Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following are the opening remarks by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at Hong Kong Forum of International Science, Technology and Innovation Forum of Boao Forum for Asia 2025 Hong Kong Conference today (June 7):
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
SLW attends International Labour Conference in Geneva Issued at HKT 12:00
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Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
UGC Secretary-General visits US and UK
The Secretary-General of the University Grants Committee (UGC), Professor James Tang, led a delegation to visit the United States and the United Kingdom from May 25 (San Diego time) to June 6 (Birmingham time) as part of the effort to promote Hong Kong’s development into an international hub for post-secondary education.
Together with the delegation comprising all eight UGC-funded universities under the aegis of the Heads of Universities Committee’s Standing Committee on Internationalisation (HUCOMSCI), Professor Tang attended the NAFSA Annual Conference and Expo 2025 held in San Diego, the United States, where he spoke at a dedicated session on the strengths of Hong Kong’s higher education sector and the opportunities presented to students from around the world. With funding support from the UGC, the HUCOMSCI also set up a Hong Kong Pavilion to showcase Hong Kong’s internationalised and diversified higher education environment that welcomes academics and students from around the world to realise their aspirations.
“Over the years, with the substantial investment by the Government in higher education, the eight UGC-funded universities have continued to grow, with five ranked among the world’s top 100, six within Asia’s top 50, and four as the top most international universities in the world. Some 70 per cent of our research outputs are assessed as internationally excellent, while the most recent round of quality audits also reaffirms the quality of educational experience that our universities offer to students. Hong Kong is indeed the ideal destination for students to pursue their further studies and achieve greater success,” said Professor Tang at the session at the NAFSA Conference and Expo.
For the first time, the UGC also supported the Hong Kong Teaching Excellence Alliance and the HUCOMSCI to share with the international audience on how the UGC-funded universities have grasped the immense potential brought by artificial intelligence in enhancing students’ learning experiences. This has once again demonstrated Hong Kong’s leadership in quality education through investment and innovation.
Professor Tang then attended the International Higher Education Forum 2025 held on June 4 (Birmingham time) in Birmingham, the United Kingdom, to share the factors underpinning Hong Kong’s success as an international hub for post-secondary education. He stressed that academic freedom and institutional autonomy have been the cornerstones of Hong Kong’s success, while highlighting the diversified composition of Hong Kong’s academic staff. Hong Kong universities attract a strong pool of distinguished scholars with a rich repertoire of international experience, and indeed some 70 per cent of them come from outside Hong Kong.
In the 2024 Policy Address, the Government announced its support for establishing the “Study in Hong Kong” brand in order to attract more meritorious students to pursue their studies in Hong Kong. Through participation in international conferences and exhibitions, Hong Kong has continued to expand its network for student mobility and research collaboration. As of November 2024, the eight UGC-funded universities have jointly signed 2 660 student exchange agreements with universities from around the world, and engaged in over 6 800 active research collaborations with other institutions. At present, around one out of four students in UGC-funded universities are from outside Hong Kong. The Government will continue to support universities to strive for further internationalisation, thereby reinforcing their global reputation and scaling new heights.
During the visit, Professor Tang also met with senior management and prominent scholars from top-tier higher education institutions in the United States and the United Kingdom to exchange views on the latest developments in higher education. He also highlighted that Hong Kong’s outstanding universities have been a welcoming academic home for top scholars and talented students from around the world. As an international hub for higher education, Hong Kong’s doors are always open to all who want to realise their academic pursuits and explore the exciting opportunities offered by one of the world’s most dynamic cities.
Issued at HKT 11:56
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Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:
The following is the full text of an address by Chief Justice Andrew Cheung, Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal, at the Ceremony for the Admission of the New Senior Counsel today (June 7):
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at the International Science, Technology and Innovation Forum of the Boao Forum for Asia 2025 Hong Kong Conference today (June 7):
Honourable Vice-Chairman Edmund Ho (Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and President of the International Science, Technology and Innovation Forum of Boao Forum for Asia), Deputy Director Liu Guangyuan (Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)), Deputy Commissioner Li Yongsheng (Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the HKSAR), Professor Frederick Ma (Chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department launched its annual Food Safety Day 2025 campaign today (June 7), emphasising the importance of preventing cross-contamination in safeguarding food safety. It serves to remind food businesses and the public that adopting proper hygiene and food handling practices, such as handling raw and cooked food separately, can reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses.
To echo World Food Safety Day, the CFS has chosen “preventing cross-contamination” as the theme for Food Safety Day 2025. Cross-contamination is one of the most common causes of food poisoning, occurring when harmful microorganisms are transferred directly or indirectly from raw food to cooked or ready-to-eat food via contaminated hands, utensils, cutting boards, or food contact surfaces.
“Food handlers and the public should remain vigilant in storing and handling raw and cooked foods separately, using designated utensils and storage containers, and maintaining good personal and environmental hygiene to prevent the spread of bacteria. If raw and cooked or ready-to-eat food must be handled in the same area, thorough disinfection between uses is essential,” said a CFS spokesman.
