Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Suspension of postal services to IraqIssued at HKT 9:15
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New York ETO promotes biotechnology and academic ties with Boston (with photos)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
New York ETO promotes biotechnology and academic ties with Boston
At the June 15 (Boston time) welcome dinner for the Hong Kong delegation at BIO 2025, Ms Ho highlighted Hong Kong’s status as a global hub for biotech innovation and fundraising. She also noted Hong Kong’s strong presence at BIO 2025, showcasing the depth and diversity of the city’s biotechnology sector, including pharmaceuticals, immunotherapies, gene editing, diagnostics and stem cell technologies.
The Hong Kong delegation included representatives from the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation and its delegation of 16 leading biotech portfolio companies, the medical faculties of the University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, as well as representatives from the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises, Invest Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. At the Hong Kong Pavilion, they showcased the city’s life and health sciences capabilities, aiming to attract global enterprises, talent, and investment, and reinforcing Hong Kong’s status as a global biotech hub.
At the “Hong Kong x Boston Biotech Disrupt Night” on June 16 (Boston time) hosted by Invest Hong Kong, Ms Ho spoke on Hong Kong’s strategic advantages in biotechnology, citing world-class infrastructure, strong intellectual property protection, top-tier universities, and a vibrant start-up ecosystem. She also emphasised government support, funding and initiatives such as InnoLife Healthtech Hub and the New Industrialisation Acceleration Scheme. The event, attended by over 140 biotech industry representatives and investors, also featured a panel discussion featuring Hong Kong and Boston’s biotech leaders where they had an insightful exchange on the potential of Boston biotech companies in leveraging Hong Kong for their Asian market expansion.
“Hong Kong offers a nurturing environment for life sciences—combining policy support, research excellence, and regulatory certainty. As the world’s second-largest fundraising hub for biotech IPOs, we also offer deep access to capital and a highly international talent pool. With our world-class infrastructure, common law system, robust IP protections, and proximity to Mainland China and Asia, we serve as a gateway and global launchpad for biotech companies aiming to scale and internationalise”, she said.
While in Boston, Ms Ho also met with representatives of the academia to explore areas of mutual interests and promoted Hong Kong’s various talent admission schemes and the city’s commitment to become an international education and research hub. Her meetings included discussions with Visiting Fellow of Practice at Harvard University’s Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies Mr Mitchell Presnick; and representatives from the University of Massachusetts Boston, including the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Mr Joseph B. Berger; the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Ms Karen Ferrer-Muñiz; and the Vice Provost of Research and Strategic Initiatives, Mr Bala Sundaram. She also attended a reception hosted by the Mayor of Boston Ms Michelle Wu for key international biotech leaders and stakeholders.
Issued at HKT 7:40
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Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected cannabis buds at airport
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected cannabis buds at airport.
Hong Kong Customs today (June 17) detected a drug trafficking case involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 11 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $2.2 million.
The case involved a 26-year-old female passenger arriving in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, today. During customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cannabis buds in her check-in suitcase. The woman 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 (June 18).
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 to 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).
Issued at HKT 21:02
CFS finds ethylene oxide in sample of prepackaged black pepper
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
​The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (June 17) that a sample of prepackaged black pepper was found to contain a pesticide, ethylene oxide. Members of the public should not consume the affected product. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected product immediately if they possess it.
Product details are as follows:
Product name: I Love Black Pepper with Grinders 170g
Brand: CAPE FOODS
Place of origin: South Africa
Net weight: 170 grams
Best-before date: November 18, 2027
Distributor: EASTERN ZONE CO. LTD.
A spokesman for the CFS said, “The CFS collected the above-mentioned sample from an online vendor for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained a pesticide, ethylene oxide. The CFS has informed the vendor concerned of the irregularity and instructed it to stop sales and remove from shelves the affected product. According to the CFS’s instructions, the distributor concerned has initiated a recall on the affected product. Members of the public may call its hotline at 2898 8632 for enquiries about the recall of the product concerned.”
The spokesman continued, “The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified ethylene oxide as a Group 1 carcinogen. According to the Pesticide Residues in Food Regulation (Cap. 132CM), a food for human consumption containing pesticide residue may only be sold if consumption of the food is not dangerous or prejudicial to health. An offender is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and to imprisonment for six months upon conviction.”
