Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Rating (Exemption) Order 2026 to be gazetted      
     The Budget proposes to waive rates for the first and second quarters of 2026-27, subject to a concession cap of $500 per quarter for each domestic and non-domestic tenement. The proposal will benefit about 3.59 million properties, reducing government revenue by about $3.5 billion. 
      
     The Order will be tabled at the Legislative Council for negative vetting on March 18.
Issued at HKT 16:00

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Banking industry introduces further measures to assist affected individuals of Tai Po fire      
     The HKMA and HKAB have launched 11 emergency support measures (Note) following the Tai Po fire incident last year, including a six-month pre-approved repayment grace period for various loans to alleviate the immediate financial pressure of the affected individuals. The repayment grace period also offers time and room for the affected residents and relevant parties to manage legal matters, insurance claims and rehousing arrangements associated with the affected residential mortgages.
      
     Recognising that the affected residents may need time to understand various options and details under the long-term housing arrangements for WFC, so that they can make informed choices and corresponding financial arrangements, the banking industry announces the following three additional measures:
 
(1) Extend the repayment grace period for various loans: All 28 retail banks will extend the repayment grace period (including principal and interest) for existing mortgages, personal loans and credit card loans, etc. of the affected individuals by another six months to the end of November 2026, to alleviate their short-term financial pressure;
 
(2) Assist with mortgage arrangements under different housing options: All WFC mortgagee banks will help relevant owners in handling mortgage-related matters, including: 
 (3) Establish a multi-party collaboration and communication mechanism: The HKMA, HKAB and the banking industry will establish a communication platform to understand, including through the “engagement team” co-ordinated by the Housing Bureau, the specific needs of WFC residents and provide appropriate assistance to each individual case.

     The HKMA and HKAB would like to take this opportunity to remind the public to stay vigilant at all times to prevent fraudsters from taking advantage of the situation. Whenever receiving calls that claim to be from banks, the public should authenticate the identity of the caller and never disclose personal and bank account information, passwords, or other sensitive information to suspicious individuals.Issued at HKT 16:00

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Hong Kong’s inaugural Action Plan on Weight Management launched to build healthy and vibrant city      
     “Obesity is a global issue. The Government has always been concerned about the adverse health effects of obesity on members of the public and has been promoting healthy lifestyles comprehensively. The Chief Executive’s 2025 Policy Address further emphasised the HKSAR Government’s commitment to raising public awareness regarding weight management, drawing on relevant national and WHO policy frameworks. This includes strengthening health education and promotion, creating a social environment conducive to weight management, strengthening health service delivery, adopting a life-course approach health promotion strategy, and continuously monitoring weight trends. To this end, the HKSAR Government established an interdepartmental Weight Management Working Group in October 2025 to co-ordinate policies in healthcare, education, recreation and culture, urban planning, and other areas, promoting multisectoral efforts across government, industry, academia, and the community. The Working Group will implement measures in phases according to annual themes and regularly monitor progress against a set of specific key performance indicators to ensure the comprehensive and effective implementation of the Action Plan,” the Controller of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health (DH), Dr Edwin Tsui, said.
      
     Dr Tsui emphasised that the Action Plan is based on scientific evidence, building a systematic strategy that spans the entire life cycle and covers the entire social environment. From prenatal nutrition, habit formation during school years, and health management for working adults to maintaining physical function in the elderly, it provides appropriate support at every key stage of life. More importantly, the Action Plan aims to strengthen the role of primary healthcare as the “gatekeeper”, promoting collaboration between Chinese and Western medicine and integrating health data through the “eHealth” platform, to support citizens in managing their health, allowing traditional wisdom and modern evidence-based medicine to complement each other in safeguarding the health of citizens.
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     The Action Plan will be implemented over three years, with each year focusing on a distinct theme, including “Raise Awareness,” “Positive Changes,” and ” Maintenance – Part of Life “, in order to implement the five key directions and 15 objectives (see annex) systematically and progressively. The full text of the Action Plan has been uploaded to the DH’s “Change4Health      
     According to the recommendation of the WHO Western Pacific Region for Asian adults, adults with a Body Mass Index (BMI) between 23 and less than 25 are considered overweight, while those with a BMI of 25 or above are considered obese. As revealed by the Population Health Survey 2020-22 conducted by the DH, over half of Hong Kong’s adult population is overweight or obese. Obesity is a risk factor for various non-communicable diseases, including the “Three Highs” (diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia), stroke, and some common cancers. Studies showed that overweight women have nearly three times the risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to the general population, while men have nearly twice the risk. Moreover, overweight is significantly associated with other comorbidities such as osteoarthritis and chronic back pain.
      
