Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (December 3) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in County Cavan in Ireland, and a notification from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan about an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Tottori Prefecture in Japan, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the above-mentioned areas with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.
A CFS spokesman said that Hong Kong has currently established a protocol with Ireland for the import of poultry meat but not for poultry eggs. According to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 20 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Ireland, and about 1 540 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and about 219.73 million poultry eggs from Japan in the first nine months of this year.
“The CFS has contacted the Irish and Japanese authorities over the issues and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation,” the spokesman said.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Correctional officers stop assault on person in custody At 1.22pm today, a 67-year-old male person in custody attacked a 65-year-old male person in custody inside a dayroom. Officers at the scene immediately stopped the assailant and called for reinforcement.
During the incident, the victim sustained injuries to his head, clavicle and hand. After examination and treatment by the institution Medical Officer, he was referred to a public hospital for further treatment. The assailant did not sustain any injuries.
The case has been reported to the Police for investigation.
The two persons in custody were sentenced to imprisonment for the offences of murder in 2019 and 2018, respectively. Issued at HKT 17:15
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Interest rate of second interest payment for series of retail infrastructure bonds due 2027 According to the Issue Circular dated November 26, 2024 for the Retail Infrastructure Bonds, the second interest payment of the Retail Infrastructure Bonds is scheduled to be made on December 17, 2025, and the relevant interest rate is scheduled to be determined and announced on December 3, 2025 as the higher of the prevailing Floating Rate and Fixed Rate.
On December 3, 2025, the Floating Rate and Fixed Rate are as follows:
Floating Rate: +1.28 per cent (Annex) Fixed Rate: +3.50 per cent
Based on the Floating Rate and Fixed Rate set out above, the relevant interest rate for the second interest payment is determined and announced as 3.50 per cent per annum. Issued at HKT 17:00
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
FEHD releases seventh batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in November
District
District Among the seventh batch of First Phase Gravidtrap Indexes covering five survey areas and Area Gravidtrap Indexes covering 13 survey areas in November, all were below 10 per cent.
The FEHD has so far released seven batches of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in November 2025, covering 64 survey areas. Among these 64 survey areas, 49 recorded a decrease or remained unchanged in the individual gravidtrap index as compared to the Area Gravidtrap Index last month, i.e. October 2025, representing that the areas’ mosquito infestation improved or maintained a low level. Fifteen 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 17:00
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Office (the Office), under the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau, will set up a booth at the Entrepreneur Day exhibition at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on December 4 and 5 to introduce entrepreneurial opportunities arising from the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), and the various support services available.
A spokesman for the Office said today (December 3) that the GBA, as one of the most open and economically vibrant regions of the country, plays a key strategic role in the overall national development. The GBA has a population of over 87 million, and its total economic output exceeded RMB14.5 trillion last year. The development of the GBA is full of vitality and opportunities. The Office has been committed to promoting the significant opportunities brought about by the development of the GBA to local, Mainland, and overseas stakeholders through diversified channels and means. By setting up a booth at the Entrepreneur Day exhibition, the Office aims to provide aspiring entrepreneurs, including young people who wish to start businesses in the Mainland cities of the GBA, with practical information on relevant policies and support measures.
The booth to be set up by the Office at the exhibition will feature rich content, providing comprehensive information ranging from policy overviews to practical support services. This will help participants grasp the opportunities of the GBA’s development and create greater room for business and career development. There will also be limited-edition souvenirs distributed while stocks last.
The Office booth will be located at Hall 1E (Booth 1E – F02) and will be open from 9am to 6.30pm on December 4 and from 9am to 6pm on December 5. Admission to the exhibition is free. Interested participants may preregister on the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC)’s website (www.hktdc.com/event/eday/en).
The Entrepreneur Day exhibition is organised by the HKTDC, and is designed to foster entrepreneurship and offer support to start-ups through abundant opportunities and customised support services. Participants can connect with fellow entrepreneurs and investors, forge partnerships, engage with industry leaders and expedite their business growth.
