Month: December 2025

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     ​The Government today (December 31) announced the reappointment of 13 incumbent members to the Working Group on Patriotic Education under the Constitution and Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee (CBLPSC) for a term of two years with effect from January 1, 2026.
      
     The 13 reappointed incumbent members are Convenor Dr Starry Lee Wai-king and members Mr Stanley Choi Tak-shing, Professor Gu Min-kang, Mr Kwok Wing-keung, Ms Cally Kwong Mei-wan, Professor Lau Chi-pang, Mr Lee Luen-fai, Dr James Li Tsz-shu, Ms Melissa Kaye Pang, Mr Henry Tong Sau-chai, Mr Wong Kam-leung, Ms Connie Wong Wai-ching and Mr Yang Yong.
      
     The Chief Secretary for Administration and CBLPSC Chairman, Mr Chan Kwok-Ki, said he looked forward to continuing to work with them closely to take forward patriotic education.
      
     Following is the membership list of the Working Group on Patriotic Education with effect from January 1, 2026:

Convenor
————
Dr Starry Lee Wai-king
 
Non-official members
————————–
Mr Stanley Choi Tak-shing
Professor Gu Min-kang
Mr Kwok Wing-keung
Ms Cally Kwong Mei-wan
Professor Lau Chi-pang
Mr Lee Luen-fai
Dr James Li Tsz-shu
Ms Melissa Kaye Pang
Mr Henry Tong Sau-chai
Mr Wong Kam-leung
Ms Connie Wong Wai-ching
Mr Yang Yong
 
Official members
——————–
Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs
Secretary for the Civil Service
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development
Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism
Secretary for Education
Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs
Secretary for Security
Director of Home Affairs
Director of Information Services
Director of Leisure and Cultural Services
Director-General of Trade and Industry
Solicitor General

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Government today (December 31) promulgated the updated Hong Kong Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP), which sets out the strategies and priority actions Hong Kong will adopt over the next 10 years to protect nature and support sustainable development, to protect Hong Kong’s biodiversity and thereby contribute to national and global efforts towards the goal of achieving harmony between humans and nature.
      
     A spokesman for the Environment and Ecology Bureau said, “Natural ecosystems and biodiversity are deeply intertwined with our well-being and are a vital part in achieving sustainable development in society. The harmonious coexistence between humans and nature is our country’s vision. We must act on the concept that ‘lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets and focus on building a beautiful China'”.
      
     At the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, the country led the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework which proposed a new global strategic framework for biodiversity conservation. The Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People’s Republic of China released the China National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and Action Plan (2023-2030) in January 2024. To match these frameworks, and taking into account Hong Kong’s actual circumstances and conditions as well as stakeholders’ feedback, the Government has updated the BSAP and formulated actions for the next phase, building upon the first phase of the BSAP launched in 2016.
      
     The updated BSAP puts forward four strategic areas, namely nature conservation, deepening mainstreaming, capacity building, and collaborative partnering, which include a total of 30 priority actions and 81 priority projects. The Government looks forward to continuing collaboration with various sectors in the community to strengthen Hong Kong’s biodiversity conservation, enabling sustainable development.
      
     The four strategic areas in the updated BSAP are as follows:
 
(1) Nature conservation

     The Government will protect ecosystems and species through comprehensive and area-based measures to safeguard and restore biodiversity. Priority actions include: strengthening management of protected areas and establishing a wetland conservation system; restoring degraded ecosystems and revitalising remote countryside areas; stepping up enforcement against wildlife crimes and management of invasive alien species; and preventing deterioration of the aquatic environment by controlling pollution discharges.
 
(2) Deepening mainstreaming

     The Government will continue to drive the integration of biodiversity conservation concepts into every sector of society, elevating it to a shared responsibility embedded within economic, urban and community practices. For example, non-governmental organisations and educational institutions can promote various programmes to deepen the public’s connection with nature; enterprises can disclose biodiversity-related risks and adopt sustainable operating practices; academic institutions can advance knowledge and nurture the next generation of conservation talent; urban development can also integrate biodiversity conservation concepts by adopting nature-based solutions and wildlife-friendly designs. Other sectors can also contribute to mainstreaming biodiversity by supporting sustainable agriculture and fisheries, ecotourism and the circular economy.
 
