Month: May 2026

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Buildings Department approved 14 building plans in March, with six on Hong Kong Island, five in Kowloon and three in the New Territories.

Of the approved plans, five were for apartment and apartment/commercial developments, four were for commercial developments, and five were for community services developments.

In the same month, consent was given for works to start on six building projects which, when completed, will provide 6 182 square metres of gross floor area for domestic use involving 172 units, and 20 687 sq m of gross floor area for non-domestic use. The department has received notifications of commencement of superstructure works for four building projects.

The department also issued 18 occupation permits, with four on Hong Kong Island, six in Kowloon and eight in the New Territories.

Of the buildings certified for occupation, the gross floor area for domestic use was 31 910 sq m involving 775 units, and 48 386 sq m was for non-domestic use.

The declared cost of new buildings completed in March totalled about $3.2 billion.

In addition, five demolition consents were issued.

The department received 2 678 reports about unauthorised building works (UBWs) in March and issued 754 removal orders on UBWs.

The full version of the Monthly Digest for March can be viewed on the Buildings Department’s homepage (www.bd.gov.hk).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, visited several food and beverage production enterprises in the Xizang Autonomous Region yesterday (May 21) to learn about the production of plateau food.

Mr Tse and the delegation yesterday visited an apple production base that utilises “plant dwarfing” technology in Shannan city to learn about the export situation of local agricultural products. This technology mainly controls the height of fruit trees, enabling high-density cultivation in the plateau environment. The total planting area of dwarfed apples in Shannan city is about 2 000 hectares, with an annual yield of nearly 3 000 tonnes.

The delegation also visited a plateau winery on the same day, which produces wine with plateau characteristics through its distinctive high-altitude cultivation.

The delegation then visited a food production enterprise in Xizang that provides airline catering services, to learn about the preparation of inflight meals. The enterprise has a daily production capacity of over 20 000 meals. It also engages in the production and sale of other food and bakery products.

In the afternoon, Mr Tse paid a visit to the Shigatse International Land Port to learn about its customs clearance process and external trade. He and the delegation then visited a brewery located on the Shigatse plateau. The brewery uses pure natural Xizang highland barley as the primary raw material for crafting beer with Xizang characteristics.

Mr Tse said the unique ecological environment of the Xizang plateau has nurtured various distinctive agricultural products. These diverse and high-quality plateau foods demonstrate the steady advancement of Xizang’s food industry in production standards, brand building and supply chain management. He said he hoped that this trip will encourage Mainland food enterprises to use Hong Kong as a base and window to expand their businesses to overseas markets, thereby consolidating Hong Kong’s role as a food import and export trade hub and facilitating Xizang food enterprises to “go global”.

Mr Tse will conclude his visit in the Xizang Autonomous Region today (May 22) and return to Hong Kong tomorrow (May 23).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​The Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) today (May 22) gazetted a notice to invite tenders for the contract for Site Formation and Infrastructure Works at Tai Kei Leng and Shap Pat Heung, Yuen Long (Contract No. CV/2026/01). The closing time for the tender is noon on July 17.

The works mainly comprise:

(1) site formation of about 5 hectares of land and construction of associated retaining walls and slopes;
(2) road improvement works at Shap Pat Heung Interchange; 
(3) widening of Long Ho Road; and
(4) ancillary works including water supply, drainage, sewerage and landscaping works. 

The works are scheduled to commence in December 2026 and will take about 48 months to complete.

The CEDD has commissioned Binnies Hong Kong Limited to design and supervise the works. Interested contractors can download the tender forms and other particulars from the e-Tendering System (e-TS). Tenderers must submit tenders in electronic format via the e-TS.

Details of the tender notice are available on the CEDD website (www.cedd.gov.hk/eng/tender-notices/contracts/tender-notices/index.html). For enquiries, please call Binnies Hong Kong Limited at 2601 1000 during office hours.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Government announced today (May 22) that, after considering the requests from prospective tenderers, the tender closing date of the open tender for the Smart and Green Mass Transit System in Kai Tak (SGMTS in Kai Tak) (Contract No. ED/2025/18) has been extended from the original date of July 3, 2026, to August 14, 2026.

