Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
An incoming passenger convicted and jailed for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes (with photo)
Customs officers intercepted an incoming 48-year-old Mainland female passenger and her accompanying child at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point on August 29 and seized 1 581 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $7,900 and a duty potential of about $5,200, from the backpack carried by her accompanying child. The female passenger was subsequently arrested.
Customs welcomes the sentences, noting that even a first-time offender may still be imprisoned. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflect the seriousness of the offences. Members of the public should not defy the law.
Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hkIssued at HKT 19:47
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Another new drug approved for registration under “1+” mechanism
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Another new drug approved for registration under “1+” mechanism
Another new drug approved
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The “1+” mechanism has been implemented since November 1, 2023, to facilitate the registration of new drugs used for the treatment of serious or rare diseases in Hong Kong. With effect from November 1, 2024, the “1+” mechanism has been extended to all new drugs, including all new chemical or biological entities, new indications, vaccines and advanced therapy products. New drugs that are supported by local clinical data and recognised by local experts can apply for registration in Hong Kong by submitting evidence of approval from one reference drug regulatory authority (instead of two in the past).
The above new drug, indicated for chronic spontaneous urticaria, has been approved by the drug regulatory authority in the United States and submitted for registration application under the “1+” mechanism. Having evaluated the clinical data, relevant information submitted by the applicant and advice given by local expert, the Registration Committee under the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong considered that the new drug satisfied the criteria of safety, efficacy and quality, and approved its registration in Hong Kong. The Department of Health (DH) has already notified the applicant of the result of the application.
Chronic spontaneous urticaria is a chronic skin condition that causes unpredictable itch and hives, which can profoundly affect the quality of life. This new drug can provide sustained improvement in symptoms control.
Paving the way towards “primary evaluation”
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Since the implementation of the “1+” mechanism, a total of 22 new drugs, including the above drug, have been approved under this mechanism. Seven of these drugs have been listed in the Hospital Authority (HA) Drug Formulary (HADF). Of these, six have even been listed under the “Special Drug” category of the HADF. If these drugs are prescribed under specified clinical applications, patients are only required to pay the standard fee (i.e. $20 every four weeks). This significantly alleviates patients’ financial burden and realises the concept of “good drugs for use in Hong Kong”. Along with the establishment of the Office for Introducing Innovative Drugs and Medical Devices (the Office) on June 8 this year, the HA is collaborating with the DH to expedite the registration process for new products recommended by the Office via the Priority Review Pathway, thereby accelerating the approval of innovative drugs in Hong Kong. The initial phase covers cancer treatments. The evaluation time required for registration in Hong Kong will be shortened from up to 150 working days to no more than 100 working days. This will enable patients to access advanced and effective clinical treatments more promptly.
The DH has been promoting the “1+” mechanism through different channels and has so far received more than 910 enquiries from over 220 pharmaceutical companies, including those from overseas and the Mainland. Many companies have expressed interest in submitting applications for registration of their products, including advanced therapy products, under the extended “1+” mechanism. The DH has organised a pre-new drug application consultation service and held a number of briefing seminars and workshops. The DH has also rolled out pre-new drug application meetings to enhance the efficiency in processing relevant applications.
The “1+” mechanism is conducive to enhancing Hong Kong’s drug approval capability, and facilitating the development of related hardware, software and human resources, thereby paving the way for the implementation of “primary evaluation”. The DH began the phased implementation of “primary evaluation” for new drug registration on March 31, 2026. The initial phase covers applications for the registration of drug products containing locally registered chemical entities with extended applications (e.g. new indications, new strengths, new posology, new dosage forms, and etc). The aim is to achieve full coverage of all pharmaceutical products by 2030, which will enable Hong Kong to independently assess and approve the safety and efficacy of new drugs based on clinical data, with a view to expediting the introduction of innovative medical products, thereby achieving the goal of making good drugs and medical devices available for use in Hong Kong for the benefit of patients.
The Chief Executive’s 2025 Policy Address announced that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government will accelerate the reform of the regulatory system of drugs and medical devices, thereby consolidating Hong Kong’s position as an international health and medical innovation hub. The DH will establish the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation by the end of 2026 to progressively establish a robust approval system, providing strong momentum for the development and market expansion of the healthcare industry in the HKSAR, the Chinese Mainland, and beyond, thereby transforming Hong Kong into an international health and medical innovation hub.
