Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Testing and Certification Manpower Development Award Scheme 2025-26 commends outstanding awardees
The Chairman of the HKCTC, Professor Wong Wing-tak, highlighted that talent was a vital asset for the sustainable development of the industry. The Award Scheme fully demonstrated the industry’s commitment to nurturing talent and showcased the rich pool of talent in the T&C industry. The success of the industry depended on the participation and collaboration of its practitioners to build a better society.
The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, spoke highly of the T&C industry’s contributions to Hong Kong’s economy and innovation and technology development. He said that the professional integrity of the T&C industry has forged the prestigious brand of “Tested in Hong Kong, Certified in Hong Kong”. It plays a key role in supporting the development of Hong Kong’s trade, industrial, and other service sectors. He said he hopes the industry will continue to contribute its professional expertise to the development of Hong Kong and the country.
Applications received for the two categories of awards were respectively assessed (including conducting interviews with applicants for the Professional Award) by two independent Assessment Panels, which comprised members from academia, public bodies and industrial associations, to decide on the awardees. The lists of awardees are available on HKCTC website (www.hkctc.gov.hk/en/events-promotion/award-scheme2526Issued at HKT 17:10
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EPD utilises innovative acoustic metamaterials to reduce noise impact and enhance project efficiency
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (February 6) said that, together with the Highways Department (HyD), they have collaboratively implemented the innovative acoustic metamaterials made from recycled plastics in an HyD road resurfacing work on Wan Tau Kok Lane in Tai Po. The new innovative acoustic metamaterials significantly minimised noise impact on nearby residents and hence compressed the construction work period from the originally three nights to one whole day.
Due to daytime traffic constraints, road maintenance works are generally conducted at night or on general holidays during road closure. The EPD will issue a construction noise permit under the Noise Control Ordinance, requiring contractors to minimise the construction noise impact on the surrounding environment during construction works. As a result, the planning and scheduling of road works must co-ordinate with temporary traffic arrangements and the limitation imposed by noisy powered mechanical equipment, such as handheld breakers that can generally only operate before midnight on weekdays, which further limit the daily project scale. Three nights are needed to complete the road resurfacing work in phases on Wan Tau Kok Lane by traditional construction methods.
Through co-ordination among the EPD, the HyD, relevant departments and the contractor, the construction work on Wan Tau Kok Lane in Tai Po adopted advanced quiet electric handheld breakers and an acoustic metamaterial enclosure. This successfully reduced the noise levels from road breaking work by 15 decibels A, significantly minimising the impact of the project on nearby residents and the community, thus meeting the needs of residents’ daily lives and various community activities.
The construction work on the approximately 300-metre-long road was completed on February 1 (Sunday), from 8am to 10pm, encompassing processes such as removing the previous asphalt surface, breaking, cleansing, resurfacing and compacting, and the road section concerned was reopened at 10pm after a whole day of construction. This not only improved work efficiency compared to the original plan, which required three nights, but also minimised the impact on residents’ lives over several days of construction. In addition, the acoustic metamaterial enclosure was lighter and more movable than the traditional enclosure, and the three-side louver design ensured good ventilation, enhancing workers’ health and significantly improving the construction environment.
Throughout this project, the EPD maintained close communication with stakeholders, including local district council members, nearby residents, churches, homes for the elderly, and the Police. This collaboration successfully demonstrated a win-win model, and local residents and community groups responded positively to this road resurfacing work.
In Hong Kong’s densely developed urban environment, roadworks present numerous challenges. Moving forward, the EPD will continue to collaborate with project proponents to widely apply the innovative technology in road projects, aiming to reduce necessary nighttime roadworks from several nights to one whole day on general holidays and minimise public impact.
Applications open for HKO public course on weather observation
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Applications open for HKO public course on weather observation (with photo)
The course consists of lectures and weather observation practices, which will be conducted by experienced meteorological personnel from the HKO. The content includes basic weather observation techniques and methods, such as cloud observation and classification. Speakers will also introduce various weather phenomena and hazards and explain how to interpret weather charts and proverbs, as well as the application of weather observation in weather forecasting. The course aims to enhance participants’ understanding of weather and equip them to respond appropriately to changing weather conditions.
In addition, speakers will introduce the use of weather information on the “MyObservatory” mobile app and the HKO website and explain how to share weather information through the Community Weather Observing SchemeIssued at HKT 15:00
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CS chairs interdepartmental working group meeting on festival arrangements
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (February 6) chaired a meeting of the interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements to holistically co-ordinate and steer the preparatory work of various government departments for welcoming visitors to Hong Kong during the Chinese New Year Golden Week of the Mainland (i.e. from February 15 to 23). The Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung; the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law; the Under Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Liu Chun-sun; the Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong, and representatives from other relevant government departments also attended.
