Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Posted on

Update on clusters of Candida auris cases in Kwong Wah Hospital

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Update on clusters of Candida auris cases in Kwong Wah Hospital 
     The hospital has identified one additional case in the Department of Medicine and Geriatrics involving an 85-year-old male patient who was found to be a carrier of Candida auris through screening. The patient shows no signs of infection, has been transferred to Kowloon Hospital for treatment, and is in stable condition.
 
     The hospital will continue the contact tracing investigation of close contacts of the patients in accordance with the prevailing guidelines. A series of enhanced infection control measures has already been adopted to prevent the spread of Candida auris:
      The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health for necessary follow-up.
Issued at HKT 18:12

NNNN

Posted on

Communications Authority press release

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Communications Authority press release 
     This press release summarises the decisions of the Communications Authority (CA) following its 152nd meeting held in June 2026.
 
Renewal of “other licensable television programme service” licences
—————————————————————————–
     The CA approved the applications by Showers of Blessing Evangelistic Ministry (Hong Kong) Limited (SOBEM) and interTouch Company Limited (interTouch) for renewal of their “other licensable television programme service” licences for the provision of television programme services to hotel rooms in Hong Kong. The renewed licences will be valid for three years from June 1, 2027, to May 31, 2030, (both dates inclusive) for SOBEM and 12 years from November 8, 2027, to November 7, 2039, (both dates inclusive) for interTouch respectively.
 
     With effect of the CA’s decision to renew the above licences, there are 21 “other licensable television programme service” licensees providing television programme services to more than 50 hotels in Hong Kong.
 
Broadcast complaints
————————-
     The CA considered two complaint cases in respect of broadcasters’ non-compliance with the relevant condition of the domestic free television programme service licence:
   
     (a) The complaint case about television programme “Entertainment News Express” broadcast on the ViuTVsix Channel of HK Television Entertainment Company Limited (HKTVE) from November 10 to 13, 2025. The CA decided that HKTVE should be advised to observe closely the relevant licence condition; and 

     (b) The complaint case about television programme “Sis and the Tempting Cities” broadcast on the Jade Channel of Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) on January 8, 2026. The CA decided that TVB should be advised to observe closely the relevant licence condition.Issued at HKT 16:00

NNNN

Posted on

Inspection of aquatic products imported from Japan

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Inspection of aquatic products imported from Japan 
     For other Japanese aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds that are not prohibited from being imported into Hong Kong, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department is conducting comprehensive radiological tests to verify that the radiation levels of these products do not exceed the guideline levels before they are allowed to be supplied in the market.
 
     From noon on June 26 to noon today (June 29), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 342 food samples imported from Japan, which were of the “aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt” category. No sample was found to have exceeded the safety limit. Details can be found on the CFS’s thematic website titled “Control Measures on Foods Imported from Japan” (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/programme_rafs_fc_01_30_Nuclear_Event_and_Food_Safety.html 
     In parallel, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has also tested 150 samples of local catch for radiological levels. All the samples passed the tests. Details can be found on the AFCD’s website (www.afcd.gov.hk/english/fisheries/Radiological_testing/Radiological_Test.html 
     The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) has also enhanced the environmental monitoring of the local waters. No anomaly has been detected so far. For details, please refer to the HKO’s website (www.hko.gov.hk/en/radiation/monitoring/seawater.html 
     From August 24, 2023, to noon today, the CFS and the AFCD have conducted tests on the radiological levels of 239 434 samples of food imported from Japan (including 150 280 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 51 644 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests.
Issued at HKT 15:57

NNNN

Posted on

Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and alternative smoking products (with photo)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and alternative smoking products (with photo)     ​
     Under the IEO, any person who imports an alternative smoking product into Hong Kong commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.Issued at HKT 20:45

NNNN

Posted on

LCQ15: Promoting student mental health

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 3

LCQ15: Promoting student mental health(i) The EDB has all along been requiring primary and secondary schools to report fatal suspected student suicide cases in order to provide appropriate professional support to the schools concerned. The numbers of fatal suspected student suicide cases of primary and secondary students in Hong Kong reported in the past three years (2023 to 2025) are tabulated below. Of the total number of cases reported, about 90 per cent were cases involving secondary students, while those involving primary students accounted for about 10 per cent. Cases involving male students accounted for about 59 per cent of the total number of cases reported, while about 41 per cent were those involving female students.
 

Year     As indicated in relevant international and local studies, suicide (including attempted suicide) is a complicated issue influenced by the interplay of multiple factors, mainly related to interpersonal relationships (including family, social or relationship problems) and personal issues (such as learning and school adjustment, depressed mood and mental illness). Each case has its unique underlying causes.

