Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
​As the Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 3 is now in force, classes of AM and whole-day kindergartens, schools for children with physical disability and schools for children with intellectual disability are suspended today (September 20).
If the Hong Kong Observatory cancels the Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 3 before 10.30am today, classes of PM kindergartens will resume today unless advised otherwise.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The National Games Coordination Office (Hong Kong) (NGCO) announced today (September 19) that tickets for the second batch of events in the Hong Kong competition region of the 15th National Games (NG) will be available for sale online and offline simultaneously at 10am tomorrow (September 20).
The second batch of tickets covers four NG competition events of the Hong Kong competition region, namely golf, track cycling, triathlon and fencing. Members of the public can purchase e-tickets through official online ticketing platforms, including the 15th NG official ticketing website (ticket.baygames.cn) or by searching for the “15th NG official ticketing” official mini programme on WeChat, after completing real-name account registration.
The Guangdong and Macao competition regions will also launch ticket sales of 13 events in the second batch, among which six events of the Guangdong competition region, namely football (women’s adult), volleyball (men’s U20), volleyball (men’s U18), rowing, boxing and gymnastics (rhythmic gymnastics), will be available for online sales at 10am tomorrow, while the ticket sale date of another four events, which are swimming (diving), tennis, volleyball (men’s adult), football (men’s U20), will be announced shortly. Regarding the three events to be staged in the Macao competition region, tickets for volleyball (women’s adult) and karate will go on online sales on September 27, and for table tennis on September 28.
Registered users can log in to the official online ticketing platforms, select “Ticket Purchase”, and choose the competition venue(s), competition event(s), time, and session(s) to purchase tickets for events in different competition regions.
Hong Kong residents must use their Hong Kong identity card to purchase tickets for events in Hong Kong and Macao, and their Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents to purchase tickets for events in Guangdong. Each order is limited to six tickets for the same event session, except for popular events, where each order is limited to three tickets for the same event session.
​The first batch of tickets covers four NG events of the Hong Kong competition region: beach volleyball, handball (men), basketball (men’s U22) and rugby sevens, as well as 13 events to be held in the Guangdong competition region. Since the commencement of ticket sales on August 28, enthusiastic responses for finals and weekend matches of beach volleyball and basketball (men’s U22) events via online platforms have been noted. The NGCO has hence adjusted the ratio of online and offline tickets for these two events and those with registration accounts may go to the online platforms again to purchase tickets of these two events.
​In addition to purchasing tickets for the Hong Kong competition region through official online ticketing platforms, members of the public can also visit 11 designated sales outlets of the China Travel Service (Hong Kong) Limited to buy paper tickets for events in the Hong Kong competition region. Prior registration on the online ticketing platform is not required for purchases at these sales outlets. Real-name authentication will also be adopted for ticket purchases offline. Ticket buyers must provide their name and identification document number, as well as those of all spectators, for registration. Ticket buyers are also required to produce copies of the relevant identity documents for verification. Hong Kong residents must use their Hong Kong identity card to purchase tickets, while Mainland and Macao residents use their Exit-entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao, and their Macao identity card respectively. The paper tickets sold offline in Hong Kong will be converted from Renminbi to Hong Kong dollars at a fixed exchange rate. For ticket prices of the first and second batches of eight events in the Hong Kong competition region, please refer to the attachment. For details of the sales outlets and other related information, please visit the website of China Travel Service (Hong Kong) Limited (ww2.ctshk.com/articleDetail?id=4&channelId=-1) or the thematic website of the 15th NG Hong Kong competition region (https://www.2025nationalgames.gov.hk/en/ng.html).
The Hong Kong competition region has a total of 11 ticketed events covering eight competition events for the 15th NG and three competition events for the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities (NGD) and the 9th National Special Olympic Games (NSOG). In addition to the tickets for the four events going on sale tomorrow and those for the other four events released in the first batch late last month, tickets for three NGD events of the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG in the Hong Kong competition region, namely boccia, wheelchair fencing and para table tennis (TT11), are planned for release in early October. Members of the public can register for a real-name account through the official online ticketing platforms, including the official ticketing website of the 12th NGD and 9th NSOG (ticket.baygamespara.cn) or by searching for the “2025 NGD and NSOG official ticketing” official mini programme on WeChat, and purchase e-tickets online when they are officially released.
For enquiries about online ticketing, please call the official ticketing hotline (+86 4001-125305) or email to services@quanyun2025.com. Both the official ticketing hotline and enquiry mailbox support English enquiries
For enquiries about offline ticketing in the Hong Kong competition region, please call China Travel Service (Hong Kong) Limited’s NG hotline (+852 3859 4811) or email to ng2025cs@ctg.cn. English services are also available for ticket purchases and enquiries at the 11 designated sales outlets of the China Travel Service (Hong Kong) Limited.
