Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Civil Aid Service (CAS) Cadet Corps held the Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of Victory in War of Resistance and Patriotic Education Exchange Programme Sharing Session 2025 today (August 23) at the CAS headquarters. CAS Deputy Commissioner (Development and Youth) and Vice Chairman of the Joint Committee for the Promotion of the Constitution and Hong Kong Basic Law, Dr Wong Kong-tin, was invited as the keynote speaker, and 100 cadets participated in the event.
 
     In his welcome speech, the Chief Staff Officer of the CAS, Mr Leung Kwun-hong, said that this year marks the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. To highlight the historical significance of this victory, the Cadet Corps organised today’s event to allow members to reflect on the history of the war and honour the martyrs, enabling them to “learn from the past and understand the future”, thereby cherishing peace even more.
 
     He said that the history of the war is a shared memory of the Chinese nation and serves as the best patriotic education material. The first Patriotism Education Base for Hong Kong and Macao Youth has recently been established in Beijing, marking a new milestone in patriotic education in Hong Kong. This has significant implications for deepening the understanding of the country among young people from Hong Kong and Macao and strengthening their patriotism. It encourages young people to reflect seriously on the fact that if the country is not secure, it is the common people who suffer, and only with a strong and prosperous nation can there be peace and happiness today.
 
     In addition, Dr Wong discussed how the Chinese nation united in the face of adversity during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, transforming and advancing the process of national modernisation amid suffering.
 
     The CAS Cadet Corps organised and participated in nine exchange programmes this year in Mainland China and overseas, with over 150 cadets involved, including Shandong Chinese Cultural and Sports Industry Exchange 2025, Sichuan Ancient and Modern Technology Tour 2025, and Economic and Cultural Visit to Malaysia, among others.
 
     During the sharing session, the cadets who participated in the exchange activities said that visiting historical sites and modern constructions of the country and engaging in face-to-face interactions with local people allowed them to gain a more comprehensive and profound understanding of the growth of their country and boost their national pride. This enhanced their sense of national identity and significantly broadened their knowledge horizons.
 
     Recruitment of CAS cadets is ongoing throughout the year. Application details and forms are available on the CAS website (www.cas.gov.hk/eng/org/cadet_corps.html). 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     A man who went missing in Yuen Long has been located.

     Poon Yu-kei, aged 39, went missing after he left his caring home on Long Wo Road on August 21 night. Staff of the caring home made a report to Police yesterday (August 22).

     The man returned to his caring home in the small hours of today (August 23). He sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Street hygiene and anti-rodent work are key aspects of the Government’s district governance, with the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) playing a significant role.

Cleaning tech
A recent inspection carried out in Tsuen Wan highlighted the department’s progress, with the use of advanced cleaning technologies and enhanced pest control measures.

FEHD outsourced cleansing workers used a newly introduced pressure washer surface cleaner to thoroughly remove stubborn stains from the streets. 

One of the workers, Chu Chui-yin noted that using the cleaner instead of the previous method of dragging hoses to wash the streets meant they were able to work more efficiently while also obtaining a better cleaning result.

“What’s more, the cleaner is light, handy and uses less water, which makes our work much easier than the former practice of scrubbing the streets hard to clean the stains.”

Waste management
In an effort to maintain the cleanliness of the city’s alleyways, the department has rolled out a trial scheme to regulate the disposal of waste generated by food premises.

Under specific conditions, food premises are permitted to place large containers in adjacent back alleys for storing waste, which are then collected by cleaning workers hired by the premises.

Department personnel regularly inspect these areas to ensure proper waste management, while strict enforcement targets illegal dumping and clutter in back alleys. 

Positive response
Chairman of the Tsuen Wan South Area Committee William Chan lauded the initiative.

“After the implementation of the programme on the black spots, the FEHD has proactively tackled the problem, resulting in a marked improvement in the hygiene conditions of the community.

“Streets are clean and hygienic, rear lanes are free from piles of miscellaneous items and stubborn stains, and the condition of road surfaces has improved. Both traders and residents have reported a drastic reduction in rodent sightings.”

Recent data showed a substantial increase in the number of rodents caught in 2024. Across the city, approximately 89,600 live rodents were captured – about 40% more than in 2023.

