Month: July 2025

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Hong Kong Customs on July 16 and 17 seized 249 pieces of suspected controlled cosmetic injections with an estimated market value of about $76,000. Some of the seized cosmetic injections were suspected to contain Part 1 poisons.
 
Through risk assessment, Customs on July 16 inspected an express parcel, declared as carrying body lotion, imported from Korea to Hong Kong via the Shenzhen Bay Control Point. Upon inspection, Customs officers found 20 cosmetic injection vials suspected to contain Part 1 poisons in the parcel.
 
After a follow-up investigation, Customs officers conducted a controlled delivery operation the following day (July 17) at the consignee’s address in Hung Hom and arrested two persons suspected to be connected with the case: a 20-year-old man who collected the parcel and a 45-year-old female consignee. Two hundred and twenty-nine pieces of suspected controlled cosmetic injections, some of which were suspected to contain Part 1 poisons, with an estimated market value of about $59,000, were further seized at the consignee’s address.
 
An investigation is ongoing, and the arrested persons have been released on bail pending further investigation.
 
Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years upon conviction. Any person who imports pharmaceutical products and medicines without a valid import licence commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for two years.
 
Under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, any person who possesses any poison included in Part 1 of the Poisons List other than in accordance with provisions commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for two years.
 
Members of the public may report any suspected violation of the above-mentioned ordinances 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).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

The spokesperson for United Christian Hospital (UCH) today (25 July) announced the root cause analysis report of an incident involving the insertion of a nasogastric tube.
 
A patient, under the Ear, Nose and Throat Department of UCH, underwent surgery on May 26, during which a nasogastric tube was inserted to facilitate postoperative administration of medication and feeding of formula milk. The patient was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for close monitoring after the surgery and was arranged for an X-ray examination to verify the position of the nasogastric tube. However, the X-ray image was not reviewed by a doctor afterwards. The nurse then performed a pH test on the gastric aspirate from the patient’s nasogastric tube and began nasogastric tube feeding for the patient with drugs and formula milk according to the pH test result, established protocols, and the doctor’s order. Healthcare staff later reviewed the patient and suspected that there was a malposition of the nasogastric tube. Feeding was terminated, and the nasogastric tube was removed immediately. The patient’s clinical condition continued to improve, and the patient was discharged in late June.
 
UCH announced the incident on May 30 and appointed a Root Cause Analysis Panel for investigation. After reviewing the case, the Panel concluded that the main cause leading to the incident was the lack of a closed-loop mechanism in the ICU to ascertain that X-ray images were reviewed to verify the position of the nasogastric tube before initiating nasogastric tube feeding for patients.
 
The Panel believed that the incident also involved other contributing factors, including the X-ray images’ review status not being incorporated into the clinical handover process, which led to clinical teams involved not noticing that the X-ray images had not been reviewed; and the lack of a mechanism to alert doctors to follow up on the unreviewed X-ray images. Moreover, the pH test result from the patient’s gastric aspirate sample was consistent with the pH reading of gastric fluid, which led the clinical team to mistakenly believe that the nasogastric tube was in the right position.
 
The Panel made the following recommendations:
 
1. Establish a closed-loop mechanism in the ICU to alert clinical teams to review X-ray images to ascertain the position of the tube before initiating nasogastric tube feeding for patients;
 
2. Incorporate X-ray image review into the clinical handover process and postoperative checklist to ensure that X-ray images are reviewed to ascertain the position of the nasogastric tube before initiating nasogastric tube feeding for ICU patients;
 
3. Utilise electronic Clinical Information System in the ICU to standardise the clinical documentation of nasogastric tube position;
 
4. Review and update relevant nursing clinical guidelines; and
 
5. Arrange ICU healthcare staff to attend Crew Resources Management simulation training for improving team communication, teamwork, situational awareness and decision making.
 
UCH will take follow-up actions to implement the recommendations. The hospital has explained the report’s findings to the patient and family concerned and expressed its apology again to them. Patient Relations Team shall continue to provide necessary assistance to the family.
 
