Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
A 29-year-old Chinese woman, who smuggled dried shark fins into Hong Kong, was convicted at the District Court today (October 16) for violating the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586) (the Ordinance) and sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment.
A spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said that the passenger arrived at Hong Kong International Airport from Brazil via Ethiopia on March 22 this year. Upon inspection of her luggage by Customs officers, a batch of suspected scheduled dried shark fins was found inside the luggage. AFCD officers subsequently attended the scene, examined the specimens and confirmed that they were scheduled dried shark fins, weighing a total of about 52 kilograms, with an estimated market value of about $200,000. The woman was prosecuted by the AFCD for illegal import of specimens of endangered species. She was convicted at the District Court today, and the court adopted a starting point of 15 months’ imprisonment for sentencing. With a one-third reduction given for her guilty plea, the defendant was sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment.
Some shark and ray species are listed in the Appendices to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, and are regulated under the Ordinance in Hong Kong. Any person who imports, exports or possesses specimens of endangered species not in accordance with the Ordinance commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for 10 years with the specimens forfeited.
The spokesman said, “The Government is committed to protecting endangered species. The AFCD and Hong Kong Customs will remain vigilant and continue to monitor and combat illegal activities involving endangered species.”
Members of the public may call 1823 to report any suspected irregularities to the AFCD and visit the AFCD website at www.cites.hk for information on the control of endangered species in Hong Kong.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
FEHD releases second batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in October
District
District The FEHD continues to carry out a series of mosquito prevention and elimination measures, including: During the follow-up actions and following the discovery of stagnant water at a private housing estate in Sha Tin District, the FEHD has issued a statutory notice to the responsible person-in-charge, requiring the clearance of such stagnant water within a specified timeframe.
Public participation is crucial to the effective control of mosquito problems. The FEHD appeals to members of the public to continue to work together in strengthening personal mosquito control measures, including: Starting in August 2025, following the completion of the surveillance of individual survey areas, and once the latest gravidtrap index and the density index are available, the FEHD has been disseminating relevant information through press releases, its website and social media. It aims to allow members of the public to quickly grasp the mosquito infestation situation and strengthen mosquito control efforts, thereby reducing the risk of chikungunya fever (CF) transmission.
Following recommendations from the World Health Organization and taking into account the local situation in Hong Kong, the FEHD sets up gravidtraps in districts where mosquito-borne diseases have been recorded in the past, as well as in densely populated places such as housing estates, hospitals and schools to monitor the breeding and distribution of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which can transmit CF and dengue fever. At present, the FEHD has set up gravidtraps in 62 survey areas of the community, with a surveillance period of two weeks. During the surveillance period, the FEHD will collect the gravidtraps once a week. After the first week of surveillance, the FEHD will immediately examine the glue boards inside the retrieved gravidtraps for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes to compile the Gravidtrap Index (First Phase) and Density Index (First Phase). At the end of the second week of surveillance, the FEHD will instantly check the glue boards for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes. Data from the two weeks of surveillance will be combined to obtain the Area Gravidtrap Index and the Area Density Index. The Gravidtrap and Density indexes for Aedes albopictus in different survey areas, as well as information on mosquito prevention and control measures, are available on the department’s webpage (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/pestcontrol/dengue_fever/Dengue_Fever_Gravidtrap_Index_Update.html#Issued at HKT 19:42
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Secretary for Health meets Director-General of Beijing Municipal Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine Professor Lo said, “The National 15th Five-Year Plan proposes advancing the inheritance and innovation of CM and promoting CM to go global. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government actively dovetails with the national strategies to promote comprehensive, high-quality, and high-standard development of CM. The HKSAR Government, for the first time, has formulated the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030) (Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan), comprehensively and proactively aligning with the National 15th Five-Year Plan. Interconnected with Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan, the 2026 Policy Address announced by the Chief Executive last month puts forward a number of specific policy measures to promote CM development. These include the launch of 24-hour in-patient services at The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong (CMHHK) by the end of this year, the establishment of the International Consortium of Herb-Drug Interaction, the continued development of the Hospital Authority’s integrated Chinese-Western Medicine services, and the sponsoring of regional and international CM conferences and exhibitions, signifying more breakthroughs and opportunities ahead for the development of CM in Hong Kong. At the same time, with the Chinese Medicine Development Blueprint as an anchor, Hong Kong will continue to advance the development of CM in an orderly manner and leverage the two flagship institutions, CMHHK and the Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute, to further promote CM development in Hong Kong on all fronts.”
