Month: September 2025

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following are the remarks made by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, at a media session after attending a radio programme this morning (September 26):
 
Reporter: In the programme, you mentioned that your Bureau is aiming to submit your final recommendations to the Chief Executive by the end of this year regarding the third medical school, could you share with us the update on the Bureau’s work of reviewing the recommendations submitted by three universities? What are the key criteria that your Bureau has considered?
  
Secretary for Health: The Task Group on New Medical School has already reviewed the proposals by the three universities. We looked at the curriculum, staff recruitment, student recruitment and all other criteria. We met the three universities twice – once in May and the other in June. We met on July 31 for a very detailed discussion. Now, the proposals are at the stage of assessment on the capital requirement as well as financial sustainability. We want to make sure that the proposals would not only fulfil our requirements and expectation for the best medical school, but also in terms of the cost effectiveness and performance, so we are looking at the financial aspect, and will be submitting the final proposed recommendation, incorporating the financial aspect, to the Chief Executive before the end of the year.
 
Reporter: Could you also reveal a bit to us on the financial aspect? Earlier in the programme, you mentioned that there has been quite a huge difference between some university proposals and their financial arrangements.
 
Secretary for Health: We are very grateful to the three universities for their wonderful proposals based on their advantages and the edges. The three proposals, I would say, are very different, not only in their curriculum design, staff recruitment, student recruitment, etc, but also in terms of the capital requirement as well as financial aspect. One of those proposals’ financial implication is rather low. But on one hand, there is a proposal which is much more costly. So we have to look into the details before making the final recommendation to the Chief Executive.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is the speech by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, at the Hong Kong Tourism Board Mega Events Showcase media luncheon in Seoul today (September 26):
 
Distinguished partners from the tourism industry, friends from the media, ladies and gentlemen,
 
Annyeonghaseyo. Good morning. It is my great pleasure to be here in Seoul – a city celebrated for its dynamic arts and culture – to celebrate the growing partnership between our two vibrant communities. Hong Kong and Seoul are both deeply committed to innovation, creativity, and cultural exchange. This shared spirit is why South Korea remains one of our major visitor source markets in the region. Last year, we welcomed some 850 000 visitors from South Korea, representing 109 per cent year-on-year growth as compared to 2024.
 
A destination’s soul is found in its culture. It’s what transforms a simple visit into an unforgettable journey. This belief is the very foundation of the Hong Kong Week 2025@Seoul. While we call it a “Week”, the celebration is extensive, running from September 26 to October 25. With an extensive programme of 14 major events and over 65 unique activities, the Hong Kong Week is our invitation to the people of South Korea to experience the very best of Hong Kong.
 
This cultural dialogue is a powerful, two-way street. In Hong Kong, we have watched numerous Korean culture programmes with great admiration. These include K-pop, which in particular resonates throughout our city. I have now become a big fan of the “KPop Demon Hunters” and I like the song “Golden” a lot. We are thrilled that our new, state-of-the-art Kai Tak Stadium has become a premier stage for global phenomena like the MAMA Awards and major K-pop concerts. I will go back to Hong Kong on Saturday very late in the evening and am looking forward to joining the concert of SEVENTEEN on Sunday at Kai Tak Stadium. With our strategic location, Hong Kong is proud to serve as a platform where fans from across Asia gather to celebrate Korea’s incredible creative energy.
 
Beyond concerts, Hong Kong’s calendar is filled with a dynamic array of mega events. These include the iconic Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival, an annual must for wine and food enthusiasts; the Hong Kong Cyclothon, which transforms our city into a cyclist’s paradise; and the Hong Kong WinterFest, one of Asia’s largest Christmas celebrations. My colleague from the Hong Kong Tourism Board will share more details on these exciting opportunities shortly.
 
Today, I am really delighted to meet with all of you – our valued tourism partners. The strong rebound in visitors from Korea is tremendously encouraging and a clear reflection of your support for us over the years. For this, I offer my sincere appreciation on behalf of the whole Hong Kong. With your continued partnership, I am fully confident that even more Korean friends will discover – and rediscover – the unique magic of Hong Kong, creating memories that will bring them back again and again.
 