Issued at HKT 19:48
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99.1 per cent of owners of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po submitted “Letter of Acceptance”
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
A spokesman for the Housing Bureau said today (August 31) that the deadline for owners of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po to accept the Government’s acquisition offer expired at 5pm today. A total of 1 967 owners from the eight buildings (Blocks A to H) of Wang Fuk Court have signed and returned the “Letter of Acceptance” to confirm their intention to sell their titles to the Government, accounting for 99.1 per cent of the total number of units in the eight blocks.
Some “Letters of Acceptance” may be delivered later by post. Provided that the envelopes are postmarked on or before August 31, the Housing Bureau will regard the owners concerned as having accepted the Government’s acquisition offer.
The spokesman said that, after receiving and verifying the returned “Letters of Acceptance” from owners, the Government will arrange to sign the Agreement for Sale and Purchase with the owners concerned. As of this afternoon, the Government has signed the Agreement for Sale and Purchase with 1 559 households, representing about 78.6 per cent of the total number of units in the eight buildings from Blocks A to H. Assignments are also progressing in an orderly manner.
The Government will continue to follow up on the procedures for acquiring the remaining titles at full speed to take forward the title acquisition exercise.
DH follows up seriously on false claims made by medical centres that a vaccine to prevent multiple cancers is available in Hong Kong and urges members of the public not to use unregistered pharmaceutical products
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
In response to media reports today (August 31) that some medical centres were offering customers a vaccine called “Wilms’ tumor 1” (WT1) which is claimed to prevent multiple types of cancer, the Department of Health (DH) is following up the matter seriously. This includes launching enforcement actions and notifying the Mainland authorities and relevant law enforcement department in Hong Kong.
The DH emphasised that the WT1 vaccine is not a registered pharmaceutical product in Hong Kong. Any advertisement claiming to provide this vaccine for cancer prevention constitutes a misleading claim. No person may illegally sell or possess unregistered pharmaceutical products. The DH takes this matter very seriously and will not tolerate such behaviour.
The DH received reports in July alleging that “HK Pacific Asia Medical Centre” and its affiliated organisations were claiming on social media to provide the WT1 vaccine. This was suspected of violating the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Chapter 138) (the Ordinance). The DH has carried out multiple unannounced inspections of the premises in question and today conducted further unannounced inspections of a total of seven premises across Hong Kong and Kowloon, including the “HK Pacific Asia Medical Centre”. The DH has solemnly reminded the persons in charge of the premises concerned that providing any unregistered pharmaceutical products illegally constitutes an offence under the Ordinance, which is a criminal offence punishable by imprisonment. The DH will continue to closely monitor the premises in question and gather relevant intelligence, taking decisive enforcement action against any illegal or activities.
The DH reminded the public that the WT1 vaccine is not a registered pharmaceutical product in Hong Kong. Currently, no relevant registration records have been found with drug regulatory authorities in the Chinese Mainland or overseas. Advertisements claiming to provide this vaccine for cancer prevention are misleading and suspected of fraud. Furthermore, any healthcare professional who misleads patients into believing that the unregistered WT1 vaccine has cancer-preventing or anti-cancer effects is in serious breach of professional conduct, as this may cause patients to delay seeking medical treatment. Members of the public should not trust advertisements or rumours lightly. They should also refrain from receiving injections of unknown substances to avoid endangering their health or delaying medical treatment, which could worsen their condition. The DH has also notified the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department to follow up on cases where unregistered pharmaceutical products may have been illegally imported into Hong Kong.
Furthermore, as the case may involve the professional conduct of registered medical practitioners, the DH has referred it to the Medical Council of Hong Kong for follow-up.
On the other hand, the DH has reviewed the content of the advertisement placed by the companies in question and found that it was suspected of breaching the Undesirable Medical Advertisements Ordinance (UMAO) (Cap. 231). Hence, the DH has already issued warning letters to the relevant companies in accordance with established procedures and mechanisms, and has requested that the content of the relevant advertisements be removed or deleted. The DH has also notified the relevant law enforcement authorities in the Chinese Mainland to follow up on the matter, given the serious health risks to the public that may arise from the publication of these advertisements on social media platforms in the Chinese Mainland.
