Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
General holidays for 2026 published
| Every SundayA Government spokesman said, “As the Ching Ming Festival in 2026 falls on a Sunday, the following day will be designated as a general holiday in substitution. In this connection, as the day following the Ching Ming Festival falls on Easter Monday, the next day that is not itself a general holiday will be observed as an additional general holiday. Moreover, as the Birthday of the Buddha and the Chung Yeung Festival in 2026 both fall on a Sunday, the day following them will be designated as a general holiday in substitution.” Issued at HKT 11:00 NNNN Transparent, Standardized, and Simplified Review Process for Solar PV Applications, while Keeping Ecological Considerations in MindSource: Republic of China Taiwan On March 31, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) announced revisions to several key regulations and associated forms to uphold the public’s right to information, clarify approval standards for local governments, and protect residential living environments. These revised regulations include the Regulations on Registration of the Electricity Industry, Regulations on Registration of Power Generation Equipment for Self-Use, Regulations for the Installation and Management of Renewable Energy Generation Equipment, and the Guidelines for Landscape and Ecological Impact Review of Ground-Mounted Solar PV Installations. These updates aim to enhance communication and coordination with local communities by requiring developers to hold public briefings during the application process, standardizing consent forms and criteria for local governments, and mandating appropriate buffer distance between solar facilities and nearby residences to maintain quality of life. The MOEA further explained that, to ensure local communities are well-informed, it convened relevant central agencies, local governments, and industry associations to revise the Regulations on Registration of Electricity Industry. Under the amended rules, solar developers are required to conduct public briefings in the villages or neighborhoods where the highest concentration of solar panels, step-up substations, or energy storage facilities will be located, prior to submission of an establishment permit application. Developers must submit records and sign-in sheets to strengthen local participation and clarify project details. In addition, the MOEA has revised the Regulations on Registration of the Electricity Industry to provide consistent standards for local governments when approving solar power businesses. As part of these amendments, a standardized Checklist for Local Government Approval of Solar Photovoltaic Power Generation Businesses has been introduced, providing consistent criteria to enhance administrative efficiency across different jurisdictions. To protect the quality of residential environments, the MOEA has also updated the Guidelines for Landscape and Ecological Impact Review of Ground-Mounted Solar PV Installations, explicitly requiring an appropriate buffer distance between solar facilities and residential areas. In line with these changes, corresponding amendments have also been made to the Regulations on Registration of the Electricity Industry, Regulations on Registration of Power Generation Equipment for Self-Use, and Regulations for the Installation and Management of Renewable Energy Generation Equipment. These updates ensure that all types of installations must fully consider potential impacts on landscape and ecology, as a way of supporting inclusive and harmonious development. Lastly, the MOEA reaffirmed that these regulatory improvements are designed to foster harmony in local communities, as well as their co-existence, co-prosperity, and synergy with solar energy development, building a friendly environment and realizing a sustainable, win-win future for all stakeholders. Spokesperson Contact for Further Information Incoming driver convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes (with photo)Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region A 49-year-old incoming male driver was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment and fined $1,000 at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts today (May 15) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO). Based on risk assessment and intelligence analysis, Customs officers and police officers of the Airport Police District mounted a joint anti-illicit cigarette operation on January 17 at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port and intercepted an inbound private car which was declared to be empty. Upon inspection, Customs officers seized about 30 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes from the hollow spaces of the doors, under the seats, in the centre console and the rear compartment. The driver was subsequently arrested and the private car was also seized. The estimated market value of the duty-not-paid cigarettes seized in the case was about $150,000 and the duty potential was about $99,000. Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences. Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, tobacco products are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years. Customs will continue to combat cross-boundary smuggling activities with firm enforcement action. Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002). Ends/Thursday, May 15, 2025
Issued at HKT 18:35 Hong Kong Customs detects one drug trafficking case involving incoming passenger at airportSource: Hong Kong Government special administrative region Hong Kong Customs today (May 15) detected a drug trafficking case involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 12 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $2.6 million. The case involved a 18-year-old female passenger arriving in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand today. During customs clearance, Customs officers found the suspected cannabis buds, concealed inside 25 plastic bags and weighing about 12kg, in her check-in suitcase. The woman was subsequently arrested. An investigation is ongoing. Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people. Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities. Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment. Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002). Ends/Thursday, May 15, 2025
