Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

CFS urges public not to consume batch of prepackaged chocolate product suspected to contain plastic fragmentsBrand: Furuta
Place of origin: Japan
Pack size: 122 grams per pack
Batch number: 2026.10/JG+FM
Importer: Man Tung Trading Company Limited
Retailer: APITA and UNY
Best-before date: End of October, 2026Issued at HKT 21:11

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Latest COVID-19 vaccination arrangements announced　　
High-risk priority groups
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    　The Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases and the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases (JSC) under the CHP earlier discussed and updated the booster vaccination recommendation for high-risk priority groups in 2026. Starting from March 1, the Government will offer COVID-19 vaccine to relevant high-risk priority groups based on the recommendations, including:
      In addition, the JSC encouraged healthcare workers to receive the COVID-19 vaccine for their personal protection. Hence, the Government’s COVID-19 Vaccination Programme will continue to provide free COVID-19 vaccine for healthcare workers.
      
     Those who do not belong to the high-risk priority groups recommended for booster vaccination (such as individuals aged 18 to 49 with chronic illnesses and healthy individuals aged 50 to 64) and would like to receive a booster dose may consult their family doctor about registered COVID-19 vaccines available in the private market, and consider to receive vaccination at their own expense for personal protection.
 
Choice of COVID-19 vaccine
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　　In light of the JSC’s earlier recommendation to choose either the JN.1 vaccine or the LP.8.1 vaccine, the Government has provided LP.8.1 vaccines to infants and children aged six months to 11 years since December last year. The Government has now procured Spikevax LP.8.1 vaccines for individuals aged 12 and above, and vaccinations for eligible individuals will begin on March 1. The Government will continue to help elderly people aged 60 or above living in the community make online appointments for COVID-19 vaccination. More information can be found in an earlier press release—————————————————————————–      
     Members of the public may visit the CHP’s COVID-19 Vaccination ProgrammeIssued at HKT 19:55

DCS chairs 11th meeting of Task Force on District Governance (with photo) 
      Mr Cheuk said, “The Task Force has continuously steered departments in implementing the strategies formulated by the Steering Committee, introducing various policies and measures targeting district issues of key public concern and achieving fruitful results. The Task Force will continue to lead departments in addressing people’s livelihood concerns through concrete actions, comprehensively enhancing district governance and building a better community. The Task Force will also strengthen the promotion of work achievements to enhance citizens’ sense of happiness and fulfillment.”
 
      The Steering Committee chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration has formulated strategies for 12 district issues (Note), including various measures to strengthen community support and enhance district facilities, thereby creating a higher-quality living environment for the public. At the meeting, the Task Force followed up on the implementation progress and outcomes of relevant initiatives.
 
     The meeting discussed the achievements of the Care Teams, which completed their first-term services in October 2025.  Over the two-year period, Care Teams made around 610 000 visits to elderly households and other households in need, provided around 100 000 instances of basic home or other support services, and organised around 50 000 district-level activities. Their achievements are evident to all. Moreover, Care Teams assisted in emergency and incident responses. In the event of emergencies and incidents in the districts (such as during the Wang Fuk Court Fire in Tai Po, the discovery of wartime bombs in Quarry Bay, Super Typhoon Ragasa, and successive heavy rainstorms affecting Hong Kong), Care Teams swiftly mobilised their members and volunteers to attend to the needs of affected individuals and provide them with adequate assistance. In particular, during the aftermath support for the Wang Fuk Court Fire, more than 1 900 Care Team members and volunteers from all 18 districts across Hong Kong responded promptly to the Government’s call and actively participated in emergency assistance. In terms of resources, the Government provided the Care Teams with part of the funding they need, while the operating organisations supported the Care Teams’ services through sponsorships, donations, or internal resources of the organisations. The total expenditure for the overall service plan of the first-term Care Teams was $444 million, of which $411 million was covered by Government funding disbursed according to the funding agreements (i.e., 92 per cent), while the remaining expenditure (i.e., 8 per cent) was met by community resources gathered by the Care Teams. Notably, the Government allocated $452 million as funding for the first-term Care Teams, but only 91 per cent of this amount was ultimately utilised, despite services exceeding the key performance indicator requirements that were delivered. This reflects the Care Teams’ prudent use of public funds in accordance with guidelines and their effective mobilisation of community resources. To enable the public to better understand the work of the Care Teams’ services, the Work Reports of the first-term Care Teams have been released today. Members of the public can visit the Care Teams website (www.had.gov.hk/tc/public_services/district_services_community_care_teams/index.htm 
     The meeting also followed up on the progress of 12 district initiatives. In terms of care for the elderly, as at end-January 2026, the Care Teams in all districts had visited or reached out to over 91 000 singleton and doubleton elderly households, carers of elderly persons and persons with disabilities. More than 2 900 households (involving over 3 470 elderly persons or persons with disabilities) were referred by the Care Teams to receive subsidies for installation of emergency alarm systems.