(ii) To early identify and timely support students at higher suicidal risk, the Government has implemented, through cross-departmental collaboration among the EDB, the HHB and the SWD, the Three-tier School-‍based Emergency Mechanism (the Mechanism) in all secondary schools in Hong Kong since December 2023. In the 2025/26 school year, the Mechanism is regularised in all secondary schools across the territory and extended on a trial basis to Primary Four to Six.  The number of cases referred by schools/ the EDB under the second-tier mechanism to the off-campus support network teams engaged by the SWD as of end-March 2026, broken down by school year, are tabulated below:
 

School year(since December 2023)(as of end-March 2026)     Under the third-tier mechanism, school principals can directly refer students at high suicidal risk to psychiatric specialist out-patient clinics of the Hospital Authority (HA) for assessment and treatment. HA’s specialist out-patient clinics adopt a triage system to ensure that patients with urgent medical conditions requiring early intervention are given priority for follow-up and treatment.

     The numbers of cases referred by school principals to HA’s psychiatric services, the percentages of such cases triaged as Priority 1 (urgent) and Priority 2 (semi-urgent), as well as the numbers of enquiry calls received through the dedicated telephone consultation hotline for school principals as of end-March 2026 are tabulated below:
 

School year(since
December 2023)(as of
end-March 2026)Note 1: Among the referral cases, the cases other than those triaged as Priority 1 (urgent) and Priority 2 (semi-urgent) were under Routine (stable) category or were already being followed up by the HA’s psychiatric services.

Note 2: The numbers of cases referred by school principals under the third-tier mechanism and the numbers of enquiry calls received through the dedicated telephone consultation hotline for school principals are provided by the psychiatric services under the HA’s hospital clusters (figures as at June 11, 2026).Issued at HKT 14:15

NNNN

Posted on

AFCD responds to Ombudsman’s direct investigation operation report

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Regarding the direct investigation operation report on the Government’s work on the management of countryside facilities released by the Office of The Ombudsman today (June 29), the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) responds as follows:

The AFCD is committed to enhancing the management standards of country parks, with a view to providing the public and tourists with safe, eco-friendly and educational recreation experiences. It provides and regularly upgrades various facilities such as trails, information boards, visitor centres and toilets. The AFCD also reviews the carrying capacity of popular countryside destinations to formulate appropriate management measures to ensure the safety of the facilities, enhance the convenience of public use and minimise the impact on the natural environment. 

The AFCD accepts the Office’s recommendations and will make every effort to follow up and implement them. Some of the measures have already been initiated or completed during the investigation, including:
 

  • enhancing the procedures and monitoring of facility maintenance and inspection in country parks;
  • improving the system for monitoring the performance of cleaning contractors;
  • allocating additional resources, hiring contractors, and adopting new designs to expedite the maintenance of facilities (such as rain shelters);
  • updating the contents of the country park visitor questionnaire and the “Enjoy Hiking” website; and
  • providing GPX files for all trails on the website for offline use by the public and tourists.

The AFCD agrees with the Ombudsman’s recommendations on strengthening information dissemination and public education. It is currently developing several publicity channels, including establishing a YouTube account for Hong Kong Country Parks and applying to open an official Xiaohongshu account, to more effectively disseminate information on hiking safety and nature conservation to the public and tourists.

The AFCD will continue to work with relevant government departments to strengthen the management of ecotourism hotspots during weekends, public holidays and the Mainland Golden Week holidays as necessary. It will also actively explore co-operation with other organisations to deepen education and publicity on the protection of country parks and hiking safety awareness.

The AFCD will maintain to uphold the principles of “respecting the ecology and protecting the environment”, appropriately showcase Hong Kong’s precious ecological resources to the public, and enable the public and tourists to enjoy the pleasures of the countryside and support the sustainable development of ecotourism.

Posted on

Flag-raising ceremony cancelled

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Owing to the thunderstorm warning, the flag-raising ceremony to be conducted at Golden Bauhinia Square, Wan Chai at 8am today (June 27) will be cancelled.

     If the thunderstorm warning is cancelled and weather conditions permit by then, the flag-raising ceremony may be resumed without further notice.

Posted on

Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes (with photo)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

An incoming Chinese female passenger was sentenced to four weeks’ imprisonment by the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts today (June 26) for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

Customs officers intercepted an incoming 42-year-old Chinese female passenger at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point on May 28 and seized 2 600 duty-not-paid cigarettes from her personal baggage, with an estimated market value of about $10,600 and a duty potential of about $8,500. The female passenger was subsequently arrested.

