Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) today (December 11) announced that Po Leung Kuk has been selected as the partner to operate the cultural and creative arts bazaar at Victoria Park (V Mart).

     Located at the Water Fountain Plaza and the South Pavilion Plaza in Victoria Park, V Mart is one of the nine hotspot projects announced in May this year by the Working Group on Developing Tourist Hotspots led by the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration. V Mart will commence trial operations on December 12. It will then be open from noon to no later than 9pm on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays (operation period subject to changes in light of major events to be held at Victoria Park) up to end-November next year. V Mart will feature new themes from time to time, with about 30 stalls showing different products, handmade crafts, trendy food and beverage, etc, as well as photo spots attractive to local residents and tourists.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMoA), upon invitation from the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC), is collaborating with the HKADC for the first time to participate in the Collateral Event of the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia in Venice, Italy, from May to November 2026. The HKMoA and the HKADC will jointly present selected works of Hong Kong artists Kingsley Ng and Angel Hui at the exhibition to showcase Hong Kong’s artistic diversity on the international stage.
 
     Curated by the HKMoA, the exhibition explores the poetic rhythms of everyday life, engaging in a dialogue with the curatorial theme “In Minor Keys” of the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. Drawing on familiar yet fleeting moments from daily life in Hong Kong, the exhibition guides visitors on a journey of self-discovery within the flow of life.
 
     Born and raised in Hong Kong, the two participating artists excel in drawing inspiration from Hong Kong’s cultural context and quotidian experiences, reinterpreting daily-life rhythms and aesthetics through varied mediums such as light, sound and installation. Ng, an established media artist, is known for his poetic, site-specific installations that extend the viewer’s perceptions of life. His works have been presented extensively in notable exhibitions locally and internationally. Hui, a promising emerging artist, is skilled at integrating traditional Chinese cultural elements with contemporary artistic language, recreating everyday objects to evoke cross-cultural artistic possibilities. Together, the two Hong Kong artists, as keen observers of the nuances of urban daily life, are transforming their reflections into creative inspirations for connecting Hong Kong and Venice – two international metropolises from various perspectives, thereby demonstrating the vitality and accomplishment of Hong Kong art to the international audience.
 
     Established in 1895, the International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia is the world’s oldest international exhibition of contemporary visual arts. In each edition, some 100 countries and regions join the national pavilions and collateral events. Since 2001, the HKADC has been participating in the International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia through a collateral event, aiming to promote Hong Kong’s art development as well as cultural exchanges at international art platforms.
 
     To foster broader participation from fellow art practitioners and create opportunities for Hong Kong artists to advance their careers on the international stage, the selection of artists to participate in the exhibition was guided by a nomination and assessment process. The HKMoA had invited nominations from local tertiary institutions as well as professional art organisations. Artists or artist collectives directly commissioned by the museums and offices of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) in recent years were also included. The nomination list covered over 200 artists. A professional selection panel then shortlisted artists for the HKMoA’s final consideration. The HKMoA has selected Ng and Hui from the shortlist.
 
     The curatorial team of the HKMoA is deeply honoured to be curating the Hong Kong Exhibition at the International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. Established in 1962, the HKMoA is the city’s first public art museum. For over six decades, it has been committed to collecting and promoting Hong Kong art, as well as fostering strong collaborative relationships within the sector. It has built up a wide network and extensive experience, nurturing the growth of local artists and actively fulfilling its role as “the art museum of Hong Kong”. The HKMoA expressed hope that, by joining hands with the two artists, representative Hong Kong art will be impressively brought onto the global stage.

     The members of the selection panel are: Guest Professor of School of Intermedia Art of the China Academy of Art Professor Johnson Chang; Museum Expert Adviser of the LCSD Dr William Lim; Senior Advisor of the Mori Art Museum, Japan, Mr Fumio Nanjo; the Chairman of the Museum Advisory Committee of the LCSD, Professor Douglas So; Professor Wang Huangsheng from the Central Academy of Fine Arts; the Museum Director of the HKMoA, Dr Maria Mok; and the Curator (Modern and Hong Kong Art) of the HKMoA, Ms Prudence Ma.

     The Hong Kong Exhibition at the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia is presented by the LCSD and the HKADC and organised by the HKMoA and the HKADC. It will be held in Venice, Italy (Campo della Tana, Castello 2126, 30122), from May 9 to November 22, 2026.

