Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung; the Acting Commissioner of Police, Mr Kan Kai-yan; the Director of Fire Services, Mr Andy Yeung; the Deputy Director of Fire Services (Operations), Mr Derek Armstrong Chan; and the Regional Commander of New Territories North, Ms Lam Man-han, met the media today (November 28) on the No. 5 alarm fire in Tai Po. Following are their remarks at the media session:

Reporter: Can you tell us whether there is gonna be any compensation for the residents? A lot of them right now thinking about how they can get… (inaudible). Secondly, can you give us an update on the corruption investigation regarding the construction company?

Secretary for Security: First of all, investigation regarding any corruption allegation or investigations will be done by the ICAC (Independent Commission Against Corruption). Secondly, you talked about compensation. About financial assistance to all the victims and their families, our Government has different schemes to support their families. I also understand that a lot of private organisations are also organising it. As a matter of fact, Secretary Alice Mak (Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs) and Secretary Chris Sun (Secretary for Labour and Welfare) will hold a separate press conference later to elaborate on all the financial assistance and other kinds of assistance that we can offer to the victims and their families.

Reporter: It has been three days after the fire, why isn’t there any basic demographic of the deceased or the injured as you already got the information and condition of the people? Why don’t you release them to the public?

Secretary for Security: Thank you very much. In fact we are releasing the information right now. As a matter of fact, for the time being, there are 128 diseased individuals that we discovered, including 108 bodies we removed from the scene and four who passed away in the hospital. There are 16 burned bodies that are still inside the building. In fact, our Police, as a special team, they are going to deal with all the missing persons or identities of the deceased. Maybe we can repeat the phone number. You can make a call with the phone number.

Acting Commissioner of Police: We have set up a Casualty Enquiry Unit and a hotline. The hotline number is 1878 999, 1878 999. Thank you.

Reporter: (Inaudible)

Secretary for Security: I think we need time to get all the details. As I said, even some of the deceased we cannot fully identify. At an appropriate time, when we gather all the information, we are happy to release all the information that the public is concerned about. There is nothing the Government is unwilling to release.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Government gazetted today (November 28) the proposed road works at Sha Po, Yuen Long, to serve the proposed comprehensive development project and improve the traffic facilities in that area.

Details of the proposal are set out in the Annex. The plan and scheme of the works are available for public inspection at the following government offices during office hours:

Central and Western Home Affairs Enquiry Centre,
G/F, Harbour Building, 
38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong

Yuen Long Home Affairs Enquiry Centre,
G/F, Yuen Long District Office Building,
269 Castle Peak Road, Yuen Long, New Territories

District Lands Office, Yuen Long,
9/F, Yuen Long Government Offices,
2 Kiu Lok Square, Yuen Long, New Territories

The gazette notice, scheme, plan and location plan are available at www.tlb.gov.hk/eng/publications/transport/gazette/gazette.html.

Any person who wishes to object to the works or the use, or both, is required to address to the Secretary for Transport and Logistics an objection in writing, which can be submitted via the following means:
 

• By post or by hand to the Transport and Logistics Bureau’s Drop-in Box No. 6 located at the entrance on 2/F, East Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong. The box is available for use between 8am and 7pm from Monday to Friday (except public holidays);
• By fax to 2868 4643; or
• By email to gazettetlb@tlb.gov.hk.

A notice of objection should describe the objector’s interest and the manner in which he or she alleges that he or she will be affected by the works or the use. Objectors are requested to provide contact details to facilitate communication. A notice of objection should be delivered to the Secretary for Transport and Logistics not later than January 27, 2026.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), as representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSAR Government), announced today (November 28) that a tender of 5-year RMB institutional Government Bonds (Bonds) through the re-opening of existing 5-year Government Bond issue 05GB3005001 under the Infrastructure Bond Programme will be held on December 4, 2025 (Thursday), for settlement on December 8, 2025 (Monday).

An additional amount of RMB1.0 billion of the outstanding 5-year Bonds (issue no. 05GB3005001) will be on offer. The Bonds will mature on May 15, 2030, and will carry interest at the rate of 1.97 per cent per annum payable semi-annually in arrear. The Indicative Pricings of the Bonds on November 28, 2025, are 100.42 with a semi-annualised yield of 1.873 per cent.

