Month: August 2025

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​The Organising Committees of the 15th National Games (NG) and the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities (NGD) and the 9th National Special Olympic Games (NSOG) today (August 13) held a press conference themed “Join us to enjoy the National Games” in Guangzhou to announce the ticketing arrangements for Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao.

The Deputy Director-General of the Department of Market Development of the Organising Committee of the 15th NG, Mr Lei Jianjun; the Head of the National Games Coordination Office (Hong Kong) (NGCO), Mr Yeung Tak-keung; the Head of the Preparatory Office for the 15th NG, 12th NGD and 9th NSOG in Macao, Mr Pun Weng-kun; and the Deputy Director-General of the Co-ordination Department for Hong Kong and Macao Affairs of the Organising Committee of the 15th NG, Mr Zheng Junhui, attended the press conference to introduce the ticketing arrangements of the three places.

At the press conference, Mr Yeung said that Hong Kong together with Guangdong and Macao will adopt the approach of “one platform, ticket purchase across three places” to facilitate ticket purchases for spectators.

Starting from today, Hong Kong residents can use their Hong Kong identity card or Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents to log in to the 15th NG official ticketing website (ticket.baygames.cn), and the 12th NGD and 9th NSOG official ticketing website (ticket.baygamespara.cn), as well as the official mini programmes on WeChat for real-name registration. Competition tickets will be released for public sale in phases and batches starting from the end of August according to the competition schedules of the events.

The Hong Kong competition region has a total of 11 ticketed events covering eight competition events for the 15th NG and three competition events for the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG, with about 400 000 and 35 000 tickets for sale respectively. The first batch of tickets for events in Hong Kong will be available for sale from August 28, covering beach volleyball, handball (men), basketball (men’s U22) and rugby sevens of the 15th NG. Tickets for the other four competition events of the 15th NG, namely track cycling, golf, triathlon and fencing, and three events for the NGD of the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG, which are boccia, wheelchair fencing and para table tennis (TT11) will be available for sale by phases and batches in late September and early October in accordance with the competition schedules.

The ticket prices of events in Hong Kong are affordable. The three outdoor events (golf, triathlon, and beach volleyball) are each one single ticket price, ranging from Renminbi (RMB) 50 to RMB200 (HK$55 to HK$219). The indoor events (handball (men), basketball (men’s U22), rugby sevens, track cycling and fencing) have varied ticket prices, with assigned seating, ranging from RMB50 to RMB500 (HK$55 to HK$549). The three ticketed events for the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG in Hong Kong are all marked at a single ticket price of RMB20 (HK$22). For detailed ticket prices for each event in Hong Kong, please refer to the attachment.

Interested ticket buyers who have registered with real-name accounts on the above-mentioned platforms may purchase tickets under the real-name arrangements when tickets are released. Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao residents may purchase tickets across competition events in Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao on the official online ticketing platforms. Ticket prices are set in RMB. Hong Kong residents can settle payments through electronic means. To purchase tickets for events in different competition regions, ticket buyers must use valid travel documents recognised by the respective competition region. Hong Kong residents must use their Hong Kong identity card to purchase tickets for events in Hong Kong and Macao, and their Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents to purchase tickets for events in Guangdong. Mainland and Macao residents must use their Exit-entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao, and their Macao identity card respectively when purchasing tickets for events in Hong Kong.

In addition to the official online ticketing platforms, the designated offline service provider for the Hong Kong competition region tickets is the China Travel Service (Hong Kong) Limited. After sales begin at the end of August, members of the public can also purchase tickets for events in Hong Kong at their 11 designated sales outlets on Hong Kong Island (branches located in Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, and Taikoo Kornhill Plaza), Kowloon (West Kowloon High-Speed Rail Station, Kwun Tong Crocodile Center, and Mong Kok Bank Centre Mall), and the New Territories (Tai Po, Tseung Kwan O East Point City, Sha Tin, Tuen Mun Town Plaza, and Tsuen Wan Luk Yeung Galleria). Purchases at these sales outlets do not require prior registration on the official websites. Hong Kong residents must use their Hong Kong identity card, while Mainland and Macao residents must use their Exit-entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao, and Macao identity card respectively. The paper tickets sold offline in Hong Kong will be converted from RMB to HK$ at a fixed exchange rate. For more details about the sales outlets, please visit the China Travel Service (Hong Kong) Limited website (ww2.ctshk.com/articleDetail?id=4&channelId=-1) or the official website for the 15th NG in Hong Kong (www.2025nationalgames.gov.hk/en/index.html).

