Month: October 2025

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Health Bureau (HHB) released Hong Kong’s Domestic Health Accounts (DHA) 2023/24 today (October 16). Updated annually, the DHA provides a systematic description of the flow of health expenditure in Hong Kong over a 12-month period, forming a basis for assessing and understanding the levels and trends of health spending in Hong Kong.  

     The Current Health Expenditure (CHE) in Hong Kong in 2023/24 was $251,207 million, representing an increase of 8.6 per cent (or $19,955 million) compared with the previous year’s figure (excluding identified COVID-19 expenditure). The CHE as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was 8.3 per cent, and the CHE per capita was $33,334.

Source: Government of Singapore

Singapore, 16 October 2025 – In the second fortnight of October 2025, the prevailing inter-monsoon conditions over Singapore and the surrounding region are expected to continue, with winds mostly light and variable in direction.

2          In the second fortnight of October 2025, thundery showers are expected over parts of the island in the afternoon on most days. In addition, Sumatra squalls may bring widespread thundery showers and gusty winds between the predawn hours and morning on some days. The total rainfall for the second fortnight of October 2025 is forecast to be above average over most parts of the island.

3          The daily maximum temperatures are likely to range between 32 degrees Celsius and 34 degrees Celsius on most days. On some rainy days, daily lows of around 23 degrees Celsius can be expected.

4          For updates of the daily weather forecast, please visit the MSS website (www.weather.gov.sg), NEA website (www.nea.gov.sg), or download the myENV app.

REVIEW OF THE PAST TWO WEEKS (1 – 15 OCTOBER 2025)

5          Singapore and the surrounding region experienced inter-monsoon conditions in the first half of October 2025. The low-level winds that blew predominantly from the southeast or southwest since June 2025 weakened and became mostly light and variable in direction.

6    Thundery showers occurred over parts of Singapore mainly in the afternoon on most days in the first half of the month. On 3 October 2025, widespread moderate to heavy thundery showers fell over many parts of the island in the morning. The daily total rainfall of 92.8mm recorded around Sunset Way that day was the highest rainfall recorded for the first half of October 2025.

7          The daily maximum temperatures recorded in the first half of October 2025 were between 31.7 degrees Celsius and 35.2 degrees Celsius, with five days where the maximum temperatures were 34 degrees Celsius or more. The highest daily temperature of 35.2 degrees Celsius was recorded at Choa Chu Kang on 5 October 2025.

8          Most parts of the island registered below-average rainfall in the first half of October 2025. The area around Bedok North recorded rainfall of 67 per cent below-average, and the area around Jurong recorded rainfall of 39 per cent above-average.

CLIMATE STATION STATISTICS

Long-term Statistics for October   (Climatological reference period: 1991-2020)
Average daily maximum temperature:	31.8	°C
Average daily minimum temperature:	25.0	°C
Average monthly temperature:	27.9	°C
Average rainfall:	168.3	mm
Average number of rain days:	15
Historical Extremes for October   (Rainfall since 1869 and temperature since 1929)
Highest monthly mean daily maximum temperature:	33.0	°C (2002)
Lowest monthly mean daily minimum temperature:	22.8	°C (1964)
Highest monthly rainfall ever recorded:	497.1	mm (1947)
Lowest monthly rainfall ever recorded:	10.8	mm (2002)

 

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METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE SINGAPORE

16 Oct 2025

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For more information, please submit your enquiries electronically via the Online Feedback Form or myENV mobile application.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA welcomes ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas

Date：2025-10-14
Data Source：Department of West Asian and African Affairs

October 14, 2025  
No. 406  

US President Donald Trump announced on October 8 that Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas had reached an agreement on the first phase of a peace plan for Gaza. On October 13, Hamas freed the 20 surviving Israeli hostages and Israel released nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. President Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi cochaired a peace summit in Egypt on the same day, which was attended by over 30 countries. At the event, the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Türkiye signed a declaration to end the war and ensure the implementation of the peace plan. 
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs highly welcomes and commends the signing of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement. MOFA is pleased to see the safe return of Israeli hostages, as well as residents of Gaza going back to their homes. Furthermore, MOFA expresses sincere admiration for the efforts of the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Türkiye in mediating the accord. Taiwan will continue to work with like-minded countries and reputable international nongovernmental organizations to deliver humanitarian assistance and recovery programs to people affected by conflict. (E)

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

To assist parents in making informed school choices for their children, the Education Bureau today released a web version of the latest profiles of kindergartens and childcare centres.