Professor Lo expressed his gratitude to the Beijing Municipal Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine for its continuous support for CM development in Hong Kong. He said he hoped that the two places would continue to deepen exchanges and collaboration in areas including CM policy measures, clinical services, talent cultivation, and the commercialisation of scientific and technological achievements, thereby promoting high-quality CM development in both places.
The Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, and the Controller-designate for Medical Products Regulation, Mr Li Zili, also attended the meeting. Professor Lo will lead a delegation tomorrow (October 17) to attend the World Conference on Traditional Medicine 2026 to be held in Beijing for two consecutive days, and will return to Hong Kong in the afternoon of October 18. Issued at HKT 17:08
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Housing Bureau (HB) today (October 16) announced that with the Light Public Housing (LPH) entering a new phase of circulation, all 13 LPH projects are open for application from today.
With the last two LPH projects, namely the new projects converted from school premises at Shun Lee Tsuen Road, Kwun Tong, and Chuk Yuen Road, Wong Tai Sin (providing a total of about 210 units), set to be completed progressively in the first quarter of next year, all 13 LPH projects will then be fully completed. The other 11 projects are Yau Pok Road, Yuen Long; Choi Hing Road, Ngau Tau Kok; Choi Shek Lane, Kowloon Bay; Tsing Fuk Lane, Tuen Mun; Olympic Avenue, Kai Tak; Sheung On Street, Chai Wan; Yan Po Road, Tuen Mun; Tsing Fat Street, Tuen Mun; Hang Kwong Street, Ma On Shan; Shun On Road, Kwun Tong; and Choi Yuen Road, Sheung Shui.• Light Public Housing Information Counter at Podium Level 2, Hong Kong Housing Authority Customer Service Centre, 3 Wang Tau Hom South Road, Kowloon • Office of the Dedicated Team on Light Public Housing at Room 801, 8/F, Revenue Tower, 5 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Home and Youth Affairs Bureau launches new round of HYAB Funding Scheme for Youth Internship in the Mainland The Government attaches great importance to youth development. The First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030) emphasises enhancing youth development opportunities and supporting young people in pursuing their dreams. The Government will step up its focus on young people’s education, employment, entrepreneurship and home ownership. It will nurture talent who can serve the needs of the country and leverage the strengths of Hong Kong. Through the HYAB Funding Scheme for Youth Internship in the Mainland, the HYAB and the YDC provide funding for NGOs to organise youth internship projects on the Mainland for young people to experience the actual workplace environment there first-hand and deepen their understanding of the Mainland’s employment market, workplace culture and development opportunities. It will help young people set their future career goals, accumulate work experience, build interpersonal networks and boost their employment prospects.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:
Chief Justice Andrew Cheung, Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal, today (October 16) welcomed the acceptance by the Chief Executive of the recommendation of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission on the appointment of the Honourable Sir Terence Arnold as a non-permanent judge from another common law jurisdiction of the Court of Final Appeal. The Chief Justice noted that the Government would be seeking the endorsement of the Legislative Council of the recommended appointment.
The Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal Ordinance (Cap. 484) provides for a list of non-permanent Hong Kong judges and a list of non-permanent judges from other common law jurisdictions. Currently, there are four non-permanent Hong Kong judges and five non-permanent judges from other common law jurisdictions. The maximum number of non-permanent judges is 30. In hearing and determining an appeal, the Court of Final Appeal is constituted by five judges, i.e. the Chief Justice, three permanent judges and one non-permanent Hong Kong judge or one non-permanent judge from another common law jurisdiction.
