Month: August 2025

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) announced a sentinel event today (August 25):
 
     A 74-year-old male patient was admitted to a medicine and geriatrics ward of PMH on August 21 due to hypertension urgency. The patient was not at suicidal risk during admission screening, and his emotional status was stable all along.
 
     When ward staff measured the patient’s blood pressure at around 5pm yesterday (August 24), the patient appeared calm without any abnormalities. At around 5.15pm, ward staff noted that the patient had not remained in the ward, but his personal belongings, including his mobile phone, were left behind. The patient’s family was informed immediately. A local search for the patient within the hospital compound and in the vicinity was conducted but the patient could not be located. The hospital then reported the incident to the Police for assistance. The hospital was informed by the Police at around 10pm that the patient was found dead after falling from a height in the evening.
 
     The hospital was saddened by the incident and expressed deep condolences to the family of the patient. The hospital will provide assistance to the family as required and will fully co-operate with the Police investigation.
 
     The hospital is very concerned about the incident, which was classified as a sentinel event. The incident has been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office via the Advance Incident Reporting System. A root cause analysis panel will be formed to investigate the incident.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) announced that as of 5pm today (August 25), no new cases of chikungunya fever (CF) had been recorded.
 
“Although there have been no new imported cases of CF in the past 10 consecutive days, high temperatures and rainfall levels continue to pose a risk of outbreaks of various mosquito-borne diseases in Hong Kong and around the world. Members of the public must remain vigilant and take proper mosquito control and personal protective measures both locally and during travel. Individuals experiencing relevant symptoms should seek medical advice promptly and inform their doctors if they have a travel history,” the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui said.
 
So far this year, Hong Kong has recorded a total of nine confirmed CF cases. All are imported cases.
 
“According to information from the Guangdong Provincial Disease Control and Prevention Administration, there were 336 new CF cases in Guangdong in the past week (August 17 to 23), a significant decrease compared to the previous two weeks, which reported 1 387 cases (August 3 to 9) and 830 cases (August 10 to 16) respectively. All cases were mild, with no severe or fatal cases reported. However, we must remain vigilant and continue to adopt a multipronged approach to prevent local transmissions. As the new school year is about to begin, the CHP today issued a letter to schools again, urging them to follow the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD)’s anti-mosquito guidelines to strengthen efforts to clear stagnant water on school premises and eliminate mosquito breeding sites. They should also remind the staff members and students to enact mosquito prevention and personal protective measures to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases on campus,” Dr Tsui added.
 
Continuously strengthening prevention and control

The FEHD continues to conduct vector investigations and targeted mosquito control operations and has intensified mosquito prevention and control measures at the residences of patients, as well as at locations visited after the onset of symptoms. These measures include:
 

• carrying out intensive fogging in scrubby areas within a 250-metre radius of the relevant locations to kill adult mosquitoes;
• carrying out inspections of the locations, removing stagnant water, applying insecticides and disposing of abandoned water containers every week with a view to preventing mosquito breeding; and
• enhancing public education efforts through organising health talks, setting up mobile education stations, and distributing publicity leaflets.

​The CHP’s Port Health Division continues to step up inspections at boundary control points and to remind cross-boundary public transport operators and other relevant parties to ensure good environmental hygiene and effective implementation of anti-mosquito measures. Furthermore, staff members of the Port Health Division distribute leaflets to travellers, conduct temperature screenings for inbound travellers, conduct health assessments for travellers with fever or related symptoms, and refer them to hospitals for follow-ups when necessary.

To raise awareness among the elderly about preventing mosquito-borne diseases, the Visiting Health Teams under the Elderly Health Service of the DH have been advising them on mosquito-borne disease prevention and tips on travel health at health talks conducted at District Elderly Community Centres and Neighbourhood Elderly Centres. Moreover, the Visiting Health Teams have also reminded all residential care homes for the elderly in Hong Kong to enhance mosquito control measures. The DH’s Maternal and Child Health Centres, Student Health Service Centres and Special Assessment Centres also advise pregnant women, infant carers and students on symptoms and preventive measures of mosquito-borne diseases.

To strengthen support for ethnic minority communities, essential information on CF has also been translated into 10 ethnic minority languages (namely Hindi, Nepali, Urdu, Thai, Bahasa Indonesia, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Punjabi, Sinhala and Bengali) and uploaded to the CHP website.

