Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

In light of the recent outbreak of Ebola disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda in Africa, the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases (SCEZD) under the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health convened a meeting today (May 27), to review the latest epidemiological situation, recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) and international health authorities, scientific information on the prevention and control of Ebola disease, and relevant prevention and control strategies in Hong Kong. The SCEZD noted that the Government has already implemented a comprehensive series of preventive measures to guard against the importation of Ebola disease into Hong Kong.
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Following the meeting, the SCEZD released a consensus statement, which provides a risk assessment of the situation in Hong Kong and recommends that the Government continues to implement various current measures to mitigate the risk of imported Ebola disease cases and prevent potential local transmission.
 
Risk assessment
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The WHO declared the Ebola disease epidemic in the DRC and Uganda caused by the Bundibugyo virus (one of the viruses of the Ebola virus genus) a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on May 17, 2026. 
 
This is the 17th Ebola disease outbreak in the DRC since 1976. As of May 24, 2026, the DRC has reported 105 confirmed cases and 10 confirmed deaths (confirmed case-fatality rate of around 10 per cent), as well as 906 suspected cases and 223 suspected deaths (suspected case-fatality rate of around 25 per cent). Uganda has also reported seven confirmed cases, including one confirmed death.
 
The WHO assessed the public health risk as “very high” in the DRC, “high” at the regional level and “low” at the global level. Currently, no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment has been developed for Bundibugyo virus. Prevention and control of Bundibugyo virus therefore primarily relies on non-pharmaceutical public health measures such as case identification, isolation, contact tracing, and infection prevention and control.
 
In Hong Kong, Ebola disease is a statutorily notifiable disease under viral haemorrhagic fever. No suspected or confirmed cases of Ebola disease have been recorded in Hong Kong so far. There are currently no direct flights between the DRC or Uganda and Hong Kong, and Hong Kong has sufficient laboratory testing, isolation and treatment capacity for the rapid diagnosis, isolation and treatment of suspected cases. At present, the risk of Ebola disease is primarily confined to outbreak areas in the DRC and the immediate public health impact on Hong Kong remains low.
 
Recommended measures
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The SCEZD recommended the following ongoing preventive and control measures, which the Government has already implemented:
 

• Enhanced surveillance: Close monitoring of the latest developments in the event of an ongoing Ebola disease outbreak, including maintaining close communication with the WHO and relevant health authorities, as well as liaison with the Chinese Mainland health authorities through the joint prevention and control mechanism. Information on the latest Ebola disease situation and updated reporting criteria should continue to be disseminated to all doctors and hospitals in Hong Kong. Healthcare professionals should continue to maintain a high level of vigilance for patients presenting with clinically compatible symptoms with Ebola and who have a recent travel history to affected areas.

• Case investigation and control measures: Prompt epidemiological investigation and contact tracing should be conducted upon notification of suspected Ebola disease cases. Suspected or confirmed cases should be immediately transferred to a public hospital for isolation and treatment, and kept in isolation until the specimens collected test negative for the virus.

• Quarantine facilities: Operational readiness of quarantine facilities should continue to be maintained for immediate deployment if required. Established protocols for contact tracing and quarantine arrangements are already ready for activation upon laboratory confirmation of an Ebola disease case.

• Port health measures and travel advice: Temperature checks and health screenings for passengers who have visited the DRC or Uganda within the past 21 days should continue. Active medical surveillance for these passengers during their stay in Hong Kong should also continue to be conducted. Members of the public are advised to avoid non-essential travel to the affected areas. Publicity on Ebola disease for travellers and communication with stakeholders of boundary control points should continue to be strengthened.

• Laboratory diagnosis: Adequate laboratory capacity to perform testing for all suspected cases of Ebola disease should continue to be ensured.

• Prevention of nosocomial transmission: Healthcare professionals should continue to comply with the latest infection control guidelines for the prevention of Ebola disease. Regular training and drills on Ebola infection control practices should continue to be held in hospitals with acute services.

• Risk communication and community engagement: Public health education and risk communication through various channels should continue to be enhanced. Liaison with relevant non-governmental organisations to convey targeted health information and distribute health promotional materials to relevant communities and venues should be strengthened.

 
The SCEZD affirmed that the Government’s multipronged approach has been effective in minimising the risk of importation of Ebola disease cases to date. Sustained implementation of these preventive and control measures is crucial for minimising importation, early detection of cases and control in case of importation.
 