The dedicated website provides information on about 970 kindergartens and childcare centres in Hong Kong, including the approved fees for all kindergartens for the 2025-26 school year. It also identifies kindergartens that have joined the kindergarten education scheme.

The profiles show each kindergarten’s approved fees after the deduction of government subsidies, as well as their quality review results.

All profiles on the website contain information on the numbers of teaching staff employed and their professional qualifications, as well as those of the principal. There are also details on enrolment, reference prices for major education items, application and registration fees, and more.

In addition, the profiles include columns outlining support given to non-Chinese speaking students and students with special needs.

Users can also download the profiles from a mobile app.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Financial Secretary Paul Chan attended meetings with business and finance leaders in New York yesterday, the second day of a visit to the US.

Mr Chan spoke at a lunch jointly hosted by the National Committee on United States–China Relations and the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in New York, and attended by over a dozen prominent leaders from the US financial, investment, pharmaceutical, creative and think tank sectors.

He briefed participants on the latest developments in Hong Kong’s economy, highlighting the city’s strategies to support the financial market, innovation and technology, overall development and regional supply chain connectivity.

The finance chief also elaborated on Hong Kong’s proactive efforts to attract enterprises, global talent and investment, develop the Northern Metropolis, and foster industrial collaboration within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Mr Chan encouraged US enterprises and professionals to pursue opportunities in the city and to leverage Hong Kong as a gateway to access the Chinese Mainland and Asian markets more broadly.

He iterated that the “one country, two systems” principle is an arrangement for the long term, adding that Hong Kong’s core strengths – including its status as a free port, its adherence to the common law and the rule of law, and its openness, diversity and high level of internationalisation – remain unchanged.

In response to questions, Mr Chan said that despite recent signs of escalating trade tensions, Hong Kong would firmly uphold its status as a free port and continue to implement free, open and predictable trade policies and practices.

He also participated in a roundtable discussion with key US fund and asset management representatives, and presented Hong Kong’s economic and financial outlook to them.

The Financial Secretary focused on opportunities in the financial market, including initial public offerings and follow-on offerings, the city’s fixed income and currency markets, and its private equity, asset and wealth management sectors, as well as opportunities in green finance, stablecoins and digital assets.

He highlighted that Hong Kong’s asset markets are showing encouraging momentum, with the stock market undergoing a significant upturn driven by investors’ confidence in the Chinese Mainland’s technological development and increased capital allocations.

Meanwhile, the residential property market is showing signs of stabilisation. Mr Chan emphasised that as a “super connector” and “super value-adder” between the Chinese Mainland and the world, Hong Kong will continue to offer attractive investment opportunities for investors from the US and around the globe.

In addition, Mr Chan visited the United Nations (UN) and met the Permanent Representative of the People’s Republic of China to the UN, Ambassador Fu Cong. Mr Chan expressed his gratitude for the strong support that the central government has consistently provided to Hong Kong across various domains.

In particular, he mentioned the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ efforts in facilitating the participation of young Hong Kong civil servants in the UN Junior Professional Officer Programme, which allows them to work within the UN system as Chinese nationals. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to nominate and support young civil servants for participation in such programmes, he added.

Mr Chan also paid a courtesy call on the Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in New York, Ambassador Chen Li. They exchanged views on China-US relations, Hong Kong’s development, and related topics.

In the morning, the Financial Secretary hosted a breakfast meeting with a group of young professionals working at the UN. Hailing from ten countries and regions, they shared their experiences of working at the organisation.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, bustling markets across Taiwan are filled with shoppers preparing for the holiday. To ensure fair trade and accurate measurements, the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI) under the Ministry of Economic Affairs conducted a nationwide inspection of market scales ahead of the festival, reporting a compliance rate of 99.9%. Consumers can shop with confidence during the holidays.

