Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Update on cluster of Covid-19 cases in United Christian Hospital
Following a contact tracing investigation, two more female patients, aged 14 and 63, from the same psychiatric ward in UCH have tested positive for COVID-19. The patients concerned are being treated in isolation and are in stable condition.
A series of enhanced infection control measures have already been adopted in the ward concerned:
1. Admissions have been suspended;
2. Ward group activities are suspended and patients are under medical surveillance;
3. Ward cleaning and disinfection of the environment have been enhanced, and dedicated medical equipment has been assigned for patients to prevent the spread of the virus; and
4. Application of stringent droplet and contact precautions, and enhanced hand hygiene for staff, patients and visitors have been enacted.
The hospital will continue the enhanced infection control measures and closely monitor the situation in the ward concerned. The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for follow-up.
Issued at HKT 18:30
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CFS follows up on aquatic product imported from Japan suspected of breaching Food Safety Order
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
CFS follows up on aquatic product imported from Japan suspected of breaching Food Safety OrderIssued at HKT 19:18
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Planned system enhancement for the Faster Payment System on August 9
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Planned system enhancement for the Faster Payment System on August 9
The Faster Payment System (FPS) service will be unavailable from 1am to 11am on August 9 (Sunday) due to a planned system enhancement, being carried out by the Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited, the operator of the FPS.
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority has requested banks and stored value facility (SVF) operators to provide advance and timely notifications to their customers. Members of the public may contact individual banks or SVF operators for more details regarding the availability of the related FPS services that may be affected by the system enhancement. If necessary, members of the public may make advance arrangements for their payment activities.
Issued at HKT 15:15
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CCIDA sponsors industry to participate in 23rd China Digital Entertainment Expo and Conference (with photos)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
CCIDA sponsors industry to participate in 23rd China Digital Entertainment Expo and Conference
The Hong Kong Pavilion at the ChinaJoy Expo was sponsored by CCIDA for the second consecutive year. This year’s participating works cover a wide range of genres including action, adventure, simulation, strategy and role-playing, fully demonstrating the creative strengths of Hong Kong’s game industry. The pavilion also featured activities such as trials of original Hong Kong games, on-site networking with game developers, and IP business-matching sessions, enhancing interactions and exchanges between the industry and visitors. The participation in the ChinaJoy Expo not only promoted the exceptional creativity and capabilities of Hong Kong’s digital entertainment industry to the Chinese Mainland market, but also deepened exchanges and co-operation in the digital entertainment sector between the two places, and helped the industry expand its commercial and trade networks. Following the Expo, GameDEVA also organised a delegation to visit leading game enterprises in Shanghai, fostering meaningful exchanges between the industries of the two places.
In recent years, Hong Kong’s digital entertainment industry has achieved breakthrough growth, with the overall market size reaching about HK$20 billion. Currently, there are more than 200 game-related companies in Hong Kong, and about 50 locally developed games are officially launched each year. With the continued support of CCIDA, Hong Kong’s game industry has been accelerating its integration into the Chinese Mainland and global markets, demonstrating its profound strengths and development potential.
Jointly guided by the National Press and Publication Administration, as well as the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, and organised by the China Audio-video and Digital Publishing Association, the ChinaJoy Expo is the largest digital interactive entertainment event on the Chinese Mainland. For more information about the ChinaJoy Expo and the Hong Kong Pavilion, please visit en.chinajoy.netIssued at HKT 15:25
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Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for possession of duty-not-paid cigarettes (with photo)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for possession of duty-not-paid cigarettes (with photo)
Customs officers intercepted a 27-year-old incoming Mainland male passenger at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (August 2) and seized 28 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of $126,000 and a duty potential of about $92,500, from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested.
Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences.
Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hkIssued at HKT 15:25
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Hong Kong Customs detects two smuggling cases of live turtles of scheduled endangered species (with photos)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Hong Kong Customs detects two smuggling cases of live turtles of scheduled endangered species
Through risk assessment, Customs on the abovementioned days examined one inbound consignment declared as containing statues and decorative ornaments, and two inbound consignments declared as containing mugs and other steins. After inspection, Customs officers found a batch of live turtles of a scheduled endangered species wrapped in plastic and concealed in socks inside the consignments.
