Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

DH’s organised and subvented Chinese medicine acupuncture for smoking cessation techniques wins national award and training workshop makes relevant techniques accessible to more people       
     The CM smoking cessation service, organised and subvented by the DH and operated by Pok Oi Hospital, participated in a research project titled Research and Application of Acupuncture Intervention Techniques for Tobacco Dependence. This project recently won the second prize in the 2025 Science and Technology Award of the China Association of Chinese Medicine on the Chinese Mainland. The award not only recognises the efforts of Pok Oi Hospital and relevant medical institutions in researching, promoting and applying acupuncture techniques to address tobacco dependence, but also validates the efficacy of Hong Kong’s CM smoking cessation techniques.
      
     Since being designated as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Smoking Cessation and Treatment of Tobacco Dependence in 2012, the DH has served as a regional hub for supporting training in smoking cessation treatment and services. It regularly provides such training to tobacco control professionals in Hong Kong, on the Chinese Mainland and across the Western Pacific region.
      
     The workshop today attracted about 80 CM practitioners from Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and Macao. The training workshop covers smoking cessation counselling, the mechanism and treatment plans of CM smoking cessation (including acupuncture and ear-point treatment). It is designed to help CM practitioners enhance their knowledge and skills in delivering cessation treatments. Studies show that combining acupuncture with ear-point treatment and professional counselling can effectively alleviate withdrawal symptoms and relieve discomforts during the initial stages of smoking cessation, thereby achieving significant therapeutic effects and increasing the success rate.
      
     Since last year, the number of CM smoking cessation service providers subvented by the DH has increased from one to four, namely Pok Oi Hospital, the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, the United Christian Nethersole Community Health Service and the School of Chinese Medicine of the University of Hong Kong. The smoking cessation clinics primarily offer counselling and acupuncture, and the number of service users has doubled. Currently, there are over 200 service points across Hong Kong (including CM mobile clinics and fixed clinics) offering CM smoking cessation services, providing convenient access for those seeking to quit smoking.
      
     Apart from organising CM smoking cessation training workshops, the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the DH also organises the Annual Training Programme on Tobacco Control for tobacco control workers in the Western Pacific region, and conducts smoking cessation treatment training courses for healthcare professionals from the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao. These training workshops have attracted a cumulative total of over 1 000 participants to date.
      
     Furthermore, the DH has prepared a variety of resources for healthcare professionals, including patient pamphlets, referral forms to cessation clinics, “Very Brief Advice” and “Brief Intervention on Smoking Cessation” delivery toolkits, online training courses, and a Practical Handbook for Smoking Cessation Treatments. These resources are designed to support healthcare professionals in helping smokers quit through various channels. Relevant information has been uploaded to TACO’s website      
     Members of the public can call 1833 183 or visit the smoking cessation thematic websiteIssued at HKT 15:30

Appeal for information on missing girl in Tai Po                         
     She is about 1.68 metres tall and of thin build. She has a round face with yellow complexion, long blonde hair and a tattoo on her right forearm. She was last seen wearing a khaki jacket, black pants and pink slippers.Issued at HKT 14:35

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Clearance and rehousing arrangements for redevelopment of Wah Fu Estate Phase 1b advancing as planned, supporting residents’ smooth transition to new community 
Ample 59-month notification for relocation
 
     The HA’s Strategic Planning Committee, Commercial Properties Committee and Subsidised Housing Committee (SHC) approved the relevant clearance and rehousing arrangements today. From today until the target clearance date in March 2031, affected tenants of these three buildings will have a notification period of as long as about 59 months to make detailed planning and preparations for a smooth relocation.
 
Preserving community ties through rehousing in reception estates
 
     Neighbouring public housing development projects on Wah Lok Path and in Wah Fu North will serve as reception estates with anticipated intake in 2028 and 2030 respectively, providing a total of 2 243 units, more than enough for the approximately 1 980 affected households currently living in Wah Cheong House, Wah Tai House and Wah Kin House. This arrangement preserves community ties and a sense of belonging while helping residents adapt more quickly to their new environment. Affected tenants may also opt to move to surplus units at the reception estate for the redevelopment of WFE Phase 1a on Wah King Street or to the recovered public rental housing (PRH) units in any districts, subject to availability.
 
Professional care for elderly residents 
Honouring heritage and local character
 
     WFE has a unique and deep-rooted local cultural heritage. Since 2018, the HA has been engaging residents and stakeholders through in-depth dialogue. By listening to residents share their life stories and memories about WFE spanning over the last half-century, the HA will explore incorporating the distinctive features of WFE into the redevelopment plan and design at an elevated level so as to preserve the unique identity and sense of place of WFE as the community evolves.
 
Domestic Removal Allowance and priority flat selection
 
     All domestic tenants affected by the clearance will be offered a Domestic Removal Allowance ranging from $10,350 to $33,050, depending on the household size, to help meet part of their moving expenses. Eligible one-person and two-person households may also opt for cash in lieu of rehousing to a PRH unit under the Alternative Rehousing Allowance, with the rates endorsed by the SHC today standing at $79,440 and $98,400 for one-person households and two-person households respectively. 
Refurbished vacant units for PRH applicants 
     The HA will announce the latest updates and developments in due course based on the progress of other phases of the WFE redevelopment.
Issued at HKT 16:10

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Draft Clear Water Bay Peninsula North Outline Zoning Plan approved      
     Copies of the approved OZP are available for sale at the Map Publications Centre in North Point. The electronic version of the OZP can be viewed on the Town Planning Board’s website (www.tpb.gov.hkIssued at HKT 16:00

Tenders invited for contract for Management of Sediment Disposal Facility to West of Lamma Island      The works are scheduled to commence in August 2026 and will take about 60 months to complete.

