Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

​Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at the 2025 Colloquium on International Law today (July 4):

Commissioner Cui Jianchun (Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region), Professor Teresa Cheng (Co-Chairman of the Asian Academy of International Law), Dr Anthony Neoh (Co-Chairman of the Asian Academy of International Law), consuls-general, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (July 3) is investigating a case of measles infection and reminded the public that vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles.
    
     The case involves a 10-month-old baby boy who is a close contact of two epidemiologically linked measles infection cases announced by the CHP recently. During the investigation of these two cases, the CHP found that they had visited a private clinic in Jordan during the communicable period. The CHP immediately initiated contact tracing in the clinic and found that 21 people had stayed in the clinic at the same time as the two cases. Hence, they were classified as close contacts, including three high-risk individuals aged below one-year-old who have not yet reached the age to receive the first dose of the measles vaccine. The CHP explained the risk to the parents of the three children and recommended measles immunoglobulin injection to minimise the risk of infection. One of them agreed and received the injection arranged by the CHP at a hospital, and is now asymptomatic. The other two did not accept the injection arrangement (including the 10-month-old baby boy).
 
     During the medical surveillance for the close contacts, the 10-month-old baby boy presented with fever on June 30 and developed skin rash the following day. The CHP arranged him to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on July 1 for isolation and treatment. His respiratory specimen sample tested positive for the measles virus upon nucleic acid testing. He remains hospitalised and is in stable condition.
 
     An epidemiological investigation revealed that the baby boy has not yet reach the age to receive the first dose of the measles vaccine. He had no travel history during the incubation period. The CHP believed that the source of infection of this case is related to the two recently confirmed measles cases.
 
     The baby boy’s five household contacts are currently asymptomatic and are put under medical surveillance. Since two of the household contacts were uncertain whether they had received measles vaccination, the CHP has provided post-exposure vaccination for them. Another household contact is currently not in Hong Kong. The CHP has notified the relevant health authority for necessary follow-up actions. Apart from his family members, the baby boy has no other close contacts.
 
    There are currently four cases in this cluster, including three members of a family and the above-mentioned baby boy. The remaining two members of the family and 20 other close contacts at the clinic remain asymptomatic so far and are under continuous medical surveillance. Preliminary investigations have not revealed any epidemiological linkages between this cluster and other confirmed cases previously recorded in Hong Kong.
 
     “The incubation period of measles (i.e. the time from infection to onset of illness) is seven to 21 days. Symptoms include fever, skin rash, cough, runny nose and red eyes. When such symptoms appear, people should wear surgical masks, stay home from work or school, avoid crowded places and contact with unvaccinated people, especially those with weak immune systems, pregnant women and children under 1 year old. Those who suspect they are infected should consult their doctors as soon as possible and inform healthcare workers of their history of exposure to measles,” the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui, said.

     “Under the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme, the overall immunisation coverage in Hong Kong has been maintained at a very high level through the immunisation services provided by the DH’s Maternal and Child Health Centres and School Immunisation Teams. As evidenced by the findings on vaccination coverage of primary school students and the territory-wide immunisation surveys conducted regularly by the DH, the two-dose measles vaccination coverage has remained consistently high, well above 95 per cent, and the local seroprevalence rates of measles virus antibodies reflect that most people in Hong Kong are immune to measles. However, Hong Kong, as a city with a high volume of international travel, still faces the potential risk of importation of the measles virus and its further spread in the local community. Hence, a small number of people who have not completed a measles vaccination (such as non-local-born people including new immigrants, foreign domestic helpers, overseas employees and people coming to Hong Kong for further studies) are still at risk of being infected and spreading measles to other people who do not have immunity against measles, such as children under 1 year old who have not yet received the first dose of the measles vaccine,” he added.

     People born before 1967 could be considered to have acquired immunity to measles through natural infection, as measles was endemic in many parts of the world and in Hong Kong at that time. People born in or after 1967 who have not yet completed the two doses of measles vaccination or whose measles vaccination history is unknown, should consult their family doctors as soon as possible to complete the vaccination and ensure adequate protection against measles.

     The number of measles cases in some overseas countries remains at a high level this year. The outbreaks in North America (including the United States and Canada), Europe and neighbouring areas (including Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines) are ongoing due to the relatively low vaccination rate. Furthermore, an increasing number of measles cases have also been recorded in Japan and Australia this year. For those who plan to travel to measles-endemic areas, they should check their vaccination records and medical history as early as possible. If they have not been diagnosed with measles through laboratory tests and have never received two doses of measles vaccine or are not sure if they have received a measles vaccine, they should consult a doctor at least two weeks prior to their trip for vaccination.