The recommended appointment of Sir Terence Arnold to the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal will increase the number of non-permanent judges from other common law jurisdictions from five to six. This will provide greater flexibility in dealing with the caseload of the Court of Final Appeal.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Remarks by STL at media session Reporter: Given that there are only 150 berths at five anchorages, are you worried about running out of space during peak seasons? Under what circumstances will the Government consider capping daily visits and setting up more berth spots in the future?
Secretary for Transport and Logistics: Having regard to the potential demand and the existing supply of mooring facilities in Hong Kong, we consider that there are adequate facilities for the mooring and docking of Mainland yachts to Hong Kong. At the present moment, we have allowed these Mainland yachts to dock or moor at five designated mooring anchorage areas, in addition to the existing mooring facilities in yacht clubs. We consider that this could meet the demand. Coupled with the real-time dynamic monitoring system, the Marine Department can communicate with the Mainland yacht captains so as to facilitate their travel in Hong Kong waters.
We are also planning ahead. The Airport Authority Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government are planning for the development of four major new yacht parking facilities in different parts of Hong Kong, including the Airport island, Aberdeen, Lamma Island, and Hung Hom waterfront. We are working steadfastly on that. The Airport Authority Hong Kong is actually moving fast in inviting expressions of interest for the Yacht Bay on the Airport island. We expect they will invite tenders next year.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.) Issued at HKT 19:38
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a series of territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations codenamed “Twilight”, a joint operation with the Labour Department codenamed “Rainbow”, joint operations with the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) codenamed “Champion”, a joint operation with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) codenamed “Flabbergast”, a joint operation with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, and a joint operation with Hong Kong Customs, the HKPF, the FEHD and the LCSD from October 9 to yesterday (October 15). During the anti-illegal worker operations, ImmD officers raided multiple target locations including restaurants, retail stores and industrial buildings, etc. Twelve suspected illegal workers, one suspected employer, one suspected aider and abettor and one overstayer were arrested. The arrested suspected illegal workers comprised eight men and four women, aged 20 to 54. Among them, one man was holding a recognisance form which prohibits him from taking any employment. One woman aged 47 was suspected of employing the illegal workers and was arrested. The suspected aider and abettor arrested was a woman aged 28. Furthermore, the arrested overstayer was a man aged 43. An investigation into the suspected employer is ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.
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 185 185, fax at 2824 1166, email anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit the “Online Reporting of Immigration Offences” form at www.immd.gov.hk.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting next Wednesday (October 21) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on “Improving the elite sports training and support systems to enhance the international competitiveness of Hong Kong athletes”. The motion, moved by Mr Vincent Cheng, is set out in Appendix 1.
Mr Ken Lee will move a motion on “Deepening Guangdong-Hong Kong collaboration in technology talent education to promote talent cultivation diversification and employment”. The motion is set out in Appendix 2. Mr Tang Fei, Ms Michelle Tang and Mr Chan Pok-chi will move separate amendments on Mr Lee’s motion.
Meanwhile, the Chief Secretary for Administration will present the Government Minute in response to the Report of the Public Accounts Committee No. 85 of July 2026 and the Government Minute in response to the Report of the Public Accounts Committee No. 86 of July 2026, and address the Council.
Members will also ask the Government 22 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies.
The agenda of the above meeting is available on the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk). Members of the public can watch or listen to the meeting via the “Webcast” system on the LegCo Website. To observe the proceedings of the meeting at the LegCo Complex, members of the public may call 3919 3399 during office hours to reserve seats.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
CFS finds samples of mung bean starch sheet and its related product not in compliance with requirement on preservativeWeight: 500 grams Manufacture dates: June 27, 2026; July 9, 2026 Place of origin: China Sole distributor: Zhuang Ji Food Trade CompanyIssued at HKT 21:00