The projected private flat supply for the next three to four years is 96,000 units, down 5,000 from the previous estimate.
The Housing Bureau said today there were 19,000 unsold units in completed projects as of the end of June.
There were also 61,000 units under construction, excluding those pre-sold by developers; and 16,000 units from disposed sites where construction may start at any time.
The number of flats under construction in the first quarter this year was 5,600, while 6,400 units were completed during the same period.
À la suite de leur désignation lors de la séance solennelle organisée ce vendredi 31 juillet au Congrès, les 11 membres du 19e gouvernement de la Nouvelle-Calédonie se sont réunis en salle des délibérations du gouvernement pour procéder à l’élection de la présidence et de la vice-présidence de l’institution.
Durant cette séance présidée par Gilbert Tyuienon, le doyen d’âge, Milakulo Tukumuli a été élu président de l’exécutif (six voix) et Christopher Gygès vice-président (six voix).
La répartition des secteurs sera arrêtée dans les prochains jours afin de permettre au 19e gouvernement d’être pleinement opérationnel.
The Government announced today the sale of a site at Wai Lok Street in Kwun Tong for electric vehicle (EV) fast charging and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) filling station purposes.
Put up for sale through public tendering, the site is located at New Kowloon Inland Lot No. 6681. The tender invitation will close on October 9.
In addition to serving as a fast charging station for EVs, the site must have LPG dispensers installed to replace the dedicated LPG filling station at Wai Lok Street, which is being reprovisioned to facilitate the development of the Vocational Training Council’s new campus.
Moreover, the site’s retail area is larger than that of a conventional petrol filling station, providing operators with flexibility to meet drivers’ needs.
Land sale documents are available on the Lands Department’s website.
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department issued a Notice of Elimination of Vermin to Langham Place property management today in response to rodent sightings, ordering the Mong Kok shopping centre to fix conditions fuelling the infestation by August 6.
Staff members were dispatched to inspect Langham Place’s common areas and food premises this morning upon learning of the situation. Inspectors uncovered signs of rodent activity, structural gaps including holes in false ceilings, and an improperly covered trash bin inside a licensed restaurant’s food room.
The situation was deemed unsatisfactory by the department, as it explained that conditions provided rodents with food sources and hiding spots.
Officers issued a verbal warning to the food premises’ person-in-charge, demanding immediate rectification, while providing rodent control measures and hygiene education to mall staff.
The department added that it will continue to monitor Langham Place’s hygienic conditions, and noted that the shopping centre has hired a pest control company to conduct thorough cleaning and strengthen anti-rodent measures.
Réunis en séance solennelle ce vendredi 31 juillet, les élus du Congrès ont désigné les onze membres du 19e gouvernement de la Nouvelle-Calédonie. Les membres du gouvernement ont ensuite élu Milakulo Tukumuli à la présidence du gouvernement et Christopher Gygès à la vice-présidence.
Les onze membres du gouvernement de la Nouvelle-Calédonie ont été élus au scrutin de liste à la représentation proportionnelle, suivant la règle de la plus forte moyenne.
La liste présentée par le groupe Les Loyalistes a recueilli 18 voix et quatre membres au gouvernement : Christopher Gygès, Nina Julié, Laurent Bonnefond et Philippe Blaise.
La liste présentée par le groupe Rassemblement a recueilli 10 voix et deux membres : Milakulo Tukumuli et Alcide Ponga.
La liste du groupe Kanaky NC a obtenu 19 voix et quatre membres : Gilbert Tyuienon, Johanito Wamytan, Meryl Marlier et Ernest Déméné.
La liste du groupe UNI a obtenu sept voix et un membre : Billy Forest.
Les onze membres se sont ensuite réunis pour procéder à l’élection du président et du vice-président du 19e gouvernement de la Nouvelle-Calédonie.
Six voix se sont portées sur la candidature de Milakulo Tukumuli qui devient le nouveau président de l’exécutif, tandis que la vice-présidence a été attribuée à Christopher Gygès.
