Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:

     The Judiciary announced that starting from August 29, the integrated Court Case Management System (iCMS) will be extended to cover commercial cases (HCCL), construction and arbitration cases (HCCT), and intellectual property cases (HCIP) in the Court of First Instance of the High Court to allow court users to handle filing and payments electronically.

     Progressively implemented across various court levels, the iCMS aims to facilitate the electronic handling of court-related documents and payments, offering a convenient, all-in-one and all-weather solution for filing documents anytime, anywhere. Major electronic services include sending and receiving case-specific court documents to and from the courts, inspecting or searching filed documents and other case-related information held by the courts, searching cause books, and making payments for court services.

     The iCMS application currently covers personal injury actions, tax claim proceedings, civil action proceedings and employees’ compensation cases in the District Court, summons cases in the Magistrates’ Courts, bulk claims in the Small Claims Tribunal, and civil appeal cases (CACV) in the Court of Appeal of the High Court. It will then be extended incrementally to other case types in the High Court, including HCCL, HCCT and HCIP cases with effect from August 29.

     Using the iCMS obviates the need for court users to file or submit documents to the courts in paper form, providing convenience and enhancing efficiency for court users. Case parties, particularly law firms, are strongly encouraged to use e-filing for iCMS-enabled case types in the High Court, namely CACV, HCCL, HCCT and HCIP. With the iCMS, there is no need to visit the court building to upload scanned documents and make payments for paper filing.

     The Judiciary has been proactively reaching out to law firms that handle a relatively high volume of CACV, HCCL, HCCT and HCIP cases to offer dedicated technical support, with a view to facilitating their early migration from conventional paper mode to the iCMS. Specifically, from August 29, law firms are invited to make an appointment with the Judiciary for technical assistance on using the iCMS, either at the High Court Building or in their own offices, when they are initiating a new case of an iCMS-enabled case type for the first time. This aims to encourage them to try using e-filing (instead of paper filing) for case initiation in preparation for mandatory e-filing in future. The Judiciary also welcomes any law firms to approach it early for assistance in this regard.

     To encourage migration to the iCMS, a 20 per cent concession is offered to iCMS users for three years on fee items of the High Court that are primarily or directly related to the electronic handling of court documents.

     Eligible users need to register for a user account to access the full range of services under the iCMS. They include parties of ongoing or new e-proceedings and their legal representatives (if any), the Hong Kong Bar Association, the Law Society of Hong Kong, law firms, government departments, law enforcement agencies and statutory bodies. Registration is free of charge.

     Unregistered members of the public may also use certain types of iCMS services, mainly related to searching for electronic documents that are open to public inspection.

     Regarding technical requirements, the iCMS can be accessed using personal computers or mobile devices with an Internet connection, commonly used operating systems and browsers.

     The iCMS operates around the clock, except during system maintenance. Any e-filing and e-payment received under the iCMS after the registry and the accounts office are normally closed to the public (i.e. after 5.30pm on a working day) will be deemed to be received at the start of the normal opening hours of the registry and the accounts office on the following working day.

     In the High Court, any party choosing to file or submit a document in paper form (instead of using the iCMS) for an iCMS-enabled case type must also provide an electronic copy of the document to facilitate the creation and maintenance of a complete set of e-filing records for e-inspection. Litigants-in-person (LiPs) can use the self-service kiosks located at the Resource Centre for Unrepresented Litigants in the High Court Building to scan and upload their documents to the iCMS. Non-LiPs, including law firms, are required to prepare the electronic copy of their documents on their own (outside the court building) and then use the kiosks solely for uploading the scanned documents to the iCMS. For law firms, this is the final transitional arrangement before the mandatory use of the iCMS for case types where the electronic mode has been made available, starting in 2026.

     For more details about the iCMS, including its technical requirements, please visit the dedicated webpage on e-Courts of the Judiciary website at www.judiciary.hk/en/e_courts/index.html.

     For enquiries, please call the general enquiry hotline at 2477 1002 or the technical helpline at 2886 6474, email to enquiry@judiciary.hk or visit the Help Centre at 5/F, Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wan Chai.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung, together with representatives from civil service staff unions, visited the “Remembering History Cherishing Peace” roving exhibition in commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and World Anti-Fascist War at the Convention & Exhibition Centre this evening.

