Month: September 2025

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Chief Executive announced in the 2025 Policy Address that he will lead the newly established Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis. Three working groups were set up under the Committee, including the Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town (WG) led by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki. Following the first working meeting of the Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis chaired by the Chief Executive yesterday (September 29), Mr Chan convened the WG’s first meeting today (September 30).

The meeting focused on discussing the overall development strategy and specific implementation plan for the Northern Metropolis University Town (NMUT). Members of the WG thoroughly discussed the preliminary planning directions of the NMUT’s Hung Shui Kiu site, which endeavours to integrate with nearby, high-end professional services as well as vocational and professional education and training facilities for joint development. The WG will set up a research taskforce later to conduct field trips on the successful models of university towns elsewhere, seeking views from experts and academics of local, Mainland, and internationally renowned universities, to ensure the planning is both forward-looking and practical.

Mr Chan emphasised at the meeting that the development of the NMUT will break away from traditional models, achieving synergistic and deeply integrated development between education and industry, holding immense strategic significance for Hong Kong’s future growth. He pointed out that the University Town will not only provide development room for the post-secondary education sector to expand capacity and enhance quality, but will also serve as a key engine to advance the deeply integrated development of Hong Kong’s academic excellence and industry. It will also realise the promotion of industrial development through education.

Mr Chan said the WG will adopt innovative thinking to formulate specific suggestions for the Northern Metropolis University Town Development Conceptual Framework, the development model of the University Town, and concrete facilities. The WG will also proactively study the strategies for attracting leading universities and research institutes on the Mainland and overseas to establish a base in Hong Kong, to attract world-class scholars and outstanding students to Hong Kong, facilitating Hong Kong’s development into an international education hub.

The Government has earmarked a total of around 90 hectares of land for the NMUT in the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area (HSK), Ngau Tam Mei New Development Area (NTM) and the New Territories North New Town (NTN NT) of the Northern Metropolis. The three batches of sites for the NMUT are at different planning and development phases, and will be available for use in 2026 (HSK), 2028 (NTM) and 2030 (NTN NT) respectively at the earliest.

The WG will later report the work plan and the plan for matters that can be advanced in the short term to the Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis to ensure the effective advancement of the NMUT project.

The membership list of the WG is set out in the Annex.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following yesterday’s (September 29) announcement of a case of severe paediatric influenza A infection, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (September 30) recorded another similar severe case. The CHP reiterates its appeal to schools and parents to arrange for schoolchildren to receive free seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV), as it is one of the most effective ways to prevent seasonal influenza and its complications. Vaccination also reduces the risk of serious illness or death from infection.

The latest case involves a six-year-old girl with good past health. She developed a fever, a cough and running nose since September 20. She attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Princess Margaret Hospital on September 26. Her nasopharyngeal swab specimen tested positive for the influenza A virus upon laboratory testing. The clinical diagnosis was influenza A infection complicated with severe pneumonia. She remains hospitalised in the paediatric intensive care unit of the hospital and is in serious condition.

The CHP’s investigations revealed that one of the girl’s household contacts developed mild respiratory symptoms on September 21, who did not require hospitalisation after seeking medical attention. The girl had received the 2024/25 SIV. Four of her classmates recently developed mild influenza-like symptoms between September 28 and 29. None of them required hospitalisation. No outbreaks have been reported in other classes at her school so far. The CHP advised the school on the necessary infection control measures to be implemented and will continue to put the school under medical surveillance.

     “Hong Kong is currently in the summer influenza season and there has been a significant increase in influenza-like illness outbreaks in schools since September. As of September 29, 232 outbreaks have been reported in schools since the start of the school year in September, including 22 cases in kindergartens/child care centres, 123 cases in primary schools and 87 cases in secondary schools. Nine severe paediatric influenza cases involving children aged 3 to 17 have been recorded since the start of the school year. Seven of them had good past health,” the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui, said.

The 2025/26 SIV Programmes have commenced, offering free or subsidised SIV to eligible high-risk groups through various vaccination programmes. This year, all schools may choose to use the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV nasal vaccines) and “hybrid mode”, i.e. schools are allowed to choose both injectable inactivated influenza vaccines and LAIV for the same or different outreach vaccination activities.

     “Currently around 2 300 schools (99 per cent) are going to arrange the SIV school outreach activities, with about 1 300 schools (58 per cent) scheduled to conduct outreach activities by the end of October. Some schools have already completed their outreach activities. For schools that will not arrange SIV outreach activities, the school list will be uploaded onto the CHP’s website to enable parents of the students in those schools to arrange SIV for their children. I urge all schools to arrange outreach activities as soon as possible. Parents should not hesitate. As the saying goes, ‘get vaccinated once a year and sooner is better than later’. Parents should arrange for their children to receive SIV as soon as possible to effectively prevent influenza and reduce the risk of serious illness or death from infection,” Dr Tsui said.
 
