Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The opening ceremony of the “Yau Ma Tei Police Station: A Cinematic Journey” exhibition, presented by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, was held at the Old Yau Ma Tei Police Station today (January 1). The exhibition will open to the public from tomorrow (January 2). An admission ticket costs $30, a concessionary ticket costs $10, while admission of children aged six or below is free. Members of the public may book tickets through the online booking system. There is no physical ticket sale onsite.

     Officiating at today’s opening ceremony were the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing; the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung; the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law; the Commissioner of Police, Mr Chow Yat-ming; the Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Dr Peter Lam; and actor Simon Yam.

     The “Yau Ma Tei Police Station: A Cinematic Journey” exhibition is one of the major projects of the Government’s Working Group on Developing Tourist Hotspots. It is also the second tourist attraction themed around Hong Kong films, following the “Kowloon Walled City: A Cinematic Journey” Movie Set Exhibition opened last year.

     Situated at 627 Canton Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, the Old Yau Ma Tei Police Station is a Grade‑2 historic building. The exhibition showcases film sets reconstructed by Hong Kong film professionals, collectable items and original pieces, presenting the city’s memories of the era portrayed in Hong Kong crime film classics, and allowing visitors to experience Hong Kong’s film culture and the unique creativity of local filmmakers.

     To coincide with the exhibition and promote district tourism, the Yau Tsim Mong District Office has also launched the Yau Ma Tei Dining and Shopping Festival as well as a Mini Bazaar starting today. Visitors who have visited the exhibition may enjoy a wide range of special offers at participating merchants. The Mini Bazaar, which operates on weekends and public holidays in the initial phase (until March 1), is located opposite the main entrance of the Old Yau Ma Tei Police Station, and sells cultural and creative products as well as local traditional snacks.

     For further details of the “Yau Ma Tei Police Station: A Cinematic Journey” exhibition, please visit ymtps.ccidahk.gov.hk.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority (HA) has successfully implemented measures under the public healthcare fees and charges reform (fees and charges reform), with all public hospitals operating smoothly today (January 1). The HA has deployed additional manpower across various departments at hospitals to assist patients in need and will continue to monitor operations closely over the coming days to ensure smooth service delivery after the New Year holiday.

     The HA Chairman, Mr Henry Fan, said, “The successful implementation of the reform marks a significant milestone in our public healthcare system. The reform will enhance protection for poor, acute, serious and critical patients, enabling sustainable development of public healthcare services to meet the challenges posed by Hong Kong’s aging population. We especially thank all staff for their co-operation in implementing the reform and patients for their understanding of the new arrangements.”

     As of 2pm, 1982 patients attended the Accident and Emergency departments (A&E) of 18 public hospitals, including 42 critical cases and 82 emergency cases. According to the new fees and charges arrangement, these two categories of patients will have their emergency room charges, previously set at $180, fully exempted. The other cases subject to the new fees and charges arrangement include 854 urgent cases, 968 semi-urgent cases, and 36 non-urgent cases. The average waiting times for semi-urgent and non-urgent cases was 83 minutes.

     The regularisation of refund arrangement in A&E has been implemented to provide patients in stable conditions and with mild symptoms with flexibility in choosing alternative medical care. Patient who chooses to leave A&E before doctor consultation can raise a refund request for the A&E charges within 24 hours after registration to claim a refund of $350. Given the need to prioritise treatment for more critical patients, the HA urges patients with mild symptoms to seek treatment at Family Medicine Clinics (FMCs), private doctors or 24-hour outpatient services at private hospitals to reduce pressure on A&E of public hospitals.

     Furthermore, there are 15 FMCs providing public holiday family medicine outpatient services today, offering a total of 1431 consultation quotas. As of 2pm, 487 patients attended these 15 FMCs, of which 4 patients were eligible for medical fee waivers. Overall service usage remains approximately similar to before the implementation of the measures.