 

Mrs Yeung said that in this entire nation’s resistance against Japanese aggression, the brave soldiers spared no effort and fought as one against the enemy to defend the country amid the most difficult situation. She noted that they, with their attentiveness to duties and dedication, served as a role model for the civil service to learn from.

 

Mrs Yeung stressed that the sacrifices and sufferings of countless compatriots must not be forgotten.

 

“I call on civil servant colleagues, especially those of the younger generation, to gain a deep understanding and take to their hearts the blood, tears and hardship during the war, to grasp the significance of the victory in the War of Resistance to national rejuvenation, and to cherish the hard-won peace.”

 

The Civil Service Bureau also encourages civil service staff unions to take an active role in organising thematic activities on commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance to enhance colleagues’ sense of national identity and cultivate their patriotism.

 

The bureau will arrange for representatives from the civil service staff unions to visit a thematic exhibition on the War of Resistance at the Museum of the War of Resistance & Coastal Defence in September, and support them in organising related visits to deepen colleagues’ understanding of the history of the War of Resistance in the country and Hong Kong.

 

The Civil Service College (CSC) will host two more thematic talks on the 80th anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression in September and October to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance.

 

The talks will explore how the Chinese nation resisted the impacts of the war, underwent transformation amid hardships, and advanced the process of national modernisation. The talks will also review Hong Kong’s role and contributions during the war.

 

Additionally, the CSC has incorporated elements of the history of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression into its regular national studies programmes, enabling civil servants to gain a deeper understanding of history, further enhance their sense of national identity, awareness of safeguarding national security and patriotism, and recognise the pivotal role of the Chinese Communist Party during the War of Resistance.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki chaired the fourth meeting of the sixth-term Commission on Poverty this afternoon, during which its members noted that the Government is preparing the report on the impact of poverty alleviation efforts.

 

The report, which is expected to be released by mid-2026, would reflect the substance and impact of the Government’s targeted poverty alleviation strategy.

 

It would also reflect, from a macro angle, the impact of the four major livelihood policies, namely social welfare and employment services, housing, education, and healthcare, as well as their effects in empowering those who could help themselves, and supporting those who could not, thereby enhancing their sense of happiness, fulfilment and security.

 

Members also offered views on the draft chapter of the report that would cover measures related to education and healthcare policy.

 

In addition, the Government is preparing detailed content based on the draft framework for social welfare and employment services, as well as housing pro-livelihood measures agreed upon in the last meeting.

 

The Government will later integrate the detailed content to demonstrate the effect of the targeted poverty alleviation strategy and macro-policy measures in alleviating, combatting and preventing poverty in the report.

 

Members also noted the progress and financial position of the assistance programmes funded by the Community Care Fund (CCF).

 

At the end of May, the CCF endorsed the introduction of 76 assistance programmes.

 

At present, there are 26 ongoing programmes or programmes to be launched.

 

Furthermore, the Government has regularised 25 CCF programmes, while 25 other programmes have been completed.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (August 25) that several kinds of imported prepackaged coconut yoghurt might contain milk, an allergen, but it was not declared on the products’ food labels. The CFS urged consumers who are allergic to milk not to consume the affected batches of the products concerned. Those who feel unwell after consuming any of the products concerned should seek medical treatment. The trade should stop using or selling the affected batches of the products immediately if they possess any of them.

Product details are as follows:

Product names (pack sizes):
(1) Cocobella Coconut Yogurt – Strawberry (150 grams)
(2) Cocobella Coconut Yogurt – Natural (150 grams)
(3) Cocobella Coconut Yogurt – Mango (150 grams)
(4) Cocobella Coconut Yogurt – Vanilla (150 grams)
(5) Cocobella Coconut Yogurt – Natural (500 grams)
(6) Cocobella Coconut Yogurt – Mango (500 grams)
(7) Cocobella Coconut Yogurt – Passionfruit (500 grams)
(8) Cocobella Coconut Yogurt – Vanilla (500 grams)
(9) Cocobella Coconut Yogurt – Blueberry (500 grams)
(10) Cocobella Coconut Yogurt – Strawberry (500 grams)
Brand: Cocobella
Place of origin: Australia
Use-by dates: Up to and including October 6, 2025
Importer: Nowaday International Development Limited

“The CFS received a notification from the Food Standards Australia New Zealand through the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) that the above-mentioned products are being recalled, as they may contain milk, an allergen, but it was not declared on the products’ food labels. According to the information provided by INFOSAN, the affected products have been imported into Hong Kong,” a spokesman for the CFS said.