Tender is open only to Primary Dealers appointed under the Infrastructure Bond Programme. Anyone wishing to apply for the Bonds on offer can do so through any of the Primary Dealers on the latest published list, which can be obtained from the Hong Kong Government Bonds website at www.hkgb.gov.hk. Each tender must be for an amount of RMB50,000 or integral multiples thereof.

Tender results will be published on the HKMA’s website, the Hong Kong Government Bonds website, Bloomberg (GBHK ) and Refinitiv (IBPGSBPINDEX). The publication time is expected to be no later than 3pm on the tender day.

HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds Tender Information

Tender information of 5-year RMB HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds:
 

Issue Number	:	05GB3005001
Stock Code	:	85023 (HKGB1.97 3005-R)
Tender Date and Time	:	December 4, 2025 (Thursday) 9.30am to 10.30am
Issue and Settlement Date	:	December 8, 2025 (Monday)
Amount on Offer	:	RMB1.0 billion
Maturity	:	5 years
Remaining maturity	:	Approximately 4.4 years
Maturity Date	:	May 15, 2030 (Wednesday)
Interest Rate	:	1.97 per cent p.a. payable semi-annually in arrear
Interest Payment Dates	:	May 15 and November 15 in each year, commencing on the Issue Date up to and including the Maturity Date, subject to adjustment in accordance with the terms of the Institutional Issuances Information Memorandum of the Infrastructure Bond Programme and Government Sustainable Bond Programme (Information Memorandum) published on the Hong Kong Government Bonds website.
Method of Tender	:	Competitive tender
Tender Amount	:	Each competitive tender must be for an amount of RMB50,000 or integral multiples thereof. Any tender applications for the Bonds must be submitted through a Primary Dealer on the latest published list. The accrued interest to be paid by successful bidders on the issue date (December 8, 2025) for the tender amount is RMB56.67 per minimum denomination of RMB50,000. (The accrued interest to be paid for tender amount exceeding RMB50,000 may not be exactly equal to the figures calculated from the accrued interest per minimum denomination of RMB50,000 due to rounding).
Other Details	:	Please see the Information Memorandum available on the Hong Kong Government Bonds website or approach Primary Dealers.
Expected commencement date of dealing on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited	:	The tender amount is fully fungible with the existing 05GB3005001 (Stock code: 85023) listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong.
Use of Proceeds	:	The Bonds will be issued under the institutional part of the Infrastructure Bond Programme. Proceeds will be invested in infrastructure projects in accordance with the Infrastructure Bond Framework published on the Hong Kong Government Bonds website.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (November 28) 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 Anhalt-Bitterfeld of the State of Sachsen-Anhalt 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 this 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.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     According to the results of the 2024 Annual Survey of Economic Activities – Information and Communications, Financing and Insurance, Professional and Business Services Sectors released today (November 28) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), the financing (except banking) industry recorded the largest total receipts in 2024, followed by insurance; banking; information and communications; professional, scientific and technical activities; and administrative and support service activities.
 
     In the financing (except banking) industry, total receipts increased by 4.8% over 2023 to $732.9 billion in 2024. On a per company basis, total receipts increased by 1.4% compared with 2023 to $73.1 million in 2024. Operating expenses and compensation of employees together increased by 7.5% year-on-year to $357.3 billion in 2024. Gross surplus, which is equal to total receipts less operating expenses, compensation of employees and (where applicable) cost of goods sold, increased by 2.4% over 2023 to $375.6 billion in 2024, accounting for 51.3% of total receipts in 2024. Industry value added (except investment and holding companies), which is a broad measure of its contribution to Hong Kong’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), increased by 13.3% compared with 2023 to $122.8 billion in 2024. In 2024, the financing (except banking) industry comprised about 10 000 companies and engaged about 96 400 persons, or an average of 9.6 persons per company.
 
     In the insurance industry, total receipts amounted to $728.6 billion in 2024, representing an increase of 7.4% compared with 2023. On a per company basis, total receipts increased by 11.3% compared with 2023 to $269.1 million in 2024.  Operating expenses and compensation of employees together increased by 12.9% year-on-year to $73.6 billion in 2024. In 2024, the insurance industry comprised about 2 700 companies and engaged about 83 000 persons, or an average of 30.6 persons per company.
 
