Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Tenders invited for licence of fee-paying public car park at West Kowloon Government Offices
The premises should only be used to operate a fee-paying public car park for the parking of private cars.
The tender notice was uploaded today (May 7) to the GPA Property Portal
Interested tenderers who wish to conduct a site inspection of the premises should make a prior appointment with the GPA by calling 3842 6777 by May 19.
Tenderers must submit their tenders by placing them in the Government Logistics Department Tender Box placed on the Ground Floor, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong, before noon on May 28. Late tenders will not be accepted.
Issued at HKT 12:06
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“Drug-free Camp” pop-up anti-drug game booth to be held in various districts in May
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
A “Drug-free Camp” pop-up anti-drug game booth will continue to be held at various locations across Hong Kong in May. Through simple and engaging games, the initiative aims to promote anti-drug knowledge and the importance of developing healthy lifestyle habits among the public, particularly children and their parents.
The pop-up anti-drug game booth is one of the anti-drug public-education initiatives launched by the Narcotics Division (ND) of the Security Bureau. The booth features three games where participants can take on the role of Guardians of Life. They will learn to distinguish between healthy and harmful items, identify and refuse dangerous drugs, and discover ways to maintain a balanced, healthy lifestyle. Upon completing the challenges, participants will “level up” to become Anti-drug Pioneers and receive souvenirs. Photo props will also be available at the venue. Parents are welcome to accompany their children to the game booth.
The game booth will be open to public for free at the following dates and locations.
| Date | Time | Venue |
| May 10 (Sunday) | Noon to 4pm | Tamar Park, Admiralty |
| May 23 (Saturday) | 11am to 7pm | Zone A Atrium, H.A.N.D.S, Tuen Mun
|
| May 24 (Sunday) | Noon to 4pm | Central Plaza, Tsuen Wan Park |
| May 30 (Saturday) | 11am to 7pm | Lee Tung Avenue, Wan Chai (near Johnston Road entrance) |
The pop-up anti-drug game booth will move to other locations within this year. For the latest news regarding the “Drug-free Camp”, members of the public can visit the ND’s official accounts (narcotics.divisionhk) on Facebook and Instagram.
Speech by FS at LME Asia Metals Seminar 2026 (English only)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the LME Asia Metals Seminar 2026 today (May 7):
Carlson (Chairman of the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX), Mr Carlson Tong), Bonnie (Chief Executive Officer of the HKEX, Ms Bonnie Chan), Matthew (Chief Executive Officer of the London Metal Exchange (LME), Mr Matthew Chamberlain), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning.
Hong Kong’s strategic position
Our country’s 15th Five-Year Plan, for the first time, explicitly supports Hong Kong to build a commodity trading ecosystem. This is a mandate that Hong Kong can – and should – become: a commodity trading hub that connects the Chinese Mainland and regional supply chains with the international market.
What we are building
First, building a full financial lifecycle for metals. Our ambition is for Hong Kong to be a place where every major financial need of a commodity business can be satisfied: from commodity-backed finance and derivatives, to marine and trade insurance, as well as sustainability-linked instruments.
Metals trade strategies in action
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
Financial Secretary Paul Chan
It is a pleasure to join you once again at the LME Asia Metals Seminar. My thanks go to HKEX (Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing Limited) and the LME (London Metal Exchange) for hosting this annual event. To international visitors who have travelled from around the world, a very warm welcome. Your presence testifies to Hong Kong’s pivotal role as a global financial and trading hub, and increasingly, as an important member of the global metals community.
A changing landscape of metals
When we met here last year, I spoke about the strong momentum in global non-ferrous metals trade. Over the past year, that momentum has not only continued, but strengthened. In 2025, global LME trading volumes averaged around 760,000 lots a day, an 8% increase over the record set in 2024. In 2026, the figure so far has further risen to close to 900,000 lots per day.
Driving the structural demand are forces we all know well: the global push for AI (artificial intelligence) and data infrastructure, electric vehicles, renewable energy systems and advanced manufacturing, for which non-ferrous metals are essential input materials. Indeed, as technological innovation accelerates across applications, so will the demand for the metals that make them possible.
