8, 2025 Issued at HKT 18:07 NNNN"}, {"title": "CS to depart for Guangzhou (7.11.2025)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202511/07/P2025110700570.htm", "date": "7.11.2025", "description": "The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, will depart for Guangzhou tomorrow (November 8) to attend a press conference on preparations for the 15th National Games (NG) held by the Organising Committee of the 15th NG, as well as the second plenary meeting of the Organising Committee and the second meeting of heads of delegations on the following day. The Head of the National Games Coordination Office (Hong Kong), Mr Yeung Tak-keung, will join him. Mr Chan will return to Hong Kong on November 9. Ends/Friday, November 7, 2025 Issued at HKT 19:00 NNNN"}, {"title": "Third-term Partners' Board under Strive and Rise Programme briefed on programme progress (6.11.2025)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202511/06/P2025110600574.htm", "date": "6.11.2025", "description": "The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, convened a meeting of the third-term Partners' Board under the Strive and Rise Programme today (November 6). At the meeting, members were briefed by government officials on the latest progress of the third cohort of the Programme and exchanged views on the implementation of the fourth cohort, which will be launched in 2026. Mr Chan expressed his gratitude to the enterprises and organisations serving as strategic partners of the Partners' Board. He pointed out that they have given full play to the synergies of the Government, the business sector and the community, offering staunch support to the current term Government's targeted poverty alleviation strategy to help young people from underprivileged families achieve personal growth and development. Since its launch, the Programme has benefited over 10 000 students in total across three cohorts, demonstrating remarkable results. Members were pleased to learn that the third cohort of the Programme has received multifaceted support from over 400 enterprises and organisations, including donations, nominations of mentors and arrangements of group activities. In addition, 50 Star Mentors of various professions shared their personal experiences and insights, inspiring mentees to establish their own personal development goals. The Programme continued to provide mentees with diversified learning opportunities, including enterprise visits and special experience activities. Through participating in Mainland study tours, mentees were also given the opportunity to interact with local youths, experience different cultures, as well as deepen their understanding of the country's history and recent developments. Moreover, graduates of the Programme have been actively engaging in activities of the Strive and Rise Alumni Club, such as participating in Youth Committees and various representative teams, to further develop their strengths for self-enhancement and thus sustaining the Programme's impact. Mr Chan added that mentee enrolment for the Programme's fourth cohort commenced on October 27, with a recruitment target of 4 000. In the coming year, Strive and Rise Alumni Club activities will be enriched to include training and experience integrating elements of Hong Kong pop culture and traditional Chinese arts. Mr Chan called on various sectors of society to continue supporting the Programme through sponsorship and donations, nomination of mentors, organisation of group activities and Mainland study tours, as well as provision of job-sampling opportunities for mentees. He expressed the hope that the concerted efforts of all parties will help uplift more underprivileged youths, supporting them in broadening their horizons and reinforcing self-confidence, thereby collectively witnessing their growth and development. At the meeting, Mr Chan also encouraged all Partners' Board members to encourage their staff and associated personnel to cast their votes on the polling day of the Legislative Council General Election on December 7. He further called upon employers to offer various convenient arrangements on polling day to enable staff to fulfil their civic duty by electing aspiring and capable Legislative Council Members, thereby working together to build a better community. The membership of the Board comprises the Chief Secretary for Administration, representatives of relevant government departments, and strategic partners providing the Programme with key support. Regular meetings will be held for the Government to report on the Programme's progress and to tap into the collective wisdom of the members to enhance the Programme. Ends/Thursday, November 6, 2025 Issued at HKT 17:35 NNNN"}, {"title": "Unveiling ceremony of EKCC held today (3.11.2025)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202511/03/P2025110300253.htm", "date": "3.11.2025", "description": "The unveiling ceremony of the East Kowloon Cultural Centre (EKCC) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) was held today (November 3). The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, officiated at the ceremony, marking the formal opening of the EKCC. Addressing the ceremony, Mr Chan said that the EKCC, as a new cultural landmark, is not only a major milestone in the Government's efforts to promote the development of arts and culture, but also represents a key element in consolidating Hong Kong's status as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchanges. He also said that the Hall of the EKCC is specifically reserved for long-running performances to facilitate the staging of iconic productions for a longer period of time and foster the sustainable development of the performing arts industry. The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law; the Permanent Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ms Vivian Sum; the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Manda Chan; the Deputy