For more information about ticketing arrangements on the 15th NG in Hong Kong, please visit the thematic website (www.2025nationalgames.gov.hk/en/ng.html), as well as the Facebook page (www.facebook.com/2025nationalgames.hk) and Instagram page (www.instagram.com/2025nationalgames.hk).
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (September 19) reported the latest situation of chikungunya fever (CF) and dengue fever (DF).
Chikungunya fever
As of 5pm today, two new cases of CF had been recorded.
The first case involves a 62-year-old female living in Kowloon City District. Preliminary investigation revealed that she visited Foshan in Guangdong Province alone between August 26 and September 17. She developed joint pain on September 15 and then fever and rash on September 17. She sought medical attention at a General Out-patient Clinic on September 18. Her blood sample tested positive for the CF virus upon laboratory testing. She has been arranged for treatment in Queen Elizabeth Hospital in a mosquito-free environment. She is now in stable condition. She has no household contacts.
The other case involves a 26-year-old male living in Central and Western District. Preliminary investigation revealed that he visited Guangzhou in Guangdong Province between September 12 and 17, and to Foshan on September 13 and 15 as a day trip. He developed a fever, joint pain and rash on September 16. He attended a private clinic and the Accident and Emergency Department of Queen Mary Hospital on September 18 and was admitted on the same day for treatment in a mosquito-free environment. He is now in stable condition. His blood sample tested positive for the CF virus upon laboratory testing.
The patient’s two household contacts, who are also their travel collaterals, are currently asymptomatic and under medical surveillance.
Since the two patients stayed in Guangdong Province during their incubation periods, the CHP considered that they were infected during travel. The cases were classified as imported. The CHP’s epidemiological investigation is ongoing, and it has reported the cases to the health authority of Guangdong Province.
So far this year, Hong Kong has recorded a total of 21 confirmed CF cases. All are imported cases. From 2016 to 2019, Hong Kong recorded between one and 11 imported cases annually.
Since the beginning of 2025, and as of August, approximately 317 000 CF cases and 135 CF-related deaths have been reported in 16 countries/territories. Cases have been reported in the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe. CF outbreaks currently occur in many countries worldwide. Members of the public should check the situation of the destinations before travelling abroad.
Dengue fever
From September 12 to yesterday (September 18), the CHP recorded one imported DF case. The patient had travelled to Qingyuan in Guangdong Province during the incubation period.
As of yesterday, 48 imported DF cases have been recorded so far this year. A total of 161 cases of DF were recorded in 2024, including 156 imported and five local cases.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the global incidence of DF has markedly increased over the past two decades, posing a substantial public health challenge. In 2023, over 6.5 million cases and more than 7 300 dengue-related deaths were reported in over 80 countries/territories. In 2024, the WHO recorded over 14 million cases, which was a record number.
DF is prevalent in many neighbouring tourist destinations. Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam have each recorded over 40 000 cases so far this year. Singapore has also recorded over 3 000 cases. Meanwhile, according to the Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangdong Province has recorded over 1 300 locally infected cases so far this year. A total of 129 cases were recorded in a week between September 8 and 14, with the highest number of cases recorded in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chaozhou, Zhongshan and Jiangmen.
Detailed information on the latest DF situation in Hong Kong, as well as neighbouring and overseas countries and areas, has been uploaded to the CHP website.
Continuously strengthening prevention and control
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) continues to conduct vector investigations and targeted mosquito control operations, and intensify mosquito prevention and control measures at the residences of recently confirmed patients of CF and DF, as well as at locations visited after the onset of symptoms. These measures include:
​
​The CHP urged schools to follow the FEHD’s anti-mosquito guidelines to strengthen efforts to clear stagnant water on school premises and eliminate mosquito breeding sites. It is also imperative to remind staff members and students to consistently implement mosquito prevention and personal protective measures to guard against the spread of mosquito-borne diseases within school premises.
​Additionally, the CHP’s Port Health Division continues to step up inspections at boundary control points and to remind cross-boundary public transport operators and other relevant parties to ensure good environmental hygiene and effective implementation of anti-mosquito measures. Furthermore, staff members of the Port Health Division distribute leaflets to travellers, conduct temperature screenings for inbound travellers, conduct health assessments for travellers with fever or related symptoms and refer them to hospitals for follow-ups when necessary.