What you see here today and during the Hong Kong Week 2025@Seoul is just a glimpse of what Hong Kong has to offer. We can’t wait to welcome you to Hong Kong soon, where you can immerse yourself in the best of our culture and hospitality.
 
Thank you very much. Kamsahamnida.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

​The Government welcomed the passage of the Basic Housing Units Bill by the Legislative Council today (September 26), which seeks to introduce a regulatory regime for the letting of subdivided units (SDUs) in residential buildings to ensure the provision of safe and reasonable living conditions in SDUs, thereby tackling the long-standing, big and difficult issue of substandard SDUs in an orderly and comprehensive manner.
 
The Basic Housing Units Ordinance requires SDUs in residential buildings to comply with a set of minimum standards of living conditions, including minimum area, minimum height, fire safety, structural safety, separate toilet, water supply requirements, lighting and ventilation, as well as separate water and electricity meters, and to obtain Basic Housing Unit (BHU) recognition before they are allowed to be let out for habitation. There will be criminal liability on the person who lets out unrecognised SDUs, while the tenants concerned will not be held liable.
     
The Ordinance will be gazetted on October 3 and come into effect on March 1, 2026. Upon commencement of the Ordinance, the Housing Bureau (HB) will start accepting applications for BHU recognition. At the same time, as a transitional arrangement to implement the BHU regulatory regime progressively, the HB will concurrently launch a 12-month registration system for existing SDUs to make applications for registration to enjoy a 36-month grace period from March 1, 2027, to February 28, 2030, which will enable necessary alteration works to be carried out gradually and applications for BHU recognition to be made. To encourage SDU owners and/or operators to submit registration and recognition applications as early as possible, starting from March 1, 2026, the Government will provide “early-bird” reduction/waiver on recognition fees, i.e. application fees will be fully waived for early registration/application.

Given that there are currently about 110 000 SDUs in residential buildings in Hong Kong, involving about 220 000 residents, the Government will adopt a pragmatic and people-oriented approach, and take into account the future supply of BHUs and public housing, when taking orderly enforcement actions against illegal letting of unregistered and unrecognised SDUs upon completion of the 12-month registration period (i.e. starting from March 1, 2027). The Government will also provide appropriate temporary rehousing assistance to the affected households in need. To this end, the Ordinance stipulates that the provisions concerning the offence of illegal letting of SDUs will come into effect on March 1, 2027, allowing SDU owners and/or operators time to understand the impact of the new regulatory regime and gradually adapt to the requirements of BHU.

The Secretary for Housing, Ms Winnie Ho, said, “For a long time, Hong Kong has suffered from a shortage of land and public housing due to various factors, resulting in some less well-off citizens resorting to residing in SDUs with extremely poor conditions. To this end, the current-term Government has introduced a number of innovative and groundbreaking housing policies since taking office. These include continuously enhancing speed, quantity, efficiency and quality of public housing, significantly increasing the public housing supply, launching the unprecedented Light Public Housing, and continuously promoting the development of transitional housing. All these have successfully increased the housing supply significantly in a short period of time and allowed SDU households waiting for public housing to be housed in public housing more quickly, thereby enabling us to tackle the issue of substandard SDUs. The Government will implement the BHU regulatory regime in an orderly manner, with a view to gradually resolving the deep-rooted social issue of substandard SDUs in Hong Kong and ensuring that everyone, including the most vulnerable, can enjoy safe, hygienic and reasonable living conditions and live with dignity in this city.”

Before the Ordinance comes into effect on March 1, 2026, the Government will carry out a series of publicity activities, including launching a thematic website, maintaining continued liaison with stakeholders such as professional bodies and estate agents, arranging talks or seminars at the district level, distributing promotional materials, and broadcasting promotional videos, with the aim of helping SDU owners, tenants and other stakeholders understand how to comply with the BHU regulatory regime through different channels.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

　　The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, led a number of Principal Officials to receive seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) earlier and called on members of the public to get vaccinated as early as possible to build an immunity barrier in the community together and better protect their health and that of their family members. Mr Lee and some of the officials also received COVID-19 booster shots concurrently.

　　Mr Lee said, “Vaccination is one of the most effective means for preventing seasonal influenza and its complications, as well as reducing the risk of hospitalisation and death arising from influenza. The Department of Health (DH) had earlier reminded members of the public that Hong Kong has entered the summer influenza season. Members of the public should get vaccinated as early as possible to protect themselves and their family members.”
 
