Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Statistics on Code on Access to Information for second quarter of 2025 announced
The total number of requests received since the introduction of the Code in March 1995 and up to the end of June 2025 amounted to 262 689. This includes the applications for Notice of Application for Access to Information in relation to the Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (Non-Chinese Citizens) received by the Immigration Department. Of these, 14 333 requests were subsequently withdrawn by the requestors and 6 871 requests covered cases in which the bureaux/departments concerned did not hold the requested information or cannot confirm or deny the existence of information. As at June 30, 2025, 1 117 requests were still being processed by bureaux/departments.
Among the 240 368 requests which covered information held by bureaux/departments and which the bureaux/departments had responded to, 236 894 requests (98.6 per cent) were met, either in full (233 684 requests) or in part (3 210 requests), and 3 474 requests (1.4 per cent) were refused.Issued at HKT 18:53
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Pilot Run for Duty Stamp System by Hong Kong Customs concludes
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The three-month Pilot Run for the Duty Stamp System launched by Hong Kong Customs concluded on January 4. The Pilot Run simulated the operational procedures of the Duty Stamp System in a real setting for testing operational procedures and related technologies, monitored the delivery of cigarettes affixed with trial duty stamps throughout the entire supply chain from the manufacturing premises to their sale at retail outlets, and collected views and feedback from various stakeholders.
During the Pilot Run, under the supervision of Customs officers and a technical consultant, local cigarette manufacturers conducted several operations of affixing trial duty stamps. Overall, the affixing operations achieved a successful rate of 99 per cent. Those cigarettes affixed with trial duty stamps have been delivered to various retail outlets for sale after duty payment, including chain convenience stores, newspaper stalls and stores. Customs also arranged distribution of promotional posters, leaflets and questionnaires to all related retail outlets for facilitating a better understanding of the tobacco retail industry and the public on key features of the Pilot Run.
As well, Customs officers affixed trial duty stamps to packets of cigarettes brought into Hong Kong by travellers or imported via small shipments after duty payment at Duty Collection Offices of six border control points and Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) cargo terminals.
As of January 3, Customs collected a total of 504 questionnaire responses from the public. The consolidated views showed that the public expressed positive feedback towards the publicity information of the Pilot Run, the design of the trial duty stamps, and the condition of cigarette retail packets after affixation.
To enhance public awareness of the Duty Stamp System, Customs conducted a series of promotional activities during the Pilot Run, including disseminating relevant information through the Customs website, social media and press releases. Customs also displayed promotional posters, distributed information leaflets at all border control points, HKIA and public housing estates, as well as set up mobile promotional booths in selected districts. In addition, Customs also arranged multiple briefing sessions for stakeholders with the aim of delivering details about the Duty Stamp System and the Pilot Run to different sectors in society.
Customs has been actively maintaining a close communication with the tobacco industry and relevant stakeholders. Following the introduction of the Pilot Run in meetings with representatives from the tobacco industry and chain convenience stores held in mid-October 2025, Customs organised two briefing sessions in early December 2025 and called on members of Customs’ Dutiable Commodities Customer Liaison Group, tobacco affairs concern groups and an association of newspaper stalls industry to participate. The two briefing sessions were joined by a total of 42 representatives from local tobacco manufacturers and importers, overseas cigarette manufacturers and the newspaper stalls industry. Apart from providing participants with information on the content and objectives of the Pilot Run, the procedure of stamp application and data flow tested in the Pilot Run, Customs also answered enquires from participants on-site. The tobacco industry held positive views towards the information disseminated by Customs. After the briefing sessions, Customs distributed questionnaires to collect the industry’s views, and distributed samples of the trial duty stamp to participants for their reference or testing purposes.
Industry views are still being gathered, Customs will, upon concluding the experience gained in the Pilot Run and examining the feedback collected from the industry, work with the technical consultant to optimise the design of the Duty Stamp System, including the procedures for applying duty stamps, the affixation requirements, and the details regarding installation and design of dedicated devices. Customs will continue to disseminate information to the tobacco retail industry through various channels. Customs takes this opportunity to encourage industry members to participate in briefing sessions organised by Customs and to contact Customs directly with inquiries.
