Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
No. 3 alarm fire in Central (3)
Four persons were injured or felt unwell and were sent to Queen Mary Hospital for treatment respectively.
Issued at HKT 23:05
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InnoCarnival 2025 opens
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
Acting Financial Secretary Michael Wong officiated today at the opening ceremony of the InnoCarnival 2025, which showcases local innovation and technology (I&T) achievements.
Mr Wong said that the Government will continue to leverage Hong Kong’s strengths to promote I&T development through policy guidance, financial support and talent cultivation, thereby reinforcing Hong Kong’s position as an international I&T centre.
He expressed hope that the carnival will encourage members of the public to explore and experience the many benefits that I&T brings to society, and offer their support its ongoing development.
Under the theme “I&T Unlocks Your Dream”, the carnival runs from today to next Sunday at the Science Park in Sha Tin.
Organised by the Innovation & Technology Commission, it is supported by about 50 programme partners, including local universities, research and development centres and platforms, government departments, and other organisations.
Booths hosted by partners showcase various I&T achievements, as well as interactive games. The programme includes about 150 workshops and more than 10 webinars covering various popular subjects such as artificial intelligence and ecology, with the aim of demonstrating the interface between I&T and people’s daily lives.
All activities at the carnival are free of charge, although some require pre-registration.
Police hold Anti-Crime Elite Games (with photos)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Police hold Anti-Crime Elite Games
Speaking at the kick-off ceremony, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Chow Yat-ming, stated that given the complex and ever-changing crime landscape, collaborative efforts from all stakeholders, not just the Police, are required to effectively prevent and combat crime, as well as safeguard the growth of young people.
In the first eight months of this year, the number of youths arrested for criminal offenses has continued to improve, showing a 10 per cent decrease compared to the same period last year, totalling 1 742 individuals. Notably, arrests related to money laundering and deception have seen declines of 50 per cent and 32.4 per cent respectively. However, arrests related to serious drug offences and indecent assaults have increased by 45.2 per cent and 33.3 per cent.
Mr Chow stated that etomidate has become the most commonly abused drug among different age groups, followed by cannabis and cocaine. He emphasised that drug abuse remains drug abuse, regardless of the circumstances. It is not a trendy activity, and one should not mistakenly believe that trying it once is harmless. In addition to continuing to strengthen law enforcement, including targeting online drug trafficking, the Police will continue to nurture young anti-drug leaders through the Leadership Institute on Narcotics (L.I.O.N.), promoting a drug-free culture in communities, schools and families.
In regard to child protection, the Police are concerned about issues such as children being sexually extorted or defrauded online, and even being sexually assaulted. In the first eight months of this year, 57 cases of “online child sexual grooming” were recorded. Mr Chow appealed to schools and parents to collaborate in equipping young people with self-protection awareness and helping them understand the risks of the virtual world. The Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Ordinance will come into effect on January 20, 2026. The Police have been proactively launching publicity and educational initiatives to help professionals understand their roles and responsibilities, with a view to establishing an effective safety net to protect children from abuse and ensuring the timely handling of child abuse cases.
A total of 28 379 deception cases were recorded in the first eight months of this year, while the monetary loss decreased by 14.5 per cent year-on-year to $5.02 billion. Mr Chow stated that the Police, along with various stakeholders, have adopted a comprehensive strategy to combat and prevent deception cases, which gradually shows results. However, the number of cases remains high, with some involving significant financial losses. The Police constantly refine their strategies, including strengthening efforts to dismantle the fraud industry chain, enhance anti-scam publicity, and foster international co-operation. Additionally, the Police will launch an optimised version of the Scameter+, featuring automatic updates to the fraud database and real-time AI detection and reporting to expedite warnings to the public.
In the first eight months of this year, there were 270 phone scam cases involving post-secondary students, with losses over $100 million. In the new academic year, the Police have strengthened anti-scam publicity targeting post-secondary students, including co-ordinating with institutions to encourage new students to complete online learning modules and organising over 30 seminars and activities. The Police will continue to work closely with the banking industry and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority to promote anti-scam awareness and implement various anti-deception measures.
