Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Suspect in connection with a murder case returned to Hong Kong
The Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) received a male suspect in connection with a murder case from the Mainland authorities at the Shenzhen Bay Port yesterday (January 16).Issued at HKT 18:23
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Man holding charged with murder, cruelty to animals and theft
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Man holding charged with murder, cruelty to animals and theft
The man was arrested yesterday (January 16) in suspected connection with a murder case happened in Sau Mau Ping, in which a 35-year-old woman died.
The case will be mentioned at Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts on January 19 morning.
Active investigation by the Regional Crime Unit of Kowloon East is under way.
Issued at HKT 23:45
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FS to attend World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Switzerland
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
FS to attend World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Switzerland
During the Annual Meeting, Mr Chan will attend, speak and join discussions at several keynote meetings, luncheons and dinners. He will also meet with political, business and financial leaders to brief them on the latest situation in Hong Kong as well as the city’s new opportunities.
Mr Chan will leave Davos on January 23 (Davos time) and arrive in Hong Kong on January 24 morning. During his absence, the Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong, will act as the Financial Secretary.
Issued at HKT 10:00
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Car park at Hong Kong Wetland Park full
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Car park at Hong Kong Wetland Park full
Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:
The car park at Hong Kong Wetland Park is full. Motorists going to the Park can use the nearby public car parks at Tin Heng Estate, Tin Yat Estate, Grandeur Terrace or Tin Yip Road.
Members of the public are encouraged to take public transport to the Park.
Issued at HKT 15:36
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FS bound for Davos
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
Financial Secretary Paul Chan will depart for Davos, Switzerland this evening to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting, due to take place from Monday to Friday.
This year’s meeting will bring together nearly 3,000 leaders from across politics, business, finance, technology, the arts and culture, as well as representatives from international organisations, non-governmental organisations and think tanks, to jointly explore important global issues. More than 130 countries and regions will be represented.
Taking “A Spirit of Dialogue” as its theme, the meeting will cover topics such as co-operation in a contested world, unlocking new sources of growth, investing in people, deploying innovation at scale in a responsible manner, and “building prosperity within planetary boundaries”.
Mr Chan will attend, speak and join in discussions at several keynote meetings, lunches and dinners. He will also meet political, business and financial leaders to brief them on Hong Kong’s situation and opportunities.
Mr Chan will leave Davos on January 23 and arrive back in Hong Kong on the morning of January 24. Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong will act as Financial Secretary during his absence.
Hiking challenge honours natural gem
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
As the sun rises over Victoria Harbour, the city starts its day with people filling Lugard Road – jogging, walking dogs or strolling with friends.
An elderly woman who visits the Hong Kong Trail occasionally, remarked that it was a pleasant trail that was even suitable for dog walking.
“Hong Kong is a real treasure. In just 10 to 30 minutes by car, you can reach many hiking trails. So we really should cherish what we have.”
Singaporean film director Jack Neo recently led over 100 visitors to the trail for some morning exercise. He said the group was in high spirits and amazed by the landscape.
“The scenery in Singapore is very different from here – this is a mountain. We just looked down and suddenly realised how stunning the view is.”
With stops planned in Guangzhou and Shenzhen during their five-day trip, Mr Neo said he hopes to return to Hong Kong in the future to explore its countryside further.
Natural gem
Lugard Road is just the beginning of a greater natural treasure – the Hong Kong Trail.
Spanning about 50km, the trail begins at the western end of Hong Kong Island, winding eastward. It is the most hiker-friendly of the four long-distance trails managed by the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department. Starting at Victoria Peak, it crosses the island’s hills and ends at Tai Long Wan.
The trail is divided into eight sections, with Lugard Road forming part of Section 1.
Eric Lam, Country Parks Ranger Services Officer (Hong Kong) at the department, grew up hiking the trail with his father and has since covered every section.
He said the trail offers a rich variety of scenic spots – ranging from the Peak and Pok Fu Lam Reservoir to Jardine’s Lookout, Mount Butler, the Tai Tam Group of Reservoirs and Dragon’s Back – offering a real mix of vistas.
In addition to its diverse landscapes, the trail also boasts rich habitats.
“Woodlands, streams and reservoirs support a wide range of wildlife, including species with high conservation value – like the Hong Kong Camellia and Primrose, both first discovered on the island,” Mr Lam added.
Witnessing history
The Hong Kong Trail is also packed with historical and cultural elements.
Hikers can encounter significant sites along the route, including Hong Kong’s first reservoir – Pok Fu Lam Reservoir, completed in 1863 – and several declared monuments related to the city’s early waterworks system.
Wartime relics such as Second World War-era air raid shelters and pillboxes, alongside early 1900s markers like the Kwan Tai Lo Milestone and the Tai Tam Obelisk, are also visible along the trail.
In April 1985, the Hong Kong Trail was officially inaugurated at Tai Fung Au, which also marks the start of Section 6. Many hikers still pause to take photographs at the memorial plaque.