A spokesperson for the Transport and Logistics Bureau (TLB) said, “In response to recent feedback from a number of prospective tenderers requesting more time to prepare their tender submissions, and considering that the SGMTS in Kai Tak is the first smart and green mass transit system in Hong Kong to be launched through open tender and the transit-oriented development approach which involves innovative development methods, the TLB has decided to suitably extend the tendering period by six weeks to August 14.

“The Government welcomes the positive market feedback on the SGMTS in Kai Tak, with many large enterprises making requests for tender documents and enquiring about the tender details multiple times during the tendering period. Suitably extending the tendering period will allow tenderers sufficient time to prepare, so that the selected proposal will result in a high quality and cost-effective transport infrastructure that brings significant benefits to the community.”

The spokesperson emphasised that the extension of the tendering period will not affect the Government’s targets of awarding the contract this year and completing the SGMTS in Kai Tak by 2031.

Details of the tender notice are available on the Civil Engineering and Development Department’s website (www.cedd.gov.hk/eng/tender-notices/contracts/tender-notices/index.html). Tenderers must deposit their tenders by noon on August 14, 2026 (Friday), in the tender box as specified in the tender notice. Late tenders will not be accepted.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Mobile Libraries 2, 6 and 12 will suspend services during designated periods in June for routine maintenance, a spokesman for the Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (May 22).

     Mobile Library 6 will suspend services from June 1 to 6. The affected service points are Heng Fa Chuen in Chai Wan, Tai Hong Street in Lei King Wan, Lei Tung Estate and Ap Lei Chau Estate in Ap Lei Chau, the First Aid Station at Shek O Beach and Tsui Lam Estate in Tseung Kwan O. For enquiries about Mobile Library 6 services, please call 2505 4690.
 
     Mobile Library 2 will suspend services from June 8 to 20. The affected service points are Tsui Ping Estate and On Tat Estate in Kwun Tong; Fortune Estate and Maple Street in Sham Shui Po; Sheung Tak Estate, Hau Tak Estate and Po Lam Estate in Tseung Kwan O; Chevalier Garden, Pok Hong Estate, Mei Lam Estate and Saddle Ridge Garden in Sha Tin. For enquiries about Mobile Library 2 services, please call 2605 1071.
 
     Mobile Library 12 will suspend services from June 17 to 23. The affected service points are Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen King Circuit Playground and Cheung Shan Estate in Tsuen Wan; Kwai Luen Estate in Kwai Chung; Kam Tsin Village and Tung Hing Road Car Park in Sheung Shui and Ka Fuk Estate in Fanling. For enquiries about Mobile Library 12 services, please call 2479 1055.
 
     Readers are welcome to use other public libraries during the service suspension periods. They may also renew library materials by telephoning 2698 0002 or 2827 2833, or via www.hkpl.gov.hk.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Drainage Services Department (DSD) today (May 22) invited the market to submit expressions of interest (EOI) within one month for the upgrading of the Tai Po Sewage Treatment Works (TPSTW).

     The TPSTW is a secondary sewage treatment works with an existing design treatment capacity of 120 000 cubic metres per day in average dry weather flow, serving the Tai Po InnoPark, Tai Po, Lam Tsuen and Ting Kok areas. The objective of this project is to increase the design treatment capacity of the plant to 160 000 cubic metres per day to accommodate future development needs of Tai Po District.

     The Government proposes a single party to be responsible for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the upgrading works, while undertaking the operation and maintenance of the existing TPSTW at the same time during the contract period. Interested developers, contractors and operators are encouraged to submit their EOIs to help the Government understand the market interest, as well as the funding and technical capabilities of parties. The views and information gathered will help the Government ascertain the technical details and implementation approach of the works, as well as determining the delivery mode and financial arrangement at a later stage. 

This EOI exercise is not a tender exercise nor part of a procurement exercise.

Interested parties must submit their EOI by noon on June 22, 2026 (Monday).

     The DSD will hold an online briefing session regarding the EOI invitation on June 2, 2026 (Tuesday). Details on the submission of the EOIs and the briefing session can be found on the DSD’s webpage (dsd.gov.hk/EN/Notices_of_Invitation_for_Expression_of_Interest/Upgrading_of_the_Tai_Po_Sewage_Treatment_Works/index.html). 