La répartition des secteurs sera arrêtée dans les prochains jours afin de permettre au 19e gouvernement d’être pleinement opérationnel.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
FEHD releases sixth batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in July
District
District The FEHD continues to carry out a series of measures, including: During the follow-up actions and following the discovery of stagnant water or stagnant water containers at one park, three public housing estates and three private housing estates in Sham Shui Po District, the FEHD has issued a total of eight statutory notices to the responsible persons-in-charge, requiring the clearance of such items within a specified timeframe.
Public participation is crucial to the effective control of mosquito problems. The FEHD appeals to members of the public to continue to work together in strengthening personal mosquito control measures, including: Starting in August 2025, following the completion of the surveillance of individual survey areas, and once the latest gravidtrap index and the density index are available, the FEHD has been disseminating relevant information through press releases, its website and social media. It aims to allow members of the public to quickly grasp the mosquito infestation situation and strengthen mosquito control efforts, thereby reducing the risk of chikungunya fever (CF) transmission.
Following recommendations from the World Health Organization and taking into account the local situation in Hong Kong, the FEHD sets up gravidtraps in districts where mosquito-borne diseases have been recorded in the past, as well as in densely populated places such as housing estates, hospitals and schools to monitor the breeding and distribution of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which can transmit CF and dengue fever. At present, the FEHD has set up gravidtraps in 62 survey areas of the community, with a surveillance period of two weeks. During the surveillance period, the FEHD will collect the gravidtraps once a week. After the first week of surveillance, the FEHD will immediately examine the glue boards inside the retrieved gravidtraps for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes to compile the Gravidtrap Index (First Phase) and Density Index (First Phase). At the end of the second week of surveillance, the FEHD will instantly check the glue boards for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes. Data from the two weeks of surveillance will be combined to obtain the Area Gravidtrap Index and the Area Density Index. The Gravidtrap and Density indexes for Aedes albopictus in different survey areas, as well as information on mosquito prevention and control measures, are available on the department’s webpage (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/pestcontrol/dengue_fever/Dengue_Fever_Gravidtrap_Index_Update.html#Issued at HKT 18:44
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (July 30) ordered the temporary closure of a public market stall in Kowloon City for thorough disinfection following the detection of Vibrio cholera in a water sample collected from its fish tank.
The market stall is located at stall No. F22, 1/F, To Kwa Wan Market, 165 Ma Tau Wai Road, Kowloon. The water sample was taken from a fish tank inside the market stall on July 24. The test result obtained this afternoon confirmed the presence of Vibrio cholera O1, hence the FEHD took immediate follow-up actions.
To protect public health, the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene ordered the immediate closure of the market stall under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance.
The market stall will remain closed for a thorough cleaning and disinfection of the premises and fish tanks until the Director is satisfied with its overall hygiene condition and believes that there is no immediate health hazard.
A spokesman for the FEHD said, “Vibrio cholerae cannot survive under high temperature and can be killed by thorough cooking.”
The spokesman urged members of the public to pay attention to personal and food hygiene, and observe the following guidelines to prevent cholera:
Wash and scrub shellfish thoroughly;
Clean the seafood and remove the internal organs, and cook thoroughly before consumption;
Raw and cooked food must be handled with separate sets of utensils to avoid cross-contamination; and
Raw and cooked food should be stored separately. Cooked food should be placed on the upper shelf of a refrigerator.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Civil Service College (CSC) today (July 30) held a talk in the series on the country’s foreign affairs jointly with the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (OCMFA) in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). The talk was delivered by Spokesperson and Deputy Director General of the Department of Press, Communication and Public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Mr Lin Jian. The theme of the talk was “Telling Good Stories of China and Enhancing the Country’s Soft Power”.
Addressing the talk, the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, said that this year marks the beginning of the country’s 15th Five-Year Plan. Under the “one country, two systems” principle, Hong Kong possesses the distinctive advantages of having strong support from the motherland and close connection with the world. It serves as an important window for the international community to observe China, and a key bridge for cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world, playing a pivotal role in reinforcing connectivity.