(3) Capacity building

     The Government places emphasis on enhancing Hong Kong’s biodiversity conservation capacity by advancing knowledge, professional expertise and technological development. The Government will continue to support scientific and interdisciplinary research to explore the frontiers of knowledge and technology, complemented by measures to assess the status of nature, promote knowledge dissemination and sharing with the public, nurture talent, and deepen professional capabilities. At the same time, the Government will explore the establishment of a centre or platform for biodiversity resources, to enable better access by the public to natural treasures and heritage in Hong Kong.
 
(4) Collaborative partnering

     The Government is committed to expanding and strengthening partnerships across regions, sectors and communities to safeguard the natural environment and resources; to create ecological corridors, combat wildlife crimes and manage habitats along species migration routes through cross-boundary co-operation; enhance the exchange of knowledge and expertise with the international community; learn from global best practices and case studies, optimise existing conservation measures, and enhance ecological resources management; capitalise on the role as a “super connector” to foster multi-stakeholder collaboration, advance ecological civilisation across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and support the latest initiatives on biodiversity on the national and global levels.
      
     The Government will continue to co-ordinate and monitor the implementation progress of the updated BSAP through the dedicated interdepartmental working group, and report the progress to the Advisory Council on the Environment regularly. To keep the public informed about the implementation, the Government will launch a dedicated website showcasing related work progress.
      
     The updated BSAP has been uploaded to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department’s website (www.afcd.gov.hk/english/conservation/Con_hkbsap/updating_bsap/updating_bsap.html).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Police announced today (December 31) that crowd management measures and special traffic arrangements will be implemented on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon today and tomorrow to facilitate the New Year’s Eve countdown event. Members of the public are urged to plan their journeys in advance and to make use of public transport as far as possible.

Hong Kong Island
———————– Lan Kwai Fong;
– Wing Wah Lane;
– Wo On Lane;
– Wellington Street between Wyndham Street and D’Aguilar Street; and
– On Lan Street.-    Queen’s Road Central between Garden Road and Pottinger Street;
–    Bank Street;
–    Duddell Street;
–    Ice House Street between Lower Albert Road and Des Voeux Road Central;
–    Westbound Lower Albert Road between Garden Road and Ice House Street;
–    Pedder Street between Queen’s Road Central and Des Voeux Road Central;
–    D’Aguilar Street between Wellington Street and Queen’s Road Central;
–    Wellington Street between D’Aguilar Street and Cochrane Street;
–    Stanley Street between D’Aguilar Street and Cochrane Street;
–    Cochrane Street between Wellington Street and Stanley Street;
–    Wyndham Street between Glenealy and Queen’s Road Central; and
–    Lyndhurst Terrace.-    Queen Victoria Street between Connaught Road Central and Des Voeux Road Central;
–    Wyndham Street between Arbuthnot Road and D’Aguilar Street;
–    The slip road from Cotton Tree Drive to Queensway (except for franchised buses); and
–    Northbound Arbuthnot Road.-    Ice House Street between Connaught Road Central and Des Voeux Road Central.-    The unnamed road between Connaught Road Central and Chater Road;
–    Club Street; and
–    Chater Road between Jackson Road and Murray Road.-    Lung Wo Road between Man Yiu Street and Yiu Sing Street;
–    Connaught Place between Man Yiu Street and Connaught Road Central;
–    Connaught Road Central between Pedder Street and Murray Road; and
–    The Pedder Street underpass; and
–    Lambeth Walk.-    Southbound Man Yiu Street between Finance Street and Connaught Place.-    Vehicles along northbound Ice House Street will be diverted via eastbound Des Voeux Road Central.-    Vehicles along westbound Connaught Road Central shall be diverted via Murray Road;
–    Vehicles along westbound Lung Wo Road shall be diverted via Yiu Sing Street; and
–    Vehicles along eastbound Man Cheung Street shall make a U-turn at the junction with Man Yiu Street.-    Vehicles along eastbound Upper Albert Road may only be allowed to proceed towards Garden Road.(ii) On Lan Street; and
(iii) Wyndham Street between Arbuthnot Road and D’Aguilar Street.———–