     For details of the two participating artists, please refer to the Annex.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (December 11) released the first batch of gravidtrap indexes and density indexes for Aedes albopictus in December, covering 21 survey areas, as follows:
 

District	Survey Area	December 2025
		First Phase Gravidtrap Index	First Phase Density Index
Eastern	Chai Wan West	0.0%	N/A
	North Point	0.0%	N/A
Southern	Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau	0.0%	N/A
	Deep Water Bay and Repulse Bay	0.0%	N/A
Wan Chai	Tin Hau	0.0%	N/A
	Wan Chai North	0.0%	N/A
	Happy Valley	0.0%	N/A
Yau Tsim	Tsim Sha Tsui	0.0%	N/A
Mong Kok	Mong Kok	0.0%	N/A
Kowloon City	Ho Man Tin	0.0%	N/A
	Kai Tak North	2.7%	1.0
Sai Kung	Tseung Kwan O West	0.0%	N/A
Sha Tin	Tai Wai	0.0%	N/A
	Sha Tin East	0.0%	N/A
	Ma On Shan	1.6%	1.0
	Sha Tin Town Centre and Fo Tan	0.0%	N/A
Tai Po	Tai Po East	0.0%	N/A
North	Sheung Shui	0.0%	N/A
Yuen Long	Tin Shui Wai	0.0%	N/A
Tuen Mun	Tuen Mun South	0.0%	N/A
Tsuen Wan	Ma Wan	0.0%	N/A

　
Among the first batch of First Phase Gravidtrap Indexes covering 21 survey areas in December, all were below 10 per cent.

Among these 21 survey areas, 20 recorded a decrease or remained unchanged in the individual gravidtrap index as compared to the Area Gravidtrap Index last month, i.e. November 2025, representing that the areas’ mosquito infestation improved or maintained a low level. Another area recorded a slight increase, but the index was lower than 10 per cent.

The eggs of Aedes albopictus can withstand long periods of desiccation and will hatch when the temperature becomes suitable and water is present. Members of the public should continue to take mosquito control measures during winter to eliminate mosquito eggs.

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:

• tidy up their premises and check for any accumulation of water inside their premises;
• remove all unnecessary water collections and eliminate the sources;
• check household items (those placed in outdoor and open areas in particular), such as refuse containers, vases, air conditioner drip trays, and laundry racks to prevent stagnant water;
• change the water in flower vases and clear the water in saucers of potted plants at least once every seven days;
• properly cover all containers that hold water to prevent mosquitoes from accessing the water;
• properly dispose of articles that can contain water, such as empty lunch boxes and cans; and
• scrub drains and surface sewers with alkaline detergent at least once a week to remove any mosquito eggs.

Starting in August this year, 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 the 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 64 survey areas of the community. During the two weeks of surveillance, 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#).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is the speech by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, at the Swire Properties White Christmas Street Fair 2025 today (December 11):

Tim (Chief Executive of the Swire Properties, Mr Tim Blackburn), Tammy (Editor-in-Chief of the South China Morning Post, Ms Tammy Tam), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The total gross value of construction works (GVCW) performed by main contractors in the third quarter of 2025 decreased by 1.5% in nominal terms over a year earlier to $73.4 billion, according to the provisional results of the Quarterly Survey of Construction Output released today (December 11) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD).
 
After discounting the effect of price changes, the provisional results showed that the total GVCW performed by main contractors decreased by 5.5% in real terms over the same period. GVCW in real terms is derived by deflating the corresponding nominal value with an appropriate price index to the price level in the base period of 2000.
 
Analysed by type of construction works, the GVCW performed at private sector sites totalled $16.9 billion in the third quarter of 2025, down by 18.1% in nominal terms over a year earlier. In real terms, it decreased by 20.8%. The GVCW performed at public sector sites increased by 7.7% in nominal terms over a year earlier to $34.1 billion in the third quarter of 2025. In real terms, it increased by 2.0%.
 
The GVCW performed by main contractors at locations other than construction sites amounted to $22.4 billion in the third quarter of 2025, slightly up by 0.7% in nominal terms compared with a year earlier. In real terms, however, it slightly decreased by 0.4%. Construction works at locations other than construction sites included minor new construction activities and decoration, repair and maintenance for buildings; and electrical equipment installation and maintenance works at locations other than construction sites.
 
Analysed by major end-use group, the GVCW performed at construction sites in respect of residential buildings projects amounted to $21.3 billion in the third quarter of 2025, slightly up by 0.9% in nominal terms over a year earlier. Over the same period, the GVCW performed at construction sites in respect of transport projects down by 32.3% in nominal terms to $7.6 billion in the third quarter of 2025.
 
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter basis, the GVCW performed by main contractors increased by 1.8% in nominal terms and 0.1% in real terms in the third quarter of 2025 compared with the second quarter of 2025.
 
Table 1 shows the provisional figures on the GVCW performed by main contractors in the third quarter of 2025. Table 2 shows the revised figures for the second quarter of 2025.
 
Owing to the widespread sub-contracting practices in the construction industry, a construction company can be a main contractor for one contract and a sub-contractor for another contract at the same time. The GVCW performed by main contractors covers only those projects in which the construction company takes the role of a main contractor, but not projects in which it takes only the role of a sub-contractor. However, sub-contractors’ contribution to projects should have been included in the GVCW performed by main contractors for whom they worked.
 
The classification in the construction sector follows the Hong Kong Standard Industrial Classification Version 2.0, which is used in various economic surveys for classifying economic units into different industry classes.
 
More detailed statistics are given in the “Report on the Quarterly Survey of Construction Output”. Users can browse and download this publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1090002&scode=330).

