Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (August 24) detected a drug trafficking case involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport. About 35 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $8.2 million were seized.

A 19-year-old British male transit passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, and planned to take a flight to London, the United Kingdom, yesterday. During Customs clearance, the suspected cannabis buds, weighing about 35kg in total, were found in 64 bags inside his two check-in suitcases. The male was subsequently arrested.

The arrested person has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. The case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (August 26).

Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.
 
Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.
 
Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.
 
Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is the speech by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, at the discussion session entitled Work Towards High Quality Agricultural and Rural Development in the Asia-Pacific Region at the 11th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Food Security Ministerial Meeting (FSMM) in Hangzhou today (August 25):

Thank you Chair. First of all, I would like to thank the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China for hosting the meeting and the warm hospitality.

Hong Kong, China, is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. With a population over 7.5 million, our total land area is just about 1 100 square kilometers. The topography of the territory is hilly, and only 30 per cent of the land is flat.

This drives the need for innovative, space-efficient solutions such as intensive farming, urban agriculture, and new technologies to boost productivity and resilience.

To promote sustainable agriculture and fisheries, Hong Kong, China, has promulgated a blueprint with a series of active programmes. The goal is to modernise and intensify local production to raise both output volume and value, while at the same time supporting the long-term sustainability of our farming communities.

On sustaining agricultural production capacity, we have established an Agricultural Park to nurture agro-technology and modern farm management. In parallel, a Modernised Techno-Agricultural Park has been set up through public-private partnership, to support development of modern commercial farms.

Due to our land scarcity, Hong Kong, China, is also pioneering modern and environment-friendly multi-storey pig farming. A dedicated site has been reserved for a six-storey, fully enclosed pig farm, capable of housing over 10 000 pigs.

The new pig farm will employ automated, climate-controlled, digitally managed and AI-assisted systems, that will offer a replicable model for economies facing similar land constraints.

To facilitate agricultural trade, our Vegetable Marketing Organization serves as a vital bridge between producers and consumers. It provides orderly marketing services, expands online and offline channels, and promotes high-quality local produce.

The organisation also actively promotes high-quality local agricultural and fisheries products by participating in food exhibitions, supplying seasonal produce to large catering groups, designing special menus, and conducting online and offline promotional campaigns.

We have recently launched a new brand, the Hong Kong Harvest, to certify local agricultural and fisheries products that meet rigorous safety, quality and traceability requirements.

Through branding local produce, our goal is to enhance market competitiveness, build consumer confidence, increase farmers’ incomes and attract younger talent to join the agricultural and fisheries industry. All these serve as part of our efforts to drive sustainable development of the agricultural and fisheries industry, as well as rural revitalisation.

Ladies and gentlemen, Hong Kong, China, stands ready to share experiences and work with fellow APEC economies to advance agricultural innovation, strengthen regional trade and build a more resilient and prosperous Asia-Pacific community. Thank you.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The following is issued on behalf of the Electoral Affairs Commission:

     The Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC) today (August 25) released the provisional recommendations on the boundaries and names of District Council Geographical Constituencies (DCGCs) for the 2027 District Council Ordinary Election (DCOE), and launched a public consultation which will last until September 24.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The following is issued on behalf of the Office of The Ombudsman:

     The Ombudsman, Mr Jack Chan, today (August 25) announced the completion of a direct investigation operation into the allocation of public niches, with 19 improvement recommendations made to the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD). The FEHD has accepted all the recommendations. 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Health Bureau (HHB) and the Operator of The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong (CMHHK) announced today (August 25) the service expansion plan of CMHHK, including the launch of 24-hour inpatient services on December 11, and the introduction of 10 additional special disease programmes by year end. The extension of coverage under the Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme to inpatient services of CMHHK will also start next year. 

