Month: December 2025

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Public library opening hours for Christmas and New Year holidays

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Public library opening hours for Christmas and New Year holidays 
     On Christmas Day (December 25), Boxing Day (December 26) and New Year’s Day (January 1, 2026), all Hong Kong public libraries, mobile libraries and students’ study rooms will be closed.
 
     Moreover, system maintenance work will be carried out from 00.30am on December 25 to 7am on December 27, and from 0.30am to 11.59pm on January 1, 2026, during which the following services will be suspended:
* library mobile app services, Internet and telephone renewal services;
* other online library services, including the library catalogue, borrowers’ record enquiries, reservation of library materials and computer facilities, and electronic resources;
* self-service library stations; and
* the function of real-time loan record update of smart book drops and smart book returns (readers may still return library materials to the smart book return facilities, and the loan record will be updated within two working days).
 
     Details can be obtained from notices posted at all public libraries and the library website at www.hkpl.gov.hk/en/library-notices/library-notices-list.htmlIssued at HKT 11:25

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UNIDROIT’s Asia-Pacific Liaison Office to be established at Hong Kong Legal Hub

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

UNIDROIT’s Asia-Pacific Liaison Office to be established at Hong Kong Legal Hub      
     The proposal for the establishment of the Office was submitted by the Department of Justice (DoJ) of the HKSAR Government to the secretariat of UNIDROIT, with the staunch and unwavering support of the Central People’s Government. In May this year, the UNIDROIT Governing Council expressed support for the proposal and recommended it to the General Assembly for decision at its 85th session held on December 11. The decision by the General Assembly in accepting the recommendation has marked the first regional presence of UNIDROIT outside its seat in Rome in its 100 years of history.

     China has been a member of UNIDROIT since 1986. The HKSAR has participated in the work of UNIDROIT as part of the Chinese delegation. In recent years, the DoJ has been collaborating closely with UNIDROIT, including co-organising biennial Asia-Pacific International Private Law Summits in the HKSAR since 2022 and joint seminars in Rome in 2023 and 2025, as well as seconding legal professionals from both the private and public sectors in the HKSAR to the secretariat of UNIDROIT annually, pursuant to the Memoranda of Understanding signed between the DoJ and UNIDROIT in 2021 and 2022. It is anticipated that the establishment of the Office in 2026 will further strengthen the existing collaborative relationship between the DoJ and UNIDROIT in the years to come.
      
     Hosting UNIDROIT’s first overseas office in the HKSAR is a significant milestone for the city’s development as a legal hub, as it reflects the international community’s continued confidence in the HKSAR’s legal system and reinforces its position as a leading international legal hub. The Office will establish a stable physical presence of UNIDROIT in the Asia-Pacific region to more efficiently and effectively support its work in the region. It could also contribute to facilitating co-ordination and creating synergies among the “three sisters of private international law”, namely UNIDROIT, the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH), and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), at the Hong Kong Legal Hub, which has already housed the HCCH Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific and the DoJ Project Office for Collaboration with UNCITRAL. 
      
     UNIDROITIssued at HKT 11:00

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Special traffic and transport arrangements for Christmas market at Stanley Plaza

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Special traffic and transport arrangements for Christmas market at Stanley Plaza 
* The section of Stanley New Street between Stanley Village Road and Stanley Market Road will be temporarily closed to all vehicular traffic from 11am to 9pm daily on the above dates (except for vehicles of local residents, the Police, emergency services and vehicles with permits).
 
* Pedestrian precincts will be implemented on Stanley Main Street and Stanley Market Road on the following dates and hours:
 

Location of pedestrian precinct* The services of Citybus Route Nos. 6X, 63, 65 and 260, and Hong Kong Island green minibus Route Nos. 40, 40X and 52 will be strengthened subject to passenger demand during the event.

     The TD anticipates that the traffic in the vicinity of Stanley and its approach roads will be busy during the holding of the above event. Members of the public should use public transport services as far as possible, or consider using the free shuttle bus services provided by the event organiser. Due to the limited number of parking spaces at Stanley Plaza, motorists who have not reserved parking spaces with the event organiser should avoid driving to the vicinity. Motorists should exercise tolerance and patience when traffic is congested and follow the instructions of the Police. Issued at HKT 11:00

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LCSD to present Chinese dance appreciation lecture series in January next year

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will launch a Chinese dance appreciation series in January next year. Hosted by veteran choreographer Yan Xiaoqiang, the six-lecture series will introduce the historical background, aesthetic characteristics and physical culture of Chinese dance from various perspectives, guiding audiences to appreciate its rich diversity and experience its profound connection with traditional Chinese culture. 

     Details of each lecture are as follows:————————————————————————–
Date: January 12 (Monday)————————————————————————–
Date: January 15 (Thursday)————————————————————————–
Date: January 19 (Monday)————————————————————————–
Date: January 22 (Thursday)————————————————————————–
Date: January 26 (Monday)————————————————————————–
Date: January 29 (Thursday)

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Govt launches Budget consultation

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government today began a public consultation for the 2026-27 Budget.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan said Hong Kong’s economy has demonstrated strong resilience and is making steady progress in 2025, despite external challenges.

“The Government’s efforts to reinforce and enhance Hong Kong’s status and competitiveness as an international financial centre, along with its comprehensive policies to drive economic and innovation and technology (I&T) development, are beginning to bear fruit,” he said.

“These developments are creating favourable conditions for Hong Kong’s continued advancement.”

Noting that 2026 marks the first year of the National 15th Five-Year Plan, he said: “Key issues for the upcoming Budget will include how Hong Kong can further broaden and deepen its economic development, accelerate the nurturing and application of I&T, expedite the upgrading of industry structures, and better integrate into, and contribute to, national development.”

“They also include creating more high-quality job opportunities and ensuring that the benefits of economic progress and diversification are widely shared across the community.”

Mr Chan stressed that the Government will gather views from different sectors, engage with the public, and draw on collective wisdom in preparing the new Budget.

“We welcome all members of the community to actively share their views so that we can work together to build a better and more vibrant Hong Kong.”

Citizens can share their views via the Budget website, by email, by phone at 2810 3768, by fax at 2147 5770, or by post to the Budget Consultation Support Team on 24/F, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong.

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MOFA response to China’s recent attempts at military intimidation in the Taiwan Strait and across region

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to China’s recent attempts at military intimidation in the Taiwan Strait and across region

December 10, 2025The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) condemns recent malicious moves by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to engage in various forms of military intimidation near several neighboring countries and in the Taiwan Strait. Such regrettable actions have heightened regional tensions. 
 
MOFA states that maintaining freedom, security, peace, and stability across the strait and in the Indo-Pacific region is a widely accepted international consensus. Furthermore, China’s unilateral military provocations and suppressive actions threaten Taiwan’s democracy and freedom and the regional status quo of peace and stability. They also destabilize the overall situation in the Indo-Pacific.
 
MOFA calls on China to act in accordance with its status as a major power and fulfill its responsibilities, promptly halt unwarranted military provocations, and respect nations in the region as well as the international order. 
 
As a responsible member of the international community and the Indo-Pacific, Taiwan is committed to firmly safeguarding the cross-strait status quo and bolstering its self-defense capabilities and resilience so as to maintain its security as well as peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Furthermore, Taiwan will work with democracies in the region to jointly preserve peace, stability, and prosperity. Meanwhile, in the face of external threats and challenges, the government will continue to collaborate with like-minded countries to uphold democracy. Working with the people, the government is determined to protect Taiwan’s democracy, freedom, and security.

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MOFA response to Taiwan-friendly provisions in compromise text of US Congress’s NDAA 2026

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to Taiwan-friendly provisions in compromise text of US Congress’s NDAA 2026

December 8, 2025  

The US Congress published a compromise version of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (NDAA 2026) on December 7 following the approval of respective versions by the US House of Representatives and Senate. The legislation includes multiple provisions that will help bolster Taiwan’s defense capabilities and resilience and deepen Taiwan-US security cooperation, as well as support Taiwan’s international participation.
 
