Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department said today (August 12) that because of an oil spill, the red flag has been hoisted at Golden Beach in Tuen Mun District. The beach has been closed until further notice. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at the beach.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (August 11) released the second batch of gravidtrap index and density index for Aedes albopictus in August, covering 10 survey areas, as follows:
 

District	Survey Area	August 2025
		First Phase Gravidtrap Index	First Phase Density Index
Central/Western	Sheung Wan and Sai Ying Pun	7.3%	1.5
Wanchai	Happy Valley	9.6%	1.0
Mong Kok	Mong Kok	0.0%	N/A
Wong Tai Sin	Wong Tai Sin West	1.9%	1.0
Sai Kung	Tseung Kwan O West	3.6%	1.0
	Tseung Kwan O East	5.5%	1.0
	Tseung Kwan O North	2.3%	3.0
North	Sheung Shui	9.5%	1.0
Yuen Long	Yuen Long Town	1.8%	1.0
Tuen Mun	Tuen Mun North	3.2%	1.0

     In August, all the 10 survey areas covered in the second batch recorded a gravidtrap index level lower than 10 per cent.

     The FEHD has so far announced the first and the second batches of the gravidtrap index for Aedes albopictus in August, covering 23 survey areas. Among these 23 survey areas, 17 recorded a decrease in the Gravidtrap Index as compared with the Area Gravidtrap Index in last month, i.e. July 2025, representing improvement in the areas’ mosquito infestation condition. The index of one area remained the same, while four areas recorded a slight increase but the index was lower than 10 per cent. In response to the recent chikungunya fever (CF) situation, the FEHD has activated a mechanism that strengthen mosquito control work in areas with the gravidtrap index between 10 per cent and 20 per cent, which was originally activated when the gravidtrap index reaches 20 per cent or above. The FEHD, in collaboration with relevant departments and stakeholders, will strengthen the mosquito elimination work in So Kwun Wat, Tuen Mun, identify locations with high mosquito infestation, and carry out intensive and targeted mosquito control measures. The FEHD will also organise exhibitions, distribute leaflets and posters, and notify the residential estates subscribed to the gravidtrap Rapid Alert System, advising property management agents and residents to stay vigilant and join hands in taking mosquito prevention and elimination measures.

     The FEHD appeals to members of the public to adopt the following measures, strengthening the prevention against the breeding of mosquitoes:

• Tidy up their premises and check for any accumulation of water in containers inside their premises;
• Remove all unnecessary water collection and eliminate the sources;
• Completely change the water in flower vases at least once a week and remove the water on the plant saucers;
• Properly cover all containers that hold water;
• Properly dispose of refuse, such as soft drink cans, empty bottles and boxes, in covered litter containers; and
• Level irregular ground surfaces and holes.

     Starting August this year, following the completion of surveillance of individual survey areas and once the latest Gravidtrap Index and the Density Index are available, the FEHD will disseminate the relevant information through press releases, its website, and social media. It aims to allow members of the public to quickly grasp the mosquito infestation situation and strengthen mosquito control efforts, thereby reducing the risk of CF transmission.

     Following the recommendations from the World Health Organization and taking into account the local situation in Hong Kong, the FEHD sets up gravidtraps in districts where mosquito-borne diseases have been recorded in the past, as well as in densely populated places such as housing estates, hospitals and schools, to monitor the breeding and distribution of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which can transmit CF and dengue fever. At present, the FEHD has set up gravidtraps in 64 survey areas of the community. During the two weeks of surveillance, the FEHD will collect the gravidtraps once a week. After the first week of surveillance, the FEHD will immediately examine the glue boards inside the retrieved gravidtraps for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes, to compile the Gravidtrap Index (First Phase) and Density Index (First Phase). At the end of the second week of surveillance, the FEHD will instantly check the glue boards for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes. Data of the two weeks’ surveillance will be combined to obtain the Area Gravidtrap Index and the Area Density Index. The gravidtrap and density indices for Aedes albopictus in different survey areas as well as information on mosquito prevention and control measures are available on the department’s webpage (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/pestcontrol/dengue_fever/Dengue_Fever_Gravidtrap_Index_Update.html#).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) announced that as of 5pm today (August 11), no new imported case of chikungunya fever (CF) had been recorded. The CHP reminded members of the public to maintain strict environmental hygiene and to take mosquito control and personal protective measures both locally and when travelling outside Hong Kong. Those who suspect they may be infected with CF should seek medical advice promptly and avoid self-testing, which can lead to delays in diagnosis and treatment.
 