Director of Architectural Services, Mr Alan Sin; the Principal of Rocco Design Architects Associates, Dr Rocco Yim; and the director and playwright of the EKCC opening programme, an original Cantonese musical \"HighLights - The Memories of Charles Kao\", Ms Erica Li, also officiated at the ceremony. The EKCC is the first LCSD performance venue committed to promoting world-class integration of arts and technology, equipped with cutting-edge professional stage technology and flexible stage setups to facilitate experimentation and innovation. It provides five performing facilities, namely, The Hall, which is ideal for large-scale events; The Theatre, with a thrust stage; The Turns, which facilitates full-wall projection; The Beats, equipped with professional audio mixing and amplifying systems; and The Lab, which is a versatile arts technology testbed studio. The seat number of the facilities ranges from 120 to 1 200, catering for various types of programmes and performances applying arts technology. From November to February 2026, the EKCC Opening Season will present 17 exciting programmes. Apart from \"HighLights - The Memories of Charles Kao\" premiering on November 15, other programmes include \"Lucie in the Sky\", a dance performance featuring humanised drones; \"Alt-Escape\", a fusion of laser, digital technologies and live music concert; \"Little Murmur\", a solo dance that looks into the inner self; \"Incremental Changes\", a party concert blending original music with generative imagery, and more. For details, please visit: www.ekcc.hk . Ends/Monday, November 3, 2025 Issued at HKT 18:13 NNNN"}, {"title": "15th National Games torch relay successfully held (2.11.2025)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202511/02/P2025110200473.htm", "date": "2.11.2025", "description": "The 15th National Games (NG) will be opened on November 9. To welcome this landmark sporting event, jointly hosted for the first time by Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, the torch relay in Hong Kong competition region was held today (November 2). Fifty torchbearers representing various sectors—including sports, sponsors, volunteers, the youth, persons with disabilities and ethnic minorities—participated, fully showcasing Hong Kong's open, diverse, and inclusive character. The torch relay launching ceremony was held at 9am in Shenzhen, followed by starting ceremonies in Hong Kong, Macao and Guangzhou at 9.30am, where torch relay started simultaneously. The total route length in Hong Kong is approximately 10 kilometers, divided into five segments. Starting from the Central Government Offices in Tamar, with Hong Kong table tennis athlete Wong Chun-ting serving as the first torchbearer, the Hong Kong route passed through the Central and Western District Promenade (Central Section), the Wan Chai Temporary Promenade, the Monument in Commemoration of Return of Hong Kong to China and Golden Bauhinia Square. The second section saw the torchbearers crossed the Victoria Harbour by Star Ferry, then proceed to the third section in Tsim Sha Tsui. They started from Star Ferry Bus Terminus in Tsim Sha Tsui in Salisbury Road to Mody Lane, passing by the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and Hong Kong Museum of Art. Torchbearers of the fourth section took an open-top bus to the bus terminal at the Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP). After entering KTSP, the torchbearers of the fifth section passed by the Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground and the Kai Tak Sports Avenue before arriving at the Kai Tak Sports Park Central Square. The last torchbearer, Hong Kong fencing athlete Kaylin Hsieh, lighted the cauldron and the closing ceremony took place. Addressing at the launching ceremony of torch relay in Hong Kong, the Acting Chief Executive, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, said torch relay events which were held in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao on the same day this time are not only a great innovation but also demonstrate the unique advantages of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). The GBA will work together for integrated development and greater strength to establish a global top-notch bay area and world-class city cluster. Representatives of the four cities will return the flame to Guangzhou after the torch relay. A flame-gathering ceremony will be held in the Guangdong Olympic Sports Center, bridging the torch relay at the venue and the lighting of the main torch at the 15th NG opening ceremony. The biggest highlight of the 15th NG torch relay is the collaborative progress of the three places and the relay among the four cities. The unique feature of the joint hosting of the 15th NG by the three places has been fully demonstrated, from the lighting of the \"source flame\" in Nansha, Guangzhou by the representatives of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau earlier October to the simultaneous torch relay events in four locations today. Ends/Sunday, November 2, 2025 Issued at HKT 17:38 NNNN"}, {"title": "CS reaches out to community to promote 2025 Legislative Council General Election (1.11.2025)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202511/01/P2025110100583.htm", "date": "1.11.2025", "description": "The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, together with the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, and the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, today (November 1) joined a community outreach to promote the 2025 Legislative Council (LegCo) General Election. At a promotional booth outside Kwai Fong MTR station, they encouraged members of the public to cast their votes on the polling day on December 7. The Under Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Clement Woo, and the Under Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr Clarence Leung, were also present to join the promotion. Mr Chan