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Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival’s outdoor music carnival “ImagineLand” to be held April 25 and 26

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival’s outdoor music carnival “ImagineLand” to be held April 25 and 26  
     “ImagineLand” features both daytime and evening programmes. “Go Beyond Concert”, “Pop Unboxed” outdoor installation and “Funarts Corner” are available during the day, whereas film programme “Movie Under the Stars” will be held at night.

     The “Go Beyond Concert” will showcase two stages, namely the Forest Stage and Seed Stage. The curator of the Forest Stage, music veteran Dr Wong Chi-chong, will also take up the role of host and DJ, alongside 11 musicians and artists over two days. Making its debut this year is the Cantopop Party, evoking collective memories through timeless classic melodies across generations. The local lineup includes powerhouse female vocalists Vincy Chan, Janees Wong and Feanna Wong; rising singers Arvin Tsang, Jacky Fan and Gordon Flanders; bands Goodnight Lillie and ROVER; and DJ DEANZ. They will be joined by PO8, a rap poet from the Chinese Mainland, and Thai singer New Napassorn, making her Hong Kong debut – bringing together diverse sounds from different regions for a free-spirited fusion along the Victoria Harbour waterfront. Meanwhile, the Seed Stage will present a series of street-style performances by young musicians, complemented by themed sharing sessions, offering a pop music party from multiple perspectives.
 
     The “Pop Unboxed” outdoor installation is co-curated by the LCSD and the Hong Kong Design Institute, a member of the Vocational Training Council Group. The exhibition features four themed showcases, including a newly created “Ten Brothers” art toy intellectual property inspired by the folktale; a film-themed photo spot recreating Hong Kong’s neon-style street scenes; a window display that brings fantasy characters to life through surreal fashion; and a music showcase that juxtaposes classic vinyl records with the works of a virtual singer, highlighting the development of a new generation of virtual music. Each showcase is a meticulously designed “blind box”, inviting audiences to discover surprises through exploration. The exhibition will remain on display at the HKCC Piazza until June 30.
 
     The “Funarts Corner” will offer creative booths featuring caricature, digital tattoos, make-up and cheongsam styling experience photoshoots, offering various ways to explore and experience Hong Kong pop culture while adding to the carnival atmosphere.
 
     “Movie Under the Stars” will be staged at 8pm on April 25 and 26, screening local fantasy-romance films “Last Song for You” (2024) and “Fly Me to Polaris” (1999) respectively. Audiences are welcome to bring their own mats to enjoy a unique outdoor movie-watching experience on the Salisbury Garden lawn. 
     With “Beyond Fantasy” as this year’s theme, the LCSD presents the fourth Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival. Over the years, Hong Kong pop culture has continued to evolve through music, images and text, as well as stage and cross-media creations. Shaped by the interplay of inheritance, circulation, fusion and breakthroughs, it has distilled a style that is uniquely Hong Kong. For more information, please visit www.pcf.gov.hk/enIssued at HKT 15:35

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Automated parking system in short-term tenancy car park at Hoi Wang Road, Yau Ma Tei, commences service

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Transport Department (TD) said today (April 21) that the automated parking system (APS) in a short-term tenancy (STT) car park at Hoi Wang Road, Yau Ma Tei, has commenced service, with the largest number of APS parking spaces among similar sites to date.

     This project provides 117 APS parking spaces out of about 200 parking spaces, comprising five modules of four-storey puzzle-stacking APS each. Among them, four modules are of a larger scale providing 25 parking spaces each, the design with the highest number of parking spaces among similar APS in STT car parks, thereby enhancing spatial efficiency. The puzzle-stacking APS moves vehicles to/from ground level for retrieval/parking through vertical lifting and horizontal sliding of parking pallets. The APS is constructed, operated and maintained by the tenant.

     A spokesman for the TD said that it has been implementing public vehicle parking projects with APS in Hong Kong since 2020 to make better use of space through technology and increase the provision of parking spaces. APS has been installed in STT sites at Hoi Shing Road in Tsuen Wan, Pak Shek Kok in Tai Po and Tung Chau Street in Sham Shui Po, and has been well received by motorists, providing parking convenience for the public.

     The Government will examine the feasibility of adopting an APS when inviting tenders for new STT car parks and carrying out retendering for existing STT car parks, taking into account factors such as financial viability, actual site conditions and constraints, and the timetable for their long-term development. The Government will consolidate experiences in building, operating and managing different APS types and their financial arrangements, with a view to facilitating a wider and more efficient application of APS with the trade to optimise land space.

