Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
SCED expresses sorrow over passing of Mr Gregory So
Mr So was appointed as Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development in 2008. He was appointed as SCED in 2011, a post he held until June 2017.
Mr Yau said, “During his tenure, Mr So had made immense contributions to Hong Kong’s economic and trade developments by taking forward various policies and measures, and forging co-operation between Hong Kong and other economies. I am deeply saddened by the passing of Mr So and extend my sincere condolences to his family.”
Issued at HKT 12:43
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Chinese medicine sector fully supports residents affected by Tai Po Wang Fuk Court fire by providing free Chinese medicine consultation services
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Health Bureau (HHB) announced today (December 14) that free Chinese medicine (CM) consultation services will be provided to residents affected by the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po starting tomorrow (December 15). In addition, various CM services will also be deployed to fully address their medical needs.
Free Chinese medicine consultation services
To ensure the affected residents receive more comprehensive medical support, free CM consultation services will be launched starting tomorrow. Under the co-ordination of the Primary Healthcare Commission (PHC Commission) and the Chinese Medicine Unit of the HHB, 150 CM practitioners have participated in the free CM consultation services, covering more than 170 service points. Starting from tomorrow until February 28, 2026, all residents of the eight blocks at Wang Fuk Court (including foreign domestic helpers) can receive up to three free CM consultation services, including the provision of medication and related treatments based on their clinical needs, through the arrangement of the District Health Centres/ District Health Centre Expresses (collectively referred to as DHCs) across all 18 districts in Hong Kong. The scope of free CM consultation services covers health conditions that may arise after the fire, such as emotional changes, insomnia, palpitations; coughing, wheezing, dry throat, and itchy throat; physical weakness, fatigue, loss of appetite, dyspepsia; as well as pain and musculoskeletal injuries.
Affected residents with medical needs can call the hotlines or visit any DHC in person to seek assistance, regardless of their current place of residence. Those who are registered DHC members may also contact their respective DHC directly. The hotlines have been posted on the websites of the PHC Commission and the DHCs. Case managers of the DHCs will pair them with CM practitioners participating in the free CM consultation scheme based on their individual situation and preferences.
The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong
All residents of the eight blocks at Wang Fuk Court (including foreign domestic helpers), and all individuals injured in the fire and admitted to public hospitals under the Hospital Authority (HA) can receive full fee waivers at the Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong (CMHHK) until December 31, 2026. The waivers cover all government-subsidised services of CMHHK, including General Clinic, Specialised Clinic, Allied Health Services, day-patient services, as well as special Western medicine diagnostic procedures and medications (discharge medication collection). Relevant individuals can identify themselves to CMHHK and provide basic personal information (including name, identity card number and residential address) during consultations to facilitate the arrangement.
Chinese Medicine Clinics cum Training and Research Centres located in 18 districts
Following the fire, the Chinese Medicine Clinics cum Training and Research Centres (CMCTRs) under the HA promptly provide support in Sha Tin District, Tai Po District, and North District through enhancing CM services, arranging rescheduling of appointments, and re-dispensing of Chinese medicines.
Starting from December 2, the 18 CMCTRs have been fully supporting all residents of the eight blocks at Wang Fuk Court (including foreign domestic helpers). They are eligible for full medical fee waivers until December 31 2026, covering government-subsidised CM outpatient services, including general consultation, acupuncture and bone-setting/tui-na. Relevant individuals can call the CMCTRs during their service hours or make an appointment via the “18 CM Clinics” mobile application. They shall identify themselves to the CMCTRs and provide basic personal information (including name, identity card number and residential address) upon registration to proceed with the arrangement. The CMCTRs will provide priority booking for the affected residents. In addition, the Integrated Chinese-Western Medicine Services under the HA’s public hospitals/ambulatory care centres/out-patient clinics (currently available for six selected disease areas) will also waive service fees for relevant individuals.
Information about the 18 CMCTRs can be found on the HACMK website.
The HHB expresses gratitude to the CM sector and non-governmental organisations for their dedication to providing various CM support to the affected residents. The Government will continue to co-ordinate various medical services to support the physical and mental health needs of the residents.
Hong Kong Customs seizes eggs of suspected scheduled endangered bird species (with photos)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Hong Kong Customs seizes eggs of suspected scheduled endangered bird species
A 26-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Thailand yesterday (December 12). He was intercepted for customs clearance at the arrivals hall of the airport. Customs officers found the batch of bird eggs inside three paper boxes in his carry-on baggage. Upon inspection by officers of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), the bird eggs were suspected to be endangered species listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and regulated under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586) in Hong Kong. The man was subsequently arrested by Customs officer.
The arrested man was charged with illegal import of an Appendix II species. He will appear at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts on December 15.
Under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, any person importing, exporting or possessing specimens of endangered species not in accordance with the Ordinance commits an offence and will be liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for 10 years upon conviction with the specimens forfeited.
Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hkIssued at HKT 14:51
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CE to go on duty visit to Beijing
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
​The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, will pay a duty visit to Beijing from tomorrow (December 15) to December 17 to brief state leaders on the latest economic, social and political situation in Hong Kong. The Director of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms Carol Yip, and the Private Secretary to the Chief Executive, Ms Queenie Wong, will join the visit.
During Mr Lee’s absence, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, will be the Acting Chief Executive.
Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for possession and importation of duty-not-paid cigarettes (with photos)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
​Two incoming passengers were sentenced to six weeks’ imprisonment with a fine of $1,000, and four weeks’ imprisonment with a fine of $800 by the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts today (December 12) for importing goods to which the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO) applies, possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of DCO.