     The DSD will consider the views and suggestions gathered from the EOIs and properly formulate the requirements of the project, and thereafter determine the tender arrangement and timing by making reference to the market feedback.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Government published in the Gazette today (May 22) the Advance Decision on Life-sustaining Treatment Ordinance (Commencement) Notice (the Commencement Notice) to appoint July 31, 2026, as the date on which the main provisions of the Advance Decision on Life-sustaining Treatment Ordinance (Cap. 651) (the Ordinance) come into operation. 

The Ordinance was passed by the Legislative Council (LegCo) on November 20, 2024, and was gazetted in the same month. It seeks to provide a legal framework for advance medical directives (AMDs) and do-not-attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation (DNACPR) orders, as well as legal protection for medical professionals and rescuers when complying with AMDs and DNACPR orders, thereby respecting the wishes of terminally ill patients regarding their end-of-life treatment and care arrangements. 

Section 1(2) of the Ordinance provides that the Ordinance shall come into operation on a day to be appointed by the Secretary for Health by notice published in the Gazette. In this regard, the Secretary for Health has made the Commencement Notice to appoint July 31, 2026, as the date on which the main provisions of the Ordinance and the relevant legislative amendments come into operation.

The implementation of the Ordinance further protects the autonomous choices of terminally ill patients regarding their treatment and care arrangements, marking a new milestone in Hong Kong’s end-of-life care services.  The Government will continue to step up training for relevant professionals on the Ordinance in collaboration with stakeholders, with a view to ensuring that they can comply with the relevant statutory requirements after the Ordinance comes into operation. Relevant government departments will also join with social service organisations to continuously deepen public awareness of the Ordinance through public education and promotional activities. 

The Government will table the Commencement Notice at the LegCo next Wednesday (May 27) for negative vetting.  

For information on the Ordinance and relevant forms, please visit the webpage:  www.healthbureau.gov.hk/en/press_and_publications/otherinfo/241100_adlto/index.html.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
 
     The spokesperson for Kwong Wah Hospital (KWH) made the following announcement today (May 22):
 
     A 72-year-old male patient in the Department of Medicine and Geriatrics was confirmed on May 20 to be carrying Candida auris. In accordance with prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital commenced a contact tracing investigation, which identified two additional male patients (aged 69 and 87) in the same ward as carriers of Candida auris. In addition, an 88-year-old male patient was identified as carrying Candida auris during admission screening at Kowloon Hospital following his transfer. All three patients show no signs of infection.
 
     The four patients are now being treated in isolation. One patient has been transferred to Kowloon Hospital and is in stable condition. The other three remain in isolation at Kwong Wah Hospital, all in stable condition.
 
     The hospital will continue the contact tracing investigation of close contacts of the patients in accordance with the prevailing guidelines. A series of enhanced infection control measures have already been adopted to prevent the spread of Candida auris:
 

1. thorough cleaning and disinfection of the wards, including the environment and medical equipment;
2. enhanced medical surveillance of the patients and screening procedures for patients and the environment in the wards; and
3. applied stringent contact precautions and enhanced hand hygiene of staff.

 
     The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Buildings Department approved 14 building plans in March – six on Hong Kong Island, five in Kowloon and three in the New Territories.

Of the approved plans, five were for apartment and apartment/commercial developments, four were for commercial developments, and five were for community services developments.

Consent was given for works to start on six building projects. Upon completion, they will provide 6,182 sq m of domestic gross floor area involving 172 units, and 20,687 sq m of non-domestic gross floor area.

Additionally, the department has received notification of commencement of superstructure works for four building projects.

It also issued 18 occupation permits – four on Hong Kong Island, six in Kowloon and eight in the New Territories.

The buildings certified for occupation comprise 31,910 sq m of gross floor area for domestic use, involving 775 units, and 48,386 sq m for non-domestic use.

Meanwhile, the department received 2,678 reports about unauthorised building works in March, issued 754 removal orders, and gave five demolition consents.