Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Drainage Services Department (DSD) today (April 17) gazetted a notice to invite interested tenderers for the contract “Design, Build and Operate Yuen Long South Effluent Polishing Plant” (Contract No. DC/2026/03) to apply for prequalification. The closing time for the prequalification application is noon on June 12, 2026.
 
The scope of works under the contract comprises the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the proposed Yuen Long South Effluent Polishing Plant (YLSEPP) with a sewage treatment capacity of 65 000 cubic metres per day (in average dry weather flow). The contract is scheduled to commence in August 2027. In addition to the design and construction works, the contract includes the operation and maintenance of the YLSEPP for a period of 10 years (extendable by five years at most).
 
The Government intends to prequalify no more than five applicants as prequalified tenderers. They would then be invited to join the tender exercise tentatively scheduled to be held in September 2026. Applications will be considered in accordance with the selection criteria and the marking scheme as set out in the prequalification documents.
 
The DSD has commissioned Arup – Binnies Joint Venture as the project’s engineering consultant. Interested contractors may obtain the prequalification documents from the office of the consultant at Level 5, Festival Walk, 80 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong.
 
Details of the notice are available on the DSD website (www.dsd.gov.hk/EN/Tender_Notices/Current_Tenders/index.html). For enquiries, please contact the person-in-charge of the consultant, Dr Simon Tsang (tel: 2268 3595; fax: 2268 3953, email: arupylsepp@arup.com), during office hours.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Labour Department will host the “Embarking on a New Journey” Industry-based Job Fair at MacPherson Stadium in Mong Kok on April 21, offering more than 1,600 vacancies.

Over 30 recruiting organisations from the catering, retail, construction and property management industries will conduct on-site recruitment.

A wide range of positions will be available, including shop managers, sales associates, cooks, security guards, site agents, engineers and electricians.

Full-time jobs account for around 80% of the openings. Most vacancies offer monthly salaries ranging from $12,000 to $22,000. About 96% of the roles require an education level of Secondary Seven or below, while 38% are open to those without relevant work experience.

The fair will run from 11am to 5.30pm at 1/F, MacPherson Stadium, 38 Nelson Street, Mong Kok. Admission is free, with the last entry at 5pm.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Chief Secretary, Financial Secretary and Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs today met central authorities in Beijing to discuss Hong Kong’s integration into national development.

Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki, Financial Secretary Paul Chan and Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Janice Tse met CPC Central Committee Hong Kong & Macao Work Office Director and State Council Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office Director Xia Baolong this morning.

During the meeting, the officials exchanged views on how the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government can proactively align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan to better serve the country’s overall development.

CPC Central Committee Hong Kong & Macao Work Office and State Council Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office Executive Deputy Director Xu Qifang, and Deputy Director Zhang Dongmei also attended the meeting.

The delegation concluded their visit and returned to Hong Kong in the afternoon.

Source: Government of the Republic of Korea

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan; and the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Miss Janice Tse Siu-wa, visited Beijing today (April 16). The Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Xia Baolong, met with the delegation this morning to discuss and exchange on the work of Hong Kong to proactively align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan, and to better integrate into and serve the overall national development.
 
The Executive Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Xu Qifang, and Deputy Director Ms Zhang Dongmei also joined the meeting.

The delegation of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government officials concluded their visit to Beijing and returned to Hong Kong this afternoon.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Working Group on Public Transport Service Special Applications (Working Group), under the Inter-departmental Task Force on Monitoring Fuel Supply, convenes the first meeting today (April 16).

Led by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, the Working Group has listened to the three franchised bus operators (i.e. The Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Limited / Long Win Bus Company Limited, Citybus Limited and New Lantao Bus Company (1973) Limited) on their current business environment and operation situation as well as the measures they have taken to address the rising fuel costs. The Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology, the Commissioner for Transport and the Government Economist also attended the meeting. During the meeting, the Working Group conducted dialogues in a frank and exchanged manner with the operators, and expressed appreciation for their continued dedication to providing stable public transport services despite the challenging operating environment.

The Government will continue to monitor changes in fuel costs and the latest developments, and maintain communication with public transport service operators. Taking into account the overall operating environment, operators’ costs, and public affordability, while maintaining the stability and normal operations of public transport services, the Working Group will consider targeted temporary measures to help operators save energy and enhance operational efficiency in response to oil price fluctuations.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Regarding the direct investigation operation report on the Government’s work in combating cruelty to animals released by the Office of The Ombudsman today (April 16), the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) responds as follows:

The Government has always attached great importance to animal welfare and deters acts of cruelty to animals through stringent enforcement and preventive education initiatives. The AFCD appreciates the Office’s attention to the work on combating animal cruelty and accepts its recommendations and will actively follow up on them.

The Ombudsman recommended that the Government consider amending the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance (Cap. 169) (the Ordinance) in stages. The Government has been conducting research on the amendment of the Ordinance and will strive to provide a concrete update within this year.

To improve the handling of suspected animal cruelty cases, the AFCD updated its departmental guidelines in the fourth quarter of 2025, covering all procedures for handling reported cases involving suspected animal cruelty, and has conducted staff training. The AFCD will take reference from the report’s recommendations to further include more specific criteria and indicators in the guidelines, so as to strengthen the monitoring of case follow-up and enhance file management. In addition, the AFCD will continue to enhance staff training and promote experience exchange to strengthen the experience and skills of staff, as well as their communication, investigation and enforcement capabilities.

Since 2011, the Hong Kong Police Force (the Police), the AFCD and the Hong Kong Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) have jointly implemented the Animal Watch Scheme. Through a multi-agency collaboration, the scheme proactively prevents and detects suspected cases of animal cruelty, and has achieved notable results. The AFCD has liaised with the Police and the SPCA on strengthening information exchange and the sharing of investigation outcomes, with a view to formulating appropriate measures to more effectively combat acts of cruelty to animals.

The AFCD has been committed to combating illegal hunting activities through regular patrols and strengthened patrols at illegal hunting black spots, the removal of illegal hunting appliances, and appropriate enforcement actions against offences such as unlawful possession. In response to the Office’s recommendations, the AFCD will review its patrol strategies, strengthen intelligence gathering, and make good use of technology to enhance enforcement effectiveness. The AFCD will also review the relevant legislation and penalties in a timely manner. In terms of prevention at source, the AFCD will maintain close collaboration with departments such as Hong Kong Customs and the Police, to strengthen intelligence exchange and conduct joint operations. The AFCD has already provided relevant guidelines to Hong Kong Customs to assist in identifying hunting appliances in order to curb their illegal importation. In addition, the AFCD will continue to promote public education and publicity to raise public awareness of the dangers posed by illegal hunting appliances, encourage members of the public to report suspicious cases, and remind the public to use managed and maintained hiking trails in the countryside for their own safety.

The AFCD agrees with the Office’s recommendation on strengthening public publicity and education. In addition to rigorous enforcement, enhancing public awareness of animal welfare is equally important in combating animal cruelty. The AFCD has set up a dedicated team to strengthen relevant public education work in collaboration with animal welfare organisations.

The AFCD will continue to uphold a professional spirit and work closely with various relevant government departments and organisations. Through rigorous enforcement and strengthened public education, the AFCD will strive to continuously enhance the effectiveness of its work in safeguarding animal welfare.