     The HA Chief Executive, Dr Libby Lee, said, “After the New Year holiday, many clinical departments in public hospitals will resume normal services. We have deployed additional manpower, including service ambassadors, dedicated teams, and volunteers to station at outpatient clinics, shroffs and pharmacies for answering patient inquiries, and assisting with payments, appointments, and applications for medical fee waivers. Hospitals and specialist outpatient clinics have also set up information counters where dedicated staff provide on-site responses to public inquiries.”

     The HA reminds patients that the fees and charges reform has been implemented. Patients are advised to familiarise themselves with the new fees and charges arrangements before visiting public hospitals or outpatient clinics. Some medical service procedures have also been modified. Every cluster has set up hotlines (see table below) for patients to inquire about the fees and charges reform arrangements (see Annex). Patients can also visit the HA website to learn about the new arrangements.

Hotlines for Public Healthcare Fees and Charges Reform

Clusters	Hotlines
Hong Kong East Cluster	6460 4303
Hong Kong West Cluster	2255 4177
Kowloon Central Cluster	3506 7198
Kowloon East Cluster	5215 7326
Kowloon West Cluster	3467 7575
New Territories East Cluster	6273 3551
New Territories West Cluster	2468 5353

Service hours: January 2-11, 2026, 8am to 8pm

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority (HA) announced today (January 1) that the public healthcare fees and charges reform is now officially in effect, marking a new chapter in HA’s sustainable development. Since January 1 midnight, all HA systems have successfully switched to the new fees and charges mode, with operations at public hospitals running smoothly. The HA will continue to closely monitor hospital operations and deploy additional manpower to provide immediate assistance to those in need, ensuring smooth service delivery.

     The reform took effect at midnight, with all public hospital systems, including patient registration, payment, and clinical systems, successfully switching to the new fees and charges mode. The HA Chairman, Mr Henry Fan, and the HA Chief Executive, Dr Libby Lee, visited Kwong Wah Hospital at midnight to observe the implementation of the new charging mode and the transition process. They also communicated with all clusters through video conferencing to ensure implementation and support measures were in place.

     The HA Chairman, Mr Henry Fan, said, “The successful implementation of the reform marks a significant milestone in our public healthcare system. The reform will enhance protection for poor, acute, serious and critical patients, enabling sustainable development of public healthcare services to meet the challenges posed by Hong Kong’s aging population. We especially thank all staff for their co-operation in implementing the reform and patients for their understanding of the new arrangements. The HA will continue to implement various measures to enhance patient protection and improve public healthcare services.”

     Accident and Emergency departments (A&E), which operate 24 hours a day, are among the first clinical departments to implement the new fees and charges arrangements. The HA has adopted flexible arrangements, allowing a small number of patients who completed registration just after midnight to pay the old fees. The HA Chief Executive, Dr Libby Lee, said, “After the New Year holiday, many clinical departments in public hospitals will resume normal services. We have deployed additional manpower, including service ambassadors, dedicated teams, and volunteers to station at outpatient clinics, shroffs and pharmacies for answering patient inquiries, assisting with payments, appointments, and applications for medical fee waivers. Hospitals and specialist outpatient clinics have also set up information counters where dedicated staff provide on-site responses to public inquiries.”

     The HA will closely monitor operations at all hospitals. Meanwhile, patients are reminded that with the official implementation of the new fees and charges arrangements (Annex), some medical service procedures may be modified. Each hospital cluster has set up hotlines (see table below) for patients to inquire about the reform arrangements. Patients can also visit the HA website for related information.

     The HA emphasises that with the comprehensive implementation of the reform measures, an enhanced medical fee waiver mechanism has also been introduced. Over 50 000 patients have already submitted advance applications or filed enquiries, with the majority of applications processed. Eligible patients will gradually receive their medical fee waiver certificates, enabling them to have fee waivers granted at their next follow-up consultation. The HA has established dedicated teams to assist patients with fee waiver applications and will increase manpower to shorten processing times.