For further information about the GBA, please visit the Office’s one-stop dedicated website (www.bayarea.gov.hk/en).
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Transport Department (TD) today (December 3) said that the next online auction of vehicle registration marks (VRMs) will be held from noon on December 18 (Thursday) to noon on December 22 (Monday) through the auction platform E-Auction (e-auction.td.gov.hk). Interested bidders can participate in the online auction only after they have successfully registered as E-Auction users.
A spokesman for the TD said, “A total of 200 Ordinary VRMs will be available at this online public auction. The list of VRMs (see Annex) has been uploaded to the E-Auction website. Applicants who have paid a $1,000 deposit to reserve the Ordinary VRM for auction should also register as an E-Auction user in advance in order to participate in the online bidding, including placing the first bid at the opening price of $1,000. Otherwise, the VRMs reserved by them may be bid on by other interested bidders at or above the opening price. Auctions for VRMs with ‘HK’ or ‘XX’ as a prefix, special VRMs and personalised VRMs will continue to be carried out through physical auctions by bidding paddles and their announcement arrangements remain unchanged.”
Members of the public participating in the online bidding should take note of the following important points:
(1) Bidders should register in advance as an E-Auction user by “iAM Smart+” equipped with the digital signing function; or by using a valid digital certificate and an email address upon completion of identity verification. Registered “iAM Smart” users should provide their Hong Kong identity card number, while non-Hong Kong residents who are not “iAM Smart” users should provide the number of their passport or other identification documents when registering as E-Auction users.
(2) Bidders are required to provide a digital signature to confirm the submission and amount of the bid by using “iAM Smart+” or a valid digital certificate at the time of the first bid of each online bidding session (including setting automatic bids before the auction begins) to comply with the requirements of the Electronic Transactions Ordinance.
(3) If a bid is made in respect of a VRM within the last 10 minutes before the end of the auction, the auction end time for that particular VRM will be automatically extended by another 10 minutes, up to a maximum of 24 hours.
(4) Successful bidders must follow the instructions in the notification email issued by the TD to log in to the E-Auction within 48 hours from the issuance of the email and complete the follow-up procedures, including:
completing the Purchaser Information for the issuance of the Memorandum of Sale of Registration Mark (Memorandum of Sale); and
making the auction payment online by credit card, Faster Payment System (FPS) or Payment by Phone Service (PPS). Cheque or cash payment is not accepted in the E-Auction.
(5) A VRM can only be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser. Relevant information on the Certificate of Incorporation must be provided by the successful bidder in the Purchaser Information of the Memorandum of Sale if the VRM purchased is to be registered under the name of a body corporate.
(6) Successful bidders will receive a notification email around seven working days after payment has been confirmed and can download the Memorandum of Sale from the E-Auction. The purchaser must apply for the VRM to be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser within 12 months from the date of issue of the Memorandum of Sale. If the purchaser fails to do so within the 12-month period, in accordance with the statutory provision, the allocation of the VRM will be cancelled and a new allocation will be arranged by the TD without prior notice to the purchaser.
The TD has informed all applicants who have reserved the Ordinary VRMs for this round of auction of the E-Auction arrangements in detail by post. Members of the public may refer to the E-Auction website or watch the tutorial videos for more information. Please call the E-Auction hotline (3583 3980) or email (e-auction-enquiry@td.gov.hk) for enquiries.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
In response to netizens’ comments on a social media platform about victims of the fire incident in Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po being arranged to move into interim housing units with unfurnished floors, a spokesman for the Housing Department today (December 3) clarified that the relevant comments are not fact-based. No affected residents are staying in the interim housing units at the moment.