Customs welcomes the sentence, noting that even a first-time offender may still be imprisoned. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences. Members of the public should not defy the law.

Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

  

Posted on

ArchSD deeply saddened by passing of contractor staff member

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​The Architectural Services Department (ArchSD) was deeply saddened by the passing of a staff member of its contractor at a refurbishment works site at the Kowloon Bay Sports Ground today (June 26) and extended its deepest condolences to the deceased’s family. Following the incident, representatives of the ArchSD visited the works site to understand the situation and requested the contractor to provide appropriate assistance to the deceased’s family.
 
At about 9am today, a 65-year-old male worker was suspected to have been struck by and pulled underneath an operating road roller. He was certified dead at the scene.
 
The refurbishment works have been fully suspended with immediate effect. The ArchSD has instructed the contractor to carry out a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident. The ArchSD will also render full assistance to relevant departments in their investigations.

Posted on

The Central Allocation Stage of the Primary One Admission (POA) will commence soon

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 3

The Central Allocation Stage of the Primary One Admission 2026 will commence soon. Parents whose children (including children who intend to commute daily to schools in Hong Kong) have not secured a discretionary place should make their choice of schools within the period from January 19 to 25.

In line with the Smart Government strategy, the Education Bureau (EDB) has fully implemented digitalisation of the POA.  Parents who have registered as POA e-Platform (ePOA) users and have bound their account to “iAM Smart+” may submit the Choice of Schools Form for Central Allocation from January 19 to 25 through the ePOA.  Please refer to the related videos and Parent’s Guide on the EDB’s website (www.edb.gov.hk/en/edu-system/primary-secondary/spa-systems/primary-1-admission/poa_eplatform/index.html) for details of the procedures for activating and logging into an ePOA account and for making school choices for the Central Allocation of POA via the e-Platform.

The EDB will send letters to parents on January 14 inviting them to make their choice of schools. To cater for the needs of different parents, parents can still submit the Choice of Schools Form in paper form by visiting the designated Central Allocation Centre at the suggested time slot (i.e. 9.30am to 12.30pm or 1.30pm to 4.30pm on January 24 (Saturday) or 9.30am to 12.30pm on January 25 (Sunday)) stated in the letter.

Parents who are ePOA users may choose to submit the Central Allocation Application via the ePOA or in paper form to the Central Allocation Centre but should not submit duplicate applications. Parents who have not yet received the letter by January 19 should call the School Places Allocation Section of the EDB (Hotline: 2832 7700) as soon as possible.

Only one parent of an applicant child is required to complete the school choice-making procedures. Parents are advised not to take their children to the Central Allocation Centre if possible. Parents who cannot make school choices within the suggested time slot can go to the designated Central Allocation Centre from 1.30pm to 4.30pm on January 25. The Choice of Schools Form will be sent together with the letter to parents who have submitted a paper Application Form at the Discretionary Places stage for filling in advance.

In the event of adverse weather or other special conditions on any day during the period of making school choices, please pay heed to radio or television announcements on the relevant special arrangements.

For individual parents who are unable to use the ePOA or go to the Central Allocation Centre to make school choices, they can authorise in writing a representative to bring the completed Choice of Schools Form and their signed Letter of Authorisation to the Central Allocation Centre to proceed with the related procedures.

To apply for POA 2026 for their children after January 25, parents need to complete necessary procedures with the School Places Allocation Section, which will separately arrange P1 places for the applicant children in June.

Parents who have recently moved their residence or have such plans in the near future are required to inform the School Places Allocation Section as soon as possible so that they can make school choices in the POA School Net where their new home is located. Parents should fill in the actual residential address of their child. If they provide a false address for securing a P1 place, the POA application of their child will be rendered void and the P1 place allocated will be withdrawn.

The EDB has put in place a monitoring mechanism to verify the residential addresses of applicant children as given by the parents. Random checks have also been stepped up. The public may call the School Places Allocation Section to report suspected cases of using a false address by parents for their children’s POA application. The EDB will take action against false address cases.

For information about the procedures for Central Allocation, please call the EDB’s 24-hour automatic telephone enquiry service at 2891 0088.

For parents who have already activated their ePOA account via “iAM Smart” or “iAM Smart+”, they will receive their Central Allocation results through the ePOA from 10am on June 3. Parents who wish to receive the allocation results via SMS on June 3 may choose such an option in the Choice of Schools Form. In addition, the allocation results will be sent to parents by post on June 3 and 4.