Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Three new permanent exhibition galleries at Hong Kong Science Museum to open tomorrow
The Living Tech Gallery centres around three major aspects in daily life, including “transport”, “living”, and “food”. It features about 20 sets of interactive exhibits introducing how technology drives more convenient, environmentally friendly, and sustainable ways of living. Highlighted exhibits include the first collection item of the HKScM, the DC-3 airplane “Betsy”, donated by Cathay Pacific Airways, showcasing the evolution of flight technologies. Visitors can also experience autonomous driving, which operates without driver intervention through advanced sensors. New technologies applied by the MTR Corporation to ensure passengers enjoy safer and smoother journeys every day are displayed with interactive exhibits, such as “Train Car Loading Indicator” and “Smart Passenger Instrumented Revenue Train”. In addition, technologies such as eco-conscious architecture and renewable energy systems make modern homes more aligned with the principles of sustainable development. The exhibition also showcases the emission-free cooling technology developed by a research team at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, as well as various types of innovative bio-based materials, such as mango leather, rice husk laminate, and sewage sludge panel. Exhibits designed together with the University of Hong Kong focus on future staple foods such as seaweed, genetically modified plants, and cultured meat, allowing visitors to rethink the future possibilities of diets.
The InnoTech Gallery introduces five pivotal technologies that are shaping the future of science, including quantum technology, materials technology, biotechnology, computers and AI, and robotics. Through the latest technological examples and accessible scientific backgrounds, it explains the science principles behind these technologies, ranging from quantum computing to advanced DNA editing. The exhibition also reveals the fundamental science and applications behind these groundbreaking technologies and explores their potential to reshape the future. Highlighted exhibits include a quantum computer model with interactive games explaining its basic principles, the “Text to binary” station showing how text is converted into digital signals and back, and the “Water droplet run”, which showcases how hydrophobic properties are applied in daily life. Part of the exhibition content is related to the Hong Kong senior secondary curricula in physics, biology, information and communication technology, and design and applied technology.
The AI Gallery introduces visitors to the basic principles of AI, highlighting its integration with creative arts and Chinese culture, as well as its applications in healthcare and life sciences. Selected exhibits from the “Era of Intelligence” exhibition, part of the “Glorious Voyage: Splendid Achievements of the People’s Republic of China in Its 75 Years” Exhibition Series held in 2024, which were very well received by visitors, were enhanced and integrated with new displays in the gallery. More than 90 per cent of the exhibits are interactive, offering a fun and exploratory experience for visitors, such as AI-powered painting, music composition, chess playing, and paper-scissors-stone.
For details of the exhibition galleries, please visit the website at hk.science.museum/en/web/scm/index.htmlIssued at HKT 18:12
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Speech by CE at 41st Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology Congress (English only)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is the video speech by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at the 41st Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology Congress today (February 5):
Professor Jason Yam (President of Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology 2026 Congress), Professor Tetsuro Oshika (President of Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology), Professor Richard Abbott (President of Academia Ophthalmologica Internationalis), Dr Hong Wah Yung (President of the College of Ophthalmologists of Hong Kong, Dr Yung Hong-wah), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Health Bureau welcomes Ombudsman’s direct investigation operation report
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Health Bureau (HHB) welcomed the recommendations made to the Government and the Department of Health (DH) in the Office of The Ombudsman (Ombudsman)’s direct investigation operation report entitled “Effectiveness of Administrative Support Provided for Complaint Handling by Secretariat of Medical Council of Hong Kong under Department of Health, and Department of Health’s Regulatory Role” (Report) released today (February 5). The HHB expressed gratitude to the Ombudsman for putting forward a series of pertinent and useful observations and views on strengthening the Medical Council of Hong Kong (MCHK) as the statutory regulatory body for the medical profession. With reference to the Ombudsman’s views and the Report, the HHB will formulate detailed proposals to amend the Medical Registration Ordinance (MRO), with a view to enabling the MCHK and its Secretariat to discharge their duties of upholding doctors’ professional conduct and continuously enhancing medical professional standards more effectively under the principle of professional autonomy.
Since the Ombudsman announced the launch of a full investigation on November 5 last year, the HHB and the DH have been fully co-operating with the Ombudsman’s investigation. Although the MCHK as a statutory professional regulatory body fell outside the scope of the Ombudsman’s investigation, the HHB and the DH have, in respect of matters covered by the investigation, liaised and communicated with the MCHK, and provided relevant information to the Ombudsman to facilitate the investigation and formulation of improvement measures. Many of the measures recommended in the Report on the support provided by the DH and the Secretariat of the MCHK for the complaint handling mechanism of the MCHK, as well as the Ombudsman’s series of observations and views on the current regulatory framework for the medical profession, align with the HHB’s overarching directions in reviewing the MRO, namely to ensure that the legislation for healthcare professions keeps pace with the times, meets societal needs and the public interest, and to enable the MCHK to discharge its various statutory functions more effectively, including its function in handling complaints.
Meanwhile, in response to the request made by the Secretary for Health in October last year, the MCHK has completed its review on improving the complaint handling mechanism and submitted a report and supplementary information to the HHB. In January this year, the HHB commenced a series of consultations on amending the MRO, meeting with patient groups, the two local medical schools, the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine, the Hong Kong Medical Association and other medical professional bodies. The HHB also visited the MCHK yesterday (February 4) to exchange views with members on the amendment to the MRO. The HHB will further take into account the Ombudsman’s Report and the views of various stakeholders, and will formulate proposals to amend the MRO having regard to the operational needs of the MCHK. The HHB will also propose measures to strengthen the functions of the Secretariat of the MCHK under the DH. The HHB will brief the Panel on Health Services of the Legislative Council (LegCo) shortly on the proposed directions and enhancement proposals for the MRO, with a target of introducing an amendment bill into the LegCo in the first half of this year.
