Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Labour Department invites applications for appointment as approved assessors
In accordance with the MWO, employees with disabilities are entitled to the same protection of the Statutory Minimum Wage as able-bodied employees. The MWO provides for a special arrangement under which employees with disabilities whose productivity may be impaired by their disabilities to opt for a productivity assessment and be remunerated at a rate commensurate with their productivity. The right to invoke a productivity assessment, which should be conducted by approved assessors, is solely vested in employees with disabilities.
The Minimum Wage (Criteria for Approved Assessors) Notice (Cap.608A) specifies that approved assessors should be registered occupational therapists, registered physiotherapists, registered social workers or vocational rehabilitation practitioners with the requisite years of experience in the provision of vocational rehabilitation or other services in relation to employment of persons with disabilities.
Eligible applicants who have satisfactorily completed the training arranged by the LD will be appointed as approved assessors. Information of approved assessors will be shown in the register of approved assessors. Employees with disabilities who decide to undergo a productivity assessment may select and contact approved assessors from the register to directly arrange for the assessment. An allowance of $3,200 will be given to an approved assessor upon completion of a productivity assessment and the required administrative procedures.
Details of the application including the criteria for appointment as an approved assessor, application forms and notes for applicants are available on the LD homepage (www.labour.gov.hkIssued at HKT 14:00
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Appeal for information on missing woman in Lok Ma Chau (with photos)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Police today (January 5) appealed to the public for information on a woman who went missing in Lok Ma Chau.
Shan Shan, aged 43, went missing after she was last seen in Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point on December 22, 2025 afternoon. Her family made a report to Police on January 3.
She is about 1.65 metres tall, around 63 kilograms in weight and of fat build. She has a round face with yellow complexion and long black hair. She was last seen wearing a black long-sleeved jacket, black trousers, black and grey shoes, carrying a crossbody bag and a red bag.
Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing woman or may have seen her is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of New Territories North on 3661 3113 or email to rmpu-ntn-1@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.
Schools and tertiary students invited to enrol in Hong Kong Flower Show student drawing competition
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Hong Kong Flower Show 2026, organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, will be held at Victoria Park from March 20 to 29. The Jockey Club Student Drawing Competition, one of the major activities of the flower show, will be held on March 20. Local primary and secondary school students, as well as full-time tertiary students, are welcome to take part in the competition. Applications are free of charge and will remain open until February 3.
The competition will be conducted in five categories: a Junior Section in Primary School (Primary One to Primary Three); a Senior Section in Primary School (Primary Four to Primary Six); a Junior Section in Secondary School (Form One to Form Three); a Senior Section in Secondary School (Form Four to Form Six); and a Tertiary Institution Section. The competition is scheduled from 9am to noon for primary school categories and the Tertiary Institution Section, and from 1.30pm to 4.30pm for secondary school categories on the day.
The competition will feature students’ drawings of floral exhibits or garden displays in the showground with a view to enhancing awareness of conserving plants and the natural environment. Participants may use any form of drawing to illustrate the theme of the competition, “A Fragrant Journey through Hong Kong”.
For details of the competition, please call 2926 3060/2302 1762 or visit the flower show webpage www.hkflowershow.hk/en/hkfs/2026/drawing.html. Primary and secondary school students should enrol through their schools, while tertiary students are required to enrol individually. Participating schools and entrants of the Tertiary Institution Section should submit applications online on or before February 3.
The upcoming flower show features “A Fragrant Journey through Hong Kong” as its main theme, with the stock as its theme flower. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust is supporting the flower show for the 14th consecutive year and has been its major sponsor since 2014.
Song of the Goat Theatre from Poland to make Hong Kong debut with Edinburgh Fringe First award-winning play “Songs of Lear” in February (with photos)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Song of the Goat Theatre from Poland will perform in Hong Kong for the first time with its Edinburgh Fringe First award-winning play “Songs of Lear” at the Leisure and Cultural Services Department’s “European Theatres in Resonance” in early February. The work reimagines Shakespeare’s classic tragedy as a soul-stirring dramatic oratorio, interweaving fragments of Shakespeare’s text with original music, polyphonic singing, performers’ movements and minimal staging into a poetic narrative. It distills the emotional and spiritual essence of “King Lear” in a bold contemporary light to create an immersive experience that resonates with the audience.
