Month: August 2025

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Department of Health will tomorrow release its inaugural School Health Reports & Recommendations, tailored to each school participating in the Whole School Health Programme (WSHP).

During the 2024-25 school year, 808 schools participated in the WSHP, covering nearly 70% of schools in Hong Kong.

The department will issue a health report and provide targeted health promotion recommendations tailored to each participating school’s specific circumstances. This will assist the schools in formulating strategies for health promotion.

After distributing the reports to the schools tomorrow, the department’s professional healthcare teams will visit each participating school between mid-August and late September to provide in-depth explanations of their recommendations.

The department’s Consultant Community Medicine (Family & Student Health) Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan said participating schools have strengthened implementation of various measures under the Health Promoting School (HPS) framework. This includes integrating four major health themes – physical activity, healthy eating, mental health and social well-being – into the school curriculum.

Other measures include setting up a task group to support students and staff members with emotional issues; recording and analysing students’ health conditions; establishing a mechanism to assist students at risk of self-harm or suicide; and addressing bullying issues.

Dr Chuang said the results to date have been satisfactory.

The department also commended 11 outstanding schools that have been upgraded to “Advanced School” status under the WSHP.

Dr Chuang added that evidence from international research shows that the implementation of the HPS framework can have a positive impact on the health of students. She said it has been found to help reduce the incidence of smoking, lower the number of bullying cases and improve the body mass index of students, in addition to increasing their physical activity levels and their intake of fruit and vegetables.

She appealed to schools which have not yet joined the WSHP to contact the department’s Health Promoting School Division regarding registration.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Housing Bureau announced today that applications for the Light Public Housing (LPH) project at Choi Shek Lane in Kowloon Bay will be open for application from August 25.

 

The project is the renovation of a former school premises, and will provide about 150 units for gradual intake anticipated from the first quarter of 2026 onwards.

 

Eligible applicants will receive, on or before August 25, application forms sent by the bureau in batches by post.

 

Forms submitted before September 15 will be handled with priority for allocation, which will include Choi Shek Lane and other LPH projects that still have units available. Those who previously submitted an application do not need to submit another one.

 

Noting that the response to the Phase 2 LPH application, launched earlier this year, has been overwhelming, the bureau said that it launched the Choi Shek Lane project to provide an extra option for those with an urgent housing need.

 

Meanwhile, the tenant intake for the first LPH project at Yau Pok Road in Yuen Long, providing about 2,100 units, was fully completed in mid-June. The second project at Choi Hing Road in Ngau Tau Kok, which provides about 2,290 units, is the first project in the urban area with a full intake expected to be completed soon.

 

The bureau noted that the waiting time for subsidised rental housing in the second quarter of 2025 decreased by 0.2 years to 5.1 years, which is the lowest since the first quarter of 2018.

 

The waiting time for general applicants of LPH is 2.3 years on average, showing that LPH can quickly address the urgent demand for improving living conditions of households in need, it added.

 

For enquiries, call 3464 0700 or send an email to: lphapp@hb.gov.hk.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Department of Health (DH) announced today (August 18) that it will release the inaugural “School Health Reports and Recommendations” (health reports) tailored to each participating school under the Whole School Health Programme (WSHP) tomorrow (August 19). The DH also commended 11 outstanding schools that have been upgraded to “Advanced Schools” under the WSHP.

     “The Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address” announced that the WSHP would be strengthened and extended to cover all primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong. Based on the overall health status of students in each school, health reports will also be compiled for each participating school to recommend targeted school-based health promotion measures for physical activities, meals and other matters, to improve students’ physical and psychological well-being. 
The health reports cover the above-mentioned four major health themes and six key factors of HPS, namely healthy school policies, schools’ physical environment, schools’ social environment, community links, action competencies for healthy living, and school health care and promotion services.  
Furthermore, the Student Health Service Centres of the DH provide annual health assessment services to all primary and secondary students in Hong Kong to identify students with health or behavioral problems at an early stage for timely advice and intervention. In addition to letting individual student know their own health condition, the DH will regularly analyse the data obtained to monitor the overall health condition and relevant trends of local students, and announce relevant findings to the public to raise their awareness on student health.
 
For more information on the list of participating schools and the WSHP, members of the public may visit the DH’s designated webpage

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Housing Bureau (HB) today (August 18) announced that the Light Public Housing (LPH) project at Choi Shek Lane, Kowloon Bay, will be open for application from August 25. The project is the renovation of a former school premises, and will provide about 150 units for gradual intake anticipated from the first quarter of 2026 onwards.

Eligible applicants will receive the application forms by post on or before August 25 sent by the HB in batches. Application forms submitted before September 15 will be handled with priority for allocation, which will include Choi Shek Lane as well as other LPH projects that still have units available. Those who have submitted an application form previously do not need to submit another application.

