Month: September 2025

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office of the Department of Health (DH) today (September 30) announced that it will increase its publicity efforts in tourist areas this week to remind both members of the public and visitors to comply with Hong Kong’s tobacco control laws and foster a smoke-free environment as the community celebrates National Day and the Mid-Autumn Festival.

To protect public health, it is the established policy of the Government to discourage smoking, contain the proliferation of tobacco use and minimise the impact of second-hand smoke on the public. In addition to public transport carriers and the indoor areas of restaurants, shopping malls and public places being designated as statutory no smoking areas (NSA), 272 public transport facilities in Hong Kong are also designated as NSAs. Any person who does a smoking act in NSAs will be liable for a fixed penalty of $1,500. Tobacco and Alcohol Control Inspectors will prosecute smoking offenders without prior warning.

Under the laws of Hong Kong, any person bringing alternative smoking products, such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products into Hong Kong, commits an offence under the Import and Export Ordinance. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

The Tobacco Control Legislation (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 was gazetted and came into effect on September 19. The new phase of tobacco control measures will be implemented in stages. The legislation prohibiting the provision of alternative smoking products and conventional smoking products to persons aged below 18 has taken effect. Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months’ imprisonment, and a fine of $25,000 respectively upon conviction.

Furthermore, effective January 1, 2026, statutory NSAs will be extended to within three metres of the entrances and exits of child care centres, schools, residential care homes, hospitals and specified clinics or health centres. Smoking will also be prohibited while queuing to board public transport carriers or queuing to enter specified places. The fixed penalty for illegal smoking will be raised from $1,500 to $3,000.

For the sake of the health of individuals, their families and others, the Government appeals to smokers to quit smoking as early as possible. Members of the public may call the DH’s Integrated Smoking Cessation Hotline on 1833 183, which is operated by registered nurses to provide professional counselling services on smoking cessation.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Two incoming male passengers were sentenced to four months’ and six months’ imprisonment respectively by the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts today (September 30) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, as well as for importing alternative smoking products, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO) and the Import and Export Ordinance (IEO). One of them was also fined $1,500.
 
Customs officers intercepted a 27-year-old incoming male passenger at Hong Kong International Airport on July 28. About 42 000 alternative smoking products, with an estimated market value of about $127,000, were seized from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment today in contravention of the IEO.
 
In addition, Customs officers intercepted a 35-year-old incoming male passenger at Hong Kong International Airport on August 4. About 10 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes and about 26 000 alternative smoking products, with an estimated market value of about $118,000 and a duty potential of about $33,000 in total, were seized from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment and fined $1,500 in contravention of the DCO, and was also sentenced to six months’ imprisonment in contravention of the IEO today. The sentences will run concurrently.
 
Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences.
 
Under the DCO, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
 
Under the IEO, any person who imports an alternative smoking product into Hong Kong commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
 
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

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (September 30) released the seventh batch of gravidtrap indexes and density indexes for Aedes albopictus in September, covering 16 survey areas, as follows:
 

District	Survey Area	September 2025
		First Phase Gravidtrap Index	First Phase Density Index
Central and Western	Sheung Wan and Sai Ying Pun	1.8%	1.0
Wanchai	Happy Valley	0.0%	N/A
Mong Kok	Mong Kok	0.0%	N/A
North	Sheung Shui	8.5%	1.0
Tuen Mun	Tuen Mun North	0.0%	N/A
Kwai Tsing	Kwai Chung	3.6%	1.0

 

District	Survey Area	September 2025
		Area Gravidtrap Index	Area Density Index
Islands	Cheung Chau South	0.0%	N/A
	Cheung Chau North	1.6%	1.0
Sham Shui Po	Cheung Sha Wan	0.0%	N/A
	Sham Shui Po East	2.0%	1.0
Kowloon City	Kowloon City North	0.0%	N/A
Wong Tai Sin	Ngau Chi Wan	5.7%	1.0
Sai Kung	Tseung Kwan O East	2.0%	1.0
	Tseung Kwan O North	4.5%	1.0
Tuen Mun	So Kwun Wat	5.2%	1.0
Kwai Tsing	Tsing Yi South	1.8%	1.0

Among the seventh batch of First Phase Gravidtrap Indexes covering six survey areas and Area Gravidtrap Indexes covering 10 survey areas in September, all were below 10 per cent.