Upon learning of the incident, the CFS immediately contacted local importers to follow up. A preliminary investigation found that the above-mentioned importer had imported into Hong Kong the affected batches of the products concerned. The importer has stopped sales, removed from shelves the affected products and has initiated a recall according to the CFS’s instructions. Members of the public may call its hotline at 2882 2347 during office hours with any enquiries about the recall.

“People who are allergic to milk may have an immunologic response like vomiting, diarrhoea and a rash upon consumption of food containing this allergen. In severe cases, anaphylactic shock may even develop. As for other members of the public, generally speaking, they would not be subject to such reactions when the food in question is consumed,” the spokesman added.

The Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulations (Cap. 132W) require that all prepackaged food for sale in Hong Kong should list out the food ingredients in its list of ingredients. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $50,000 and six months’ imprisonment.

​The CFS will alert the trade, and will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. An investigation is ongoing.     

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn today officiated at the kick-off ceremony of Construction Safety Week, themed “Smart & Care, Safety Beyond Compare”, which runs from today until Friday.

 

Speaking at the ceremony, Ms Linn explained the principles for promoting site safety with the three virtues of “wisdom, humanity and courage” mentioned in the Analects of Confucius.

 

On wisdom, she said that the Government has been committed to promoting the application of innovative technologies and smart site safety in recent years, while vigorously driving the full adoption of the Smart Site Safety System (4S) to bring revolutionary changes to the construction industry.

 

She added that over 600 public and private construction sites have been awarded the 4S label so far.

 

As for humanity, Ms Linn pointed out that the industry must uphold a caring spirit that is people oriented, caring for the welfare of site personnel and creating a safer working environment and better development opportunities for them to give workers and their family members peace of mind.

 

Concerning courage, she emphasised that site safety is everyone’s responsibility, adding that industry stakeholders should actively fulfil their safety responsibilities, and nurture a positive and strong culture of site safety, demonstrating the courage to make commitments and rectifications. 

 

A conference was held after the ceremony, at which experts and project teams shared their experiences in adopting the 4S, uplifting site safety and nurturing a caring culture. An exhibition on the 4S was also held at the venue.

 

Construction Safety Week is co-organised by the Development Bureau and the Construction Industry Council.

 

The week’s array of events include site visits and the award presentation ceremony of the 31st Considerate Contractors Site Award Scheme.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Innovation & Technology Commission (ITC) is inviting applications for jointly funded projects under the Mainland-Hong Kong Technology Cooperation Funding Scheme from today until October 13.

 

The funding scheme aims to encourage research and development (R&D) collaboration among universities, research institutes and technology enterprises in Mainland China and Hong Kong.

 

The first of the two themes/topics under the scheme includes ageing biotechnology and engineering, which covers innovative medicine for improving elderly health, smart health technologies and rehabilitation medical devices for seniors.

 

The second theme/topic involves low-altitude flight system technology, which encompasses low-altitude infrastructure construction and low-altitude aircraft technology.

 

The ITC said that the topics selected focus on gerontechnology and low-altitude flight technology, providing a technical foundation for developing the silver economy and low-altitude economy.

 

All applications must fit the specific themes/topics and must be submitted simultaneously by the Hong Kong and Mainland institutions to the ITC and the Ministry of Science & Technology respectively.

 

In addition, the R&D work must be conducted in both places and involve co-operation between the two places.

 

The ITC and the ministry will provide funding to the Hong Kong and Mainland applicant organisations respectively, and will monitor project progress according to their own requirements.

 

For enquiries, call the Innovation & Technology Fund Secretariat at 3655 5678 or send an email.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (August 25) issued a letter to all schools through the Education Bureau, and urged them to take active measures on their campuses to prevent the spread of communicable diseases, particularly mosquito-borne diseases, in order to safeguard students’ health.
 