“King Lear” stands as one of Shakespeare’s four great tragedies, recounting the tale of an ageing King Lear who divides his kingdom among his two flattering elder daughters. After abdication, he is cruelly mistreated by them, resulting in his exile to the wilderness, where he descends into madness. His sincere youngest daughter, who seeks to rescue him with her army, is defeated and perishes, leading Lear to succumb to grief and die. The play profoundly explores the intricate and fragile nature of human existence, revealing the poignant sense of helplessness and sorrow in the face of fate. “Songs of Lear” was inspired by artist Kandinsky’s principles of “improvisation” and “structure” while pursuing an investigation of the “colour of sound”, creating a series of “song-paintings” to capture the emotional landscapes of scenes from “King Lear”.
Directed by the company’s co-founder Grzegorz Bral, the production features 11 performer-vocalists and includes 12 original compositions expanding upon key moments from Shakespeare’s tragedy. The performance is framed by Bral’s narrative between songs (called “paintings” in the play) serving to orientate audiences within the story. The 12 songs are compositions created by Polish multi-instrumentalist Maciej Rychły and celebrated Corsican composer Jean-Claude Acquaviva, blending Corsican folk music with Gregorian chants to weave rich and cross-cultural music. The accompaniment is remarkably minimalist, featuring only a set of drumheads, an Indian harmonium, a kora (West African harp lute) and a nyckelharpa. In addition, the meticulously crafted choral arrangements are punctuated by blasts of intense percussion, intertwined with exquisite harmonies and a cappella singing. Together, the performance creates a layered and evocative soundscape that resonates with the emotional core of “King Lear”. With the simplest stage setup and costume, it allows every gesture, subtle movement and expression of the performers to bring out the astonishing musicality and tension inherent in Shakespeare’s text.
“Songs of Lear” had its world premiere during the 2012 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where it swept three major awards, namely The Scotsman Fringe First, Herald Archangel, and Musical Theatre Matters awards. It subsequently toured numerous cities across Europe, Asia and the Americas to widespread acclaim.
Song of the Goat Theatre, founded in 1996, has been hailed as the most innovative of the new Avant-garde theatre movements in Poland. Continuing the long tradition of Polish ensemble theatre work, the company has devised a unique performance style. Each production is different, yet they share a similar approach of combining movements, vocals, song and text, which are interchangeable elements in its acting co-ordination technique. Bral, co-founder and artistic director of the company, is also the creator of the Bral Acting Method. He is active as an educator and his acting method has influenced artists and institutions worldwide. He has received the Honorary Order from the Polish Minister of Culture and National Heritage for his artistic and educational contributions.
“Songs of Lear” by Song of the Goat Theatre (Poland) will be held at 8pm on February 6 and 7 (Friday and Saturday), and at 3pm on February 8 (Sunday) at the Theatre of Hong Kong City Hall. The play has English narration with Chinese and English surtitles, while the songs will be performed in multiple languages (Latin, Coptic and English). Tickets priced at $380 and $480 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7325 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/theatre/programs_1927.html. Both performances on February 6 and 7 will be followed by a meet-the-artist session (conducted in English). Audience members are welcome to stay behind to join.
The programme will also feature two theatre workshops (conducted in English) on February 4 and 8 (Wednesday and Sunday) at 7.30pm at the Rehearsal Hall, 7/F, Sheung Wan Civic Centre. Led by director Bral and performer Alicja Bral, the workshops will explore Bral’s renowned acting method and offer unique insights into the theatrical creation process. Tickets priced at $200 are now available at URBTIX. For details, please refer to the above-mentioned website.
Three co-owners fined over $230,000 for not complying with removal order
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Three co-owners were convicted and fined $230,820 in total, of which $221,820 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued, at the Tuen Mun Magistrates’ Courts last Friday (January 2) for failing to comply with a removal order issued under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap. 123).
