Month: September 2025

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

To address potential flooding from Super Typhoon Ragasa, the Drainage Services Department (DSD) has implemented a number of special operational measures.
 
The DSD, the Civil Engineering & Development Department (CEDD) and the Home Affairs Department (HAD) held a joint press conference today to release the latest flood risk assessment and brief the public on the corresponding response measures.
 
According to the latest forecast by the Observatory, a storm surge of about 2m is expected on the morning of September 24, with the maximum coastal water level generally reaching around 3.5 to 4m above chart datum, and reaching as high as 4 to 5m above chart datum in Tolo Harbour.
 
The DSD has increased the number of emergency response teams to a total of 200 to handle flooding and clear drainage channels in different districts across the city, and deployed powerful pumping robots on standby in advance at multiple locations with higher risk of flooding.
 
In addition, the DSD and the CEDD have provided sandbags to the public, with more than double the usual number distributed. For coastal low-lying or windward residential areas with higher risks, the DSD and the CEDD have deployed temporary water-filled barriers at Po Yick Lane and Pak Shing Street near Kwong Fuk Bridge along the Lam Tsuen River in Tai Po. They have also set up sandbag walls along the Tseung Kwan O waterfront.
 
The DSD has been maintaining close liaison with Shenzhen Authority. At present, there is no discharge plan for the time being. Should a discharge regulation be implemented during the typhoon, Shenzhen Authority will provide timely notification.
 
Members of the public should stay vigilant about the risks brought by storm surge and overtopping waves, take defensive measures as early as possible, and avoid the affected locations as far as practicable.
 
The DSD urges the public to call the 24-hour Drainage Hotline at 2300 1110 to report blocked public drains or flooding for prompt assistance.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Security Bureau today launched “Easy Boundary“, a one-stop information platform on immigration clearance, to provide Hong Kong residents and visitors with the latest information on various land boundary control points (BCPs), helping them plan their cross-boundary trips.

“Easy Boundary” uses green, yellow and red lights to signify the situation of land BCPs in three levels: “Normal”, “Busy” and “Very Busy”, respectively, with rough estimates of the average waiting time. Additionally, with the aim of keeping passengers informed, the relevant information will be updated every 15 minutes.

Previously, passengers had to obtain the information now available on “Easy Boundary” from different platforms, such as by checking the waiting time at the departure/arrival halls of BCPs and road traffic conditions respectively on the Immigration Department (ImmD) and Transport Department (TD) mobile applications.

From now on, passengers can obtain useful information on “Easy Boundary” in one go, including the respective average waiting time for passengers and private cars at land BCPs, as well as for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) cross-boundary shuttle bus (Gold Bus) and the Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang cross-boundary shuttle bus (Yellow Bus).

“Easy Boundary” will also display real-time ad hoc situations at BCPs, including major traffic accidents nearby. If a “Very Busy” signal is displayed in respect of a particular control point or if an emergency occurs, passengers may consider using other ports or allowing sufficient time for immigration clearance.

Moreover, “Easy Boundary” is also integrated with links to obtain other real-time information, including real-time information on immigration clearance from “iPort”, a WeChat mini programme of the Office of Port of Entry & Exit of the Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government, and that of the HZMB Zhuhai Port, as well as Hong Kong’s real-time traffic conditions.

Information on “Easy Boundary” is provided by the ImmD, the Police Force and the TD. In the next phase, the platform will introduce real-time images, and utilise advanced technology, such as artificial intelligence, to assess the real-time situation of immigration clearance at land BCPs.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The 22nd Tripartite Meeting on Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases convened in Hong Kong today (September 22). Senior representatives from the health authorities of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao gathered to review the tripartite area’s collaborative capabilities and preparedness against communicable diseases. The goal is to further strengthen the existing co-operation mechanisms in order to better safeguard the health and well-being of residents in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).
 
The tripartite meeting was hosted by Department of Health (DH) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR). It was co-chaired by the Deputy Director-General of the Guangdong Provincial Health Commission and Director of the Guangdong Provincial Disease Control and Prevention Administration, Dr Song Tie; the Director of Health of Hong Kong, Dr Ronald Lam; and the Acting Deputy Director of the Health Bureau of Macao, Dr Tai Wa Hou.
 
In addition to reviewing the progress of co-operation since the last meeting in areas such as emergency response, communicable disease surveillance and prevention, and information exchange, participants also exchanged views on current public health issues of mutual concern, including:
 

• Overview of key communicable diseases in the tripartite area;
• Prevention and control of seasonal influenza and other vaccine-preventable diseases;
• Current situation, and prevention and control of chikungunya fever (CF) and dengue fever (DF); and
• Infection control in healthcare institutions, and prevention and surveillance of antimicrobial resistance.