     “As many students will be back to school next week, the CHP sent a letter to primary and secondary schools, kindergartens and childcare centres in Hong Kong to remind them of the risk of mosquito-borne diseases, such as chikungunya fever (CF) and dengue fever (DF), in Hong Kong. In addition to these mosquito-borne diseases, local seasonal influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) have shown an upward trend in activity levels over the past one to two months. Schools should stay alert, and regularly clean and disinfect to lower the risk of transmitting communicable diseases in school,” the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui, said.
 
He also appealed to students and school staff to promptly seek medical advice if they develop symptoms such as fever, respiratory symptoms, diarrhoea, vomiting or skin rashes. They should not return to campus for lessons or work.
 
The following are the current activity levels of mosquito-borne diseases, respiratory diseases and HFMD in Hong Kong, along with preventive measures.
 
A. CF and DF 

CF is a mosquito-borne viral disease caused by the chikungunya virus. It is characterised by fever and debilitating joint pain. Other common signs and symptoms include rash, muscle pain, headache, nausea and fatigue. Symptoms usually last for a few days. While most patients recover fully, joint pain may persist for several months in some cases. Severe symptoms and deaths from CF are rare. However, high-risk groups, including young children (particularly those under one-year-old), are more likely to develop complications after infection. As of today, the CHP recorded nine CF cases this year. All were imported cases.
 
DF is an acute febrile viral illness with symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, rash, muscle and joint pain. The symptoms of the first infection are usually mild, but subsequent infections with dengue virus of other serotypes are more likely to result in severe dengue, which may progress to circulatory failure, shock and even death. As of August 21, the CHP recorded 41 DF cases this year. All were imported cases.
 
These mosquito-borne diseases are not transmitted from person to person. However, schools should take measures to strengthen efforts to prevent water accumulation and eliminate potential breeding grounds of mosquitoes, such as changing water for plants at least once a week, covering all water containers tightly and keeping all drains free from blockage. School management is advised to appoint designated staff to be responsible for mosquito prevention and control on campus. Details are available from the guidelines published by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department.
 
B. Respiratory infections 

The CHP’s latest surveillance data showed that local seasonal influenza activity has increased slightly since mid-July. For other respiratory pathogens, the activity of RSV has been gradually increasing since June, and it is expected to remain active for some time. Overall, rhinovirus/enterovirus and RSV have relatively higher activity levels among respiratory pathogens detected in paediatric respiratory specimens received by the Hospital Authority. According to previous surveillance data, after the start of the new school year, the weather will get cooler, and it may lead to more outbreaks of respiratory tract infections in schools. Additionally, the activities of both COVID-19 and seasonal influenza may increase at the end of this year or early next year.
    
Vaccination is the first line of defence against seasonal influenza, reducing the chance of serious complications or death after infection. Parents are advised to arrange for their children to participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) outreach activities at school or to visit their family doctor for the SIV at the start of the new school year to enhance personal protection. Studies have shown that children who receive the SIV are likely to reduce school absenteeism. Parents should note that it takes about two weeks after vaccination for the body to develop sufficient antibodies to protect against influenza infection. Therefore, vaccination should be completed well in advance of the onset of winter. The DH has earlier sent a letter to all schools in Hong Kong informing them of the arrangements for the 2025/26 SIV School Outreach Programme. The majority of schools have responded positively. Based on local experience, school participation in the outreach vaccination programme can double children’s influenza vaccination rates, effectively strengthening the immunity barrier of schoolchildren. Schools that have yet to join the programmes should enrol as soon as possible.
 
In addition, to prevent respiratory diseases, members of the public should maintain good personal, hand and environmental hygiene. Students/staff members with respiratory symptoms, even if the symptoms are mild, should wear a surgical mask, refrain from going to work or attending classes, avoid crowded places and seek medical advice promptly. They should maintain hand hygiene before putting on and after removing a mask.
 
C. HFMD
 
HFMD is a common disease in children usually caused by enteroviruses such as coxsackie viruses and enterovirus 71 (EV71). In Hong Kong, the peak season for HFMD and EV71 is usually from May to July, with a smaller peak occurring from October to December after the start of the school year. This year, an upward trend in certain indicators monitoring HFMD activity was observed between June and August. As of August 21, the CHP recorded 79 HFMD outbreaks in schools this year.
 