Near Hau Tei Square in Tsuen Wan, around 270 rodents were caught in 2024, a threefold increase from the 89 recorded in 2023, demonstrating the effectiveness of new control measures.

AI support
Apart from traditional trapping and baiting, the FEHD has introduced thermal imaging cameras equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) technology as a more accurate means of detecting rodent activity.

FEHD Chief Health Inspector (Tsuen Wan) So Yeung-fung explained that the cameras capture images from 7pm to 7am over three consecutive nights. AI analysis of the thermal images then enables staff to identify the presence of rodents more precisely than conventional methods such as searching for gnaw marks on sweet potato bait. 

“Staff can get a clear picture of the rodents’ activities and their dispersal routes at the locations concerned, which enables them to take more appropriate anti-rodent actions.”

Fruitful partnership
Community involvement remains a key component of success. The FEHD partners with property management companies to promote participation in routine anti-rodent efforts.

Management Office of Tsuen Wan Plaza Anti-rodent Liaison Ambassador Ran Lau pointed out that the Anti-rodent Charter launched by the FEHD has already yielded good results.

“Since our estate signed the charter in February this year, the FEHD has deployed staff to our estate to provide free technical support and offer professional advice on our rodent prevention and control measures, significantly enhancing the overall effectiveness of rodent prevention.

“Our liaison ambassadors have also attended seminars organised by the FEHD to keep abreast of new anti-rodent information and exchange our experience with other estate management offices, thereby increasing rodent prevention capability in the community.”

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Executive John Lee today visited Kwun Tong District, where he toured the Choi Hing Road Light Public Housing project, Lower Ngau Tau Kok Estate and the East Kowloon Cultural Centre, and listened to citizens’ views ahead of the upcoming Policy Address.

 

Secretary for Housing ‍Winnie Ho, Secretary for Labour & Welfare Chris Sun and Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Rosanna Law also participated.

 

At a media session following the visit, Mr Lee said his Policy Address will be delivered on September 17.

 

To begin their visit, Mr Lee and the other officials first stopped at the Choi Hing Road project to learn about its operations and intake progress. The Chief Executive called on a household already living there, and toured a home with another household that will move in soon.

 

He also inspected the project’s facilities to learn about their application of technology, and visited weekend bazaar booths, where he listened to the views of community members on government policies.

 

The first phase of the 18-storey Choi Hing Road project was completed in less than a year and a half, a record for the construction of high-rise buildings in Hong Kong. The Chief Executive said he was pleased to hear positive feedback from residents about the significantly improved living environment in comparison to subdivided flats, and added that he looked forward to more projects being completed so that more people with urgent housing needs can be allocated adequate housing to improve their quality of life.

 

Mr Lee then headed to Lower Ngau Tau Kok Estate, where he visited service booths set up by a District Services & Community Care Team. He learnt about the health checks, free Chinese medicine consultations, and anti-mosquito campaign services offered to residents, and interacted with members of the public.

 

Afterwards, Mr Lee and the officials visited the East Kowloon Cultural Centre to inspect its facilities and learn about its efforts to promote performances and arts technology.

 

Highlighting that the centre, a world-class major performance venue, is expected to be in full operation by the end of this year, Mr Lee said it will facilitate the curation of more performing arts programmes, promote the industrialisation and integration of cultural tourism, and help to establish Hong Kong as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchanges.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, visited Kwun Tong District today (August 23) to tour the Choi Hing Road Light Public Housing project (Choi Hing Road project), Lower Ngau Tau Kok Estate and the East Kowloon Cultural Centre (EKCC) and listen to the views of members of the public on the upcoming Policy Address.
 
     The Secretary for Housing, Ms ‍Winnie Ho; the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun; the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law; the Permanent Secretary for Housing/Director of Housing, Miss Charmaine Lee; the Director of Home Affairs, Ms Priscilla To; the Director of Social Welfare, Mr Edward To; and the Acting Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Miss Eve Tam, also joined relevant parts of the visit.
 
     Mr Lee and the officials, accompanied by the District Officer (Kwun Tong), Mr Denny Ho, first visited the Choi Hing Road project to learn about its operation and intake progress. He visited a household that had already moved in and listened to their sharing about life changes before and after relocation. He also toured a new home with a household that had just completed the intake procedures. Additionally, he inspected the project facilities to learn about the application of technology in property management and the nearby transport facilities. He also visited the weekend bazaar booths, interacting with residents and listening to their views on government policies. 
 