The CFS will alert the trade, continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. An investigation is ongoing.
HK gains 9 Martin Barnes Awards
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Development Bureau (DEVB) and works departments bagged nine Martin Barnes Awards, including two prestigious winner awards.
An award ceremony was held yesterday in London, the UK, where Hong Kong won nine awards from the 27 awards in eight categories among 80 entries worldwide.
Hong Kong earned two of the prestigious winner awards. While the Water Supplies Department received one for the Climate Change Initiative category for the implementation of Shek Wu Hui Water Reclamation Plant, the other award, for the Distinguished Contribution category, was given to Deputy Secretary for Development (Works) Tony Ho in recognition of his outstanding performance in promoting the application of the New Engineering Contract (NEC) in construction projects over the years.
Apart from the two winner awards, the DEVB, the Civil Engineering & Development, the Drainage Services, the Electrical & Mechanical Services and the Highways departments also received accolades for several notable NEC entries.
While sending her congratulations to the project teams on their impressive achievements, Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn highlighted that the DEVB and works departments have been committed to promoting collaborative partnerships in the delivery of public works projects through the adoption of the NEC form, enhancing mutual trust and co-operation among different industry stakeholders.
“Such collaborative partnerships help accomplish the primary goals of project management and enhance management efficiency and cost-effectiveness of projects. The awards fully demonstrate that their efforts and accomplishments have been recognised internationally.”
Introduced by the DEVB for public works projects in the city in 2009, the NEC form embraces a collaborative partnership between clients and contractors, thereby enhancing project performance.
As of today, more than 760 public works contracts, with a total value of over $510 billion, have adopted the NEC form.
A prestigious honour in the industry, the Martin Barnes Awards are presented by the New Engineering Contract Users’ Group under the UK Institution of Civil Engineers. The awards recognise construction projects, organisations and individuals worldwide that have demonstrated excellence in project delivery through collaborative partnership.
Postal summit held
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The 6th Mainland-Hong Kong-Macao Postal Summit was held in Hong Kong today where representatives from the three places engaged in business exchanges and in-depth discussions on key topics.
Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Algernon Yau delivered opening remarks at the summit.
State Post Bureau Director General Zhao Chongjiu, China Post Group Co Chairman Liu Aili, Macao Post & Telecommunications Bureau Director Lau Wai Meng, and Postmaster General Leonia Tai gave speeches respectively, and joined Mr Yau in officiating at the summit’s opening ceremony.
Seven important consensus were reached at the meeting, including collaboratively ensuring service support for the 15th National Games and jointly launching special products.
In his opening remarks, Mr Yau said it is highly significant for the postal summit to be held in Hong Kong for the first time. Under the leadership of the State Post Bureau, the summit provides a sustainable and effective platform for the postal services of the three places to deepen communication and co-operation, enhance policy co-ordination and resource sharing, and promote integration and exchange in postal development.
The 6th Mainland-Hong Kong-Macao Postal Summit
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The 6th Mainland-Hong Kong-Macao Postal SummitIssued at HKT 21:52
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Med school plans further discussed
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Task Group on New Medical School today met for the second time with the universities, Baptist University, Polytechnic University and the Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, that have submitted proposals for the establishment of Hong Kong’s third medical school.
While having a focused exchange on the specific plans of their proposals, each of the three universities further presented its overall plan for implementing the new medical school proposal, including the curriculum content, clinical training for medical students, construction of teaching facilities and funding arrangements.
The task group will enhance speed and efficiency in expediting the assessment of the proposals, with a view to completing the assessments and providing a recommendation to the Government within this year.
Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau said that the three universities have demonstrated a strong commitment to nurturing medical talent and developing Hong Kong into an international health and medical innovation hub, as well as responded positively to the concerns raised by the task group on the quality of medical education and clinical training.
“As President Xi Jinping said, ‘Health is the most important indicator of people’s happiness.’ The Government strives to comprehensively deepen the healthcare system reform, and the new medical school will not only shoulder the mission of coping with the rapidly ageing population and the worsening shortage of healthcare manpower, but also pursue complementary development with the two existing medical schools to contribute to the enhancement of city’s healthcare system.”
