Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Home and Youth Affairs Bureau holds Hong Kong’s five-year plan Thematic Consultation Session – District Governance
The fourth session of the 14th National People’s Congress approved the “Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of the People’s Republic of China” (the 15th Five-Year Plan) in March 2026. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) is proactively aligning with the 15th Five-Year Plan and is drawing up its first Hong Kong five-year plan, which should take a macro view and be strategic and forward looking.
Speaking at the thematic consultation session, the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, highlighted that the 15th Five-Year Plan sets out important strategies for the country in various areas, including improvement of the social governance system. She stressed that the HKSAR Government will closely align with these strategies, strengthen institutional advantages, and improve the efficacy of district governance, thereby strengthening the public’s sense of fulfilment, happiness and security. The HYAB hoped to gather the insights and expectations of stakeholders with rich district experience through the thematic consultation session to assist the HKSAR Government in preparing the first Hong Kong’s five-year plan.
The HYAB will continue to collect views from various sectors of society on its policy areas through different channels and formats, with the aim of ensuring that the Hong Kong’s five-year plan better meets Hong Kong’s practical needs and provides clear directions for future development.
Issued at HKT 18:05
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DH urges public to adopt healthy lifestyle, measure blood pressure and undergo screening regularly in support of World Hypertension Day
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
DH urges public to adopt healthy lifestyle, measure blood pressure and undergo screening regularly in support of World Hypertension Day—————————
Adults are considered to have hypertension if their systolic blood pressure is persistently higher than or equal to 140 millimetres of mercury (mmHg) and/or their diastolic blood pressure is persistently higher than or equal to 90 mmHg. According to the Hong Kong Reference Framework for Hypertension Care for Adults in Primary Care Settings
How to prevent hypertension
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Adopting a healthy lifestyle is essential for preventing and controlling hypertension. Reducing salt intake is widely recognised as one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. According to the DH’s PHS 2020-22, as many as 83.9 per cent of persons aged 15 to 84 had daily salt intake above the World Health Organization-recommended daily limit of less than 5 grams of salt. Furthermore, the public are reminded to avoid drinking alcohol and smoking, and to stay away from secondhand smoke as far as possible.Issued at HKT 11:00
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Tenders invited for licence of advertising areas at Tsim Sha Tsui Interchange Subways and Middle Road Subway
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Tenders invited for licence of advertising areas at Tsim Sha Tsui Interchange Subways and Middle Road Subway
The licence should be used for the installation, operation, management, maintenance and control of the advertising display systems (as defined in the respective Form of Licence Agreement) for the display of advertisements at the abovementioned adverting areas only.
The tender notice was uploaded today (May 18) to the GPA Property PortalIssued at HKT 12:04
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CHP’s measles vaccination booth at airport to remain open until end of May
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
So far this year, seven measles cases have been recorded in Hong Kong, including four imported cases and three local cases (two of which were epidemiologically linked to an imported case and all of which belonged to the abovementioned airport backend support staff cluster). In the past two years (2024 and 2025), 10 cases were recorded each year.
Measles outbreaks are currently occurring in many regions around the world. In recent years, North America (including the United States, Canada and Mexico) and Southeast Asia (including Indonesia, Cambodia and the Philippines) have seen persistent measles outbreaks due to low vaccination coverage. About 1 800 cases have been recorded in the United States so far this year, a figure significantly higher than the same period last year. In Europe, the number of measles cases in the United Kingdom and Spain has increased this year, with 542 and 110 cases recorded respectively since January. In Asia, measles remains prevalent in the Philippines, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Cambodia. Japan has also seen a substantial rise in cases this year, with 462 cases recorded as of May 8, surpassing last year’s total of 265 cases and marking the highest record since 2019. Singapore and Australia have reported 33 and 102 measles cases respectively this year, which is also higher than the same period last year. Most of the overseas cases involved individuals who were not vaccinated against measles or had an unknown vaccination status, highlighting the importance of maintaining a high vaccination rate and herd immunity within the community.
