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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Hong Kong Customs special operation combats sale of counterfeit luxury fashion products (with photo)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Hong Kong Customs mounted a special operation in Hung Hom and Quarry Bay between January 6 and 14 to combat the sale of counterfeit luxury fashion products. About 1 000 suspected counterfeit goods, including apparel, shoes, handbags and jewellery, with an estimated market value of about $7.3 million, were seized. Two persons were arrested.
Through intelligence analysis, Customs earlier discovered a retail shop in Hung Hom selling suspected counterfeit luxury fashion products. Customs officers then took enforcement action and raided the retail shop and its storage facility. About 400 pieces of suspected counterfeit apparel, with an estimated market value of about $700,000, were seized.
In addition, Customs earlier received information alleging that suspected counterfeit apparel was put on sale at a retail shop in Quarry Bay. After detailed investigations and with the assistance of the trademark owners, Customs officers took enforcement action and raided the retail shop. About 600 suspected counterfeit apparel items, with an estimated market value of about $6,600,000, were seized.
During the operation, two female shop owners, aged 48 and 53, were arrested.
The investigation is ongoing, and the likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.
With the Lunar New Year around the corner, Customs will continue to step up inspections and enforcement to vigorously combat different kinds of counterfeiting activities.
Customs reminds consumers to procure goods at reputable shops and to check with the trademark owners or their 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.
Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who sells or possesses for sale any goods with a forged trademark 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).
Housing Bureau and Development Bureau accept Independent Investigation Report submitted by Architectural Services Department regarding construction malpractices at three Light Public Housing sites and impose punitive measures on Contractor, Structural Engineer, and Project Management Consultant involved
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Housing Bureau and Development Bureau accept Independent Investigation Report submitted by Architectural Services Department regarding construction malpractices at three Light Public Housing sites and impose punitive measures on Contractor, Structural Engineer, and Project Management Consultant involved
In light of the investigation results, the DEVB served notices today, in accordance with the regulatory mechanisms, to the companies involved about the following punitive measures to be imposed on them:
(1) The Contractor, i.e. Able Engineering Company Limited (Able), which is responsible for the construction and associated quality assurance: suspension of its eligibility to tender under all relevant categories of the List of Approved Contractors for Public Works and the List of Approved Suppliers of Materials and Specialist Contractors for Public Works for one year. As for Chun Wo Construction and Engineering Company Limited that formed the joint venture with Able, since its major involvement in the projects is to provide strategic advice on construction planning and has neither been involved in the site works nor supervision, it is not subject to the punitive measures;
(2) The Structural Engineer employed by the Contractor, i.e. C M Wong & Associates Limited, which is responsible for providing and managing the resident structural engineer involved: suspension of its eligibility to tender under all relevant categories of the List of Consultants of the Architectural and Associated Consultants Selection Board (AACSB) for one year; and
Since the commencement of LPH construction, the ArchSD has always enforced strict quality supervision and proactive inspections, together with reviews on the performance of contractors. The prompt uncovering of malpractices at the three LPH sites during the ArchSD’s proactive inspections was a direct reflection of the effectiveness of the supervision mechanism.
The HB has tasked the ArchSD to continue its stern supervision of the Contractor to take forward the remedial works and the remaining construction works and to closely monitor construction quality and progress. Under the premise of adhering to the original completion dates, every effort shall be made to ensure that all projects comply with the relevant safety requirements. As directed by the ArchSD, the Contractor has implemented a host of remedial measures at full speed since early November last year, including shifting and reinstalling the modules involved, and will bear all costs related to the remedial measures.
Moreover, on the works contract level, the ArchSD requested that the Contractor implement a series of remedial measures and bear all the related costs of the remedial works. In addition, should the remedial measures result in any delay in the contract completion dates, the Contractor will be liable for liquidated damages. Moreover, the ArchSD has required the Contractor to replace all site supervision personnel, including site agents, works supervisors, and resident structural engineers. The ArchSD has also concurrently required the PMC to replace all its resident site supervisors. Meanwhile, the ArchSD has immediately strengthened its supervision by deploying full-time government site supervision staff to monitor the sites and has arranged for its structural engineers to conduct additional on-site spot checks and audits to ensure strict quality control for the projects.
