Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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Bypass traffic arrangements outlined

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government today announced traffic and public transport arrangements for the Central Kowloon Bypass (Yau Ma Tei Section) (CKB (YMT Section)), which is due to be commissioned on December 21.

Connecting Yau Ma Tei Interchange in West Kowloon and Kai Tak Interchange in East Kowloon, the new road section will allow motorists to travel directly between Yau Ma Tei and Kowloon Bay, with the journey time being significantly reduced from about 30 minutes currently to just about five minutes.

Traffic arrangements

At the Yau Ma Tei end of the CKB (YMT Section), there are seven entrances and exits. Motorists can travel to and from Tsim Sha Tsui, the Western Harbour Crossing, Tai Kok Tsui or Kwai Chung via Hoi Po Road, West Kowloon Highway or Lin Cheung Road.

Meanwhile, at the Kai Tak end of the bypass eight entrances and exits enable motorists to travel to and from Kai Tak, Kowloon Bay, the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal or Kwun Tong via Shing Kai Road, Kai Cheung Road or Kai Fuk Road.

Traffic signs and road markings have been put in place to guide motorists on how to reach various destinations.

Public transport arrangements

From December 22, a total of eight bus routes, comprising three new routes and five adjusted routes, will provide services via the CKB (YMT Section) during peak hours from Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.

The three new routes are KMB 33X, KMB 252S and Citybus A28X.

Five of KMB’s existing routes, namely 258X, 259S, 259X, 268P and 269S, will be adjusted to run through the bypass.

Additionally, four more bus routes will commence service next year.

The Central Kowloon Bypass will be a toll road, with tolls commencing when the entire bypass, including the Kowloon Bay Section, is fully commissioned next year.

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Unemployment rate stays at 3.8%

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 3.8% in the September to November period, unchanged from the August to October period, the Census & Statistics Department announced today.

The underemployment rate remained at 1.6%.

Total employment was 3,669,900, down around 2,800 from August to October, while the labour force also decreased by around 8,000 to 3,814,300.

Looking ahead, Secretary for Labour & Welfare Chris Sun said the solid expansion of the Hong Kong economy and improving consumer confidence should continue to support the overall labour market.

“Yet, the employment situations in some sectors may remain under pressure as their businesses face challenges,” he added.

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CSD fully launches Video Visit e-Booking Service

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

CSD fully launches Video Visit e-Booking Service     ​
     In order to enjoy the Video Visit e-Booking Service, visitors must be declared visitors of PICs and register for the e-Services Platform in advance. Visitors can also make bookings for physical visits and use the Approved Hand-in Articles e-Ordering Service through the e-Services Platform. Detailed information about the e-Services Platform is available on the CSD’s website (www.csd.gov.hk/english/socialvisit/ins_vis_guide.htmlIssued at HKT 12:00

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EDB launches AI for Empowering Learning and Teaching Funding Programme

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

EDB launches AI for Empowering Learning and Teaching Funding Programme      
     The Chief Executive proposed in the 2025 Policy Address to step up efforts to promote digital education in primary and secondary schools, and announced that the EDB has set aside $2 billion in the Quality Education Fund (QEF) to advance the relevant support measures proposed by the Steering Committee on Strategic Development of Digital Education (SCSDDE). This will help Hong Kong’s education embrace the opportunities of the AI era and achieve the goal of “AI for ALL subjects”, where teachers utilise AI effectively to support teaching across subjects.
      
     The Chairperson of the SCSDDE and Under Secretary for Education, Dr Sze Chun-fai, said, “The EDB is determined to make AI the core driving force behind digital transformation in schools, and support primary and secondary schools in utilising AI to enhance learning and teaching effectiveness. In this connection, within the $2 billion earmarked under the QEF, the EDB allocates approximately $500 million to launch the three-year programme starting from this school year. Schools can flexibly utilise the funding to initiate and promote school-based programmes that use AI to empower education, catering for their specific circumstances and developmental needs.”
      