The report has been submitted to the Hospital Authority (HA) Head Office. The hospital expressed gratitude for the work of the Root Cause Analysis Panel. The membership of the panel is as follows:
 
Chairperson:
 
Dr Victor Ip
Service Director (Quality & Safety), Kowloon East Cluster, HA
 
Members:
 
Dr Chan Ka-hing
Consultant, Department of Intensive Care, Tseung Kwan O Hospital
 
Dr James Wesley Cheng
Deputy Service Director (Quality & Safety), Kowloon East Cluster, HA
 
Dr Raymond Cheung
Chief Manager, Quality & Safety Division (Patient Safety & Risk Management), HA
 
Dr Joseph Chung
Chief of Service, Department of Ear, Nose & Throat, Queen Mary Hospital
(Replace Dr Eddy Wong)
 
Ms Ho Ka-man
Department Operations Manager, Department of Intensive Care, Prince of Wales Hospital
 
Mr Leung Lok-man
Cluster General Manager (Nursing), Kowloon East Cluster, HA
 
Dr George Ng
Chief of Service, Intensive Care Unit, Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and relevant central ministries held the eighth Joint Conference on Advancing Hong Kong’s Full Participation in and Contribution to the Belt and Road Initiative (B&RI) in Beijing today (July 25).
 
     Vice Chairman of the NDRC Mr Zhou Haibing attended the conference with Mainland officials led by him, including representatives from the NDRC, the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, the Supreme People’s Court, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Transport, the People’s Bank of China, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, the National Financial Regulatory Administration, and the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR.
 
     The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, in his capacity as chairperson of the Working Group on Belt and Road (B&R) Development under the Steering Group on Integration into National Development, led HKSAR Government officials to attend the conference. They included the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, who was also the Hong Kong-side Convenor of the Joint Conference, and representatives from the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau (CEDB), the Department of Justice, the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau, the Development Bureau, the Environment and Ecology Bureau, the Belt and Road Office of the CEDB, and the Office of the Government of the HKSAR in Beijing. The Chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Professor Frederick Ma, and a representative from the Airport Authority Hong Kong also attended the meeting.
 
     Mr Lam said that the HKSAR Government has been taking forward B&R co-operation to go deeper and deliver outcomes, thereby fully participating in and contributing to the B&RI under the continued guidance of the eight major steps the country has been taking to support high-quality B&R co-operation, with a view to facilitating Hong Kong’s active integration into overall national development. With the country’s support, Hong Kong will continue to deepen international exchanges and co-operation and will actively utilise its own advantages to exert a greater role in the country’s high-level opening up to the world.
 
     He pointed out that over the past year, the HKSAR Government has actively served as a proponent for institutional openness through Hong Kong’s strengths as a platform for two-way opening up; a pioneer for co-operation in new fields through strengths in education, science and technology and talent; and a facilitator for people-to-people bonds through strengths as a melting pot of diversified cultures. The HKSAR Government has been exploring emerging markets such as the Middle East, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and other B&R countries, while making full use of Hong Kong’s professional services aligned with international standards, thereby building Hong Kong as the gateway between the country and the world and highlighting Hong Kong’s role as the premier B&R functional platform. He expressed gratitude to the Central Government for the staunch support of hosting the International Organization for Mediation headquarters in Hong Kong, which will help strengthen Hong Kong’s roles as an international dispute resolution services centre and a capital for international mediation.
 
     Mr Yau stated in the meeting that the HKSAR Government will fully capitalise on the 10th Belt and Road Summit to showcase Hong Kong’s important roles as an active participant and the premier B&R functional platform to the Mainland and overseas. He reported on Hong Kong’s progress in carrying out B&R work, including the CEDB’s ongoing pursuit of the early accession of Hong Kong to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the pursuit of early conclusion of ongoing negotiations for free trade and investment agreements, and actively following up on the plan to establish Economic and Trade Offices in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to fully take forward the economic and trade relations between Hong Kong and B&R countries.
 
     The meeting also focused its discussion on the seven work proposals on further promoting the B&RI that the HKSAR Government put forward for consideration by central ministries, covering capacity building, deepening exchanges and co-operations with B&R countries, legal and dispute resolution services, cross-boundary financing, and the expansion of international co-operation and ties in innovation and technology. Representatives of relevant Joint Conference Mainland ministries introduced their respective work in supporting Hong Kong’s participation in and contribution to the B&RI and provided feedback on the HKSAR Government’s work proposals. The HKSAR Government is grateful for the support expressed by relevant central ministries at the meeting on various work proposals and will actively follow up with them.
 