Mr Chan said, “We are approaching the nine-day Chinese New Year Golden Week of the Mainland. Various celebration activities will take place to create a rich New Year ambience for residents and visitors. We estimate a notable increase in visitor arrivals during the Chinese New Year Golden Week of the Mainland. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government will make good preparations for receiving visitors, including diligently co-ordinating the ancillary arrangements of boundary control points (BCPs) and transportation, as well as maintaining close liaison with relevant organisations and the travel trade to prepare well for crowd management, information dissemination and arrangements of public transportation and BCPs, with a view to ensuring the smooth operation of various aspects in receiving visitors and offering a high-quality experience to them.”
Crowd management measures and special traffic arrangements for Mong Kok Flower Market Road area
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Crowd management measures and special traffic arrangements for Mong Kok Flower Market Road area
The following roads will be closed, except for vehicles with a permit:
– Flower Market Road;
– Yuen Ngai Street;
– Yuen Po Street; and
– The service road of Prince Edward Road West between Sai Yee Street and Yuen Po Street.
Depending on the traffic and crowd conditions, the following roads may be closed:- Fa Yuen Street between the service road of Prince Edward Road West and Boundary Street;
– Playing Field Road between Tung Choi Street and Sai Yee Street; and
– The service road of Prince Edward Road West between Nathan Road and Sai Yee Street.
The parking spaces on the following roads will be suspended:
– The metered parking spaces on Fa Yuen Street between the service road of Prince Edward Road West and Boundary Street;
– The metered parking spaces on Tung Choi Street between the service road of Prince Edward Road West and Boundary Street;
– The metered parking spaces on Playing Field Road between Tung Choi Street and Sai Yee Street;
– The motorcycle parking spaces on Tung Choi Street near Playing Field Road;
– The motorcycle parking spaces on Playing Field Road between Fa Yuen Street and Tung Choi Street;
– The motorcycle parking spaces under the Prince Edward Road West flyover between Tung Choi Street and Sai Yee Street;
– The disabled parking spaces on Fa Yuen Street near Boundary Street; and
– The disabled parking spaces on Playing Field Road near Tung Choi Street.Issued at HKT 18:06
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FEHD releases first batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in February
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
FEHD releases first batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in February
| District Among the first batch of First Phase Gravidtrap Indexes covering 27 survey areas in February, all were 0 per cent, indicating that the distribution of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes was not extensive.
Among these 27 survey areas, all recorded a decrease or remained unchanged as compared to the Area Gravidtrap Index last month (i.e. January 2026), representing that the areas’ mosquito infestation improved or maintained a low level. Starting in August 2025, following the completion of the surveillance of individual survey areas, and once the latest gravidtrap index and the density index are available, the FEHD has been disseminating relevant information through press releases, its website and social media. It aims to allow members of the public to quickly grasp the mosquito infestation situation and strengthen mosquito control efforts, thereby reducing the risk of chikungunya fever (CF) transmission. Following recommendations from the World Health Organization and taking into account the local situation in Hong Kong, the FEHD sets up gravidtraps in districts where mosquito-borne diseases have been recorded in the past, as well as in densely populated places such as housing estates, hospitals and schools to monitor the breeding and distribution of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which can transmit CF and dengue fever (DF). At present, the FEHD has set up gravidtraps in 62 survey areas of the community, with a surveillance period of two weeks. During the surveillance period, the FEHD will collect the gravidtraps once a week. After the first week of surveillance, the FEHD will immediately examine the glue boards inside the retrieved gravidtraps for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes to compile the Gravidtrap Index (First Phase) and Density Index (First Phase). At the end of the second week of surveillance, the FEHD will instantly check the glue boards for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes. Data from the two weeks of surveillance will be combined to obtain the Area Gravidtrap Index and the Area Density Index. The gravidtrap and density indexes for Aedes albopictus in different survey areas, as well as information on mosquito prevention and control measures, are available on the department’s webpage (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/pestcontrol/dengue_fever/Dengue_Fever_Gravidtrap_Index_Update.html#Issued at HKT 17:00 NNNN Tender of 2-Year Exchange Fund Notes to be held on February 20Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region Tender of 2-Year Exchange Fund Notes to be held on February 20
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