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung sincerely thanks the US Congress for continuing to demonstrate staunch bipartisan support for Taiwan and for strengthening Taiwan-US security cooperation through legislation. It has been widely noted that the National Security Strategy of the United States of America released by the second Trump administration highlights in particular Taiwan’s vital geostrategic location and stresses that the United States will work with allies and partners to jointly ensure security across the Taiwan Strait. The version of the NDAA 2026 published on this occasion once again demonstrates the consensus between the executive and legislative branches of the US government on enhancing Taiwan’s security.
 
Taiwan will continue to steadily advance cooperation with the United States in security and related areas so as to realize the policy vision of peace through strength. President Lai Ching-te has announced that Taiwan will invest NT$1.25 trillion as it continues to enhance self-defense and work with others to ensure peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and the region.
 
The NDAA 2026 will be presented to US President Donald Trump for signature once it is passed in both chambers of the US Congress. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to monitor the progress of the NDAA 2026 and stay in close contact with the US Congress and administration so as to jointly deepen the partnership between Taiwan and the United States.

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HKSAR Government strongly condemns Hong Kong Journalists Association and foreign anti-China media for misleading public and whitewashing Lai Chee-ying

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

HKSAR Government strongly condemns Hong Kong Journalists Association and foreign anti-China media for misleading public and whitewashing Lai Chee-ying       
     A HKSAR Government spokesperson said, “The HKJA has no credibility, lacks recognition and representativeness, and the association has even been refusing to disclose the list of its latest executive committee members. It is despicable for an organisation of such a nature to call itself the representative of the press. In fact, the HKJA, as with other foreign anti-China media outlets, has been intentionally misleading the public by consistently and deliberately conflating the criminal acts in Lai Chee-ying’s case with freedom of the press. It has even played up with ill intent different cases to discredit the human rights and rule of law situations of the HKSAR, aiming precisely to confuse the public and smear the HKSAR. These are extremely despicable political manipulations that must be strongly condemned.
       
     “Their misleading and false statements reveal that they have entirely no respect for the HKSAR court’s independent judgment of the case, which has been made on the basis of facts and evidence. They also refused to acknowledge the evidence set out in the reasons for the verdict, and refused to understand the court’s considerations and rationale for the verdict. Instead, they wantonly launched attacks, slandered and attacked the HKSAR Government, flagrantly trampling the rule of law, overriding the rule of law with politics, distorting facts and confounding right and wrong.”
       
Court’s conviction verdict was entirely free from any political considerations
      
     The spokesperson reiterated, “The court clearly pointed out in the reasons for verdict that Lai Chee-ying was not on trial for his political views or beliefs. The court’s reasons for verdict in this case are 855 pages long, which are fully open for public inspection, and include the court’s analysis of the relevant legal principles and evidence, as well as the reasons for convicting Lai Chee-ying and the three defendant companies in full detail.”
       
Lai Chee-ying’s case has nothing to do with freedom of the press at all
       
     The spokesperson emphasised, “Lai Chee-ying’s case has nothing to do with freedom of the press at all. Over the years, the defendants have used journalism as a guise to commit acts that brought harm to our country and Hong Kong. Lai Chee-ying was fundamentally the mastermind behind a series of anti-China and destabilising activities in Hong Kong, and was no doubt an agent of external anti-China forces. The public trial of this case revealed Lai Chee-ying’s close management and hands-on control of the editorial direction of Apple Daily, and one of the senior managers even said they were free within a ‘bird cage’.
       
     “Hong Kong citizens enjoy freedom of the press and freedom of speech as protected under the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights. In fact, the Hong Kong National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance clearly stipulate that human rights shall be respected and protected in safeguarding national security. The rights and freedoms, including the freedoms of the press, of speech and of publication, enjoyed by Hong Kong people under the Basic Law and the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as applied to the HKSAR, are protected in accordance with the law. Like all other places in the world, journalists, just like all other citizens, have an obligation to abide by all the laws. According to the principles established by Article 19 of the ICCPR, the European Convention on Human Rights and relevant jurisprudence, when the media and journalists publish opinions, information and articles, they must observe and discharge ‘special duties and responsibilities’, including protection of national security and public order. Journalists must, in accordance with the tenets of ‘responsible journalism’, act in good faith on accurate factual basis and provide reliable and precise information, so as to be entitled to the protection of freedom of speech and press freedom.
       