But the world we face today has grown more complex and, sadly, more uncertain and volatile.
Over the past few years, tariffs, conflicts and supply chain shocks have fundamentally reshaped global trade patterns. Trade flows are being rerouted. The geography of metals trade is being reconfigured in ways that are likely to endure.
The ongoing war in the Middle East has added further pressure to the metals trade. Many base metals, such as aluminium, copper and zinc, are seeing heightened volatility as shipping routes are disrupted and market participants price in geopolitical risk.
The implications of these developments are clear: reliable, stable supply chains for non-ferrous metals have become a strategic imperative.
Hong Kong’s strategic position
It is against this backdrop that Hong Kong’s role as a trading hub for these metals takes on an even greater significance and a deeper strategic purpose.
Global trade is becoming more regionalised. Buyers increasingly value resilience over efficiency alone. At the same time, China and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries are deepening industrial integration and supply chain collaboration. In this environment, the region needs a platform it can trust: for trading, for price discovery and for getting deals done.
Our country’s 15th Five-Year Plan, for the first time, explicitly supports Hong Kong to build a commodity trading ecosystem. This is a mandate that Hong Kong can – and should – become: a commodity trading hub that connects the Chinese Mainland and regional supply chains with the international market.
Hong Kong’s unique business proposition rests on two important foundations under the “one country, two systems” framework.
First, Hong Kong is a free port – with zero tariffs, super efficient customs, unrestricted movement of goods and capital, as well as world-class logistics and maritime connectivity. As geopolitical tensions rise and global supply chains are being reconfigured, our role as a regional re-export hub is becoming even more important. Last year, despite the tariff war, Hong Kong’s total goods exports went up by more than 15% year on year.
Particularly noteworthy is the performance of non-ferrous metals exports, which rose by nearly 35% last year. That strong momentum has continued. In the first quarter of this year, such exports grew by 170% year on year.
Second, Hong Kong has exceptional institutional strengths and deep capabilities in financial and professional services. We maintain full alignment with international standards, the common law system and independent dispute resolution mechanisms. And we offer a full range of services, from trade finance and marine insurance to derivatives and risk management tools. The depth of this ecosystem is what can elevate a trading and logistics hub into a trading, logistics and pricing centre for metals.
What we are building
Indeed, over the past year, we have moved decisively to realise our strategic vision. We are building tangible infrastructure and offering attractive incentives.
We have established a Strategic Committee on Commodities, which I chair. The committee is developing a long-term strategy covering physical trade, financial transactions, logistics and connectivity with the Chinese Mainland. It takes a whole-of-ecosystem approach that goes well beyond any single initiative.
Our warehousing collaboration with the LME is an important part of this effort. A strong physical market, supported by ample delivery points, is what anchors credible benchmark prices. Since the LME approved Hong Kong as a delivery point last year, our network has rapidly grown to 15 warehouses. More than 24,000 tonnes of LME metals are already on warrant.
We know this network must continue to expand, given the sheer and growing scale of trading activities in this region.
A strong physical delivery network does more than improve supply reliability for regional buyers. It also strengthens the price discovery process by bringing regional demand more directly into the LME pricing and settlement infrastructure. In addition, it helps reduce the premium that regional buyers have historically paid because of longer delivery distances from other Asian delivery points.
On the legal and tax front, we will introduce legislation in the first half of this year to provide a 50% profits tax concession for eligible commodity trading activities. This will make Hong Kong more cost competitive when compared with other leading global commodity hubs.
Gold deserves some mention here, because it goes hand in hand with our broader strategy to develop commodity trading. The centre of gravity in gold trading is shifting eastward, as Asia accounts for around 60% of the world’s annual gold demand.
To better capture these opportunities, we are building a central clearing system for gold, with trial operations scheduled for this year. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Airport Authority is fast expanding the gold storage capacity, with a target of exceeding 2,000 tonnes within three years. Last month, Hong Kong also listed a new gold ETF (exchange-traded fund) with physical redemption options.
As the global commodities market continues to grow in both scale and complexity, the need for efficient and specialised dispute resolution mechanisms is becoming ever more pressing. We believe Hong Kong, as an international dispute resolution centre, can make a meaningful contribution in this regard.