     During the preparation of the Action Plan, the DH collaborated closely with various government departments and organisations, pooling multidisciplinary expertise. All participating units will work together in the future to implement the weight management measures outlined in the Action Plan.
      
     Among these, the Education Bureau will further integrate messages about weight management and healthy living into school practices. Through school activities and home-school co-operation, students will be assisted in developing habits of monitoring their weight and practising healthy lifestyles from a young age. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will continue to make good use of its sports facilities and community sports programmes to create a community environment conducive to weight management. It will promote the importance of weight management and regular physical activity, encouraging the public to actively participate in recreational and sports activities and incorporate exercise into their daily lives.
      
     The theme for the first year of the Action Plan is “Raise Awareness”. The Government is launching the regularised Walking Challenge under the “10 000 Steps a Day” Campaign on the e+Life      
     The DH urges the public to support the Action Plan, starting with being aware of their own weight indicators and actively participating in community health activities. Enterprises and institutions should implement workplace health promotion measures, while schools and families work together to cultivate a healthy new generation. Only with the concerted efforts of all sectors can Hong Kong become a healthier and more vibrant city.
Issued at HKT 12:10

Sydney ETO holds Chinese New Year reception in Adelaide to celebrate Year of Horse and promote Hong Kong’s artistic talent  
     Mr Chong introduced the 2026-27 Budget recently delivered by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, under the theme “Driving High-quality, Inclusive Growth with Innovation and Finance”. The Budget underscored Hong Kong’s economic resilience and set out a clear strategy to sustain growth, strengthen fiscal health and improve people’s livelihood while advancing innovation and financial development.
 
     “Key measures in the Budget include tax and rates relief to ease cost pressures, strategic investment in innovation and technology, including AI, digital assets and green finance; and continued efforts to consolidate Hong Kong’s position as an international financial centre,” Mr Chong said.
 
     Mr Chong also highlighted the newly launched Economic and Trade Express, which brings together the collective strengths of overseas Economic and Trade Offices, Invest Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. “Through this co-ordinated platform, we support Hong Kong small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups in expanding abroad, including here in Australia, while also assisting Chinese Mainland enterprises in their “going global” journey. By serving as a “super connector” and “super value-adder”, Hong Kong will continue to deepen trade and investment links with South Australia and the broader Australian economy,” Mr Chong added.
 
     The reception concluded with a Cantonese pop music medley by the Hong Kong ensemble Toolbox Percussion. With the support of the Sydney ETO, the ensemble will also participate in the Adelaide Fringe, staging four performances of “Echoes of Silence – A Contemporary Percussion Odyssey” from today (March 4) to March 7, followed by a series of cultural exchange programmes in Brisbane and Melbourne from March 8 to 12.
 
     The Sydney ETO will also host a Chinese New Year reception in Perth, Australia, to celebrate the Year of the Horse with local communities.
Issued at HKT 12:00

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Campaign calls on commercial vehicle drivers to prioritise safety and health      
     The TD’s Safe Driving and Health Campaign features the commercial vehicle supervisor, Miss FIT, as the theme character in radio, social media and website publicity to encourage commercial vehicle drivers to maintain a proper driving attitude and pay more attention to their personal health. The TD will continue to provide one free annual health check-up for eligible commercial vehicle drivers throughout the year, with the aim of promoting a healthy lifestyle. Interested drivers may register and make a booking online      
     Commercial vehicle drivers may visit the Facebook pageIssued at HKT 10:00

Labour Department invites entries for new Construction Industry Safety Excellence Award 
     A Labour Department (LD) spokesman said, “The LD and the Occupational Safety and Health Council are launching the new Construction Industry Safety Excellence Award this year by integrating the Construction Industry Safety Award Scheme and the Construction Safety Promotional Campaign, which have been implemented for over 20 years. Supported and co-organised by various government departments, organisations, trade associations and labour unions, the new Award aims to further enhance the safety culture within the construction industry and to recognise organisations and frontline workers who excel in occupational safety and health (OSH) management, thereby setting safety benchmarks for the industry and promoting continuous improvement in OSH performance across the industry.”
  
     Interested parties may visit the Award website (www.oshc.org.hk/eng/main/awards_campaigns/cisea_2026/Issued at HKT 9:00