     During the transition period from January to March, patients requiring immediate or urgent treatment, who cannot afford medical expense at the public sector, but cannot provide complete documentation for financial assessment, will be granted “conditional waivers” for full or partial medical fees. Patients need only submit relevant documents within three months to receive official medical fee waiver certificates upon passing the assessment.

     Patients currently holding medical fee waiver certificates (full or partial), can continue using them until expiry without reapplication. Patients with partial fee waiver certificates who qualify for full waivers under the enhanced mechanism can obtain full waivers by declaring no significant change in financial status at Medical Social Services Units three months before appointments or within three months after hospitalisation, without requiring reassessment. The validity will be the same as the original certificate’s expiry date.

     In addition to enhancing the medical fee waiver mechanism, the HA has established a second safety net by introducing an annual cap of $10,000 on medical service charges (excluding self-financed items). This expanded safety net aims to help citizens reduce the heavy financial burden of medical expenses arising from unexpected serious illnesses or chronic conditions. Furthermore, the HA will strengthen the healthcare protection of critically-ill patients. This includes accelerating the introduction of more effective innovative drugs and devices, and relaxing the eligibility criteria of means test for the safety net applications, so that more middle-income patients can receive subsidy for self-financed drugs and devices. Patients currently receiving partial subsidy will also be able to access increased support. During the implementation of fees and charges reform measures, the HA will adhere to the principle that the Government’s commitment to public health will remain unchanged. All gains from the reform will be wholly utilised for public healthcare services.

     The HA emphasises that it has increased manpower to assist patients in need with fee waiver applications and other enhanced protection measures, ensuring that no citizen will be denied appropriate medical care due to financial difficulties. With all enhanced patient protection measures in place, the number of beneficiaries will increase significantly from the current 300 000 to approximately 1.4 million. Together with about 600 000 Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients, Old Age Living Allowance recipients aged 75 or above, and holders of Residential Care Service Voucher Scheme Level 0 vouchers who will continue to receive full fee waivers, it is estimated that around 2 million people will benefit in total, substantially strengthening patient protection.
 
Hotlines for Public Healthcare Fees and Charges Reform
 

Clusters	Hotlines
Hong Kong East Cluster	6460 4303
Hong Kong West Cluster	2255 4177
Kowloon Central Cluster	3506 7198
Kowloon East Cluster	5215 7326
Kowloon West Cluster	3467 7575
New Territories East Cluster	6273 3551
New Territories West Cluster	2468 5353

Service hours: January 2-11, 2026, 8am to 8pm

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (January 1) reminded the public, particularly the elderly, people with chronic illnesses, outdoor workers, pregnant women, infants and children, to adopt appropriate measures to protect their health in view of the cold weather.
     
Elderly and people with chronic illnesses
———————————————
     A spokesman for the CHP said that in general, elderly people have less insulating fat, and their body temperature control mechanisms would be weaker. Their body may not respond appropriately to the cold weather. In addition, some senior persons may have decreased mobility, which can impair their ability to generate and conserve body heat.

     Chronic illnesses, such as hypertension, diabetes or hypothyroidism, would lower their metabolic rate, subsequently causing their body to generate less heat. Besides, persons with chronic illnesses, such as chronic respiratory illnesses or cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, are vulnerable to disease aggravation due to cold weather.

     The spokesman reminded the public, in particular the elderly and persons with chronic illnesses, to adopt the following preventive measures:
 

• Take note of the weather forecast. Wear warm clothing, including hats, scarves, gloves and socks, accordingly;
• Consume sufficient food to ensure adequate calorie intake;
• Perform regular exercise to facilitate blood circulation and heat production;
• Stay in a warm environment. Avoid going out in the morning and at night when the temperature is lower, and avoid prolonged outdoor exposure;
• Use heaters with care and maintain adequate indoor ventilation;
• Avoid alcoholic beverages. Drinking alcohol cannot keep you warm. Alcohol accelerates the loss of body heat through dilated blood vessels, resulting in chilling instead; and
• Seek medical advice if feeling unwell.