As a city with a high volume of international travel, Hong Kong faces the potential risk of importation of the measles virus and its spread in the local community. The CHP’s territory-wide immunisation surveys showed that under the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme, the two-dose measles vaccination coverage has consistently stayed above 95 per cent. The local seroprevalence rates of measles virus antibodies reflect that most people in Hong Kong are immune to measles. However, measles is highly contagious. A small number of people who have not completed measles vaccinations (such as non-locally born people including new immigrants, foreign domestic helpers, overseas employees and people coming to Hong Kong for further studies) are still at risk of being infected and spreading measles to others without immunity against measles, such as children under one year old who have not yet received the first dose of the measles vaccine. Those who have unknown immunities against measles or need to receive measles vaccinations are urged to consult their doctor.
The Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme introduced a measles vaccine for the first time in 1967. Since then, the incidence of measles has gradually decreased. People born and raised in Hong Kong before 1967 can be considered to have acquired immunity to measles through natural infection, as measles was endemic in Hong Kong at that time. People born in Hong Kong in or after 1967 who have not yet completed the two doses of measles vaccination, or whose measles vaccination history is unknown, should consult their family doctors as soon as possible to complete the vaccination and ensure adequate protection against measles.
The incubation period of measles (i.e. the time from infection to onset of illness) is seven to 21 days. Symptoms include fever, skin rash, cough, runny nose and red eyes. If travellers returning from places with a high incidence or an outbreak of measles develop symptoms of measles (e.g. fever and rash), they should seek medical advice immediately and avoid contact with non-immune individuals, especially pregnant women and infants under 1 year old. They should also report their symptoms and prior travel history to healthcare workers so that appropriate infection control measures can be implemented at the healthcare facilities to prevent any potential spread. For more information on measles, the public may visit the CHP’s measles thematic pageIssued at HKT 18:24
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Applications for allowing dogs to enter permitted food premises to commence tomorrow
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will start accepting applications from restaurants tomorrow (May 18) for allowing dogs to enter their premises. It is expected that the permitted food premises could welcome their customers with dogs within July. The application process is simple. Restaurants interested in applying for the dog-admission permission may submit their applications, starting from 10am tomorrow, electronically through the FEHD’s dedicated webpage (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/licensing/dog_restaurants/index.html). The application period will be ended on June 8.
A quota of not more than 1 000 restaurants is set for the first phase of application. If more than 1 000 applications are received, allocation will be made by balloting. For safety considerations, applications from hotpot restaurants and barbecue restaurants (including teppanyaki and Korean barbecue) will not be accepted, and only applications from restaurants with an area larger than 20 square metres will be considered. Apart from the above restrictions, all restaurants with a full licence may apply for the dog-admission permission.
The first batch of permission is expected to be granted in mid-June. To allow sufficient time for operational preparation by the trade, the FEHD will specify a date in July from which dogs will be allowed to enter permitted food premises. The exact date will be announced in due course. No person shall bring any dog onto any food premises prior to that date (except for guide dogs and working dogs).
To assist the catering trade in understanding the application requirements in advance, and get prepared for the upcoming implementation of the new measures, the FEHD held three briefing sessions for the trade from May 11 to 13. Representatives of the FEHD have set out relevant application procedures, eligibility criteria, licensing conditions and matters that require restaurant operators’ attention. In addition, representatives of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Institute of Shopping Centre Management, and the Hong Kong Federation of Insurers, were invited to share with trade members knowledge on interacting with animals, experience in managing pet-friendly malls and matters requiring attention in relation to insurance.
More than 360 members from the catering sector attended the three briefing sessions, and over 4 600 viewers watched the live broadcasts via the FEHD’s Facebook page. The briefings received an enthusiastic response. Representatives of the FEHD also answered questions from attendees at the question-and-answer sessions. The department will hold the fourth briefing session for the trade on May 28. Restaurant operators who are unable to attend in person and other interested parties may watch the live broadcast via the FEHD’s Facebook page from 2.30pm to 5pm on the day of the briefing session, which will later be uploaded to the FEHD’s dedicated webpage.