The Government has opened all 29 of the DH’s Maternal and Child Health Centres (MCHCs) for all children aged 6 months to under 2 years. Moreover, the 25 District Health Centres and District Health Centre Expresses and their service outlets under the Primary Healthcare Commission, and 74 general outpatient clinics and 38 public hospitals of the Hospital Authority to provide more choices for the public. For a list of vaccination venues, please refer to the CHP’s Vaccination Schemes page. Parents of eligible children may book an appointment for their children to receive vaccinations at designated MCHCs via the online booking system.

Dr Tsui reminded high-risk individuals to wear surgical masks when staying in crowded places. People with respiratory symptoms, even if mild, should wear a surgical mask and seek medical advice promptly. They should also consider whether to attend work or school.
 
For the latest information on seasonal influenza, members of the public can visit the CHP’s seasonal influenza and COVID-19 & Flu Express webpages. 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a series of territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations, including an operation codenamed “Fastrack” on September 29. A total of four suspected illegal workers were arrested.
 
     During the anti-illegal worker operations, ImmD investigators conducted cyber patrols on Mainland social media platforms and identified several suspicious posts of cross-boundary purchases and delivery services. ImmD investigators disguised themselves as customers to enquire about and book cross-boundary services from these suspects. One suspect was subsequently arrested while providing cross-boundary services in Hong Kong. The arrested suspected illegal worker who was suspected to have been breaching her condition of stay, is aged 36.
 
     During operation “Fastrack”, ImmD investigators employed strategies including decoy operations at 11 targeted massage parlours. A total of three suspected illegal workers were arrested. The arrested suspected illegal workers comprised one man and two women, aged 32 to 49.
 
     An investigation into the suspected employers is ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.
 
     An ImmD spokesman said, “Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years’ imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties.”
 
     The spokesman warned, “As stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land is prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years’ imprisonment. As stipulated in section 20(1)(a) of the Immigration Ordinance, the Chief Executive may make a deportation order against an immigrant, prohibiting the immigrant from being in Hong Kong at any time thereafter if the immigrant has been found guilty in Hong Kong of an offence punishable by imprisonment for not less than two years. 
 
     The spokesman stressed that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years’ imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years’ imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.
 
     According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee’s identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker’s valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.
 
     Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) victims. When any TIP indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP elements, such as threats and coercion in the recruitment phase and the nature of exploitation. Identified TIP victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.
 
     For reporting illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 3861 5000, 24-hour Immigration Offences Hotline 2824 1551, by fax at 2824 1166, email to anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit “Online Reporting of Immigration Offences” form at www.immd.gov.hk.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (September 30) released the findings of its food safety report for last month. The results of about 6 200 food samples tested (including food items purchased online) were found to be satisfactory except for nine unsatisfactory samples that were announced earlier. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.9 per cent.

A CFS spokesman said that about 2 100 food samples were collected for microbiological tests, and about 4 100 samples were taken for chemical and radiation level tests.

The microbiological tests covered pathogens and hygiene indicators; the chemical tests included testing for pesticides, preservatives, metallic contaminants, colouring matters, veterinary drug residues and others; and the radiation-level tests included testing for radioactive caesium and iodine in samples collected from imported food from different regions.

The samples comprised about 1 500 samples of vegetables and fruit and their products; about 600 samples of cereals, grains and their products; about 700 samples of meat and poultry and their products; about 1 300 samples of milk, milk products and frozen confections; about 700 samples of aquatic and related products; and about 1 400 samples of other food commodities (including beverages, bakery products and snacks).

The nine unsatisfactory samples comprised a choi sum sample and a mango sample detected with pesticide residues exceeding the legal limits, two fresh beef samples found to contain sulphur dioxide, a barbecued pork sample found to contain a colouring matter, Orange II, a pig oviduct sample found with excessive Bacillus cereus, a prepackaged ice cream sample detected with a coliform bacteria count exceeding the legal limit, and two prepackaged ice cream samples detected with total bacterial counts exceeding the legal limit.

The CFS has taken follow-up actions on the above-mentioned unsatisfactory samples, including informing the vendors concerned of the test results, instructing them to stop selling the affected food items, and tracing the sources of the food items in question, and etc.

The spokesman reminded the food trade to ensure that food is fit for human consumption and meets legal requirements. Consumers should patronise reliable shops when buying food and maintain a balanced diet to minimise food risks.

Separately, in response to the Japanese Government’s discharge of nuclear-contaminated water at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, the CFS will continue enhancing the testing on imported Japanese food, and make reference to the risk assessment results to adjust relevant surveillance work in a timely manner. The CFS will announce every working day on its dedicated webpage (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/daily_japan_nuclear_incidents.html) the radiological test results of the samples of food imported from Japan, with a view to enabling the trade and members of the public to have a better grasp of the latest safety information.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Hong Kong Customs mounted a territory-wide anti-illicit cigarette enforcement operation for two consecutive days (September 29 and 30) and raided four suspected illicit cigarette sales outlets and one suspected illicit cigarette storage centre in Sham Shui Po, seizing a total of about 1.32 million suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $5.94 million and a duty potential of about $4.36 million. Seven persons were arrested.
 