Mr Chow also reminded members of the public to heed the Police’s anti-money laundering warnings and always remember not to be greedy for bargains, as well as not to rent, lend or sell their personal bank accounts. The Police will collaborate with the Department of Justice to expedite prosecutions of money laundering cases and apply to the courts for enhanced penalties. In the first eight months of this year, 122 individuals convicted of money laundering have had their sentences increased by the courts, with sentence durations extended by over 30 per cent at maximum. In 2024, 44 convicted individuals had their sentences increased by the courts.
Mr Chow expressed sincere gratitude to community leaders from the Hong Kong Shine Tak Foundation and the L.I.O.N. for their support to the Anti-Crime Elite Games, as well as the participation of various public and private organisations and schools, that contributed to the building of a safer community and safeguarding the next generation of Hong Kong.
Other officiating guests at the kick-off ceremony included the Chairman of the Hong Kong Shine Tak Foundation, Mr Lam Kwok-hing; the Principal President of L.I.O.N., Mr Kerry Wong; the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), Mr Yip Wan-lung; the Director of Crime and Security, Mr Chan Tung, etc.
In addition to game booths, the two-day event also features music performance, dancing, magic shows, Police Pipe Band parades and demonstrations by the Police Dog Unit. The participating units from the Crime Wing include the Narcotics Bureau, the Family Conflict and Sexual Violence Policy Unit, the Commercial Crime Bureau, the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau, as well as the Financial Intelligence and Investigation Bureau. For details, please visit the Anti-Crime Elite Games webpage (www.police.gov.hk/ppp_en/04_crime_matters/adcc/aceg2025.htmlIssued at HKT 20:08
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FSD holds Save Lives x Emergency Response Ceremony cum Carnival (with photos)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Fire Services Department (FSD) held the Save Lives x Emergency Response Ceremony cum Carnival at The Wai in Tai Wai today (October 18). The event aimed to appeal to the public to save lives in emergencies through various activities, including commendations for organisations and members of the public and an introduction to the FSD Community Emergency Responder (FSDCER) Scheme, as well as interactive experiences, game booths and drama performances.
In his remarks, the Director of Fire Services, Mr Andy Yeung, said that there are about 8 000 cases of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Hong Kong each year, an average of about 22 cases per day. The chance of saving lives is significantly higher if members of the public can perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use an automated external defibrillator (AED) in a timely manner. Mr Yeung showed his appreciation for the enthusiastic response from all sectors to the FSD’s AED Anywhere for Anyone (AAA) Programme. The number of AEDs available for public use has grown from around 1 000 in 2021 to over 3 700 to date, installed by more than 370 organisations across the city. This year, the FSD has also focused on installing AEDs in common areas of public housing estates to expand AED coverage.
Mr Yeung conferred the Big Heart Award – Social Responsibility Award to 26 organisations in recognition of their contribution to promoting the AAA Programme. The Assistant Director (Ambulance) of the FSD, Mr Henry Kwok, presented the Save Heart Award to 21 members of the public who courageously assisted individuals in cardiac arrest during emergencies.
To strengthen community efforts in promoting CPR and AED usage, the FSD established the Resuscitation Alliance (RA) in collaboration with organisations that provide related training or emergency services. With the Scout Association of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Girl Guides Association joining the RA today, the number of RA member organisations has increased to 11. As of June this year, over 230 000 members of the public have completed training offered by the RA, meaning one in every 32 people in Hong Kong has pledged to offer aid if encountering a person suffering cardiac arrest. Since early 2025, over 20 members of the RA have assisted in saving lives in cardiac arrest cases.
The FSD has provided training under the FSDCER Scheme to over 1 600 volunteer leaders of the 15th National Games to enhance public safety during the Games period.