The FEHD has so far released seven batches of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in September 2025, covering 64 survey areas. Among these 64 survey areas, 56 recorded a decrease or remained unchanged in the individual gravidtrap index as compared to the Area Gravidtrap Index last month, i.e. August 2025, representing that the areas’ mosquito infestation had improved or maintained a low level. Eight other areas recorded a slight increase, but the indexes were lower than 10 per cent.

Public participation is crucial to the effective control of mosquito problems. The FEHD appeals to members of the public to continue to work together 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 at least once every seven days;
• properly cover all containers that hold water to prevent mosquitoes from accessing the water; and
• properly dispose of articles that can contain water, such as empty lunch boxes and cans.

Starting in August this year, following the completion of the surveillance of individual survey areas, and once the latest gravidtrap index and the density index are available, the FEHD will disseminate the relevant information through press releases, its website, and social media. It aims to allow members of the public to quickly grasp the mosquito infestation situation and strengthen mosquito control efforts, thereby reducing the risk of chikungunya fever (CF) transmission.

Following the recommendations from the World Health Organization and taking into account the local situation in Hong Kong, the FEHD sets up gravidtraps in districts where mosquito-borne diseases have been recorded in the past, as well as in densely populated places such as housing estates, hospitals and schools to monitor the breeding and distribution of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which can transmit CF and dengue fever. At present, the FEHD has set up gravidtraps in 64 survey areas of the community. During the two weeks of surveillance, the FEHD will collect the gravidtraps once a week. After the first week of surveillance, the FEHD will immediately examine the glue boards inside the retrieved gravidtraps for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes, to compile the Gravidtrap Index (First Phase) and Density Index (First Phase). At the end of the second week of surveillance, the FEHD will instantly check the glue boards for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes. Data from the two weeks’ surveillance will be combined to obtain the Area Gravidtrap Index and the Area Density Index. The gravidtrap and density indexes for Aedes albopictus in different survey areas as well as information on mosquito prevention and control measures are available on the department’s webpage (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/pestcontrol/dengue_fever/Dengue_Fever_Gravidtrap_Index_Update.html#).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

According to statistics published today (September 30) by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, total deposits with authorized institutions increased by 0.9 per cent in August 2025. Among the total, Hong Kong dollar deposits decreased by 2.1 per cent while foreign currency deposits increased by 3.3 per cent in August, mainly reflecting fund flows of corporates. In the year to end-August, total deposits and Hong Kong dollar deposits increased by 8.7 per cent and 2.6 per cent respectively. Renminbi deposits in Hong Kong increased by 3.2 per cent in August to RMB968.0 billion at the end of August, mainly reflecting fund flows of corporates. The total remittance of renminbi for cross-border trade settlement amounted to RMB996.9 billion in August, compared with RMB1,233.3 billion in July. It should be noted that changes in deposits are affected by a wide range of factors, such as interest rate movements and fund-raising activities. It is therefore more appropriate to observe the longer-term trends, and not to over-generalise fluctuations in a single month.

Total loans and advances decreased by 0.4 per cent in August, while increased by 1.0 per cent in the year to end-August. Among the total, loans for use in Hong Kong (including trade finance) and loans for use outside Hong Kong decreased by 0.1 per cent and 1.3 per cent respectively in August. The Hong Kong dollar loan-to-deposit ratio increased to 74.6 per cent at the end of August from 73.1 per cent at the end of July, as Hong Kong dollar deposits decreased at a faster pace than Hong Kong dollar loans.

Hong Kong dollar M2 and M3 both decreased by 1.9 per cent in August, while both increased by 4.0 per cent when compared to a year ago. The seasonally-adjusted Hong Kong dollar M1 decreased by 2.9 per cent in August, while increased by 16.1 per cent compared to a year ago, reflecting in part investment-related activities. Total M2 and total M3 both increased by 0.7 per cent in August. Compared to a year earlier, total M2 and total M3 both increased by 10.4 per cent.

