Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (December 19) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Calvados Department in France, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products, including poultry eggs, from the area with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 830 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and about 50 000 poultry eggs from France in the first nine months of this year.

     “The CFS has contacted the French authority over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreak. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation,” the spokesman said.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) announced, regarding the application submitted by the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO), that the Director of Environmental Protection (DEP) yesterday (December 18) approved the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the Development at Ngau Tam Mei Area (the Project) with conditions.

     The Project is a designated project (DP) under Schedule 3 of the EIAO (i.e. an urban development or redevelopment project covering an area of more than 50 hectares). It includes two DPs under Schedule 2 of the EIAO requiring an environmental permit for its construction and operation, including the new distributor roads and part of the revitalisation of the Ngau Tam Mei Drainage Channel (NTMDC) and river diversion works.

     The CEDD has exhibited the EIA report for public inspection from October 6 to November 4, 2025, in accordance with the EIAO. During the public inspection period, the EPD received a total of seven public comments. The EIA Subcommittee of the Advisory Council on the Environment (ACE) discussed in detail the EIA report and the public comments at its meeting on December 5, 2025. Subsequently, the ACE unanimously recommended that the EPD approved the EIA report with conditions and recommendations at its meeting on December 11, 2025.

     A spokesperson for the EPD said that the DEP considers that, through the implementation of mitigation measures recommended in the EIA report, the Project will bring multiple environmental benefits to the area. These include addressing the existing adverse environmental impacts caused by scattered and disorganised brownfield operations within the project area, thereby enhancing land-use efficiency and improving the overall environmental quality of the district. Furthermore, by widening and revitalising the NTMDC into a multifunctional blue-green spine, the ecological value and function of the project area and its surroundings can be enhanced. In addition, through wetland compensation connecting nearby isolated wetlands, the Project will increase the overall ecological value of the area.

     The spokesperson stressed that the EPD has thoroughly considered the requirements of the EIA Study Brief and the Technical Memorandum on Environmental Impact Assessment Process, comments on the environment and ecological impacts raised by the public during the public inspection period of the EIA report, suggestions and data given by green groups in respect of the EIA report (including the State of Hong Kong Biodiversity 2025 published by the WWF-Hong Kong), and the response from the CEDD during the ACE meeting, as well as comments and recommended conditions raised by the ACE on approving the EIA report. The EPD decided to approve the EIA report with conditions.

     The approval conditions mainly include requiring the CEDD to:

     (i) submit a detailed Habitat Creation and Management Plan (HCMP) as recommended in the EIA report to the DEP for approval no later than three months before the commencement of construction of the Project, and consult the Agricultural, fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD);

     (ii) submit an Implementation Plan for Ecological Enhancement Features Design (IPEEFD) for the NTMDC to the DEP for approval no later than three months before commencement of construction of the Project, and consult relevant government departments, including the AFCD, the Drainage Services Department, and the Planning Department;

     (iii) set up an Environmental Committee to provide professional and stakeholders’ advice on the preparation of HCMP and IPEEFD, and on the effectiveness of the ecological mitigation/enhancement measures as recommended in the EIA report and the two approved abovementioned plans; and
     
     (iv) submit a Bird-Friendly Design Guideline for buildings and noise barriers within the Project area to the DEP for approval before commencement of construction of the Project.

     In addition, the CEDD shall review the progress of the implementation of various plans, the environmental monitoring results, and the effectiveness of ecological mitigation/enhancement measures. The EPD will continue to closely liaise with relevant government departments to follow up on the abovementioned approval conditions.

     The approved EIA report and the approval conditions have been uploaded to the EPD’s EIAO website (www.epd.gov.hk/eia). Members of the public may also visit the EIAO Register Office at 27th floor, Southorn Centre, Wan Chai, to inspect these documents.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Director General David Cheng-Wei Wu and Mrs. Wu hosted a year-end luncheon with Mr. Johnson Hsiung and Mrs. Jennifer Li, as well as Ms. Shirley Chen, Sydney Council Members of the Overseas Community Affairs Commission (OCAC). The luncheon was held to express appreciation for their strong support for TECO in Sydney’s work and their active participation in activities within the Taiwanese community throughout 2025.
DG Wu noted that the OCAC Council Members have long played an important role in strengthening community cohesion and fostering harmony within the Taiwanese community in Sydney. He also expressed his hope for continued close cooperation in 2026, working together to advance overseas community affairs.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Buildings Department today issued a practice note to registered contractors, setting out a new mechanism for sampling scaffold nets in Hong Kong announced last week. The new mechanism applies to scaffold nets used in repair projects, as well as to those used in new building works.

To facilitate the implementation of the new mechanism, the department announced on its website the first batch of designated laboratories and will continuously update the list.

