Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Hong Kong Customs detects one incoming passenger drug trafficking case at airport (with photo) The case involved a 20-year-old female passenger arriving in Hong Kong from Rome, Italy, via Taipei today. During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 25kg of suspected ketamine in total from 13 tinfoil bags inside her check-in suitcase with an estimated market value of about $11.3 million. The woman was subsequently arrested.
An investigation is ongoing.
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 to 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.hkIssued at HKT 21:00
Four new features have been added to the 18111 Mental Health Support Hotline from today, namely WhatsApp support, multi-language support, a scheduled call-back service, and additional optional services, with a view to enhancing mental health support for the public.
WhatsApp support
Mindful modern communication habits, the 18111 hotline now offers WhatsApp support, allowing users to send instant messages and receive immediate online support from trained staff.
The Health Bureau said this feature caters to younger people and anyone hesitant to make a phone call. It also enables citizens with hearing or speech impairments to seek assistance in a more convenient manner, thereby enhancing the hotline’s accessibility.
Multi-language support
In addition to Cantonese, Mandarin and English, the hotline now supports nine other languages, namely Hindi, Nepali, Urdu, Punjabi, Bahasa Indonesia, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Bengali, and Thai.
Scheduled call-back
Users can request a call via phone, voicemail or WhatsApp. Staff will contact them at a scheduled time.
Additional optional services
Citizens can also receive information on support services and stress management techniques. Via the “Real People Library” function, they can listen to recordings of people in recovery talking about ways to cope with difficult situations and how to seek help. Available via voice navigation or WhatsApp, these additional services give users instant access to supporting information and advice.
Officiating at the “18111 Mental Health Support Hotline: the New Features Launch Ceremony” today, Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau said: “Drawing on 22 months of operational experience of the 18111 Mental Health Support Hotline, we have introduced four new features for the Hotline to respond to various needs of the public, offering more thoughtful, convenient, and comprehensive emotional support to the public.
“Should any member of the public be in mental distress or have mental health needs, I encourage them to call the Hotline to seek appropriate support.”
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Filipino male jailed for conspiracy to defraud During a previous investigation into a case relating to overstaying former foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) who were taking up unapproved employment in Hong Kong, the Anti-Illegal Migration Agency of the Immigration Department (ImmD) detected a syndicate using false instruments to apply for FDH working visas. Upon intelligence analysis, investigators identified the target person and mounted a series of operations from May to July 2023. During the operations, over 60 persons were arrested. Under caution, the Filipino male (defendant) admitted, for the purpose of receiving a monetary reward, to have conspired with others to obtain FDH visas to work in Hong Kong illegally through the use of false residential and financial proof, as well as false FDH contracts. The defendant, later charged with conspiracy to defraud, pleaded guilty and was convicted and sentenced to 36 months’ imprisonment by the District Court today.
Twenty-six other arrested persons were also convicted earlier for offences such as conspiracy to defraud and making false representation to an immigration officer, and were sentenced to up to 15 months’ imprisonment. More suspects could be arrested and prosecuted as the investigation is continuing.
“It is an offence to make a false representation to an immigration officer. Offenders are liable to prosecution and to a maximum fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for 14 years. In addition, anyone who commits the offence of conspiracy to defraud is liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, the maximum penalty is imprisonment for 14 years. Furthermore, it is an offence to make, possess or use false instruments. Upon conviction, offenders are liable to a maximum penalty of 14 years’ imprisonment,” an ImmD spokesman said.
The spokesman warned, “As stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land is prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining in any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years’ imprisonment.”
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) is holding the International Conference and Workshop on Phytoplankton Community Integrity Index (PCII) at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) from today (November 4) to November 6. The event aims to introduce the developments and applications of the PCII, provide training, and strengthen technical exchange and collaboration among professional bodies in this field from Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and overseas.
The EPD, drawing on the latest international practices, has successfully developed a biological indicator, the PCII, to address and manage nutrient enrichment in coastal and estuarine waters. The developments and applications of the PCII and the associated study findings were reviewed by academic scholars and published in an international scientific journal in February 2024.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Director of Environmental Protection, Dr Samuel Chui, highlighted that the Conference aims to create a platform for sharing and promoting the latest developments and applications of the PCII and other relevant biological indicators, so as to provide useful reference for the future development of ecologically based assessment methods on evaluating eutrophication risks and assessing ecological impacts, and to further enhance co-operation between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Chinese Mainland in marine ecological environment protection, in order to achieve the target of jointly building the Greater Bay Area into a world-class beautiful bay area.