said the nomination period for the LegCo General Election has started. Outstanding individuals with an affection for the country and Hong Kong, proven capabilities, a sense of responsibility and a passion to serve the public should submit nominations before the close of the nomination period on November 6. He also said that each vote in the upcoming LegCo election is very important. He called on all electors to fulfil their civic responsibility by actively casting their votes to elect legislators who represent people's voices and are committed to the good governance, progress and prosperity of Hong Kong, where people can live and work in contentment. Mr Chan, Mr Tsang and Miss Mak spoke to members of the public and distributed to them promotional leaflets and souvenirs of the Ballot Box Family mascots. They also took the opportunity to call on the public to reserve time for voting on the polling day on December 7. This promotional booth event was organised by the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau in collaboration with a youth organisation to promote the 2025 LegCo General Election. The Government will continue to set up more promotional booths in various districts to publicise electoral messages. Principal Officials will also participate in the initiative with a view to boosting the electoral atmosphere in society and raising public awareness of the election. Ends/Saturday, November 1, 2025 Issued at HKT 18:23 NNNN"}, {"title": "DCS chairs first meeting of AI Efficacy Enhancement Team (30.10.2025)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202510/30/P2025103000754.htm", "date": "30.10.2025", "description": "The Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, chaired the first meeting of the AI Efficacy Enhancement Team today (October 30), co-ordinating policy bureaux and departments (B/Ds) in using artificial intelligence technology to boost governmental efficiency and spur technological innovation. The Team also discussed its work plan and timetable. Mr Cheuk noted that AI is one of the most influential information technologies nowadays and a key factor in promoting new quality productive forces, smart city and high-quality development. It is also an essential tool for enhancing public governance. To implement the objective of strengthening governance as outlined by the Chief Executive in the 2025 Policy Address, the Team will make good use of co-ordination to steer government departments to effectively apply AI technology to their work, explore process re-engineering, and promote technological reform in departments to improve efficacy, so as to drive government departments to enhance efficacy and better respond to the public's expectations for efficient government and quality public services. Mr Cheuk added, \"The Team will identify departments that can use AI to enhance performance having regard to the following directions. First is departments with greater interface with the public. Second is departments with services drawing much attention from the public. Third is changes that can bring about notable improvements in the departments' work efficiency. Fourth is that members of the public can see obvious changes brought by the enhanced efficacy. \"The Team will identify certain departments with services closely related to citizens' livelihood and work out the details of implementation, with the aim of starting to roll out related projects gradually after six months.\" At the meeting, the Team discussed its key focuses and initial work plan. A briefing was given by the Digital Policy Office on the AI toolboxes that can be used in various common administrative procedures such as data collection and analytics, customer service and paperwork. Members of the AI Efficacy Enhancement Team include: Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration (Leader) Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry (Deputy Leader) Head of Chief Executive's Policy Unit Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service Permanent Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Treasury) Permanent Secretary for Housing Permanent Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Commissioner for Census and Statistics Commissioner for Digital Policy (Secretary-General) Commissioner for Labour Commissioner for Transport Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene Director of Home Affairs Director of Leisure and Cultural Services Ends/Thursday, October 30, 2025 Issued at HKT 19:52 NNNN"}, {"title": "Delegation of overseas government officials visits Hong Kong to learn about its latest developments (30.10.2025)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202510/30/P2025103000677.htm", "date": "30.10.2025", "description": "A delegation of 10 overseas government officials completed their visit to Hong Kong today (October 30), gaining a better understanding of the city's strengths, potential and opportunities under the \"one country, two systems\" arrangement. The visit was arranged by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which invited officials of foreign ministries from 10 Asian countries, namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Myanmar, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The aim of the visit was to enhance exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong and these countries, as well as expand the \"circle of friends\" of Hong Kong. During the delegation's stay in Hong Kong, they met with the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Acting Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong; and the Acting Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, to exchange views and learn more about Hong Kong's unique advantages of having connections to both the Mainland and the world under \"one country, two systems\", as well as its role as a \"super connector\" and \"super value-adder\". They also met with