　　Under the vigorous promotion by the Government and with the strong support from all sectors of the community, more than 2.09 million doses of SIV were administered under various government vaccination programmes in the year of 2024/25, representing an increase of nearly 12 per cent compared to the year of 2023/24, reaching a record high. As a result, the number of severe influenza cases and the influenza mortality rates among adults and children in the previous influenza season declined significantly compared to earlier periods, in particular those before the COVID-19 epidemic.
 
　　To encourage and offer convenience to members of the public to receive SIV, the Government will implement five optimising initiatives this year, namely expanding the eligibility coverage, further enhancing the SIV School Outreach Programme, providing recombinant influenza vaccines for the elderly living in institutions, launching the pilot scheme on vaccine procurement for family doctors, and optimising information dissemination. The Government will also continue implementing the Civil Service Eligible Persons SIV Pilot Scheme this year. Since civil servants frequently interact with members of the public, vaccinations can not only better safeguard their health, but also are conducive to reducing the risk of influenza transmission in the community.
 
　　The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, said, “Various SIV programmes have been fully commenced on September 25 to provide free or subsidised SIV services for eligible persons. Among these are the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme (VSS), including the pilot scheme on vaccine procurement for family doctors which was newly introduced this year. The VSS has also been advanced by three days and launched on September 22. The scheme involves an additional procurement of 100 000 doses of injectable inactivated influenza vaccines by the Government to enable eligible family doctors to order vaccines from suppliers at a price according to Government-subsidised programmes. Since it takes about two weeks after receiving SIV for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against influenza virus infection, I once again urge members of the public to get vaccinated as early as possible. Get vaccinated once a year and sooner is better than later.”
 
　　For more details, members of the public may call the Centre for Health Protection of the DH at 2125 2125 or visit the Vaccination Schemes page.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Some 80 representatives from prosecution authorities from China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states attended the 15th China-ASEAN Prosecutors-General Conference held in Hong Kong.

The three-day conference this year was focused on dealing with money laundering and corruption.

Secretary for Justice Paul Lam said given the fact that Hong Kong was given the chance to organise this annual event, shows the trust and confidence Beijing and ASEAN member states have in the city.

He added that Hong Kong will spare no effort in strengthening its co-operation with ASEAN countries on addressing and combatting transnational crimes.

“I am hoping that Hong Kong will take the lead to organise more training sessions, or knowledge or experience sharing sessions to enable friends coming from both the Mainland and ASEAN countries to have a better understanding as to how to tackle transnational crimes,” he said.

Those attending the event acknowledged the need for closer co-operation when it comes to tackling international crimes and lauded the conference for being a great platform for exchanging ideas.

A representative from Laos agreed that communication and exchanging experiences are crucial regarding co-operation in tackling such crimes. The country’s Supreme People’s Procuracy International Cooperation Bureau Deputy Director Somboun Soukthavi said Laos and Hong Kong have agreed to hold bilingual meetings to foster enhanced co-operation.

Indonesian Deputy Attorney General for Civil & State Administrative Affairs R Narendra Jatna noted that China, including Hong Kong and Macau, and ASEAN countries share the same goal of countering transnational crimes, making the conference a great opportunity to boost co-operation.

Thailand’s Department of Minburi Criminal Litigation Deputy Director General Charern Tanchatchawan, on the other hand, was interested in the topic of human trafficking. He mentioned a case where a Chinese citizen was being lured to Thailand and expressed concerns that these kinds of cases may affect tourism in Thailand.

Representatives from different jurisdictions also expressed their concerns regarding technology used in crimes and hope to learn from others’ experience in tackling such issues.

Additionally, Malaysian Attorney General Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki bin Mokhtar and Philippine Prosecutor General Richard Anthony D Fadullon highlighted the challenges posed by technology in transnational crimes. They both agreed that closer co-operation is the key to fighting such problems.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Registered Contractors’ Disciplinary Board (the Board) has completed two disciplinary inquiries under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) and decided that a registered minor works contractor (RMWC) should be disciplined for having been convicted by a court of offences relating to building works, and the other RMWC and its Authorized Signatory (AS) should be disciplined for having certified and carried out minor works belonging to a class for which it is not registered.
 