        

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Online pre-registration for public observation for fourth round of evidential hearings of Independent Committee in relation to fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Online pre-registration for public observation for fourth round of evidential hearings of Independent Committee in relation to fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po 
     The Independent Committee in relation to the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po announced today (April 21) that the fourth round of evidential hearings, comprising three hearings, would be held during May 6 to May 8. Members of the public may pre-register for selected hearings under this round that they wish to observe via the online system from 10am on April 23 to 10am on April 26.
 
     The Committee will hear evidence in the evidential hearings on matters in accordance with its terms of reference. The Committee aims to clarify the relevant facts through oral evidence, written submissions, and other forms of evidence presented by witnesses. This will provide an important basis for the preparation of its report and recommendations.
 
     The schedule for the fourth round of three evidential hearings is as follows:
 

      The evidential hearings will be conducted in Cantonese from 10am to 1pm and from 2.15pm to 4.30pm at the Multi-purpose Hall, 3/F, City Gallery, 3 Edinburgh Place, Central. Simultaneous interpretation in Putonghua and English will be provided in the City Gallery.
 
     In the fourth round of evidential hearings, the Committee will continue to receive oral evidence from witnesses. The Committee will release the list of exact witnesses who will be giving evidence at each date of hearing on its website (www.ic-wangfukcourtfire.gov.hk/eng/timetable.html 
     Some seats for the hearings will be reserved for the involved parties, and some seats will be open to the public to observe the proceedings. To allow more members of the public to attend the hearings, the proceedings will be broadcast simultaneously in transmission areas set up on the ground floor of the City Gallery and in the Lecture Theatre of the Hong Kong Central Library. Arrangements will be made for some members of the public to observe the hearings in these two areas. A total of about 360 seats will be available for public observation in the main venue and the two transmission areas. About half of the seats will be set aside for residents of Wang Fuk Court on a priority basis. Separate arrangements will be made for the media.
 
     To avoid members of the public queuing outside the venue for a long time, and to allow those who wish to observe the hearings to have certainty of whether seats have been secured before the day of the hearings, for the fourth round of hearings, individuals (including Wang Fuk Court residents) are required to pre-register online (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ic-hearing/en/ 
     Successful registrants will receive a “Confirmation of Successful Registration” for the fourth round of hearings issued by the Secretariat of the Committee by April 30. An SMS notification will be sent from the sender name “#IC-hearing”. If an email address is also provided during pre-registration, an email notification will be sent from hearing@ic-wangfukcourtfire.gov.hk. Pre-registration will be considered unsuccessful for those who have not received a notification by that date. Each person can only pre-register for each day of hearing once. Duplicate registrations will not be processed.
 
     According to the current plan, more hearings will be held. Relevant details (including the specific dates of the hearings and the pre-registration arrangements for public observation) will be announced separately.
 
     The Chief Executive established the Committee to review the causes of the fire at Wang Fuk Court and related issues, and to make recommendations to prevent similar incidents from occurring again. The Committee formally commenced its work on December 19, 2025, and the evidential hearings on March 19 to receive oral evidence from witnesses.
Issued at HKT 14:30

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HKSAR and Mainland sign new arrangement on mutual service of judicial documents in civil and commercial proceedings

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, and Vice-president of the Supreme People’s Court (SPC) Mr Mao Zhonghua signed the Arrangement on Mutual Service of Judicial Documents in Civil and Commercial Proceedings between the Mainland and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (New Arrangement) yesterday (April 20), enhancing the mechanism for mutual service of judicial documents in civil and commercial proceedings between the two places.
 
     Over the 27 years since the implementation of the existing Arrangement for Mutual Service of Judicial Documents in Civil and Commercial Proceedings between the Mainland and Hong Kong Courts (Existing Arrangement), the volume of requests for mutual service of judicial documents between the courts of the two places has surged in recent years. However, the success rate for service of judicial documents under the Existing Arrangement is relatively low. In response to the strong demand from the legal sector, statutory bodies and members of the public for an enhanced service mechanism, the Department of Justice (DoJ), the Judiciary and the SPC, after an extended period of prudent discussions, finalised the enhanced mechanism for mutual service of judicial documents in civil and commercial proceedings between the Mainland and Hong Kong, with the New Arrangement signed yesterday. The New Arrangement aims to further promote the alignment of mechanisms and rules between the two legal systems.
 
     The New Arrangement is not a completely new arrangement, but an enhanced version of the Existing Arrangement. The New Arrangement increases the modes of service, offers more options and flexibility, and introduces efficiency enhancement measures. This aims to promote timely and efficient handling of cross-border civil and commercial cases, strengthen the protection of the rights and interests of parties in the two places, and better accommodate the increasingly close-knit ties and judicial needs between the Mainland and Hong Kong.
 