Customs officers intercepted a 40-year-old incoming male passenger and his accompanying child on December 5 at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point. The officers found a total of 2,381 duty-not-paid cigarettes on the man and from the backpack carried by the child. The estimated market value of the seized cigarettes was about $9,700 and the duty potential was about $7,800. The male passenger was sentenced to six weeks’ imprisonment and fined $1,000.
In addition, Customs officers intercepted a 48-year-old incoming female passenger at the same control point on December 10, and seized 1,600 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $6,500 and a duty potential of about $5,200, from a backpack in her possession. The female passenger was sentenced to four weeks’ imprisonment and fined $800.
Customs welcomes the sentence, noting that even a first-time offender may still be imprisoned. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences.
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.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
CS to attend 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and 9th National Special Olympic Games Closing Event in Shenzhen
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, will depart for Shenzhen tomorrow afternoon (December 15) to attend the Closing Event of the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games. The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, will join the visit.
Mr Chan will return to Hong Kong the same evening.
Official launch of Hong Kong Professional Services GoGlobal Platform marks new stage in supporting Mainland enterprises going global (with photos)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Hong Kong Professional Services GoGlobal Platform, initiated by the Department of Justice (DoJ) with support of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau (CEDB), was officially launched today (December 13), marking a new stage of collaborative support by Hong Kong’s professional services for Mainland enterprises going global.
The Platform was established under the steer of the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, to implement the initiative set out in the Policy Address. It is clearly stated in the Policy Address that Hong Kong should strengthen its role as a platform for enterprises going global, in which the Deputy Secretary for Justice is tasked to promote Hong Kong’s legal services and to collaborate with other professional service sectors, such as accounting and finance, to support Mainland enterprises wishing to expand overseas.
All 12th NGD and 9th NSOG competition events in Hong Kong conclude (with photos)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The National Games Coordination Office (Hong Kong) (NGCO) today (December 14) announced that the three competition events of the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities (NGD) and the 9th National Special Olympic Games (NSOG) in Hong Kong, namely boccia, wheelchair fencing and para table tennis (TT11), concluded on the last day of competition. Together with the NSOG table tennis competition which concluded on December 9, all competition events in the Hong Kong competition region have been completed smoothly.
The boccia event was held at Kai Tak Arena, with a total of 14 gold medals awarded. Around 100 athletes from 13 teams from the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao took part. Among them, Hong Kong sent 11 male athletes and eight female athletes, and won four gold, four silver and four bronze medals, totalling 12 medals.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy wheelchair fencing competition was held at Ma On Shan Sports Centre, with a sum of 24 gold medals presented. Over 80 athletes from 10 teams from the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao participated in the competition. Hong Kong fielded seven male athletes and six female athletes, claiming one silver and two bronze medals, amounting to three medals altogether.
As for the Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy para table tennis (TT11) competition held at Tsuen Wan Sports Centre, a total of five gold medals were awarded. 36 athletes from 13 teams from the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao competed in the event, including seven male athletes and five female athletes from Hong Kong. The Hong Kong team achieved one silver and five bronze medals, adding up to six medals in total.
The Special Olympics table tennis competition was also held at Tsuen Wan Sports Centre earlier, with a total of 78 gold medals awarded. Over 150 athletes from 29 teams from the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao joined the competition. Six male athletes and five female athletes from Hong Kong won nine gold, six silver and four bronze medals, totalling 19 medals.
Across various events of the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG this year, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region fielded over 280 athletes supported by about 140 accompanying team officials and medical personnel taking part in 14 competition events and four mass participation events of the NGD, as well as seven events of the NSOG, forming the largest delegation ever. The Hong Kong team won a total of 51 gold, 49 silver and 40 bronze medals, totalling 140 medals, achieving historic results.
A spokesperson for the NGCO said that the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG, co-hosted for the first time by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, brought together outstanding athletes from across the country. They demonstrated indomitable sportsmanship and remarkable athletic prowess in the competitions. While extending congratulations to all medallists, the spokesperson also expressed gratitude to various relevant government departments, sports organisations and related institutions for their full support and assistance in staging the events, and the public and volunteers for their enthusiastic support, which enabled the smooth running of all events in the Hong Kong competition region and the successful conclusion of the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG.
Director General David Cheng-Wei Wu Paid Courtesy Call on NSW Liberal Party Deputy Leader Natalie Ward, MLC
Source: Republic of China Taiwan
Director General David Cheng-Wei Wu and colleagues were pleased to meet with the Hon. Natalie Ward, MLC, to congratulate her on being re-elected as Deputy Leader of the NSW Liberal Party in the late-November reshuffle and to express appreciation for the Party’s long-term support for our shared values in democracy and human rights.
DG Wu and Mrs. Ward had a wide-ranging conversation covering democratic and political systems, opportunities for economic and technological cooperation, the challenges posed by regional authoritarian expansion, and efforts to tackle misinformation and disinformation. We look forward to staying in close contact with Mrs. Ward and her team to further deepen cooperation between Taiwan and NSW.
Director General David Cheng-Wei Wu and Mrs. Wu Attended the Christmas gathering hosted by the Distinguished Citizens Society International of New South Wales
Source: Republic of China Taiwan
Director General David Cheng-Wei Wu and Mrs. Wu were pleased to attend a Christmas gathering hosted by President Charles Lin and Mrs. Lin of the Distinguished Citizens Society International (DCS) of New South Wales, where board members and their families came together to enjoy a Korean BBQ dinner in a warm and festive atmosphere.
During the event, Director General Wu commended the DCS for being a well-organised and disciplined organisation, noting its important role as a unifying “salt” within the Taiwanese community by harmonising efforts and supporting numerous community activities. He also thanked President Lin for the thoughtful preparation of gifts, which added to the joyful spirit of the celebration.