Mrs Yeung added that HKSAR civil servants, in their respective positions, should make good use of their language capabilities and cultural backgrounds to help enhance the country’s international influence and tell China’s stories well to people around the world, thereby fulfilling civil servants’ unique and important role.
About 400 participants, including the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, Under Secretaries and Political Assistants, as well as civil servants in the directorate and senior ranks attended the talk at the Central Government Offices today.
The CSC and the OCMFA have been jointly organising this series of talks on the country’s foreign affairs since late 2021. The series invites relevant officials of the MFA to speak on various topics, with a view to enhancing civil servants’ international perspective, awareness of national security and holistic views.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Speech by SJ at Summer Programme on Hong Kong Legal System for Visiting Students 2026 (English only) Professor Lin (Dean of the School of Law of City University of Hong Kong, Professor Lin Feng), Professor Animashaun (Global Research Assistant Professor of the School of Law of City University of Hong Kong, Professor Sijuade Animashaun), students, ladies and gentlemen,
Good afternoon and welcome to the Department of Justice.
The Department of Justice and the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy are very honoured to be the sponsor and supporting organisations of this meaningful programme.
I understand that you are coming from different jurisdictions. Apart from the Chinese Mainland, we have students from Germany, Spain, Ireland, France, Portugal and Belgium. I also know that this is already the fourth day of a very intensive two-week programme. I hope that you have enjoyed your time in Hong Kong so far. My colleague will introduce the Department of Justice and key features of our legal and judicial system in detail shortly. What I intend to do is to say a few words on why I believe you have made a very wise choice to take part in this programme.
Apart from one student coming from Ireland, the rest of you come from civil law jurisdictions. In contrast, Hong Kong, as you must know by now, is a common law jurisdiction. Further, while almost one third of the countries in the world practise the common law, the common law systems vary greatly. For example, the common law system of Ireland is different from that of Hong Kong. So the big question is why is it relevant and potentially important for you to gain some understanding of Hong Kong’s common law system? I would venture to say that the answer is that for anyone who is interested in international legal practice, in particular, with Chinese element, it is a huge advantage to get to know Hong Kong’s legal system and the opportunities that it offers. Let me explain why.
The starting point is to bear in mind the constitutional basis of Hong Kong’s common law system. While Hong Kong is an inalienable part of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), it enjoys a high degree of autonomy under the principle of “one country, two systems”. Our constitutional order is made up by two essential documents: first, the Constitution of the PRC and second, the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. In particular and most relevant for the present purpose, the Basic Law creates a unique common law system.
I use the word “creates” because the Basic Law does not simply preserve the pre-existing common law system. One of the most important developments is that it confers the power of final adjudication on the newly established Court of Final Appeal. Our judicial system has a very strong international element. The Basic Law expressly provides that judges may be recruited from other common law jurisdictions, and the court may refer to judicial precedents of other common law jurisdictions in deciding cases. English, in addition to Chinese, is an official language that may be used, and is in fact very often used, in court proceedings. There cannot be any doubt that our independent judiciary enjoys an extremely high reputation around the world. This is an important reason why people from other parts of the world are willing to invest and do business in Hong Kong because they are confident that their interests will be fairly and sufficiently safeguarded. As you may have heard, the Judiciary has announced recently that it is going to set up an International Commercial Court in Hong Kong. Hence, our judicial system will be more international in future.
This is indeed a natural consequence of the fact that Hong Kong is an international financial, trading and shipping centre. In the light of the role played by Hong Kong, it is axiomatic that legal services required would involve not merely issues concerning Hong Kong law but also laws of other jurisdictions. This explains why, putting aside Mainland law firms and lawyers, there are a large number of foreign law firms, and registered foreign lawyers in Hong Kong. They may practise in Hong Kong the law of the jurisdiction which the foreign lawyers are qualified to practise. According to the latest statistics provided by the Law Society of Hong Kong, as at July 30, there are 93 foreign law firms in Hong Kong, including many from civil law jurisdictions such as four from France, two from Italy, two from Luxembourg and two from Switzerland. On the other hand, there are altogether 1 746 foreign registered lawyers, including two from Belgium, 17 from France, nine from Germany and one from Ireland. We have not yet seen any lawyer from Spain and Portugal yet. For those of you coming from Spain and Portugal, I would encourage you to consider this option after graduation and when opportunities arise.