     The DoJ will introduce the New Arrangement to the Legislative Council Panel on Administration of Justice and Legal Services next Monday (April 27). The New Arrangement will come into effect only after the completion of relevant legislative procedures in Hong Kong. The DoJ will work closely with the Judiciary to complete the required legislative amendments work to implement the New Arrangement as soon as practicable.

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Taiwan and Marshall Islands Hold ECA Preparatory Meeting to Deepen Economic and Trade Partnership

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Building on 27 years of diplomatic alliance, Taiwan and the Marshall Islands (RMI) are deepening their economic and trade partnership through the Economic Cooperation Agreement (ECA), which took effect in January 2025. This comprehensive framework-covering investment, customs, and intellectual property-will be administered by a newly established Joint Committee to institutionalize trade dialogue and ensure mutual long-term growth.

On April 8 this year, the preparatory meeting for the ministerial Joint Committee was held in the Marshall Islands capital of Majuro, co-chaired by Deputy Secretary Ywao Elanzo of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Commerce of the RMI and Deputy Director General Chi-Chuan Hu of the International Trade Administration (TITA) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs of Taiwan.

Both sides exchanged views of the Joint Committee’s procedural framework and the itinerary for the inaugural ministerial meeting. Taiwan also proposed strategies for facilitating trade and investment, while both sides discussed cooperation on future technical projects to maximize the ECA’s impact.

Following implementation of zero tariffs in early 2025, bilateral trade surged 74.43% to US$234 million. Driven by Taiwan’s exports of fishing supplies and grains, as well as frozen fish exports from the RMI, this growth underscores the ECA’s immediate success in expanding economic ties.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs of Taiwan reaffirmed the Marshall Islands as an important Pacific ally, noting that this meeting solidifies the foundation for implementing the ECA. Through institutionalized dialogues and integration of resources across ministries, Taiwan remains committed to fostering a mutually beneficial win-win partnership.

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Dates set for May hearings

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The independent committee in relation to the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po announced today that a fourth round of evidential hearings, in which oral evidence will be received from witnesses, will be held from May 6 to 8.

Three days of hearings will be conducted, in Cantonese, from 10am to 1pm and from 2.15pm to 4.30pm each day at the Multi-purpose Hall, 3/F, City Gallery in Central.

Simultaneous interpretation in Putonghua and English will be provided.

A total of about 360 seats will be available for public observation. About half of these will be set aside for Wang Fuk Court residents on a priority basis.

Those wishing to attend are required to pre-register online from 10am on April 23 to 10am on April 26.

Successful registrants will receive a confirmation issued by the committee secretariat no later than April 30.

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New Judicial doc arrangement signed

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Justice Paul Lam and Supreme People’s Court (SPC) Vice-president Mao Zhonghua yesterday signed a new arrangement to enhance the mutual service of judicial documents in civil and commercial proceedings between the Mainland and Hong Kong.

The Arrangement on Mutual Service of Judicial Documents in Civil & Commercial Proceedings between the Mainland & the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region aims to promote the alignment of legal mechanisms and rules between the two jurisdictions.

While a similar arrangement has been in place for 27 years, the volume of service requests has surged in recent years. However, the success rate under the existing system has remained relatively low.

In response to demand from the legal sector and the public, the Department of Justice (DoJ), the Judiciary and the SPC finalised the enhanced mechanism following detailed discussions.

The new arrangement introduces additional modes of service, offering greater flexibility and efficiency. These measures are designed to ensure the timely handling of cross-boundary cases and better protect the rights of parties in both places, reflecting the increasingly close judicial ties between the Mainland and Hong Kong.

The DoJ will brief the Legislative Council Panel on Administration of Justice & Legal Services on details of the new arrangement on April 27.

The new measures will come into effect once the necessary legislative procedures in Hong Kong are completed. The DoJ added that it will work closely with the Judiciary to implement the amendments as soon as practicable.

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CE: Residents’ return went smoothly

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

(To watch the full media session with sign language interpretation, click here.)

Chief Executive John Lee said today that arrangements for residents of the seven fire-affected blocks of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po to return to their units to collect personal belongings had been implemented in accordance with safety, orderliness and compassion.

Mr Lee made his remarks ahead of this morning’s Executive Council in the morning. He was responding to a media question about the arrangements after a first batch of residents returned to their flat yesterday.

He said: “I think yesterday’s arrangements went very smoothly, and it was conducted with several important principles in mind which include safety, orderliness and compassion.