     The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, said, “As the local flagship Chinese medicine institution, CMHHK has made good progress in various areas including healthcare services, training and education, research, collaboration, and creating health values, since its service commencement last year. Members of the public generally have positive feedback on the environment and professional services of the hospital. In just over eight months since commencing operation, the hospital has already increased the quota for government-subsidised outpatient services four times to meet keen public demand. The provision of 24-hour inpatient services commencing in mid-December will further advance Hong Kong’s Chinese medicine services from primary healthcare to secondary and tertiary healthcare services, marking a significant breakthrough in the development of Chinese medicine.”

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) announced today (August 25) that a total of 171 new cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection and 28 new cases of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) were recorded in Hong Kong in the first half of 2026. While the number of new HIV infections in Hong Kong has declined for 10 consecutive years, the proportion of late presenters among the newly reported cases has remained high at around 50 per cent in recent years. Nearly 80 per cent of late presenters have never undergone HIV testing, increasing the risk of HIV transmission in the community. In light of this, the CHP urged members of the public who have had sex, regardless of age or sexual orientation, to undergo HIV antibody testing at least once, and to use condoms consistently and correctly in order to minimise the risk of HIV infection and other sexually transmitted infections.

“Following an in-depth analysis of the new cases of HIV infection, the CHP found that the proportion of late presentation among persons at general risk was around 60 to 70 per cent, higher than that among higher-risk populations, such as men who have sex with men and sex workers, for whom the proportion was around 40 to 50 per cent. Furthermore, the majority of people at general risk acquired HIV through heterosexual contact. The CHP believes that some individuals mistakenly consider themselves at low risk of HIV infection, and therefore have not undergone timely testing and treatment,” said the Consultant (Special Preventive Programme) of the Public Health Services Branch of the CHP of the DH, Dr Bonnie Wong.

Late presenters refer to individuals with a very low CD4 (one kind of immune cell) cell count or those who have already progressed to AIDS at the time of HIV diagnosis. Late presentation indicates that these individuals were not diagnosed and put on treatment in a timely manner at an earlier stage of infection. Late presentation can lead to an increased risk of opportunistic infections, cancer and death. In addition, due to their unsuppressed viral load, late presenters contribute to an increased risk of HIV transmission in the community.

The new HIV cases in the first half of 2026 involve 143 men and 28 women aged between 19 and 80. Among them, 70 per cent are in the 20 to 49 age group while nearly 30 per cent are 50 years old or above. Among the cases with a reported route of transmission, 140 cases (99 per cent) acquired the infection through sexual contact, including 94 through homosexual or bisexual contact. The remaining 46 cases acquired the infection through heterosexual contact.

“Sexual transmission remains the major route of HIV transmission in Hong Kong. The DH therefore encourages people who have had sex, regardless of age or sexual orientation, to undergo HIV antibody testing at least once to keep track of their health status. People at higher risk of infection (such as those who do not use condoms properly or those who inject drugs) should undergo regular testing to protect their own health and that of their partners,” said Dr Wong.

Currently, the DH provides various channels to facilitate HIV antibody testing for the public:
 

• reserve a free, anonymous and confidential HIV antibody test by visiting the HIV Testing Service website (www.hivtest.gov.hk) or calling the AIDS Hotline (2780 2211); or
• order HIV self-test kits (oral fluid-based or blood-based (finger-prick) testing kits) on the HIV Testing Service website, and collect the self-test kits at the pick-up location chosen. There are various pick-up locations in Hong Kong.

Dr Wong stressed that HIV infection is a manageable chronic disease. People with HIV should seek specialist care and receive HIV treatment as soon as possible to achieve viral suppression and health restoration. Early HIV treatment with antiretroviral drugs can effectively prevent the progression to AIDS and other complications, increasing the chance of survival significantly. Moreover, those who achieve an undetectable level of virus in blood while on treatment will not transmit the virus through sex, i.e. Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U).