Public should not undergo self-tests
 
“Currently, there are no rapid test products on the market that have been certified by international health authorities for public use in self-testing for CF. Noting that some online advertisements claim to sell rapid test products for CF that can be used by the public for self-testing, the DH has immediately contacted the manufacturer concerned, who subsequently confirmed that the product is not intended for self-testing by the public. The manufacturer has also notified the suppliers in Hong Kong to suspend retail sales of the product in Hong Kong,” said the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui.
 
Dr Tsui reminded the public to promptly seek medical advice if they suspect they are infected with CF and not to conduct testing on their own as this may delay proper clinical treatment. He also urged the public not to self-medicate, particularly with aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen), as these drugs may cause serious side effects, for example, increasing the risk of haemorrhage. In general, children should not take medications containing aspirin to relieve fever or other symptoms because it may lead to “Reye’s syndrome”, a serious and potentially fatal complication.
 
Furthermore, the DH noted that a local research institution is actively developing rapid test products for CF. The DH has proactively contacted the institution concerned to learn more about the performance and quality of these test products, and has encouraged the institution to apply to list their tested products under the DH’s voluntary “Medical Device Administrative Control System“.
 
Continuously strengthening prevention and control
 
Hong Kong has recorded a total of five confirmed CF cases this year, all of which are imported cases, as well as one possible case. From 2016 to 2019, Hong Kong recorded between one and 11 imported cases annually.
 
“According to the information from the Guangdong Provincial Disease Control and Prevention Administration, in the past week (August 3 to 9), there were 1 387 new CF cases in Guangdong, a significant decrease compared to the previous two weeks, which reported 2 892 cases (July 27 to August 2) and 2 940 cases (July 20 to 26) respectively. All cases were mild, with no severe or fatal cases reported. However, we must remain vigilant and continue to adopt a multipronged approach to prevent local transmission,” Dr Tsui said.
 
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 screening for inbound travellers, conduct health assessment for travellers with fever or related symptoms, and refer them to hospitals for follow-up when necessary.
 
To raise the awareness among the elderly about preventing CF, the Visiting Health Teams under the Elderly Health Service of the DH have been advising the elderly on CF prevention and travel health at the health talks conducted at District Elderly Community Centres and Neighbourhood Elderly Centres. They have also reminded residential care homes for the elderly to enhance mosquito control measures. The DH’s Maternal and Child Health Centres, Student Health Service Centres and Special Assessment Centres also advise pregnant women, infant carers and students on symptoms and preventive measures of CF.
 
To strengthen support for ethnic minority communities, essential information on CF has also been translated into 10 ethnic minority languages (including Hindi, Nepali, Urdu, Thai, Bahasa Indonesia, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Punjabi, Sinhala and Bengali) and uploaded to the CHP website.
 
Dr Tsui reminded members of the public to adopt precautions in the rainy season against mosquito-borne diseases. Proper use of DEET-containing insect repellents or other effective active ingredients can effectively prevent mosquito bites, but the following precautions should be taken when using them:
 

• read the label instructions carefully first;
• apply right before entering an area with risk of mosquito bites;
• apply on exposed skin and clothing;
• use DEET of up to 30 per cent for pregnant women and up to 10 per cent for children (For children who travel to countries or areas where mosquito-borne diseases are endemic or epidemic and where exposure is likely, those aged 2 months or above can use DEET-containing insect repellents with a DEET concentration of up to 30 per cent);
• apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent;
• reapply only when needed and follow the instructions; and
• in addition to DEET, there are other insect repellents available on the market containing different active ingredients, such as IR3535 and picaridin. When using any insect repellent, the public should follow the usage instructions and precautions on the product label.

In addition, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) 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

The Water Supplies Department (WSD) and the Green Council jointly organised the Enterprises Cherish Water Campaign (ECH2O) and held the 2nd ECH2O Awards Ceremony today (August 11) to commend the outstanding contributions to water conservation by the participating commercial and industrial organisations, their premises, and staff. Officiating guests at the ceremony included the Director of Water Supplies, Mr Roger Wong, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Green Council, Ms Linda Ho.

This campaign continues to receive enthusiastic support from the commercial and industrial sectors, with participation increasing from over 600 organisations or premises during the first campaign to more than 1 000 organisations during the current one. Since the campaign’s launch in 2022, all participating organisations or premises have achieved an aggregate reduction of total water consumption over these years amounting to about 1.6 million cubic metres, which is equivalent to 640 Olympic-size swimming pools.

In his speech at the ceremony, Mr Wong said that under the impact of global climate change, extreme weather events are becoming increasingly frequent, and are placing unprecedented pressure on water resources management. The Government has implemented the Total Water Management Strategy, with an emphasis on strengthening water conservation and exploiting diversified water resources to ensure sustainable use of water resources. He highlighted that non-domestic water consumption accounts for about 40 per cent of fresh water consumption in Hong Kong, and most of it is closely related to use in commercial and industrial sectors. Active participation in the ECH2O is therefore crucial in driving water-saving efforts. He praised participating organisations for their innovative approaches, and for implementing various water-saving initiatives, with some even formulating 10-year water conservation plans, reflecting a forward-thinking commitment.

The ECH2O provides a collaborative platform for commercial and industrial organisations to cherish water together through various initiatives, including the signing of a charter, appointment of an ECH2O Manager, promotion and education, promoting the installation of water-saving devices and recognition programmes, etc, to encourage non-domestic consumers to reduce water consumption, thereby contributing to Hong Kong’s goal of moving towards a water-saving city.

The awards presented at this ceremony included the Grand Cherishing Water Promotion Award, Outstanding ECH2O Manager Award, and Grand Water Reuse and Recycling Award. The Cherishing Water Recognition Award and the Water Efficient Device Installation Commendation Scheme were also presented to encourage industry participation. The list of winners is available on the ECH2O website (www.greencouncil.org/ech2o).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (August 11) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Mid Devon District of Devon County in the United Kingdom (UK), 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 390 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat, and about 830 000 poultry eggs from the UK in the first six months of this year.

“The CFS has contacted the British 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.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (August 11) the results of the Monthly Survey on Business Situation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) for July 2025.
 
     The current diffusion index (DI) on business receipts amongst SMEs increased from 41.6 in June 2025 in the contractionary zone to 42.1 in July 2025, whereas the one-month’s ahead (i.e. August 2025) outlook DI on business receipts was 45.5.  Analysed by sector, the current DIs on business receipts, despite below the 50-mark, rose in July 2025 as compared with previous month for many surveyed sectors, particularly for the real estate (from 44.2 to 46.2) and business services (from 43.5 to 44.8).
  
     The current DI on new orders for the import and export trades remained at 45.0 in July 2025, whereas the outlook DI on new orders in one month’s time (i.e. August 2025) was 47.0.
 
Commentary
 
     A Government spokesman said that business sentiment among SMEs and their outlook in one month’s time both improved slightly in July. Meanwhile, the overall employment situation remained largely stable.
 
     Looking ahead, the elevated uncertainties in the external environment would continue to affect the local business sentiment. Nonetheless, the resilient local economy and steady economic growth in Asia, particularly in the Mainland, should provide support. The Government will continue to monitor the situation closely.
 
Further information
 
     The Monthly Survey on Business Situation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises aims to provide a quick reference, with minimum time lag, for assessing the short-term business situation faced by SMEs. SMEs covered in this survey refer to establishments with fewer than 50 persons engaged. Respondents were asked to exclude seasonal fluctuations in reporting their views. Based on the views collected from the survey, a set of diffusion indices (including current and outlook diffusion indices) is compiled. A reading above 50 indicates that the business condition is generally favourable, whereas that below 50 indicates otherwise. As for statistics on the business prospects of prominent establishments in Hong Kong, users may refer to the publication entitled “Report on Quarterly Business Tendency Survey” released by the C&SD.
 
     The results of the survey should be interpreted with care. The survey solicits feedback from a panel sample of about 600 SMEs each month and the survey findings are thus subject to sample size constraint. Views collected from the survey refer only to those of respondents on their own establishments rather than those on the respective sectors they are engaged in. Besides, in this type of opinion survey on expected business situation, the views collected in the survey are affected by the events in the community occurring around the time of enumeration, and it is difficult to establish precisely the extent to which respondents’ perception of the business situation accords with the underlying trends. For this survey, main bulk of the data were collected around the last week of the reference month.
 
