Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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Singapore ETO supports Hong Kong Children’s Choir’s Singapore and Vietnam exchange tour culminating in finale concert at Saigon Opera House

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore (Singapore ETO), with funding provided by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, supported the Hong Kong Children’s Choir (HKCC) on its 10-day cultural exchange tour across Singapore and Vietnam, which culminated in the HKCC’s first-ever full concert in Vietnam at the Saigon Opera House in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) yesterday evening (July 25). Featuring 49 choristers aged between 12 and 16, the tour brought Hong Kong’s young artistic talent to the vibrant Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region through a series of concerts, performances, international festivals and exchange activities.

     The finale concert, themed “Everything Flows”, was presented in collaboration with the Saigon Philharmonic Orchestra and supported by the Hong Kong Business Association Vietnam (HKBAV). Led by the Music Director and Principal Conductor, Kathy Fok, the Choir showcased a repertoire of Chinese and Western choral works, highlighting Hong Kong’s vibrant arts and cultural scene while promoting cross-border cultural dialogue through music.

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Speech by SITI at Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation High-level Roundtable on Data for Growth in Chengdu (English only)(with photo)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is the speech by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) High-level Roundtable on Data for Growth in Chengdu today (July 25):

Good morning, chair (Chair of the 2026 APEC Digital Weeks High-level Roundtable on Data for Growth, Administrator of the National Data Administration of China, Mr Liu Liehong) and distinguished fellow colleagues.

Data is often described as the “new oil”, a powerful resource defining innovation, productivity and inclusive growth. Yet, data only creates value when it is governed responsibly, shared securely and applied wisely. Hong Kong, China (HKC), adopts a balanced approach between openness and governance to keep us at the global forefront in driving high-quality development while safeguarding public confidence.

Now in HKC, more than 5 700 datasets are accessible to the public free of charge to facilitate innovative solutions, business applications and academic research. The scale of adoption is remarkable, with annual data downloads surging from 5 billion in 2019 to over 85 billion in 2025.

We have also established the Common Spatial Data Infrastructure, a one-stop platform hosting a rich repository of standardised geospatial data. These datasets include high-quality territory-wide 3D digital maps covering more than 120 000 buildings and comprehensive 3D pedestrian network. This robust digital infrastructure supports urban planning, city management, smart infrastructure and emerging sectors such as the low-altitude economy and eco-tourism.

Secure and consent-based data sharing is equally vital. Our Consented Data Exchange Gateway (CDEG) securely connects government systems with the financial sector, enabling banks, upon explicit customer authorisation, to access government registries for streamlined account opening, fraud detection and property valuation. CDEG now covers all government departments, facilitating lawful personal data reuse with user consent. To date, CDEG has processed over 40 million secure exchanges.

Looking ahead, we will launch the Digital Corporate Identity (CorpID) Platform this year, enabling secure, efficient, and consensual corporate data exchange among government departments and corporations. It also allows us to explore interface with other corporate identity platforms, paving the way for potential cross-border identity authentication and data interoperability.

Unlocking data’s full value requires strong computing infrastructure. HKC’s current computing power stands at a strong 5 000 PFLOPS (peta-floating point operations per second), and the upcoming Sandy Ridge Data Facility Cluster is set to deliver an additional 180 000 PFLOPS in the next few years, rendering critical support for the growth of data-driven industries and reinforcing HKC’s role as a leading regional digital infrastructure hub.

As we stand at this pivotal moment, we look forward to deepening collaboration, exchanging insights and sharing visions with our APEC colleagues in harnessing data as a driving force for innovation, productivity, inclusive growth and shared prosperity. Thank you.

  

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Tropical Cyclone Noul situation report (1)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Hong Kong Observatory issued the Increasing Gale or Storm Signal No. 9 at 1.10am today (July 26). It replaced the No. 8 Northwest Gale or Storm Signal.
      
     The Home Affairs Department has so far opened 29 temporary shelters in various districts and 193 people have sought refuge at the shelters.
          
     As at 1am, the Government’s 1823 Call Centre and the Fire Services Department received 1 report and 6 reports of fallen trees respectively. No report of landslide or flooding has been received so far.
      
     According to the Hospital Authority, no person has sought medical treatment at the Accident and Emergency Department at public hospitals due to typhoon-related injuries.