The consensus statement of the SCEZD has been uploaded to the CHP website (www.chp.gov.hk/en/static/24005.html).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Hong Kong is the world’s largest cross-boundary wealth management centre, according to the Global Wealth Report 2026 published by Boston Consulting Group today.

Moreover, the report projected that from 2025 to 2030, cross-boundary wealth managed by Hong Kong will grow 9% on average annually and maintain first place globally, fully affirming the city’s position as a world-leading cross-boundary wealth management centre.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan said the National 15th Five-Year Plan clearly supports Hong Kong in strengthening its functions as an international asset and wealth management centre, which is also a key component of Hong Kong’s “Finance+” development strategy.

He highlighted that as global investors are actively seeking diversified asset allocation, Hong Kong, leveraging its advantages of “one country, two systems” whilst complemented by transparent economic policies, secure investment environment and cross-market connectivity, is attracting more and more ultra-high-net-worth individuals and family offices to establish a presence and invest in the city.

Mr Chan added: “Benefiting from the wealth generated by technological innovation and the rapid development of industries related to artificial intelligence, demand for asset and wealth management in the Mainland and the Asian region is set to grow at an accelerated pace. This is expected to open up greater room for development for Hong Kong’s asset and wealth management sector.

“The Government will continue to grasp and propel this wave of development to consolidate and enhance Hong Kong’s status and function as an international financial centre.”

Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui said the current-term Government strives to reinforce Hong Kong’s competitive advantages as a leading asset and wealth management centre.

“The Government will introduce legislative proposals into the Legislative Council next month to further enhance the preferential tax regimes for funds, single family offices and carried interest, so as to further enhance the competitiveness of the tax regimes, and attract more funds and family offices to set up and operate in Hong Kong.”

Mr Hui remarked that as global economic gravity shifts eastward, geopolitical tensions further highlight Hong Kong’s role as a safe harbour and reflect Hong Kong’s appeal as an international financial centre.

“Amid the global environment of heightened geopolitical risks, we will work concertedly with the industry to continue driving the growth momentum of Hong Kong’s asset and wealth management industry,” he stressed.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Government today (May 27) announced that the Chief Executive has appointed Ms Cordelia Chung as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC) for two years starting from July 1, 2026, succeeding the incumbent HKSTPC Chairman, Dr Sunny Chai, whose term of appointment will end on June 30, 2026.
 
Ms Chung possesses extensive experience in managing multinational enterprises in the information technology sector. She actively participated in public service, and was appointed as a member of the Board of Directors of the HKSTPC from 2017 to 2023.
 
The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, welcomed the appointment of Ms Chung as the new Chairman of the HKSTPC. He said, “Ms Chung has rich experience in the field of innovation and technology (I&T). Under her leadership, the HKSTPC will continue to support the development of local I&T enterprises, cultivating a more vibrant I&T ecosystem.”
 
Professor Sun also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the outgoing Chairman, Dr Chai, for his significant contributions to the work of the HKSTPC over the years. “Under Dr Chai’s sterling leadership, the HKSTPC has continuously enhanced existing I&T infrastructure and various measures to support I&T enterprises, nurtured I&T talents and promoted Hong Kong’s I&T and the development of new industrialisation, so as to strengthen Hong Kong’s competitiveness as an international I&T hub. In addition, under his outstanding leadership, the HKSTPC has conducted planning studies for San Tin Technopole as requested by the Government. Under the leadership of the new Chairman, the Government anticipates that the HKSTPC would continue to provide full support and cooperation for the development of the San Tin Technopole and work closely with the soon established San Tin Technopole Company Limited to jointly strengthen the I&T ecosystem and attract enterprises and international talent,” said Professor Sun.
 
The Government also announced the appointment of two new members and re-appointment of seven serving members by the Financial Secretary for a period of two years from July 1, 2026.
 
Professor Philip Chiu and Professor Helen Meng are appointed as new Board members of the HKSTPC.
 
Mr Conrad Chan, Ms Dilys Chau, Ms Susanna Hui, Mr Timothy Leung, Dr Samson Tam, Ms Phoebe Tse and Ms Eunice Yung are re-appointed as Board members of the HKSTPC.
 