Infants, children and pregnant women
——————————————-

     Infants and young children are more susceptible to heat loss during the cold weather. The spokesman reminded parents that they should ensure babies are sufficiently warm, but it is also important to keep babies relatively lightly clothed to avoid overheating them. When children engage in outdoor activities, their clothing should be adjusted accordingly, and changed quickly if soaked. Infants, young children and pregnant women should also try to avoid going out in the morning and at night when the temperature is lower.

     Parents should observe the following safety measures when putting their children to bed:

• Keep the room well ventilated and at a comfortable temperature;
• Always place babies on their backs to sleep. Leave their heads, faces and arms uncovered during sleep;
• Babies do not need pillows. Place babies on a firm and well-fitted mattress to sleep. Avoid soft objects, pillows and loose bedding;
• Let babies sleep in a cot placed near their parents’ bed; and
• Maintain a smoke-free environment.

Outdoor workers
——————-

     Outdoor workers should take heed of the weather report and wear appropriate warm clothing for work. Clothing should be changed as soon as possible if soaked. When the Cold Weather Warning is in force, they should take appropriate precautions. They should take a break immediately and seek help and medical attention if feeling unwell.

General public
—————-

     In addition, many respiratory pathogens, including influenza and SARS-CoV-2, may have increasing activity and community transmission during winter. Seasonal influenza vaccination is recommended for all persons aged 6 months or above, except those with known contraindications. Persons at higher risk of getting influenza and its complications, including the elderly and children, should receive seasonal influenza vaccinations early. Please see details of the vaccination schemes on the CHP’s website.

     A person who gets influenza and COVID-19 at the same time may become more seriously ill and would have a higher risk of death. It is important for elderly persons, especially those residing in residential care homes, to receive both a seasonal influenza vaccination and a COVID-19 vaccination. They should also receive an additional booster against COVID-19 according to recommendations as soon as possible. The public should also maintain good personal and environmental hygiene against respiratory illnesses and note the following:
 

• Surgical masks can prevent transmission of respiratory viruses from ill persons. It is essential for persons who are symptomatic (even if having mild symptoms) to wear a surgical mask;
• Wear a surgical mask when taking public transport or staying in crowded places. It is important to wear a mask properly, including performing hand hygiene before wearing and after removing a mask;
• Avoid touching one’s eyes, mouth and nose;
• Wash hands with liquid soap and water properly whenever possibly contaminated;
• When hands are not visibly soiled, clean them with 70 to 80 per cent alcohol-based handrub;
• Cover the mouth and nose with tissue paper when sneezing or coughing. Dispose of soiled tissue paper properly into a lidded rubbish bin and wash hands thoroughly afterwards;
• Maintain good indoor ventilation;
• When having respiratory symptoms, wear a surgical mask, refrain from work or attending classes at school, avoid going to crowded places and seek medical advice promptly; and
• Maintain a balanced diet, exercise regularly, take adequate rest, do not smoke and avoid overstress.

     
     ​Food-borne diseases, particularly those linked to hotpot cuisine, are also common in cold weather. The following preventive measures should be taken:
     

• Wash hands before handling and consuming food;
• Do not patronise unlicensed vendors or those with poor hygienic standards while selecting food;
• Wash and cook all food thoroughly;
• Vegetables should be washed thoroughly in clean running water before cooking and consumption. When appropriate, scrub vegetables with hard surfaces with a clean brush to remove dirt and substances, including pesticide residues and contaminants, from surfaces and crevices;
• Shrimps should be fully cooked until the shells turn red and the flesh turns white and opaque;
• For shellfish such as scallops and geoduck, scrub the shells thoroughly and remove internal organs;
• Do not eat any undercooked freshwater aquatic products. To ensure that the food is thoroughly cooked, the centre of the food should reach a temperature of at least 75 degrees Celsius so as to destroy pathogens;
• Most hotpot ingredients should be stored in a refrigerator at 4 degrees C or below, while frozen food should be stored in a freezer at -18 degrees C or below;
• Never use raw eggs as a dipping sauce for hotpot; and
• Use different sets of chopsticks to handle raw and cooked food to avoid cross-contamination.