I am pleased to let you know that the HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) Government and the International Organization for Mediation, or the IOMed, are exploring the possibility of establishing a special panel of mediators for commodities market disputes under the IOMed. This will provide a neutral, expert-led mediation mechanism for disputes arising across the commodities value chain, covering upstream mining and production, midstream trading and clearing, as well as downstream warehousing and delivery.
This initiative complements our strategy to develop Hong Kong into a leading gold and commodities trading hub, and helps facilitate cross-border transactions, mitigate risks and strengthen market confidence among global market participants.
Future directions
Looking ahead, the prospect for Hong Kong’s metals business is highly promising. In this year’s Budget, I set out the Finance+ strategy to foster greater synergy between our financial services sector and other key industries. Metals is one of the most compelling areas for this application. There are several directions with particularly strong potential.
First, building a full financial lifecycle for metals. Our ambition is for Hong Kong to be a place where every major financial need of a commodity business can be satisfied: from commodity-backed finance and derivatives, to marine and trade insurance, as well as sustainability-linked instruments.
We are also pleased to see more metals and minerals companies establishing in Hong Kong. We welcome them to list on our stock exchange to access both international and Mainland capital. They are also welcome to manage their global operations and corporate treasury activities from this city.
Last year, a mining company operating Kazakhstan’s largest tungsten mine did a concurrent listing on both our stock exchange and the Astana International Exchange. It was the first of its kind. We are sure more will follow.
Second, promoting the use of RMB (renminbi) in commodity pricing. China now accounts for over half of global base metal consumption. Its continued investments in new energy, AI and the tech sector will certainly sustain this demand for years to come.
Looking ahead, there is clear room for more RMB-denominated commodity products in Hong Kong for both Mainland and international participants. This will help them manage their currency risks, and give China a more proportionate voice in global commodity benchmark pricing.
Third, enhancing market connectivity. For metals users across the region, deeper connectivity means greater liquidity, sharper price discovery and lower hedging costs. We will actively explore mutual market access in metals between Hong Kong and key markets around the world. This could include the cross listing or mutual listing of products such as metals ETFs and other exchange-traded instruments.
Just as Stock Connect and Bond Connect have transformed Hong Kong’s equity and fixed income markets, there is clear potential to explore similar “Connect” arrangements in commodities. This is a longer-term project, but one that we are working towards with our partners on the Chinese Mainland.
Concluding remarks
Ladies and gentlemen, let me conclude with a thought about purpose.
If one word sums up the changes driving the world today, it is innovation. The AI era is reshaping economies and industries through advances in technology, products, business models and applications. In that process, metals are coming back into sharper focus as the building blocks of the real economy. They are no longer seen only as industrial inputs, but increasingly as part of the technologies, products and investment themes that people can readily relate to.
Developing a more vibrant metals ecosystem here in China and Asia, where production and supply chains are closely interlinked, will be vital not only to supporting more stable economic growth across our region and the world, but also to creating new opportunities for industrial development, investment and financial market development.
Hong Kong has the infrastructure, the institutions, the connections, the capital, the talent and now the national mandate to serve that purpose well. We are committed to doing so, in partnership with the LME, HKEX and all of you here today.
Financial Secretary Paul Chan gave these remarks at the LME Asia Metals Seminar 2026 on May 7.
HK to host Global Mediation Summit
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Global Mediation Summit, organised by the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed), will be held tomorrow at the Convention & Exhibition Centre, with Chief Executive John Lee officiating and delivering a special address.
With the support of key sponsors the Department of Justice and the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy, the summit is geared towards establishing Hong Kong as a global mediation capital. It will bring together leading mediation experts, policymakers and industry leaders from around the world to explore topics such as cross-cultural international mediation, financial and investment dispute mediation, and the development of a global mediation ecosystem.
Secretary for Justice Paul Lam will give opening remarks.
Keynote speeches will be delivered by IOMed Governing Council Vice-Chairperson and Kenyan Ambassador to China H.E. Willy Bett, and by Director General of the Treaty & Law Department of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Qi Dahai.