     Besides being vaccinated against measles, members of the public should take the following measures to prevent infection:
 

• Maintain good personal and environmental hygiene;
• Maintain good indoor ventilation;
• Keep hands clean and wash hands properly;
• Wash hands when they are dirtied by respiratory secretions, such as after sneezing;
• Cover the nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing and dispose of nasal and mouth discharge properly;
• Clean used toys and furniture properly; and
• Persons with measles should be kept out of school till four days from the appearance of a rash to prevent the spread of the infection to non-immune persons in school.

     For more information on measles, the public may visit the CHP’s measles thematic page. Members of the public who are going to travel can visit the website of the DH’s Travel Health Service for news of measles outbreaks outside Hong Kong.
 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Hong Kong Customs conducted a four-week enforcement operation codenamed “Ocean Shield” from May 28 to June 27 to combat counterfeit and infringing goods activities involving cross-boundary transshipments by sea cargo and local deliveries. During the operation, Customs detected 36 related cases and seized about 157 000 items of suspected counterfeit goods with a total estimated market value of over $72 million.

Through intelligence analysis and detailed investigations, Customs detected a number of related cases at various local logistics companies. Customs officers identified and carried out strike-and-search operations at about 30 logistics companies in Kwai Chung, Tin Shui Wai, Tsuen Wan, Tsing Yi and Yuen Long. About 154 000 items of suspected counterfeit goods, including watches, mobile phone accessories, glasses, clothes and footwear, with a total estimated market value of about $70 million, were seized.

After follow-up investigations, Customs believed that some of the seized suspected counterfeit goods would have been sold locally while the rest would have been re-exported to overseas destinations. Customs officers therefore organised controlled delivery operations in respect of two batches of seized items. On June 6, a 45-year-old male consignee was arrested at a retail shop in Mong Kok, and about 20 suspected counterfeit wireless headphones and speakers with an estimated value of about $32,000 were discovered inside the shop.

Later, on June 18, Customs officers seized about 300 suspected counterfeit wireless headphones and speakers, with an estimated market value of about $1.2 million, in an industrial building unit in Kwai Chung. A 53-year-old female staff member, a 42-year-old male director and a 43-year-old female director were arrested.

Investigations of the above-mentioned cases are ongoing. All arrested persons have been released on bail pending further investigation.

Customs appeals to consumers to purchase goods at reputable shops or websites to avoid buying counterfeit or infringing goods. Practitioners in the logistics industry should also comply with the requirements of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO) and to check with the trademark owners or authorised agents if the authenticity of a product is in doubt. Traders should also be cautious and prudent in merchandising since selling counterfeit goods is a serious crime, and offenders are liable to criminal sanctions.

Customs will continue to step up inspections and conduct intelligence-led enforcement actions to vigorously combat different types of counterfeit and infringing goods activities.

Under the TDO, any person who imports or exports, or sells or possesses for sale any goods to which a forged trademark is applied commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

Members of the public may report any suspected counterfeiting 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 Information Services

The launch ceremony of the Infrastructure x Education Exhibition and the first phase of achievement of the STEAM UP project, jointly organised by the Development Bureau and the Construction Industry Council, was held today.

This is the first time the construction industry has collaborated with the education sector to organise a large-scale exhibition featuring infrastructure projects in Hong Kong to promote Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) education related to the construction industry, helping students apply STEAM knowledge through the examples of infrastructure projects and encouraging the youngsters to join the construction industry.

Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn said at the ceremony that she hopes infrastructure can tell the good stories of Hong Kong and share STEAM knowledge via the exhibition, arousing students’ interest towards the construction industry and the exploration of STEAM knowledge.

A first three-dimensional Infrastructure Map supporting STEAM education was launched at the event, introducing 32 types of infrastructure projects in Hong Kong and related STEAM knowledge. The map will be exhibited in various districts to let the public understand the city’s infrastructure.

A set of architecture-themed learning and teaching materials of the STEAM UP project, including teachers’ lesson plans and teaching materials as well as story books, games and e-learning platforms, was also rolled out.

Another eight sets of learning and teaching materials, covering architecture, surveying, planning, landscape architecture and engineering, will be launched progressively for use in classrooms in primary and secondary schools starting from 2025-26 school year.