Customs officers subsequently conducted controlled delivery operations and arrested two recipients of the consignments including a 33-year-old local male and a 65-year-old local male. The arrested persons have been released on bail pending further investigation. The investigation is ongoing.Issued at HKT 15:52
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Nearly 330 000 people participated in Sport For All Day 2026
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Sport For All Day (SFAD) 2026 was held successfully yesterday (August 2). Nearly 330 000 people participated in the free leisure programmes organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), and enjoyed the free use of leisure facilities.
“The event was well supported by members of the public. For the first time, the LCSD opened its leisure facilities for free public use for two consecutive days on August 1 and 2. A usage rate of over 95 per cent was recorded for the main arenas of sports centres, and more than 100 000 visits were recorded at LCSD swimming pools”, a spokesman for the LCSD said today (August 3).
The SFAD 2026 was themed “Asian Games in Motion, City in Action”. More than 26 000 people participated in a wide variety of free leisure programmes held at designated sports centres across 18 districts, including fun activities inspired by Asian Games items such as wushu, handball, football, rowing, equestrian and skateboarding. Others like sports illustrations, fitness corners, and activities for persons of different ages and disabilities were well received.
This year, the LCSD has specially choreographed a new fitness exercise to the SFAD theme song, a video of which is available at the dedicated website (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/sfad/2026/index.html).
The LCSD will continue to encourage the public to participate in various types of sports to achieve “Sport for All”.
CS officiates at EMSTF 30th Anniversary Commemorative Ceremony (with photos)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (August 3) officiated at the 30th Anniversary Commemorative Ceremony of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Trading Fund (EMSTF).
Held at the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) Headquarters Building, the ceremony was themed “Intelligent E&M Co-creating Tomorrow”, symbolising the EMSTF’s continuous efforts in driving innovation and technology development and enhancing service quality to forge a better future.
Addressing the ceremony, Mr Chan said that over the past three decades since its establishment, the EMSTF has developed from being primarily responsible for maintaining electrical and mechanical (E&M) equipment into the “guardian of E&M facilities” and “innovation facilitator” for various government departments. It has always played a pioneering role in actively promoting the digital and smart transformation of public services. He encouraged the EMSTF to continue embracing innovation and striving for excellence, assisting government departments in accelerating the adoption of innovative technologies so that members of the public can enjoy higher-quality and more convenient services, while injecting sustained momentum into Hong Kong’s high-quality development.
The Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services and General Manager of the EMSTF, Mr Poon Kwok-ying, said in his speech that the EMSTF will enhance service quality and efficiency through smart E&M technologies, lead industry transformation with I&T, and work closely with various client departments to implement various innovative ideas, achieving higher-quality public services.
Afterwards, accompanied by Mr Poon, the guests toured the exhibition to learn about the solutions developed by the EMSD’s engineering teams to address daily operational challenges. These solutions include the application of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, drones, robotics, and the Internet of Things to strengthen governance, enhance productivity and work safety.
Also attending the ceremony were the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn; the Acting Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong; the Deputy Director-General of the Social Development Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Ye Shuiqiu; and the Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), Mr Ricky Lau.
Labour Department highly concerned about fatal work accident that happened in Kowloon City today
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Labour Department highly concerned about fatal work accident that happened in Kowloon City today
To prevent workers from falling while working at height, the LD reminds employers to take adequate precautionary measures, including providing workers with suitable and adequate safe means of access to and egress from working locations, and ensuring that all dangerous edges are properly and securely fenced off. If the provision of the above-mentioned measures are not practicable, employers should provide suitable full-body harnesses to workers, which should be attached continuously to suitable and secure anchor points or independent lifelines with fall arresting system so as to protect workers’ work-at-height safety. Issued at HKT 20:30
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330k join Sport For All Day
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
Nearly 330,000 people participated in recreation and sports programmes and used leisure facilities for free during Sport For All Day 2026, the Leisure & Cultural Services Department announced today.
The department noted that it was the first time it opened leisure facilities for free public use across two consecutive days on August 1 and 2.
Themed “Asian Games in Motion, City in Action” this year, the event logged a usage rate of over 95% for the main arenas of sports centres, while public swimming pools saw more than 100,000 visits.
More than 26,000 people took part in free leisure programmes held at designated sports centres across 18 districts. These included activities inspired by Asian Games events such as wushu, handball, football, rowing, equestrian sports and skateboarding.
Sports demonstrations, fitness corners, and activities tailored for people of different ages and those with disabilities were also well received.