Secretary for Education Choi Yuk-lin highlighted that the 2024-2035 master plan on building China into a leading country in education newly released by the nation strives to accelerate the development of world-class universities and advanced disciplines.
“We expect the selected university to take on the important task of actively promoting curriculum innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration and establishing closer ties with regional partners.”
She added that the new medical school will also be able to nurture more healthcare talent, raise academic standards and broaden the scope of medical education and research in Hong Kong.
FEHD to take disciplinary sanctions
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Food & Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today said that staff members found guilty of a criminal offence will not only be subject to court sentencing but will also face disciplinary sanctions by the department in accordance with the established civil service disciplinary mechanism.
The FEHD made the remarks following the District Court’s sentencing of eight former Principal Hawker Control Officers for conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office.
It emphasised that it attaches great importance to staff discipline and integrity and will not condone any misconduct or illegal behaviour.
When conducting civil service recruitment exercises, civil servants must strictly comply with the relevant policies and procedures, and ensure that the recruitment process is conducted according to the principles of fairness, transparency, and merits.
The FEHD said it will seek advice from the Civil Service Bureau to determine appropriate follow-up actions following the court judgment, including whether to consider cancelling, suspending, or reducing the pension benefits of the officers concerned under Section 29 of the Pension Benefits Ordinance.
Following the incident, the FEHD has reviewed the recruitment procedures for Assistant Hawker Control Officers and introduced refinements to the modus operandi and the monitoring mechanism.
Such enhancements include adjusting the representation of relevant grades in the recruitment boards to enhance objectivity and diversity in the selection process, and arranging for supervisory staff to observe interviews on an irregular basis.
In addition, integrity training has been strengthened for enforcement and supervisory officers at all levels.
CHP investigates cluster of influenza A infections in primary school
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
CHP investigates cluster of influenza A infections in primary school
The cluster involves 46 persons, including 41 male students aged 7 to 10, and five staff members. They developed symptoms on or after June 7. Among them, 41 persons sought medical attention and three were hospitalised. Two were subsequently discharged and one remains hospitalised. All of the patients had mild symptoms. Laboratory testing revealed that respiratory specimens of the aforesaid three hospitalised students tested positive for influenza A virus, while rapid antigen tests revealed that 32 teachers and students also tested positive for influenza A virus.
The personnel of the CHP had inspected the primary school twice and found that inter-class and inter-grade activities were organised in the schools, and that individual function rooms and classrooms were not adequately ventilated, and items shared among the students were not thoroughly disinfected. The CHP has provided advice to the school management on prevention of upper respiratory tract infection, including thorough cleaning and disinfection, opening windows where appropriate for better ventilation, refraining infected students from going to school, stopping inter-class and inter-grade activities, wearing masks by teachers and students during the outbreak and conducting temperature monitoring on entering school, etc. The school is currently under medical surveillance.
To prevent outbreaks of influenza and other respiratory infections, it is of prime importance that children with fever, regardless of the presence of respiratory symptoms, should not be allowed to attend school, and should consult a doctor promptly. In addition, children, the elderly and those with underlying illnesses are urged to get vaccinated as early as possible to prevent seasonal influenza.
Influenza vaccination has been proven to be one of the most effective ways to prevent seasonal influenza and its complications, while significantly reducing the risk of hospitalisation and death from seasonal influenza. All persons aged 6 months and above (except those with known contraindications), particularly the elderly and children who have a higher risk of becoming infected with influenza and developing complications, should be vaccinated. Although the level of influenza activity has remained low since the end of the winter influenza season, sporadic outbreaks in schools and residential institutions caused by influenza viruses are still possible, especially when there are gatherings of crowd coupled with inadequate infection control measures. The number of severe cases involving adults and cases of severe paediatric influenza-associated complications recorded in the influenza season earlier this year has significantly decreased compared with the 2018/19 influenza season. It is believed that this is the result of the general public’s willingness to receive the SIV.
For the latest information, members of the public can visit the CHP’s seasonal influenzaIssued at HKT 20:58
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