The e-tickets and paper tickets for the Hong Kong competition region will bear part of the ticket holder’s name and part of their identification document number. Ticket holders must bring the relevant identification documents with e-tickets or paper tickets for admission.

Tickets for the Hong Kong competition region will be sold in the form of half-day or full-day passes. A ticket holder with one ticket may watch multiple competitions held at the same venue within the half-day or full-day period and may enter and leave the venue freely during that period.

The 15th NG, 12th NGD and 9th NSOG will limit the number of tickets that can be purchased. Each order for events in Hong Kong is limited to six tickets, and each valid identification document can only be used for one ticket for the same event.

     Meanwhile, to provide flexibility, all e-tickets can be transferred once under real-name authentication via the official online ticketing platforms 24 hours before the start of the event. For paper tickets, ticket holders who purchase tickets from designated sales outlets in Hong Kong (i.e. China Travel Service (Hong Kong) Limited) may submit a transfer request at least seven days before the event. When applying for a transfer, ticket holders must bring the required documents and the completed transfer application form to the designated sales outlets to complete the transfer procedure in person.

     For any ticketing enquiries, Hong Kong residents may call the official ticketing call centre at +86 4001-125305 or email the official ticketing enquiry email address at services@quanyun2025.com.

For the mass participation event of the 15th NG, bowling, and the mass participation event of the 12th NGD and 9th NSOG, para dance sport, and Special Olympics table tennis, free admission will be offered through prior real-name registration.
     
     The finals for the bowling mass participation event will be held from August 22 to 24 at the Kai Tak Sports Park Bowling Centre. Interested spectators can register starting tomorrow (August 14) at 10am for a ticket exchange certificate by providing the required information via the website (h5.ctshk.com/ticketDetail?id=3300001423&channelId=-1&poiId=16613343). There are 120 tickets available for the event each day, with a total of 360 tickets for the three-day event while stocks last. Successful registrants will receive a ticket exchange certificate via email to obtain a ticket on the event day. Details on the ticketing arrangements for the 12th NGD and 9th NSOG events mass participation event para dance sport and Special Olympics table tennis will be announced later.

For more information on the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG in Hong Kong, please visit the thematic website (www.2025nationalgames.gov.hk/en/index.html), as well the Facebook page (www.facebook.com/2025nationalgames.hk) and Instagram page (www.instagram.com/2025nationalgames.hk).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

​The spokesperson for Tuen Mun Hospital made the following announcement today (August 13) regarding an incident involving a patient’s ventilator that was identified as not being in normal operating mode:

On August 7, a 48-year-old male patient was admitted to the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with acute necrotising pancreatitis, complicated by acute kidney injury and respiratory failure. He was started on continuous renal replacement therapy. As the patient’s condition remained critical, healthcare staff intubated him and connected him to a mechanical ventilator on August 10 to assist with his breathing.

At about 7am yesterday (August 12), healthcare staff made adjustments to the ventilator and replaced the respiratory circuit. After four minutes, the patient developed oxygen desaturation, triggering the alarm system. Healthcare staff attended to the patient correspondingly. During this period, the patient suffered a cardiac arrest. The clinical team initiated resuscitation promptly, and the patient’s heartbeat was restored two minutes later. During the resuscitation, it was discovered that the ventilator was not in normal operating mode, and the staff rectified the equipment’s operation mode immediately to enable resumption of normal operation.

The patient was conscious and able to respond to the instructions of the healthcare staff after the event. A thorough assessment and relevant examinations have been conducted, showing that patient’s vital signs were stable. A Computerised Tomography Scan has been done, and the clinical team has initially determined that the incident had no significant impact on his overall condition. The clinical team will continue to closely monitor the patient’s clinical condition and provide appropriate treatment.