The summit will feature three panel discussion sessions, enabling former government officials, law professionals, academics and leaders of international institutions in the field of dispute resolution, from China and around the world, to share their insights and experience in relation to three core themes: “The Facilitators of Peace: Wisdom from World-class Mediators”; “The Clients’ Voice: Why States and Investors Choose Mediation”; and “Beyond the Horizon: Developing the Global Mediation Ecosystem”.
The event will take place from 8.30am to 5.30pm, with in-person attendance augmented by live-streaming. It will be conducted in English. Simultaneous interpretation in Putonghua and Cantonese will be provided.
Une mission d’étude stratégique portant sur la structuration de l’économie sociale et solidaire en Nouvelle-Calédonie
Source: Gouvernement de la Nouvelle-Caledonie
Naïa Wateou, membre du gouvernement chargée de la structuration de l’économie sociale et solidaire, a présenté aux côtés de l’Agence française de développement (AFD), la convention destinée au financement d’une mission d’étude stratégique portant sur la structuration de l’économie sociale et solidaire (ESS) en Nouvelle-Calédonie.
L’ESS un levier essentiel pour la Nouvelle-Calédonie
L’économie sociale et solidaire est un mode d’entreprendre qui cherche à concilier activité économique et utilité sociale. Les structures qui optent pour ce modèle économique (associations, sociétés commerciales, mutuelles, coopératives, fondations…) se préoccupent en premier lieu de leur utilité sociale et/ou environnementale et placent l’humain avant le profit au cœur de leur fonctionnement. L’ESS peut se déployer dans de nombreux secteurs d’activité (santé, habitat, petite enfance, commerce équitable, transport…).
Dans un contexte marqué par les conséquences économiques et sociales des événements de mai 2024, l’ESS constitue un levier reconnu de résilience, de cohésion sociale et de développement pour la Nouvelle-Calédonie. Plusieurs travaux récents ont confirmé la nécessité de dépasser la phase de diagnostic pour engager une structuration progressive et opérationnelle du secteur.
Une convention pour structurer l’ESS
En Nouvelle-Calédonie, l’ESS est encadrée par la loi du pays n° 2025-13 du 18 août 2025, qui rappelle notamment que ce mode d’entreprendre repose sur la primauté de l’utilité sociale sur la recherche de profit, une gouvernance démocratique et une gestion encadrée des bénéfices.
Pour aller plus loin, le gouvernement et l’AFD ont signé une convention pour le financement d’une mission d’étude stratégique portant sur la structuration de l’ESS en Nouvelle-Calédonie.
Dans le cadre de ses interventions en Nouvelle-Calédonie, l’AFD a été sollicitée afin de soutenir cette mission d’étude. Cette intervention s’inscrit dans une logique d’appui à l’ingénierie publique, permettant de renforcer la capacité du gouvernement à définir une politique ESS cohérente et adaptée aux spécificités du territoire.
« Sans cadre réglementaire, nous n’avons aucun moyen de reconnaitre les acteurs de l’économie sociale et solidaire. La mise en œuvre de ce texte permettra de définir et d’accompagner cette économie avec des données à jour. Cette mission nous donnera les outils nécessaires pour adapter et ajuster nos dispositifs d’accompagnement et de soutien de ce mode d’entreprendre », a précisé Naïa Wateou.
Cette mission, financée par l’AFD pour un montant de près de 7,5 millions de francs, présente plusieurs intérêts majeurs pour la Nouvelle-Calédonie, à savoir :
- réaliser un état des lieux et une cartographie de l’ESS en Nouvelle-Calédonie ;
- identifier les leviers de structuration du secteur et les besoins d’accompagnement des acteurs (clarification des périmètres, sécurisation et optimisation des modèles économiques, amélioration de l’ingénierie de projet, animation et gouvernance, etc.) ;
- analyser les conditions d’accès aux financements (publics, nationaux et internationaux) ;
- définir une stratégie territoriale de développement et de financement de l’ESS, assortie de recommandations opérationnelles.