Let me move on to arbitration. Again, as you should know by now, Hong Kong is one of the most preferred seats for international arbitration in the world. In the 2025 International Arbitration Survey by Queen Mary University of London, Hong Kong ranks as the world’s second most preferred seat for arbitration and number one in Asia. According to the 2025 statistics of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) ,which is the main arbitral institution in Hong Kong, it handled a total of 582 new cases, with total disputes worth HK$126.2 billion – that’s about US$16.2 billion. What’s even more striking is that 84.3 per cent of all arbitrations and 92.9 per cent of all administered arbitrations submitted to the HKIAC in 2025 were international in nature, in the sense that at least one party was not from Hong Kong. Parties came from 61 different jurisdictions. 45.4 per cent of all arbitrations submitted to the HKIAC in 2025 involved no Hong Kong parties, 58.2 per cent involved no Mainland Chinese parties and 13.7 per cent involved no Asian parties at all. There is no nationality requirement as who may act as arbitrators in Hong Kong; and many of them are indeed coming from civil law jurisdictions including the Chinese Mainland. In 2025, there were arbitrators coming from France, Ireland, Germany and Portugal. Foreign lawyers are also free to take part in international arbitrations in Hong Kong. With effect from March 1, 2025, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has implemented the Immigration Facilitation Scheme for Persons Participating in Arbitral Proceedings in Hong Kong. Under the Scheme, foreigners may come to Hong Kong and act as arbitrators or counsel in the arbitration as visitors without the need to obtain an employment visa upon fulfilment of certain simple formalities.
There is an important reason why international legal and dispute resolution services are so popular and in huge demand in Hong Kong. This is because Hong Kong serves as a unique gateway to the Chinese Mainland. You may have heard that Hong Kong serves as a “super connector”, and “super value-adder”. What it means is that Hong Kong connects the Chinese Mainland with other parts of the world. But it is more than just providing the connection. We have added crucial value to the connections. Among other things, the provision of high quality and trustworthy legal services to safeguard the interests of foreign investors and business people who wish to explore investment and business opportunities in the Chinese Mainland.
A unique feature which enables Hong Kong to perform such a role, which cannot be found elsewhere, is that Hong Kong is not only well connected to other parts of the world, its legal system is also well connected with that of the Chinese Mainland. This takes me to the vital fact that Hong Kong is the only common law jurisdiction within China.
While, as I have emphasised earlier on, Hong Kong practises a common law system which is separated from and independent of the Chinese Mainland legal system, it does not follow that there is no linkage between the two. Quite the contrary, because the two legal systems operate within one country, they are closely connected in ways that do not exist between China and other countries. Let me give some examples.
First, up to today, Hong Kong has entered into 10 mutual legal assistance arrangements with the Chinese Mainland on civil and commercial matters. As a result, court judgments in civil and commercial cases as well as arbitral awards in Hong Kong may be easily recognised and enforced in Hong Kong in accordance with rules and procedures modelled on international standards and vice versa. One unique arrangement is that it is permissible to seek interim measures such as an interim injunction to preserve assets and evidence from a Chinese Mainland court to support a pending arbitration in Hong Kong. The availability of interim measures is of crucial importance to enable that the arbitration will not become a futile exercise in practice.
The second example concerns the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, in short, the GBA. I guess you might have heard about it already. Since last February, in designated areas within the Guangdong part of the GBA, a Hong Kong enterprise may choose to adopt Hong Kong law as the governing law of a contract entered into with another party; and it may also choose Hong Kong as the place of arbitration to resolve disputes arising out of such contract. In the past, only Chinese Mainland law could be used, and the arbitration could only take place in the Chinese Mainland, in these circumstances. The long and short of it is that options to use Hong Kong law and arbitrate in Hong Kong have now become more readily available. It is most significant to note that Hong Kong enterprise is defined very widely in that it includes any entity which has some Hong Kong interest irrespective of how little. In practice, it could be a company under the control of foreigners. Owing to the very wide definition of Hong Kong enterprise, these options are very useful to foreign entities doing businesses and investing in the GBA.
Let me turn to another important development recently. The International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) – the world’s first international intergovernmental organisation dedicated to mediation – has established its headquarters here and begun operations in October 2025. The fact that the state parties to the Convention (Convention on the Establishment of IOMed) agreed to choose Hong Kong to host the headquarters of IOMed is a strong testament of Hong Kong’s strength and reputation in the provision of international dispute resolution services. So far, 47 countries have signed the Convention on the Establishment of IOMed and 16 of them have ratified the treaty. The mediation services provided by IOMed include disputes between a state and the national of another state as well as international commercial disputes between private parties. It is telling that the mediation services may be used by the national of a country which has not signed the Convention. For example, the first successful case resolved very recently was a maritime dispute between a Chinese state-owned enterprise and a Singaporean enterprise; Singapore is not yet a signatory of the Convention. Mediation has become a more and more popular method to resolve international commercial disputes. There is no legal restriction on who may act as mediator, or act for parties taking part in mediations, in Hong Kong. People including, but not limited to, lawyers coming from other jurisdictions are welcome to take part in international mediations in Hong Kong as mediators or lawyers acting for the parties involved in the disputes.
It is most crucial to bear in mind that Hong Kong has the strong support of our motherland. For the present purpose, under the National 15th Five-Year Plan promulgated in March this year, it is expressly stated that Hong Kong shall continue to strengthen its position as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre. There is every reason for us to be confident in and optimistic about the future of Hong Kong’s international legal services.
The beauty of Hong Kong is not merely because of its strong rule of law. It is a truly international city where the East meets the West. We have numerous skyscrapers on the two sides of the Victoria Harbour which form the backdrop of the world’s best night view. On the other hand, we also have some of the most beautiful beaches and hiking trails in our countryside which can be reached in less than an hour’s drive. We have small local cafes serving Hong Kong style street foods, but we also have many Michelin-starred restaurants. Hong Kong is very safe and convenient, and friendly to people from other parts of the world. I suspect some and perhaps many of you have come here for the first time. I would strongly encourage you to make the best use of your time here to explore our wonderful city apart from attending the summer programme. But I do have a request, in particular to those of you coming from Europe. Many people in your countries are less fortunate than you, and they do not have the chance of visiting Hong Kong. What they have read or heard about Hong Kong may be incomplete or even inaccurate without the benefit of first-hand experience. Therefore, when you return to your countries, please share your experience with your people. I am sure that it will be a good story full of fun and excitement.
In future, I do look forward to seeing you in Hong Kong again either as a visitor or in your legal professional capacity. May I conclude by wishing you all a fruitful summer programme and a wonderful time in Hong Kong. Thank you very much. Issued at HKT 18:43
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
In response to media enquiries regarding the rodent sightings in Langham Place in Mong Kok, a spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said today (July 30) that the department has long attached great importance to the prevention and control of rodent infestation, and it will proactively follow up on any premises where poor hygiene conditions lead to such infestation.
Upon learning of the rodent sightings at the shopping centre concerned this morning, the FEHD immediately deployed staff to inspect its common areas and food premises. During the inspection, signs of rodent activity and holes in false ceilings were found, and a licensed food premises was found to have an improperly covered rubbish bin in its food room. These could not only make it easy for rodents to enter and exit, but also provide them with food sources and hiding spots. The situation was deemed unsatisfactory. The FEHD staff provided hygiene education and advice on rodent prevention and control measures to the shopping centre’s management and staff, which include the implementation of effective pest control measures and reminders to maintain personal, food, and environmental hygiene at all times. The department learnt that the shopping centre concerned has already arranged for a pest control company to conduct thorough cleaning and strengthen anti-rodent measures.