Under the Ordinance, any product that meets the definition of a “pharmaceutical product” must meet the criteria of safety, efficacy and quality and be registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong before they can be sold in the market. Advanced therapy product, which include gene therapy products, somatic cell therapy products and tissue engineered products, are regulated as pharmaceutical products under the Ordinance. Any person who illegally sells or possesses unregistered pharmaceutical products commits an offence and shall be liable, upon conviction, to a maximum penalty of a fine of $100,000 and two-years’ imprisonment.
Furthermore, import and export of pharmaceutical products are controlled under the Import and Export Ordinance (Cap. 60). Any person who imports or exports pharmaceutical product without relevant licence commits an offence, and shall be liable, upon conviction, to a maximum penalty of a fine of $500,000 and two-years’ imprisonment.
From 2021 to June 2026, the DH’s Drug Office handled 138 cases involving convictions for the sale and/or possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products. The maximum penalty was 10 months’ imprisonment (total for all counts of offences) or a fine of up to HK$242,000 (the total fine for all counts of offences).
Under the Undesirable Medical Advertisements Ordinance (UMAO), no person may publish, or cause to be published, advertisements likely to lead to the use of any medicine, surgical appliance or treatment for treating or preventing the diseases or conditions specified in Schedules 1 and 2. Schedule 4 of the UMAO also prohibition/restriction on six groups of claims for orally consumed products, in order to prevent members of the public from seeking inappropriate methods to treat certain serious conditions or diseases, which could result in delayed treatment.
The DH reminded members of the public that, regarding any queries about the prevention and treatment of diseases (including cancers), they should first consult a registered doctor, who will provide professional advice based on individual health condition and the latest medical evidence. The public should not blindly trust unproven medical claims because protecting one’s own health is of the utmost importance.
The DH has stepped up public education and awareness campaigns, issuing warning alerts to the public via social media platforms that the WT1 vaccine is not a registered pharmaceutical product in Hong Kong and should not be used indiscriminately. The DH will continue to closely monitor pharmaceutical products on the market, via both online and offline channels, in accordance with established mechanisms. The DH will also take appropriate follow-up action upon receiving intelligence or complaints. Members of the public are encouraged to provide relevant information to the DH by phone at 2961 8989 or by email (enquiries@dh.gov.hk). The DH will conduct joint operations with other law enforcement department as necessary, or refer the cases to the relevant department for follow-up.
Hong Kong’s healthcare standards are internationally renowned. The DH will continue to follow up on this incident seriously. Anyone endangering public health under the pretext of cancer prevention will not be tolerated.
Health centre officially opens
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
Under Secretary for Health Dr Cecilia Fan today officiated at the opening ceremony of the Central & Western District Health Centre (C&W DHC).
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Fan said the Government has long positioned District Health Centres (DHCs) as the hub of primary healthcare services to co-ordinate community healthcare resources, thereby promoting the mindset of “prevention-oriented, early intervention”.
The DHCs provide citizens with a series of standardised and personalised healthcare services. They also co-ordinate family doctor-centred multidisciplinary teams to provide relevant health management and recommendations, including prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment and referrals based on individual needs.
Among these, around 260,000 citizens have already participated in the Chronic Disease Co-Care Scheme, while about 50,000 have been arranged to undergo free hepatitis B rapid tests under the Hepatitis B Co-Care Scheme since its launch in February.
Going forward, Dr Fan added, the DHCs will continue to introduce more services covering areas such as elderly health and women’s health.
At present, there are 10 DHCs and eight DHC Expresses (DHCEs) across Hong Kong, comprising a total of over 100 service points, including core centres and satellite centres.
As of the end of June, about 600,000 people have become members of the DHCs and DHCEs across the city’s 18 districts.
Dr Fan pointed out that, according to the Domestic Health Accounts 2024-25, primary healthcare expenditure accounts for over 30% of the overall Current Health Expenditure.
“In the long run, we aspire to raise this proportion to over 35%, or even 40%, with a view to building a sustainable healthcare system capable of addressing the challenges posed by the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases.”