The Housing Department reminds members of the public not to trust false comments online. Affected residents who would like to stay in transitional housing under the Housing Bureau may call 3611 8482. For enquiries on the interim housing and transit centres of the Housing Department, members of the public may call 2658 4430.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Following are the welcome remarks by the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, at the Symposium of the HCCH Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) on Private International Law under Hong Kong Legal Week 2025 today (December 3):
Dr Christophe Bernasconi (Secretary-General of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH)), Consuls-General, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
I am honoured to join you all today at the Symposium of the HCCH Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific on Private International Law, co-organised by the Hague Conference on Private International Law and the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy of my department, as part of the Hong Kong Legal Week 2025.
In fact, this is the very first time that we co-organised an event with the HCCH during Hong Kong Legal Week. The HCCH is our long-standing partner and we have worked very closely with the HCCH for decades. With the staunch support of the Central People’s Government, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has been actively participating in the working groups, meetings and activities of the HCCH as part of the Chinese delegation since 1997. Through a standing arrangement with the HCCH, Hong Kong legal talent from both the private and public sectors have the opportunity to be seconded to the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH at the Hague, obtaining valuable insights into the work of the HCCH in the field of private international law.
In 2012, the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific of the HCCH was set up in the HKSAR. Since its establishment, ROAP has played a significant role in increasing awareness and understanding of the importance of the HCCH and its instruments among states and stakeholders, as well as contributing to the smooth implementation and operation of the HCCH’s instruments in the Asia-Pacific region.
Today’s Symposium is another example of our long-standing collaborations with the HCCH. We are joined here today by esteemed speakers from different parts of the Asia-Pacific region, who will share their insightful views on topics relevant to the theme of today’s Symposium – “Transnational Litigation & Apostille: Innovating Practices under the HCCH Conventions”.
Hong Kong has long valued the work of the HCCH; a total of nine HCCH instruments are currently applicable to the HKSAR, including the Apostille, Service and Evidence Conventions, which will be discussed in today’s Symposium. Back in 1965, the first HCCH Convention which applied to Hong Kong was the Apostille Convention, which is now one of the most widely applied multilateral treaties in the area of legal co-operation with over 125 contracting parties, followed by the Service Convention in 1970 and the Evidence Convention in 1978. Under the principle of “one country, two systems”, these HCCH Conventions continue to apply to the HKSAR since 1997.
As the timing would suggest, these HCCH Conventions were concluded at a time which is vastly different from today. To adapt to the rapid and ever-evolving technological advancements over the years, the HCCH has developed various innovating practices to facilitate and streamline the functioning of the HCCH’s Conventions in this digital age.
These innovating practices include the electronic Apostille Programme (e-APP), which is aimed at supporting the electronic issuance and verification of Apostilles around the world. The HKSAR has also implemented the e-APP in recent years, which will be discussed by Registrar Kwang from the High Court of the HKSAR (Registrar of the High Court, Mr Simon Kwang) during the first panel discussion later today. With respect to the use of digital means under other HCCH Conventions, taking of evidence by video link has been implemented in the HKSAR for some years. In fact, video-conferencing facilities have been used for remote hearings for suitable civil cases of the High Court since April 3, 2020. I will leave further discussion to our experts at the second panel who will share their insights on how digital means could further enhance efficiency in litigation support under various HCCH Conventions.
Ladies and gentlemen, today’s theme is timely as we explore how innovating practices, including digital means, can streamline cross-border document circulation and enhance efficiency in litigation support in the context of the HCCH’s Conventions. I hope today’s Symposium will allow us all to engage in meaningful exchanges and drive forward the future of private international law. Thank you.
Following its success in September, winning dual Sustainability Action Awards for its Small Farmer Coffee and Sugarcane Rum initiatives, Taiwan Sugar Corporation (Taisugar) has once again demonstrated its robust capabilities in sustainability. The corporation has been honored with two prestigious accolades at the Taiwan Corporate Sustainability Awards (TCSA): the Top 100 Taiwan Sustainability Model Corporate Award and the Corporate Sustainability Report Gold Award.