Customs officers today (September 30) conducted surprise inspections on cigarette sales outlets in various districts and found two newsstands in Kwai Chung and Tuen Mun, as well as two stores in Kwun Tong and Fanling, selling cigarettes at a price lower than the tobacco duty. Customs officers then took enforcement actions and arrested two men and four women, comprising the newsstand or store owners and employees, aged between 36 and 73.
 
Moreover, during an anti-illicit cigarette operation conducted in Sham Shui Po yesterday (September 29), Customs intercepted a suspicious man and found 1 600 suspected illicit cigarettes in a black plastic bag carried by him. Customs officers then escorted the man to his nearby residence for a search and further seized about 1.3 million suspected illicit cigarettes. After preliminary investigations, Customs believes that this suspected illicit cigarette storage centre was primarily used to supply illicit cigarettes to areas in Sham Shui Po.

Under the amended Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO) which took effect on September 19, cigarettes sold at a price lower than the tobacco duty must be proven to be duty-paid, otherwise the cigarettes are presumed to be duty-not-paid. 
​
Customs appeals to retailers not to sell cigarettes from unknown sources. Retailers must stay vigilant against cigarettes with import prices lower than the tobacco duty in order to avoid criminal liability.

Customs reminds retailers and members of the public that under the DCO, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Retailers and 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 Information Services

In response to media inquiries regarding online rumours alleging that the consent form for the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme contains hidden details and that the physical condition of individuals receiving seasonal influenza vaccines might be included in organ donation matching or related research, the Department of Health’s Centre for Health Protection vehemently denied such claims.

The centre today said the allegations are completely unfounded and people should not be misled.

Under the 2025-26 Seasonal Influenza Vaccination (SIV) Programmes, eligible high-risk groups generally need to complete a consent form before receiving free or subsidised SIV through the programmes.

The consent form specifies that the information provided may be transferred to private doctors, the Primary Healthcare Commission, the Hospital Authority, the Government’s agents and 15 healthcare-related statutory boards and councils that the Department of Health provides secretariat support to.

The consent forms also state that the Government may, when necessary, provide personal data obtained to other organisations, including the 15 healthcare-related statutory boards and councils, for the purposes of personal data collection stated in the consent form.

The centre noted that these provisions ensure that the Department of Health can promptly and effectively investigate any rare adverse events that may occur during the SIV programmes, such as enabling the relevant bodies to investigate serious medical incidents involving vaccine recipients.

The department will never use the information for organ donation or research on donor-recipient matching.

Both paper and electronic consent forms are generally destroyed within seven years. The department does not retain the personal data either. This practice fully complies with relevant laws and requirements for protecting personal data privacy.

The centre urged the public not to hesitate about receiving SIV due to rumours. It stressed that vaccination has been scientifically proven to be one of the most effective ways to prevent seasonal influenza and its complications. It also reduces the risks of in-patient admission and mortality due to seasonal influenza.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Working Group on Planning & Construction of the University Town (WG), set up under the Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis and led by Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki, convened its first working meeting today.

The meeting focused on discussing the overall development strategy and specific implementation plan for the Northern Metropolis University Town (NMUT). WG members discussed the preliminary planning directions of the NMUT’s Hung Shui Kiu site, which endeavours to integrate with nearby, high-end professional services as well as vocational and professional education and training facilities, for joint development.

A research taskforce will be established to conduct field trips to study the successful models of university towns elsewhere, and seek views from experts and academics, in order to ensure that the NMUT’s planning is both forward-looking and practical.

The Chief Secretary emphasised that the development of the NMUT will break away from traditional models, achieving synergistic and integrated development between education and industry, holding immense strategic significance for Hong Kong’s growth.

He pointed out that the NMUT will not only provide development room for the post-secondary education sector, but will also serve as a key engine to advance the integrated development of Hong Kong’s academic excellence and industry.

It will also realise the promotion of industrial development through education, he added.

Furthermore, Mr Chan said the WG will adopt innovative thinking to formulate suggestions for the Northern Metropolis University Town Development Conceptual Framework, the university town’s development model, and the construction of facilities. It will also study the strategies for attracting leading universities and research institutes to establish a base in Hong Kong in order to attract world-class scholars and outstanding students, with a view to facilitating Hong Kong’s development into an international education hub.

The WG will later report its work plan to the Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government today released the Green Bond Report 2025, which sets out the allocation of the proceeds raised from green bond issuances and the expected environmental benefits of the projects financed.

The Government has so far issued green bonds totalling around $240 billion to fund various green projects in Hong Kong.

Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui said the report provides comprehensive information on the projects funded by the Government Sustainable Bond Programme.

He added that to consolidate Hong Kong’s position as a regional and international green and sustainable finance hub, the Government’s efforts will be made to accelerate innovative financial development, foster a conducive regulatory environment and build a cross-sector ecosystem by leveraging the city’s strengths in the bond market, green and sustainable finance, as well as fintech.

The proceeds raised by the Government through issuances of green bonds have been fully allocated or earmarked for green projects, including the construction and rehabilitation of trunk sewage rising mains in Cheung Sha Wan, the expansion of North District Hospital and the high performance computer system for the Hong Kong Observatory.

Click here for the report.