Ten thematic zones are set up in the exhibition. In addition to the aforementioned major projects, it also introduces the work, careers and development prospects of in the construction industry. Interactive games with construction robots are also available.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The launching ceremony of the Infrastructure x Education Exhibition and the first phase of achievement of the STEAM UP project, jointly organised by the Development Bureau and the Construction Industry Council (CIC), was held today (July 3). This is the first time for the construction industry to collaborate with the education sector to organise a large-scale exhibition featuring infrastructure projects in Hong Kong to promote STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) education related to the construction industry, thereby helping students apply STEAM knowledge through practical examples of infrastructure projects and encouraging the younger generation to join the construction industry.

     Speaking at the launching ceremony, the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, said that the construction industry and infrastructure involve many STEAM elements. The construction industry joins hands with the education sector to launch STEAM learning and teaching materials, which can make learning more effective. She hoped that, through this exhibition, infrastructure can tell the good stories of Hong Kong and share STEAM knowledge, which arouses students’ interest towards the construction industry and the exploration of STEAM knowledge.

     Other officiating guests at the launching ceremony were the Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), Mr Ricky Lau; the Under Secretary for Education, Dr Sze Chun-fai; the Chairman of the CIC, Professor Thomas Ho; the Executive Director of the CIC, Mr Albert Cheng; and the Executive Director of Hong Kong Education City, Dr Tenny Lam.

     Hong Kong’s first 3-dimensional Infrastructure Map supporting STEAM education was launched at the ceremony, introducing 32 types of infrastructure projects in Hong Kong and the related STEAM knowledge. The Infrastructure Map will be exhibited in various districts in Hong Kong in the future to let members of the public understand the edges of the infrastructure of Hong Kong.
 
     The first set of architecture-themed learning and teaching materials of the STEAM UP project, including teachers’ lesson plans and teaching materials, as well as story books, games and e-learning platforms for students, was also rolled out at the ceremony, offering all-round support to STEAM education in schools. Another eight sets of learning and teaching materials, covering aspects of architecture, surveying, planning, landscape architecture and engineering, will be launched progressively for use in classrooms in primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong starting from 2025/26 school year.

     Ten thematic zones are set up in the exhibition. In addition to the aforementioned two major projects, the exhibition also introduces the work, career paths and development prospect of various professional fields in the construction industry, helping students plan their careers. Interactive games with construction robots are also available.

     A series of talks are also organised in the exhibition, where speakers from government departments, tertiary institutions, training institutions, professional institutes and trade associations discuss topics covering innovative technology, Building Information Modelling, artificial intelligence, Modular Integrated Construction, Multi-trade integrated Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing, etc.

     The Infrastructure x Education Exhibition is part of the Learning & Teaching Expo 2025 being held from July 2 to 4, at Booth R01, Hall 3B, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Expo Drive, Wan Chai. For more information about the exhibition, please visit: https://www.constructionhk.org/en/infrastructure-education/.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC) today released the proposed guidelines on election-related activities in respect of the Legislative Council Election for a public consultation that will last for 30 days until August 1.

The 2025 LegCo General Election will be held on December 7. Before each general election, the EAC will review and update the guidelines.

At a press conference today, EAC Chairman David Lok said that these guidelines aim to explain in simple language the provisions under current electoral legislation with a view to reminding candidates and other relevant people of the regulations and requirements of the electoral legislation; and to promulgate a code of conduct based on the fair and equal treatment principles in respect of election-related activities which are not covered by the legislation.

The amendments are mainly composed of four categories: to reflect the amended electoral legislation, such as the procedures if electronic counting arrangements are adopted in functional constituency elections; to reflect the latest electoral arrangements and facilitation measures, for instance, electors could log on to an online system to check information such as their allocated polling stations, and candidates could submit election forms via electronic means; to further elaborate the contents of the guidelines to enable candidates and other relevant people to have a clearer understanding of the areas which they should pay attention to; and to align with the amendments already made to the other guidelines on election-related activities.

Mr Lok said: “To enable the public to better understand the requirements of the relevant electoral legislation and the code of conduct formulated by the EAC for the conduct of election-related activities, we have also enhanced the proposed guidelines by, for example, explaining the relevant electoral arrangements in the form of tables, consolidating the contents of the chapters, etc, with a view to making the proposed guidelines more concise and easy to comprehend.”

The proposed guidelines can be downloaded online or viewed at the Registration & Electoral Office, the Home Affairs Enquiry Centres of all district offices and the major and district public libraries.

People are welcome to make written representations on the proposed guidelines by email, by post to 8/F, Treasury Building, 3 Tonkin Street West, Cheung Sha Wan, Kowloon, or fax to 2511 1682 on or before August 1.

The EAC will hold a public forum from 7pm to 9pm on July 18 at the School Hall, 4/F, Kowloon Tong Government Primary School. The last admission time is 8pm.

Call 2891 1001 for enquiries.