Dr Tsui reminded members of the public to adopt precautions during the rainy season against mosquito-borne diseases. Proper use of DEET-containing insect repellents or other effective active ingredients can prevent mosquito bites, but the following precautions should be taken when using them:
 

• read the label instructions carefully first;
• apply right before entering an area with a risk of mosquito bites;
• apply on exposed skin and clothing;
• use DEET of up to 30 per cent for pregnant women and up to 10 per cent for children (For children who travel to countries or areas where mosquito-borne diseases are endemic or epidemic and where exposure is likely, those aged 2 months or above can use DEET-containing insect repellents with a DEET concentration of up to 30 per cent);
• apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent;
• reapply only when needed and follow the instructions; and
• in addition to DEET, there are other insect repellents available on the market containing different active ingredients, such as IR3535 and picaridin. When using any insect repellent, the public should follow the usage instructions and precautions on the product label.

​In addition, the FEHD appeals to members of the public to continue to stay alert and work together to carry out mosquito prevention and control measures early, including inspecting their homes and surroundings to remove potential breeding grounds, changing water in vases and scrubbing their inner surfaces, removing water in saucers under potted plants at least once a week, and properly disposing of containers such as soft drink cans and lunch boxes. The FEHD also advises members of the public and estate management bodies to keep drains free of blockage and level all defective ground surfaces to prevent the accumulation of water. They should also scrub all drains and surface sewers with an alkaline detergent at least once a week to remove any mosquito eggs.

The public should call 1823 in case of mosquito problems and may visit the following pages for more information: the CF page of the CHP and the Travel Health Service, the latest Travel Health News, tips for using insect repellents, and the CHP Facebook Page, Instagram Account and YouTube Channel, and also the Mosquito Prevention and Control dedicated page of the FEHD.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Office of The Ombudsman:

     The opening ceremony of the Hong Kong International Ombudsman Academy (HKIOA), along with a seminar themed “Nurturing a Positive Complaint Culture through Mediation”, was held at the Hong Kong Productivity Council today (August 25).

     The ceremony was officiated by the Ombudsman, Mr Jack Chan; the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Chairman of the Legislative Council House Committee, Dr Starry Lee; and the Director-General of the Department of Law of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Mr Liu Chunhua.

     In his speech, Mr Chan Kwok-ki stressed the HKSAR Government’s endorsement and support for the founding vision of the HKIOA, which not only offers training to government departments and public organisations to enhance public administration, but also serves as an exchange platform with ombudsman institutions worldwide in line with the policy objectives of the current-term Government. Mediation was highlighted as a strategy for dispute resolution, with its growing prominence in fostering a more harmonious and stable society. He also acknowledged the Office of The Ombudsman (Office)’s contributions to promoting excellence in public administration, and encouraged all public officers to embrace a positive complaint culture and contribute to the collective efforts of building a better Hong Kong. 

     In his welcoming remarks, Mr Jack Chan applauded the establishment of the HKIOA as a new chapter in the Office’s efforts to promote good public administration. The initiative aims to create an interactive platform that fosters both internal and external exchange through seminars and workshops, etc. The HKIOA is also positioned to deepen and advance the Office’s three strategic focuses: (1) enhancing mediation to resolve public complaints efficiently for win-win results; (2) vigorously fostering interdepartmental collaboration; and (3) promoting a positive complaint culture, which are pursued in response to the motherland’s expectations for the HKSAR to stay bold in reform, dare to break new ground, and innovate continuously. The Office has leveraged its internal resources to establish the HKIOA, without seeking additional funding from the Government. All functions are undertaken by existing staff concurrently with their regular duties, showcasing a new approach for “implementing new initiatives without requiring extra manpower”. Expressing his gratitude to the Chief Executive for supporting and recognising the Office’s work, and to the Chief Secretary for Administration for officiating at the opening ceremony, as well as to government departments and public organisations for their co-operation over the years, Mr Jack Chan appealed to all to support the HKIOA’s development, join forces to strengthen the management and efficiency of public services, and demonstrate the will and commitment to promote good governance.

     The seminar themed “Nurturing a Positive Complaint Culture through Mediation” was hosted by Assistant Ombudsman Mr Kenny Tang. Guest speakers included the Deputy Director of Leisure and Cultural Services (Leisure Services), Miss Winnie Chui; the Deputy Commissioner for Transport/Transport Services and Management, Ms Candy Kwok; the Deputy Director of Housing (Estate Management), Mr Michael Hong; and two advisers from the Office. They shared insights and discussed the application of mediation in complaint handling, covering mediation techniques, practical experiences and forward-looking ideas. Over 250 participants attended the seminar, including Legislative Council members and representatives from nearly 100 government departments and public organisations. Valuable perspectives and experiences were actively shared among them during the question-and-answer session.