     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.Issued at HKT 14:32

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Report on “Navigating the Green Shift: Opportunities and the Evolving Landscape of Transition Finance”      
     The report reviews the global transition finance landscape, examining the importance of multistakeholder collaborations and international best practices in preventing greenwashing and maintaining transparency. Based on a survey and in-depth interviews commissioned by the HKIMR, the study captures insights from a diverse range of global stakeholders – including financial institutions and multilateral organisations – offering a detailed analysis of the current state, emerging trends, and future trajectory of the international transition finance ecosystem.
      
     The study reveals a clear momentum in transition finance, with 60 per cent of survey respondents already either active in or exploring transition finance developments. Among a diverse range of financial instruments, equity and fund investments as well as debt instruments were the most commonly used tools to channel capital towards transition projects. As the ecosystem progressively matures, a gradual shift towards more specialised instruments is anticipated. Respondents further observed that collaborative models, including blended finance approaches, can draw in private capital by enhancing the risk-return profiles of investments in transition projects.
      
     The study also indicates that market outlook is cautiously optimistic, with 74 per cent of respondents anticipating a stable or growing global transition finance market over the next three years. Positive sentiment is most pronounced in the Asia-Pacific region, where 91 per cent of respondents expected stability or growth. Finally, the study outlines several considerations, including maintaining a high level of regulatory and policy clarity, and deepening regional collaborations, to support the development of a vibrant transition finance ecosystem in Hong Kong.
      
     The Chief Executive Officer of the AoF and Executive Director of the HKIMR, Mr Enoch Fung, said, “By facilitating informed dialogues, cross-boundary collaborations, and continued innovation, Hong Kong can further reinforce its role as a leading sustainable finance hub and contribute to the long-term goals of climate resilience and sustainable economic development. This report offers actionable insights in consolidating Hong Kong’s existing strengths in green and sustainable development.”
      
     The report 
About the AoF 
About the HKIMRIssued at HKT 14:00

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected counterfeit goods and alternative smoking products worth about $3 million (with photo)      
     Through risk assessment, Customs on that day intercepted an incoming lorry at the HZMB Hong Kong Port. After inspection, Customs officers found the batch of suspected counterfeit goods and alternative smoking products inside the cargo compartment of the lorry. A 48-year-old male driver was subsequently arrested.

     An initial investigation revealed that the batch of suspected counterfeit goods and alternative smoking products would have been transhipped to overseas regions.
      
     The investigation is ongoing and the arrested man has been released on bail pending further investigation.
      
     Customs will continue to take stringent enforcement action against counterfeit goods and smuggling activities through risk assessment and intelligence analysis.
      
     Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who imports or exports any goods to which a forged trademark is applied commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
      
     Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years upon conviction.
      
     Members of the public may report any suspected violation of the above-mentioned Ordinances to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hkIssued at HKT 12:02

Speech by PSCST at opening ceremony of Centre for Exercise Science and Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University (English only) 
Dr Wong (Chairman of the Council and the Court of HKBU, Dr Kennedy Wong), Professor Wai (President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU, Professor Alex Wai), Professor Pigozzi (President of the International Federation of Sports Medicine, Professor Fabio Pigozzi), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen:
 
     Good morning.
      
     I am very happy to join you all today at the opening ceremony of the Centre for Exercise Science and Medicine at the Hong Kong Baptist University.
      
     Sports development in Hong Kong has witnessed remarkable growth in recent years, which is evident in athletes’ outstanding achievements. Our elite athletes brought home a record of two golds and two bronzes at the Paris Olympic Games in 2024, and set another record by capturing 19 medals at the 15th National Games last year. Such triumphs not only speak for the talent and strength of our athletes, but also demonstrates the contributions of our sports medicine and sports science professionals.
      
     The Government has shown continuous support in the development of sports medicine and sports science, which is essential to elite sports development in Hong Kong.
      
     The Government and the Hong Kong Jockey Club jointly committed $300 million to launch the Sports Science and Research Funding Scheme in 2022, which aims to enhance athletes’ competitiveness in major international games. As of today, a total of 31 research projects have been approved with the funding amount reaching $198 million. The Hong Kong Baptist University has taken part in one of these projects on monitoring athletes’ health, the results of which have been applied to support athletes’ training. The Hong Kong Sports Institute will continue to explore more research projects with research institutes to further enhance the training effectiveness of our elite athletes. 
      
     The opening of the Centre for Exercise Science and Medicine today represents an important milestone in the development of sports medicine and sports science in Hong Kong. As the first collaborating centre of the International Federation of Sports Medicine in Hong Kong, it is expected to foster exchanges between the sports medicine and sports science community in Hong Kong and that around the world.
      
     I would like to express my gratitude to the Hong Kong Baptist University for your long-standing commitment to and support in nurturing sports talents over the years. With the establishment of this new Centre, I am confident that the University will continue to contribute to the excellence of our athletes, advance research in sports medicine and sports science, and further enhance professionalism in the wider sports community.
      
     Congratulations again to the Hong Kong Baptist University. May this Centre serve as a platform where academic excellence and commitment to sports continue to flourish.
      
     Thank you.
Issued at HKT 11:58

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