Customs plans to implement the first phase of the Duty Stamp System in the fourth quarter this year, with full implementation in the second quarter of 2027, thus achieving the ultimate goal of effective distinguishment of duty-paid cigarettes from duty-not-paid ones, and to combat “cheap whites”.
FEHD releases sixth batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in December
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
FEHD releases sixth batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in December
| District Among the sixth batch of Area Gravidtrap Indexes covering nine survey areas in December, all were below 10 per cent, and most of the areas recorded zero per cent, indicating that the distribution of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes was not extensive.
The FEHD has so far released six batches of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in December 2025, covering 64 survey areas. Among these 64 survey areas, 60 recorded a decrease or remained unchanged in the individual gravidtrap index compared to the Area Gravidtrap Index last month, i.e. November 2025, representing that the areas’ mosquito infestation improved or maintained a low level. Four 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 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 NNNN Temporary suspension of LCSD’s Mobile Library 1, 5 and 10 servicesSource: Hong Kong Government special administrative region Temporary suspension of LCSD’s Mobile Library 1, 5 and 10 services NNNN Land Registry releases statistics for 2025Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region Land Registry releases statistics for 2025 * The number of sale and purchase agreements for all building units received for registration for 2025 was 80 702 (+18.7 per cent compared with 2024 and +39.1 per cent compared with 2023). NNNN SITI to visit USSource: Hong Kong Government special administrative region SITI to visit US NNNN Admission arrangements and applications for students’ study room admission cards during examination season announcedSource: Hong Kong Government special administrative region Admission arrangements and applications for students’ study room admission cards during examination season announced—————————————————-Morning session: 8am to 12.30pm NNNN Online public voting begins for EDB’s Parent-Child FUNtastic Free Verse ChallengeSource: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4 Online public voting for the Family Resilience Series: Parent-Child FUNtastic Free Verse Challenge under the Positive Parent Campaign organised by the Education Bureau (EDB) commences today (January 5) and runs until 3pm on January 19. Parents, students, teachers and members of the public are invited to participate actively in voting for The Most Liked Award across each group. A spokesman for the EDB said, “The competition has received an enthusiastic response, with over 1 200 entries submitted across four groups: kindergarten, primary, secondary and open groups. Participants conveyed messages about actively facing life’s challenges, building resilience, and promoting mental well-being in different ways. To encourage public participation and enhance the interactivity of the competition, the EDB has established The Most Liked Award in each group. Members of the public may vote for their favourite entry in each group through the activity website (www.parent.edu.hk/en/smart-parent-net/topics/article/ppc-competition2025) from the 20 outstanding entries selected by the adjudicators. The entry receiving the most ‘likes’ in each group will be awarded The Most Liked Award. The result and awards will be announced and presented at the Parent-Child FUNtastic Free Verse Challenge Final cum Prize Presentation Ceremony on January 24.” The EDB aims to enhance the understanding of the Positive Parent Campaign among students, parents, and the public through activities under the Family Resilience Series, and to work with parents and schools to create an environment conducive to the healthy development of students through promoting the 4Rs Mental Health Charter. The EDB has been running the Positive Parent Campaign since June 2020. For updates, please visit the Smart Parent Net website (www.parent.edu.hk/en). CFS urges public not to consume certain batches of powdered infant and young children formulaSource: Hong Kong Government special administrative region CFS urges public not to consume certain batches of powdered infant and young children formula A spokesman for the CFS said, “Nestlé HK has initiated a recall of the affected batches of the products concerned. For enquiries about the recall, members of the public may call its hotline at 2599 8874.”Issued at HKT 22:38 NNNN Remarks by SHYA at media session (with video)Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region Following are the remarks by the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, at a media session this afternoon (January 6) on the management of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po: |