the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan; the Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Joseph Chan; and the Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Lillian Cheong, as well as representatives of a number of relevant institutions. The delegation also visited the Hong Kong Science Park and West Kowloon Cultural District to learn about the city's latest developments and opportunities in finance, trade, innovation and technology, and arts and culture. The delegation also visited Shenzhen to learn more about the integrated development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Ends/Thursday, October 30, 2025 Issued at HKT 18:52 NNNN"}, {"title": "Strive and Rise Programme starts recruiting fourth cohort (27.10.2025)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202510/27/P2025102400482.htm", "date": "27.10.2025", "description": "The Strive and Rise Programme has started recruiting 4 000 mentees for the fourth cohort today (October 27). Secondary One to Secondary Four students from underprivileged families, particularly those living in subdivided units, may submit applications through the Programme's mobile application starting today and approach their schools or the non-governmental organisations that assist the Government in implementing the Programme (see Annex) for enquiries if they are interested. Applications will close on November 16. The Programme is formulated and implemented by an interdepartmental task force led by the Chief Secretary for Administration. Through tripartite collaboration among the Government, the business sector and the community, the Programme provides focused support for Secondary One to Secondary Four students from underprivileged families, particularly those living in subdivided units. The Programme comprises three key elements, including mentorship, personal development plans and financial support. Through a one-year intensive foundation training that includes mentorship and a structured programme covering orientation, basic training, mentor-mentee interaction, diverse group activities, Mainland study and exchange tours, etc, the Programme will help mentees broaden their horizons, reinforce self-confidence, develop a positive outlook on life, explore more possibilities for personal development, set goals for the future and strive for upward mobility. In addition, each mentee will be provided with start-up financial support of $5,000 under the Programme. Mentors will assist and guide mentees in developing positive financial planning concepts and implementing their personal development plans. Upon successful completion of the Programme, a scholarship of $5,000 will be awarded to the mentees for their personal pursuits by applying the financial planning concepts that they have learned. Upon successful completion of the one-year intensive foundation training of the Programme, mentees will automatically become members of the Alumni Club where they will continue to expand their social network and horizons by participating in diverse activities and job tasting/internship programmes. For more information about the application details of the fourth cohort and the mobile application of the Programme, please visit the designated website: www.striveandrise.gov.hk . Ends/Monday, October 27, 2025 Issued at HKT 12:00 NNNN"}, {"title": "CS attends "Election into Community" Roving Interactive Exhibition@The Westwood event (26.10.2025)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202510/26/P2025102600605.htm", "date": "26.10.2025", "description": "The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, together with the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, and the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, today (October 26) attended the \"Election into Community\" Roving Interactive Exhibition@The Westwood event, where they joined members of the public to know more about the election and experience the election atmosphere in an interactive way. Speaking at the event, Mr Chan said, \"The 2025 Legislative Council General Election (LCGE) will be held on December 7. The nomination period just started on October 24 and will run for two weeks until November 6. I encourage outstanding individuals with affection for the country and Hong Kong, proven capabilities, a sense of responsibility and a passion to serve the public to stand for the election.\" He also called on all voters to fulfil their civic responsibility by casting their votes on the polling day for Hong Kong - our home to elect their preferred representatives as Legislative Council members to make concerted efforts for the good governance, progress and prosperity of Hong Kong, where people can live and work in contentment. The Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau (CMAB) is actively promoting the 2025 LCGE and debuting the \"Election into Community\" Roving Interactive Exhibition series this weekend. The first stop of the series was held in The Westwood for two consecutive days (October 25 and 26). Interactive games, an exhibition panel area and a self-service photo booth are set up at the event to deepen public understanding of electoral information. Life-sized mascots of the Ballot Box Family are also on site to interact with the public. The CMAB has earlier rolled out on its election-themed Facebook page the \"Let's find the Ballot Box Family AR mailboxes\" activity ( www.facebook.com/share/1BdqkmFtrn ). Members of the public may redeem a souvenir at the event venues of the \"Election into Community\" series by posting a photo of mailboxes installed across the territory as a comment at the post. \"Election into Community\" will be held at shopping malls in various districts with opening hours from 11am to 7pm. Admission is free. Details are as follows: Date Venue November 1 to 2 Lei Yue Mun Plaza November 8 to 9 tmtplaza November 12 to 13 Cheung Fat Plaza November 29 to 30 Oi Tung Shopping Centre December 5 to 6 Plaza Hollywood Ends/Sunday, October 