The hospital is very concerned about the incident and met with the patient’s family to explain the details of the incident. The hospital will maintain close communication with the family, offering all possible assistance and follow-up care. The patient is still hospitalised in ICU due to his underlying diseases.

The hospital has reported the incident to the Hospital Authority Head Office through the Advance Incident Reporting System. The hospital will investigate the reasons why the ventilator was not in normal operating mode and make recommendations to prevent recurrence of similar events.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Water Supplies Department (WSD) today (August 13) alerted the public to fraudulent SMS messages purportedly issued by the department.
 
The WSD recently received enquiries from members of the public concerning SMS messages purportedly issued by the department. These messages requested that recipients settle outstanding payments and click the following links, which are not the WSD’s website addresses: 
 

1. https[:]//wsd[.]pikhsjl[.]sbs
2. https[:]//wsd[.]pishjs[.]sbs
3. https[:]//wsd[.]pikshjl[.]sbs

 
     The department has reported the case to the Police.   

     The WSD clarified that it did not send the SMS messages in question and will not direct customers to other websites with hyperlinks embedded in an SMS message. The WSD reminded that the department is registered in the SMS Sender Registration Scheme by the Office of the Communications Authority. All SMS messages issued by the department will include the prefix “#” in the SMS Sender ID for easy identification by the public.

Anyone who has provided his or her personal information to the websites concerned or other suspected websites should contact the Police. For enquiries, please call the WSD’s customer services hotline at 2824 5000.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, and his delegation continued their visit to Singapore today (August 13) to meet with senior officials of the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) of Singapore and the Centre of Regulatory Excellence (CoRE) at Duke-NUS Medical School.
 
     During the meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of the HSA of Singapore, Professor Raymond Chua, Professor Lo said, “Protecting public health and tackling public health challenges transcend borders. International co-operation is indispensable in ensuring the safety, efficacy, and quality of drugs and medical devices, as well as in enhancing tobacco control to protect community health. I look forward to Hong Kong and Singapore collaborating to create synergy and share the best practices to bolster public health protection and promote medical innovation, thereby further strengthening the healthy and steady development of the healthcare systems in both places.”
 
     After the meeting, Professor Lo and Singapore’s Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and the Minister for Health, Mr Ong Ye Kung, jointly witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on regulation of drugs and medical devices and tobacco control policy by the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, and Professor Chua. The MOU aims to enhance the co-operation between the two places in areas such as regulation of drugs and medical devices, promoting tobacco control policy and enforcement, as well as regulatory capacity enhancement and training, with a view to jointly promoting the high-quality development of the regulation of drugs and medical devices.
 
     During the meeting with the founding Executive Director of CoRE, Professor John Lim, Professor Lo introduced the initiatives put forward by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in developing Hong Kong into an international health and medical innovation hub, including strengthening the approval regimes for drugs and medical devices, as well as establishing the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation by the end of 2026 to foster growth in the local healthcare and biotechnology industries.
 
     Professor Lo also gained insights on CoRE’s significant contributions to Singapore’s healthcare regulatory system over the past decade through capacity building, strengthening collaboration and fostering innovation.
 
     Professor Lo said, “Hong Kong is pressing ahead with reforms of the regulatory system of drugs and medical devices to address evolving healthcare needs and the rapid development of advanced treatment technologies. The valuable experience of CoRE in nurturing talent and promoting regulation of drugs and medical devices provides practical and useful reference for our ongoing reforms.”
 
     Apart from Dr Lam, members of the delegation include Deputy Secretary for Health Ms Elaine Mak and a representative from the Hospital Authority. They will visit the National Cancer Centre Singapore, a polyclinic and a pharmaceutical company tomorrow (August 14), and depart for Hong Kong in the evening.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​A 49-year-old man was convicted and sentenced to three years’ imprisonment at the District Court today (August 13) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes, in contravention of the Import and Export Ordinance (IEO).

Customs intercepted a container vessel in the waters off Lamma Island on July 24, 2024. Upon inspection, Customs officers seized 30.4 million duty-not-paid cigarettes on the vessel, with an estimated market value of about $137 million and a duty potential of about $100.5 million. The male coxswain, aged 49, was subsequently arrested. 

Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offence.