     The Board’s written decisions and orders issued on September 8 were published in the Gazette today (September 26). Details are available at the following links:
 

• Case 1: https://www.gld.gov.hk/egazette/pdf/20252939/egn202529395916.pdf
• Case 2: https://www.gld.gov.hk/egazette/pdf/20252939/egn202529395915.pdf

 
     The first case involved a fatal incident that occurred at a shop under renovation in San Po Kong on March 15, 2021. A worker undergoing levelling work was suspected to have fallen from a ladder platform when the ladder platform toppled. The worker passed away on the following day. The RMWC was prosecuted by the Labour Department for violation of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance. The RMWC was convicted and fined $71,000 at the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts on October 4, 2021. In view of the conviction of the RMWC, the Buildings Department (BD) notified the Board for its consideration of disciplinary action against the RMWC under the provisions of section 13(1) of the BO.
 
     Upon completion of the disciplinary inquiry, the Board ordered the RMWC to be fined $150,000 and to pay a total of $39,100, being the costs of the Board and the BD for conducting the inquiry.
 
     The second case involved the installation of supporting frames for solar panels on the roof of an industrial building at Wing Shun Street, Tsuen Wan. The RMWC and its AS submitted a certificate to the BD in April 2021, certifying that the subject minor works had been completed under Class III minor works. An investigation by the BD revealed that the supporting frames were located on “inaccessible roofs”, therefore the subject works should have been classified as Class I instead of Class III minor works; but the RMWC was not registered as a Class I minor works contractor. The above showed that the RMWC and its AS had certified and carried out minor works belonging to a class for which it is not registered. In view of the investigation results, the BD notified the Board for its consideration of disciplinary action against the RMWC and its AS under the provision of sections 13(1) and 13(3) of the BO.
 
     Upon completion of the disciplinary inquiry, the Board ordered the RMWC be removed from the register of minor works contractors for two months, with effect from the date of the Gazette, and the AS be fined $4,000. Also, the RMWC and its AS were ordered to pay a total of $37,300, being the costs of the Board and the BD for conducting the inquiry.
 
A spokesperson for the BD reiterated that any registered contractor who contravenes the relevant provisions of the BO in carrying out building works, or is convicted by any court of an offence relating to building works, or has been negligent or has misconducted himself in building works, will be subject to enforcement action including criminal prosecution and disciplinary action under the BO.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

​The Government today (September 26) gazetted the United Nations Sanctions (South Sudan) Regulation 2019 (Amendment) Regulation 2025 (Amendment Regulation), which came into operation today.
 
“The Amendment Regulation amends the United Nations Sanctions (South Sudan) Regulation 2019 to give effect to certain decisions relating to sanctions in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2781 in respect of South Sudan,” a Government spokesman said.
 
The amendments renew the arms embargo, travel ban and financial sanctions.
 
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has all along been implementing fully the sanctions imposed by the UNSC. The Amendment Regulation aims to give effect to the instructions by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for fulfilling the international obligations of the People’s Republic of China as a Member State of the United Nations.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Government announced today (September 26) the reappointments of Dr Will Leung Lok-hang and the Controller, Regulatory Affairs, Department of Health, as members of the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health (COSH) for a term of two years with effect from October 1 this year.

COSH is a statutory body established in 1987 to advise the Government on matters related to smoking and health. It is also tasked to advance public education concerning the effects of smoking on the community and individuals as well as to engage in smoking-related research.

The full membership of the Council with effect from October 1, 2025, is as follows:

Mr Henry Tong Sau-chai (Chairman)
Dr Johnnie Casire Chan Chi-kau (Vice-Chairman)
Mr Langton Cheung Yung-pong
Mr Clement Fung Cheuk-nang
Dr Celine Ho Ming-wai
Mr Terence Lau Chun-kai
Ms Lee Yi-ying
Dr Will Leung Lok-hang
Professor Vitus Leung Wing-hang
Dr Haston Liu Wai-ming
Professor Phoenix Mo Kit-han
Dr Chris Ng Chun-kong
Professor Or Ka-hang
Mr Simon Wong Hin-wing
Mr Tang Fei
Controller, Regulatory Affairs, Department of Health