The FSD this year will set up 10 CPR & AED Self-learning Kiosks across the community. Through self-learning with the aid of high-fidelity patient simulators designated for CPR training, AED simulators and interactive virtual scenarios, members of the public can practice and receive an instant evaluation powered by artificial intelligence. Public members of all ages participated in self-learning sessions at the experience zone set up at the event venue today.
The event was organised by the FSD and co-organised by 10 RA member organisations, namely the Auxiliary Medical Service, the Civil Aid Service, the Hospital Authority, the Hong Kong College of Cardiology, the Hong Kong Red Cross, the Hong Kong St John Ambulance, the Resuscitation Council of Hong Kong, the Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndromes (SADS) Hong Kong Foundation, the Scout Association of Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong Girl Guides Association. The event was funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust as a key initiative under the Hong Kong Fire Services Department Disaster Management Programme. The FSDCER Scheme and the CPR & AED Self-learning Kiosks are also funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.
No. 3 alarm fire in Central (2)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
No. 3 alarm fire in Central (2)
Three persons felt unwell and were sent to Queen Mary Hospital for treatment respectively.
Issued at HKT 18:53
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No. 3 alarm fire in Central
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
No. 3 alarm fire in CentralIssued at HKT 17:08
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FS concludes US visit
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
Financial Secretary Paul Chan concluded a visit to the US yesterday by attending the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group. He also meeting leaders from the financial and business sectors, and from think tanks.
In the morning, Mr Chan attended the plenary session of the annual meetings. He then joined a session organised by the Institute of International Finance, a high-level forum attended by senior executives from various international financial institutions, during which he shared insights on the current state of Hong Kong’s economy, its strategy towards developing as a financial centre, and opportunities in the city across innovation and technology, digital assets and the building of a “patient capital” ecosystem.
Mr Chan highlighted Hong Kong’s unique advantages under the “one country, two systems” arrangement – including free flow of capital, a freely convertible currency pegged to the US dollar, a highly internationalised market, and close alignment with international best practices.
He also emphasised Hong Kong’s encouragement of financial innovation, stressing that despite rising global economic uncertainties in recent months, Hong Kong has continued to see capital inflows, reflecting international confidence in the city’s investment environment and opportunities.
In addition, he outlined that Hong Kong continues to reform its capital markets to facilitate corporate fundraising and enhance market liquidity, thereby attracting high-quality issuers and investors from both local and overseas markets. He added that the city is prudently embracing financial innovation in its support for the development of digital assets such as stablecoins.
The Financial Secretary also mentioned initiatives to nurture “patient capital”, including the establishment of the Hong Kong Investment Corporation (HKIC), which invests early, in smaller-sized enterprises, and with a long-term perspective. He reported that the HKIC has so far invested in over 130 projects, and that for every $1 invested it has attracted around $6 in co-investment from the market.
At noon, Mr Chan attended a business lunch co-hosted by the US-China Business Council and the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in Washington, with over 40 American business leaders in attendance. He delivered a keynote speech, updating participants on Hong Kong’s latest economic situation and future development directions, and exchanged views with guests on topics including opportunities in Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland.
He stressed that the “one country, two systems” arrangement is a significant advantage for Hong Kong and that the central government has made it clear that this system will be upheld in the long run.
Mr Chan reaffirmed that Hong Kong welcomes American businesses and talent to invest and develop their careers in the city.
SCED to visit Türkiye and Georgia
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, will depart for Istanbul, Türkiye, tomorrow evening (October 18) to promote Hong Kong’s unique advantages to forge closer economic and trade ties between Hong Kong and Türkiye. He will then proceed to Tbilisi, Georgia, to attend the 5th Tbilisi Silk Road Forum on October 22.
While visiting the two countries, Mr Yau will meet with senior government officials and representatives of major local chambers of commerce to give them an update on Hong Kong’s latest developments and a number of new initiatives to promote trade and investment to foster collaboration and strengthen bilateral relationships.
Mr Yau will then proceed to Beijing on October 23 and return to Hong Kong on October 25. The Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan, will be the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development during Mr Yau’s absence.