     
     ​​In addition, when using fuel-burning appliances, especially in indoor areas, the public should ensure adequate ventilation to avoid harmful exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) and prevent CO poisoning.
     
     For more health information, the public may call the DH’s Health Education Infoline (2833 0111) or visit the CHP’s website and Facebook Fanpage as well as press releases of the Labour Department on precautions against cold weather for outdoor workers and their employers when the Cold Weather Warning is in force.

     The public may also call Dial-a-Weather (1878 200) or visit the website of the Hong Kong Observatory for the latest weather information and forecasts, or its page on Weather Information for Senior Citizens. 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Government announced today (January 1) that the Chief Executive has made appointments and reappointments to the four Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) advisory committees, namely the Advisory Committee on Corruption (ACOC), the Operations Review Committee (ORC), the Corruption Prevention Advisory Committee (CPAC) and the Citizens Advisory Committee on Community Relations (CACCR), and to the ICAC Complaints Committee (ICC). All of the appointments and reappointments are for a term of two years with effect from January 1, 2026. 

ACOC 
CPAC      
     Mr Choi is the Managing Director of the Urban Renewal Authority. He is also a member of the Antiquities Advisory Board.
      
     The CPAC receives and calls for reports from the ICAC about practices and procedures of government departments, public bodies and the private sector which may be conducive to corruption. It also advises the Commissioner on what areas should be examined and the degree of priority to be accorded to each.     
     The Chief Executive has reappointed Professor Simon Ho Shun-man as the Chairman of the CACCR. Miss Pinky Lau Pik-yiu, Dr James Wong Kong-tin, Miss Jenny Yung Ching-yi and Ms Cally Kwong Mei-wan have been reappointed as members of the CACCR. Dr Kalwan Kwan Ming-tak has been appointed as a new member of the Committee. 
      
     Dr Kwan is the Honorary Lecturer of the Department of Sociology of the University of Hong Kong.        
     The Chief Executive has reappointed Executive Council Member Dr Lam Ching-choi as the Chairman of the ICC. Legislative Council (LegCo) Member Miss Grace Chan man-yee and Mr Lau Chun-hung have been reappointed as members of the ICC.  LegCo Members Mr Chan Hok-fung and Ms Judy Chan Kapui, and Ms Irene Chow Man-ling have been appointed as new members of the ICC.
      
     Mr Chan works in the banking industry. He is also a Non-executive Director of the Urban Renewal Authority.      
     The Government extends its sincere appreciation to all outgoing members whose terms of office expired after December 31, 2025. Their valuable contributions to the work of the respective committees are greatly appreciated.
      
     The updated non-official membership lists of the four ICAC advisory committees and the ICC are in the Annex.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, today (January 1) expressed his profound sadness over the passing of a Workman II of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), Ms Li Haiying, and extended his sincere condolences to her family.

     While carrying out street cleansing duties last night in the vicinity of Canton Road, Yau Ma Tei, Ms Li was knocked down by a goods vehicle. She was subsequently sent to hospital and certified dead. 

     Mr Tse said, “On behalf of the Environment and Ecology Bureau, I offer the deepest condolences to Ms Li’s family. We will provide all appropriate support and assistance to the family.”

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     ​The Government announced today (January 1) that following an open recruitment exercise, Mr Francis Chan Wing-on will take up the appointment as the Commissioner of Critical Infrastructure (Computer-system Security) for a three-year term with effect from today. The appointment is made by the Chief Executive in accordance with the Protection of Critical Infrastructures (Computer Systems) Ordinance (Cap. 653) (the Ordinance).

