Month: December 2025

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Executive John Lee briefed President Xi Jinping in Beijing this afternoon on the latest economic, social and political situation in Hong Kong, including the follow-up work on the fire at Wang Fuk Court, Tai Po.

At a media session in Beijing tonight, Mr Lee said he told President Xi about the Hong Kong SAR Government’s efforts to help the families affected in the fire and the ways to support them, help them and society to recover, adding that the President encouraged the Government to continue work hard on this.

“He has mentioned that it has to be a consistent and continuous effort. This is exactly what I am doing together with my government team.”

Mr Lee also reported to President Xi the establishment of an independent committee to fairly and justly look into two critical topics – the cause and the wide spread of the fire, as well as the long-standing problem regarding large-scale building renovation work.

“I have said that I have given nine months for the independent committee to complete its work, which is a pressing timetable because unlike other period setups, we are dealing with two main topics instead of one, so this is actually asking the independent committee to do two major tasks almost in parallel that will be very demanding.”

“That is also why I have reported that I have given this reserve power for the independent committee to, on the one hand, streamline procedures to increase efficiency so that they can finish the work as soon as possible, and at the same time ensure that they will have the power necessary if it is required at the time to address certain issues and areas. And I have made it very clear to President Xi that the committee’s purpose is to find out the truth and also to look for accountability.”

Mr Lee also reported to the President that the Government and Hong Kong as a whole will continue to steadfastly uphold the duty of safeguarding national security, noting that President Xi affirmed his strong recognition of the Government’s efforts in this regard.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

As of this morning, a total of 1,236 residents affected by the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po have been accommodated through the co-ordination of the Home & Youth Affairs Bureau, in youth hostels, camps, or hotel rooms. Another 3,354 residents are currently living in transitional housing units provided by the Housing Bureau, units from the Housing Society or Po Tin Interim Housing in Tuen Mun.

Currently, there is still an abundant supply of more than 1,000 units that can provide affected residents with longer term accommodation. The transitional housing and the Housing Society projects in different districts can altogether provide around 400 units at the moment.

Additionally, Po Tin Interim Housing in Tuen Mun and Runway 1331 at Kai Tak can provide a supply of around 900 units.

As of noon today, donations received by the Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po had reached about $3.4 billion. Combined with the $300 million startup capital from the Government, this takes the fund to a total of around $3.7 billion.

On the Government’s online platform for donated supplies, about 1,900 registrations have been received, with approximately 30% submitted by organisations. Over 24,000 donation items, covering various categories, have been distributed.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Fire Services Department said today that in response to the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, it has maintained close collaboration with property management organisations and stepped up inspections of fire service installations and equipment (FSIs) in buildings since December 4.

The department has redeployed manpower internally to enhance inspections of FSIs in buildings, particularly those undergoing major maintenance, and has proactively inspected the functional status of fire alarms. Should any non-compliance be identified, the department will conduct thorough investigations and decisively take enforcement action.

At the same time, the department has redeployed personnel to promptly follow up on reports of abnormal operation of FSIs in buildings and will take appropriate enforcement action accordingly.

Additionally, it earlier engaged in in-depth exchanges with the Property Management Services Authority, the Hong Kong Association of Property Management Companies, the Housing Authority, the Housing Society, and the Real Estate Developers Association of Hong Kong.

The department emphasised that apart from ensuring annual inspections of FSIs are conducted in their premises in accordance with the Fire Service (Installations & Equipment) Regulations, property management bodies must also proactively discharge their management duties and assist property owners in properly maintaining the FSIs in common areas to ensure their continuous and effective operation.

The FSD also reminds property management personnel to inspect the FSIs regularly during daily work and assist owners and their organisations to handle any damage or malfunction of the FSIs in a timely manner.

To address public concerns regarding the performance of building fire alarms, stakeholders have agreed to promote voluntary fire alarm testing to safeguard public safety.