     Mr Lee said that housing is the top priority of the current-term Government, which is expediting the speed and efficiency of increasing the public housing supply and has innovatively introduced Light Public Housing (LPH). He pointed out that LPH adopts a Modular Integrated Construction approach for expeditious building. Construction works of all the 13 projects have gradually commenced, with the first two projects at Yau Pok Road and Choi Hing Road having commenced intake. The first phase of the 18-storey, elevator-equipped Choi Hing Road project was completed in less than one and a half years, breaking the record for rapid construction of high-rise buildings in Hong Kong. He was pleased to learn that the residents reflected a significant improvement in their living environment compared to subdivided flats, and he looks forward to the completion of more projects so that more members of the public with urgent housing needs could be allocated to adequate housing as soon as possible to improve their quality of life.
 
     Mr Lee and the officials then arrived at Lower Ngau Tau Kok Estate. Accompanied by representatives from the District Services and Community Care Team (Care Team) (Kwun Tong) and Kwun Tong District Council members, he visited service booths set up by the Care Teams in the Estate to learn about the health checks, free Chinese medicine consultations, and anti-mosquito campaign services offered to residents. During the visit, Mr Lee interacted with members of the public on-site and listened to their views.
 
　　Mr Lee and the officials then visited the EKCC to inspect its facilities and learn about its efforts in promoting long-running performances and arts technology. He highlighted that the EKCC is a new and world-class major performance venue, expected to be in full operation by the end of this year. It will foster the curation of more signature performing arts programmes, promoting the industrialisation and integration of cultural tourism development, and establishing Hong Kong as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchanges.
 
　　Mr Lee remarked that he attaches importance to various policy areas such as housing, people’s livelihoods, and culture. He could better understand the needs and expectations of members of the public through direct engagement, which inspired him during the preparation for the Policy Address. He and his team will continue to visit different districts to listen to and consider opinions from various sectors of society, work tirelessly to pursue development and economic growth, and improve people’s livelihood.
 
　　The public consultation exercise for the 2025 Policy Address was launched in mid-June. Mr Lee appealed to members of the public to actively give their views on issues of their interest to the Government.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Hong Kong Ballet captivated New York with the US premiere of its award-winning production “The Butterfly Lovers” at its opening night at the prestigious David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center, on August 22 (New York time).
 
     Performing to a sold-out crowd, the company impressed the audience with lush choreography, poignant storytelling and striking stage design that blended Chinese tradition with contemporary ballet aesthetics. The performance also marked the triumphant return of the Hong Kong Ballet to the New York stage since 2023.
 
     The Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York (New York ETO), Ms Maisie Ho, warmly welcomed the Hong Kong Ballet back to New York City at the opening night reception.
 
     “With this reimagined ‘The Butterfly Lovers’, the Hong Kong Ballet is pushing boundaries, boldly blending Chinese dance with the classical ballet art form,” she said. “This spirit of innovation and artistic growth, with a company of dancers from Hong Kong and abroad, also reflects Hong Kong’s vibrant cosmopolitan lifestyle, global outlook, and rich cultural diversity.”
 
     Ms Ho highlighted Hong Kong’s thriving arts and cultural landscape, bolstered by strong government support and initiatives that foster artistic excellence and cultural exchange. She noted that the Hong Kong Ballet exemplifies the vital role Hong Kong plays as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange, grounded in the city’s deep-rooted cultural heritage shared with Mainland China and long-standing global ties, including those with the United States.
 
     Led by the Hong Kong Ballet’s Artistic Director, Septime Webre, this reimagination of the classic folktale weaves together classical ballet and traditional Chinese dance. Choreographed by Ricky Hu and Mai Jingwen, the production features breathtaking set and costume designs from Academy Award winner Tim Yip, and a sweeping original score performed live by the New York City Ballet Orchestra, conducted by the resident conductor of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra Lio Kuokman.
 
     “The Butterfly Lovers”, co-presented by Hong Kong Ballet and the China Arts and Entertainment Group, continues its run at Lincoln Center this weekend (August 23 and 24, New York time), offering New Yorkers a rare opportunity to experience this cultural and artistic gem. The New York ETO is the government partner of the tour.