Located in Sheung Wan, the core centre of the C&W DHC is equipped with consultation rooms, an interactive fitness training room, rehabilitation facilities, smart equipment and fitness systems.
It started providing services for members in September last year, followed by the commissioning of the satellite centre in Kennedy Town in December last year.
Call 2637 3773 for more information.
99.1% of owners accept acquisitions
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
A total of 1,967 owners of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po have returned signed Letters of Acceptance to confirm their intention to sell their titles to the Government, accounting for 99.1% of the total number of units in the eight buildings from Blocks A to H.
The Housing Bureau announced the figure after the deadline for owners to accept the Government’s acquisition offer expired at 5pm today.
As of this afternoon, the Government has signed the Agreement for Sale and Purchase with 1,559 households, representing about 78.6% of the estate’s units.
The bureau noted that some Letters of Acceptance may arrive later by mail, adding that envelopes postmarked on or before today will be treated as valid acceptances.
The Government will continue working at full speed to complete the remaining acquisition procedures, the bureau added.
IRD enhances eTAX services
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has accepted all recommendations from the Office of The Ombudsman regarding the submission of electronic tax returns by members of the public, waiving relevant penalties and launching new safeguards.
The Ombudsman today released a direct investigation report on the unsuccessful delivery of electronic tax returns submitted by members of the public for the 2024-25 year of assessment.
In a statement responding to the report, the IRD said it is highly concerned that some taxpayers, after completing digital signing via “iAM Smart” while filing their tax returns through eTAX last year, did not return from “iAM Smart” to eTAX to complete the entire tax return filing process, resulting in the tax returns not being submitted to the department.
The department highlighted that it has actively followed up on the implementation of the Ombudsman’s recommendations, with the majority of them having already commenced or been completed.
After receiving reports from taxpayers last year, the IRD actively initiated follow-up actions and enhanced the system and workflow, and has been fully co-operating with the Ombudsman during its direct investigation.
The new enhancement measures were put in place before the issuance of the individual tax returns for the 2025-26 year of assessment in May this year. The IRD has not received similar complaints from taxpayers since then.
The enhancements included adding a pop-up message to eTAX to remind users that they must return to the eTAX system to complete the tax return filing process after completing digital signing via “iAM Smart”. Users who have successfully submitted their tax returns will receive confirmation messages in their eTAX message boxes.
The department also modified the message displayed on the relevant confirmation page, as well as the “iAM Smart” electronic notifications and emails sent to users following the completion of digital signing via “iAM Smart”, to remind taxpayers to return to the eTAX system to complete the tax return filing process.
Furthermore, information entered by users in eTAX will be temporarily saved automatically, saving users the trouble of repeating the relevant process when they fail to sign or submit their tax returns for various reasons.
The IRD added that, according to records, between May last year and January, about 490,000 people used “iAM Smart” to sign their individual tax returns via eTAX. Over 90% of them successfully submitted their tax returns upon the first attempt.
As for the roughly 33,000 taxpayers who failed to submit their tax returns upon their first attempt, approximately 80% of them had reused “iAM Smart” to sign and submit their tax returns successfully before the IRD issued penalty notices and/or notices of estimated assessment.
Among the 33,000 taxpayers, nearly 14,000 taxpayers used “iAM Smart” again to sign and successfully submit their tax returns on the very same day they made their initial attempt.
The IRD apologised for the inconvenience caused to taxpayers by this incident and is actively following up on the relevant cases.
It emphasised that no taxpayers will be penalised due to the incident. Penalty remissions will be granted and penalty payments will be refunded to taxpayers who filed their tax returns after the submission deadline as a result of the incident. The IRD has notified the relevant taxpayers via eTAX regarding the arrangements for the refund of penalties.
The two prosecutions related to the incident have also been withdrawn.
For cases where taxpayers received notices of estimated assessment but did not request a revision, the IRD will issue letters to the relevant taxpayers before mid-September to remind them that if they consider that the assessments failed to take into account the information provided in their tax returns, they may apply for a revision of assessments.
FEHD releases sixth batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in August
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
FEHD releases sixth batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in August
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