     In addition, the meeting noted the HKSAR Government’s key areas and major work in its future participation and contribution to the B&RI, including leveraging Hong Kong’s role as a B&R functional platform to explore business opportunities and facilitating business matching and participation in B&R projects. The HKSAR Government will continue to consolidate Hong Kong’s unique advantage of connecting with the Mainland and the rest of the world under “one country, two systems”, seize the enormous opportunities brought about by national development, strengthen and deepen exchanges and co-operations with B&R countries, and give full play to its role as a “super connector” and “super value-adder”.
 
     The Arrangement between the NDRC and the HKSAR Government for Advancing Hong Kong’s Full Participation in and Contribution to the B&RI, signed between the HKSAR Government and the NDRC in 2017, provides the direction and a blueprint for Hong Kong’s full participation in and contribution to the B&RI, as well as sets up the Joint Conference mechanism to discuss relevant matters, with meetings convened at least once a year.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) made the following announcement today (July 25):
 
     Regarding an earlier announcement on Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) confirmed cases in an Orthopaedics and Traumatology ward of PMH, following a contact tracing investigation, one more patient in the ward, an 83-year-old male, was identified as a carrier of VRE. The patient concerned is now being treated in isolation in PMH and is in stable condition.
 
     In addition, regarding an earlier announcement on a cluster of patients confirmed as carriers of Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) in a medicine and geriatrics ward of PMH, following a contact tracing investigation, one more patient in the ward, a 59-year-old male, was identified as a carrier of CPE. The asymptomatic patient is now being treated in isolation and is in stable condition.
 
     The hospital will enhance infection control measures and closely monitor the situation of the wards concerned. The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health for necessary follow-up.
 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, met with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Management of Vanuatu, Mr Johnny Koanapo Rasou, today (July 25) to exchange views on issues of mutual interest. The Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan, also attended the meeting.
 
Mr Lee welcomed Mr Rasou and his delegation to Hong Kong to attend economic and trade co-operation events. Mr Lee said that Hong Kong is leveraging its advantages under the “one country, two systems” principle of connecting the Mainland and the world and is actively deepening international exchanges and co-operation. He said that, apart from strengthening traditional markets, Hong Kong will further explore emerging markets including Belt and Road countries and expand economic and trade networks with Global South countries including Vanuatu.
 
Mr Lee noted that, as a functional platform for the Belt and Road Initiative, Hong Kong boasts a highly internationalised, market-oriented, and business-friendly environment, making it an ideal place for companies to expand their global operations. He welcomed enterprises from Vanuatu to leverage Hong Kong’s role as a “super connector” and “super value-adder” to explore overseas and Mainland markets, enhancing bilateral trade and business exchanges.    

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The International Arts Carnival (IAC), organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, will present an innovative performance, “Sounds of Sports”, in early August. Led by acclaimed pianist Phoebus Chan, this unique production lines up a stellar cast of Hong Kong musicians and elite athletes to deliver a highly creative and playful show that will transform the concert hall into a dynamic sports arena and blend music and sports in an exciting fusion.
 
     In this specially arranged music production, audiences will have an exciting face-to-face encounter with a Hong Kong table tennis star and experience the lightning-fast pace of rugby passes, feeling as if they are right on the field. Meanwhile, with the guidance of musicians, the audience will learn how to officiate fencing matches and gain insights into the techniques of Hong Kong’s fencing heroes. Chan will take on a high-level challenge by running at high speed while performing the theme song of “Mission: Impossible” on the piano. Together they will conjure a delightful show filled with laughter and excitement, which should not be missed.
 
     The production features an exceptional lineup of musicians, including pianist Chan, erhu musician Chan Pik-sum, jazz drummer Lawrence Tsui, cellist Pun Chak-yin and shakuhachi player Sunny Yeung. They will collaborate with elite athletes, namely karate experts Lee Chun-ho and Hinx Tang, rugby player Salom Yiu, fencer Lawrence Ng, table tennis player Venus Ng, and wushu athletes Kwan Ning-wai and Lau Po-yan. Together they will interpret the unique charm of various sports through vivid music.
 
     “Sounds of Sports” will be staged at 3pm on August 2 and 3 at the Tsuen Wan Town Hall Auditorium. Tickets priced at $160, $240 and $300 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288, or use the mobile ticketing app “URBTIX”.
 