Two phytoplankton experts from the Scottish Association for Marine Science in the United Kingdom were invited to present on the theory and operation mechanism of the PCII, as well as the relevant biological indices and evaluation approaches recently developed and applied internationally (e.g. in the European Union). Chinese Mainland representatives in attendance came from the National Marine Environmental Monitoring Center of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the World Sustainable Development Institute, the Department of Ecology and Environment of Guangdong Province, and the Ecology Environment Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality. Participants from Hong Kong included representatives from government officials and academic sectors such as the EPD, the Agricultural Fisheries and Conservation Department, the HKUST, the City University of Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong Metropolitan University.
The PCII provides an objective and scientific assessment on coastal eutrophication as it analyses the impact of nutrient levels on phytoplankton communities in marine ecosystems. The PCII can be used to supplement traditional nutrient water quality standards with key indicators of ecological or biological responses, thus improving the assessment of eutrophication risks in coastal and estuarine waters and better promoting pollution control in a precise and scientific manner. This enhances the cost-effectiveness of managing eutrophication. The EPD has already adopted the PCII to assess the eutrophication status of marine waters. For more information on the PCII and relevant monitoring data, please refer to the EPD’s dedicated website (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/water/hkwqrc/waterquality/phy_mon.html) and the annual report on Marine Water Quality Report in Hong Kong in 2024 (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/sites/default/files/epd/english/environmentinhk/water/hkwqrc/files/waterquality/annual-report/marinereport2024.pdf).
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident in Sha Tin today (November 4) in which a man died.
At around 8.16am, a private car driven by a 50-year-old man was passing through Yi Shing Square, where it scraped a taxi parking nearby. The car then turned right to Yuen Chau Kok Road, where it suspectedly went out of control and knocked down a 50-year-old male rehabilitation bus driver who was at the rear of the rehabilitation bus. The rehabilitation bus driver was trapped between the private car and his rehabilitation bus.
Police officers sped to the scene. The rehabilitation bus driver was rescued by firemen. Sustaining serious multiple injuries, he was rushed to Prince of Wales Hospital in unconscious state and was certified dead at 9.13am.
The private car driver was injured and sent to Prince of Wales Hospital in conscious state. He was arrested for careless driving, failing to stop after an accident, failing to report after an accident and dangerous driving causing death and is being detained for enquiries.
Investigation by the Special Investigation Team of Traffic, New Territories South is underway.
Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 1346.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
With a stronger than normal upper-air anticyclone covering southern China and cooler air from the north only reaching the coast of southern China later in the month, October 2025 was exceptionally warm in Hong Kong. The monthly mean temperature of 27.4 degrees and monthly mean minimum temperature of 25.6 degrees were both the highest on record for October. Moreover, the monthly mean maximum temperature of 29.9 degrees was the second highest on record. There were also in total seven hot nights including four consecutive hot nights that started from October 16, and four very hot days in the month, all breaking records for October. The month was also much drier than usual with a total rainfall of 31.2 millimetres, only about 26 per cent of the normal of 120.3 millimetres. The accumulated rainfall this year up to October was 2 545.2 millimetres, about 8 per cent above the normal of 2 363.1 millimetres for the same period.
Under the influence of an anticyclone aloft, the local weather was generally fine and very hot on the first three days of the month. The maximum temperature at the Observatory rose to 33.6 degrees on the afternoon of October 1, the highest of the month. Moreover, Matmo formed as a tropical depression over the seas east of the Philippines on October 1. It moved west-northwestwards across Luzon, edged closer to the coast of Guangdong and progressively intensified into a typhoon in the following three days. Matmo made landfall over the Leizhou Peninsula on the afternoon of October 5. It then moved across the inland areas of Guangxi and the northern part of Vietnam and progressively weakened into an area of low pressure in the next two days. Locally, the weather remained mainly fine at first and very hot on October 4. With the approach of Matmo, local winds strengthened in the afternoon. Winds were generally strong, once reaching gale force offshore and on high ground that afternoon and the next day. The weather turned cloudy with a few squally showers and violent gusts. There were also thunderstorms on October 4. More than 10 millimetres of rainfall were recorded over many places, and rainfall even exceeded 40 millimetres over parts of Lantau Island on October 5. Although it was mainly cloudy with one or two showers at first the next day, there were sunny intervals during the day as Matmo departed.