Taisugar Vice President Tseng Chien-chan attended the award ceremony on the morning of November 26 to accept the honors. These awards not only recognize Taisugar’s long-term efforts in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) sectors but also inspire us to uphold our core philosophy of Agriculture-based, Circular Sustainability. We remain be committed to becoming a benchmark for healthy and green enterprise.
Taisugar emphasizes that sustainable development is deeply embedded in its corporate DNA, with ESG principles actively applied across products, services, and business operations. The Small Farmer Coffee for Rural Education and Sustainable Taiwan Sugarcane Rum projects, which won the Taiwan Sustainability Action Awards in September, are concrete examples of Taisugar’s dedication to fair trade, educational equity, and the high-value transformation of traditional sugar innovation.
Winning the TCSA Top 100 Model Enterprise and Gold Report awards signifies high external recognition of Taisugar’s comprehensive performance in ESG, as well as the integrity and credibility of its information disclosure. Taisugar aims to exert continuously a positive corporate influence through sustainable operations.
In response to net-zero carbon emission policies, Taisugar is aggressively developing green energy. As of the end of 2024, the company has installed a total of 543.64 MW in solar panels including rooftop, floating, and ground-mounted photovoltaic systems.
Furthermore, Taisugar is integrating green energy with the circular economy by utilizing sugar production by-products (bagasse) and livestock waste (pig manure) for biomass power generation. In 2024, these initiatives generated 9.93 million kWh and 703,500 kWh of electricity, respectively. In terms of carbon sinks, Taisugar has managed 11,468 hectares of afforestation areas as of the end of 2024, absorbing approximately 127,800 metric tons of carbon dioxide to help mitigate climate change impacts.
Taisugar continues to support government policies for public welfare by stabilizing prices of essential commodities such as sugar, pork, and edible oil, demonstrating the resilience and reliability of the state-owned enterprise supply chain.
Operationally, Taisugar has been recognized by the government as a Distinguished Business Unit for Labor-Management Harmony. Additionally, the Development of Industrial Park South of Shashexi project was awarded the Golden Safety Award for public works (the highest honor in construction safety) ensuring top-tier quality and workplace safety in its infrastructure projects.
Taisugar stresses that, confronting the dual challenges of climate change and net-zero goals, sustainable business is an absolute imperative. Looking ahead, Taisugar will deepen its ESG strategies with high standards, advancing sustainability goals from green energy and circular agriculture to social prosperity, co-creating a healthy and green future for Taiwan.
TSC News Contact Person:
Chang Mu-Jung
Public Relations, Department of Secretariat, TSC
Contact Number: 886-6-337-8819 / 886-920-636-951
Email:a63449@taisugar.com.tw
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong SAR will jointly hold a Constitution Day seminar tomorrow, with a view to enhancing public understanding of the constitutional basis of China and the Hong Kong SAR.
The Preamble of the Constitution stipulates that “realising the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation” is a fundamental task for the country. The Hong Kong SAR Government said that fully implementing the Constitution is foundational for advancing the country’s overall law-based governance and building a socialist state under the rule of law.
This year’s seminar, themed “The Constitution & the Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation”, will feature a keynote speech and a panel discussion.
The speech will be delivered by Prof Han Dayuan, who is a member of the Hong Kong SAR Basic Law Committee under the Standing Committee of the NPC and a professor at the Renmin University of China’s Renmin Law School.
The panel discussion will be moderated by Endeavour Education Centre Management Committee member Rita Fan. She will be joined by Chinese Association of Hong Kong & Macao Studies consultant Prof Lau Siu-kai, and member of the Committee for Liaison with Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan & Overseas Chinese of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference David Lie, to explore the Constitution’s centrality to the process of China’s rejuvenation and Hong Kong’s unique roles under “one country, two systems”.
The seminar will be held at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre from 11am to 12.30pm tomorrow. It will also be broadcast live on the Information Services Department’s website, news.gov.hk’sFacebook page, the Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Bureau’s Facebook page and Radio Television Hong Kong TV 32.
The full version of the seminar will subsequently be uploaded to the Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Bureau’s website.