As monthly monetary statistics are subject to volatilities due to a wide range of transient factors, such as seasonal funding demand as well as business and investment-related activities, caution is required when interpreting the statistics.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority announced the results of the residential mortgage survey for August 2025.
 
The number of mortgage applications in August decreased month-on-month by 6.7 per cent to 8 405.
 
Mortgage loans approved in August decreased by 6.3 per cent compared with July to HK$28.7 billion. Among these, mortgage loans financing primary market transactions decreased by 0.7 per cent to HK$10.7 billion and those financing secondary market transactions decreased by 11.9 per cent to HK$14.6 billion. Mortgage loans for refinancing increased by 4.1 per cent to HK$3.3 billion. 
 
Mortgage loans drawn down during August increased by 4.5 per cent compared with July to HK$19 billion. 
 
The ratio of new mortgage loans priced with reference to HIBOR decreased from 95.7 per cent in July to 94.4 per cent in August. The ratio of new mortgage loans priced with reference to best lending rates increased from 1.2 per cent in July to 1.3 per cent in August.
 
The outstanding value of mortgage loans increased month-on-month by 0.1 per cent to HK$1,888.3 billion at end-August. 
 
The mortgage delinquency ratio stood at a low level of 0.13 per cent and the rescheduled loan ratio was unchanged at nearly 0 per cent.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) announced today (September 30) the optimisation of quarantine arrangements for cats and dogs imported from the Mainland. Animal health certificates issued by official veterinarians of Mainland Customs of all regions are now accepted.

The Mainland has been included in Group IIIA since June 3 this year, with official veterinarians of Shenzhen Customs issuing animal health certificates in the first phase. In light of the smooth implementation of the new quarantine arrangements for importing cats and dogs, and to further facilitate their movement from the Mainland to Hong Kong, the AFCD now accepts relevant animal health certificates issued by official veterinarians of Mainland Customs of all regions. Cats and dogs imported from the Mainland can enter Hong Kong via Hong Kong International Airport (as manifested cargo) as well as by land at designated control points.

The quarantine period for cats and dogs imported from the Mainland can be reduced to 30 days upon arrival in Hong Kong as long as they meet the Group IIIA requirements. Relevant quarantine requirements include having the animal implanted with a conforming microchip, holding a valid vaccination certificate for rabies and designated infectious diseases, obtaining satisfactory results from rabies antibody titer testing conducted at a laboratory recognised by the AFCD on a blood sample taken not less than 90 days and not more than one year before departure, and possessing an animal health certificate issued by Mainland official veterinarians.

Details of the quarantine arrangements and the application procedures for importing cats and dogs from the Mainland, including the method of reserving quarantine facilities, are available on the AFCD website. Detailed requirements for issuing health certificates by the Mainland can be obtained from the Mainland authorities.

The AFCD will continue to closely monitor the latest information on animal diseases announced by the World Organisation for Animal Health, and optimise the quarantine requirements for imported cats and dogs in a timely manner based on operational experience, risk assessment and other factors.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Hong Kong Public Libraries (HKPL) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department is inviting library patrons to take part in a series of Reader Liaison Group gatherings, which will be held from October 4 to 25. Patrons are welcome to express their views on public library services and make suggestions for the improvement of library facilities and service quality.

     Details of the gatherings are as follows:
 