« Pour l’AFD, il était naturel d’accompagner le gouvernement et ses partenaires dans la réalisation de cette étude qui est une nouvelle étape pour apporter des réponses concrètes sur ces différents enjeux aux acteurs calédoniens de l’ESS », a indiqué Julie Doiteau, directrice adjointe de l’AFD en Nouvelle-Calédonie.
La signature de cette convention constitue une opportunité stratégique pour structurer durablement le développement de l’ESS en Nouvelle-Calédonie, en s’appuyant sur un financement extérieur et une expertise reconnue.
Hong Kong Customs conducts interdepartmental anti-illicit cigarette publicity activities in Tin Shui Wai
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Hong Kong Customs conducts interdepartmental anti-illicit cigarette publicity activities in Tin Shui Wai
Customs officers also introduced to members of the District Council, residents, newspaper stall keepers and cigarette retailers the Duty Stamp System to be implemented in Hong Kong. The three-month Pilot Run for the Duty Stamp System launched by Customs concluded early this year. The department will continue to maintain close communication with all stakeholders and optimise the design and implementation details of the system. Customs expects the Duty Stamp System to achieve the ultimate goal of effective distinguishment duty-paid cigarettes from duty-not-paid ones, and combat “cheap whites”.
Customs will continue to strengthen publicity and education to raise the public awareness of anti-illicit cigarettes. If public rental housing units are found to be involved in illicit cigarette crimes, Customs will notify the HD for follow-up action after the conclusion of court proceedings. Customs reminds members of the public not to buy or sell illicit cigarettes or distribute illicit cigarette leaflets to avoid creating a criminal record that could affect their future.Issued at HKT 19:46
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Increase in visitor arrivals to Hong Kong during Golden Week boosts retail, catering and hotel industries
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements, led by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (May 6) announced that the five-day Labour Day Golden Week of the Mainland (May 1 to 5) concluded yesterday, with all aspects of receiving visitors operating smoothly. According to the Immigration Department (ImmD), around 1.19 million visitors arrived in Hong Kong over the Golden Week, representing an increase of 8 per cent over the same period last year. Mainland inbound visitors accounted for around 1.01 million, representing an increase of 10 per cent compared to last year. The increase in visitor arrivals directly boosted local businesses, including retail, catering and hotels, bringing significant economic benefits.
Mr Chan said, “Visitor arrivals surged during this year’s Labour Day Golden Week of the Mainland. Popular attractions saw a large number of visitors and a vibrant atmosphere, showcasing the unique metropolitan charm of the city. The growth in visitor arrivals also directly boosted various local industries, including retail, catering and hotels, with significant visitor flows in shopping malls, restaurants and shops bringing significant benefits. Representatives of some shopping malls indicated that consumption in various retail categories saw year-on-year double-digit increases, while the catering sector noted that businesses in tourist areas increased about 20 per cent in the same period, generating considerable economic benefits. These results fully reflected the function of the tourism industry as an important driver of the local economy. The Government will continue to work closely with these industries to promote diversified tourism products and projects, creating comprehensive and immersive travel experiences for tourists while spreading the economic advantages brought by visitor increases to different sectors to benefit the overall economy.”
Visitor flow, situation of control points, and traffic and public transport arrangements
During the five-day Labour Day Golden Week of the Mainland, the daily average of Mainland visitors was around 200 000. The arrival of Mainland visitors peaked on May 2, with around 260 000 Mainland visitors arriving in Hong Kong. During the Golden Week, the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point received the highest number of Mainland visitors, followed by the Express Rail Link West Kowloon Control Point.
To cope with the increased passenger flows during the Golden Week, relevant departments deployed additional manpower and operated additional counters, temporary counters and channels to facilitate passenger and vehicular flows. The Security Bureau activated the Emergency Monitoring and Support Centre during the holidays to closely monitor and co-ordinate public order across various districts, including various boundary control points. The overall operation of the control points and traffic were smooth and orderly.
