Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Symposium for social welfare sector focuses on strengthening awareness of safeguarding national security
The symposium was officiated by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun. Over 300 management personnel from social welfare organisations attended the event, while around 9 000 participants from the social welfare sector took part online, fully demonstrating the social welfare sector’s strong commitment to national security. Deputy Director-General of the Social Work Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR Dr Zhou He and the President of the Connecting Hearts Academy, Professor Annie Tam, also attended the symposium.
Addressing the symposium, Mr Sun remarked that the white paper titled “Hong Kong: Safeguarding China’s National Security Under the Framework of One Country, Two Systems”, published by the State Council Information Office in February this year, sets out thoroughly the Central Government’s principled stance on safeguarding national security in Hong Kong and gives a systematic account of Hong Kong’s experience in safeguarding national security, offering important insights and guidance for all sectors of Hong Kong society. The successful conclusion of the eighth-term Legislative Council General Election last year under the principle of “patriots administering Hong Kong”, faithfully implementing the practice of “one country, two systems”, was a crucial realisation of strengthening the national security shield. He stressed that social welfare work carries significant responsibilities and expressed his hope that the sector will continue to work shoulder to shoulder with the Government to actively advance efforts to safeguard national security, so that the society can focus its efforts on striving for a vibrant economy, pursuing development, and improving people’s livelihood.
Mr Sun said that while this year marks the beginning of the National 15th Five-Year Plan, it is incumbent upon all sectors of the community to consider and act on how Hong Kong can make full use of its strengths to serve the country’s needs and further integrate into the overall national development. He also encouraged the social welfare sector to seize the opportunities from the 15th Five-Year Plan, deepening and strengthening the collaboration on social welfare in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and thus contributing Hong Kong’s strengths to the country’s development.
Member of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and the President of the Legislative Council, Dr Starry Lee, was also invited to share her valuable insights on the National 15th Five-Year Plan and explore with the participants of the symposium how to further reinforce efforts in safeguarding national security under the “one country, two systems”.
Another highlight of the symposium was a sharing session featuring representatives from six social welfare organisations, who presented their self-initiated efforts and practical experiences in safeguarding national security. The session fostered peer exchanges and mutual learning across the sector, encouraging organisations to more effectively integrate national security measures into their daily operations and jointly fulfil the sector’s mission and responsibilities in safeguarding national security.
In his concluding remarks, Mr Sun said that the social welfare sector has actively supported the work of the LWB and the SWD during the previous year to promote national security. In addition to participating in the symposium, sharing sessions on national security and visiting the National Security Exhibition Gallery, the social welfare sector has also taken the initiative to organise training programmes, subsidised by the Dedicated Fund of the SWD, on understanding of national affairs and safeguarding national security, as well as arranging exchange tours to the Mainland for their staff. Mr Sun expressed confidence that, as more stakeholders of the sector deepen their understanding of the country, the sector will definitely demonstrate a broader perspective and a deeper sense of patriotism in serving the community, thereby facilitating the development and integration of the social welfare services of both places.
Issued at HKT 18:16
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Cluster of Candida auris cases found in Prince of Wales Hospital
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Cluster of Candida auris cases found in Prince of Wales Hospital
A 61-year-old male patient in a Medicine and Therapeutics ward was confirmed to be a carrier of Candida auris on April 9. In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital commenced contact tracing investigation. Three more male patients (aged 77 to 90) from the same ward were subsequently confirmed to be carrying Candida auris without signs of infection. Among the four patients, two are in serious and critical condition respectively due to their underlying diseases. The other two are in stable condition.
The ward concerned has adopted the following enhanced infection control measures:
The hospital will continue the enhanced infection control measures and closely monitor the situation in the ward. The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.
Issued at HKT 19:33
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DEVB supports continuous professional development in construction industry to address manpower needs
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
In response to the Construction Expenditure Forecast and the Manpower Forecast for Hong Kong Construction Industry released by the Construction Industry Council (CIC) today (April 10), a spokesman for the Development Bureau (DEVB) said that the Government will continue to collaborate with the CIC to promote professional development for the construction industry and address manpower needs through a multipronged approach.