Appointment of Law Officer (Civil Law) —————————-
     Ms Cheung was admitted as a solicitor in the United Kingdom and Hong Kong in 1989 and 1996 respectively. She was appointed as Senior Crown Counsel in 1995 and promoted to Deputy Principal Government Counsel in 2001, and Principal Government Counsel in 2008. She was appointed Law Officer in 2015 and has since held the position of Law Officer (Civil Law). Ms Cheung has served in the Civil Division of the DoJ for over 30 years. She was awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star in 2025.—————————-
     Mr Tavares was admitted as a solicitor in Hong Kong in 2002. He was appointed as Government Counsel in 2002 and promoted to Senior Government Counsel in 2007, Deputy Principal Government Counsel in 2012 and Principal Government Counsel in 2019. Mr Tavares has served in the Civil Division of the DoJ for over 20 years. He served in the Legal Enhancement and Development Office under the Secretary for Justice’s Office between 2022 and 2024. 
Issued at HKT 16:00

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HKSAR Government lodges strong protest against forceful takeover of two ports by Panamanian government 
​     A Government spokesman reiterated that the earlier ruling made by the Supreme Court of Justice of Panama, which declared the operation of the two Panamanian ports by the company concerned unconstitutional, disregarded facts and breached faith. The company concerned had already initiated and commenced arbitration proceedings. However, the forceful takeover of the two ports by the Panamanian government yesterday gravely damaged the legitimate rights and interests of the Hong Kong enterprise and undermined the spirit of contracts. The HKSAR Government condemns such a blatant act.

​     The HKSAR Government urged the Panamanian government again to respect the spirit of contracts and provide a fair and just business environment for companies operating legally there, ensuring that the legitimate rights of enterprises are free from any interference. Hong Kong enterprises operating and investing in Panama should receive fair and reasonable treatment and protection.Issued at HKT 16:24

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Applications selected for 56th personalised vehicle registration marks exercise 
     A spokesman for the TD said, “The applicants have already been sent an acknowledgement of receipt bearing an application number. They may check the list to see whether their applications have been selected. Applicants will also be notified of the ballot results by post in batches.”
 
     The TD will later check the proposed PVRMs selected against the basic combination requirements. If, among the selected applications, more than one applicant proposes the same PVRM, only the one on which the lot falls first out of those applications will be further processed.
 
     If the selected PVRMs meet the basic requirements, the TD will send notices by registered mail to the applicants in batches, requiring them to pay a deposit of $5,000 within the period specified in the notice. If an applicant fails to pay the deposit within that period, his or her application will be cancelled automatically and will not be further processed.
 
     Upon receipt of the deposit, the Commissioner for Transport will determine, with the assistance of a vetting committee, whether an application should be approved or rejected. PVRMs approved in the 56th exercise will be put up for auction in batches. Auction details will be published in newspapers and on the TD’s website in due course.
 
     For enquiries, applicants can call the TD Hotline at 2804 2600.
Issued at HKT 11:41

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