Month: February 2026

80th Anniversary of Victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression Commemorative Medal Handover Ceremony held at MWRCD  
     At the ceremony, Deputy Director of the Fifth Bureau of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council Ms Li Li presented the commemorative medal on behalf of the Central Government for receipt by the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Manda Chan, for the HKSAR Government. Expressing gratitude to the Central Government, Ms Chan said that the gift provides members of the public with the opportunity to appreciate the commemorative medal as well as its significance, thereby deepening their patriotic sentiments. From tomorrow, the commemorative medal will be displayed at the MWRCD thematic exhibition “Standing Together for Peacebuilding: Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the War of Resistance in Guangdong and Hong Kong”.
 
     Other guests attending the ceremony included the President and Deputy President of the Society of Veterans of the Original Hong Kong Independent Battalion of the Dongjiang Column, Ms Lam Chun and Mr Lam Ming; Investigation and Research Officer of the Fifth Bureau of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council Mr Liu Meng; the Assistant Director (Heritage and Museums) of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Ng Chi-wo; and the Head of the Chinese Culture Promotion Office, Mr Terence Cheung.
 
     In 2025, to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, the country awarded the commemorative medal to surviving veterans, old comrades, wartime generals or their families. The commemorative medal features the sculpture “Marching Towards Victory” at the centre, incorporating the Yan’an Pagoda Mountain, Yellow River, five stars, lights, olive branches and doves of peace.
 
     The MWRCD’s “Standing Together for Peacebuilding: Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the War of Resistance in Guangdong and Hong Kong” exhibition presents the history of the people of Guangdong and Hong Kong, led by the Chinese Communist Party, in resisting the enemy in close unity. For details of the exhibition and related activities, please visit the MWRCD website at hk.waranddefence.museum/en/web/mcd/standingtogetherforpeacebuilding.htmlIssued at HKT 17:25

Man sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment for smuggling rhino horns (with photo)      
     A spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said that the passenger arrived at Hong Kong International Airport from Dhaka, Bangladesh, on June 29 last year. During inspection of the man’s luggage by Customs officers, 41 suspected rhino horns cut in pieces were found concealed inside. The AFCD officers attended the scene and examined the items, which were found to be painted black and wrapped in plastic film. All cut pieces were confirmed to be rhino horns, weighing 7.7 kilograms in total, with an estimated market value of about $3 million. The man was prosecuted by the AFCD for the illegal importation of specimens of endangered species. He was convicted at the District Court today, and the court adopted a starting point of 36 months’ imprisonment for sentencing. A one-third reduction was given for his guilty plea and the defendant was sentenced to imprisonment for 24 months. 

     Rhinos are listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and are regulated under the Ordinance in Hong Kong. Any person who imports, exports or possesses specimens of endangered species not in accordance with the Ordinance commits an offence and will be liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for 10 years upon conviction with the specimens forfeited.
      
     The spokesman said, “the Government is committed to the protection of endangered species. The AFCD and Hong Kong Customs will remain vigilant and closely monitor and combat illegal activities involving endangered species.”Issued at HKT 15:30

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Guangxi and Hong Kong sign MOU on AI co-operation to jointly explore new opportunities for digital development (with photo)      
     The signing ceremony of the MOU was held at the Gateway to ASEAN & Strategic Hinterland of the Greater Bay Area – Guangxi-Hong Kong Investment Promotion Conference 2026, when the Director of the Guangxi Big Data Development Bureau, Mr Zhao Zhigang, and the Acting Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Daniel Cheung, signed the MOU. According to the MOU, both sides will facilitate co-operation between Guangxi and Hong Kong in the field of AI, fully leverage the advantages of the two places in aggregating digital innovation resources, and promote the efficient connection of AI achievements in both places with the international market.
      
     Guangxi and Hong Kong agreed to strengthen co-operation in multiple areas, including co-operation at the AI application level, supporting data products and AI achievements to enter international markets, promoting the development of international data infrastructure, promoting exchanges on AI governance, security and technical standards, as well as deepening the cultivation of innovation and technology (I&T) talent in both places.
      