Proper use of DEET-containing insect repellents or other effective active ingredients can prevent mosquito bites, but the following precautions should be taken when using them:
​The FEHD also appeals to members of the public to continue to stay alert and work together to carry out mosquito prevention and control measures early, including inspecting their homes and surroundings to remove potential breeding grounds, changing water in vases and scrubbing their inner surfaces, removing water in saucers under potted plants at least once a week, and properly disposing of containers such as soft drink cans and lunch boxes. The FEHD also advises members of the public and estate management bodies to keep drains free of blockage and level all defective ground surfaces to prevent the accumulation of water. They should also scrub all drains and surface sewers with an alkaline detergent at least once a week to remove any mosquito eggs.
The public should call 1823 in case of mosquito problems, and may visit the following pages for more information: the CF page of the CHP and the Travel Health Service, the latest Travel Health News, tips for using insect repellents, and the CHP Facebook Page, Instagram Account and YouTube Channel, and also the Mosquito Prevention and Control dedicated page of the FEHD.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
In support of National Love Teeth Day, the Department of Health (DH) today (September 19) called on members of the public to cultivate healthy eating habits, avoid excessive sugar intake, and undergo regular dental check-ups to practise early prevention, early identification and timely intervention of dental diseases.
The National Health Commission has designated September 20 every year as National Love Teeth Day. The theme of this year is “Oral Health for Overall Health: Reduce Sugar Intake for Weight Management; Improve Oral Health for General Health”. Through the activities of Love Teeth Day, the campaign aimed to further enhance public awareness that oral health is a vital component of overall health. By increasing publicity and education on oral disease prevention, promulgating oral health knowledge, and encouraging the public to adopt healthy lifestyle to proactively protect their teeth and reduce sugar consumption, it can effectively help the population in improving both oral and overall health.
The DH’s Oral Health Promotion Division (OHPD) has curated a short video to promote the importance of oral health and overall health. Additionally, the Bright Smiles Mobile Classroom (Mobile Classroom) will visit various districts across Hong Kong to disseminate dental care information. The Mobile Classroom will be stationed at Haiphong Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, tomorrow (September 20) for the public to visit and learn more about oral health and dental services in Hong Kong. (The event will end early or be cancelled if Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 or above, or a Black Rainstorm Warning Signal is in force tomorrow.)
The Consultant in-charge, Dental Services of the DH, Dr Kitty Hse, stated, “Oral health is closely related to overall health. Oral diseases share common risk factors with many chronic diseases. Healthy eating habits are an essential part of implementing the Healthy China Action Plan (2019-2030). Individuals should control sugar intake, reduce eating frequency in their diets, and avoid smoking and alcohol consumption. Establishing good oral hygiene and dietary habits from an early age is beneficial for tooth development, preventing common oral diseases like dental decay and periodontal disease, as well as preventing chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Everyone, regardless of age and gender, should have annual dental check-ups for early detection and treatment of oral diseases. Tooth loss can lead to chewing difficulties and may adversely affect overall health in the long term. Therefore, preserving natural teeth is crucial, particularly for the elderly.”
In the “The Chief Executive’s 2025 Policy Address”, it was announced that the Government will bolster public and subsidised dental services by enhancing oral health education, oral hygiene instructions and risk assessments in the community to help people of all ages self-manage their oral health and establish good oral hygiene habits and lifestyles. Even if individuals perceive their oral health as good, they can undergo risk assessments to identify potential risks of dental diseases early, thereby practicing prevention, early identification and early intervention to further enhance oral health and overall health.
To encourage the prevention of dental diseases among adolescents, the DH launched the Primary Dental Co-care Pilot Scheme for Adolescents (PDCC) in March this year. This initiative encourages young people to receive regular dental check-ups and preventive dental care from the private sector. Subsidised dental services include dental check-ups, oral health risk assessments, dental scaling, personalised self-care advice on oral care, and fluoride application based on the result of oral health risk assessments. As of the end of August, over 3 300 adolescents have received subsidised services of the PDCC.
Additionally, the Community Dental Support Programme (CDSP) launched by the DH in May this year will expand its beneficiaries list to include the homeless and broaden its service scope starting from next year. Beyond the existing services of oral health assessments, medication for dental pain relief, X-ray examination and dental fillings or extractions, new service items, namely dental scaling, root canal treatment, removal of bridges or crowns and removable denture fittings will be introduced. This will provide more preventive and curative subsidised dental services for underprivileged groups with financial difficulties. As of the end of August, over 2 300 eligible individuals have participated in the CDSP.
Members of the public can visit the OHPD’s website, “愛牙 Love Teeth HK” Facebook page and YouTube channel, the webpages of the PDCC and the CDSP for more information on oral health and the programmes.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a series of territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations codenamed “Lightshadow” and “Twilight”, and a joint operation with the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed “Powerplayer”, for four consecutive days from September 15 to yesterday (September 18). A total of 20 suspected illegal workers, five suspected employers, four overstayers and one illegal immigrant were arrested.