The overall traffic conditions were generally smooth during the Golden Week. The Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre of the Transport Department (TD) operated round the clock at an escalated tier to holistically monitor traffic conditions and public transport services across the territory, including boundary control points, major stations and various tourist hotspots. The TD steered local and cross-boundary public transport operators (PTOs) to enhance their carrying capacity, including enhancing MTR train services to and from Lo Wu/Lok Ma Chau Stations, strengthening relevant Express Rail Link train services to and from Futian, Shenzhenbei and Beijingxi Stations, strengthening cross-boundary coach services and increasing the frequency of bus services connecting land boundary control points for the convenience of residents and visitors. PTOs also deployed additional staff to maintain order and reserved sufficient vehicles and manpower to further enhance services when necessary.
Conditions of mega events and major tourist attractions
Visitors went to different parts of Hong Kong during the Labour Day Golden Week, with high visitor flows observed at major tourist attractions including the West Kowloon Cultural District, Ocean Park, Hong Kong Disneyland, the Peak Tram and Ngong Ping 360. Smooth and effective crowd management measures were implemented. Local areas like Old Town Central, Yau Ma Tei and Kowloon City emerged as popular urban walking routes.
At East Dam of the High Island Reservoir in Sai Kung, various departments took measures to control traffic, increase the frequency of minibuses, publish visitor flow information, and strengthen cleaning services as needed according to the plan devised before the Golden Week. As regards the public transport service for East Dam, upon the TD’s co-ordination, the Green Minibus route No. 9A operator enhanced services plying the route between Pak Tam Chung and East Dam of High Island Reservoir in response to passenger demand and traffic conditions. The overall services were generally smooth.
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) installed additional railings at the Po Pin Chau viewing platform, deployed additional staff and utilised drones for patrolling and broadcasting safety alerts, and implemented crowd control measures at Po Pin Chau during busy hours. Tourists followed the instructions of the on-site staff, with the pedestrian flow smooth and order well maintained. Incidents where visitors approached dangerous areas or crossed railings had decreased dramatically. As for the campsites at Ham Tin Wan, Sai Wan and Long Ke Wan, the AFCD and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) conducted joint operations to keep the campsites and the Ham Tin Public Toilet clean, deployed staff to conduct day and night patrols and stationed on-site, and remind campers of camping etiquette and regulations according to the plan. The usage, hygiene, and order at various campsites were generally good. The AFCD had strengthened enforcement against illegal activities. During the Golden Week, it conducted publicity and education measures, and issued advisories and warnings along Sections 1 and 2 of the MacLehose Trail and at designated campsites nearby, with a total of 19 enforcement cases against offences of littering, illegal camping outside designated campsites, etc.
At Sharp Island and Shui Hau sandflat on Lantau Island, the AFCD deployed staff to patrol along the coastline to remind visitors not to harm, disturb, feed, or collect marine life. Snorkelling guides and kayaking guides were deployed at nearshore waters to remind snorkellers to enter and exit the water by following the coral-friendly routes to avoid accidentally stepping on corals. In addition, the AFCD conducted joint patrols with the Hong Kong Police Force, the Marine Department and the FEHD, and deployed drones to regularly monitor visitors’ activities. The AFCD also collaborated with the World Wide Fund For Nature Hong Kong and the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation Hong Kong to conduct public education activities and promote marine conservation messages to visitors.
Inbound tour groups and hotel occupancy rate
In terms of Mainland inbound tour groups, around 820 Mainland inbound tour groups brought over 32 000 visitors to Hong Kong during the five-day Golden Week, with around 60 per cent engaged in overnight itineraries. The number of tour groups remained similar to the same period last year.
During the Golden Week, the Travel Industry Authority proactively co-ordinated the flow and itineraries of inbound tour groups and stepped up inspections and enforcement actions to stringently combat non-compliant activities, including deploying staff daily to major boundary control points, tourist attractions, registered shops and dining venues frequented by Mainland tour groups. The arrangements for tour group flow management and tourism activities during the Golden Week were generally orderly.
The overall hotel occupancy rate reached 90 per cent, slightly higher than last year. Hotel prices increased by 10 per cent compared with long holidays in the past.
Mr Chan thanked all relevant government departments, organisations, and industries for working together, co-ordinating closely, and properly handling the reception of visitors, creating a welcoming travel experience for them during the Labour Day Golden Week of the Mainland.