26, 2025 Issued at HKT 19:32 NNNN"}, {"title": "Hong Kong Science Museum's new exhibition to showcase country's sports achievements and sports science (23.10.2025)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202510/23/P2025102300269.htm", "date": "23.10.2025", "description": "In support of the 2025 National Games, the Hong Kong Science Museum (HKScM) will launch the \"Bank of China (Hong Kong) Presents: National Development and Achievements Series - Approaching Perfection: The Intersection of Sports and Science\" exhibition from tomorrow (October 24) to February 25 next year. The exhibition presents the history of the National Games and the competition events to be held in Hong Kong in the 2025 National Games. It offers a scientific perspective of various sports disciplines and the keys to success, seeking to deepen members of the public's understanding of sports science. Addressing the opening ceremony today (October 23), the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, said that the 15th National Games, the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games, cohosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao for the first time, will be launched in November and December respectively this year. This is the first time for Hong Kong to be a cohost of a national sports event. Relevant government departments will strive to stage a \"simple, safe and wonderful\" Games with concerted efforts and active preparation, and encourage members of the public to join in various ways, and ignite their passion for sports. Mr Cheuk said that the exhibition aims to showcase the country's remarkable sports achievements, demonstrate how innovative technologies assist athletes to scale new heights, and encourage the public to develop a healthy and active lifestyle. It is also the second exhibition of the National Development and Achievements Series. Members of the public can better understand the country's remarkable accomplishments in sports development while participating in this major sports event. Other officiating guests included Deputy Chief Executive of Bank of China (Hong Kong) Mr Stephen Chan Man; the Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau; the Chairperson of the Science Sub-committee of the Museum Advisory Committee, Professor Alexander Wai; the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Manda Chan; Deputy Head of the National Games Coordination Office (Hong Kong) Ms Cora Ho; and the Museum Director of the HKScM, Mr Patrick Lau. Tenpin bowling athlete Wu Siu-hong, fencing athlete Nicholas Edward Choi, swimming athlete Stephanie Au and wushu athlete Juanita Mok also attended the ceremony. Featuring more than 20 interactive exhibits, the exhibition invites visitors to experience the essence and enjoyment of various sports, such as the spin of rugby, the jumps of beach volleyball, the speed of track cycling, the precision of golf, the attacks of fencing, and the defence of basketball. Visitors can also take part in the fitness tests in the \"Sports for Wellness\" zone to better understand their own physical condition. In addition, the exhibition covers sports psychology, sports medicine, sports nutrition, etc, enabling members of the public to understand the concept of sports comprehensively and learn how to integrate sports into everyday life. The exhibition also presents Hong Kong athletes' medals and equipment, including the track-cycling gear of Lee Wai-sze and the gold medal won by Wu Siu-hong at the IBF World Bowling Championships, which highlight athletes' relentless efforts and pursuit of excellence in the spirit of sportsmanship. The HKScM will invite athletes to share their experiences in their personal journeys, and will organise a series of educational programmes, including talks, workshops, and scientific demonstrations. There will be free Cantonese guided tours of the exhibition every Saturday and Sunday (with three sessions daily) from November 8 to February 22, 2026. The exhibition is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department as the second edition of the National Development and Achievements Series. It is organised by the HKScM, and exclusively sponsored by Bank of China (Hong Kong). Details of the exhibition and activities are available at the HKScM website hk.science.museum/en/web/scm/exhibition/sports2025.html . Ends/Thursday, October 23, 2025 Issued at HKT 19:47 NNNN"}, {"title": "Delegation of National Model Workers and Craftsmen starts Hong Kong visit (20.10.2025)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202510/20/P2025102000740.htm", "date": "20.10.2025", "description": "The Delegation of National Model Workers and Craftsmen arrived in Hong Kong today (October 20) to start a four-day visit. At the invitation of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, Vice Chairman of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, Mr Wei Dichun, led the delegation to visit Hong Kong, aiming to enhance public understanding of the outstanding qualities and remarkable contributions of the National Model Workers, National Advanced Workers and National Great Craftsmen, show support for the labour force and inject positive energy into society. National Model Worker, National Advanced Worker and National Great Craftsman are national honorary titles. Members of the delegation include seven top elites from various fields, namely Mr Gao Fenglin (aerospace), Mr Hong Jiaguang (aviation), Mr Duan Jiangnan (AI), Ms Zhan Chunpei (maritime), Ms Zhu Yiqing (finance), Mr Liu Zhong (catering) and Mr Yang Jun (cultural arts). After arriving in Hong Kong in the afternoon, the delegation attended a welcome ceremony organised by the HKSAR Government. Speaking at the ceremony, the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the CPC Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office (HKMAO) of the State Council for their full support in facilitating this visit, which fully demonstrated the