     “By leveraging Guangxi’s advantages in cross-boundary data policies, low-cost green energy and proximity to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) market, together with Hong Kong’s unique positioning as an international financial centre, an I&T hub, and our connectivity with both the Mainland and the world, it will help I&T enterprises in both places expand into the ASEAN and international markets and promote technical co-operation with ASEAN in areas such as fintech, data governance and cybersecurity. It will bring more opportunities and support for the AI industry in both places to go global, attract international collaboration, enhance global influence and strengthen talent exchanges,” a spokesman for the DPO said.
Issued at HKT 13:03

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Singapore ETO holds dinner with local community to celebrate Year of Horse and promote Hong Kong  
     Over 200 guests attended the Chinese New Year dinner, including the Chinese Ambassador to Singapore, Mr Cao Zhongming; the Executive Director of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Secretariat, Mr Eduardo Pedrosa; and representatives from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and the Hong Kong Tourism Board. Other guests came from the government sector, foreign embassies in Singapore, business associations, academic institutions, cultural organisations as well as the local Hong Kong community.
 
     In her welcome speech, the Director of the Singapore ETO, Ms Elsa Hung, highlighted the close and long-standing partnership between Hong Kong and Singapore, underpinned by strong economic and trade ties and sustained high-level exchanges, as manifested by the meeting between the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, and the Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Lawrence Wong, on the sidelines of the APEC meetings last October.
 
     Ms Hung took the opportunity to introduce the key initiatives featured in the 2026-27 Budget delivered by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, yesterday, including proactive alignment with the National 15th Five-Year Plan, accelerating development in the Northern Metropolis, advancing AI industrialisation and adoption, boosting new quality productive forces, enhancing intellectual property trading and emerging sectors like aerospace, attracting high-calibre talent and strategic enterprises, enhancing support for family offices and regional headquarters through potential tax incentives, and continuing to support Chinese Mainland enterprises in going global.
 
     At the dinner, Hong Kong musicians Anna Lo and Rick Lau performed as guest artistes, presenting a selection of the widely acclaimed Hong Kong cabaret production “LauZone”. Through songs written in a variety of dialects, they portrayed Hong Kong’s unique character as a cultural melting pot, enabling the Singapore audience to find resonance in the stories told. The duo will also take part in the Huayi – Chinese Festival of Arts 2026 organised by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay (the Esplanade), where they will stage three performances of “LauZone” on February 27 and 28, with support from the Esplanade and the Hong Kong Arts Development Council.
    
     Ms Hung concluded by highlighting Hong Kong’s unique advantage of being the only city connected to both the Chinese Mainland and the rest of the world under the “one country, two systems” framework, serving the dual role of “super connector” and “super value-adder” to actively explore new growth areas and promote high-quality economic development. The Singapore ETO will continue to work closely with partners in Singapore and the region to promote Hong Kong and foster broader and deeper collaboration through initiatives such as the Economic and Trade Express platform, which brings together the global network of all ETOs, Invest Hong Kong and the HKTDC to support enterprises in going global and expanding regionally.
 
     Singapore ETO will host Chinese New Year dinners in Manila, the Philippines, and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on February 27 and March 14 respectively to further strengthen ties and exchanges with local communities in the two places.
Issued at HKT 13:00

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DH urges public to promptly receive seasonal influenza vaccinations amid rising influenza activity      
     “The CHP’s latest surveillance data shows that the percentage of respiratory specimens tested positive for seasonal influenza viruses last week (February 15 to 21) was 2.29 per cent, up from 1.96 per cent recorded in the previous week (February 8 to 14). During the same period, the influenza admission rate in public hospitals was 0.13 cases per 10 000 population, which is higher than the 0.10 cases per 10 000 population recorded in the previous week. The proportion of influenza B among positive respiratory specimens has gradually increased from around 6 per cent in late January to over 21 per cent last week. Meanwhile, the proportion of influenza A (H3) virus strains has decreased from 91 to 71 per cent. Outside Hong Kong, seasonal influenza activity remains high in Japan and Korea, with the predominant circulating viruses having shifted from influenza A (H3) to influenza B. Japan is experiencing another winter peak driven by influenza B. Influenza B proportions have also increased in many parts of the world recently, including the Chinese Mainland, Taiwan and North America,” the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui, said.
      