As announced in the Budget in February this year, the Government’s estimated capital works expenditure for 2026/27 is about $128 billion. From 2027/28 to 2030/31, the annual capital works expenditure on average is expected to remain at a similarly high level. Furthermore, with the recovery of the economy including the real estate market, a gradual resurgence of the volume of private sector projects is expected. Together with the anticipated increase in other public sector projects (such as railway and public housing projects), the CIC estimates the total construction expenditure of the industry to reach $305 billion to $360 billion in 2030/31. The medium-to long-term outlook for the construction industry remains robust, and the overall construction expenditure of the industry is expected to grow steadily.
The manpower demands across trades in the construction sector will continue to vary in response to changes of project types and trades involved. Due to the expected increase in the number of infrastructure-related projects (including land formation works for the Northern Metropolis, railway projects, etc) over the next few years, as well as the growing adoption of advanced construction technologies such as Modular Integrated Construction (MiC), greater manpower shortages are anticipated in certain trades, including plant and machinery operation, rigger, and electrical and mechanical installation. Meanwhile, as has been observed recently, labour shortages in some trades have eased, such as bar-bending, formwork carpentry, concreting and grouting, and plastering. However, given the projected steady increase in the total construction volume, the overall manpower demand for the construction industry is expected to remain strong over the next five years.
The spokesman said, “The DEVB will make reference to the forecast data released by the CIC and work with the Council to strengthen local training and drive technology adoption to enhance the overall productivity of the construction industry, while adhering to the multipronged approach and the policy of ensuring employment priority for local workers. The DEVB will continue to make effective use of the existing Labour Importation Scheme for the Construction Sector as a supplementary measure to respond flexibly to the industry’s manpower needs.”
The Government looks forward to the CIC making persistent efforts to make good use of government funding and its own resources to assist construction workers in upskilling and reskilling by providing training places, training subsidies and employment services under the Multi-skilled and Skill Enhancement courses.
Regarding construction talent, the 2026-27 Budget proposes an allocation of $65 million for the DEVB to increase on-the-job training places to 260 in relevant government departments under the Graduate Training Scheme in 2026, thereby supporting graduates from construction-related programmes in obtaining professional qualifications. At the same time, with government support, the CIC will allocate an additional $180 million in the 2026-27 financial year to subsidise the provision of on-the-job training for a total of 3 000 relevant graduates in the construction industry.
Meanwhile, the Government has been supporting the industry in adopting advanced construction technologies to enhance overall productivity and drive the sustainable development of the industry. The Government injected a total of $2.2 billion into the Construction Innovation and Technology Fund (CITF) in 2018 and 2022. As the remaining balance is expected to be fully committed within 2026, the Government proposes in the Budget a further injection of $1 billion into the CITF, together with the CIC’s contribution of $400 million, bringing the total to $1.4 billion to continue supporting a wider adoption of innovative technologies. The Government will work with the CIC to promote a broader use of advanced construction methods and new technologies such as MiC, Multi-trade integrated Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing, AI technologies, and construction robotics.
The spokesman said, “The healthy development of the construction industry is not only an important component of the economic development of Hong Kong, but also a cornerstone of the city’s high-quality development. Looking ahead, the Government will continue to collaborate with the CIC and industry stakeholders to address various tasks related to the construction volume and manpower needs in the sector.”
Nat’l security symposium held
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
A symposium on safeguarding national security for the social welfare sector of Hong Kong was held today to explore the sector’s alignment with the National 15th Five-Year Plan and present the sector’s self-initiated efforts in safeguarding national security, with a view to supporting the high-quality development of the “one country, two systems” policy.
The event was jointly organised by the Labour & Welfare Bureau, the Social Welfare Department (SWD) and Connecting Hearts.
Officiated by Secretary for Labour & Welfare Chris Sun, and attended by Social Work Department Deputy Director-General of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Zhou He, the event attracted over 300 management personnel from social welfare organisations, as well as around 9,000 online participants from the social welfare sector.
Addressing the symposium, Mr Sun expressed hope that the sector will continue to work with the Government to advance efforts to safeguard national security, so that Hong Kong society can focus on striving for a vibrant economy, pursuing development, and improving people’s livelihood.
He noted while this year marks the beginning of the National 15th Five-Year Plan, it is incumbent upon all sectors of the community to consider and act on how Hong Kong can make full use of its strengths to serve the country’s needs and further integrate into overall national development. He also encouraged the social welfare sector to seize the opportunities from the 15th Five-Year Plan, enhance collaboration on social welfare in the Greater Bay Area, in order to contribute Hong Kong’s strengths to the country’s development.