Issued at HKT 23:51 NNNN
DH urges high-risk individuals to receive COVID-19 vaccines as soon as possible as COVID-19 activity hits one-year high in Hong KongSource: Hong Kong Government special administrative region DH urges high-risk individuals to receive COVID-19 vaccines as soon as possible as COVID-19 activity hits one-year high in Hong Kong NNNN Missing woman in Aberdeen locatedSource: Hong Kong Government special administrative region A woman who went missing in Aberdeen has been located. Yiu Wai-lam, aged 74, went missing after she left her residence on Chengtu Road yesterday (May 14) morning. Her family then made a report to Police. The woman was located at a shopping mall on Sheung Ning Road, Tseung Kwan O this afternoon (May 15). She sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected. Remarks by SJ after meeting of Subcommittee on Two Items of Subsidiary Legislation Made under the Safeguarding National Security OrdinanceSource: Hong Kong Government special administrative region The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, and the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, met the media after attending a meeting of the Subcommittee on Two Items of Subsidiary Legislation Made under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance this afternoon (May 15). Following are the remarks by Mr Lam: HKSAR Government responds to media enquiries on reporting, photo and video-taking at prohibited places specified in subsidiary legislation made under Safeguarding National Security OrdinanceSource: Hong Kong Government special administrative region HKSAR Government responds to media enquiries on reporting, photo and video-taking at prohibited places specified in subsidiary legislation made under Safeguarding National Security OrdinanceIssued at HKT 1:30 NNNN COVID-19 activity hits 1-year highSource: Hong Kong Information Services The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) today said the major surveillance indicators of COVID-19 reached a one-year high, urging all sectors of the community to heighten their vigilance and enhance personal hygiene and protection measures. In addition to advising citizens to receive the initial dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible, the CHP also recommended people at high risk to receive a booster dose in a timely manner to minimise the risk of serious complications or death after infection. CHP Controller Dr Edwin Tsui pointed out that after the resumption of normalcy, Hong Kong experienced cycles of active periods of COVID-19 in every six to nine months. “Taking into account local and global epidemiological data in recent years, the CHP is of the view that COVID-19 has evolved into an endemic disease with a periodic pattern.” The CHP’s analysis suggested that the active periods are associated with the changes in the predominant circulating strains and declining herd immunity in Hong Kong. In early 2024, the predominant strains circulated locally changed from XBB to JN.1. In the third quarter of 2024, the strains changed from JN.1 to KP.2 and KP.3. Since late March this year, they have further changed to XDV. Dr Tsui said there is no evidence suggesting that XDV will cause more severe disease. According to the latest surveillance data as of the week ending May 10, the viral load of the SARS-CoV-2 virus from sewage surveillance, the test positivity rate and the cases tested positive by nucleic acid tests in the laboratory have continued to rise over the past four weeks. In particular, the percentage of respiratory samples testing positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus gradually increased to 13.66% from 6.21% four weeks ago, marking a record high in the past year. For sewage surveillance, the per capita viral load of SARS-CoV-2 virus was around 710,000 copy/litre, which was also significantly higher than that of about 390,000 copy/litre four weeks ago. During the same period, the consultation rate of COVID-19 cases at Accident & Emergency departments, general outpatient clinics and sentinel private medical practitioner clinics also recorded a significant increase. “Based on previous statistics, we expect the activity level of COVID-19 to remain at a higher level for at least the next few weeks,” Dr Tsui added. Regarding severe and fatal cases, the CHP recorded a total of 81 COVID-19 severe cases involving adults in the past four weeks, among which 30 were fatal cases. Epidemiological investigations showed that 83% of the patients were aged 65 or above. For children, the CHP has recorded five severe cases so far this year. Of which, two have underlying illnesses and three cases have not received the initial dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Dr Tsui noted that the currently prevalent XDV strain is a related variant of JN.1. “Therefore, the JN.1 vaccine used in Hong Kong is effective in preventing the disease, reducing the risk of severe illness and death, and enhancing herd immunity.” He urged high-risk groups, especially the elderly and those with underlying illnesses, to receive an additional booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible. Meanwhile, parents should also bring their children to complete the initial dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible. Nat’l security laws vetting completedSource: Hong Kong Information Services A Legislative Council subcommittee today completed the negative vetting of two pieces of subsidiary legislation under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. Secretary for Justice Paul Lam and Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung met the media after attending a meeting of the Subcommittee on Two Items of Subsidiary Legislation Made under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance this afternoon. Mr Lam said that in relation to the subsidiary legislation concerning the power of the Office for Safeguarding National Security, there are only 15 provisions. As to the declaration concerning prohibited places, it only refers to six premises. He also noted that more than five hours were spent on the vetting, with the number of questions and opinions expressed by lawmakers exceeding 150. “So I think any reasonable person would have agreed that the whole process is extremely serious and a thorough discussion had been given to all relevant provisions.” |