     “Based on past experience, Hong Kong’s winter influenza season typically occurs in the first quarter. Given the persistently cold weather, combined with factors such as individuals returning from outbound travel after the long holidays and the shift in circulating virus strains, it cannot be ruled out that influenza activity will continue to increase and Hong Kong may enter the winter influenza season. The CHP will continue to closely monitor the situation. Scientific research indicates that this season’s SIV provides protection against influenza A and influenza B viruses. As it takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body for sufficient protection against the influenza virus, I appeal again to all individuals aged 6 months or older, except those with known contraindications, to receive the SIV if they have not yet done so. This is particularly important for high-risk groups such as the elderly, children, and adults with underlying illnesses or immunosuppression. Furthermore, individuals who contracted influenza during the summer influenza season late last year but have not yet received the SIV should also get vaccinated promptly to guard against other circulating virus strains that may emerge during the upcoming winter influenza season. Apart from receiving the vaccination through the DH’s SIV Programmes      
     “So far this year, five severe paediatric influenza cases have been recorded, involving children aged between 6 months and 15 years old. Three of the affected children had not received an SIV. I would like to remind parents and caregivers that influenza in children may deteriorate rapidly. If a sick child shows any sign of deteriorating condition, for example the emergence of symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, blue lips, chest pain, confusion, a persistent fever or convulsions, the child must be taken to an Accident and Emergency Department immediately,” he added. 

     For other respiratory pathogens, the latest surveillance data shows increased activity of rhinovirus/enterovirus and parainfluenza viruses. The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for parainfluenza virus have risen compared to January. To prevent respiratory infections, members of the public should maintain good personal, hand and environmental hygiene at all times. Furthermore, high-risk individuals should wear surgical masks when staying in crowded places. People with respiratory symptoms, even if mild, should wear a surgical mask and seek medical advice promptly. They should avoid crowded places and refrain from work or attending classes at school.
      
     Members of the public may refer to the CHP’s COVID-19 & Flu ExpressIssued at HKT 17:50

DH adjusts prevention and control measures against Nipah virus and reminds travellers to remain vigilant and take preventive measures against communicable diseases 
Nipah virus
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     Two confirmed cases of Nipah virus infection, with onset in late December last year, were reported in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, in January. The CHP immediately sought further information from the WHO and Indian health authorities in a proactive manner. As a precautionary measure, the CHP also implemented additional health screenings for passengers arriving from India at the airport. These screening enabled prompt medical assessments of symptomatic travellers. Suspected cases with potential public health implications were referred to hospitals for examination. No suspected infected travellers have been identified under the above arrangements, and Hong Kong has not recorded any imported or local cases of Nipah virus infection to date.
      
     According to the WHO, the Indian health authorities identified and tested over 190 close contacts. All samples from contact persons tested negative for Nipah virus. No further cases have been detected so far. The WHO noted that enhanced surveillance and infection prevention and control measures are in place in India. The risk posed by Nipah virus is low at the national, the regional and global levels.
      
     Nipah virus infection is an emerging zoonotic disease. Fruit bats are the natural host for the virus. The virus is mainly transmitted through direct contact with sick animals via their contaminated respiratory droplets, nasal secretions and tissues. It can also be transmitted via consuming food contaminated with urine, droppings or saliva from infected bats, usually fruits or fruit products (particularly raw date palm sap). Human-to-human transmission is also possible through close contact with contaminated secretions and excretions of infected persons. Such transmission has been reported in patients’ household and healthcare settings. Members of the public may visit the CHP’s webpage 
Norovirus
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     Norovirus activity in neighbouring areas, including Japan and Korea, has been increasing since late last year. In Korea, norovirus activity has even surpassed levels seen during the same period over the past decade. Norovirus can cause acute gastroenteritis (AGE) and is a common cause of food poisoning. It can also trigger AGE outbreaks in crowded places such as schools, elderly care facilities, hotels, amusement parks, and cruise ships. Generally, norovirus is more active in winter (around December to March). As norovirus is highly contagious, individuals may become infected after being exposed to even a small amount of norovirus. The virus can be transmitted through various means, such as eating contaminated food, contact with the vomit or excreta of infected persons, and contact with contaminated objects.
      