Dominated by an anticyclone aloft, apart from a few showers, it was generally fine and very hot from October 7 to 11. The maximum temperature at the Observatory rose to 33.1 degrees on October 8, the hottest Cold Dew on record. With a broad trough of low pressure edging closer to the coast of Guangdong, the weather of Hong Kong turned mainly cloudy with showers and thunderstorms on October 12, with more than 20 millimetres of rainfall recorded over Lantau Island and Hong Kong Island. A waterspout was also spotted near Lamma Island in the afternoon. The broad trough of low pressure continued to affect the coast of Guangdong in the next two days. Locally, there were showers and thunderstorms on the morning of October 14, with more than 20 millimetres of rainfall recorded over parts of the northern New Territories. With the anticyclone aloft strengthening again over southern China, apart from a few showers, the local weather turned generally fine on the afternoon of October 14 and remained so in the following five days. It was very hot on October 18 and 19. The minimum temperature recorded at the Observatory on October 19 was 28.2 degrees, making it the latest hot night of a year on record.
As well, Fengshen formed as a tropical depression over the seas east of the Philippines on the morning of October 17. It then tracked generally west-northwestwards across the central part of the Philippines and entered the central part of the South China Sea in the following two days. It intensified into a severe tropical storm and edged closer to the coast of Guangdong on October 20. It turned to move west-southwestwards across the seas south of Hainan Island and weakened progressively in the next three days. Meanwhile, an intense northeast monsoon affected southern China on October 20. Locally, winds were strong offshore. Under the combined effect of Fengshen and the intense northeast monsoon, the local winds were generally strong on October 21, occasionally reaching gale force on high ground. The outer rainbands of Fengshen also brought cloudy weather and a few rain patches to the territory. It was appreciably cooler on October 22, with temperatures over most parts of the territory in the afternoon around 15 degrees lower than those on October 19. Moreover, the temperature at the Observatory fell to a minimum of 18.2 degrees on October 22, the lowest of the month. Under the continuous influence of the monsoon and a broad band of clouds covering southern China, the weather remained generally cloudy with a few rain patches during the following six days. With the band of clouds thinning out, there were sunny periods on October 25 and 26. Affected by an easterly airstream, it was mainly cloudy with one or two rain patches on October 29 and 30. With the moderation of the easterly airstream, there were sunny periods on the last day of the month.
Four tropical cyclones occurred over the South China Sea and the western North Pacific in October 2025.
Details of issuances and cancellations of various warnings/signals in the month are summarised in Table 1. Monthly meteorological figures and departures from normal for October are tabulated in Table 2.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released the latest provisional figures on restaurant receipts and purchases today (November 4).
The value of total receipts of the restaurants sector in the third quarter of 2025, provisionally estimated at $26.7 billion, remained at a similar level when compared with a year earlier. Over the same period, the provisional estimate of the value of total purchases by restaurants decreased by 1.0% to $8.6 billion.
After netting out the effect of price changes over the same period, the provisional estimate of the volume of total restaurant receipts decreased by 1.4% in the third quarter of 2025 compared with a year earlier.
Analysed by type of restaurant and comparing the third quarter of 2025 with the third quarter of 2024, total receipts of Chinese restaurants decreased by 3.5% in value and 4.8% in volume. Total receipts of non-Chinese restaurants increased by 3.7% in value and 3.2% in volume. Total receipts of fast food shops increased by 0.3% in value, but decreased by 1.0% in volume. Total receipts of bars increased by 2.4% in value and 1.0% in volume. As for miscellaneous eating and drinking places, total receipts decreased by 4.0% in value and 5.6% in volume.
Based on the seasonally adjusted series, the provisional estimate of total restaurant receipts decreased by 0.8% in value and 1.7% in volume in the third quarter of 2025 compared with the preceding quarter.
Comparing the first three quarters of 2025 with the same period in 2024, total restaurant receipts remained virtually unchanged in value but decreased by 1.2% in volume.
To facilitate further understanding of the short-term business performance of the restaurants sector, statistics in respect of the restaurant receipts and purchases in individual months of the reference quarter are also compiled.
Analysed by month, it was provisionally estimated that the value of total receipts of the restaurants sector increased by 1.3%, increased by 1.2% and decreased by 3.6% respectively in July, August and September 2025, compared with the corresponding months in 2024.
After discounting the effect of price changes, it was provisionally estimated that the volume of total restaurant receipts increased by 0.2%, increased by 0.1% and decreased by 4.6% respectively in July, August and September 2025, compared with the corresponding months in 2024.
Commentary
A Government spokesman said that the value of total restaurant receipts declined slightly by 0.3% in the third quarter from a year earlier. Following the increases in July and August, the value of receipts declined in September mainly due to the high base of comparison as the Mid-Autumn Festival fell in early October this year but in mid-September last year, as well as more occurrences of extreme weather conditions during the month.