Another highlight of the symposium was a sharing session featuring representatives from six social welfare organisations, who presented their self-initiated efforts and practical experiences in safeguarding national security. The session fostered peer exchanges and learning across the sector, encouraging organisations to integrate national security measures into their daily operations.
In his concluding remarks, Mr Sun said that the social welfare sector has been actively supporting the work of the Labour & Welfare Bureau and the SWD to promote national security. In addition to participating in national security-related events, the social welfare sector has also taken the initiative to organise training programmes, subsidised by the SWD’s dedicated fund, on the understanding of national affairs and safeguarding national security, as well as arranging exchange tours to the Mainland for their staff.
Mr Sun said he was confident that the sector will demonstrate a broader perspective and a deeper sense of patriotism in serving the community, thereby facilitating the development and integration of Mainland and Hong Kong social welfare services.
Loss of consumer data reported
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Water Supplies Department (WSD) today confirmed a personal digital assistant (PDA) containing consumers’ data went missing during field meter-reading work conducted by its staff on Wednesday.
The PDA contained a total of 495 names and addresses of domestic consumers from three buildings in Fortress Hill.
Apart from one consumer’s information that contained a telephone number, other information involved did not contain any personal identity card numbers or other personal information.
The WSD has notified the relevant authorities including the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data and the Digital Policy Office, and also made a report to Police. The WSD said it will fully co-operate with the relevant authorities and Police in their investigations and operations.
The WSD has informed the consumers referenced, alerted them to raise their awareness and apologised for the incident.
Affected consumers who have any further enquiries on the incident may call the WSD’s customer services hotline at 2824 5000 or send an email to: wsdinfo1@wsd.gov.hk.
The WSD stressed that it attaches great importance to the incident, adding that immediate follow-up actions were taken.
The department has reminded staff that they must heighten their vigilance and properly safeguard government property. They must also strictly follow guidelines regarding the proper handling and confidentiality of personal data.
Meanwhile, the department is conducting a detailed investigation into the personnel involved and the circumstances of the incident. Depending on the findings, appropriate disciplinary action may be considered.
It will also conduct a detailed review of the equipment and procedures used by staff during field meter-reading work, and explore measures to strengthen data protection.
Kai Tak Hospital set to open
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The new acute hospital located in the Kai Tak Development Area, officially named Kai Tak Hospital (KTH), is scheduled to commence services in October in phases, with the Specialist Out-patient Clinic Block and the Oncology Block launching clinical services first.
With a total gross floor area of 500,000 sq m and 2,400 beds once fully operational, it will be the largest healthcare hub in terms of bed capacity and total floor area in Hong Kong,
The hospital will serve Yau Tsim Mong, Kowloon City, Wong Tai Sin and Kwun Tong districts, covering a population of more than 1.8 million. It will also provide clinical support to the adjacent Hong Kong Children’s Hospital, strengthening the synergy between the two hospitals, and will become the largest public healthcare hub in Hong Kong.
Announcing the plan today, Hospital Authority Kowloon Central Cluster Chief Executive Dr Eric Cheung noted that KTH would help better to deliver services to the general population of Kowloon.
“The Kai Tak Hospital itself is situated in quite a prime site in Kowloon district. Being a standalone development instead of an on-site co-development with an existing hospital, it allows us to better develop the infrastructure and equipment in the hospital itself.
“We have quite a few new distinct features, including the cyclotron, which is the machine that manufactures or produces radioligand traces for Positron Emission Tomography scans, etc. We have new scanners, and we will also have a hyperbaric oxygen chamber in the building.
“In addition, many new services will be started after we move there. For example, we are going to develop the chest pain centre, the stroke centre, we have a neuroscience centre, and we are also a designated trauma centre, which is equipped also with a helipad on the hospital premises. So we believe that all of these new features would help better to deliver services to the population of Kowloon in general.
KTH will commence services in two phases, gradually absorbing clinical services from Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
In the first phase, clinical services at the Family Medicine Integrated Centre, and specialist outpatient services of the Departments of Medicine, Surgery, Neurosurgery, Family Medicine, and Oncology will be launched.
Allied health services, the Department of Diagnostic & Interventional Radiology, and a range of supporting clinical services will also begin in October simultaneously.