great importance and care that the country attaches to Hong Kong, cheering on Hong Kong workers and injecting positive energy into society. The HKSAR Government and all sectors of society attach great importance to the value of labour and hope that the visit of the delegation will enhance the national pride and patriotism of Hong Kong people as well as inspiring employees in all industries to embrace changes and be dedicated at work. The Director-General of the Social Work Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Mr Liu Songlin; the Head of Second Division, Fifth Bureau of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the CPC Central Committee and the HKMAO of the State Council, Mr Li Xinyu; the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun; the Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Ms Alice Lau; and the Commissioner for Labour, Mr Sam Hui, also attended the ceremony. The delegation attended a welcome dinner hosted by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, in the evening. Mr Chan said that the delegation's visit to Hong Kong is of great significance in promoting the public's understanding of the spirit, excellent qualities and outstanding contributions of National Model Workers, National Great Craftsmen and National Advanced Workers. The HKSAR Government warmly welcomes the delegation's visit to Hong Kong. He said he firmly believed that the hard work and outstanding achievements of the delegation members will motivate all sectors of Hong Kong society to continue to strive for excellence and pursue their aspirations, and further unite social forces to jointly contribute to promoting national development and improving people's well-being. Ends/Monday, October 20, 2025 Issued at HKT 21:25 NNNN"}, {"title": "Award Presentation Ceremony of Hong Kong Excellent Family Awards held today (19.10.2025)", "link": "https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202510/19/P2025101900453.htm", "date": "19.10.2025", "description": "The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) hosted the Award Presentation Ceremony of the Hong Kong Excellent Family Awards today (October 19) to recognise 15 winning families and promote good family values and traditional virtues to the community and the younger generations. The Deputy Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, and the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, officiated at the ceremony. In his speech, Mr Cheuk noted that China's long-standing culture and society have always emphasised family harmony and valued good family values and virtues. As President Xi Jinping said, \"The family is the basic cell of society. Family harmony leads to social stability. Family happiness creates social harmony.\" The National 14th Five-Year Plan clearly states the need to strengthen family building. The Law of the People's Republic of China on Family Education Promotion, implemented by the State in 2022, elevates family education from a \"family matter\" to a \"national matter,\" fully reflecting our country's focus on family education and the promotion of the fine Chinese traditions. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has been actively responding to national policies, and strives to promote the building of a family-friendly society and the healthy development of families in Hong Kong. Miss Mak expressed her gratitude to the general public for their active participation and support by sharing their family life and insights on nurturing family relationships. She noted that each participant's story is unique, which allows the others to deeply appreciate the family values and virtues of excellent families. She hoped that the event would facilitate the passing down of genuine bonds of family to the next generation, highlighting the significance of family. She said, \"Hong Kong is our big family. Harmony in the family will bring prosperity for all. Family harmony is not only the source of personal happiness, but also a vital foundation for social prosperity and steady progress. I look forward to continuing to work hand in hand with everyone to enhance society's recognition of family values and promote positive family values and virtues.\" Also officiating at the ceremony were the members of the Hong Kong Excellent Family Awards adjudication panel, including the President of Legislative Council, Mr Andrew Leung; the Vice-Chairperson of the Connecting Hearts, Professor Annie Tam; the Chairperson of the Family Council, Ms Melissa Pang; the Convenor of the Family Council Sub-committee on Promotion of Family Core Values and Family Education, Mr Felix Law; and the Under Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr Clarence Leung. The HYAB and Family Council co-organised the Hong Kong Excellent Family Awards in April this year. The event is open to all Hong Kong citizens. With the focus on \"Fostering Stable Family Relationships for Building Good Family Values and Virtues\", the event promotes the importance of good family values and passing down good family traditions and virtues to the community and the younger generations by recognising families that show mutual respect, care, love and support for one another. The event received an enthusiastic response, attracting approximately 1 200 families to participate. The adjudication panel, comprising community representatives as well as representatives from the HYAB and the Family Council, have selected 15 winning families after careful assessment and deliberation. These included 10 recipients of the \"Excellent Families Award\" and five recipients of the \"Passage of Good Family Values and Virtues Award\". At the Award Presentation Ceremony, the winning families shared their experiences and insights on fostering strong family relationships, promoting positive family culture and values, as well as fine family traditions and virtues to the public. Ends/Sunday, October 19, 2025 Issued at HKT 16:57 NNNN"}]}