Looking ahead, restaurant business performance should be underpinned by improving local consumption sentiment, the increase in employment earnings, and the sustained growth in inbound tourism.
Further information
Table 1 presents the revised figures of restaurant receipts by type of restaurant and total purchases by the restaurants sector for the second quarter of 2025 as well as the provisional figures for the third quarter of 2025.
Table 2 and Table 3 present the revised value and volume indices respectively of restaurant receipts by type of restaurant for the second quarter of 2025 and the provisional indices for the third quarter of 2025.
Table 4 presents the year-on-year rate of change in total restaurant receipts in value and volume terms based on the original quarterly series, as well as the quarter-to-quarter rate of change based on the seasonally adjusted series.
The revised figures on restaurant receipts and purchases for the third quarter of 2025 (with breakdown by month) will be released through the website of C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/scode540.html) and relevant publications of the Department from December 19, 2025.
The classification of restaurants follows the Hong Kong Standard Industrial Classification (HSIC) Version 2.0, which is used in various economic surveys for classifying economic units into different industry classes.
Users who have enquiries about the survey results may contact the Distribution Services Statistics Section of C&SD (Tel: 3903 7401; e-mail: qsr@censtatd.gov.hk).
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The HOUSING · I&T Summit, organised by the Housing Bureau and the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA), opened today (November 4). Held over four days from today under the theme “Pioneering Innovative Housing for a Sustainable Future “, the Summit has brought together experts, scholars, and industry leaders in public housing from over 15 countries and cities worldwide to participate. The first two days of the Summit are being held at the Sham Shui Po Leisure and Cultural Building, featuring a symposium centred on four key themes, “Smart · Housing”, “Smart · Innovation”, “Smart · Community” and “Smart · Living”, alongside an intelligent technology exhibition area for participants to exchange ideas and explore innovation and developments in housing construction technology. For the following two days, participants will conduct site visits in Zhuhai and Hong Kong. The Summit has attracted over 400 professionals from various sectors.
Under the HOUSING · I&T initiative this year, the Housing Bureau has organised a series of events, including today’s international symposium, a construction robotics competition in May, and a secondary school housing construction robotics design competition in September to foster the development of the construction technology industry.
In her welcoming remarks at the opening ceremony this morning, the Secretary for Housing, Ms Winnie Ho, said, “We are delighted to bring together experts and industry leaders from around the world to explore how innovative technology can drive sustainable housing construction and development. We have visited other foreign cities and countries like Singapore, Portugal, Spain and France in the past few years and I am very excited to see them visiting Hong Kong this time. Some of them will also join our visit on November 6 to Zhuhai to see the factories and innovative construction base in the Greater Bay Area (GBA). Hong Kong will continue to play the roles of a ‘super connector’ and ‘super value-adder’ to foster cross-regional collaboration, building safer, more livable, and quality homes for our people.”
This was followed by speeches by Deputy Director General of the Department of Standard and Norms of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development Mr Wu Luyang and the Deputy Director of Housing (Development & Construction), Mr Daniel Leung, on strengthening exchanges and co-operation to jointly build an upgraded version of China construction and “MiTech – A Paradigm Shift in Smart Public Housing Construction” respectively. Other speakers included the Minister of Housing and Local Government of Malaysia, Mr Nga Kor Ming; Assistant Professor of the Business School of the University of Hong Kong Professor Michael Wong; the Global Digital Services Leader of Arup of the United Kingdom, Dr Will Cavendish; Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Bouygues Construction Group Mr Pierre-Éric Saint-André; the Senior Vice President of AECOM Global Group Limited of Australia, Mr Marc Colella; Professor of Department of Civil Engineering of Tsinghua University Professor Lu Xinzheng; Professor of the University of Melbourne of Australia Professor Nelson Lam; Senior Lecturer of the National University of Singapore Dr Du Hongjian; the Chief Executive Officer of the Nano and Advanced Materials Institute, Mr Andy Fung, and representatives of different institutions and government departments in Hong Kong.
The Summit sessions this morning, under the theme “Smart · Housing”, brought together global perspectives and local experiences to discuss shaping the future of housing and urban development. The afternoon sessions, focusing on “Smart · Innovation”, explored how intelligent innovations like AI, component-based construction, and advanced materials are transforming the construction and real estate industries.