Furthermore, the Construction Industry Council (CIC) is preparing for collective bulk procurement and co-ordinating testing services. The Hong Kong Institute of Construction San Tin Training Ground has been selected as the site for the industry to arrange off-site sampling. The Government and the CIC will work towards having the first batch of scaffold nets reinstalled within a month after procurement and testing.

Independent Committee
​The Independent Committee in relation to the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po convened the first meeting today. The committee has formally commenced work.

Support fund
As of noon today, donations received by the Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po had reached about $3.5 billion. Combined with the $300 million in startup capital from the Government, this takes the fund to a total of around $3.8 billion.

Accommodation support
As of this morning, a total of 613 residents are staying in hotel rooms through the co-ordination of the Home & Youth Affairs Bureau, and 552 residents are staying in youth hostels/camps. Another 3,503 residents are currently living in transitional housing units provided by the Housing Bureau, units from the Housing Society or Po Tin Interim Housing in Tuen Mun.

Currently, there is still a supply of more than 1,000 units that can provide affected residents with longer-term accommodation. The transitional housing and the Housing Society projects in different districts can altogether provide around 400 units at the moment. Moreover, Po Tin Interim Housing in Tuen Mun and Runway 1331 at Kai Tak can provide a supply of around 900 units.

The Transport Department has been steering public transport operators to enhance services of franchised buses, green minibuses and residents’ services by deploying additional vehicles and manpower to support residents affected by the fire who have been admitted into transitional housing in various districts, facilitating transfers to other services to and from different districts.

Among them, an additional shuttle bus service will be launched connecting Lok Sin Village in Tai Po and Tai Po Market Station; while KMB will extend the service hours of route 75K.

Relief supplies
On the Government’s online platform for donated supplies, about 2,000 registrations have been received, with approximately 30% submitted by organisations. Over 29,000 donation items, covering various categories, have been distributed.

Building management
The Government today invoked the Building Management Ordinance and submitted an application to the Lands Tribunal for the dissolution of the existing management committee of the owners’ corporation (OC) of Wang Fuk Court. It has also proposed appointing Hop On Management Company under the Chinachem Group as the designated administrator to assist the owners of Wang Fuk Court in handling various management and follow-up matters after the fire.

If the Lands Tribunal approves the application, the Home Affairs Department will establish a dedicated team to work closely with Hop On in closely following up on various aspects of building management. This includes handling works contracts, following up on insurance claims, financial management, and offering support to residents.

Hop On has explicitly stated that it will operate on a pro bono basis for this appointment. At the same time, Nina Wang Charity Management has also expressed that if the Lands Tribunal approves the application, it will donate $5 million to the OC to cover the costs associated with employing lawyers, accountants, or other professional services.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Lands Department today published a third Extension Notice under the Extension of Government Leases Ordinance to extend the land leases of 28 lots for a term of 50 years.

The notice, covering eight located in Kowloon and 20 on Hong Kong Island, concern general purpose leases which are due to expire in 2032 and do not contain a right of renewal.

The department explained that while land leases extended under the ordinance do not require payment of additional premium, they are subject to an annual payment of government rent equivalent to 3% of the rateable value of the relevant land.

Encumbrances, interests and rights under the original lease will be carried forward to the extended lease term. Owners do not have to perform any procedures, nor are they required to execute lease extension documents with the Government or rearrange mortgages.

The Development Bureau remarked that the arrangement brings tremendous convenience to the public and businesses, effectively enhances the confidence of property owners and investors in the real estate market, and has received widespread support from various sectors of the community.

It added that the mechanism manifests solid safeguards for the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong under the implementation of the “one country, two systems’ principle”.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Executive John Lee met the visiting Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam Ho Duc Phoc today to discuss deepening the co-operation between Hong Kong and Vietnam.

Welcoming Mr Ho and his delegation to Hong Kong, Mr Lee said that Vietnam is Hong Kong’s sixth-largest trading partner with bilateral merchandise trade reaching US$49 billion in the first three quarters this year, a 67% increase compared to the same period last year.

Mr Lee led a high-level business delegation to Vietnam last year, during which both sides signed 30 memoranda of understanding and agreements covering various areas. He expressed confidence that both places will strengthen co-operation with mutual benefits.

Highlighting that the Government has relaxed immigration arrangements for Vietnamese citizens visiting, working or pursuing post-secondary studies in Hong Kong, the Chief Executive said new measures were introduced in March to give convenient immigration arrangements for those invited from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations countries including Vietnam.

These measures will further promote people-to-people exchanges and bilateral co-operation in trade, professional services and other sectors, he added.

Noting that Hong Kong will actively play “super connector” and “super value-adder” roles and fully leverage its unique advantages of connecting the Mainland and the world under the “one country, two systems” principle, Mr Lee said Hong Kong will promote collaboration with Vietnam in areas such as finance, innovation and technology, trade and the green and digital economy.