Customs stresses that smuggling is a serious offence. Under the IEO, 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. Moreover, under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying 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 illicit cigarette 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).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Attention TV and radio duty announcers:

     Please broadcast the following special announcement by the Education Bureau concerning schools, and repeat it at suitable intervals:

     As the Red Rainstorm Warning Signal is now in force, students of AM schools and whole-day schools do not have to attend school today. Schools should keep their premises open and implement contingency measures to look after arriving students. Parents do not need to pick up their children from schools immediately.
 
     If the Hong Kong Observatory issues the Amber Rainstorm Warning Signal or cancels all Rainstorm Warning Signals at or before 10.30am, classes of PM schools will proceed as usual today unless advised otherwise.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore (Singapore ETO), in collaboration with the Singapore Film Society (SFS) and distributor KillerMud Films (KMF), copresented an exclusive screening of the award-winning Hong Kong documentary “Four Trails” yesterday evening (August 13) at Golden Village Suntec City, Singapore. Both the film and event showcased Hong Kong’s vibrant sporting spirit, stunning natural landscapes and compelling cultural storytelling.

     In his opening remarks, the Director of the Singapore ETO, Mr Owin Fung, reiterated the commitment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to supporting the development of the Hong Kong film industry and promoting its productions to international audiences through various funding schemes and talent development initiatives. The Singapore ETO strives to further enhance the global visibility of Hong Kong films and showcase the city’s unique cultural creativity on the world stage through collaborations with overseas partners. 

     Meanwhile, Mr Fung highlighted Hong Kong’s potential in ecotourism. He thanked the film for bringing attention to Hong Kong’s unique geological and ecological features, including areas within the Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark, and reaffirmed the city’s commitment to sustainable tourism and sports development. He expressed his gratitude to the SFS and KMF for their ongoing support in bringing Hong Kong films to Singapore audiences.

     The event was well-received, attracting a full house of around 150 attendees. In the post-screening virtual Q&A session moderated by the Chairman of the SFS, Mr Kenneth Tan, audience members engaged with the film’s director, Mr Robin Lee, sharing their reflections and asking thoughtful questions. Riding on the encouraging response, the Singapore ETO will continue to promote Hong Kong’s rich and diverse narratives, and enhance international appreciation for its cultural and natural heritage.

     “Four Trails” chronicles the arduous Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge, a 298-kilometre ultramarathon across Hong Kong’s iconic trails, celebrating both the resilience of runners and the city’s volcanic geology and coastal scenery. The film garnered several accolades, including the Best New Director award at the 43rd Hong Kong Film Awards (2025). For more information on its screenings in Singapore, please visit www.facebook.com/61553739735059 and www.gv.com.sg/GVMovieDetails?movie=2329#/movie/2329/cinema/null.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said today (August 13) that in view of an imported case of chikungunya fever (CF) announced by the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) last night, the FEHD has immediately carried out anti-mosquito work at various locations in the vicinity of Ta Chuen Ping Street, Kwai Tsing District, where the patient resides. Such work include removing stagnant water, cleansing streets and applying larvicides to reduce the risk of disease transmission. The FEHD will also convene a meeting of the inter-departmental task force on anti-mosquito work in the district to coordinate departments and stakeholders in taking joint actions for mosquito prevention and control.

There have been industrial and recycling operations in the area near Ta Chuen Ping Street. Having found recyclers putting articles in public places during inspections, the FEHD officers hence instituted prosecution against the offenders and requested them to remove the articles immediately. As for the accumulation of articles in private areas nearby, the FEHD has warned the responsible persons that they must handle the articles properly to prevent mosquito breeding, or they will face prosecution.

In addition, the FEHD found water dripping from air-conditioners in residential units nearby during inspections, causing water accumulation in some of the back alleys. The FEHD has issued / will issue statutory notices to the owners or occupiers of the relevant premises, requiring them to rectify the situation within a specified period. At the same time, the FEHD has referred to the relevant department for follow-up actions on the uneven surfaces of back alleys to prevent from re-occurrence of water accumulation in the long run.