The BSMI inspected 4,229 scales at 133 locations, including traditional markets, hypermarkets, supermarkets, wholesale fruit outlets, and scenic areas. OF these, 4,226 scales passed, while three were found to be noncompliant, labeled “Suspended” , and will remain under follow-up monitoring. Vendors who continue to use unqualified scales may face fines ranging from NT$15,000 to NT$75,000 under the Weights and Measures Act.

The BSMI emphasized its commitment to ongoing vigilance by conducting year-round inspection projects to monitor the accuracy of weighing scales in transactions. Consumers are encouraged to report any scales that do not bear the verification mark “(Picture as attachment file)” or those they suspect of being inaccurate. Reports can be made by calling the BSMI at 02-23434567. Investigations will be carried out to protect the interests of both buyers and sellers, ensuring a fair and reliable marketplace.

This initiative by the BSMI not only safeguards consumer rights but also promotes trust and transparency in the market, reinforcing the importance of accuracy and integrity during this significant cultural celebration.

Responsible Division: Metrology Technology Division
Contact Person: Chen, Horng-Lin, Deputy Director
Telephone No.: +886-2343-4567#5211
Email: hl.chen@bsmi.gov.tw

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     â€‹In view of the National Day holidays, the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department conducted operations at Yau Tsim Mong District, Sham Shui Po District, Wan Chai District and Central and Western District from September 15 to October 8. The OLA inspected premises which were suspected of operating unlicensed guesthouses and licensed club-houses suspected of being in breach of licensing conditions to ensure the safety of customers as well as the general public.
 
     A spokesman for the OLA said, “During the operations, the OLA carried out surprise inspections of around 500 premises. Six premises were suspected of operating an unlicensed guesthouse and one licensed club-house was suspected of breaching certain licensing conditions. The OLA will initiate prosecution on cases with sufficient evidence after completion of the investigation.”
 
     The spokesman stressed, “Operating unlicensed hotels or guesthouses is a criminal offence leading to a criminal record upon conviction. According to the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance, an offender is liable to three years’ imprisonment and a maximum fine of $500,000. A fine of $20,000 for each day can also be imposed during which the offence continues. A six-month closure order may also be issued for a hotel/guesthouse involved in a repeated offence. Moreover, according to the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance, an offender who contravenes any condition of a certificate of compliance (e.g. failure to produce a fire certificate on demand and carrying out alteration and addition works without seeking prior approval) is liable to a maximum fine of $100,000 and two years’ imprisonment. A fine of $10,000 for each day can also be imposed during which the offence continues.”

     To enhance deterrence against unlicensed hotels and guesthouses, the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance was amended in 2020 to empower the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Authority to apply to the court, upon the second conviction within 16 months of operating an unlicensed hotel or guesthouse or the strict liability offence in respect of the same premises, to issue a closure order to close the premises for six months. As at September 30, the OLA has applied for three closure orders under the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance from the court, out of which one closure order against a premises has been issued by the court.   

     Apart from conducting special operations during festive seasons, the OLA also steps up efforts to combat unlicensed guesthouses via online platforms. The OLA has strengthened its intelligence collection by forming a dedicated team to browse webpages, mobile applications, social media, discussion forums, etc to search for information and intelligence on suspected unlicensed guesthouses. The OLA’s law enforcement officers will initiate follow-up investigations when information on unlicensed guesthouses advertised via online platforms is found. The OLA also conducts publicity work on Internet search engines outside Hong Kong to enable tourists’ access to the information provided by the OLA in the course of planning their trips to Hong Kong.
 
     Tourists and members of the public can make use of the search functions on the OLA’s website (www.hadla.gov.hk) to check whether a hotel or guesthouse is licensed or not. Any suspected unlicensed hotel or guesthouse should be reported to the OLA by the hotline (Tel: 2881 7498), by email (hadlaenq@had.gov.hk), by fax (2504 5805), or through the mobile application “Hong Kong Licensed Hotels and Guesthouses”.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Tickets for the third batch of events of the 15th National Games (NG) will be available for sale at 10am tomorrow (October 16).