     A Government spokesperson said, “Mr Chan possesses outstanding cybersecurity expertise, international vision, law enforcement experience and strategic management capabilities, along with excellent leadership, management and communication skills. He will lead the Commissioner’s Office under the Security Bureau to safeguard the security of computer systems of critical infrastructures in Hong Kong.”

     Mr Chan is the former Chief Superintendent of the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force and has served as the Chairperson of the INTERPOL Cybercrime Expert Group. After retiring from the Police in 2020, he has taken up managerial roles related to computer systems and cybersecurity in the private sector. He has been serving as the Assistant Director (Critical Infrastructure) of the Security Bureau since May 2024.

     The Ordinance, which comes into effect today, provides a comprehensive legal framework to safeguard the security of computer systems of critical infrastructures in Hong Kong, regulate operators of critical infrastructures and investigate and respond to relevant computer-system security threats and incidents. The Commissioner of Critical Infrastructure (Computer-system Security) will head the Commissioner’s Office, which is established on the same day, to implement and enforce the statutory regime of the Ordinance, including designating “operators of critical infrastructures” and “critical computer systems”, as well as monitoring their compliance with statutory obligations.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing today officiated at the opening ceremony of the “Yau Ma Tei Police Station: A Cinematic Journey” exhibition at the Old Yau Ma Tei Police Station.

The exhibition, presented by the Cultural & Creative Industries Development Agency under the Culture, Sports & Tourism Bureau, will be open to the public from tomorrow.

It showcases film sets reconstructed by Hong Kong film professionals, collectable items and original pieces, presenting the city’s memories of the era portrayed in Hong Kong crime film classics, allowing visitors to experience Hong Kong’s film culture and the unique creativity of local filmmakers.

This exhibition is one of the major projects of the Government’s Working Group on Developing Tourist Hotspots. It is also the second tourist attraction themed around Hong Kong films, following the “Kowloon Walled City: A Cinematic Journey” Movie Set Exhibition which opened last year.

Also officiating at the opening ceremony were Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung and Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Rosanna Law.

Situated at 627 Canton Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, the Old Yau Ma Tei Police Station is a Grade 2 historic building.

An admission ticket to the exhibition costs $30, a concessionary ticket is $10, while children aged six or below get in for free.

Members of the public may book tickets through the online booking system as tickets will not be available onsite.

To coincide with the exhibition and promote district tourism, the Yau Tsim Mong District Office also launched the Yau Ma Tei Dining & Shopping Festival as well as a Mini Bazaar today.

Exhibition visitors may enjoy a wide range of special offers at participating merchants.

The Mini Bazaar, which operates on weekends and public holidays until March 1, is located opposite the main entrance of the Old Yau Ma Tei Police Station, and sells cultural and creative products as well as local traditional snacks.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Hospital Authority (HA) announced that the public healthcare fees and charges reform officially came into effect today, with Accident & Emergency departments, which operate 24 hours a day, among the first clinical departments to implement the new fees and charges arrangements.

The HA noted that its systems have successfully switched to the new fees and charges mode, and operations at public hospitals were smooth. 

The authority added that it has deployed additional manpower to station at outpatient clinics, shroffs and pharmacies for answering patient enquiries, assisting with payments, appointments, and applications for medical fee waivers.

Hospitals and specialist outpatient clinics have also set up information counters where dedicated staff provide on-site responses to public enquiries.

An enhanced medical fee waiver mechanism has been introduced. Over 50,000 patients have already submitted advance applications or filed enquiries, with the majority of applications processed.

The HA said eligible patients will gradually receive their medical fee waiver certificates, enabling them to have fee waivers granted at their next follow-up consultation. 

It has also introduced an annual cap of $10,000 on medical service charges, excluding self-financed items.

The expanded safety net aims to help citizens reduce the heavy financial burden of medical expenses arising from unexpected serious illnesses or chronic conditions, the HA added.