Tai Fung Au has been there from the very beginning, even remnants of the former Taikoo company town – including the now-demolished Taikoo Sanitarium and the world’s first passenger cable car. The remaining stone, brick and concrete foundations have faded into the landscape, standing as silent witnesses to the passage of time.
Hiking challenge
To encourage the public to explore the Hong Kong Trail, the department launched the “Unlocking Hong Kong Trail” hiking challenge, setting up eight checkpoints – one for each trail section. Each checkpoint features an e-badge inspired by the section’s landmarks and biodiversity, allowing hikers to check in and take part in a “treasure hunt”.
Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department Country Parks Ranger Services Officer (Education) Francis Tsang explained that participants should register on the event website, then hike to the eight checkpoints. Once there, they scan a QR code and answer a fun fact question to unlock an e-badge.
“Once they have unlocked all eight checkpoints within the event period – by February 28 – they can redeem a set of souvenirs on a first-come, first-served basis while stocks last,” Ms Tsang noted.
Since the challenge was launched in November 2025, over 7,400 people had signed up, with around 1,800 successfully unlocking all checkpoints as of the end of last year.
She advised participants to plan based on fitness and experience, hike in groups, and follow Leave No Trace principles.
Earlier, the department launched a series of activities encouraging public involvement in trail upkeep, including restoring erosion-prone sections to ensure hikers can safely and comfortably enjoy nature.
“Four Peaks” Tourism
Last year, the Government introduced the “Four Peaks” tourism initiative, covering Tai Mo Shan, Lantau Peak, Sai Kung Hoi and Victoria Peak, which overlaps with Section 1 of the Hong Kong Trail.
The department is phasing in the initiative, upgrading trails and facilities near High West, and working with nearby stakeholders to design themed green tourism routes linking the Peak Tram, landmarks and specialty cuisines.
The tourism routes, along with facility upgrades and green tourism products are expected to be in place by late 2026.
Ceremonial Opening of Legal Year 2026
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Ceremonial Opening of Legal Year 2026
The Ceremonial Opening of the Legal Year 2026 will be held at Hong Kong City Hall on Monday afternoon (January 19).
Chief Justice Andrew Cheung, Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal, will inspect a Ceremonial Guard mounted by the Hong Kong Police Force at Edinburgh Place. This will be followed by addresses from Chief Justice Cheung; the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC; the Chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association, Mr José-Antonio Maurellet, SC; and the President of the Law Society of Hong Kong, Mr Roden Tong, at the Concert Hall, Low Block, Hong Kong City Hall.
The public can view the live broadcast on the Judiciary’s website (www.judiciary.hkIssued at HKT 15:00
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Hong Kong Customs shuts down suspected etomidate and crack cocaine manufacturing centre and seizes suspected dangerous drugs worth about $10 million (with photo)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Hong Kong Customs shuts down suspected etomidate and crack cocaine manufacturing centre and seizes suspected dangerous drugs worth about $10 million (with photo)
During an anti-narcotics operation conducted in Tin Shui Wai in the small hours on January 14, Customs intercepted a 35-year-old man and found 50 suspected etomidate capsules in a paper bag carried by him. The man was arrested immediately and was brought to a nearby premises for a search. Later, Customs officers seized 267 suspected etomidate capsules, about 1.75kg of suspected etomidate powder, about 1.4kg of suspected etomidate oil, about 1.2kg of suspected cocaine, about 500g of suspected crack cocaine and a batch of suspected drug manufacturing paraphernalia in the premises. A woman, aged 26 and suspected to be connected with the case, was arrested there.
The arrested persons were jointly charged with two counts of manufacture of a dangerous drug and one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug, and the arrested man was additionally charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. They will appear at the Sha Tin Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (January 17).
According to the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, manufacture of a dangerous drug and trafficking in a dangerous drug are serious offences. 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.hkIssued at HKT 17:10
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Import of poultry meat and products from District of Göttingen of State of Niedersachsen in Germany suspended
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (January 16) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in the District of Göttingen of the State of Niedersachsen in Germany, 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 60 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Germany in the first nine months of last year.
“The CFS has contacted the German 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.
Nine persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operations (with photo)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Nine persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operations (with photo)
An ImmD spokesman said, “Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years’ imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties.”
The spokesman warned, “As stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land is prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years’ imprisonment. As stipulated in section 20(1)(a) of the Immigration Ordinance, the Chief Executive may make a deportation order against an immigrant, prohibiting the immigrant from being in Hong Kong at any time thereafter if the immigrant has been found guilty in Hong Kong of an offence punishable by imprisonment for not less than two years.”
The spokesman stressed that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years’ imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years’ imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.
According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee’s identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker’s valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.
Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) and/or forced labour victims. When any TIP and/or forced labour indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP and/or forced labour elements. Identified TIP and/or forced labour victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP and/or forced labour victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.
For reporting illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 3861 5000, by fax at 2824 1166, email to anti_crime@immd.gov.hkIssued at HKT 17:18
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