During the anti-illegal worker operations, ImmD Task Force officers raided 52 target locations including residential buildings, restaurants and a studio. Fourteen suspected illegal workers and five suspected employers were arrested. The arrested suspected illegal workers comprised nine men and five women, aged 34 to 54. Among them, two men and one woman were holders of a recognisance form, which prohibits them from taking any employment. In addition, one man was also suspected of using and being in possession of a forged Hong Kong identity card. Two men and three women, aged 31 to 69, were suspected of employing the illegal workers and were also arrested.
During operation “Powerplayer”, enforcement officers raided 141 target locations in New Territories North District. Six suspected illegal workers, four overstayers and one illegal immigrant were arrested. The arrested suspected illegal workers comprised three men and three women, aged 45 to 62. The arrested overstayers comprised one man and three women, aged 36 to 49. The arrested illegal immigrant was a 27-year-old woman. Among them, six suspected illegal workers and three overstayers were handled by the ImmD.
An investigation into the suspected employers is ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.
An ImmD spokesman said, “Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years’ imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties.”
The spokesman warned, “As stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land is prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years’ imprisonment. As stipulated in section 20(1)(a) of the Immigration Ordinance, the Chief Executive may make a deportation order against an immigrant, prohibiting the immigrant from being in Hong Kong at any time thereafter if the immigrant has been found guilty in Hong Kong of an offence punishable by imprisonment for not less than two years. Under the prevailing laws, it is an offence to use or possess a forged identity card or a identity card related to another person. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $100,000 and up to 10 years’ imprisonment.”
The spokesman stressed that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years’ imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years’ imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.
According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee’s identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker’s valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.
Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) victims. When any TIP indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP elements, such as threats and coercion in the recruitment phase and the nature of exploitation. Identified TIP victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.
For reporting illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 3861 5000, by fax at 2824 1166, email to anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit “Online Reporting of Immigration Offences” form at www.immd.gov.hk.
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki today chaired a meeting of the interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements to holistically co-ordinate and steer government departments’ preparatory work for welcoming visitors to Hong Kong during the Mainland’s National Day Golden Week from October 1 to 8.
Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing, Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung, Secretary for Transport & Logistics Mable Chan and Under Secretary for Environment & Ecology Diane Wong attended the meeting.
Noting that Mainland’s National Day Golden Week overlaps with the Mid-Autumn Festival, Mr Chan said: “We estimate a notable increase in visitor arrivals during the National Day Golden Week of the Mainland. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will make good preparations for receiving visitors, 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 boundary control points, with a view to providing a quality experience to residents and visitors in celebration of National Day.”
According to the Immigration Department’s estimate, around 8.76 million passengers, including Hong Kong residents and visitors, will pass through the city’s sea, land and air control points during the upcoming golden week, among whom 7.52 million will pass through land control points.
While the department has gauged that the peak period of outbound passengers using land boundary control points is expected to be October 4, with around 660,000 passengers, it estimates that the peak period of inbound passengers is expected to be October 1, with around 610,000 passengers.
In terms of Mainland inbound visitors, it is estimated that around 1.54 million passengers will visit Hong Kong via various sea, land and air control points.
The Government remarked that in view of the anticipated large number of tourists visiting Sai Kung High Island Reservoir East Dam, Police have taken targeted measures, including deploying uniformed officers at strategic locations at Pak Tam Chung, Man Yee Road and East Dam, for traffic and crowd management during peak visitor arrival and departure periods.
Moreover, the Transport Department has co-ordinated with the operator to enhance the service of Green Minibus Route No. 9A (from Pak Tam Chung to the East Dam) subject to passenger demand, as well as to reserve standby vehicles and drivers. Service frequencies will also be flexibly strengthened in co-ordination with the traffic control measures implemented by Police.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
​The Transport Department (TD) said tonight (September 19) that, due to an emergency incident, all lanes of Pan Hoi Street, Quarry Bay between King’s Road and Westlands Road are still being closed to all traffic. In addition, part of the lanes of King’s Road (Chai Wan bound) near Pan Hoi Street remains closed.
A spokesman for the TD said that the department is working in concert with the Police and departments concerned to closely monitor the progress of handling the emergency incident. Subject to the progress of the operation in relation to the incident, the road traffic and public transport services, such as railway, franchised buses and the tramways, in the vicinity may be affected tomorrow (September 20). The TD urges the public to heed the road traffic and public transport service arrangements before travelling tomorrow morning and review travelling needs according to the situation.
