Month: September 2025

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (September 29) chaired the third meeting of the fourth-term Human Resources Planning Commission.
 
     The Development Bureau (DEVB) briefed members at the meeting on measures to address the manpower needs of the construction industry. It reported that the Government would continue to implement government projects related to economic development and people’s livelihood. The original estimate for the Government’s average annual capital works expenditure in the coming five years was about $120 billion. To support the local construction industry, the Government will earmark an additional $30 billion in the next two to three years to increase the expenditure on works projects to continue to drive economic development. With the recovery of the economy, the volume of private sector works projects is expected to rebound, and the demand for construction personnel will remain high. The DEVB has been adopting a multi-pronged approach, including enhancing local training and attracting new blood, driving technology adoption to raise the productivity of the local work force, with a view to addressing the ageing problem of the construction industry and manpower shortages for individual trades, while deploying non-local manpower resources as a supplementary measure. In support of the Government’s array of measures to address manpower demand and promote development of the construction industry, members offered advice on the related work.
 
     At the meeting, the Transport and Logistics Bureau also briefed members on the latest manpower planning and development plan for the maritime and aviation sectors, including the strategies and actions on manpower development as set out in the Action Plan on Maritime and Port Development Strategy and the Action Plan on Green Maritime Fuel Bunkering promulgated in December 2023 and November 2024 respectively. Members were also briefed about the background and recent findings of the comprehensive review of the Maritime and Aviation Training Fund (MATF), and noted the major recommendations and the corresponding enhancement measures. In particular, the Maritime Services Traineeship Scheme (Legal) launched in September 2023 and two new schemes (i.e. the Maritime Services Trainee Scheme (Marine Insurance) and the Train-the-Trainers Scheme to be launched in November and December 2025 respectively) under the MATF aimed at nurturing home-grown high value-added maritime services practitioners and enhancing the industry’s training capacity. On the aviation industry, members were briefed on the latest initiatives implemented by the Hong Kong International Aviation Academy and the implementation progress of the Labour Importation Scheme for the Transport Sector – Aviation Industry. Members were pleased to note the effectiveness of the above measures, and expressed support for the Government’s continued efforts in manpower development of the industries with a view to consolidating Hong Kong’s position as an international aviation hub and an international shipping centre.
 
     Members were also briefed by the Census and Statistics Department on the latest situation and characteristics of Hong Kong’s population and labour force. In the face of an ageing population, the current-term Government has introduced various measures to encourage childbirth as well as policies to attract talents in order to cope with the challenges brought by manpower shortage and provide impetus for future population growth. Meanwhile, the improvement in the educational attainment and productivity of the labour force also helps drive the sustained development of Hong Kong’s economy. Members welcomed the various measures which aimed at enhancing Hong Kong’s future workforce, in the hope that such measures would be conducive to the long-term sustainable development across industries in Hong Kong. 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (September 29) announced a case of severe paediatric influenza A infection. The CHP urged schools and parents to arrange for schoolchildren to receive free seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV), as vaccination is one of the most effective ways to prevent seasonal influenza and its complications. It also reduces the risk of serious illness or death from infection.

The case involves a 13-year-old girl with good past health. On September 27, she developed a fever, a cough and vomiting. She attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Tuen Mun Hospital yesterday (September 28). Her nasopharyngeal swab specimen tested positive for the influenza A virus upon laboratory testing. The clinical diagnosis was influenza A (H3) infection complicated with encephalopathy and shock. She remains hospitalised in the paediatric intensive care unit of the hospital and is in serious condition.

She had not received the 2024/25 SIV. Her household contacts are currently asymptomatic. No influenza outbreaks have been reported at her school recently.

     “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 28, 207 outbreaks have been reported in schools since the start of the school year in September, including 21 cases in kindergartens/child care centres, 112 cases in primary schools and 74 cases in secondary schools. Eight severe paediatric influenza cases involving children aged 3 to 17 have been recorded since the start of the school year. Six 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. The earliest school SIV outreach activity took place today. 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 Information Services

Led by Financial Secretary Paul Chan, the Working Group on Devising Development & Operation Models under the Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis held its first meeting this afternoon.

This followed the meeting of the Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis chaired by the Chief Executive in the morning.

The meeting reaffirmed the working group’s main objectives, which include: formulating development and operation models for designated development areas in the Northern Metropolis, tailored to their nature and scale; considering appropriate land disposal approaches for industry land and major development projects in the Northern Metropolis; and devising financing arrangements for industry parks and major development projects.