     In the banking industry, total receipts amounted to $611.7 billion in 2024, representing an increase of 5.1% compared with 2023. On a per company basis, total receipts increased by 8.7% compared with 2023 to $3.0 billion in 2024. Operating expenses and compensation of employees together increased by 6.6% year-on-year to $271.5 billion in 2024. In 2024, the banking industry comprised 203 companies and engaged about 98 500 persons, or an average of 485.0 persons per company.
 
     Owing to the special features of business operations for the banking industry and the insurance industry, gross surplus and industry value added statistics are not compiled for these industries. Statistics on value added in respect of these two industries compiled under the framework of GDP are released by the C&SD separately. Similarly, within the financing (except banking) industry, industry value added is not compiled for investment and holding companies. Hence, the figure of industry value added for this industry does not cover investment and holding companies.
 
     In the information and communications sector, total receipts amounted to $259.1 billion in 2024, representing an increase of 2.8% compared with 2023. On a per company basis, total receipts increased slightly by 0.7% over 2023 to $22.5 million in 2024. Operating expenses and compensation of employees together increased by 3.5% year-on-year to $179.7 billion in 2024.  Gross surplus decreased by 3.7% over 2023 to $58.8 billion in 2024, accounting for 22.7% of total receipts in 2024. Industry value added increased by 1.8% compared with 2023 to $104.0 billion in 2024. In 2024, the information and communications sector comprised about 11 500 companies and engaged about 102 000 persons, or an average of 8.9 persons per company.
 
     In the professional, scientific and technical activities sector, total receipts amounted to $163.5 billion in 2024, representing an increase of 2.1% compared with 2023. On a per company basis, total receipts increased slightly by 0.8% over 2023 to $5.8 million in 2024. Operating expenses and compensation of employees together increased by 3.0% year-on-year to $133.7 billion in 2024. Gross surplus decreased by 1.3% over 2023 to $28.4 billion in 2024, accounting for 17.4% of total receipts in 2024.  Industry value added decreased by 1.9% compared with 2023 to $87.9 billion in 2024. In 2024, the professional, scientific and technical activities sector comprised about 28 400 companies and engaged about 153 600 persons, or an average of 5.4 persons per company.
 
     In the administrative and support service activities sector, total receipts amounted to $136.9 billion in 2024, representing an increase of 13.9% compared with 2023.  On a per company basis, total receipts increased by 12.5% over 2023 to $11.9 million in 2024. Operating expenses and compensation of employees together increased by 13.3% year-on-year to $123.7 billion in 2024. Gross surplus increased by 20.4% over 2023 to $12.2 billion in 2024, accounting for 8.9% of total receipts in 2024.  Industry value added increased by 6.9% compared with 2023 to $64.5 billion in 2024. In 2024, the administrative and support service activities sector comprised about 11 500 companies and engaged about 236 200 persons, or an average of 20.5 persons per company.
 
     Selected statistics for the sectors mentioned above are shown in the attached table. More detailed statistics will be given in the reports “Key Statistics on Business Performance and Operating Characteristics of the Information and Communications Sector in 2024” and “Key Statistics on Business Performance and Operating Characteristics of the Financing and Insurance, Professional and Business Services Sectors in 2024”. Users can browse and download these reports at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/scode560.html and www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/scode570.html) as from end-December 2025.
 
     For enquiries about the key statistics on business performance and operating characteristics of the information and communications, financing and insurance, professional and business services sectors, please contact the Business Services Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7268 or email: business-services@censtatd.gov.hk).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     An Education Bureau (EDB) spokesman today (November 28) said that, in view of the serious impact of the No. 5 alarm fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po earlier this week, the EDB will provide a Special Incident Assistance Grant for schools in Tai Po District, continuing its full support for affected students and parents.

To support schools and students to cope with the incident, the EDB will offer $100,000 to each primary and secondary school (including special schools) and $50,000 to each kindergarten in Tai Po District under the Special Incident Assistance Grant. Schools may flexibly deploy the Grant to provide students, teachers and parents with appropriate assistance, which includes providing psychological counseling services and purchasing learning-related items for affected students.

In addition, the Hong Kong Jockey Club, with assistance of schools, will offer $5,000 to each affected student through the Jockey Club Emergency Relief Fund to address their immediate learning needs, mitigating the impact of the incident on them.

The EDB will hold five online seminars on psychological support for special incidents (Chinese only) tomorrow (November 29) and on Sunday (November 30) for teachers and parents to assist school personnel and parents in taking care of students/children with traumatic experiences. Speakers include a psychiatrist, a psychologist and a social worker. For details of the seminars (Chinese only), please visit the “Mental Health@School” website (mentalhealth.edb.gov.hk).