Food handlers and members of the public are also reminded that maintaining hand hygiene is essential for minimising the risk of cross-contamination and ensuring food safety. Hands should be washed thoroughly with liquid soap and clean running water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food and wearing gloves, as well as after using the toilet, touching the face, or handling waste. Wearing gloves does not replace proper handwashing.
To prevent foodborne diseases and curb the emergence of antimicrobial resistance, the CFS urges food businesses and the public to maintain proper personal and environmental hygiene and observe the “Five Keys to Food Safety” when preparing food, including choosing safe raw materials, keeping hands and utensils clean, separating raw and cooked food, cooking thoroughly, and keeping food at safe temperatures.
​For more information about Food Safety Day 2025 and related activities, please visit the CFS website (www.cfs.gov.hk).
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Suspected use of fraudulent life-saving attendants certificates at swimming pool of San Francisco Towers, Happy ValleyIssued at HKT 22:40
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said today (June 6) that a life-saving attendant at the swimming pool of San Francisco Towers, located at 29-35 Ventris Road, Happy Valley, is suspected of using a fraudulent life-saving attendant certificate. As the qualification of the life-saving attendant is in doubt and the swimming pool has allegedly failed to provide a sufficient number of qualified life-saving attendants as required by law, the department has ordered the immediate closure of the pool and is considering prosecuting its licensee. The incident has been reported to the Police, and the FEHD has also notified the Property Management Services Authority to take parallel follow-up action.
Officers from the FEHD today verified a batch of lifeguard records with the Hong Kong China Life Saving Society, and discovered that the credentials of a life-saving attendant on duty at the aforementioned swimming pool on June 4 did not match the records of the Hong Kong China Life Saving Society. The FEHD immediately took action regarding the pool.
The FEHD has implemented a series of enhancement measures from May 19 to further prevent the employment of unqualified life-saving attendants at private swimming pools. During May, the FEHD officers conducted inspections at 713 licensed swimming pools and verified the qualifications of 1 041 life-saving attendants with the Hong Kong China Life Saving Society. Apart from the suspected case of fraudulent certification discovered today, no other irregularities regarding suspected employment of unqualified life-saving attendants have been identified by the FEHD.
The FEHD will continue to implement the relevant measures straightly to enhance the safety standards of licensed swimming pools and safeguard the safety of swimming pool users. Members of the public are called on to take part in the monitoring and report suspected cases of irregularities to the department.
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Food & Environmental Hygiene Department said today that a life-saving attendant at the San Francisco Towers swimming pool on Ventris Road, Happy Valley is suspected of using a fraudulent life-saving attendant certificate.
The department elaborated that its officers, while verifying a batch of lifeguard records with the Hong Kong China Life Saving Society today, found that the credentials of a life-saving attendant on duty at the swimming pool on June 4 did not match the society’s records.
As the life-saving attendant’s qualifications are in doubt, and the swimming pool has allegedly failed to provide a sufficient number of qualified life-saving attendants as required by law, the department ordered the immediate closure of the pool. It is also considering prosecuting the pool licensee.
In addition to reporting the case to Police, the department notified the Property Management Services Authority to take parallel follow-up action.
The Food & Environmental Hygiene Department has implemented a series of enhancement measures from May 19 to further prevent the employment of unqualified life-saving attendants at private swimming pools. In May, it inspected 713 licensed swimming pools and verified the qualifications of 1,041 life-saving attendants with the Hong Kong China Life Saving Society.
Apart from the case in Happy Valley, no other irregularities regarding suspected employment of unqualified life-saving attendants have been identified, the department added.
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Government today said it tested 58 samples of Haribo candy products in Hong Kong and none of them contained tetrahydrocannabinol, a cannabis component.
The Government Laboratory tested the 58 samples that had already been removed from shelves in the city, after overseas reports suggested that Haribo candies may be contaminated and tested positive for cannabis.
Upon receiving relevant information, the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department’s Centre for Food Safety contacted local food traders and consulted authorities in the Netherlands.
The affected batch of products was not imported into Hong Kong, the Government said.
For prudence sake, the centre had previously informed the trade to temporarily remove the brand’s candies from shelves. The relevant traders have been informed of the test results.
The Government will continue to closely monitor the situation and take appropriate action as needed.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
​In response to overseas reports suggesting that Haribo candies may be contaminated and tested positive for cannabis, a government spokesperson stated today (June 6) that the Government Laboratory has completed the test on 58 samples of Haribo candy products that had already been removed from shelves. The results showed that none of the samples contained tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a cannabis component. The relevant traders have been informed of the test results.
Upon receiving relevant information, the Centre for Food Safety (the Centre) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department contacted local food traders and consulted authorities in the Netherlands. The affected batch of products was not imported into Hong Kong, but for prudence sake, the Centre had previously informed the trade to temporarily remove the brand’s candies from shelves.
The government will continue to closely monitor the situation and take appropriate actions as needed.