A spokesman for the HB said, “The Phase 2 LPH application, which was launched earlier in February this year, covers four projects, including Olympic Avenue, Kai Tak (Phase 1); Tsing Fuk Lane, Tuen Mun (i.e. Tuen Mun Area 3A); Shun On Road, Kwun Tong; and Choi Yuen Road, Sheung Shui. The response has been overwhelming, with eligibility verification for applicants being conducted progressively. In view of the satisfactory construction progress, apart from the said four projects still available for application, we decided to launch the Choi Shek Lane, Kowloon Bay, project, the intake of which is expected to commence in the first quarter of next year, in order to provide an extra option for those with an urgent housing need.”

The spokesman added, “Meanwhile, the tenant intake for the first LPH project at Yau Pok Road, Yuen Long, providing about 2,100 units, was fully completed in mid-June this year. The second LPH project at Choi Hing Road, Ngau Tau Kok, which provides about 2,290 units, is the first project in an urban area with a full intake expected to be completed soon. This fully demonstrates that with affordable rent, comprehensive facilities and services, as well as a better living environment, LPH projects are highly popular among residents in need. The HB just announced the Composite Waiting Time for Subsidised Rental Housing (CWT) for the second quarter of 2025. The CWT for general applicants has decreased by 0.2 years to 5.1 years, which is the lowest since the first quarter of 2018, among which, the waiting time for general applicants of LPH is 2.3 years on average, showing that LPH can quickly address the urgent demand for improving living conditions of households in need. Moreover, about 70 per cent of the residents at Choi Hing Road LPH previously resided in inadequate housing, such as sub-divided units (SDUs), rooftop houses and bedspaces, etc. Their livelihood has greatly improved right after moving into LPH. We urge eligible residents in need to submit their applications as soon as possible.

“Based on the data from the Rating and Valuation Department about the rent of SDUs, the median rent for SDUs across Hong Kong in the third quarter of 2024 was approximately $5,500, while the median rent for LPH is about $1,300. We estimate that each household can save about $4,200 on rent per month after moving into LPH. That represents a total of over $7.5 billion on rental savings for households of 30,000 units in five years. By moving into LPH with an affordable rent, not only can the grassroot residents face a much lower rental burden, they can also utilise the saved rent for other meaningful purposes.”

Details of the LPH application process for Choi Shek Lane, Kowloon Bay, are as follows:

(1) Eligibility for priority application: general applicants who have been on the waiting list for traditional Public Rental Housing (PRH) for three years or more are eligible, with priority given to family applicants. Those meeting the eligibility criteria will receive by post the application forms sent by the HB in batches.

(2) Application period: applicants who submit duly completed application forms between August 25 and September 15 will be handled with priority for allocation, including Choi Shek Lane and other LPH projects which still have units available. From September 15 onwards, the HB will continue to accept applications.

(3) Submission methods: interested applicants may submit their duly completed application forms by post to PO Box of the Dedicated Team on Light Public Housing of the Housing Bureau (PO Box 28222, Gloucester Road Post Office, Wan Chai, Hong Kong); or by depositing them into drop-in boxes during office hours (from 9am to 6pm, Mondays to Fridays, except Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays) at the following locations:

• Light Public Housing Information Counter at Podium Level 2, Hong Kong Housing Authority Customer Service Centre, 3 Wang Tau Hom South Road, Kowloon; and
• Office of the Dedicated Team on Light Public Housing at Room 801, 8/F, Revenue Tower, 5 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong.

In addition, if the applicant and all family members have registered for “iAM Smart+”, they may opt to complete, sign and submit the e-Form by scanning the exclusive QR code pre-printed on the application form.

The HB will process the application forms received as soon as possible and make arrangements for the allocation. To give priority to those families in need to move into LPH, if the applicants are currently living in inadequate housing; having special medical conditions; or having minor-age children, newborns, elderly persons, etc, in the family, they will be given a higher priority for LPH allocation.

The Choi Shek Lane, Kowloon Bay, project provides about 150 units (including units for one to two persons, three to four persons and four to five persons), and is about nine minutes to the Choi Hung MTR Station on foot, with a number of franchised bus and minibus routes in the vicinity travelling to/from various places in Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories. The estimated monthly rent ranges from about $1,230 to $3,310 (Note).

For more information about LPH applications, please refer to the enclosed LPH Promotional Pamphlet, or browse the LPH website of the HB (www.hb.gov.hk/eng/lph). For enquiries, please call 3464 0700, or send email to lphapp@hb.gov.hk.

Note: Rents may vary depending on the unit size and the district. The rental level is set at around 90 per cent of the rent of newly completed traditional PRH in the same district. Having regard to the biennial rent review of traditional PRH, the rent of LPH will be adjusted accordingly.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The “Kowloon Walled City: A Cinematic Journey” Movie Set Exhibition, organised by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and financially supported by the Film Development Fund, has been widely welcomed by the local public and visitors since its opening at Kowloon Walled City Park in May this year. The Exhibition received its 100 000th visitor today (August 18). Assistant Director (Leisure Services) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department Ms Fung Miu-ling; Assistant Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries and the Secretary-General of the Hong Kong Film Development Council, Mr Gary Mak; and actor of “Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In” German Cheung, visited the exhibition to present a specially selected gift pack to the 100 000th visitor of the exhibition from Japan.