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     ​The Department of Health (DH) announced today (December 31) that Hong Kong residents born between 1950 and 1976 will be eligible to enrol in the Government-subsidised Colorectal Cancer Screening Programme (CRCSP) from January 1, 2026. The DH urges all eligible persons to participate in the CRCSP as early as possible and advocates the adoption of healthy lifestyles to lower the risk of colorectal cancer.
      
     Using a public-private partnership model, the CRCSP subsidises asymptomatic Hong Kong residents aged between 50 and 75 to undergo screening tests every two years in the private sector. Participants in the CRCSP should first attend a medical consultation provided by an enrolled primary care doctor (PCD) and receive a Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) screening arranged by the PCD. If the FIT result is positive, the participant will be referred to an enrolled colonoscopy specialist to receive a colonoscopy examination subsidised by the Government. If the FIT result is negative, the participant is advised to repeat the screening two years later.
      
     As of the end of November 2025, over 66 000 new participants have enrolled in the CRCSP this year, bringing the total number of participants to more than 579 000. Among them, 15 per cent had positive FIT screening results, approximately 45 000 persons (7.9 per cent) were diagnosed to have colorectal adenomas, and about 3 800 persons (0.7 per cent) had colorectal cancer after colonoscopy examination. Analysis showed that more than 50 per cent of the colorectal cancer cases detected under the CRCSP were in the early stages, demonstrating the effectiveness of screening.
     
     Currently, more than 1 200 PCDs have enrolled in the CRCSP, covering about 2  300 clinics to provide services, while 260 colonoscopy specialists have also joined the CRCSP to provide examination at about 790 clinics. The colonoscopy specialists can only charge participants a co-payment of no more than $1,000 for providing standard colonoscopy examination services, with over 70 per cent of these service locations not charging any additional payment for colonoscopy and polyp removal.
      
     “Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and the second most common cause of cancer death in Hong Kong. In 2023, there were 5 467 newly diagnosed colorectal cancer cases, accounting for 14.4 per cent of all new cancer cases. Colorectal cancer screenings can identify people at higher risk of colorectal cancer and asymptomatic patients, and enable them to receive early treatment, thus significantly improving prognosis. Also, removing colorectal adenoma during a colonoscopy can prevent it from developing into cancer,” said the Controller of the Centre for Health Protection of the DH, Dr Edwin Tsui.
         
     Dr Tsui called on eligible persons to join the CRCSP starting at age 50. If the screening result is normal, rescreening should be performed every two years until age 75. In addition, adopting a healthy lifestyle can help prevent colorectal cancer; this includes exercising regularly, eating two servings of fruit and three servings of vegetables daily, maintaining a healthy body weight, and avoiding smoking and alcohol drinking. Participants are also encouraged to invite eligible relatives and friends to join the CRCSP. 

     At the same time, the Primary Healthcare Commission is actively promoting the Life Course Preventive Care Plan. Based on the core principles of prevention-oriented and whole-person care, a personalised preventive care plan will be formulated to address the health needs of citizens across different life stages with reference to the latest evidence. Family doctors and primary healthcare professionals will collaborate to provide services based on age, sex, family history and other personal factors, such as advice on healthy lifestyle, chronic disease and cancer screening, which includes colorectal cancer screening.

     The years of birth for eligible persons are updated at the beginning of each year. Eligible persons who are interested in joining the CRCSP must enrol in the Electronic Health System (eHealth). Please refer to the eHealth website at www.ehealth.gov.hk or call the Registration Office at 3467 6300 for details.
 
     For more information on the CRCSP, please visit the DH’s thematic website www.colonscreen.gov.hk or call the dedicated hotline (3565 6288) during office hours.