The afternoon meeting also considered the tendering approach for the large-scale disposal site at the Hung Shui Kiu New Development Area, the policy on setting up industry park companies for industry land in the area, and the progress of rolling out parcels of the remaining land in Phase 1 of the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science & Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone.

Mr Chan said at the working group meeting that the Northern Metropolis is a key driver of Hong Kong’s innovation, technology and industrial development, and an important base for deepening co-operation with sister cities in the Greater Bay Area.

To expedite the Northern Metropolis’ development, it was necessary to formulate appropriate development models, operation mechanisms and financing arrangements for the various development areas and projects, in tandem with the new phase of diversified industrial development, the finance chief pointed out.

Furthermore, he said the working group will adopt an open-minded, flexible and innovative approach in considering the development strategies that best suit the characteristics of various sites in development areas and industry parks of the Northern Metropolis.

It will endeavour to remove unnecessary barriers, ease restrictions and allocate resources effectively.

It will also seek to leverage market capital and attract investments and enterprises through a multitude of strategies, with a view to accelerating industry establishment and speeding up the development of the Northern Metropolis, Mr Chan added.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

​Hong Kong Customs on September 27 seized about 2 kilograms of suspected scheduled rhino horns, with an estimated market value of about $0.8 million, at Hong Kong International Airport.
 
Through risk assessment, Customs officers inspected an air postal packet declared to contain “ceramic gifts” imported from France. Upon inspection, the suspected scheduled endangered rhino horns were found mingled with ceramic products inside the carton.
 
After a follow-up investigation, Customs officers arrested a 39-year-old man suspected to be connected with the case.
 
The arrested man will be charged with the illegal import of an Appendix I species. He will appear at the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (September 30).
 
Under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, any person importing, exporting or possessing specimens of endangered species not in accordance with the Ordinance commits an offence and will be liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for 10 years upon conviction with the specimens forfeited.
 
Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling 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

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Department of Health (DH) today (September 29) urged members of the public to continue to actively adopt healthy lifestyles in response to World Heart Day. The risk of death from cardiovascular diseases can be effectively reduced through “early prevention, early detection and early treatment”. The Government has long encouraged the general public to cultivate healthy habits from a young age as the primary strategy for preventing non-communicable diseases. It promotes a healthy lifestyle encompassing healthy eating, reducing fat, salt and sugar intake, being physically active, and refraining from smoking and alcohol consumption through a life-course approach. In particular, the Government is actively promoting the Chronic Disease Co-Care (CDCC) Pilot Scheme to manage chronic diseases. The CDCC Pilot Scheme offers convenient screening services for diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HT), as well as blood lipid testing. The goal is to achieve full coverage of the “three highs”, i.e. high blood pressure, high blood sugar and high cholesterol.

Cardiovascular diseases, including heart disease and stroke, are among the leading causes of death in Hong Kong and remain the world’s number one killer. Last year, 10 111 registered deaths (provisional figures) were attributed to cardiovascular diseases, accounting for one-fifth (19.3 per cent) of all deaths. Of these, 65.1 per cent were due to heart disease.

     “The main behavioural risk factors for cardiovascular diseases are smoking, insufficient physical activity, an unhealthy diet and excessive alcohol consumption. These risk factors can also lead to overweight, obesity, raised blood pressure, blood glucose and blood lipids. Notably, 80 per cent of premature deaths caused by cardiovascular diseases are preventable by controlling risk factors and practising heart-healthy behaviours”, said the Controller of the Centre for Health Protection of the DH, Dr Edwin Tsui.

Major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases remain prevalent in Hong Kong. Surveys revealed that 83.9 per cent of persons aged between 15 and 84 had a salt intake exceeding the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended limit of less than 5 grams per day. The prevalence of overweight and obesity, raised blood pressure, raised blood glucose and raised total blood cholesterol was 54.6 per cent, 29.5 per cent, 8.5 per cent and 51.9 per cent respectively. Although the Health Behaviour Survey 2023 showed that 14.8 per cent of adults did not meet the WHO’s recommended levels of aerobic physical activity, an improvement was noted from the 24.8 per cent recorded in the Population Health Survey 2020-22.

