Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Police today (August 19) appealed to the public for information on a woman who went missing in Tuen Mun.
Sze Po-chi, aged 81, went missing after she was last seen at a roundabout in Fu Tai Estate last night (August 18). Her family then made a report to Police.
She is about 1.5 metres tall, 65 kilograms in weight and of fat build. She has a round face with yellow complexion and short white hair. She was last seen wearing a blue short-sleeved shirt, black trousers with white polka dots, grey slippers, carrying a black crossbody bag and holding a walking stick.
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 3128 or email to rmpu-ntn-1@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Hong Kong students triumph at 38th International Olympiad in Informatics (with photo)
Gold medal:Ivan Mak (La Salle College) The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, today (August 19) congratulated the team on their excellent performance. “It is very encouraging to see the remarkable achievements of the Hong Kong team in the IOI to produce Hong Kong’s best performance to date, which is a result of the students’ persistent work. The students have demonstrated their problem-solving and programming skills, and innovative thinking,” she said.
“The Education Bureau (EDB) continues to vigorously promote digital education and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) education in primary and secondary schools. The Blueprint for Digital Education Development in Primary and Secondary Schools has been released to holistically cultivate students’ digital literacy, innovative thinking, and capability to adapt to future society. I wish to extend my gratitude to the school sector for partnering with the EDB in promoting digital education and STEAM education in Hong Kong continuously. Schools not only promote innovation and technology as well as digital education through classroom teaching, but also provide diversified learning opportunities for students outside the classroom including competitions in order to develop a solid foundation in mathematics, science and technology among students and nurture their creativity, enabling them to apply knowledge and skills to solve problems, enrich their learning experience and broaden their horizons.”Issued at HKT 15:00
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Online auction of vehicle registration marks to be held from September 3 to 7 (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. (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 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.hkIssued at HKT 15:00
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Hong Kong Customs yesterday (August 18) detected a case involving a local company that conducted a cash transaction of a watch containing precious metals and stones valued at over HK$120,000 while not being a Category B registrant under the Dealers in Precious Metals and Stones Regulatory Regime. The investigation is ongoing.
According to the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (Cap. 615), unless exempted, any person who is seeking to carry on a business of dealing in precious metals and stones and engage in any transaction(s) (whether making or receiving a payment) with a total value at or above HK$120,000 in Hong Kong is required to register with Hong Kong Customs.
In particular, no person other than a Category B registrant may carry out a cash transaction with a total value at or above HK$120,000 in the course of business of dealing in precious metals and stones. Any dealer who is not a Category B registrant, who claims to be a Category B registrant, claims to be authorised to carry out, or carries out any cash transaction(s) with a total value at or above HK$120,000, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a maximum fine of HK$100,000 and imprisonment for six months.
Customs reminds dealers in precious metals and stones that they must obtain the relevant registration before they can carry out any cash or non-cash transaction(s) with a total value at or above HK$120,000.
Members of the public may report any suspected transactions involving precious metals and stones with a total value at or above HK$120,000 conducted without the required registration to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
A team of four students won two gold medals, one silver medal and an honourable mention, ranking sixth at the 38th International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) – the city’s best-ever performance at the competition.
Adam Xu from Wah Yan College, Kowloon, and Ivan Mak from La Salle College both won gold medals, Lo Ting-wai from Tsuen Wan Government Secondary School won silver, and Berton Choy from La Salle College received an honourable mention.
Secretary for Education Choi Yuk-lin congratulated the Hong Kong team on their excellent performance.
Ms Choi noted that the bureau continues to vigorously promote digital education and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) education in primary and secondary schools.
She added that the Blueprint for Digital Education Development in Primary and Secondary Schools has been released to holistically cultivate students’ digital literacy, innovative thinking and ability to adapt to future society.
She also extended her gratitude to the school sector for continuously partnering with the Education Bureau to promote digital education and STEAM education in Hong Kong.
“Schools not only promote innovation and technology as well as digital education through classroom teaching, but also provide diversified learning opportunities for students outside the classroom including competitions in order to develop a solid foundation in mathematics, science and technology among students and nurture their creativity, enabling them to apply knowledge and skills to solve problems, enrich their learning experience and broaden their horizons,” Ms Choi said.
The IOI is the most recognised worldwide computer science competition aimed at secondary students aged 20 or below.
Representatives from 92 countries and regions from all over the world participated in this year’s IOI, which was held in Uzbekistan.
In preparation for the 94th INTERPOL General Assembly, scheduled for late November in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), in collaboration with other government departments and relevant organisations, conducted a comprehensive inter-departmental exercise covering the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Victoria Harbour and the West Kowloon area.
The exercise held last night covered a wide range of measures and arrangements such as simulating crowd-flow management for approximately 1,000 delegates, their movement between event venues, command and coordination of land and sea transport, a wireless network stress test and contingency plans for unexpected situations.
The exercise also simulated a scenario where terrorists rammed a vehicle into the venue and opened fire during the General Assembly, resulting in mass casualties. Concurrently, a neighbouring educational institution was evacuated due to a separate incident. Participating departments and organisations swiftly activated their emergency response mechanisms.