     To prevent norovirus infection, apart from maintaining personal hygiene, all food should also be thoroughly washed and cooked before consumption. Before handling food or eating, and after using the toilet, members of the public should wash hands with liquid soap and water, and rub for at least 20 seconds, then rinse with water and dry with a disposable paper towel or hand dryer. Since alcohol is not effective in killing the norovirus, alcohol-based handrubs are not a substitute for handwashing with soap and water.
 
Mosquito-borne diseases
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     Seven dengue fever (DF) cases have been recorded in Hong Kong so far this year. All of them were imported cases. The patients had travelled to the Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia, United Arab Emirates and Vietnam during the incubation period. In addition, Hong Kong has recorded two confirmed chikungunya fever (CF) cases imported from the Seychelles so far this year.
 
     DF remains prevalent across numerous neighbouring tourist destinations. Last year, Indonesia, India and Vietnam each recorded over 120 000 cases; Malaysia and Thailand each recorded over 50 000 cases; and Singapore recorded over 4 000 cases. Meanwhile, the Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention recorded over 3 500 locally infected cases in Guangdong Province in 2025.
      
     Regarding CF, from the beginning of 2025 to December 10, a total of 502 264 CF cases and 186 related deaths were reported in over 40 countries/regions. Cases were distributed across the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe.
 
     Although the northern hemisphere is currently in the winter season, temperatures in subtropical and some temperate regions remain elevated due to climate change, creating favourable conditions for mosquito breeding. The public should check the situation of the destinations before travelling abroad, especially when travelling to Southeast Asian countries. To prevent mosquito-borne diseases, travellers should wear loose, light-coloured, long-sleeved tops and trousers, and apply insect repellent containing DEET to exposed parts of the body and clothing. Travellers returning from areas affected by mosquito-borne diseases should apply insect repellent for 14 days upon arrival in Hong Kong.
 
Measles
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     North America (including the United States, Canada and Mexico) and Southeast Asia (including Indonesia, Cambodia and the Philippines) have experienced persistent measles outbreaks in recent years due to low vaccination coverage rates. The measles outbreak in the United States has worsened, with approximately 1 000 cases recorded so far this year, significantly higher than the same period last year. In Europe, the number of measles cases in the United Kingdom and Italy have increased recently, with 130 and 84 cases recorded respectively since January this year. Furthermore, Japan has experienced a notable rise in measles cases, recording 43 cases as of February 18, compared to only three cases during the same period last year. Singapore and Australia have recorded 15 and 51 measles cases respectively this year, up from two and 21 cases during the same period last year. Most overseas cases mainly affected people who were unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status. This shows the importance of maintaining a high vaccination rate and herd immunity within the community.
      
     Pregnant women and women preparing for pregnancy who are not immune to measles or rubella, as well as children aged under 1 year who are not due for the first dose of the measles, mumps and rubella-combined vaccine under the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme      
     The CHP will continue to closely monitor the latest notifications and recommendations from the WHO regarding public health events worldwide, and implement appropriate prevention and control measures based on risk assessments to safeguard public health and the well-being of citizens. Before travelling, members of the public may visit the DH’s Travel Health Service webpageIssued at HKT 17:15

Health Bureau extends free medical consultation services for residents affected by Tai Po Wang Fuk Court fire to end of August 
DHC hotlines
 
     Under the co-ordination of the PHC Commission, the DHCs across all 18 districts in Hong Kong have set up hotlines since December 1 last year (see Annex 1) to arrange personalised case management services for affected residents, offering more convenient and comprehensive medical support. The support includes pairing the affected residents with free consultation services provided by private family doctors and CM practitioners, assisting residents to manage follow-up appointment arrangements and medication refills at the Hospital Authority (HA)’s out-patient services as necessary, and making referrals to necessary healthcare, nursing and medication services, as well as psychological support. The services co-ordinated by the DHCs are not subject to district boundaries. For example, the DHCs may assist affected residents in transferring the HA’s Family Medicine Out-patient (FMOP) follow-up appointments and medication refill service points, from Tai Po District to another location, thereby sparing residents the need for travelling across districts. As of February 24, DHC hotlines across all 18 districts have received 435 enquiries in total.
 
