Month: September 2025

Source: Government of the Republic of Korea

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Monetary Authority announced today that it has decreased the base rate to 4.5% with immediate effect.

The decrease follows a 25-basis point downward shift in the target range for the US federal funds rate on September 17.

The base rate is the interest rate forming the foundation upon which the Discount Rates for repurchase transactions through the Discount Window are computed.

It is currently set at either 50 basis points above the lower end of the prevailing target range for the US federal funds rate or the average of the five-day moving averages of the overnight and one-month Hong Kong Interbank Offered Rates, whichever is higher.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Hong Kong Customs detected two dangerous drugs cases in Tuen Mun and Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (September 16) and today (September 17) respectively, and seized a total of about 1.2 kilograms of suspected crack cocaine, about 39kg of suspected ketamine and three suspected alternative smoking products with a total estimated market value of about $13.4 million. Three persons suspected to be connected with the cases were arrested.
 
In the first case, during an anti-narcotics operation conducted in Tuen Mun yesterday evening, Customs officers intercepted a 51-year-old local man and seized about 1.17kg of suspected crack cocaine inside a paper bag carried by him. The man was subsequently arrested. Customs officers later escorted him to a residential unit nearby for a search and further seized about 30 grams of suspected crack cocaine and a batch of suspected drug manufacturing and packaging paraphernalia. The estimated market value of the drug was about $1.2 million.
 
The second case involved a male passenger and a female passenger, both aged 18, who arrived in Hong Kong from Frankfurt, Germany, today. During customs clearance, Customs officers found a total of about 39kg of suspected ketamine, with an estimated market value of about $12.2 million, from their respective check-in suitcases. Two suspected alternative smoking products and one suspected alternative smoking product was also found in the carry-on baggage of the female passenger and on the male passenger respectively. The two persons were subsequently arrested.
 
The arrested man in the first case has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug and one count of manufacture of a dangerous drug, and he will appear at the Tuen Mun Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (September 18). For the second case, an investigation is still ongoing.
 
Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.
 
Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.
 
Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.
 
Under the Import and Export Ordinance, importing an alternative smoking product is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years upon conviction.
 
Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking 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 following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

The Hospital Authority (HA) Chairman, Mr Henry Fan, welcomed the healthcare service-related measures included in “The Chief Executive’s 2025 Policy Address” delivered by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, today (September 17). The measures will facilitate the sustainable development of public healthcare services and the provision of services that meet patients’ needs.

The HA will fully dovetail with the Government’s policy direction to comprehensively implement various policy measures for public healthcare fees and charges reform. A dedicated team will be established to support patients who need to apply for various medical fee waivers and subsidies. Protection for patients with critical illnesses or emergency conditions will be strengthened, while providing citizens with more service options to address the various challenges that an ageing population brings to the healthcare system. Mr Fan said, “The HA will uphold the principle of increasing protection and reducing waste, ensuring medical care for poor, acute, serious and critical patients, promoting sustainable development of public healthcare services, and further improving the quality of public healthcare services.”

Furthermore, with strong government support, the HA will continue to optimise acute stroke services, including building stroke centres according to national accreditation standards, establishing green channels to reduce the time from hospital admission to treatment for acute stroke patients, improving treatment effectiveness and survival rates. The HA will also gradually advance the establishment of Integrated Cardiovascular Diseases Centres at suitable hospitals according to national accreditation standards, providing one-stop treatment and support services for patients with cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, the HA will establish a dedicated team to adopt strategic procurement approaches, actively introducing suitable new drugs and innovative medical devices to increase treatment options for patients and enhance service quality.

The HA will continue to deepen AI applications, enhance services in diagnostic pathology, and implement measures to improve ophthalmology services. It will also strengthen support for cancer patients, including increasing genetic and genomic testing capabilities, Specialist Out-patient Clinics, radiotherapy, day chemotherapy, and cancer surgery service capacities. Furthermore, the HA will increase the overall bed capacity and operating theatre sessions to further enhance various patient services.

The HA will continue to adhere to the patient-centred principle to enhance the patient experience. A more convenient, comfortable and safe consultation experience will be provided for the elderly, persons with disabilities and pregnant women, to ensure services are delivered with a more human touch.

Mr Fan sincerely thanks the Government for its continuous support of public healthcare services. The HA will co-ordinate with the Government to deepen public healthcare reform work and implement governance reform to enhance the safety, quality, and efficiency of public healthcare services.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:
 
     Chief Justice Andrew Cheung, Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal, today (September 17) expressed great sadness at the passing of Mr Eric Charles Barnes, GBS, a retired Judge of the High Court, who passed away yesterday.
 
     “Mr Barnes made significant contributions to the work of the courts in his various judicial roles throughout his long and dedicated service. He was a fine judge and a gentleman. He remained closely connected to the Judiciary until very recently,” Chief Justice Cheung said.
 
     Mr Barnes joined the Judiciary as a Magistrate in 1966. He was appointed Senior Magistrate in 1977 and became a District Judge in 1978. In 1981, he was elevated to the High Court Bench, where he served with distinction until his retirement in 1992.
 
     “On behalf of the Judiciary, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to his family,” Chief Justice Cheung added.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

The spokesperson for Hong Kong Buddhist Hospital (HKBH) made the following announcement today (September 17):

A 69-year-old male patient in a medicine and geriatrics ward of HKBH was confirmed to carry Candida auris on September 9.  In accordance with the prevailing guidelines, HKBH conducted contact tracing and found two more male patients (aged 86 and 101) in the same ward carrying Candida auris without signs of infection. All three patients are now being treated in isolation, and are in stable condition.

The ward concerned has adopted the following enhanced infection control measures:
 

1. enhanced patient and environmental screening procedures;
2. application of stringent contact precautions and enhanced hand hygiene of staff and patients; and
3. thorough cleaning and disinfection of the ward concerned.

The hospital will continue the enhanced infection control measures and closely monitor the situation of the ward concerned. The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow up.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region