Tender results of re-opening of 2-year RMB HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Tender results of re-opening of 2-year RMB HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds
A total of RMB1.0 billion 2-year Government Bonds were offered today. A total of RMB13.980 billion tender applications were received. The bid-to-cover ratio, i.e. the ratio of bonds applied for to bonds issued, is 13.98. The average price accepted is 100.20, implying an annualised yield of 1.601 per cent.
Tender results of 2-year RMB HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds:
| Tender Date* Calculated as the amount of bonds applied for over the amount of bonds issued.
Note: The yields stated above are annualised yields. For reference, the semi-annualised yields corresponding to the average price accepted, lowest price accepted, and average tender price are 1.595 per cent, 1.600 per cent, and 1.684 per cent respectively. NNNN DH responds to Ombudsman’s direct investigation operation reportSource: Hong Kong Government special administrative region DH responds to Ombudsman’s direct investigation operation report NNNN Sixth-term Commission on Poverty convenes fifth meetingSource: Hong Kong Government special administrative region Sixth-term Commission on Poverty convenes fifth meeting NNNN Monthly gravidtrap index for Aedes albopictus mosquitoes in January remains at low levelSource: Hong Kong Government special administrative region The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (February 5) announced that the monthly gravidtrap index for Aedes albopictus mosquitoes in January was 0.1 per cent, lower than the 0.2 per cent recorded in December 2025, which remained at the lowest Level 1, indicating that the distribution of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes in the areas surveyed was not extensive. In January, all 62 survey areas recorded an area gravidtrap index (AGI) lower than the alert level of 20 per cent, and most of the areas recorded 0 per cent. Moreover, the monthly density index for Aedes albopictus in January was 1, which represented that an average of one Aedes albopictus adult was found in the Aedes-positive gravidtraps, indicating that the number of adult Aedes albopictus was not abundant in the survey areas. 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 website at www.fehd.gov.hk Expansion of PAPT to cover sale and purchase of residential properties in secondary marketSource: Hong Kong Government special administrative region Expansion of PAPT to cover sale and purchase of residential properties in secondary market Under PAPT, the buyer’s mortgage loan proceeds will be transferred to the seller’s bank through the interbank electronic payment system, enabling the seller to receive the sale proceeds on the completion day at the earliest. Compared to the conventional payment method, in which mortgage loan proceeds need to be settled via the solicitors’ accounts (Note 3) using physical cheques, PAPT is a faster and safer option. Buyers and sellers who wish to use PAPT may request their estate agents to incorporate relevant clauses into the provisional S&P agreement.Note 2: Mortgage banks will provide PAPT for S&P transactions of residential properties in the secondary market in Hong Kong with provisional S&P agreements signed on or after February 28, 2026. NNNN Ombudsman announces results of direct investigation operation into effectiveness of administrative support provided for complaint handling by Secretariat of Medical Council of Hong Kong under Department of Health and Department of Health’s regulatory role (with photos)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 (February 5) announced the completion of a direct investigation operation into the effectiveness of administrative support provided for complaint handling by the Secretariat of the Medical Council of Hong Kong (MCHK) under the Department of Health (DH), and the DH’s regulatory role. The Office of The Ombudsman (the Office) made 21 improvement recommendations to the authorities. All 21 recommendations made are accepted by the authorities. The full investigation report is available on the website of the Office of The Ombudsman at www.ombudsman.hk Taiwan-Japan Fishery Committee holds successful 12th meetingSource: Republic of China Taiwan Taiwan-Japan Fishery Committee holds successful 12th meeting Date：2026-01-30 January 30, 2026No. 038The Taiwan-Japan Relations Association and the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association convened the 12th meeting of the Taiwan-Japan Fishery Committee in Yilan from January 27 to 29. The alternating responsibility for organizing and hosting the meeting on this occasion fell to Taiwan. Taiwan-Japan Relations Association Deputy Secretary-General Lin Yu-hui led Taiwan’s delegation, with Director-General Wang Mao-chen of the Ministry of Agriculture’s Fisheries Agency serving as lead negotiator. The meeting was also attended by representatives of the Ocean Affairs Council’s Coast Guard Administration and relevant local fishers’ associations.During the meeting, the two parties affirmed the success of regulations implemented in 2025 for fishing vessels operating in a triangular area of water north of Japan’s Yaeyama Islands and reached consensus on operational rules for 2026. The sides also agreed to further revise self-regulatory covenants, to provide educational guidance to fishers prior to the start of the fishing season, and to avoid allowing fishing gear to drift into areas east of longitude 124°02′ E. Taiwan also requested that Japan commence consultations with Taiwan as soon as possible on other issues related to fishing operations in overlapping economic zones.Taiwan and Japan signed the Taiwan-Japan Fisheries Agreement on April 10, 2013, resolving long-standing fisheries disputes in a peaceful and rational manner. The Taiwan-Japan Fishery Committee was established in accordance with the agreement, with Taiwan and Japan taking turns to hold committee meetings once a year. The gatherings serve as an important dialogue platform, allowing the two sides to define a framework for fisheries operations and manage fisheries-related issues. (E) |