Subsequently, the Hospital Authority (HA) will implement the second phase of service arrangements, with in-patient, surgical and accident and emergency services expected to commence in 2028.
Dr Cheung added: “There will still be a sizable proportion of outpatients in the new premises in the first phase. Because this phase does not involve the transition of people who are relatively sick, we do not expect a lot of problems in this process.
“As for the second transition, that is going to happen in 2028. That time is dependent on the completion of the buildings. By that time, we would have already laid down a detailed plan as to how to transition that. Probably we will leave the details to a later time.”
KTH comprises five towers, equipped with 37 operating theatres and a range of advanced clinical facilities. It contains various specialist centres, such as the Oncology Centre and Neuroscience Centre to support complex referrals.
As a designated Trauma Centre under the Hospital Authority, KTH provides 24-hour accident and emergency services for all types of emergencies, urgent situations and major incidents.
KTH is the first public hospital in Hong Kong equipped with a cyclotron, enabling in-house production of radioactive tracers for diagnostic examinations and oncology, further strengthening its clinical capabilities
The HA has set up a dedicated team to follow up on the relocation of services to KTH. Staff will personally call patients to inform them of their new appointment details, and notifications will also be sent via text message, post and the HA mobile application “HA Go”. In addition, the KTH Hotline at 3506 5188 is also operational to answer patient enquiries.
Govt to sell Tung Chung housing site
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Lands Department announced today that a residential site in Tung Chung will be sold by public tender from April 17 to May 15.
Listed in the 2026-27 Land Sale Programme, the site is located at Tung Chung Town Lot No. 54 at Area 106A, New Territories.
Occupying a site area of 14,152 square metres, the lot is designated for private residential purposes. The minimum gross floor area will be between 29,720 sq m and 49,532 sq m.
The land sale documents will be available for download from the Lands Department’s website from April 17.
Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions/Sectors – Sub-degree programmes; International Summit on the Use of AI in Language Learning and Teaching 2026 (AIinLT 2026); “Smart Parent Net” Recommendation: How to Promote Career Development Planning for Gifted Children (Child only)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 3
Following the success of AIinLT 2025, the “International Summit on the Use of AI in Language Learning and Teaching 2026 (AIinLT 2026)”• Stay Ahead of Trends: Global experts will share the latest insights on AI in language learning, helping you understand the future of education.
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• Accessible to All: The Summit is open to the public and free of charge.At the Summit on 21-22 JuneParents play a vital role in shaping their children’s learning journey. Members of the public are most welcome to register or check out the latest update at the website (https://events.polyu.edu.hk/AIinLT2026/registration) now.
Through AIinLT 2026, you will gain a clearer picture of how schools are embracing AI to create a brighter, more effective future for language education.
Hong Kong’s largest public hospital, Kai Tak Hospital, to commence service in phases during second half of 2026
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Hong Kong’s largest public hospital, Kai Tak Hospital, to commence service in phases during second half of 2026 (with photo)
The Hospital Authority (HA) spokesperson announced today (April 10) that the new acute hospital located in the Kai Tak Development Area is scheduled to commence services in October 2026 in phases. Officially named Kai Tak Hospital (KTH), it will be the largest healthcare hub in terms of bed capacity and total floor area in Hong Kong, with a total gross floor area of 500 000 square metres and 2 400 beds once fully operational.
The HA spokesperson said, “KTH will serve Yau Tsim Mong, Kowloon City, Wong Tai Sin and Kwun Tong districts, covering a population of more than 1.8 million. As the flagship hospital in the Kowloon Central Cluster, KTH will collaborate with other hospitals in the districts to optimise the overall acute care services in Kowloon, ensuring a more balanced distribution of public healthcare resources and efficient service provision. KTH will also provide clinical support to the adjacent Hong Kong Children’s Hospital, strengthening the synergy between the two hospitals, and will become the largest public healthcare hub in Hong Kong.”Issued at HKT 16:30
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Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected heroin worth about $1 million at airport
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Hong Kong Customs yesterday (April 9) detected a drug trafficking case involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport. About 1.56 kilograms of suspected heroin with an estimated market value of about $1 million were seized.
A 38-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, yesterday. During customs clearance, the batch of suspected heroin was found in his carry-on baggage. The man was subsequently arrested.
The arrested person has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. The case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (April 11).
Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.
Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach, and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.
Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. 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.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).