If any school premises was damaged due to the fire, the EDB will provide repair services through emergency repair works as soon as possible to ensure its safety.

Educational psychologists and officers of the District School Development Sections of the EDB will continue to maintain close contact with the schools and provide necessary assistance.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     According to the results of the 2024 Annual Survey of Economic Activities – Import/Export, Wholesale and Retail Trades, and Accommodation and Food Services Sectors released today (November 28) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total receipts of the import/export, wholesale and retail trades, and accommodation and food services sectors amounted to $5,473.5 billion in 2024, representing an increase of 4.5% compared with 2023; on a per company basis, total receipts increased by 10.6% over 2023 to $38.7 million in 2024.
 
     Total operating expenditure (including operating expenses, cost of goods sold and compensation of employees) of the above sectors altogether amounted to $4,997.7 billion in 2024, representing an increase of 4.5% compared with 2023; on a per company basis, it increased by 10.6% over 2023 to $35.3 million in 2024.
 
     Gross surplus of the sectors, which is equal to total receipts less total operating expenditure, increased by 3.9% over 2023 to $475.7 billion in 2024; on a per company basis, gross surplus increased by 10.0% over 2023 to $3.4 million in 2024. For all these sectors taken together, gross surplus accounted for 8.7% of total receipts in 2024, similar to that in 2023.
 
     Industry value added of the sectors, which is a broad measure of their total contribution to Hong Kong’s Gross Domestic Product, increased by 3.4% over 2023 to $649.1 billion in 2024; on a per company basis, industry value added increased by 9.5% over 2023 to $4.6 million in 2024.
 
     According to the survey results, it was estimated that the aforementioned sectors comprised some 141 400 companies and engaged about 896 900 persons, or an average of 6.3 persons per company, in 2024.
 
     In the import/export trade, total receipts amounted to $4,523.3 billion while total operating expenditure reached $4,092.5 billion in 2024. Gross surplus increased from $413.2 billion in 2023 to $430.8 billion in 2024, accounting for 9.5% of total receipts in 2024. Industry value added increased by 5.6% over 2023 to $493.3 billion.
 
     In the wholesale trade, total receipts amounted to $275.2 billion while total operating expenditure reached $269.9 billion in 2024. Gross surplus decreased from $5.6 billion in 2023 to $5.3 billion in 2024, accounting for 1.9% of total receipts in 2024.  Industry value added decreased by 2.6% compared with 2023 to $19.1 billion.
 
     In the retail trade, total receipts amounted to $489.2 billion while total operating expenditure reached $458.9 billion in 2024. Gross surplus increased from $29.9 billion in 2023 to $30.3 billion in 2024, accounting for 6.2% of total receipts in 2024.  Industry value added decreased by 7.7% compared with 2023 to $68.9 billion.
 
     In the accommodation services sector which covers hotels, guesthouses, boarding houses and other companies providing short term accommodation, total receipts amounted to $46.1 billion while total operating expenditure reached $39.2 billion in 2024. Gross surplus increased from $6.1 billion in 2023 to $6.9 billion in 2024, accounting for 15.0% of total receipts in 2024.  Industry value added increased by 6.5% over 2023 to $21.8 billion.
 
     In the food services sector which mainly covers restaurants, total receipts amounted to $139.8 billion while total operating expenditure reached $137.4 billion in 2024. Gross surplus decreased from $2.9 billion in 2023 to $2.4 billion in 2024, accounting for 1.7% of total receipts in 2024. Industry value added slightly increased by 0.7% over 2023 to $46.0 billion.
 
     Selected statistics for the sectors mentioned above are shown in the attached table.  More detailed statistics will be given in the reports “Key Statistics on Business Performance and Operating Characteristics of the Import/Export, Wholesale and Retail Trades Sectors in 2024” and “Key Statistics on Business Performance and Operating Characteristics of the Food and Accommodation Services Sectors in 2024”. Users can browse and download these reports at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1080014&scode=550 and www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1080016&scode=540) as from end-December 2025.
 
     For enquiries about the key statistics on business performance and operating characteristics of the import/export, wholesale and retail trades, and accommodation and food services sectors, please contact the Distribution Services Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7399 or email: asw@censtatd.gov.hk).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (November 28) released the findings of its food safety report for last month. The results of about 6 600 food samples tested (including food items purchased online) were found to be satisfactory except for eight unsatisfactory samples that were announced earlier. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.9 per cent.