“I am very relieved to see that the 1,000 officials that we have deployed, they were all doing their jobs in full regard to the principles and considerations that I have mentioned. And they voluntarily have done a lot of extra things to ensure that the interests and the conditions of the families who went up yesterday were well taken care of.

“I was also very relieved to know that some members indeed got what they had been hoping to find, and some even got some surprises, which was reassuring.”

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Basketball betting halt explained

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Executive John Lee today said it is important for the Government to thoroughly assess emerging risks before proceeding with the rollout of basketball betting in Hong Kong.

In remarks before an Executive Council meeting, Mr Lee addressed the recent decision by the Home & Youth Affairs Bureau to pause the implementation of basketball betting, despite the passage of the Betting Duty (Amendment) Bill 2025 last year.

The legislation was originally intended to provide a legal avenue for basketball betting to combat illegal gambling operators. However, the bureau recently halted the rollout citing the rapid global rise of unregulated prediction markets.

“When the Government implemented the Gambling Ordinance or its related policies, then it is appropriate for the responsible bureau, which is the Home & Youth Affairs Bureau, to regularly review the situation,” Mr Lee noted.

“If they have found risks they want to address to ensure that the risks will be properly mitigated, then it is important that they think thoroughly before they will proceed further, to ensure that all these risks are properly controlled.”

“The rapid growth of the prediction market is really beyond anybody’s expectation. We have to be very sure how it will impact the gambling scene in Hong Kong,” he added.

Mr Lee reiterated the bureau should not move forward without a full understanding of the current environment, rather than proceeding blindly.

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Identification et cession des carnivores domestiques : une avancée majeure pour le bien-être animal en Nouvelle-Calédonie

Source: Gouvernement de la Nouvelle-Caledonie

Isabelle Champmoreau, membre du gouvernement chargée du bien-être animal, a présenté ce lundi 20 avril, les dispositions issues de la loi du pays relative à l’identification et à la cession des carnivores domestiques en Nouvelle-Calédonie. Adoptée par le Congrès le 16 octobre 2025, cette loi est complétée par son arrêté d’application adopté en séance du gouvernement le 15 avril dernier. Elle poursuit trois objectifs majeurs : rendre obligatoire l’identification des chiens et des chats, encadrer leur cession et instaurer un statut officiel pour les éleveurs.

Une politique globale en faveur du bien-être animal

Cette loi de pays s’inscrit dans la politique engagée par le gouvernement depuis 2019, avec la création d’un secteur dédié autour de trois priorités : identifier, stériliser, surveiller.

Les actions concrètes en faveur du bien-être animal déjà déployées :

  • Campagnes de stérilisation des animaux : 8 300 animaux stérilisés depuis 2014 grâce à des aides destinées aux foyers modestes, en partenariat avec les associations et les vétérinaires ;
  • 4 opérations « Croquettes solidaires » : plus de 10,5 tonnes de nourriture distribuées depuis décembre 2024 en faveur des animaux sauvés ou recueillis par les associations, le réseau de familles d’accueil et les refuges ;
  • Programme « ambassadeurs du bien-être animal » : 500 élèves (CM1 et CM2) sensibilisés en 2023, près de 1 000 en 2025 ;
  • Partenariats avec les collectivités (commune – Dumbéa et syndicat intercommunal – SIVM Sud) pour renforcer l’information sur l’identification et la stérilisation ;
  • Création d’un parc de promenade à la fourrière intercommunale du grand Nouméa pour que les associations puissent venir divertir et sociabiliser les chiens.

Contexte et objectifs de la loi

Cette réglementation, qui entrera en vigueur le 7 novembre 2026, répond à une forte attente des acteurs de terrain – associations de protection animale, vétérinaires, éleveurs – et s’inscrit dans les recommandations de l’Organisation mondiale de la santé animale (OMSA).

Elle vise à :

  • faciliter la recherche des animaux perdus ou volés ;
  • améliorer leur suivi sanitaire et le bien-être des animaux ; 
  • sensibiliser et responsabiliser les propriétaires ;
  • limiter les reproductions non contrôlées ;
  • réduire les nuisances et les impacts sanitaires et environnementaux ;
  • mieux connaître les populations animales et les élevages.

1. Identification obligatoire

Une avancée majeure est franchie en matière de protection et de traçabilité des animaux de compagnie.

« L’identification des chiens et des chats deviendra obligatoire à partir du 7 novembre 2026. C’est pour ça qu’on communique dès maintenant auprès de la population calédonienne afin de laisser un temps aux gens pour s’informer et comprendre ce qu’ils doivent faire », a précisé Isabelle Champmoreau. C’est important pour retrouver son animal, mais aussi en matière de responsabilité. Cela va également nous permettre de connaître beaucoup mieux le nombre de chats et de chiens en Nouvelle-Calédonie ».