     As the seminar drew to a close, the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, offered a thought-provoking summary in his keynote speech. The whole event concluded with a group photo, featuring Mr Jack Chan, Dr Cheung and other distinguished guests.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Henry G. Leong Yaumatei Community Centre temporary shelter (60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon), earlier opened by the Yau Tsim Mong District Office in response to the power cut and water outage at 46-58 Arthur Street, Yau Ma Tei, has been stood down today (August 25).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:

     The Judiciary announced that starting from August 29, the integrated Court Case Management System (iCMS) will be extended to cover commercial cases (HCCL), construction and arbitration cases (HCCT), and intellectual property cases (HCIP) in the Court of First Instance of the High Court to allow court users to handle filing and payments electronically.

     Progressively implemented across various court levels, the iCMS aims to facilitate the electronic handling of court-related documents and payments, offering a convenient, all-in-one and all-weather solution for filing documents anytime, anywhere. Major electronic services include sending and receiving case-specific court documents to and from the courts, inspecting or searching filed documents and other case-related information held by the courts, searching cause books, and making payments for court services.

     The iCMS application currently covers personal injury actions, tax claim proceedings, civil action proceedings and employees’ compensation cases in the District Court, summons cases in the Magistrates’ Courts, bulk claims in the Small Claims Tribunal, and civil appeal cases (CACV) in the Court of Appeal of the High Court. It will then be extended incrementally to other case types in the High Court, including HCCL, HCCT and HCIP cases with effect from August 29.

     Using the iCMS obviates the need for court users to file or submit documents to the courts in paper form, providing convenience and enhancing efficiency for court users. Case parties, particularly law firms, are strongly encouraged to use e-filing for iCMS-enabled case types in the High Court, namely CACV, HCCL, HCCT and HCIP. With the iCMS, there is no need to visit the court building to upload scanned documents and make payments for paper filing.

     The Judiciary has been proactively reaching out to law firms that handle a relatively high volume of CACV, HCCL, HCCT and HCIP cases to offer dedicated technical support, with a view to facilitating their early migration from conventional paper mode to the iCMS. Specifically, from August 29, law firms are invited to make an appointment with the Judiciary for technical assistance on using the iCMS, either at the High Court Building or in their own offices, when they are initiating a new case of an iCMS-enabled case type for the first time. This aims to encourage them to try using e-filing (instead of paper filing) for case initiation in preparation for mandatory e-filing in future. The Judiciary also welcomes any law firms to approach it early for assistance in this regard.

     To encourage migration to the iCMS, a 20 per cent concession is offered to iCMS users for three years on fee items of the High Court that are primarily or directly related to the electronic handling of court documents.

     Eligible users need to register for a user account to access the full range of services under the iCMS. They include parties of ongoing or new e-proceedings and their legal representatives (if any), the Hong Kong Bar Association, the Law Society of Hong Kong, law firms, government departments, law enforcement agencies and statutory bodies. Registration is free of charge.

     Unregistered members of the public may also use certain types of iCMS services, mainly related to searching for electronic documents that are open to public inspection.

     Regarding technical requirements, the iCMS can be accessed using personal computers or mobile devices with an Internet connection, commonly used operating systems and browsers.

     The iCMS operates around the clock, except during system maintenance. Any e-filing and e-payment received under the iCMS after the registry and the accounts office are normally closed to the public (i.e. after 5.30pm on a working day) will be deemed to be received at the start of the normal opening hours of the registry and the accounts office on the following working day.

     In the High Court, any party choosing to file or submit a document in paper form (instead of using the iCMS) for an iCMS-enabled case type must also provide an electronic copy of the document to facilitate the creation and maintenance of a complete set of e-filing records for e-inspection. Litigants-in-person (LiPs) can use the self-service kiosks located at the Resource Centre for Unrepresented Litigants in the High Court Building to scan and upload their documents to the iCMS. Non-LiPs, including law firms, are required to prepare the electronic copy of their documents on their own (outside the court building) and then use the kiosks solely for uploading the scanned documents to the iCMS. For law firms, this is the final transitional arrangement before the mandatory use of the iCMS for case types where the electronic mode has been made available, starting in 2026.