Information on allowing dogs to enter permitted restaurants, including licence conditions and frequently asked questions has been uploaded to the FEHD’s dedicated webpage. The FEHD will also release a set of Guidelines of Good Practice and Behaviour later, for reference by restaurant operators and members of the public. The FEHD has set up two dedicated hotlines (2867 5912 and 2867 2836), through which enquiries about the applications can be made from 9am to 5pm from Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays).
HKSAR Government activates alert response level of Ebola preparedness and response plan
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
HKSAR Government activates alert response level of Ebola preparedness and response plan (with photo) Members of the public wishing to learn more about the Ebola disease and related travel health advice may visit the CHP website (www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/34199.htmlIssued at HKT 18:56
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CCIDA and Hong Kong Film Development Council lead industry delegation to 79th Cannes Film Festival in France to showcase Hong Kong Cinema
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and the Hong Kong Film Development Council (FDC) led the industry to participate in the 79th Cannes Film Festival in France, which is being held from May 12 to 23. Members of the delegation included Assistant Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries and Secretary-General of the FDC, Mr Gary Mak; the Chairman of the FDC, Dr Wilfred Wong; new-generation actors, emerging Hong Kong film producers as well as representatives of the winning teams of a funding scheme under the Film Development Fund. The lineup introduced Hong Kong cinema’s rising talent and innovative strength to the international film community.
CCIDA and the FDC collaborated with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council to set up the Hong Kong Pavilion themed “Hong Kong Cinema @ Cannes 2026” at the festival’s film market, and supported Hong Kong filmmakers in exploring overseas film markets and expanding their global networks through a series of activities. One of the highlights, the “Hong Kong Night” reception, was held on May 16 (Cannes time), attracting around 600 industry representatives and filmmakers from around the world, who engaged with the Hong Kong delegates (including new-generation actors Carlos Chan and Natalie Hsu) to foster market development and creative collaboration. CCIDA and the FDC also organised seminars on artificial intelligence and Asian film financing collaboration with a focus on the creative technology applications and diverse development of film production in Asia, aiming to drive cultural exchange and foster new technology and cross-border collaborations between the East and the West.
To assist Hong Kong’s film industry to identify potential partners for international collaborations, CCIDA held a Hong Kong project pitching session during the festival for the filmmakers to introduce their original projects to overseas industry players, and arranged business matching sessions with filmmakers from Brazil, Canada, France, Italy, Korea, and Spain. Attending Hong Kong delegates included five producers (Wong Hoi; Charlie Fung; Oliver Chan; Lung Kwok-yiu; and Terence Choi) who were nominated by CCIDA to participate in the festival’s official programme (namely, “Producers Network”), and three representatives of the winning projects (director Tsang Tsui-shan of “Kowloon Grand Hotel”; producer Cho King-man of “Spirited Away”; and scriptwriter Li Ling-long of “Bus Lightyear”) of the Content Development Scheme for Streaming Platforms by the FDC.
In addition, Mr Mak and Dr Wong met with representatives of various international film institutions, festival organisers, and overseas distributors, including the French National Centre of Cinema, the Series Mania of France, the British Film Institute, as well as representatives of international film festivals of Busan, Locarno, Toronto and Venice, to strengthen ties between Hong Kong and overseas film industries.
CCIDA will continue to work closely with the industry to proactively expand into overseas markets and bring more outstanding Hong Kong films and creative talent to the international stage.
From Africa to Asia: InvestHK wraps up strategic visit to South Africa and Rwanda riding on Global South momentum
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
From Africa to Asia: InvestHK wraps up strategic visit to South Africa and Rwanda riding on Global South momentum
During her visit to Johannesburg (May 10 to13) (Johannesburg time), Ms Lee engaged with a diverse range of leading enterprises and industry bodies. Discussions focused on how Hong Kong’s robust business environment can empower African enterprises to effectively manage and scale their expanding Asian operations.
Ms Lee also met with local chambers of commerce and government investment agencies to explore new avenues for collaboration. She highlighted that Africa is one of the InvestHK’s key markets, as many African enterprises are now looking to diversify their funding sources and simplify cross-border transactions through Hong Kong’s deep capital markets and unique connectivity with Chinese Mainland.