The Primary Healthcare Commission (PHC Commission) promotes the Life Course Preventive Care Plan through District Health Centres/District Health Centre Expresses (collectively referred to as DHCs) and family doctors, in order to enhance public awareness on self-health management and disease prevention. Early identification and proper management of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, including HT, DM and hyperlipidaemia, are equally crucial. The Government launched the three-year CDCC Pilot Scheme in 2023, subsidising Hong Kong residents aged 45 and above with no known medical history of DM or HT to be paired with family doctors for DM and HT screening services in the private healthcare market. In March this year, the CDCC Pilot Scheme was expanded to cover blood lipid testing, achieving full coverage of the “three highs”. Participants diagnosed with prediabetes, DM, HT or hyperlipidaemia after screening can proceed to the treatment phase and will be subsidised by the Government to continue their treatment with a family doctor of their choice, and subject to their health conditions, be provided with prescribed medication, a dedicated nurse clinic and allied health services. The CDCC Pilot Scheme reinforces the “Family Doctor for All” concept and expands the community healthcare network through the DHCs as resources hubs.

As of August 27 this year (halfway through its three-year pilot phase), over 150 000 citizens have already enrolled. It is expected that the target of having around 200 000 participants during the pilot period can be achieved earlier than expected. Approximately 91 600 participants (i.e. about 60 per cent) have completed the screenings and around 36 800 participants (i.e. 40 per cent) have been diagnosed with prediabetes, DM, HT or dyslipidaemia, and have proceeded to the treatment phase. For more details of the CDCC Pilot Scheme, members of the public may visit the dedicated website of the CDCC Pilot Scheme.

The theme for World Heart Day 2025 is “Don’t Miss a Beat”, emphasising the importance of protecting cardiovascular health and not overlooking any preventive measures. The Government will continue to promote healthy living among the public, and work closely with community partners to foster a supportive environment. For more information on healthy living, please visit the Change for Health website of the DH.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements, led by the Chief Secretary for Administration, released the following information today (September 29) on the traffic and public transport arrangements for the upcoming National Day Golden Week of the Mainland and the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday (October 1 to 8).
 
     During the National Day Golden Week of the Mainland and the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, in anticipation of a large number of members of the public, vehicles and Mainland visitors travelling to and from the Mainland or Macao via various land-based boundary control points (BCPs), the Transport Department (TD) urged the public and visitors to plan their trips in advance and allow sufficient travelling time.
 
     The public and visitors may visit the one-stop information platform on immigration clearance “Easy Boundary” (www.sb.gov.hk/eng/bwt/status.html?type=outbound) newly launched by the Security Bureau or the TD’s HKeMobility mobile app for the latest information on various land-based BCPs more conveniently. The TD will provide information on the service and waiting time of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) shuttle bus (Gold Bus), the Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang cross-boundary shuttle bus (Yellow Bus) and MTR on the platform.
 
     The TD has co-ordinated with local and cross-boundary public transport operators (PTOs) to strengthen their services during inbound/outbound peak travelling hours between October 1 and 8, including:
 

• Increasing the frequency of the Gold Bus to an average of about one minute during peak hours;
• Increasing the frequency of the Yellow Bus to about two minutes at its highest frequency;
• Increasing the quota of cross-boundary coaches to strengthen services;
• The frequency of local franchised bus B routes connecting various land-based BCPs will also be increased to a level higher than that of normal weekends, and the operators concerned will reserve sufficient vehicles and manpower to meet passenger demand; and
• The MTR Corporation Limited will enhance the train services of the East Rail Line between Admiralty and Lo Wu/Lok Ma Chau at different times during the above period to provide convenience for the travelling public and visitors.

 
     It is anticipated that the waiting time for public transport services during the National Day Golden Week of the Mainland and the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday may be longer. Passengers should make their journeys during non-peak hours, observe order while queuing and heed advice from on-site Police and staff of PTOs concerned. Passengers of cross-boundary coaches are also advised to reserve their coach tickets in advance.
 
     Of note, motorists are advised that, subject to actual traffic conditions, special traffic arrangements may be implemented at the Lok Ma Chau Control Point and the Shenzhen Bay Port from October 1 to 8 to allow smooth access for public transport vehicles to the above control points. Cross-boundary private cars may need to queue up for crossing the BCPs. Motorists should pay extra attention to variable message signs and traffic signs along the roads. In case of traffic congestion, they should remain patient and follow the instructions of on-site Police.
 