The TD will steer and coordinate public transport operators to maintain preparedness and response in a prudent manner, with a view to minimising the impact to the daily commute of the public and passengers. Members of the public should stay alert to the latest traffic news through radio and TV broadcasts, the TD’s website (www.td.gov.hk) and the HKeMobility mobile application before their journeys tomorrow. They should plan ahead and reserve sufficient travelling time.
Due to road closures, motorists are advised to use alternative routes and follow the instructions of the Police on site.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
DH continues to follow up on suspected septic shock incident following intravenous infusions Issued at HKT 21:41
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Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The National Games Coordination Office (Hong Kong) (NGCO) announced today that tickets for the second batch of events in the Hong Kong competition region of the 15th National Games (NG) will be available for sale online and offline simultaneously at 10am tomorrow.
The second batch of tickets covers four NG competition events of the Hong Kong competition region, namely golf, track cycling, triathlon and fencing. People can purchase e-tickets through official online ticketing platforms, including the 15th NG official ticketing website or by searching for the “15th NG official ticketing” official mini programme on WeChat, after completing real-name account registration.
The Guangdong and Macau competition regions will also launch ticket sales of 13 events in the second batch, among which six events of the Guangdong competition region, namely football (women’s adult), volleyball (men’s U20), volleyball (men’s U18), rowing, boxing and gymnastics (rhythmic gymnastics), will be available for online sales at 10am tomorrow.
The ticket sale date of another four events in the Guangdong competition region, which are swimming (diving), tennis, volleyball (men’s adult), and football (men’s U20), will be announced shortly.
Regarding the three events to be staged in the Macau competition region, tickets for volleyball (women’s adult) and karate will go on online sales on September 27, and for table tennis on September 28.
Registered users can log in to the official online ticketing platforms, select “Ticket Purchase”, and choose the competition venues, competition events, time and sessions to purchase tickets for events in different competition regions.
Hong Kong residents must use their Hong Kong identity card to purchase tickets for events in Hong Kong and Macau, and their Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macau Residents to purchase tickets for events in Guangdong.
The first batch of tickets covers four NG events of the Hong Kong competition region, ie beach volleyball, handball (men), basketball (men’s U22) and rugby sevens, as well as 13 events to be held in the Guangdong competition region.
Since the commencement of ticket sales on August 28, enthusiastic responses for finals and weekend matches of beach volleyball and basketball (men’s U22) events via online platforms have been noted.
The NGCO has hence adjusted the ratio of online and offline tickets for these two events and those with registration accounts may go to the online platforms again to purchase tickets of these two events.
The Hong Kong competition region has a total of 11 ticketed events covering eight competition events for the 15th NG and three competition events for the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities (NGD) and the 9th National Special Olympic Games (NSOG).
In addition to the tickets for the four events going on sale tomorrow and those for the other four events released in the first batch late last month, tickets for three NGD events of the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG in the Hong Kong competition region, namely boccia, wheelchair fencing and para table tennis (TT11), are planned for release in early October.
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Department of Health announced today that private doctors participating in Seasonal Influenza Vaccination (SIV) Programmes will provide free or subsidised influenza vaccinations for eligible people starting September 22.
In view of the continued increase in influenza activity, the department’s Centre for Health Protection (CHP) announced that the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme under the 2025-26 SIV Programmes will be advanced to commence three days earlier, ie on September 22.
As a result, eligible high-risk groups can visit private doctors participating in the scheme and receive a free or subsidised jab.
Other public vaccination venues, including the department’s Maternal & Child Health Centres, District Health Centres and District Health Centre Expresses, and their service outlets; the Hospital Authority’s general outpatient clinics and public hospitals; as well as SIV School Outreach Programme and the Residential Care Home Vaccination Programme, will remain to provide SIV starting from September 25.
Pointing out that Hong Kong has entered the summer influenza season, CHP Controller Dr Edwin Tsui said: “The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for seasonal influenza viruses during the past week (September 7 to 13) was 8.31%, higher than the 6.97% recorded during the preceding week.
“The influenza admission rate in public hospitals is 0.44 cases per 10,000 population, higher than the 0.42 cases recorded during the preceding week.”
He added that outbreaks of influenza-like illness in schools and residential care homes have significantly increased in the past two weeks.
As of yesterday, there have been 131 influenza-like illness outbreaks involving schools since the start of the school year. There were seven cases of severe paediatric influenza A infection recorded in the same period, three of whom were unvaccinated in the previous season.
“We appeal to your support on SIV. Get vaccinated once a year and sooner is better than later,” Dr Tsui stressed.