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HAD opens additional temporary shelter

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

HAD opens additional temporary shelter 

Region     Please refer to the annex for the full list of temporary shelters that are now open. For enquiries, please contact the emergency hotline on 2572 8427.
Issued at HKT 1:13

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Facility in Mui Wo Sports Centre to be temporarily closed

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (July 26) that the squash court of Mui Wo Sports Centre in Islands District, to be designated as a temporary shelter operated by the respective District Office of the Home Affairs Department, is temporarily closed until further notice.

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Facility in Lei Yue Mun Sports Centre to be temporarily closed

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (July 26) that the arena of Lei Yue Mun Sports Centre in Kwun Tong District, to be designated as a temporary shelter operated by the respective District Office of the Home Affairs Department, is temporarily closed until further notice.

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Public urged not to visit beaches for water sports activities during passage of typhoon

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Public urged not to visit beaches for water sports activities during passage of typhoon 
Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:
 
     As Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8  is in force, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (July 25) that all gazetted beaches under its management are temporarily closed. In accordance with the Bathing Beaches Regulation under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132, sub. leg. E), any failure to comply with the temporary closure arrangements is an offence and the offender will be liable to a maximum fine of $2,000 and imprisonment up to 14 days upon conviction.

     Members of the public should stay away from the shoreline during inclement weather, and should not conduct any water sports activities on beaches to avoid causing danger to themselves and rescue personnel.
Issued at HKT 22:13

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Two-week implementation of allowing dogs to enter food premises running smooth and stable in general

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The new policy of allowing dogs to enter food premises has been implemented for two weeks since July 9, marking the halfway point of the one-month adaptation period. A spokesman for the Government said today (July 25) that public acceptance of the new policy has been increasing progressively and the overall operation has been smooth and stable. The number of permitted food premises has also grown steadily, rising from 940 at the start of implementation on July 9 to over 970 at present. This indicates that the vast majority of permitted food premises have chosen to continue participating, reflecting an overall stable situation.

The spokesman pointed out that the first phase of the new measure sets a quota of 1 000 food premises, and establishing a waiting list mechanism is an important part of the Government’s policy design. As early as June 26, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has already placed unsuccessful applicant food premises on a waiting list according to their ballot order. If an approved food premises withdraws its permission, its quota is swiftly reallocated to applicants on the waiting list in that order. The preset waiting list mechanism is operating quickly and in an orderly manner, catering to the choices of different operators. Upon completion of the replacement procedures, the information of the newly added food premises will be promptly uploaded to the FEHD’s dedicated webpage.

The spokesman added that restaurants make various commercial decisions every day, and the turnover of permitted food premises is a normal market adjustment and a continuous process of refinement, enabling resources to be allocated more effectively and matching supply and demand more accurately. The aim of the policy is to provide choices – giving options to food premises, as well as offering different choices to members of the public with different preferences and needs.

It is worth noting that despite some food premises have withdrawn, even more waitlisted applicants are eager to take up the released quotas. Since the implementation of the new policy, the Government is pleased to see active co-operation from both the public and the trade.

As the adaptation period reaches its midpoint, the FEHD’s 90-member dedicated team continues to provide support to permitted food premises while carrying out publicity and educational work. Dedicated officers have been proactively inspecting food premises across various districts over recent days to observe the implementation status and make every effort to assist the trade in complying with relevant requirements.

The spokesman stressed that during the remaining half-month of the adaptation period, the Government will continue to adopt an “advice before enforcement” approach in handling non-compliance cases. However, this does not mean a relaxation of regulatory oversight. Should serious non-compliance cases or situations affecting environmental hygiene or food safety be detected, the FEHD will definitely take decisive enforcement action to ensure public safety and fairness of the policy.

The Government appeals to persons-in-charge and frontline staff of permitted food premises to continue earnestly fulfilling licensing conditions and legal requirements, while stepping up supervision and reminders for customers bringing dogs. At the same time, members of the public bringing dogs should properly control their dogs and respect other customers, working together to maintain a comfortable and harmonious dining environment and promote pet inclusivity.

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AFCD appeals to public to avoid visiting country parks during typhoon

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

TV/radio announcers, please broadcast the following as soon as possible:
 
As a typhoon is approaching Hong Kong, for safety reasons, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department urges members of the public to avoid visiting country parks. Those who are currently in country parks should, depending on the actual circumstances, immediately leave or take shelter at a safe place.