The third batch of tickets covers 13 competition events of the Guangdong competition region of the 15th NG, namely badminton, basketball (men’s adult, women’s adult, women’s U22, women’s U18), wushu (taolu), swimming, weightlifting, cycling BMX, canoeing (sprint and kayak slalom), sport climbing and shooting (skeet). Among them, badminton, basketball (men’s adult and women’s adult), and swimming are popular events. Members of the public can purchase e-tickets through official online ticketing platforms, including the 15th NG official ticketing website (ticket.baygames.cn) or by the “15th NG official ticketing” mini programme on WeChat. Registered users can log in to the official online ticketing platform, select “Ticket Purchase”, and choose the competition venue(s), competition event(s), time, and session(s) to purchase tickets for events in different competition regions. Hong Kong residents must use their Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents to purchase tickets for events in Guangdong. Each order is limited to six tickets for the same event session, except for popular events, where each order is limited to three tickets for the same event session.

As for the eight competition events for the 15th NG in Hong Kong competition region, namely beach volleyball, handball (men), basketball (men’s U22), rugby sevens, golf, track cycling, triathlon and fencing, tickets have been available for sale since late August and late September. Members of the public can purchase e-tickets through official online ticketing platforms, or they can visit 11 designated sales outlets of the China Travel Service (Hong Kong) Limited to buy paper tickets for events in the Hong Kong competition region. Real-name authentication will be adopted for ticket purchases online and offline. When purchasing tickets at the designated sales outlets, ticket buyers must provide their name and identification document number, as well as those of all spectators, for verification. Ticket buyers are also required to produce copies of the relevant identity documents for verification. Hong Kong residents must use their Hong Kong identity card to purchase tickets, while Mainland and Macao residents must use their Exit-entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao, and their Macao identity card respectively. The paper tickets sold offline in Hong Kong will be converted from Renminbi to Hong Kong dollars at a fixed exchange rate. For details of the sales outlets and other related information, please visit the website of China Travel Service (Hong Kong) Limited (ww2.ctshk.com/articleDetail?id=4&channelId=-1) or the thematic website of the 15th NG Hong Kong competition region (www.2025nationalgames.gov.hk/en/ng.html).

Among the eight competition events in Hong Kong, enthusiastic responses in online sales of weekend matches of the fencing event have been noted since the commencement of ticket sales on September 20. Hence, the National Games Coordination Office (Hong Kong) (NGCO) will adjust the ratio of online and offline tickets for the fencing event, and has also reallocated some originally planned offline tickets to online sales for the beach volleyball and basketball (men’s U22) events to facilitate members of the public in purchasing tickets of the two events through online ticketing platforms. The NGCO will adjust the allocation of online and offline tickets for each event based on sales conditions in a timely manner.

Tickets for the three competition events of the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities (NGD) and the 9th National Special Olympic Games (NSOG), namely boccia, wheelchair fencing and para table tennis (TT11), are planned for release later this month. Tickets for the 9th NSOG table tennis will be distributed to the public for free, with specific arrangements to be announced later.

For enquiries about online ticketing, please call the official ticketing hotline (+86 4001-125305) or email the official ticketing enquiry mailbox (services@quanyun2025.com). Both the official ticketing hotline and enquiry mailbox support English enquiries.

For enquiries about offline ticketing in the Hong Kong competition region, please call China Travel Service (Hong Kong) Limited’s NG hotline (+852 3859 4811) or email to ng2025cs@ctg.cn. English services are also available for ticket purchases and enquiries at the 11 designated sales outlets of the China Travel Service (Hong Kong) Limited.

For more information about ticketing arrangements for the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG, please visit the thematic website (www.2025nationalgames.gov.hk/en/ng.html), as well as the Facebook page (www.facebook.com/2025nationalgames.hk) and Instagram page (www.instagram.com/2025nationalgames.hk).