     More detailed statistics are given in the “Report on Monthly Survey on the Business Situation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises”. Users can browse and download the publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1080015&scode=300).
 
     Users who have enquiries about the survey results may contact Industrial Production Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7246; email: sme-survey@censtatd.gov.hk).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Police today (August 11) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Hung Hom.
     
Yin Zihong, aged 51, went missing after he was last seen at MTR Hung Hom Station on August 9 night. His family then made a report to Police.
   
He is about 1.6 metres tall, 60 kilograms in weight and of fat build. He has a round face with yellow complexion and short grey hair. He was last seen wearing a green short-sleeved Polo Shirt, black jeans and black sport shoes.
     
Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of Kowloon West on 3661 8036 or 9020 6542 or email to rmpu-kw@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Candidate Eligibility Review Committee (CERC) today (August 11) announced that the nomination of 100 candidates for the Election Committee (EC) Subsector By-elections and 10 nominations for EC members have been determined as valid. In addition, the CERC also determined eight registrations of ex-officio EC members as valid.
 
Candidates nominated for EC subsectors election
 
As regards the 93 vacancies in the EC membership to be returned by the 2025 EC Subsector By-elections, by the close of nominations on August 4, the Returning Officers (ROs) received a total of 101 nomination forms for candidates. Upon review, the CERC has determined 100 candidates as validly nominated. One candidate had passed away during the nomination period. The CERC thus determined his nomination as invalid in accordance with relevant electoral law.
 
Members returned by nominations for EC subsectors
 
As for the 10 members to be returned through supplementary nominations by designated bodies, the ROs received a total of eight nomination forms submitted by designated bodies, involving 11 nominees. According to section 12(2) of the Electoral Affairs Commission (Electoral Procedure)(Election Committee) Regulation (Cap. 541I), the CERC is only required to determine the validity of nominations for the number that are necessary for filling the assigned seats of the subsector-concerned. In this connection, the CERC has determined 10 nominations, according to the priorities indicated by the designated bodies, are sufficient for filling the number of seats assigned to the subsectors. The CERC had not determined the eligibility of an additional nominee.
 
Registrations of ex-officio EC members
 
In accordance with section 5J of the Schedule to the Chief Executive Election Ordinance (Cap. 569), a person holding a specified office under Part 2A of the Schedule may register as an ex-officio EC member. If the specified person concerned is not eligible to be registered as an ex-officio member or is the holder of more than one specified office, he/she may designate another person who is holding an office in a relevant body in relation to the specified office to be registered as an ex-officio member.
 
The Registration and Electoral Office (REO) has received eight registrations for ex-officio members. Upon review, the CERC has determined that these eight registrations are valid. The subsectors and specified offices involved are listed below:
 

Subsector	Specified Office
Architectural, surveying, planning and landscape	the President of The Hong Kong Institute of Planners the Chairman of the Community Involvement Committee on Greening the Chairman of the Advisory Committee for the Fire Safety (Buildings) Ordinance and the Fire Safety (Commercial Premises) Ordinance
Engineering	the President of The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers the Chairman of the Building Contractors Committee the Chairman of the Lift and Escalator Safety Advisory Committee
Medical and health services	the Chairman of the Board of Governors of The Prince Philip Dental Hospital
Social welfare	the Chairperson of the Executive Committee of The United Labour Chi Hong Association Limited

 
The REO and respective ROs will inform all registrants for ex-officio members, nominees and candidates about the CERC’s determination. The relevant gazette notices, upon publication, will also be uploaded to the election website (www.elections.gov.hk) and REO’s website.
 
The CERC is chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, with three official members (Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai; Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung; and Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak Mei-kuen) and three non-official members (Miss Elsie Leung Oi-sie, Mrs Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai and Professor Lawrence Lau Juen-yee). In accordance with Annex I to the Basic Law, the CERC is responsible for reviewing and confirming the eligibility of candidates for EC membership (including ex-officio members). The CERC decides whether such persons comply with the legal requirements and conditions of upholding the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and bearing allegiance to the HKSAR of the PRC.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region