     For more details about the iCMS, including its technical requirements, please visit the dedicated webpage on e-Courts of the Judiciary website at www.judiciary.hk/en/e_courts/index.html.

     For enquiries, please call the general enquiry hotline at 2477 1002 or the technical helpline at 2886 6474, email to enquiry@judiciary.hk or visit the Help Centre at 5/F, Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wan Chai.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung, together with representatives from civil service staff unions, visited the “Remembering History Cherishing Peace” roving exhibition in commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and World Anti-Fascist War at the Convention & Exhibition Centre this evening.

 

Mrs Yeung said that in this entire nation’s resistance against Japanese aggression, the brave soldiers spared no effort and fought as one against the enemy to defend the country amid the most difficult situation. She noted that they, with their attentiveness to duties and dedication, served as a role model for the civil service to learn from.

 

Mrs Yeung stressed that the sacrifices and sufferings of countless compatriots must not be forgotten.

 

“I call on civil servant colleagues, especially those of the younger generation, to gain a deep understanding and take to their hearts the blood, tears and hardship during the war, to grasp the significance of the victory in the War of Resistance to national rejuvenation, and to cherish the hard-won peace.”

 

The Civil Service Bureau also encourages civil service staff unions to take an active role in organising thematic activities on commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance to enhance colleagues’ sense of national identity and cultivate their patriotism.

 

The bureau will arrange for representatives from the civil service staff unions to visit a thematic exhibition on the War of Resistance at the Museum of the War of Resistance & Coastal Defence in September, and support them in organising related visits to deepen colleagues’ understanding of the history of the War of Resistance in the country and Hong Kong.

 

The Civil Service College (CSC) will host two more thematic talks on the 80th anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression in September and October to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance.

 

The talks will explore how the Chinese nation resisted the impacts of the war, underwent transformation amid hardships, and advanced the process of national modernisation. The talks will also review Hong Kong’s role and contributions during the war.

 

Additionally, the CSC has incorporated elements of the history of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression into its regular national studies programmes, enabling civil servants to gain a deeper understanding of history, further enhance their sense of national identity, awareness of safeguarding national security and patriotism, and recognise the pivotal role of the Chinese Communist Party during the War of Resistance.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki chaired the fourth meeting of the sixth-term Commission on Poverty this afternoon, during which its members noted that the Government is preparing the report on the impact of poverty alleviation efforts.

 

The report, which is expected to be released by mid-2026, would reflect the substance and impact of the Government’s targeted poverty alleviation strategy.

 

It would also reflect, from a macro angle, the impact of the four major livelihood policies, namely social welfare and employment services, housing, education, and healthcare, as well as their effects in empowering those who could help themselves, and supporting those who could not, thereby enhancing their sense of happiness, fulfilment and security.

 

Members also offered views on the draft chapter of the report that would cover measures related to education and healthcare policy.

 

In addition, the Government is preparing detailed content based on the draft framework for social welfare and employment services, as well as housing pro-livelihood measures agreed upon in the last meeting.

 

The Government will later integrate the detailed content to demonstrate the effect of the targeted poverty alleviation strategy and macro-policy measures in alleviating, combatting and preventing poverty in the report.

 

Members also noted the progress and financial position of the assistance programmes funded by the Community Care Fund (CCF).

 

At the end of May, the CCF endorsed the introduction of 76 assistance programmes.

 

At present, there are 26 ongoing programmes or programmes to be launched.

 

Furthermore, the Government has regularised 25 CCF programmes, while 25 other programmes have been completed.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (August 25) that several kinds of imported prepackaged coconut yoghurt might contain milk, an allergen, but it was not declared on the products’ food labels. The CFS urged consumers who are allergic to milk not to consume the affected batches of the products concerned. Those who feel unwell after consuming any of the products concerned should seek medical treatment. The trade should stop using or selling the affected batches of the products immediately if they possess any of them.