Ms Lee said, “Africa has emerged as a vital engine of growth within the Global South. Our journey of thousands of miles to Africa begins with a meaningful step. For African corporates looking for a trusted and strategic partner to expand into the Chinese Mainland and the Asia-Pacific region, the interest, relationships, and momentum are building up. Hong Kong has vast potential to play a unique role linking capital, talent, and innovation between Africa and our part of the world, while InvestHK will continue to be a driver of this interconnectivity, facilitating two-way investment through strategic market insights, extensive global access, targeted promotion, and policy facilitation. “
The Minister Counsellor in charge of Economic and Commercial Affairs of the Chinese Embassy in South Africa, Ms Liu Yu, said, “The synergy between South Africa and Hong Kong in the economic and trade fields is both complementary and strategically significant. Under the framework of the 15th Five-Year Plan, Hong Kong’s status as a global offshore Renminbi hub and an international asset management centre provides a professional one-stop platform for enterprises to go global. We encourage South African and Chinese Mainland enterprises in South Africa to leverage Hong Kong’s unique professional advantages to optimise their supply chain layouts and achieve high-quality, mutually beneficial development.”
The President of the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI), Mr Mtho Xulu, said, “We want to see the relationship beyond our borders, where we take companies from South Africa into Hong Kong, using the city as a platform to scale into the bigger markets. Whether it’s for innovation, manufacturing, or industrialisation, we want to look at how we can collaborate further and bring the two places closer together. This ecosystem is exactly what our members need to unlock high-value opportunities on the Chinese Mainland and across Asia.”
The visit culminated in Kigali, Rwanda, where Ms Lee represented InvestHK at the Africa CEO Forum, engaging in high-level discussions with C-suite executives from the continent’s leading multinationals on May 14 and 15 (Kigali time).
Continuing the momentum of two-way economic ties, InvestHK will host an Africa Day Reception in Hong Kong on May 26, assembling local African business communities to explore new avenues for cross-border collaboration.
Issued at HKT 17:05
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SWD commends over 200 foster families for lighting up children’s hearts with love
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
SWD commends over 200 foster families for lighting up children’s hearts with love
Mr To further remarked that every foster family itself is a touching storybook – some parents who initially intended to provide short-term emergency care have been serving for over 30 years, rendering protection and shelter to needy children; and there are also parents who strived to provide foster children with a happy childhood despite their own busy schedules, protecting children’s well-being with love. He expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all foster parents for their selfless love that transcends blood ties. Such years-long dedication not only injects warmth and positive energy into children’s lives, it also lights up their hearts, empowering them to soar with love.
Mr To also extended sincere thanks to the 11 NGOs operating foster care service for their unwavering support in sustaining the service toward its fruitful 45th anniversary.
With a view to strengthening support for foster care service and encouraging more dedicated individuals to become foster parents, the SWD has implemented a series of enhancement measures in recent years, including the substantial increase of the incentive payment for foster parents starting from April 2024; allocating additional resources to enhance training for foster parents and to provide extra support for foster children with special needs since 2025. Currently, there are about 1 120 foster families in Hong Kong. Members of the public who are interested in joining foster care service are welcome to contact the SWD’s Central Foster Care Unit at 2573 2282.
Issued at HKT 12:25
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Director General David Cheng-Wei Wu Meets with President and Delegation of the Distinguished Citizens Society International of NSW
Source: Republic of China Taiwan
President Charles Lin of the Distinguished Citizens Society International of NSW, Australia, together with his team, paid a courtesy call on Director General David Cheng-Wei Wu. Director May Chiang, Thomas Lee, and Fu-Ku Hsiao also attended the meeting.
President Lin and his team briefed the delegation on the planning and progress of four major events this year, including a premium singles social event, the 30th Anniversary Celebration & 3rd Biennial Convention of the Distinguished Citizens Society International of Australia, City2Surf TW Runners, and the 8th Double Tenth National Day Basketball Championship.
DG Wu expressed appreciation for the association’s active engagement in the community and wished all upcoming events great success with strong participation and support.