 
In his address, Mr Song noted that since the beginning of the year, the three places have achieved seamless coordination in epidemic surveillance, risk assessment, information sharing and emergency response. In preparation for the 15th National Games (15th NG), the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities (NGD) and the 9th National Special Olympic Games (NSOG), the three places conducted a public health exercise, code-named “Jingfeng”. The exercise advanced the construction of a multi-tiered public health safety net in the GBA characterised by “integrated defense and multi-disease prevention”. Facing threats from mosquito-borne diseases such as CF, the three places swiftly shared the latest epidemic developments, conducted multiple technical exchanges on prevention and control, and strengthened joint efforts in epidemic prevention. The newly revised Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases and the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Responding to Public Health Emergencies, which came into effect this year, provided further insights and inspiration for the joint prevention and control of communicable diseases in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao.
 
Address the meeting, Dr Lam said, “Due to factors such as climate change and increased travel, recent months have seen a peak in mosquito-borne diseases. Guangdong Province and the Macao SAR have demonstrated outstanding response capabilities in addressing the CF outbreak. Their successful experiences provide valuable references and insights for Hong Kong. Furthermore, the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme and measures to prevent and control various infectious diseases through vaccination have set an exemplary standard. Additionally, monitoring antimicrobial resistance remains a significant long-term challenge in the management of healthcare institutions. We must rigorously implement infection prevention and control measures to curb the spread of drug-resistant bacteria, align with the national ‘Healthcare Institution Infection Control Action’ and strengthen collaborative surveillance of resistant bacterial strains through the laboratory networks in the tripartite area.”
 
In his video address, the Director of the Health Bureau of Macao, Dr Lo Iek-long, stated that co-operation among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao in communicable disease prevention and control has continuously deepened. Since July this year, the effective implementation of the joint prevention and control mechanism has significantly contained CF and DF. Facing global communicable disease challenges, this meeting was significant in strengthening regional co-operation, enhancing the effectiveness of prevention and control measures, and safeguarding public health. The three places will continue to leverage the development opportunities presented by the national strategy of building the GBA to continuously work toward a “Healthy Bay Area” and a “Healthy China”.
 
The meeting was attended by approximately seventy people from the health departments of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao (including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Huizhou, Zhaoqing, Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR), as well as the Hong Kong Hospital Authority and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department. The meeting successfully reached a consensus on the eight areas listed in the annex.
 
Dr Lam added that the three places have long shared the philosophy of “joint prevention and control” and “information sharing”. This meeting further advanced regional health integration. Exploring the introduction of technologies, such as artificial intelligence and big data analysis, will optimise the current notification mechanism and build a more robust health defense for residents in the GBA.
 
Macao will host the next Tripartite Meeting on Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases.     
 

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui today welcomed the approval by the London Metal Exchange (LME), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing (HKEX), of the applications to designate three warehouses in Yuen Long as approved warehouses.

 

This decision demonstrates the strong industry support for the policy direction to promote commodity trading as announced in this year’s Policy Address, further enhancing Hong Kong’s commodity trading ecosystem and consolidating its status as an international financial, shipping and trading centre.

 

Mr Hui said that the three new warehouses are ready for immediate operation, providing efficient delivery options to market participants in international metal trading, while also driving the development of Hong Kong’s shipping and related services.

 

He added that in less than nine months since Hong Kong’s inclusion in the LME’s global warehousing network, the total number of LME-approved warehouses has increased to 11, including the eight previously approved.

 

“This strengthens Hong Kong’s advantage in infrastructure and reinforces our position as a key LME delivery hub in Asia.”

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Executive John Lee met Secretary of Party Leadership Group and Prosecutor General of the Supreme People’s Procuratorate Ying Yong today to exchange views on issues of mutual concern.

During the meeting, which Secretary for Justice Paul Lam also attended, Mr Lee welcomed Mr Ying and his delegation to Hong Kong to attend the 15th China-ASEAN Prosecutors-General Conference. He also thanked the central government and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate for supporting Hong Kong in organising this high-level conference for the first time.

Mr Lee specified that such support further consolidates Hong Kong’s role as a regional hub for legal exchanges and fully demonstrates the city’s unique position and advantages under “one country, two systems” principle.

Noting that the theme of this year’s conference is “Combatting Money Laundering & Corruption, and Recovering Assets in the Technological Age”, the Chief Executive highlighted that Hong Kong is the only common law jurisdiction within China, with its legal system aligned with most major financial centres around the world.

He remarked that the city, while maintaining a highly open international market, attaches great importance to safeguarding the integrity of its financial system, and has consistently adhered to international standards in its anti-money laundering systems and measures.

The Department of Justice has established a dedicated sub-division to handle technology crimes and digital evidence, proactively addressing the challenges brought by technological advancements, Mr Lee pointed out.

Furthermore, he stressed that the department is committed to promoting “soft connectivity” between local prosecutors and representatives of procuratorates across the Mainland, enhancing co-operation in areas such as mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, training of prosecutorial personnel, and expert exchanges.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to deepen co-operation with the Mainland in prosecution, contributing to the country’s construction of the rule of law, the Chief Executive added.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Digital Policy Office (DPO), the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau (CSTCB) of the Hong Kong Police Force and the Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Centre (HKCERT) jointly organised the Build a Secure Cyberspace 2025 – “Let’s Secure as we Digitalise” Drone Security Seminar and Instant Messaging Apps Stickers Design Contest Award Ceremony today (September 22). The event aims to raise public awareness of drone security while promoting cybersecurity, contributing to the building of a secure digital ecosystem in Hong Kong.
 