The case involved an unauthorised structure with an area of about 7 square metres and a metal frame over the yard; as well as a projecting structure with an area of about 3 sq m, three metal frames and two canvas sheets attached to the external walls of a composite building on Fook Tak Street, Yuen Long. As the unauthorised building works (UBWs) were carried out without prior approval and consent from the Buildings Department (BD), a removal order was served on the owners under section 24(1) of the BO. Failing to comply with the removal order, they were prosecuted by the BD.
A spokesman for the BD said today (January 5), “UBWs may lead to serious consequences. Owners must comply with removal orders without delay. The BD will continue to take enforcement action against owners who fail to comply with removal orders, including instigation of prosecution, to ensure building and public safety.”
Failure to comply with a removal order without reasonable excuse is a serious offence under the BO. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $200,000 and one year’s imprisonment, and a further fine of up to $20,000 for each day that the offence continues.
Flower show drawing contest set
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Jockey Club Student Drawing Competition, a highlight of the Hong Kong Flower Show, will take place on March 20 at Victoria Park. Enrollment is free and open to local primary, secondary and full-time tertiary students. Interested participants can apply until February 3.
Themed “A Fragrant Journey through Hong Kong”, the competition invites students to draw the show’s floral exhibits and garden displays using any medium. The event aims to inspire environmental awareness and a commitment to plant conservation.
The competition will be conducted in five categories: a Junior Section in Primary School (Primary 1 to Primary 3); a Senior Section in Primary School (Primary 4 to Primary 6); a Junior Section in Secondary School (Forms 1 to 3); a Senior Section in Secondary School (Forms 4 to 6); and a Tertiary Institution Section.
The competitions for the primary school categories and the Tertiary Institution Section will run from 9am to noon, while the secondary school session will take place from 1.30pm to 4.30pm.
Primary and secondary school students should enrol through their schools, while tertiary students are required to enrol individually. For details of the competition, call 2926 3060 or 2302 1762.
The flower show will be held at Victoria Park from March 20 to 29, and will feature the stock as its theme flower.
Supercomputing sparks innovation
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Government has allocated $3 billion to set up a three-year Artificial Intelligence (AI) Subsidy Scheme. Since its launch, projects from around 20 universities, institutions and companies have been approved for funding. Among these projects, researchers at the University of Hong Kong have developed generative AI for 3D scene generation by giving voice prompts. The technology can be applied across various industries for practical uses, such as presentations and design.
News.gov.hk interviewed a researcher from the University of Hong Kong on the working principles and advantages of their AI initiative. A representative from Cyberport, which supplies computing power for organisations participating in the subsidy scheme through its supercomputing centre, also outlined their vision for strengthening Hong Kong’s AI ecosystem.
The story is available at www.news.gov.hk/eng/feature from today (January 4) in text and video format.
Blaze hotline hours altered
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
Starting from tomorrow, the service hours of the Police Force’s Tai Po fire casualty enquiry hotline, 1878 999, will be adjusted.
The new service hours will be 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays.
The force explained that the latest adjustment was made in view of public demand for the service.
Summer influenza season nears its end and winter influenza season yet to begin Public must remain vigilant despite influenza activity declines
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Summer influenza season nears its end and winter influenza season yet to begin Public must remain vigilant despite influenza activity declines
Latest surveillance data
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“Hong Kong entered the summer influenza season in early September last year. The seasonal influenza activity peaked in mid-to-late October last year and has since been gradually declining. The latest surveillance data shows that the percentage of respiratory specimens tested positive for seasonal influenza viruses last week (December 21 to 27, 2025) decreased to 4.97 per cent from 7.81 per cent and 6.17 per cent in the previous two weeks (the baseline level is 4.94 per cent). The influenza admission rate in public hospitals was 0.28 cases per 10 000 population (lower than the 0.49 and 0.37 cases per 10 000 population recorded in the previous two weeks, with the baseline level of 0.27 cases per 10 000 population). Regarding outbreaks of influenza-like illness in schools, the number rose sharply from 15 outbreaks in the first week of the new school year last September to 170 outbreaks in mid-October, before gradually declining to 43 outbreaks in mid-November. After a slight rebound to 71 outbreaks in early December last year, the number has steadily decreased over the past few weeks, falling from over 30 outbreaks per week to just four outbreaks last week. The CHP will continue to closely monitor local surveillance data. Should relevant indicators persistently fall below the baseline levels, the CHP will assess next week whether this summer influenza season has concluded,” the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui, said.