Moreover, in collaboration with Kwai Tsing District Council members, the FEHD distributed anti-mosquito promotional leaflets to shop owners and members of the public this morning to raise residents’ awareness of mosquito prevention. The FEHD will also continue to conduct vector investigations within 250-metre radius of residence of the patient involved in the case announced last night. Immediate actions will be taken upon detection of mosquito breeding grounds, including removal of stagnant water and fogging operations to eradicate adult mosquitoes.

The imported cases recently announced also involve patients residing in Kwai Tsing District. The FEHD will continue to collaborate with relevant departments and stakeholders and conduct mosquito control and elimination work in the area near the patients’ residence, to reduce the risk of disease transmission. The department will also step up publicity and education efforts with local community to raise public awareness of mosquito prevention.

Public participation is crucial to effective control of mosquito problems. The FEHD appeals to members of the public to continue joining hands in strengthening personal mosquito control measures, including:

· Tidy up their premises and check for any accumulation of water inside their premises;
· Remove all unnecessary water collection and eliminate the sources;
· Check household items (those placed in outdoor and open areas in particular), such as refuse containers, vases, air conditioner drip trays, and laundry racks, to prevent stagnant water;
· Change the water in flower vases and saucers of potted plants no more than every 7 days;
· Properly cover all containers that hold water to prevent mosquito from accessing the water; and
· Properly dispose articles that are able to contain water such as empty lunch boxes and cans.

Members of the public may refer to the FEHD’s webpage on mosquito prevention and control (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/pestcontrol/risk-pest-mosquito.html#), and should constantly pay attention to the information regarding CF released by the CHP of the DH. The public should call 1823 in case of mosquito problems.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, proceeded to Sydney today (August 13) to start his visit to Australia to deepen collaboration in trade and investment between Hong Kong and Australia.

     Upon arrival, Mr Yau attended a reception hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Sydney (Sydney ETO) to celebrate the 30th anniversary of its establishment.

     Speaking at the reception, Mr Yau remarked that the Sydney ETO was set up in 1995 with an important mission to promote and strengthen Hong Kong’s economic, trade and cultural ties with Australia and New Zealand as well as foster a better understanding of Hong Kong in the two countries. Over the last three decades, the Sydney ETO has played a crucial role in facilitating communication and collaboration between Hong Kong and Australia, serving as a vital connector that brings together the two communities and laying a strong foundation for even deeper co-operation in the years ahead.

     Mr Yau noted that in 2024, Hong Kong was Australia’s 10th-largest export market, with bilateral trade in goods between the two places reaching approximately AUD8 billion. Australia was also Hong Kong’s eighth-largest trading partner in services in 2023. These figures reflect the deepening of the relationship, fuelled by increased bilateral exchanges, shared commitment to free trade, and the innovative spirit that defines both economies.

     He further noted the strong post-pandemic recovery in tourism and connectivity, citing the growing flow of visitors to Hong Kong and vibrant expatriate communities between Hong Kong and Australia as a testament to the enduring strength of bilateral relations.

     Meanwhile, Mr Yau outlined Hong Kong’s ongoing initiatives to enhance its business environment and regional competitiveness, such as the Top Talent Pass Scheme to attract global talent and foster innovation, and the recent reduction of the duty rate on liquor to promote liquor trade. He also highlighted Hong Kong’s abundant opportunities for Australian businesses and its role as a key entry point into the fast-growing markets of the Mainland and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

     On regional trade, Mr Yau said that Hong Kong is actively seeking to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and its accession to RCEP will enhance regional value chains and create new synergies in various areas, benefitting Australian exporters, service providers and investors alike.

     Today’s reception brought together over 300 distinguished guests from various sectors, including political and business circles, media, academia, community groups and government representatives. A special exhibition highlighted the Sydney ETO’s diverse engagements over the past three decades, ranging from hosting high-level visits and leading business delegations to organising economic forums and staging cultural performances, demonstrating the growing depth and breadth of Hong Kong’s ties with Australia and New Zealand. Another section of the showcase spotlighted Hong Kong’s unique strengths as Asia’s world city and a dynamic hub for global business.

     In addition, before proceeding to Sydney today from Auckland, New Zealand, Mr Yau paid a courtesy call on the Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Auckland, Mr Chen Shijie, to update him on the latest social and economic developments in Hong Kong.

     Mr Yau will continue his visit to Sydney tomorrow (August 14).