     For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2370 1044 or visit the IAC website (www.hkiac.gov.hk).
 
     This year’s IAC will run from July 11 to August 17, featuring a wide array of fun-filled educational programmes by overseas, Mainland and local art groups and artists. In addition to martial arts, acrobatics, dance, music, theatre and multimedia, the IAC will also offer film screenings, parent-child workshops, an online programme, an outreach performance and an exhibition.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

As the first-term service agreements for the District Services and Community Care Teams are coming to an end between late September and mid-October 2025, after reviewing the Care Teams’ service outcomes and resource utilisation, the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) today (July 25) announced the arrangements for the services in the second term of the Care Teams.

Since the full launch in the third quarter of 2023, Care Teams have been providing caring services to residents in various sub-districts in accordance with their service agreements. As a key component of the Government’s efforts to enhance district governance, Care Teams, together with the District Councils and the “three district committees”, form a well-defined and synergistic “troika” governance structure. By consolidating community resources, Care Teams deliver diversified caring and support services to enhance people’s sense of well-being and fulfilment, while continuously strengthening the collaboration mechanism with the District Councils and the “three district committees” to comprehensively enhance service effectiveness through co-ordinated efforts.

The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs (SHYA), Miss Alice Mak, said, “Care Teams in all sub-districts have nearly completed their services in accordance with the key performance indicators (KPIs). Some teams have even exceeded the requirements. In terms of resource utilisation, Care Teams adhere to the principle of making optimal use of community and government resources, consolidating community efforts to promote diverse caring services and activities. We are confident that all 452 Care Teams will meet or even surpass the KPIs by the end of the first-term service period.”

Miss Mak added, “Care Teams have established a solid service foundation in the community. The second-term services will be optimised in three key directions: seamless continuity, tailored to district needs, and deeper and broader services. To ensure uninterrupted services and leverage the established service networks from the first term, the Government will invite the current operating organisations to consider continuing their services in the sub-districts.”

Miss Mak continued, “The HYAB has assessed the service coverage and demographic changes in each sub-district and will make appropriate refinements to the service boundaries. Sha Ta (North District), due to its extensive coverage, will be split into two sub-districts to enhance service efficiency. Meanwhile, Sheung Shui Rural (North District) and Hang Hau West (Sai Kung District) will each add a new team in response to continued population growth. In addition, the boundaries of six sub-district clusters will be fine-tuned to better align services with local needs. With these adjustments, the total number of Care Teams will increase from 452 to 455.”

Miss Mak noted, “The Government expects Care Teams to fully utilise the additional resources to deepen and broaden their services. The Home Affairs Department will work closely with relevant government departments to provide training for Care Team members and volunteers, covering practical skills such as emergency response, communication skills and health support, enabling them to better equip themselves to serve and care for the community.”

District Offices will first invite existing operating organisations to submit proposed project plans for the second term. For the three new sub-districts and any individual teams unable to continue their services for various reasons, District Offices will invite the previously shortlisted organisations to submit proposals. All proposed project plans and related forms must reach the respective District Offices by August 15, 2025 (Friday).

The proposed project plans will be reviewed by the District Assessment and Coordinating Panels on Care Teams led by the District Officers. The results will then be submitted to the Territory-wide Assessment and Steering Group on Care Teams chaired by the SHYA for final approval.
​
As announced by the Chief Executive in the 2024 Policy Address, the Government will regularise Care Teams and increase funding by 50 per cent in the next term of service in support of their work. By the end of the second quarter of 2025, Care Teams have visited about 530 000 elderly households and other households in need, provided about 76 000 times of basic home or other support services, and organised about 38 000 district-level activities. The performance of Care Teams has been witnessed by the community. During emergencies and incidents (including the fire at New Lucky House in Jordan, the massive power cut in Wong Tai Sin, and the emergency water outage in Tung Chung), Care Teams have swiftly mobilised members and volunteers to attend to the needs of affected individuals and provide them with appropriate assistance. Care Teams have also achieved remarkable results in assisting in policy promotion, including collaboration with the Police to promote anti-fraud messages and supporting the Department of Health in disseminating messages about disease prevention.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Government gazetted today (July 25) the Gas Safety (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 (the Ordinance).