Based on preliminary evidence, Able is suspected of serious negligence or misconduct in the construction works. The ArchSD will inform the Building Authority to refer the case to the Registered Contractors’ Disciplinary Board under Section 13 of the Buildings Ordinance. As provided in the Ordinance, if, upon hearing, negligence or misconduct in construction works were found to have been committed, the Board may order the removal of Able or its directors, senior personnel, or individuals from the relevant lists, impose fines, or issue a reprimand on Able or its directors, senior personnel, or individuals.
As the investigation revealed that the incident may involve criminal acts of providing false statements, the ArchSD has already reported the case to the Police.
The Government will continue to follow up on the case in a serious manner and step up its site supervision efforts to ensure the overall construction quality, safety and progress are not affected, as well as to ensure each LPH project is completed with high quality and high safety standards, thereby providing decent homes for residents in need as soon as possible.
Issued at HKT 15:30
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Secretary for Health attends 20th Joint Meeting of Senior Health Officials of Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao in Macao (with photos)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, led a delegation to attend the 20th Joint Meeting of Senior Health Officials of the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao hosted by the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government in Macao today (January 15).
The annual Joint Meeting has long been a platform for senior medical and health officials as well as experts from the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao to exchange views and share experiences on present-day medical and public health issues, as well as to promote healthcare service development. The Joint Meeting is hosted by the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao in rotation.
The Minister of the National Health Commission, Mr Lei Haichao, and the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government, Ms O Lam, led senior health officials from the Mainland and the Macao SAR Government respectively to participate in the meeting. Members of the delegations of the three places today engaged in sharing and discussions over three major topics, namely nurturing interdisciplinary and composite talent in clinical management, disease prevention and control, and medical administration; strengthening primary healthcare services to safeguard community health, and the application of smart healthcare in the health sector.
Professor Lo said, “The Recommendations of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development, adopted at the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, features the term ‘reform’ 23 times, unequivocally underscoring the nation’s steadfast commitment to deepening reforms. Hong Kong has consistently been playing an active role in the course of the country’s reform and opening up. Serving as a ‘super connector’ between the Mainland and the world, Hong Kong also functions as an indispensable ‘super value-adder’, facilitating the nation’s effort in going global while attracting foreign investment to the Mainland market.
“The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has consistently emphasised in the Policy Addresses of the past three years the HKSAR Government’s full commitment to developing Hong Kong into an international health and medical innovation hub, and to vigorously foster new quality productive forces. To achieve this significant objective, the HKSAR Government is actively advancing various initiatives, including the setting up of the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation within this year, with a view to establishing the Centre as an internationally recognised regulatory authority for medical products as soon as possible; the official launch of the Greater Bay Area (GBA) Clinical Trial Collaboration Platform last month, enabling pharmaceutical companies to conduct trials simultaneously in Hong Kong and Shenzhen; as well as the commissioning of the Real-World Study and Application Centre to promote the standardisation of clinical data across the GBA.”
The Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority (HA), Dr Libby Lee, and the Director of Cluster Services of the HA, Dr Wong Yiu-chung, moderated a discussion and gave a presentation on the application of smart healthcare in the health sector respectively. Meanwhile, the acting Deputy Director of Health, Dr Jackie Leung, and the Commissioner for Primary Healthcare, Dr Pang Fei-chau, delivered presentations on the topic of nurturing interdisciplinary and composite talent in clinical management, disease prevention and control, and medical administration; as well as on the topic of strengthening primary healthcare services to safeguard community health respectively.
Members of the HKSAR Government delegation included the Chairman of the HA, Mr Henry Fan, and the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, who concluded the discussion at the meeting.
Professor Lo will return to Hong Kong in the evening. During his absence, the Under Secretary for Health, Dr Cecilia Fan, is the Acting Secretary for Health.
Applications invited for Main Fund of Sir David Trench Fund for Recreation
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Applications invited for Main Fund of Sir David Trench Fund for Recreation
The Sir David Trench Fund Committee is inviting eligible organisations to apply for projects funded by the Main Fund of the Sir David Trench Fund for Recreation for 2026-27.
The Fund is to be used for the provision of facilities and purchase of equipment for projects in the furtherance of the objectives of the Fund. In keeping with the donor’s wishes, emphasis is placed on encouraging the purposeful use of leisure by young people.
Three categories of grants are available under the Fund. Details are as follows: