Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Leisure & Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today new measures will be implemented to strengthen efforts to combat unauthorised transfer of bookings of its recreation and sports facilities/venues.

To ensure the fair use of the SmartPLAY system, SmartPLAY has incorporated conditions prohibiting the use of computer programmes or other automated tools to make bookings. Starting from January 21, next year, if users breach the conditions concerned, the LCSD will immediately suspend their accounts for 360 days without giving any prior notice.

To ensure hirers are genuine users, currently, a hirer who books a turf soccer pitch through SmartPLAY is required to provide the SmartPLAY user account information of four other users. The hirer and three of the users named in the booking are required to check-in together and be present during the use of the booked session.

Noting that this arrangement is generally effective since implementation, a similar arrangement will apply to indoor basketball and volleyball courts, which are popular facilities, starting from January 21, next year.

A hirer is required to provide the information of two other users when booking an indoor basketball or volleyball court. The hirer and one of the users named in the booking are required to check-in together and be present during use of the booked session.

Under the existing measures applicable to some recreation and sports facilities, if a hirer does not take up the booked facility 10 minutes after the booked session starts, the LCSD may at its discretion permit other users to use the facility free of charge for the same purpose as the original hirer, commonly referred to as the standby arrangement, on condition that there are no other same-type facilities available for booking at the material time.

In this connection, the LCSD has observed that certain hirers of indoor basketball and volleyball courts deliberately do not take up the booked sessions on the day of use, and are suspected to have engaged in touting activities by arranging for other users to use the booked courts under the standby arrangement.

To combat such abuse of the standby arrangement, and making reference to the current arrangement for turf football pitches, the standby arrangement will no longer be applicable to indoor basketball and volleyball courts from next Tuesday.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Health Bureau announced today that in collaboration with the dental sector, free denture replacement services will be launched starting tomorrow to address the need for replacement of lost dentures due to the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po and to provide dental treatment for affected residents.

The bureau had received requests for assistance from affected residents regarding the replacement of lost dentures due to the fire.

To assist more affected residents in need, the bureau co-ordinated with various dental care organisations, the Hong Kong Dental Association and dentists to launch denture replacement services tomorrow.

Currently, more than 80 private dentists are participating, covering 106 service points. Starting from tomorrow until February 28, 2026, all residents of the eight blocks at Wang Fuk Court, including foreign domestic helpers, can receive at least one free dental consultation and one follow-up appointment through the arrangement of the District Health Centres/District Health Centre Expresses (DHC) under the Primary Healthcare Commission across all 18 districts in Hong Kong.

The scope of the free dental consultation services covers broken appliances and lost dental appliances due to the incident, including repair or replacement of partial or complete dentures, and removable orthodontic retainers; and oral treatment due to injuries inflicted in the incident, including medication for dental pain relief, simple fillings, emergency pulp treatment and extractions.

Residents in need can call the hotlines or visit any DHC in person for assistance, regardless of their current place of residence. Those who are registered as DHC members may also contact the relevant centre directly.

The hotlines are listed on the Primary Healthcare Commission and the DHC websites. DHC case managers will pair patients with appropriate dentists.

Private dentists interested in providing denture replacement services to the affected residents may contact the bureau by email.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government today announced the official launch of the intellectual property (IP) financing sandbox and the opening of the Hong Kong Technology & Innovation Support Centre, marking key milestones in promoting IP financing and further developing Hong Kong’s IP trading ecosystem while fostering innovation.

The IP financing sandbox was launched by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) in collaboration with the Commerce & Economic Development Bureau (CEDB) and the Intellectual Property Department (IPD).

As set out in the Chief Executive’s 2025 Policy Address, the IP financing sandbox aims to assist pilot sectors in leveraging IP assets for financing.

The sandbox serves to provide a collaborative and risk-controlled environment for banks, IP valuation firms, legal practitioners and other relevant professions to test the full lifecycle of IP financing arrangements that are based on IP assets such as patents, trademarks and copyrights.

Through the sandbox, banks can develop and refine their IP financing arrangements with the support from multidisciplinary professionals as well as guidance by the HKMA, the CEDB and the IPD.

This initiative can also enable banks to accumulate practical experience in providing IP financing to better serve the needs of innovative enterprises, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises which are rich in IP assets but may lack tangible assets that can be pledged as collateral for bank financing.

Three major banks in Hong Kong have joined the sandbox as inaugural participants, and have solicited interest from clients from the biotechnology, electronics and technology sectors to conduct pilot trials of IP financing through the sandbox.

Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Algernon Yau said the IP financing sandbox, together with other related measures announced in the Chief Executive’s 2025 Policy Address, would help leverage Hong Kong’s unique strengths to build an ecosystem where IP is protected with rigour, valued with clarity, and financed with confidence, with a view to strengthening the city’s role as a regional IP trading centre.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Home & Youth Affairs Alice Mak today expressed deep sorrow over the passing of the Most Venerable Jing Yin, Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Eighth Abbot of Po Lin Monastery.

Miss Mak said the Most Venerable Jing Yin dedicated his life to promoting Buddhism and benefitting the Buddhist community, noting that he also took an active part in education and social matters, rendering immense meritorious service.

“The Most Venerable Jing Yin was always concerned about the matters of Islands District. Since 2020, he had served as a member of the Lamma Area Committee, offering advice on the district’s development and environmental improvements. He made significant contributions, particularly in the conservation and promotion of traditional culture, with fruitful results.

“The Buddhist community and members of the public are grateful for his contributions. We will always remember him.” 

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Overall consumer prices rose 1.2% year-on-year in November, the same as in October, the Census & Statistics Department announced today.

Netting out the effects of the Government’s one-off relief measures, the underlying inflation rate was 1% in November, the same as that recorded in the previous month.

Compared with the year before, price increases were recorded in November in the following categories: transport; alcoholic drinks and tobacco; miscellaneous services; housing; meals out and takeaway food; miscellaneous goods; and basic food.

Meanwhile, year-on-year decreases were logged for clothing and footwear; durable; and electricity, gas and water.

The Government said consumer price inflation stayed subdued in November. It expects that overall inflation should remain modest in the near term, as cost pressures on the domestic and external fronts are still broadly in check.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region