A spokesman for the Environment and Ecology Bureau said, “The Ordinance amends the definition of ‘gas’ under the Gas Safety Ordinance (Cap. 51) to bring ‘regulated hydrogen’ used or intended to be used as fuel to propel vehicles, trains, machinery, etc under the regulatory framework of the Gas Safety Ordinance. This Ordinance establishes a regulatory framework governing the importation, manufacture, storage, transport, supply and use of hydrogen that is used or intended to be used as fuel.”

The Ordinance empowers the Chief Executive in Council to make regulations in relation to “regulated hydrogen” and its relevant matters. The Government will introduce subsidiary legislation on the regulation of “regulated hydrogen” into the Legislative Council for negative vetting within 2026. The Ordinance and the relevant subsidiary legislation will come into effect on the same day. The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department will consult the trade on the proposed subsidiary legislation to ensure that the relevant regulations could effectively assure the safe use of hydrogen in Hong Kong.

The spokesman added, “The relevant subsidiary legislation will cover the entire supply chain of ‘regulated hydrogen’ to provide a clear legal framework and stable regulatory environment for the local hydrogen energy industry, enabling both local and international investors to develop hydrogen-related businesses in Hong Kong with greater confidence.”

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Government published in the Gazette today (July 25) the scheme for the Smart and Green Mass Transit System in Kai Tak (SGMTS-KT) in accordance with the Railways Ordinance (Cap. 519).
 
     The SGMTS-KT is about 3.5 kilometres long with six stations. The termini will be connected to the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal and MTR Kai Tak Station respectively, with intermediate stations at Shing King Street, Kai Tak Sky Garden, Shing Fung Road Park and Kai Tak Sports Park, serving a population and visitors of around 50 000 residing and working in the area.
 
     A Government spokesman said, “The SGMTS-KT will connect the former runway area of Kai Tak to the existing MTR Kai Tak Station, strengthening the connectivity among residential and commercial developments as well as tourism, cultural and recreational, sports and community facilities within the area, while connecting with the existing railway network. To be operated in elevated mode and separated from at-grade traffic, the system will not be affected by road traffic conditions. Depending on the system to be adopted eventually, the estimated journey time from the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal to MTR Kai Tak Station will be about 10 minutes.”
 
     The Government has collected public views on the SGMTS-KT earlier through multiple channels, including consultations with the Kowloon City District Council and the Task Force on Kai Tak Harbourfront Development of the Harbourfront Commission, and exchanging views with relevant Legislative Council Members and stakeholders. It is targeted to award the contract in 2026 with a view to commissioning the system in 2031.
 
     Under the Railways Ordinance, members of the public may object to the scheme in relation to the SGMTS-KT from today until September 23, 2025. Additionally, any person who has a compensable interest can claim compensation under the provisions of the Ordinance.
 
     The scheme and relevant plans are viewable on the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) website (www.cedd.gov.hk/eng/our-projects/major-projects/index.html). They are also available for public inspection during office hours at the Central & Western Home Affairs Enquiry Centre; the Kowloon City Home Affairs Enquiry Centre; and the District Lands Office, Kowloon East. A copy of the scheme and the plans may be purchased from the CEDD. For details, please call the CEDD at 3842 7116.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) announced today (July 25) that, along with technological advancements, the GREEN$ Electronic Participation Incentive Scheme (GREEN$ ePIS) will be fully digitised on April 1, 2026. The digitalisation will enhance the connections of GREEN$ ePIS with more reward platforms and gift redemption locations in the market. Members of the public will no longer be required to visit GREEN@COMMUNITY to redeem a limited selection of around 10 types of gifts. Instead, they can redeem their favourite or required gifts at more than 500 supermarkets and retail stores, as well as free MTR tickets and local ecotours, through the GREEN$ mobile app.

     The EPD spokesperson said, “Among the approximately 1.06 million current users of GREEN$ ePIS, about 920 000 users (i.e. 87 per cent), are already using the mobile app, allowing them to transition seamlessly to full digitisation. To encourage physical card users to switch to the GREEN$ mobile app promptly and enjoy the benefits of digitalisation, the EPD will launch a summer promotion to offer an extra 50 GREEN$ points to those who return their physical cards and switch to the use of the GREEN$ mobile app during the period from August 1 to September 30, 2025.”