     Addressing the seminar, the Chief Systems Manager (Project Governance and Cybersecurity), Mr Rick Chan, said that this year’s Policy Address proposed that the Government will forge ahead with building a competitive low-altitude economy (LAE) ecosystem to propel Hong Kong as an Asia-Pacific hub for innovative low-altitude applications. As the scope of drone applications continues to expand, cybersecurity risks should not be ignored. Related challenges must be addressed to ensure secure and reliable drone operations in order to support the steady development of LAE. Through the seminar, the Government hopes to discuss with industry elites ways to rise to cybersecurity challenges and ensure that drone technology can make positive contributions to Hong Kong’s digital economy and LAE within a safe and stable framework.
 
     At the seminar, several cybersecurity experts from different fields shared insights on various cybersecurity risks faced in LAE. They also discussed ways to ensure the secure use of drones in the digital era.
 
     The Instant Messaging Apps Stickers Design Contest Award Ceremony was held at the same occasion when awards were presented to winners of the primary school, secondary school and open categories. The winning stickers, with their creative designs, vividly conveyed cybersecurity messages, raising public awareness of cybersecurity. The winning entries have been uploaded onto the Cyber Security Information Portal website (www.cybersecurity.hk/en/contest-2025.php) for the public to download.
  
     The “Build a Secure Cyberspace” campaign is an annual event organised by the DPO, the CSTCB and the HKCERT, supporting the China Cybersecurity Week held every September. The campaign aims to raise public awareness of cybersecurity and enhance the public’s cyber resilience capabilities through a variety of promotional events including seminars, creativity contests, radio publicity programmes and school talks.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Overall consumer prices rose 1.1% year on year in August 2025, slightly larger than the 1% increase in July, the Census & Statistics Department announced today.

 

Netting out the effects of the Government’s one-off relief measures, the underlying inflation rate was 1.1%, also larger than that in July.

 

Compared with the year before, price increases were recorded in August in the following categories: transport; alcoholic drinks and tobacco; housing; miscellaneous services; meals out and takeaway food; electricity, gas and water; and miscellaneous goods.

 

Meanwhile, year-on-year decreases were logged in durable goods; clothing and footwear; and basic food.

 

The Government said that consumer price inflation stayed modest in August.

 

It expects that overall inflation should remain modest in the near term, with pressures from domestic costs and external prices staying broadly in check.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Transport Department (TD) today (September 20) said that, due to an emergency incident, special traffic and transport arrangements will be implemented in the vicinity of Pan Hoi Street, Quarry Bay. Members of the public are urged to stay alert to the latest traffic news before travelling, plan ahead their journeys and reserve sufficient travelling time. They should review travelling needs according to the situation and avoid unnecessary travel to affected areas.

Road closures

     The following road sections remain closed to all traffic. Motorists are advised to take heed of temporary traffic signs, use alternative routes and follow the instructions of the Police on site:
 

• All lanes of Pan Hoi Street between King’s Road and Westlands Road;
• All lanes of King’s Road (Chai Wan bound) between Man Hong Street and Westlands Road; and
• All lanes of King’s Road (Causeway Bay bound) between Yau Man Street and Finnie Street.

     The TD anticipates that the traffic in the vicinities of Sai Wan Ho, Tai Koo Shing and North Point will be busier. Motorists are advised to avoid driving to affected areas.

Public transport arrangements

     In view of the full closure of both bounds of a section of King’s Road in Quarry Bay, a total of 21 franchised bus daytime routes will be affected, which will be diverted mostly to Island Eastern Corridor:
 

• Cross-harbour route Nos. 102, 106, 116, 606, 606A, 608, 613 and 682 (both bounds);
• â� Citybus route Nos. 2, 2A, 8H, 18X, 33X, 77, 81, 82, 85, 99, 722 and A12 (both bounds); and
• Citybus route No. 82X (Chai Wan bound).

     Franchised bus operators will gradually display notices at the bus stops to inform passengers. Passengers should take note of the arrangements of diversion and cancellation of bus stops, and may refer to the website or mobile application of bus operators for the latest service details of individual routes.

     Regarding the tramways, services between Shau Kei Wan and Kennedy Town, Sheung Wan and Happy Valley (both bounds) will be suspended, while the remaining routes will provide normal or temporary services.

     The MTR Island Line and Tseung Kwan O Line trains will remain normal service. MTR will closely monitor passenger demand and enhance service of the Island Line if necessary. Entrances/exits A and B of Quarry Bay Station will be temporarily closed.

     The TD has been steering and coordinating operators to gear up for response and service arrangements, with a view to minimising the impact to the daily commute of passengers. Members of the public should stay alert to the latest traffic news through radio and TV broadcasts, the TD’s website (www.td.gov.hk) and the HKeMobility mobile application before their journeys.