Product details are as follows:

Product names (pack sizes):
(1) Cocobella Coconut Yogurt – Strawberry (150 grams)
(2) Cocobella Coconut Yogurt – Natural (150 grams)
(3) Cocobella Coconut Yogurt – Mango (150 grams)
(4) Cocobella Coconut Yogurt – Vanilla (150 grams)
(5) Cocobella Coconut Yogurt – Natural (500 grams)
(6) Cocobella Coconut Yogurt – Mango (500 grams)
(7) Cocobella Coconut Yogurt – Passionfruit (500 grams)
(8) Cocobella Coconut Yogurt – Vanilla (500 grams)
(9) Cocobella Coconut Yogurt – Blueberry (500 grams)
(10) Cocobella Coconut Yogurt – Strawberry (500 grams)
Brand: Cocobella
Place of origin: Australia
Use-by dates: Up to and including October 6, 2025
Importer: Nowaday International Development Limited

“The CFS received a notification from the Food Standards Australia New Zealand through the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) that the above-mentioned products are being recalled, as they may contain milk, an allergen, but it was not declared on the products’ food labels. According to the information provided by INFOSAN, the affected products have been imported into Hong Kong,” a spokesman for the CFS said.

Upon learning of the incident, the CFS immediately contacted local importers to follow up. A preliminary investigation found that the above-mentioned importer had imported into Hong Kong the affected batches of the products concerned. The importer has stopped sales, removed from shelves the affected products and has initiated a recall according to the CFS’s instructions. Members of the public may call its hotline at 2882 2347 during office hours with any enquiries about the recall.

“People who are allergic to milk may have an immunologic response like vomiting, diarrhoea and a rash upon consumption of food containing this allergen. In severe cases, anaphylactic shock may even develop. As for other members of the public, generally speaking, they would not be subject to such reactions when the food in question is consumed,” the spokesman added.

The Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulations (Cap. 132W) require that all prepackaged food for sale in Hong Kong should list out the food ingredients in its list of ingredients. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $50,000 and six months’ imprisonment.

​The CFS will alert the trade, and will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. An investigation is ongoing.     

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn today officiated at the kick-off ceremony of Construction Safety Week, themed “Smart & Care, Safety Beyond Compare”, which runs from today until Friday.

 

Speaking at the ceremony, Ms Linn explained the principles for promoting site safety with the three virtues of “wisdom, humanity and courage” mentioned in the Analects of Confucius.

 

On wisdom, she said that the Government has been committed to promoting the application of innovative technologies and smart site safety in recent years, while vigorously driving the full adoption of the Smart Site Safety System (4S) to bring revolutionary changes to the construction industry.

 

She added that over 600 public and private construction sites have been awarded the 4S label so far.

 

As for humanity, Ms Linn pointed out that the industry must uphold a caring spirit that is people oriented, caring for the welfare of site personnel and creating a safer working environment and better development opportunities for them to give workers and their family members peace of mind.

 

Concerning courage, she emphasised that site safety is everyone’s responsibility, adding that industry stakeholders should actively fulfil their safety responsibilities, and nurture a positive and strong culture of site safety, demonstrating the courage to make commitments and rectifications. 

 

A conference was held after the ceremony, at which experts and project teams shared their experiences in adopting the 4S, uplifting site safety and nurturing a caring culture. An exhibition on the 4S was also held at the venue.

 

Construction Safety Week is co-organised by the Development Bureau and the Construction Industry Council.

 

The week’s array of events include site visits and the award presentation ceremony of the 31st Considerate Contractors Site Award Scheme.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Innovation & Technology Commission (ITC) is inviting applications for jointly funded projects under the Mainland-Hong Kong Technology Cooperation Funding Scheme from today until October 13.

 

The funding scheme aims to encourage research and development (R&D) collaboration among universities, research institutes and technology enterprises in Mainland China and Hong Kong.

 

The first of the two themes/topics under the scheme includes ageing biotechnology and engineering, which covers innovative medicine for improving elderly health, smart health technologies and rehabilitation medical devices for seniors.

 

The second theme/topic involves low-altitude flight system technology, which encompasses low-altitude infrastructure construction and low-altitude aircraft technology.

 

The ITC said that the topics selected focus on gerontechnology and low-altitude flight technology, providing a technical foundation for developing the silver economy and low-altitude economy.

 

All applications must fit the specific themes/topics and must be submitted simultaneously by the Hong Kong and Mainland institutions to the ITC and the Ministry of Science & Technology respectively.

 

In addition, the R&D work must be conducted in both places and involve co-operation between the two places.

 

The ITC and the ministry will provide funding to the Hong Kong and Mainland applicant organisations respectively, and will monitor project progress according to their own requirements.

 

For enquiries, call the Innovation & Technology Fund Secretariat at 3655 5678 or send an email.