October 4 (Saturday)
10am – 11.30am	Sai Kung and Sheung Shui Public Libraries
11am – 12.30pm	Lockhart Road, Sham Shui Po and Tsuen Wan Public Libraries
11.30am – 1pm	Yau Ma Tei Public Library
October 5 (Sunday)
10am – 11.30am	Fanling Public Library
10.30am – noon	To Kwa Wan and Yuen Chau Kok Public Libraries
11am – 12.30pm	Shek Tong Tsui and Po On Road Public Libraries
1pm – 2.30pm	Tseung Kwan O Public Library
2.30pm – 4pm	Quarry Bay Public Library (views on North Point Public Library will also be collected)
October 11 (Saturday)
10.30am – noon	San Po Kong and Ngau Tau Kok Public Libraries
11am – 12.30pm	City Hall, Ma On Shan, Tai Po and Tiu Keng Leng Public Libraries
11.30am – 1pm	Chai Wan Public Library
2.30pm – 4pm	Ping Shan Tin Shui Wai Public Library
3.30pm – 5pm	Hong Kong Central Library
October 12 (Sunday)
10.30am – noon	Fa Yuen Street and Shui Wo Street Public Libraries
11am – 12.30pm	Yuen Long Public Library
2pm – 3.30pm	Tung Chung Public Library
2.30pm – 4pm	Ngau Chi Wan Public Library
October 18 (Saturday)
10.30am – noon	Aberdeen and Kowloon Public Libraries
11am – 12.30pm	Lam Tin Public Library
11.30am – 1pm	North Kwai Chung Public Library
2pm – 3.30pm	Cheung Chau Public Library
3pm – 4.30pm	Tsing Yi Public Library
October 19 (Sunday)
10.30am – noon	Sha Tin Public Library
11.30am – 1pm	Tuen Mun Public Library (views on Tai Hing Public Library will also be collected)
2pm – 3.30pm	South Kwai Chung Public Library
October 25 (Saturday)
11.30am – 1pm	Lai Chi Kok Public Library

Interested patrons may register online at www.hkpl.gov.hk/rlg or reserve a seat by completing the reservation form available at all public libraries. Completed forms should be returned to any public libraries, by fax to 2415 8211, or by email to hotline-lib@lcsd.gov.hk before 5pm on October 3. In addition, patrons are also welcome to share their views on public library services and make suggestions at the HKPL website (www.hkpl.gov.hk/rlgform), or by completing the printed feedback form available at all public libraries in Hong Kong, on or before October 31.

     For enquiries, please call 2921 0208.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) today (September 30) appealed to members of the public to keep places clean and mind their safety while watching the National Day Fireworks Display on October 1.

     The LCSD, together with law enforcement teams of relevant departments, will strengthen patrols at LCSD venues where large crowds are expected.

     These venues include the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza, Salisbury Garden, the Avenue of Stars, the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, the Urban Council Centenary Garden, Kai Tak Cruise Terminal Park, the Kai Tak Sky Garden, the Kai Tak Promenade, the Kwun Tong Promenade and the Cha Kwo Ling Promenade along the Kowloon waterfront, as well as Tamar Park, the Central and Western District Promenade (Central Section), the Wan Chai Temporary Promenade and East Coast Park (Phase 1) on the waterfront of Hong Kong Island.

     The LCSD reminded members of the public to take their belongings with them when leaving the venues and not to leave trash behind.

     The LCSD also reminded members of the public that the above-mentioned venues will be very crowded during the fireworks display. Visitors should be careful and patient, pay attention to their safety, observe the crowd management measures at the venues, and comply with instructions by the Police.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Tourism Commission today (September 30) expanded the City in Time tourism project to Kowloon City with the addition of five new designated locations, allowing locals and visitors to experience Hong Kong’s past and present through the City in Time mobile application.
​
The Working Group on Developing Tourist Hotspots of the Government announced in May this year that “Featured community – In-depth travel in Kowloon City” will be one of the projects to be implemented. The Tourism Commission expanded the City in Time Project to Kowloon City, allowing locals and visitors to experience the old days of Kowloon City and its changing scenery through augmented reality technology, enriching their city walk experience in Kowloon City District.

The five new City in Time designated locations in Kowloon City are Stone Houses Family Garden, Kowloon Walled City Park, Carpenter Road, Kai Tak Sports Park (near Kai Tak Stadium), and Kai Tak Sports Park (near the Kai Tak Mall).

Apart from the above five new designated locations, the City in Time Project currently encompasses areas including Central, the Peak, Tsim Sha Tsui, Sham Shui Po, Yau Ma Tei, Jordan, Lei Yue Mun and Tai Hang. Locals and visitors can scan the “AR clocks” installed at the above designated locations using their smartphones with the City in Time mobile app downloaded to experience 360-degree historical panoramas developed from archival photos or artistic renderings by local artists.

Commissioned by the Tourism Commission, the City in Time Project is developed and produced by the School of Creative Media of the City University of Hong Kong. The mobile app is available for free download at the Apple App Store and Google Play. Locals and visitors can also embark on virtual journeys and find out more on the City in Time website (cityintime.hk).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Government released today (September 30) the Long Term Housing Strategy Annual Progress Report 2025 (Progress Report).
 