     “The HKSAR Government strongly urges the HKJA and other foreign anti-China media to understand the facts relating to Lai Chee-ying’s case as soon as possible, and do the right thing to stop any form of infiltration and activities of a subversive nature, including ‘brainwashing’ young people of the HKSAR for external forces. The HKSAR Government will absolutely not condone any acts endangering national security that incite the public to betray the interests of the country and the people.”
Issued at HKT 18:20

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FEHD releases second batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in December

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

FEHD releases second batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in December 

District

District     Among the second batch of First Phase Gravidtrap Indexes covering 27 survey areas and Area Gravidtrap Indexes covering five survey areas in December, all were below 10 per cent.

     The FEHD has so far released two batches of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in December 2025, covering 48 survey areas. Among these 48 survey areas, 46 recorded a decrease or remained unchanged in the individual gravidtrap index as compared to the Area Gravidtrap Index last month, i.e. November 2025, representing that the areas’ mosquito infestation improved or maintained a low level. Two other areas recorded a slight increase, but the indexes were lower than 10 per cent.     Starting in August this year, following the completion of the surveillance of individual survey areas, and once the latest gravidtrap index and the density index are available, the FEHD has been disseminating relevant information through press releases, its website, and social media. It aims to allow members of the public to quickly grasp the mosquito infestation situation and strengthen mosquito control efforts, thereby reducing the risk of chikungunya fever (CF) transmission.

     Following the recommendations from the World Health Organization and taking into account the local situation in Hong Kong, the FEHD sets up gravidtraps in districts where mosquito-borne diseases have been recorded in the past, as well as in densely populated places such as housing estates, hospitals and schools to monitor the breeding and distribution of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which can transmit CF and dengue fever. At present, the FEHD has set up gravidtraps in 64 survey areas of the community. During the two weeks of surveillance, the FEHD will collect the gravidtraps once a week. After the first week of surveillance, the FEHD will immediately examine the glue boards inside the retrieved gravidtraps for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes to compile the Gravidtrap Index (First Phase) and Density Index (First Phase). At the end of the second week of surveillance, the FEHD will instantly check the glue boards for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes. Data from the two weeks of surveillance will be combined to obtain the Area Gravidtrap Index and the Area Density Index. The gravidtrap and density indexes for Aedes albopictus in different survey areas, as well as information on mosquito prevention and control measures, are available on the department’s webpage (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/pestcontrol/dengue_fever/Dengue_Fever_Gravidtrap_Index_Update.html#Issued at HKT 18:00

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Brussels ETO promotes Hong Kong films at Festival des 3 Continents in France

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (Brussels ETO) supports the participation of Hong Kong films in the 47th Festival des 3 Continents held in Nantes, France, from November 21 to 29.

     This year, the Festival pays tribute to two retrospective classics of Hong Kong cinema, namely “In the Mood for Love” and “The Arch”. Complementing the screenings, the jazz quartet Flash Pig performed a special concert, featuring classic pieces from the soundtrack of “In the Mood for Love”.

     Brussels ETO hosted a reception on November 26 (Nantes time), bringing together around 100 local guests from the film industry, cultural sector and local authorities. Speaking at the reception, Deputy Representative of Brussels ETO Mr Kasper Ng highlighted the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s firm commitment to developing Hong Kong into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange through the dedicated Film Development Fund and the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency.

     Mr Ng also invited audience members to visit Hong Kong to experience the city’s arts and culture scene, including a wide range of film festivals of all sizes, notably the Hong Kong International Film Festival, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2026, as well as the Hong Kong International Film & TV Market, which is Asia’s largest film and entertainment content marketplace.

     The Festival des 3 Continents screens movies from Asia, Africa and Latin America and has featured film directors for the French public since 1979.