During the Summit, Ms Ho and other guests visited the intelligent technology exhibition area to interact with participants and learn about the active research and developments in innovative technology by tech companies. They also visited the Better Housing Exhibition on display at the Sham Mong Road Playground. This mobile exhibition is organised and instructed by the Centre of Science and Technology Industrial Development of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development (MOHURD), technically supported by the smart low-carbon construction technology innovation centre and whole-house smart key laboratory of the MOHURD, and has been exhibited in different places including Beijing, Urumqi, Guilin and Shenzhen. This exhibition serves to inspire both the private and public housing around the world to consider new possibilities for future living.
Tomorrow morning’s sessions will focus on “Smart · Community”, exploring smart cities and integrating technology into housing management. The Permanent Secretary for Housing/Director of Housing, Miss Charmaine Lee, will deliver the opening remarks. Speakers will include the Chief Executive Officer of Housing and Development Board of Singapore, Mr Tan Meng Dui; the General Manager of China Merchants Property Digital Technology (Shenzhen) Co Ltd, Mr Shou Quan; the Director of Public Housing Redevelopment Department of Seoul Housing and Urban Development Corp, Mr Oh Sang Wook; GIS Specialist of SH Urban Research Institute of South Korea Dr Hwang Jong A; the Chair Professor (Digital Construction) and Head of the Department of Real Estate and Construction of Faculty of Architecture of the University of Hong Kong, Professor Wilson Lu; Professor of ETH Zurich Professor Benjamin Dillenburger; and the Associate Head and Professor of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Professor Jack Cheng. The afternoon sessions, under the theme “Smart • Living”, will examine how various innovative technologies enhance site safety and operational efficiency. Speakers will include the Deputy Director of Housing (Estate Management), Mr Michael Hong; the Managing Director of Apply Structure Ltd of the United Kingdom, Mr Anthony Pearce; the General Manager of Building Construction Department of China State Construction Engineering (Hong Kong) Limited, Mr Sunny Au; the Chairperson of Construction Industry Safety and Health Steering Committee of the Occupational Safety and Health Council, Professor Ada Fung; the Chairman of the Construction Industry Council, Professor Thomas Ho; and the General Manager of Lighthouse Inno-Lab Limited, Mr Eddie Ho.
To capitalise on Hong Kong’s distinctive advantages of enjoying strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world, and its prime location linking the GBA, the Housing Bureau and the HA have arranged for over 50 participants, including participants from Portugal, Australia, the United Kingdom, Cambodia, Macao and Hong Kong to visit Zhuhai on the third day of the Summit (November 6) for site visits to a smart factory. They will tour advanced production lines featuring high automation and robotics applications, gaining insights into the production processes for both concrete and steel-structured Modular Integrated Construction (MiC), alongside high-quality supervision and inspections. The itinerary also includes visits to an outdoor product exhibition hall and a construction technology pavilion, allowing participants to experience firsthand how advanced construction technology and MiC are shaping the future of housing. A sharing session will be held before concluding the visit to facilitate experience exchanges between participants and factory representatives, jointly exploring future directions for housing construction technology.
On the fourth day (November 7) of the Summit, over 60 participants will conduct site visits in Hong Kong. They will first visit the Light Public Housing (LPH) site of the Housing Bureau at Olympic Avenue, Kai Tak, and Choi Hing Road LPH, Ngau Tau Kok, to understand how the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government employs standardised, simple designs and steel-structured MiC technology to build LPH swiftly, addressing the needs of families urgently requiring improved living environments. The project team will conduct demonstrations of modern construction technologies, including the smart inspection, logistics, and installation monitoring system for MiC (collectively known as the MiC Trio), developed in collaboration with the iLab of the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Hong Kong, allowing participants to learn about the latest achievements in public housing developments and gain insights into the latest technologies such as MiC and 4S Smart Site Safety System.
Through two days of guided tours and interactive Q&A sessions, participants from around the world will gain a deeper understanding of various innovative construction methods. These new technology and solutions hold the potential to assist participants in tackling housing problems in their respective countries and cities. The Summit aims to maintain close exchanges and to create greater mutual benefits for all parties involved.
Hong Kong has long played a pivotal role as a “super connector” and “super value-adder” in driving technological innovation in the industry. The HOUSING · I&T Summit offers a valuable platform to foster in-depth technical exchanges within the industry locally and internationally, jointly exploring solutions to housing challenges. Participants can also witness the practical applications of smart construction technologies firsthand. By promoting cross-regional collaboration, the Summit marks a significant step in consolidating Hong Kong’s position as a hub in the field of housing technology. It aims to attract more innovative practical experience, injecting fresh ideas and momentum into the future development of housing in Hong Kong, and accelerating the pace of building better homes for the public.