     Created by the same team behind the Best Film at Hong Kong Film Awards, “Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In”, the film sets have been reconstructed on the original site of Kowloon Walled City, now Kowloon Walled City Park. To attract the local public as well as tourists from the Mainland and overseas, the movie set exhibition is open to the public free of charge. The exhibition features sets of classic scenes from the movie, incorporating elements of local traditional craftsmanship and large-scale projection, to provide visitors with a unique immersive experience of the Walled City and an opportunity to appreciate the ingenious creativity and dedication to exquisite craftsmanship of Hong Kong’s film professionals. Details of opening arrangements can be found on the website of Kowloon Walled City Park (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/parks/kwcp/opening.html).

     To enhance visitors’ appreciation of the relics, history and design of Kowloon Walled City, guided tours are conducted daily for park visitors free of charge. Visitors will be led by a dedicated person to view the various facilities in the park. For details of the guided tour, please refer to the relevant website (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/parks/kwcp/tour.html).

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry Prof Sun Dong will depart for a visit to Beijing today.

In the capital, Prof Sun will call on the State Council’s Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office, the State Council’s State-owned Assets Supervision & Administration Commission, the National Development & Reform Commission, and the Ministry of Industry & Information Technology.

He will also visit local innovation and technology-related enterprises.

Prof Sun will return to Hong Kong on August 20. During his absence, Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry Lillian Cheong will be Acting Secretary.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Government Logistics Department (GLD) stated that it had partially terminated a contract for the supply of bottled drinking water to government offices on Hong Kong Island and parts of the outlying islands starting from today (August 16).

In June this year, the GLD awarded the contract to Xin Ding Xin Trade Co., Limited (XDX). According to the contract, XDX is to supply bottled drinking water, branded “XinLe” and manufactured by … (available in Chinese only), to government offices on Hong Kong Island and parts of the outlying islands starting from late June this year for a period of 36 months.

Having received information on XDX’s business operation recently, the GLD was not satisfied that XDX would still be capable of performing the contract, and decided to partially terminate the said contract starting from today (August 16) in accordance with contract terms. The GLD will follow up seriously and take follow-up action including whether to terminate the contract. The GLD has also referred the case to Police for investigation.

To ensure the supply of drinking water, the GLD has arranged for AS Watson Group (HK) Limited to supply bottled drinking water temporarily, branded “COOL” and manufactured by the company, to government offices on Hong Kong Island and parts of the outlying islands starting from next week.

The GLD has been monitoring contractual performance of the suppliers of bottled drinking water for government offices, with a view to ensuring stable supply of bottled drinking water in compliance with stipulated technical specifications according to contract terms and ensuring the safety of drinking water. Suppliers are required to submit test reports issued by independent accredited laboratories every two months to prove that the drinking water provided by them complies with the requirements under the technical specifications. The GLD also extracts samples of drinking water for testing from time to time throughout the contract period. In this regard, the GLD has earlier conducted a test of bottled drinking water samples in government offices, which confirmed that the bottled drinking water from all suppliers complied with the safety standards for bottled drinking water.

Following the expiry of the original contracts, the GLD conducted an open tender in March this year to select suitable suppliers of bottled drinking water for government departments. As regards the three successful tenderers and the brands of drinking water to be supplied pursuant to their tenders, the information is set out as follows:

Company name	Brand	Region of government offices for supply	Manufacturer
Xin Ding Xin Trade Co., Limited	XinLe	Hong Kong Island and parts of the outlying islands	(available in Chinese only)
AS Watson Group (HK) Limited	COOL	Kowloon	AS Watson Group (HK) Limited
Professional Trade International Limited	Happy	New Territories and part of Lantau Island	Dongguan Dongwa Drinking Water Co., Limited

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Audit Commission (Audit)’s reply in response to the invitation from the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau to review the Government’s tender exercise for procuring bottled drinking water is as follows:
 
Audit carries out regularity audits under the Audit Ordinance (Cap. 122) to ensure that the financial and accounting transactions of the Government and public moneys are proper and conform to accepted accounting standards. The Government’s tender exercise for procuring bottled drinking water falls within the scope of Audit’s work. As the auditor of the Government’s accounts, Audit undertakes to identify any deficiencies through auditing the accounts. Should any deficiencies or irregularities be detected, Audit will make candid reporting of such, including proposed areas for improvement and recommendations in form of management letter for relevant government bureaux/departments’ follow-up actions.
 
In addition, apart from auditing the Government’s accounts, Audit also takes into account factors including materiality, timeliness, amount of public money and risk involved and value added in determining whether value for money audit shall be conducted on a specific subject. In line with the Government’s confidentiality requirement on value for money audits, all information on issues under consideration for examination or under examination are confidential. Therefore, Audit cannot disclose if it is considering to conduct examination or is conducting examination on a particular issue.