For enquiries about the survey results, please contact the Construction and Miscellaneous Services Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 6965; email: building@censtatd.gov.hk).

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Fire Services Department today posthumously conferred the honorary title of Senior Fireman on the late Ho Wai-ho, in recognition of his exemplary service and selfless dedication to duty.

At the ceremony, held at Sha Tin Fire Station, members of Mr Ho’s family accepted, on his behalf, a posthumous title conferment certificate and an embroidery of the Senior Fireman’s rank badge from Director of Fire Services Andy Yeung.

Members of the department’s New Territories North Command were also present to witness the ceremony.

Mr Ho was born in 1987 and joined the FSD as a fireman in 2016. He served at the Sha Tin Fire Station and demonstrated outstanding performance and dedication during his nine-year service.

While executing a firefighting and rescue operation at Wang Fuk Court, Tai Po on November 26 this year, Mr Ho sustained serious injuries and lost his life in the line of duty. The blaze was later upgraded to a No. 5 alarm fire.

The department will hold a funeral with full honour for Mr Ho at the Universal Funeral Parlour in Hung Hom, Kowloon on December 19. He will be laid to rest at the Gallant Garden in Wo Hop Shek afterwards.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong began offering outpatient and day-patient services today, as the phased launch of its operations commenced.

Located at 1 Pak Shing Kok Road in Tseung Kwan O, the hospital follows a public-private partnership model, with its construction being fully funded by the Government.

In response to keen public demand, appointments for government-subsidised outpatient services will be increased.

Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau said the commencement of services at the hospital marks a significant milestone in the development of Chinese Medicine (CM) in the city, signalling that CM is going beyond primary healthcare to play a part in secondary and tertiary healthcare in Hong Kong.

He said he looks forward to the hospital providing more comprehensive CM services to members of the public, and to developing a “Hong Kong model” that involves a mix of pure CM, CM-dominant services, and integrated Chinese-Western medical services. Remarking that this will dovetail with the CM Development Blueprint due to be announced by the Government, he explained that the blueprint will foster the CM sector’s high-quality and high-standard development, giving it powerful impetus to “go global”.

Regarding the high demand for appointments, Prof Lo said: “In response to the keen public demand, we have requested the hospital to increase the quota for government-subsidised general outpatient services in the first month after service commencement for members of the public to make appointments.

“Specifically, the service quota in the first 10 days of operation has been doubled. For the remaining days of the first month upon service commencement, the service quota has also been increased by an additional 30% starting today.”

He added that patients can also make appointments to attend the non-subsidised outpatient clinic, where they can select their preferred CM practitioners.

In addition to providing outpatient and day-patient services, in its first year of operation the hospital will fully launch specialised CM services in six areas: Internal Medicine; External Medicine; Gynaecology; Paediatrics; Orthopaedics and Traumatology; and Acupuncture and Moxibustion.

It will also launch 12 special disease programmes, including programmes for elderly degenerative diseases and stroke rehabilitation.

Demonstrating the Government’s commitment to public health, 65% of the hospital’s total service volume will comprise Government-subsidised services. The hospital will also provide market-oriented services to foster positive interaction between the hospital and the private healthcare market.

Patients can make appointments via the hospital’s hotline, on 3121 3121, its website, or via the newly launched “CMHHK Mobile App”.

Additionally, the hospital will provide full medical fee waivers to victims of the Tai Po Wang Fuk Court fire until December 31, 2026. Eligible individuals can identify themselves to the hospital and provide basic personal information during consultations.

To facilitate public access, the hospital will provide free shuttle services between Tiu Keng Leng MTR Station, LOHAS Park Station, and the hospital’s main entrance. The Transport Department has co-ordinated with public transport operators to enhance services to the hospital.

Moreover, the hospital will hold open days on January 17 and 18, 2026. Reservations can be made online through the hospital’s website starting from today.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Director General David Cheng-Wei Wu and Mrs. Wu were honoured to attend the 2025 Sydney Taiwanese School （STS) Recognition and Graduation Ceremony, joined by Karena Yeh, President of the Sydney Hakka Association Australia, as well as Bradley Hsu and Angel Yang, Vice Presidents of the Australian Taiwanese Friendship Association(ATFA), together with ATFA committee members. They were delighted to celebrate the graduates’ achievements and share in this joyful milestone.
The ceremony featured heartfelt remarks from Principal Liu, President Yeh, and Vice President Hsu, who encouraged students to stay confident, stay curious, and stay connected to their Taiwanese heritage. The student representative also delivered a warm and humorous speech, expressing sincere gratitude to parents and teachers for their unwavering support.
In his address, Director General Wu congratulated all graduates and reflected on the unique challenges faced by children of diplomats in maintaining their Mandarin learning. He commended the STS for its long-standing dedication since 1991 to promoting Traditional Mandarin and fostering strong personal character. DG Wu emphasised the contributions of the devoted teachers and hardworking parents who make this achievement possible, and wished all the graduates every success as they embark on the next chapter of their journey.