     For the HZMB, to plan their journeys ahead, members of the public can make use of the TD’s HKeMobility mobile app or website (hkemobility.gov.hk/en/traffic-information/live/cctv) to access snapshots of traffic conditions at inbound and outbound vehicle plazas of the HZMB Hong Kong Port. They can also check real-time situations of the vehicle clearance plaza of the Zhuhai Port through the WeChat official accounts “hzmbzhport” or “zhuhaifabu” (traffic-info.gzazhka.com:5015/#/) (Chinese only), and check the forecast of peak hours of inbound and outbound vehicles at the HZMB Zhuhai Port through the WeChat official account of the HZMB integrated information dissemination platform (mp.weixin.qq.com/s/kjIcHlYEbwJ0B97GU9Vm0w) (Chinese only). Moreover, motorists are reminded to always comply with the traffic control measures implemented by the Zhuhai authority when driving on the HZMB Main Bridge. Vehicles shall not occupy the emergency lane unless instructed by the Zhuhai authority.
 
     The TD’s Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre will continue to operate round the clock to closely monitor the traffic conditions and public transport services of different districts including various BCPs and major stations. The TD will disseminate the latest traffic information through various channels. Members of the public are advised to check the latest traffic news through radio and television broadcasts, and the HKeMobility.
 
     The interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements is tasked with holistically co-ordinating and steering the preparatory work of various government departments for welcoming visitors to Hong Kong during the National Day Golden Week of the Mainland, as well as strengthening information dissemination to enable the public and visitors to plan their itineraries according to the latest situation.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The following is issued on behalf of the University Grants Committee:
 
The University Grants Committee (UGC) held a presentation ceremony for the 2025 UGC Teaching Award today (September 29) to honour academics from UGC-funded universities for their outstanding teaching performances and achievements, as well as their leadership and scholarly contributions to teaching and learning within and outside their campuses.

Through a rigorous process, the Award Selection Panel selected the following three recipients from among over 20 outstanding nominees for the Award:

General Faculty Members
——————————–
Professor Shirley Ngai, Associate Head and Associate Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU)

Early Career Faculty Members
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Professor Jeffrey Leung, Assistant Professor, School of Optometry, PolyU

Collaborative Teams
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Transdisciplinary Innovation Team, Hong Kong Baptist University, led by Professor William Cheung (Associate Vice-President (Transdisciplinary Education) and Professor, Department of Computer Science), with Dr Glos Ho (Director and Principal Lecturer, Division of Transdisciplinary Undergraduate Programmes), Professor Kingsley Ng (Associate Professor, Academy of Visual Arts), Professor Wendy Huang (Professor, Academy of Wellness and Human Development) and Professor Nick Zhang (Assistant Professor, Department of Journalism) as team members. 

The citations of the awardees are in the Annex.

The Chairman of the UGC, Mr Tim Lui, congratulated the awardees, finalists, and nominees for their remarkable achievements and expressed gratitude to all UGC-funded universities for their support of the UGC Teaching Award. He said, “The UGC is committed to enhancing teaching and learning, which lies at the heart of our higher education mission. By effectively utilising available resources, universities can cultivate a culture of continuous improvement and innovation that benefits all students. Our focus on collaboration and the sharing of best practices will not only elevate the quality of education but also uphold Hong Kong’s status as a leading international hub for higher education. Together, we can adapt to the evolving educational landscape and ensure our students are well-prepared for the future challenges.”

The Chair of the 2025 UGC Teaching Award Selection Panel and member of the UGC, Mr Philip Tsai, remarked, “The panel was highly impressed by the awardees’ remarkable skill, innovation, and passion for teaching. Professor Ngai’s visionary leadership in physiotherapy education has transformed the field through pioneering medical simulation and integrating advanced technologies such as virtual reality and augmented reality. Professor Leung’s innovative AI-assisted clinical skill assessment system further enhances diagnostic training, showcasing his dedication to advancing healthcare education and fostering well-rounded, compassionate professionals. The Transdisciplinary Innovation Team unites faculty members, community leaders, and global partners to empower students in addressing real-world challenges aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.”

The presentation ceremony was attended by members of the UGC and the Quality Assurance Council, council chairmen and senior management of UGC-funded universities, as well as nominees for the Awards.  

The UGC has also produced a series of short video clips to promote best practices by showcasing the teaching approach of the 2025 UGC Teaching Award recipients. The clips, together with the selection criteria and the composition of the Selection Panel, as well as the list of other finalists, are available on the UGC website www.ugc.edu.hk/eng/ugc/activity/ugc_teaching_award/result.html.