HFMD is mainly transmitted by contact with an infected person’s nose or throat discharges, saliva, fluid from vesicles or stool, or after touching contaminated objects. To prevent the spread of HFMD within school settings, affected children should remain at home and refrain from attending school until they have completely recovered.
 
Schools are reminded to follow the Guidelines on Prevention of Communicable Diseases on preventive and control measures as well as management of outbreaks. If an outbreak is suspected, schools should immediately report it to the CHP for prompt follow-up. Schools may also refer to the CHP’s pages on CF, DF, seasonal influenza, HFMD and EV71 infection for more information. Information on SIV is available on the CHP’s Vaccination Schemes page.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Construction Safety Week (CSW) 2025, themed “Smart and Care, Safety Beyond Compare”, and co-organised by the Development Bureau and the Construction Industry Council (CIC), is being held from today (August 25) to August 29. An array of events, including the CSW Conference, an exhibition, site visits, and the award presentation ceremony of the 31st Considerate Contractors Site Award Scheme, are organised to enhance the awareness of site safety among the construction industry.
 
Speaking at the kick-off ceremony, the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, explained the principles for promoting site safety with the three virtues of “wisdom, humanity and courage” mentioned in the Analects of Confucius. “Wisdom”: the Government has been committed to promoting the application of innovative technologies and smart site safety in recent years, while vigorously driving the full adoption of the Smart Site Safety System (4S) to bring revolutionary changes to the construction industry. Over 600 public and private construction sites have been awarded the 4S label so far. “Humanity”: the industry must uphold a caring spirit that is people oriented, caring for the welfare of site personnel and creating a safer working environment and better development opportunities for them to give workers and their family members peace of mind. “Courage”: site safety is everyone’s responsibility. Industry stakeholders should actively fulfil their safety responsibilities, and nurture a positive and strong culture of site safety, demonstrating the courage to make commitments and rectifications. 

The Chairman of the CIC, Professor Thomas Ho, stressed that site safety is the cornerstone of the construction industry, based on the principle that site safety is everyone’s responsibility. He reiterated that all stakeholders should play their part and jointly inherit the craftsman spirit of Master Lo Pan to build a safer, wiser and brighter future.
 
The CSW Conference commenced right after the kick-off ceremony. Experts and project teams shared with the audience their experiences in adopting the 4S, uplifting site safety and nurturing a caring culture. An exhibition on the 4S was also held at the venue.
 
CSW, launched in 2012, aims to promote zero accidents and a caring environment in the construction industry. The campaign has received support from various sectors of the community including professional groups, organisations, trade associations and labour unions. Details of this year’s CSW are available at www.safetyweek.hk.  

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Executive John Lee today witnessed the presentation of plaques to 15 State Key Laboratories (SKLs) in Hong Kong by Minister of Science & Technology Yin Hejun.

 

Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Zhou Ji also attended the presentation ceremony.

 

Prior to the event, Mr Lee met Mr Yin to exchange views on deepening the research and development collaboration between the Mainland and Hong Kong.

 

Mr Lee expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Science & Technology for its unfailing support to the work of the Hong Kong SAR Government, higher education institutions and SKLs in the city.

 

He added that having been accredited the status of SKL by the ministry, these labs demonstrates their world-class capabilities in basic research, technological innovation and the development of key core technologies.

 

“Under the principle of ‘one country, two systems’, Hong Kong has the advantage of enjoying strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world and actively plays the role as a ‘super connector’ and ‘super value-adder’.

 

“The SKLs in Hong Kong serve as an important platform for bringing together outstanding researchers from all over the world by establishing partnerships with top universities and research institutions at home and abroad, helping to build Hong Kong into a hub for international high-end talent.”

     

The ministry agreed in 2018 that Partner SKLs in Hong Kong that were paired up with SKLs on the Mainland could be renamed as SKLs.

 

A restructuring exercise of the SKLs in Hong Kong was initiated in 2023 to align with the overall national development plan. The ministry approved the restructuring of 15 SKLs in Hong Kong in January 2025, and they have come into operation since July 1.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (August 25) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Los Angeles County of the State of California in the United States (US), the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the area with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 24 650 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and about 1.61 million poultry eggs from the US in the first six months of this year.

     “The CFS has contacted the American authority over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreak. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation,” the spokesman said.