CHP investigates case of mad honey poisoning
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (May 6) investigating a case of mad honey poisoning, and reminded the public to buy honey from a reliable source or apiary.
A 59-year-old female developed chest discomfort, dizziness, transient blurred vision over bilateral eyes and near syncope around 30 minutes after consuming honey on April 30. She was sent to the Accident and Emergency Department of Pok Oi Hospital and was hospitalised for treatment. The patient was in stable condition. Her clinical diagnosis was mad honey poisoning. She was discharged on May 1.
Grayanotoxin was detected in the honey remnant and the patient’s urine sample upon testing. A preliminary investigation revealed that the patient had consumed honey brought by her from Türkiye recently. The CHP’s investigation is ongoing, and the Turkish health authority will be informed.
Mad honey poisoning is caused by ingestion of honey containing grayanotoxins derived from plants belonging to the Ericaceae family, including rhododendrons. Grayanotoxins are neurotoxins that can affect nerves and muscles. Symptoms of poisoning include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, dizziness, weakness, excessive perspiration, hypersalivation and paraesthesia shortly after ingestion. In severe cases, hypotension, bradycardia or shock may occur.
Members of the public are reminded to take heed of the following preventive advice:
- Buy honey from a reliable source or apiary;
- Discard honey with a bitter or astringent taste – grayanotoxin-containing honey may cause a burning sensation in the throat; and
- Pay special attention to honey from India, Nepal and the Black Sea region of Türkiye, as honey from these areas has led to grayanotoxin poisoning cases.
Golden Week visitors reach 1.19m
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
According to the Immigration Department, around 1.19 million visitors arrived in Hong Kong over the Labour Day Golden Week of the Mainland from May 1 to 5, representing an 8% increase over the same period last year. Mainland inbound visitors accounted for around 1.01 million, representing an increase of 10% compared to last year.
The interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements, led by Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki, said the surge in visitor arrivals directly boosted local businesses, including retail, catering and hotels, bringing significant economic benefits.
Mr Chan said: “Popular attractions saw a large number of visitors and a vibrant atmosphere, showcasing the unique metropolitan charm of the city.
“Representatives of some shopping malls indicated that consumption in various retail categories saw year-on-year double-digit increases, while the catering sector noted that businesses in tourist areas increased about 20% in the same period, generating considerable economic benefits. These results fully reflected the function of the tourism industry as an important driver of the local economy.
“The Government will continue to work closely with these industries to promote diversified tourism products and projects, creating comprehensive and immersive travel experiences for tourists while spreading the economic advantages brought by visitor increases to different sectors to benefit the overall economy.”
During the five-day Golden Week, there was a daily average of around 200,000 Mainland visitors. Inbound Mainland visitors peaked on May 2, with around 260,000 of them arriving in Hong Kong. Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point received the highest number of Mainland visitors, followed by the Express Rail Link West Kowloon Control Point.
Around 820 Mainland inbound tour groups brought over 32,000 visitors to Hong Kong, with around 60% engaged in overnight itineraries. The number of tour groups remained similar to the same period last year. The overall hotel occupancy rate reached 90%, slightly higher than last year. Hotel prices rose 10% compared with long holidays in the past.
The Government said overall traffic conditions were generally smooth during the Golden Week.
At East Dam of the High Island Reservoir in Sai Kung, various departments took measures to control traffic, increase minibus frequencies, publish visitor flow information, and strengthen cleaning services according to the plan devised before the Golden Week.
The Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department (AFCD) implemented crowd control measures at Po Pin Chau during busy hours, with the pedestrian flow smooth and order well maintained.
Usage, hygiene and order were generally good at the campsites in Ham Tin Wan, Sai Wan and Long Ke Wan.
Separately, the AFCD issued advisories and warnings along Sections 1 and 2 of the MacLehose Trail, as well as at designated campsites nearby. A total of 19 enforcement cases were logged against offences of littering, illegal camping outside designated campsites.
Mr Chan thanked government departments, organisations, and industries for working together for properly handling the reception of visitors, creating a welcoming travel experience for them during the Golden Week.