     He continued, “Successful school applicants will receive one-off funding of $500,000. Schools can utilise the funding according to the guidelines to purchase/ subscribe to/ lease AI-powered devices/ services that facilitate AI-assisted teaching, and to subsidise students’ participation in activities that enhance their AI literacy and skills. Generally, schools will receive the block funding of $500,000 on or before June 30, 2026. Schools can use the funding from the 2025/26 school year to the 2027/28 school year, until August 31, 2028.”
      
     The EDB encourages publicly funded schools to submit their applications for the said programme and have comprehensive planning of digital education (especially AI education) in schools, thereby empowering education through technology to enhance the quality of learning and teaching. For details of the programme and the related briefing sessions, please refer to EDB Circular No. 221/2025 (applications.edb.gov.hk/circular/upload/EDBCM/EDBCM25221E.pdfIssued at HKT 11:08

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Judiciary reaching out to law firms for registration and use of iCMS upon its extension to civil action cases in High Court

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Judiciary reaching out to law firms for registration and use of iCMS upon its extension to civil action cases in High Court 
     The Judiciary announced that starting this Friday (December 19), the integrated Court Case Management System (iCMS) will be extended to cover civil action cases (HCA) in the Court of First Instance of the High Court. The Judiciary is reaching out to law firms to assist with registration and use of iCMS.
      
     The iCMS provides a series of electronic services, including sending and receiving case-specific court documents to and from the courts, inspecting or searching filed documents and other case-related information held by the courts, searching cause books, and making payments for court services.  
       
     The Judiciary encourages case parties, particularly law firms, to register and utilise e-filing for iCMS-enabled case types (Note). This offers a convenient, all-in-one and all-weather solution for the handling of court-related documents and payments anytime, anywhere. A 20 per cent concession is offered to iCMS users for three years on fee items of the High Court that are primarily or directly related to electronic handling of court documents.

     With the iCMS, there is no need to visit the High Court Building to scan (this function is available to litigants-in-person only) and upload the electronic copy of the document to be filed using the self-service kiosks at the Resource Centre for Unrepresented Litigants or to make payments in the Accounts Office for paper filing.       Taking into account law firms’ responses and available resources, the Judiciary may require all law firms initiating a new case through paper filing to go through an assisted e-filing process to enhance training on iCMS. The Judiciary may also consider imposing a deadline for registration as a prerequisite for mandatory use of iCMS in 2026.
         
     For more details about the iCMS, including its technical requirements, please visit the dedicated webpage on e-Courts of the Judiciary website at www.judiciary.hk/en/e_courts/index.html     
Note: The iCMS currently covers personal injury actions, tax claim proceedings, civil action proceedings and employees’ compensation cases in the District Court; summons cases in the Magistrates’ Courts; bulk claims in the Small Claims Tribunal; and selected case types of civil proceedings in the High Court, including civil appeal cases in the Court of Appeal, commercial cases, construction and arbitration cases, intellectual property cases and personal injury cases, as well as civil action cases upon its rollout on December 19, in the Court of First Instance. 
Issued at HKT 11:00

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Around 1 900 quality job vacancies to be offered at Career New Page Job Fair

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Around 1 900 quality job vacancies to be offered at Career New Page Job Fair      
     Over 40 organisations will participate in the two-day job fair, offering around 1 900 quality job vacancies from various industries, among which over 1 400 are from the catering, retail, transport and property management industries. Over 20 organisations will set up booths and conduct recruitment on the spot each day. A wide variety of positions will be offered at the job fair, including duty engineer, restaurant manager, barista, retail sales executive, technician, project co-ordinator, turnaround co-ordinator, nursing home care worker, physiotherapy assistant, baggage and cargo handler, cashier, sales associate, waiter/waitress, chef, assistant human resources officer, customer service officer, property officer, general office clerk, cleaner, taxi driver, security guard, etc. Job seekers can visit the LD’s Interactive Employment Service website (www.jobs.gov.hk      
     Around 86 per cent of the vacancies offered at the job fair are full-time jobs. Most vacancies offer monthly salaries ranging from $12,000 to $24,000. About 95 per cent of the vacancies require a Secondary Six education level or below. Around 54 per cent are open to job seekers without relevant work experience.
      
