Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Major Sports Events Committee today announced it has awarded “M” Mark status to two prestigious football exhibition matches scheduled for August 1 and 5 as part of the Hong Kong Football Festival 2026: Manchester City vs FC Internazionale Milano (Inter); and Chelsea FC vs Juventus.

Manchester City and Inter will compete for the Asahi Super Dry Trophy, while Chelsea and Juventus will go head to head for the Herbalgy Trophy.

“These two spectacular football showdowns will not only bring thrilling, world-class viewing experiences to local fans and visitors, but also fully demonstrate Hong Kong’s unique charm as an international capital for sports events,” said Committee Chairman Wilfred Ng.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Hong Kong Observatory downgraded the No. 8 Southwest Gale or Storm Signal to the Strong Wind Signal No. 3 at 12.40pm today as Tropical Cyclone Noul moved away from the city.

The No. 8 signal had been in force since 7.10am.

The Hospital Authority said a total of 21 people, including nine men and 12 women, sought medical treatment at public hospitals for typhoon-related injuries.

The Government received 331 reports of fallen trees during the storm, with 88 reports made to the 1823 Call Centre and 243 to the Fire Services Department. The Drainage Services Department also received eight reports of flooding.

Additionally, the Home Affairs Department opened 29 temporary shelters across the city, providing refuge to 246 people.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Several years ago, Mr Lai suffered a mini-stroke that turned his daily life into a constant battle against physical discomfort. The transient ischemic attack left him with impaired mobility.

Severe neck and shoulder pain, combined with hand numbness, quickly consumed his evenings. What began as a recovery process soon evolved into a cycle of sleeplessness.

The relentless discomfort eventually prompted him to seek help at the Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong.

“Previously, I could not sleep because of the pain. It was unbearable. I do not even know how to describe it,” Mr Lai, now 67, recalled. “Painkillers did not help at all.”

”After receiving a series of treatments here, that is no longer the case. Now, only my fingers are less flexible, and I still find it difficult to raise my hand.”

His experience highlights a key milestone for local healthcare as the Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong prepares to launch its first batch of comprehensive treatment services by combining practitioner-led Chinese medicine with modern Western medical support.

Integrated care

Mr Lai’s recovery plan pairs traditional therapies – such as herbal fumigation to enhance the effects of acupuncture, cupping and tui-na – with modern physiotherapy.

Operating under a Chinese medicine-led model supported by Western medicine, the hospital relies on physiotherapists and nursing teams to actively track patient progress to make timely adjustments to treatment plans.

Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong Deputy Hospital Chief Executive (Chinese Medicine) Cheung Chun-hoi said Mr Lai initially suffered from impaired hand mobility and an unsteady gait.

Following targeted treatments using acupuncture, tui-na and herbal fumigation, his condition noticeably improved, he noted.

“He can walk more stably and for longer, and do some exercise. We are now focusing on improving his hand function,” Mr Cheung noted.

“His shoulder pain has been treated and he can move around already.”

Specialised programmes

To meet growing local demand, the hospital will provide its first batch of comprehensive treatment services to patients under its Special Disease Programmes on July 27.

The first phase will prioritise post-stroke care and lower back pain management.

Mr Cheung explained that these Chinese medicine practitioner-led programmes deliver multidisciplinary treatment.

“We perform a lot of Chinese medicine treatments that can be different from outside clinics or outside society, including acupuncture, fumigation treatment, moxibustion and tui-na,” he said.

Moxibustion is a therapy that involves burning dried herbs on or near specific acupuncture points to promote blood circulation and stimulate the flow of energy to relieve pain.

Under this care continuity framework, Chinese medicine practitioners conduct joint consultations with Western physicians, while dedicated nurse case managers co-ordinate cross-disciplinary follow-ups for each patient.

The hospital said that it will launch about 12 of its 23 targeted specific disease programmes within the first year.

Future expansion

Meanwhile, 24-hour inpatient services are scheduled to roll out in phases starting in December.

Mr Cheung noted that some cases may eventually extend from outpatient and day-patient services to 24-hour inpatient care in the future.

To support the expansion, the hospital is actively building its workforce, drawing about 1,500 job seekers at a two-day job fair in early May.

Mr Cheung added that partnerships with some Mainland Chinese medicine hospitals will allow renowned practitioners and masters to conduct short-term and long-term teaching and training in Hong Kong.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government today announced that public acceptance of the new policy of allowing dogs into food premises has steadily grown, with overall operations remaining smooth and stable two weeks after its July 9 launch.

The number of participating eateries has risen from 940 at the start of implementation to over 970 at present. The first phase of the measure sets a quota of 1,000 food premises, with a waiting list mechanism established for unsuccessful applicants according to their ballot order.

If an approved food premises withdraws, its quota is swiftly reallocated to the next applicant in line.

The Government added that the turnover of permitted food premises reflects normal market adjustments and continuous refinement. The policy aims to provide flexibility for food businesses while offering diverse choices to the public based on different preferences and needs.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​Hong Kong Customs today (July 24) detected two drug trafficking cases involving passengers at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 9.5 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds, with a total estimated market value of about 1.8 million. Three persons were arrested.

The first case involved two Mainland male passengers, aged 38 and 39, who arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand today. During customs clearance, officer seized a batch of suspected cannabis buds weighing about 4.5kg, with an estimated market value of approximately $840,000, concealed in snack packages from one of their carry-on suitcases. The two men were subsequently arrested.

In the second case, a 56-year-old Taiwan female passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, today. During customs clearance, officers found about 5kg of suspected cannabis buds, with an estimated market of about $930,000, inside her check-in suitcase. The woman was subsequently arrested.

Investigations of the two cases are ongoing.

Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.

Customs will also continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities 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).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The “Guangdong Art Film Exhibition – Hong Kong Film Screenings and Hong Kong Film Show in Guangdong 2026”, presented by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) and the Hong Kong Film Development Council (FDC), commenced today (July 24) in Guangzhou. With guidance from the Guangdong Provincial Film Administration and the CSTB, the screening event is jointly organised by the Pearl River Film Group and the Guangdong Film Association, and supported by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong, presenting six Hong Kong romance films from July 24 to August 2 at cinemas in Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Foshan.
 
     Officiating guests at the opening ceremony included the Assistant Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries and Secretary-General of the FDC, Mr Gary Mak; representatives from the Guangdong Provincial Film Administration, the Pearl River Film Group and the Guangdong Film Association; as well as the director of the opening film “Rouge”, Stanley Kwan. Kwan also participated in a post-screening sharing session to interact with the audience. The response at the sharing session was enthusiastic.

     The six films selected for this year’s programme include classic films “Rouge” ,”An Autumn’s Tale” and “A Moment of Romance”, as well as recent films “Last Song For You”, “Love Lies” and “Table For Six 2”. Apart from Hong Kong films, two films from the Chinese Mainland, “White Snake” and “The Sun Rises On Us All”, will also be featured.

     The Hong Kong Film Show in Guangdong has been a major film cultural event organised by CCIDA and the FDC in Guangdong Province since 2013 to promote Hong Kong films and expand the audience base in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) through a series of activities, including film screenings, post-screening sharing sessions by creative teams, audience interaction sessions. This year, the Hong Kong Film Show in Guangdong is organised in collaboration with the “Guangdong Art Film Exhibition 2026 – Hong Kong Film Screenings” initiated by the Guangdong Provincial Film Administration with a view to further fostering exchanges on film between Guangdong and Hong Kong, and deepening co-operation among the film industries in the GBA region.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region