Free consultations by family doctors and CM practitioners and free denture replacement services
 
     The HHB has introduced a free family doctor service scheme, free CM consultation services, and free denture replacement services since December last year to support the primary healthcare needs of the affected residents. Case managers of the DHCs will arrange the affected residents to receive up to three free consultations by family doctors and CM practitioners respectively based on their individual situations and preferences, covering the provision of medication and related treatments; and at least one free dental consultation and one follow-up appointment (subject to clinical need), covering denture replacement and oral treatment services. As of February 24, 224 referrals have been handled by the DHCs.
 
     To continuously support the primary healthcare needs of the affected residents, with the consent of all participating private medical partners and organisations, the HHB will extend the aforementioned schemes and services for six months to August 31 this year. The mode of service will remain unchanged. For more details of the extended free consultation services, affected residents may call the DHC hotlines (see Annex 1) to make enquiries and arrange for referrals.
 
     The HHB extends sincere gratitude to the selfless devotion of all participating private family doctors, private hospitals, CM practitioners and dentists for shouldering social responsibilities and actively supporting the affected residents by providing them with free necessary healthcare services.
 
HA’s healthcare services
 
     The HA will also continue to provide necessary healthcare services to affected residents. All residents of the eight blocks at Wang Fuk Court (including foreign domestic helpers) are eligible for full medical fee waivers until December 31 this year. The waivers cover in-patient services, family medicine and specialist out-patient clinics (SOPCs) services (including psychiatry SOPCs), accident and emergency services, day hospitals, day procedures, community services, and Chinese Medicine Clinics cum Training and Research Centres (CMCTRs) under the HA. As of February 24, the HA has provided necessary healthcare services to around 2 000 affected residents.
 
     Meanwhile, the PHC Commission and the HA also enable affected residents with healthcare needs to make priority bookings for FMOP Services and CMCTR services. Residents can make a priority booking for FMOP Services by following the instructions through the “Support Residents Affected by Fire Incident – FMOP Priority Booking” section in the eHealth mobile application, or for the HA’s CMCTRs services via telephone booking.
 
     All individuals injured in the fire and admitted to public hospitals under the HA will receive full fee waivers for all necessary healthcare services (including drugs and medical devices) throughout the entire process of their treatment and rehabilitation. As of February 24, out of the 79 patients received treatment at various public hospitals due to the fire, 78 of them have already been discharged upon recovery, and the remaining patient is in stable condition. Healthcare staff will continue to provide appropriate treatment and care to the patient.

Mental health support
 
     The existing mental health support will continue to operate, including the 18111 – Mental Health Support Hotline, the HA’s 24-hour Mental Health Direct hotline, and the Compassionate Support Programme for Bereaved Families. The 18111 – Mental Health Support Hotline immediately deployed additional staff and strengthened training for its call handlers on the day of the fire incident to cope with the emotional distress that the public may experience due to the incident. From the time of the incident to February 24, the hotline has received more than 29 000 calls, about 770 of which were related to the fire incident. The WhatsApp service has handled over 1 400 messages, with about 50 of them concerning the fire incident. The HA’s 24-hour Mental Health Direct hotline, manned by psychiatric nurses, offers professional advice and support on mental health issues to callers, including provision of risk assessments and referrals to the HA’s mental health services as appropriate. As of February 24, the Mental Health Direct hotline has received 111 calls related to the fire incident, with 48 of them coming from affected citizens.
 
     The HHB once again expressed heartfelt gratitude to various parties in the community for their efforts in providing comprehensive primary healthcare support to the affected residents, and will continue to ensure affected residents can receive convenient and effective medical support through the DHCs (see Annex 2).
Issued at HKT 17:15

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