The prevalence of HIV infection in Hong Kong has consistently remained far below the global average, accounting for 1 in 1 000 of the adult population. Since 1984, the cumulative total of locally reported HIV infections and AIDS cases has been 12 905 and 2 671 cases respectively. More detailed statistics are available on the Virtual AIDS Office website.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​The Master’s Degree in Public Policy Programme (MPP Programme), jointly organised by the Civil Service Bureau (CSB) and Peking University, has entered its fifth year. The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, and the Secretary of the CPC Peking University Committee, Mr He Guangcai, met with participants from the five cohorts and officiated at the unveiling ceremony of the “MPP Fellowship” at the Civil Service College (CSC) today (August 25), marking closer co-operation and interaction between the two sides, and linking participants with each other and with the university.

​Mrs Yeung and the delegation led by Mr He held a courtesy meeting. Deputy Director of Bureau II of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council (HKMAO) Mr Tai Fan; the Dean of the School of Government of Peking University, Professor Yan Jirong; the Director of the Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs of Peking University, Ms Li Yun; the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Ms Shirley Lam; and the Head of the Civil Service College, Mr Oscar Kwok, also attended the meeting.

Since its launch in 2022, a total of 79 civil servants have participated in the MPP Programme. The first three cohorts have already graduated successfully and have returned to work to put their learning into practice. Through immersive learning at Peking University, participants not only gain in-depth knowledge of the country’s governance system and public administration theories, but also conduct field visits to different parts of the Mainland to experience firsthand the country’s development momentum and people’s livelihood, deeply appreciating Mainland officials’ service spirit of people-orientation and continuous improvement, thereby achieving a dual enhancement of knowledge and perspective. 

Addressing the event, Mrs Yeung said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government shoulders the important mission of promoting Hong Kong’s better integration into and service to the overall development of the country, and of connecting the country with the world. This places higher demands on the governing team, which should not only be dedicated to the country and Hong Kong and understand public sentiment, but also possess a holistic perspective and international outlook, be able to assess the situation with foresight, and address complex challenges with innovative thinking and strategic vision. The MPP Programme jointly organised by the CSB and Peking University carries profound strategic significance.

Mrs Yeung expressed her gratitude to the HKMAO and Peking University for their strong emphasis and support regarding the civil service training of the HKSAR Government. She said that as the programme enters its fifth year, it marks a pivotal moment that builds on past achievements while paving the way for the future. The “MPP Fellowship” carries more than a bond of friendship; it embodies a belief in a shared mission. She hopes that through candid exchanges, participants will inspire one another, pursue lifelong learning, uphold the spirit of unity and collaboration, strengthen cross-departmental co-operation, better support the HKSAR Government in policy implementation, continuously enhance governance effectiveness and promote the greater well-being of the public.

The participants of the MPP Programme, who come from various professional fields, are civil servants recommended by their departments and have demonstrated leadership potential and outstanding performance. The programme covers four major areas, namely public administration and leadership skills, the country’s governance and Hong Kong affairs, global affairs and governance, as well as social studies and field work. The programme lasts for two years. Participants have to study full-time at Peking University for the first year. Participants will return to Hong Kong in the second year to complete their thesis and apply their learning to enhancing the governance of Hong Kong.

On the same afternoon, the CSC held a thematic seminar on the National 15th Five-Year Plan. Professor Yan was invited to speak on “China’s 15th Five-Year Plan and the Building of a Modernised Strong Nation”. Drawing on public administration case studies from the Mainland, he elaborated on the strategic positioning and key role of the 15th Five-Year Plan in the country’s modernisation process. Over 330 civil servants in the directorate and senior ranks attended the seminar today, with some participants joining via video conferencing.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (August 25) the external merchandise trade statistics for July 2026. In July 2026, the values of Hong Kong’s total exports and imports of goods both recorded year-on-year increases, at 50.7% and 41.0% respectively.

     In July 2026, the value of total exports of goods increased by 50.7% over a year earlier to $672.5 billion, after a year-on-year increase by 53.4% in June 2026. Concurrently, the value of imports of goods increased by 41.0% over a year earlier to $677.4 billion in July 2026, after a year-on-year increase by 45.4% in June 2026. A visible trade deficit of $4.9 billion, equivalent to 0.7% of the value of imports of goods, was recorded in July 2026.