     Job seekers can submit job applications during the event and may be selected for on-the-spot interviews. They can also make enquiries on the employment services provided by the LD at its counter inside the venue.
      
     The job fair will be held from 11am to 5.30pm at Lohas Park Community Hall, The Capitol, Lohas Park, Tseung Kwan O. Admission is free, with final admission time at 5pm each day.
Issued at HKT 11:00

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Spanish award-winning multimedia theatre “Laika” to grace LCSD’s “Cheers!” Series in January next year (with photos)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Spanish award-winning multimedia theatre “Laika” to grace LCSD’s “Cheers!” Series in January next year Each performance will be followed by a meet-the-artist session (conducted in Spanish with Cantonese and English interpretation). Members of the audience are welcome to stay behind to join.Issued at HKT 11:00

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CSSA caseload for November 2025

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

CSSA caseload for November 2025              
     The total CSSA caseload at the end of November stood at 193 962 (see attached table), with a total of 256 425 recipients.
      
     Analysed by case nature, unemployment cases registered a month-to-month decrease of 2.2 per cent to 15 345 cases. Single parent cases dropped by 0.7 per cent to 18 113 cases.
      
     Ill-health cases registered an increase of 0.6 per cent to 28 011 cases. Both old age cases and low-earnings cases increased by 0.2 per cent to 110 891 cases and 1 281 cases respectively. Permanent disability cases remained steady at 16 406 cases.
Issued at HKT 17:00

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Hong Kong Customs detects first drug trafficking case involving underwater compartment of ocean-going vessel and seizes suspected cocaine worth about $256 million (with photo)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​Hong Kong Customs, in a joint operation with Mainland Customs anti-smuggling departments, the Hong Kong Police Force and the Fire Services Department, detected its first drug trafficking case where an underwater compartment of an ocean-going vessel was used for drug concealment. During the operation on November 5 in Tsing Yi, Hong Kong Customs officers seized about 417 kilograms of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value about $256 million and arrested two men.

Through intelligence analysis and risk assessment, Hong Kong Customs identified an ocean-going vessel and suspected that criminals were utilising its underwater hull structure to conceal drugs, and thereby formulated enforcement actions. On November 5, the ocean-going vessel that departed from Brazil was selected for underwater inspection, and 11 bags of suspected cocaine, weighing about 417kg in total, were found in an underwater compartment. After a follow-up investigation, Hong Kong Customs officers arrested two men, aged 45 and 37, who were suspected of being involved in the case in Tsing Yi.  

The two arrested men have been released pending further investigation. The investigation is ongoing and the likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.

With the Christmas and New Year holidays approaching, Hong Kong Customs will step up enforcement action to resolutely combat different kinds of drug trafficking activities before the long holidays.

Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment. 

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

  

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Traffic and public transport arrangements upon commissioning of Central Kowloon Bypass (Yau Ma Tei Section) (with photos / video)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Transport Department (TD) said today (December 16) that, upon the commissioning of the Central Kowloon Bypass (Yau Ma Tei Section) (CKB (YMT Section)), respective traffic and public transport arrangements will be implemented.

Traffic arrangements

     The CKB (YMT Section) connects Yau Ma Tei Interchange in West Kowloon and the Kai Tak Interchange in East Kowloon. At the Yau Ma Tei end, there are seven entrances and exits. Motorists can travel to and from Tsim Sha Tsui, the Western Harbour Crossing, Tai Kok Tsui or Kwai Chung via Hoi Po Road, West Kowloon Highway and Lin Cheung Road. At the Kai Tak end, the eight entrances and exits enable motorists to travel to and from Kai Tak, Kowloon Bay, the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal or Kwun Tong via Shing Kai Road, Kai Cheung Road and Kai Fuk Road (see details in Annex 1). Upon its commissioning, it will divert the traffic along the existing major east-west corridors in Kowloon and alleviate the traffic congestion during peak hours.

     Appropriate traffic signs and road markings have been put in place on relevant road sections to guide motorists to enter and exit the Bypass for various destinations. The TD appealed to motorists to heed traffic signs on-site and drive carefully when passing through road sections concerned, and reduce speed and be courteous when approaching the new merging points.

Public transport arrangements

     From December 22 (Monday), the first working day upon commissioning, a total of eight bus routes, comprising three new routes and adjusting five existing routes, will provide services via the CKB (YMT Section) during peak hours on Mondays to Fridays (except public holidays):
 

Three new routes via Bypass Adjusting five existing routes to run through Bypass
  • KMB route No. 33X (Tsuen Wan West Station – Yau Tong)
  • KMB route No. 252S (Handsome Court – Kwun Tong Ferry)
  • Citybus route No. A28X (Tseung Kwan O Station to Airport (Ground Transportation Centre))
  • KMB route No. 258X (Po Tin – Kwun Tong Ferry)
  • KMB route No. 259S (Lung Mun Oasis – Kwun Tong Ferry)
  • KMB route No. 259X (Lung Mun Oasis – Kwun Tong Ferry)
  • KMB route No. 268P (Ma Wang Road – Kwun Tong Ferry)
  • KMB route No. 269S (Tin Shui Wai Town Centre – Kwun Tong Ferry)

     The above franchised bus routes plying via the CKB (YMT Section) will provide convenience for passengers across various districts. While journey times of travelling between East and West Kowloon will be significantly shortened, as the Bypass connects with the West Kowloon Highway, travelling times of long-haul bus routes operating between East Kowloon and New Territories West (including Tuen Mun, Yuen Long and Tsuen Wan) will be substantially reduced, improving their efficiency.

     In the initial period upon the commissioning of the CKB (YMT Section), as motorists may take time to adapt to new road sections, it is anticipated that traffic may be busier during various periods. The TD urged motorists to refer to the driving videos of different driving routes set out in the driving guide and the TD’s YouTube channel playlist, and choose appropriate routes for their journeys subject to actual traffic conditions.

     A spokesman for the TD said, “The Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre will closely monitor the traffic condition of the CKB (YMT Section) upon commissioning, including the traffic flow and public transport services of road sections connecting the existing road network and trunk roads across the territory. Motorists, transport trades and the public should plan ahead their journeys, and reserve time to adapt to new routes and adjust their commuting habits.”

     The TD also reminds passengers to refer to the notices, websites or mobile apps of bus operators to take note of the new arrangements of the routes plying via the CKB (YMT Section), as well as their bus stop locations and service hours. The TD has steered bus operators to closely monitor the operations of these routes and reserve standby vehicles and manpower to meet passenger demand. The TD will continue to proactively discuss with bus operators any additional routes or adjustment to existing ones to make better use of the capacity of the Bypass for the benefit of more passengers.

     The Government has briefed District Councils concerned and stakeholders on the above arrangements, including distributing pamphlets to District Council members, district personalities, neighbouring housing estates and schools, relevant motoring associations and public transport operators on various driving routes. The Highways Department and the TD have stepped up publicity since December to remind motorists about the new arrangements via large banners, tunnel broadcasts, variable message signs on major roads and electronic parking meters in the districts in phases.

     Members of the public may refer to the TD’s webpage on CKB (YMT Section) and the HKeMobility mobile app for details of the traffic and transport arrangements. They should also heed the latest traffic news through radio and TV broadcasts, the TD’s website (www.td.gov.hk) and the HKeMobility.