The exercise thoroughly tested the coordination capabilities of relevant stakeholders across various key operational areas including immediate tactical intervention, emergency response, triage and casualty care, handling of suspicious objects and management of affected persons.
The operation mobilised over 2,600 personnel from multiple government departments and entities, including the HKPF, the Fire Services Department, the Hospital Authority, the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Limited and the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority.
Commissioner of Police Chow Yat-ming observed the exercise on site and commended all participating units for their professional performance and coordination.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Chinese Culture Festival (CCF) 2026, organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), will present the dance drama “Harmony in Eternal Melody” by the Hubei Opera and Dance Drama Theater in September. The production is inspired by the time-honoured “bianzhong (bronze chime bells) culture”. Through the characters’ spiritual quest for universal harmony, it highlights the core Chinese cultural ethos of “Rituals bring order to the universe, and music creates universal harmony”. This is one of the programmes of the “Chinese Performing Arts Hong Kong Season” Series.
The production seamlessly weaves refined dance narratives with contemporary stage arts to recreate the mystical and sublime ancient Chu-style aesthetics, taking the audience across two millennia to experience the profound heritage of the Jing-Chu culture and Chinese civilisation. This critically acclaimed production was selected as a funded project of the National Arts Fund 2025 under the large-scale stage play and work creation category, and won the 18th Wenhua Award for Music. Chu-style dance blending vigour and grace
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Opening ceremony of JPC Summer Camp 2026 held today Addressing the ceremony, Mr Tang said that the JPC has nurtured generations of young leaders for Hong Kong over the past 50-odd years, instilling in them a sense of social responsibility and proper values. He expressed gratitude to schools, parents, the JPC Central Advisory Board, honorary presidents from various districts and all partners for their support for the JPC.
Mr Tang encouraged participants to master three key roles as JPC members through the summer camp activities, namely, “anti-scam experts” – to acquire anti-scam knowledge and heighten their awareness of technology crimes through card games; “anti-drug ambassadors” – to say “no” to drugs and safeguard themselves and people around them; and “national security pioneers” – to deepen their understanding of national security and promote the message that safeguarding national security is everyone’s responsibility.
He said that this year marks the beginning of the National 15th Five-Year Plan and that the country’s development creates boundless opportunities for young people. Citing the example of Dr Lai Ka-ying, Hong Kong’s first payload expert participating in the Shenzhou-23 manned spaceflight mission, Mr Tang encouraged JPC members to seize opportunities, pursue their dreams with courage, and contribute to the country and Hong Kong in different capacities in the future.
The annual JPC Summer Camp lasts four days and three nights. More than 200 members are taking part this year. Under the theme “Exploring a New Chapter”, the camp features diversified activities and training, including competitions incorporated with policing knowledge and investigative elements, as well as adventure-based exercises, with an aim of supporting young participants to achieve breakthroughs and grow, drawing their attention to anti-drug and anti-crime messages, and providing them with positive education to strengthen their teamwork and leadership skills. Issued at HKT 18:35
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
FEHD releases third batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in August
District
District During the rainy season, the FEHD continues to carry out a series of measures, including: During the follow-up actions and following the discovery of stagnant water or stagnant water containers at eight public housing estates and a private premises in Central and Western District, Kwun Tong District, Kwai Tsing District and Yuen Long District, the FEHD has issued a total of nine statutory notices to the responsible persons-in-charge, requiring the clearance of such items within a specified timeframe.
Public participation is crucial to the effective control of mosquito problems. The FEHD appeals to members of the public to continue to work together in strengthening personal mosquito control measures, including: Starting in August 2025, 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 62 survey areas of the community, with a surveillance period of two weeks. During the surveillance period, 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 18:30
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Housing Authority joins hands with industry to enhance site safety The Safety Forum for Works and Property Management Services 2026, jointly organised by the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA), the Occupational Safety and Health Council and the Construction Industry Council, was held today (August 18) to promote a site safety culture.
Addressing the Forum’s opening ceremony, the Permanent Secretary for Housing, Miss Charmaine Lee, said that rising project complexities, an ageing construction workforce as well as increasing extreme weather events present unprecedented and multifaceted challenges to the industry. However, these challenges also bring opportunities for transformation and enhancement. By deepening the application of innovative technologies, the sector can turn these challenges into driving forces for comprehensive industry upgrades.
Miss Lee said that while innovative technologies can boost efficiency, they can never replace the judgment and responsibility of management personnel. The industry must prioritise risk identification and mitigation at early project stages and adhere to the principle of “prevention over remediation” to safeguard site safety. The Forum was held physically and broadcast online to disseminate safety information broadly to industry practitioners. Participants included works contractors, service providers for property management, cleaning and security, representatives from supporting organisations, members of the construction and academic sectors, as well as works and estate management staff of the HA.
The Forum, now in its 20th edition, continues to receive strong support and participation from various government departments, professional organisations, trade associations and labour unions to share practical experiences and insights on site safety. Over the years, the Forum has continuously promoted site safety messages, while actively fostering a safety culture across all levels from management to frontline staff in the industry. Issued at HKT 19:21