L’identification devra être réalisée avant l’âge de six mois, soit par l’implantation d’une puce électronique, soit par tatouage. Quel que soit le procédé retenu, l’intervention devra être effectuée par un vétérinaire, chargé également d’enregistrer l’animal dans le fichier d’identification du gouvernement de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, « Calédopattes ».

Dans un souci de transparence, les vétérinaires devront désormais afficher de façon claire et visible le tarif de l’acte d’identification, et en faire mention sur la facture.

2. Encadrement des ventes et des dons

  • Règles de cession

Afin de garantir une traçabilité complète et de limiter les acquisitions irréfléchies, la loi impose que toute cession d’un chien ou d’un chat, qu’elle soit gratuite (don) ou payante (vente), soit obligatoirement précédée de l’identification de l’animal, quel que soit son âge.

  • Des conditions strictement encadrées

« Cette loi permet de poser un cadre sur les cessions de chats et de chiens, qu’il s’agisse de dons ou de ventes, a indiqué la membre du gouvernement. La nouvelle réglementation interdit désormais de céder un chiot ou un chaton âgé de moins de huit semaines. On sait qu’un animal qui est séparé trop précocement de sa mère peut en avoir des troubles comportementaux durables », a-t-elle ajouté.

De plus, les cessions ne pourront avoir lieu que dans des cadres adaptés : animaleries, foires agricoles, expositions canines ou félines, ou encore lors d’opérations d’adoption organisées par les associations de protection animale.

Par ailleurs, la vente ou le don d’animaux sera désormais interdit sur les marchés, dans les foires généralistes, les brocantes ou tout événement non spécifiquement dédié aux animaux. Toutefois, les ventes réalisées à domicile ou directement sur le lieu d’élevage restent autorisées. Pour les particuliers, la vente sera désormais limitée à une portée par an.

Ces mesures visent à mieux protéger la santé et le bien-être des animaux et à réduire les achats impulsifs.

  • Des documents obligatoires

D’autre part, chaque animal cédé devra désormais obligatoirement être accompagnés de sa fiche d’identification, de l’attestation de cession et de son carnet de vaccination (s’il en a un).

Dans le cadre d’une vente, deux documents supplémentaires seront exigés, délivrés par un vétérinaire. Il s’agit du document d’information sur les besoins et l’éducation de l’animal, ainsi que du certificat de santé.

L’objectif est de garantir au futur propriétaire une information complète sur l’animal acquis.

  • Encadrement des annonces

Enfin, toute annonce de cession, qu’il s’agisse de vente ou de don, devra comporter des informations obligatoires et transparentes à destination de l’acquéreur potentiel, notamment :

  • le numéro d’identification de l’animal (ou celui de sa mère) ;
  • sa date de naissance, précise ou estimée ;
  • son inscription éventuelle à un livre généalogique ;
  • le numéro d’enregistrement de l’élevage, le cas échéant.

 

 

3. Création d’un statut d’éleveur et rôle des associations

La loi instaure par ailleurs un statut officiel d’éleveur. Ainsi, toute personne détenant au moins une femelle reproductrice et commercialisant plus d’une portée par an, est tenue de se déclarer au service d’inspection vétérinaire, alimentaire et phytosanitaire (SIVAP) pour obtenir un numéro d’enregistrement. Elle devra également intégrer les revenus issus de ces ventes dans sa déclaration annuelle de revenus.

Les associations de protection animale seront, elles aussi, soumises à une obligation d’enregistrement et au respect des règles encadrant la cession d’animaux. Elles restent toutefois exemptées de la déclaration des revenus liés aux adoptions.

4. Sanctions

Le non-respect des obligations prévues par cette réglementation constitue une infraction passible d’une amende administrative pouvant atteindre 100 000 francs. Ce montant pourra être doublé en cas de récidive, traduisant la détermination des autorités d’assurer le respect effectif de ces dispositions en faveur du bien-être animal.

Cette réglementation entrera en vigueur le 7 novembre 2026. À compter de cette date, des sanctions pourront être appliquées. Il est donc recommandé aux propriétaires, éleveurs et acteurs concernés d’anticiper dès à présent leur mise en conformité.

Pour Isabelle Champmoreau, « toutes ces mesures poursuivent le même but, c’est d’informer sur la santé de l’animal et de protéger les animaux pour limiter la maltraitance et les abandons ».

Informations complémentaires