The predominant virus circulating during this seasonal influenza season is influenza A (H3) virus strain. As in the past, severe or death cases associated with seasonal influenza primarily affect the elderly and children. As of January 1, this summer influenza season has recorded 25 severe paediatric influenza cases, including three fatal cases. The affected children aged between six months to 17 years old. Among them, 20 cases (80 per cent) had not received SIV (including one case who received the 2025/26 SIV only four days before onset of illness. As it generally takes two weeks for the body to develop sufficient protection after vaccination, the case was not protected by the vaccine. Therefore, it is not counted as vaccinated). During the same period, 502 severe influenza cases were recorded among adults, including 339 deaths. Among adult fatalities with available clinical data, over 80 per cent had underlying illnesses.
”Although the summer influenza season shows signs of ending and the winter influenza season has not yet begun, influenza activity may rise again as the weather gradually turns colder in the first quarter of this year. It cannot be ruled out that the circulating virus strains may change. Therefore, I once again urge all individuals aged six months or older, except those with known contraindications, who have not yet received SIV to act promptly. Although there are some antigenic differences between the currently circulating influenza A (H3) virus strain and the virus strain contained in the vaccine, SIV can still offer protection against the variant strain of subclade K, as well as the influenza A (H1) and influenza B strains included in the vaccine. Those who contracted influenza during the summer influenza season should still receive the 2025/26 SIV, if they have not yet done so, to guard against other circulating virus strains that may emerge during the forthcoming winter influenza season,” Dr Tsui added.
2025/26 SIV Programmes
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Getting vaccinated against influenza is one of the most effective ways to prevent influenza and its complications. It also reduces the risk of serious illness or death from infection. With the concerted efforts of all sectors of the community (including the medical sector, schools, parents and residential care homes), as of December 28, 2025, over 1.89 million doses of influenza vaccine were administered under various SIV programmes in the year 2025/26, representing an increase of approximately 4.7 per cent compared with the same period in the previous influenza vaccination season. Regarding schools, to boost SIV rates, enrolment for the SIV School Outreach Programme has started earlier since the beginning of June last year. The CHP has also introduced enhancement measures, allowing all schools to choose either the live attenuated influenza vaccines (i.e. nasal LAIV) and the “hybrid mode”, which allows schools to choose both the injectable inactivated influenza vaccines and the nasal LAIV during the same or different outreach vaccination activities. Vaccination rates among schoolchildren in different age groups are two per cent to nine per cent higher compared to the same period last year.
“The SIV coverage rate for children aged six months to under two years remains relatively low at about 22 per cent. Although this represents approximate five per cent point increase compared to the same period last year, it is still lower than that of other age groups. Through the Primary Healthcare Commission, the CHP has urged family doctors to assist in encouraging parents to give consent for their children to receive SIV. The Government has opened all 29 of the DH’s Maternal and Child Health Centres (MCHCs) for all children aged six months to under two years to receive the vaccine; as well as the District Health Centres and District Health Centre Expresses and their service outlets under the Primary Healthcare Commission in the 18 districts, and 74 Family Medicine Clinics and 38 public hospitals of the Hospital Authority to provide more choices for the public. For the list of vaccination venues, please refer to the CHP’s Vaccination Schemes
He reminded the members of the public to maintain good personal, hand and environmental hygiene. Furthermore, high-risk persons should receive COVID-19 booster doses at appropriate times to lower the risks of serious illness and death. Public with respiratory symptoms, even if the symptoms are mild, should wear a surgical mask and seek medical advice promptly to lower the risk of spreading the disease to high-risk persons.
Members of the public may refer to the CHP’s COVID-19 & Flu ExpressIssued at HKT 20:00
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Import of poultry meat and products from areas in Poland and Japan suspended
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (January 2) that in view of notifications from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in the Żagań District of the Lubuskie Region in Poland, and an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza in Miyazaki Prefecture in Japan respectively, 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 according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 1 870 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Poland, about 1 540 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and about 219.73 million poultry eggs from Japan in the first nine months of last year.
“The CFS has contacted the Polish 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.