     According to the established methodology for projection under the Long Term Housing Strategy (LTHS), the gross total housing demand for the next 10-year period is 419 100 units. Hence, the Government set the supply target at 420 000 units. 
 
     “Since the LTHS annual update in 2018, we have revised the public/private split of the new housing supply from 60:40 to 70:30. Balancing the Government’s commitment to substantially increase the public housing supply to meet the social demand and the demand for private housing, the Government will maintain the public/private split of the new housing supply of 70:30 for the next 10-year period from 2026-27 to 2035-36. Accordingly, out of the total housing supply target of 420 000 units, the public housing supply target will be 294 000 units and the private housing supply target will be 126 000 units,” a spokesman for the Housing Bureau said.
 
     “In the LTHS Annual Progress Report 2024, we announced that the public housing supply would be planned with a gradual move towards a 60:40 ratio between public rental housing (PRH)/Green Form Subsidised Home Ownership Scheme (GSH) units and other subsidised sale flats (SSF). To increase home ownership opportunities for citizens, the Government will continue to advance in this direction in the next decade. Correspondingly, the public housing supply target of 294 000 units will comprise 176 000 PRH/GSH units and 118 000 other SSF units,” the spokesman added.
 
     Solving the housing problem tops the agenda of the current-term Government. The Housing Bureau has long been actively implementing multiple measures to enhance speed, quantity, quality and efficiency in order to increase the public housing supply as soon as possible. Since the current-term Government took office, more than 103 000 families have been housed to PRH or purchased SSF offered for sale by the Hong Kong Housing Authority and the Hong Kong Housing Society, representing a significant increase of about 50 per cent as compared to approximately 68 500 families in the previous three-year period (i.e. from July 2019 to June 2022). In the next 10 years, the Government has identified sufficient land to meet the public housing supply target of 294 000 units. Under the Government’s unremitting efforts, the situation of back-loaded public housing supply has been completely reversed. In the coming five years from 2026-27, the total public housing supply (including Light Public Housing) will reach 189 000 units, an increase of about 80 per cent compared to when the current-term Government took office. In terms of traditional public housing, the supply over the coming five years is expected to reach 169 500 units, comprising about 110 600 PRH/GSH units and about 58 900 other SSF. This means an average annual completion of over 30 000 units, the highest in the past 24 years. In addition, compared to the five-year period at the start of this Government, the supply of Home Ownership Scheme flats is projected to increase by approximately 50 per cent over the original estimates. As in the past, when planning public housing development, the Government will maintain adequate flexibility to ensure that the public housing production can be adjusted in a timely manner in response to changes in the actual circumstances.
 
     As for private housing, the supply target in the coming decade is 126 000 units. The Government will have sufficient land to meet the target in the next 10 years. Besides Government land sales, other sources of private housing land supply include railway property developments and Urban Renewal Authority projects, as well as private development projects. As regards the private housing supply in the shorter term, based on the latest projection at end-June 2025, the supply in the primary private residential property market for the coming three to four years is about 101 000 units. 
 
     With the continuous increase in the public housing supply, the Government has more room to further enhance various housing policies to better address the public’s housing needs. To this end, the Housing Bureau has announced four key directions for future housing policy in the Progress Report:
 
(i) encourage citizens to move up the housing ladder;
(ii) optimise the use of existing public housing resources;
(iii) further enhance construction cost-effectiveness and ensure the smooth implementation of public housing programmes; and
(iv) implement the regulatory regime on Basic Housing Units.
 
     Details of relevant measures are set out in the Progress Report on the Housing Bureau’s website at https://www.hb.gov.hk/eng/policy/housing/policy/lths/index.html.
 
     According to the “supply-led” and “flexible” principles under the LTHS, the Government updates the long term housing demand projection annually and formulates a rolling 10-year housing supply target. The gross total housing demand takes into account the housing demand derived from the following four components:
 
(i) net increase in the number of households;
(ii) households displaced by redevelopment;
(iii) inadequately housed households; and
(iv) miscellaneous factors.