A CFS spokesman said that about 1 600 food samples were collected for microbiological tests, and about 5 000 samples were taken for chemical and radiation level tests.

The microbiological tests covered pathogens and hygiene indicators; the chemical tests included testing for pesticides, preservatives, metallic contaminants, colouring matters, veterinary drug residues and others; and the radiation-level tests included testing for radioactive caesium and iodine in samples collected from imported food from different regions.

The samples comprised about 2 200 samples of vegetables and fruit and their products; about 400 samples of cereals, grains and their products; about 900 samples of meat and poultry and their products; about 800 samples of milk, milk products and frozen confections; about 900 samples of aquatic and related products; and about 1 400 samples of other food commodities (including beverages, bakery products and snacks).

The eight unsatisfactory samples comprised two green radish samples, a sweet potato sample and a beetroot sample detected with pesticide residues exceeding the legal limits; two ice cream samples and a raw milk sample detected with coliform bacteria counts exceeding the legal limits; and a bottled preserved bean curd sample found with excessive Bacillus cereus.

The CFS has taken follow-up actions on the above-mentioned unsatisfactory samples, including informing the vendors concerned of the test results, instructing them to stop selling the affected food items, and tracing the sources of the food items in question.

The spokesman reminded the food trade to ensure that food is fit for human consumption and meets legal requirements. Consumers should patronise reliable shops when buying food and maintain a balanced diet to minimise food risks.

Separately, in response to the Japanese Government’s discharge of nuclear-contaminated water at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, the CFS will continue enhancing the testing on imported Japanese food, and make reference to the risk assessment results to adjust relevant surveillance work in a timely manner. The CFS will announce every working day on its dedicated webpage (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/daily_japan_nuclear_incidents.html) the radiological test results of the samples of food imported from Japan, with a view to enabling the trade and members of the public to have a better grasp of the latest safety information.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Government announced today (November 28) the reappointment of two serving members and the appointment of two new members to the Hospital Authority (HA) for a period of two years from December 1, 2025, to November 30, 2027.

     The serving members reappointed are Ms Maisy Ho Chiu-ha and Mr Wan Man-yee, while the two newly appointed members are Mr John Kwong Ka-sing and Mr Victor Lam Wai-kiu. 

     Mr Kwong is the Vice-President for Development of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. 

     Mr Lam is the former Government Chief Information Officer. He is currently a member of the Public Service Commission, the Advisory Committee on Post-service Employment of Civil Servants, and the Committee of the Artificial Intelligence Subsidy Scheme.

     The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, welcomed the two new members to the HA. He also expressed gratitude to the serving members reappointed and extended heartfelt thanks to the two outgoing members, Mr Duncan Chiu and Mr Billy Wong Wing-hoo, for their invaluable contributions to the HA. 
 
     The HA comprises a Chairman, 22 non-official members, three public officers and one principal officer from the HA. The membership list to be effective from December 1, 2025, is as follows:

Chairman
———— 
Mr Henry Fan Hung-ling

Non-official members
————————-
Dr Rex Auyeung Pak-kuen 
Professor Anthony Chan Tak-cheung
Ms Margaret Cheng Wai-ching 
Professor Philip Chiu Wai-yan
Ms Winnie Chiu Wing-kwan
Ms Anita Fung Yuen-mei 
Ms Maisy Ho Chiu-ha
Ms Mary Huen Wai-yi
Ms Tennessy Hui Mei-sheung
Mr Jat Sew-tong
Mr Matthew Kwok Pui-ho
Mr John Kwong Ka-sing
Mr Victor Lam Wai-kiu
Mrs Sylvia Lam Yu Ka-wai
Professor Lau Chak-sing
Professor David Shum Ho-keung 
Mr Henry Tong Sau-chai
Mr Anthony Tsang Hin-fun
Dr Thomas Tsang Ho-fai
Mr Wan Man-yee
Professor Janet Wong Yuen-ha
Professor Zhang Zhang-jin

Public Officers
—————–
Permanent Secretary for Health, Mr Thomas Chan
Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam
Deputy Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Treasury) Ms Ann Chan

HA Principal Officer
———————–
Chief Executive of the HA, Dr Libby Lee