Professor Sun said, “I am confident that with their extensive experience and professional knowledge in various fields, members of the Board will continue to guide the HKSTPC to fulfil its public mission effectively and propel the I&T development in Hong Kong.”
 
The tenure of two incumbent Board members, Professor Stephanie Ma and Mr Daryl Ng, will expire on June 30 this year. Professor Sun also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the outgoing Board members for their valuable advice on the HKSTPC and strong support for the I&T development in Hong Kong over the past six years.
 
Established in 2001, the HKSTPC is a statutory body wholly owned by the Government. It provides quality infrastructure facilities and support services for the I&T development in Hong Kong. The HKSTPC is responsible for managing and operating the Hong Kong Science Park, three InnoParks and the InnoCentre.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is a question by the Hon Chan Chun-ying and a written reply by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, in the Legislative Council today (May 27):
 
Question:
 
It is learnt that the demand for pet hospice services is growing day by day. Given that the Government currently has no plans to establish a licensing regime for operators of pet hospice services, nor does it provide pet cremation services, most pet owners choose to entrust private organisations with the handling of their pets’ after-death arrangements, resulting in the rapid development of the relevant industry. As the cremation of animals in ordinary industrial buildings (IBs) constitutes breaches of land leases, owners intending to set up cremation facilities and provide pet funeral services in ordinary IB units must apply to the Lands Department for an amendment to lease conditions or exemption from the relevant use restrictions, which may require applying to the Town Planning Board for a change of statutory planning use or planning permission. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the respective numbers of applications received, approved and rejected by the relevant departments in each of the past three years concerning the amendment to lease conditions or exemption from restrictions for the setting up of pet cremation facilities in IBs;
 
(2) regarding the setting up of cremation facilities in IBs to provide pet funeral services, whether the relevant departments have considered streamlining the application procedures for amending lease conditions or exempting from restrictions, and providing guidelines on the application procedures; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
 
(3) regarding operators of pet hospice services who have not applied for the setting up of pet cremation facilities in IBs, whether the authorities have grasped the numbers of their companies or facilities, as well as the locations thereof (e.g. IBs, brownfield sites, shopping centres and commercial buildings); if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:
 
President,
 
Currently, various government departments regulate pet cremation operating premises in accordance with applicable legislations or the terms of the land leases. For example, upon receipt of complaints about these premises causing sanitary nuisance, environmental pollution, fire hazard or breach of terms of the land lease, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, the Environmental Protection Department, the Fire Services Department or the Lands Department (LandsD) will carry out inspections and take enforcement actions as necessary.
 
Having consulted the Development Bureau and the Security Bureau, the reply to the question from the Hon Chan Chun-ying is as follows:

(1) and (2) Generally, the leases of industrial buildings specify that the lot shall be used only for industrial and/or godown purposes. If an owner intends to install a cremation facility in an industrial building unit to provide pet cremation services, the owner must apply to the LandsD to modify the lease terms or waive the relevant user restrictions. In the past three years, the LandsD received only one waiver application in 2023 for the installation of pet cremation facility in an industrial building. As the application failed to meet the statutory land use zoning requirement, the LandsD rejected the application in 2024.
 
“Pet cremation facilities” is currently not under any existing categories of use in statutory town plans. Interested operators may submit an application to the Town Planning Board in accordance with section 12A of the Town Planning Ordinance to rezone a certain statutory planning use to a designated use for “pet cremation facilities”, or submit an application for planning approval in accordance with section 16 under appropriate circumstances if said “pet cremation facilities” are for temporary use only. If any person applies to the LandsD for modifying lease terms or waivers to install cremation facilities in industrial buildings to provide pet cremation services, upon receiving the application, the LandsD will examine whether the application meets the statutory land use zoning requirement, and will consult the relevant policy bureaux and/or departments to ascertain whether it receives policy support and complies with other laws and regulations, before considering whether to approve the application. Details can be found on the LandsD’s website (www.landsd.gov.hk/en/land-disposal-transaction/land-transaction.html) or by contacting the District Lands Offices.

(3) Upon receipt of complaints regarding pet cremation operating premises or applications from operators on specific facilities and land leases, various government departments will follow up in accordance with their respective areas of responsibility. The Government does not maintain statistical data on the total number or locations of such facilities.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is a question by the Hon Jonathan Leung and a written reply by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, in the Legislative Council today (May 27):

Question:

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region