USEE leads delegation to attend World Food Forum 2025 and AFCD and Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations sign Letter of Intent (with photos)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong, led a delegation to attend the World Food Forum 2025 held by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome, Italy, on October 13. Representatives joining the visit included the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, Mr Mickey Lai.
The delegation attended various activities organised by the World Food Forum, and held meetings with the Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations Agencies in Rome and the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with the FAO today (October 17, Rome time) to further strengthen knowledge exchanges between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the FAO, as well as to promote regional co-operation. Witnessed by Miss Wong, the Director-General of the FAO, Dr Qu Dongyu, and others, Mr Lai and the Assistant Director-General of the FAO, Dr Thanawat Tiensin, signed the LOI.
The LOI aims to achieve common objectives between the AFCD and the FAO in several areas, including:
- promoting and implementing the One Health approach;
- preventing and controlling transboundary animal diseases (especially avian influenza and African Swine Fever);
- Reducing the Need for Antimicrobials on Farms for Sustainable Agrifood Systems Transformation (RENOFARM), and promoting research, technology and innovation in agrifood systems; and
- enhancing capacity development and training in agriculture and aquaculture.
In addition, Miss Wong delivered a speech at the partnership dialogue of the Science and Innovation Forum today, introducing the innovative efforts undertaken by the HKSAR Government in support of the One Health principles within the agrifood systems.
​The HKSAR Government will continue to maintain close communication and co-operation with the FAO to contribute further to global food security and sustainable development.
50 persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operations (with photos)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a series of territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations codenamed “Silverwing” and “Rally” , a joint operation with the Labour Department codenamed “Rainbow” and a joint operation with the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed “Champion” from October 10 to yesterday (October 16). A total of 41 suspected illegal workers, eight suspected employers and a suspected aider and abettor were arrested.
During the anti-illegal worker operations, ImmD officers raided multiple target locations including construction sites, renovation sites and restaurants etc. Forty-one suspected illegal workers, eight suspected employers and a suspected aider and abettor were arrested. The arrested suspected illegal workers comprised 11 men and 30 women, aged 24 to 58. Among them, a man was holding a recognizance form which prohibits him from taking any employment, and a man was suspected of using and being in possession of Hong Kong identity card which relates to another person. Three men and five women, aged 32 to 62, were suspected of employing the illegal workers and were also arrested. The suspected aider and abettor arrested was a women aged 62. An investigation into the suspected employers is ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.
Apart from mounting the enforcement operation, ImmD officers and a promotional vehicle have been deployed to distribute “Don’t Employ Illegal Workers” leaflets and convey the message to occupants and property management staffs in newly inhabited housing estates.
An ImmD spokesman said, “Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Moreover, after entry into the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the imported worker admitted on an employment condition must remain under the direct employment of the same employer for the specified job and in the specific workplace(s) as stipulated in the Standard Employment Contract and cannot be employed by other companies or subcontractors. Change of the employer, post or place of work (unless stipulated in the Standard Employment Contract) is not permitted. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years’ imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties.”
The spokesman warned, “As stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land is prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years’ imprisonment. As stipulated in section 20(1)(a) of the Immigration Ordinance, the Chief Executive may make a deportation order against an immigrant, prohibiting the immigrant from being in Hong Kong at any time thereafter if the immigrant has been found guilty in Hong Kong of an offence punishable by imprisonment for not less than two years. Under the prevailing laws, it is an offence to use or possess a forged identity card or a identity card related to another person. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $100,000 and up to 10 years’ imprisonment.”
The spokesman stressed that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years’ imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years’ imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.
According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee’s identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker’s valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.
Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) victims. When any TIP indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP elements, such as threats and coercion in the recruitment phase and the nature of exploitation. Identified TIP victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.
For reporting illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 3861 5000, by fax at 2824 1166, email to anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit “Online Reporting of Immigration Offences” form at www.immd.gov.hk.