The scope of the testing includes checking that manual call points are intact and capable of activating the fire alarm system; ensuring stable power supply to FSIs and reliable operation of standby power supply; and verifying that signals transmitted from fire control panels are normal with no false alarms or failures.

The department will continue to lead the Inter-departmental Fire Investigation Task Force to probe the cause of the fire at Wang Fuk Court, including investigation of the FSIs. As the investigation has revealed that the condition of the buildings’ FSIs may involve criminal elements, the case is being followed up by Police.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today strongly condemned the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) and foreign anti-China media for turning a blind eye to the court’s conviction judgment in Lai Chee-ying’s case, in an attempt to mislead the public, deliberately whitewashing criminal Lai Chee-ying under the cloak of so-called democracy.

In a statement, the Hong Kong SAR Government said the court verdict was made strictly in accordance with the law and evidence.

It pointed out that such an attempt aims to obscure Lai Chee-ying’s shameless acts and subversive work as an agent of external forces, in order to infiltrate and brainwash young people, through manipulating the media to incite the public, the interests of the country and the people.

The Hong Kong SAR Government said the HKJA has no credibility, lacks recognition and representativeness, and 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.

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 press freedom. It has even played up, with ill intent, different cases to discredit the Hong Kong SAR’s human rights and rule of law situation, aiming precisely to confuse the public and smear the Hong Kong SAR.

These are extremely despicable political manipulations that must be strongly condemned, the Hong Kong SAR Government said.

It reiterated that the conviction verdict was entirely free from any political considerations, as 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 855-page reasons for verdict in this case 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.

Furthermore, the Hong Kong SAR Government emphasised that the case has nothing to do with press freedom at all.

Over the years, it explained, 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”.

The Hong Kong SAR 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 Hong Kong SAR for external forces.

It will absolutely not condone any acts endangering national security that incite the public to betray the interests of the country and the people.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government today announced traffic and public transport arrangements for the Central Kowloon Bypass (Yau Ma Tei Section) (CKB (YMT Section)), which is due to be commissioned on December 21.

Connecting Yau Ma Tei Interchange in West Kowloon and Kai Tak Interchange in East Kowloon, the new road section will allow motorists to travel directly between Yau Ma Tei and Kowloon Bay, with the journey time being significantly reduced from about 30 minutes currently to just about five minutes.

Traffic arrangements

At the Yau Ma Tei end of the CKB (YMT Section), there are seven entrances and exits. Motorists can travel to and from Tsim Sha Tsui, the Western Harbour Crossing, Tai Kok Tsui or Kwai Chung via Hoi Po Road, West Kowloon Highway or Lin Cheung Road.

Meanwhile, at the Kai Tak end of the bypass eight entrances and exits enable motorists to travel to and from Kai Tak, Kowloon Bay, the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal or Kwun Tong via Shing Kai Road, Kai Cheung Road or Kai Fuk Road.

Traffic signs and road markings have been put in place to guide motorists on how to reach various destinations.

Public transport arrangements

From December 22, a total of eight bus routes, comprising three new routes and five adjusted routes, will provide services via the CKB (YMT Section) during peak hours from Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.

The three new routes are KMB 33X, KMB 252S and Citybus A28X.

Five of KMB’s existing routes, namely 258X, 259S, 259X, 268P and 269S, will be adjusted to run through the bypass.

Additionally, four more bus routes will commence service next year.

The Central Kowloon Bypass will be a toll road, with tolls commencing when the entire bypass, including the Kowloon Bay Section, is fully commissioned next year.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 3.8% in the September to November period, unchanged from the August to October period, the Census & Statistics Department announced today.

The underemployment rate remained at 1.6%.

Total employment was 3,669,900, down around 2,800 from August to October, while the labour force also decreased by around 8,000 to 3,814,300.

Looking ahead, Secretary for Labour & Welfare Chris Sun said the solid expansion of the Hong Kong economy and improving consumer confidence should continue to support the overall labour market.

“Yet, the employment situations in some sectors may remain under pressure as their businesses face challenges,” he added.

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