Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Organised by the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC), the InnoCarnival 2026 (IC 2026) will be held for nine consecutive days from October 24 to November 1 at the Hong Kong Science Park with the theme of “Lead with I&T Dream to Fly High”. Public admission is free. The event is receiving support from over 40 programme partners, including local universities, research and development (R&D) centres, government departments and other organisations. By showcasing a number of local innovations and research achievements, the event will offer the public an opportunity to experience the vibrant innovation and technology (I&T) development scene in Hong Kong, as well as the diverse applications of these innovations.

     Speaking at the media preview for IC 2026 today (October 5), the Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, Mr Ivan Lee, said, “Dr Lai Ka-ying, Hong Kong’s first payload specialist, participated in our country’s space mission in May this year, proving that the dream of space exploration is not out of reach. This year’s Carnival will feature an aerospace thematic zone to showcase research projects of local universities and their contributions to our country’s space exploration missions, hoping to inspire more young people to explore the unknown and pursue their dreams.”

     The media preview exhibited the R&D projects of several participating teams. Project team representatives presented their inspirational ideas, R&D processes, features and functions, and project applications. These projects include the greenhouse gas monitoring instrument “MUSICO”, spearheaded by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and operated by Dr Lai on the Tiangong Space Station. This fully demonstrates the research capability of local universities’ R&D teams in the fields of aerospace technology, as well as their important contributions to the country’s space mission.

     In addition, the Hong Kong Productivity Council introduced its “Autonomous Air-ground Cooperative Tunnel Inspector”. With the synergy of AI, robotics and total-station positioning techniques, the system is employed in the Trunk Road T2 and Cha Kwo Ling Tunnel project to carry out tunnel inspections, bringing intelligence, automation and digital advancement to tunnel inspections in Hong Kong. This system won the Gold Award at the 2025 Edison Awards, gaining international recognition.

     Representatives from Po Leung Kuk Celine Ho Yam Tong College introduced the “Hydroguard – AI-powered Water-quality Monitoring Platform”, a compact AI-powered water quality monitoring platform that integrates automated screening, data collection and real-time environmental monitoring. The platform not only improves the accuracy, efficiency and accessibility of water quality testing, but also enables a faster identification of and response to contamination risks, supporting safer and more sustainable water resource management. 

     IC 2026 exhibition booths will be set up to showcase local I&T achievements, some of them with interactive games. A diverse line-up of about 150 workshops and over 10 webinars across various subjects including aerospace technology and AI will be available during the Carnival. All activities are free of charge. Some of the activities require preregistration, which will begin at 10.30am on October 6 (Tuesday). Details are available at the thematic webpage (innocarnival.hk). Places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Members of the public are most welcome to join. During the Carnival, free shuttle bus services will be provided between Hong Kong Science Park and various districts, including MTR University Station, Tai Wai Station, Kowloon Tong Station, and Admiralty Station, as well as the new routes at Yuen Long Station and Tseung Kwan O Station, offering convenient access for visitors.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Hong Kong Customs and Sham Shui Po District of the Hong Kong Police Force mounted a joint-enforcement operation from September 18 to 30 and detected cases involving illicit cigarettes in the district. A total of about 100 000 illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $480,000, and a duty potential of about $350,000 were seized. Five persons connected with the cases were arrested.

To combat illicit cigarette activities in Sham Shui Po District, Customs and the Police’s Sham Shui Po District conducted multiple surprise inspections and raids, cracking down on 22 temporary illicit cigarette storage points and a mobile illicit cigarette stall. Two local men, two local women and a Vietnamese man were arrested. 
 
Customs will continue the multipronged enforcement strategy to vigorously combat illicit cigarette activities. Customs reminds members of the public that under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109), anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying 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, its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (October 5) announced that a trace amount of metabolite (AOZ) of furazolidone (a type of nitrofurans), a non-permitted veterinary drug, was found in a sample of prepackaged frozen shrimp. Members of the public should not consume the affected batch of the product. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected batch of the product immediately if they possess it. The CFS is following up on the incident.

Product details are as follows: 

Product name: (Not available in English) 
Place of origin: China 
Distributor: Linson Global Seafood Trading Limited 
Weight: 200 grams 
Best-before date: January 22, 2028

A spokesman for the CFS said, “The CFS collected the shrimp sample from a fresh provision shop in North Point for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that it contained AOZ at a level of 6.1 parts per billion.” 

     “The CFS has informed the vendor concerned of the irregularity and instructed it to stop sale and remove from shelves the affected batch of the product. According to the CFS’s instructions, the distributor has initiated a recall of the affected batch of the product. Members of the public may call its hotline at 2573 7433 during office hours for enquiries about the recall of the product concerned,” the spokesman added.

The CFS will alert the trade, and will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. The investigation is ongoing.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the Hong Kong Association of Interactive Marketing, the 14th Microfilm Production Support Scheme (Music) held its matching session and kick-off ceremony today (October 5), promoting cross-sector collaboration among Hong Kong’s advertising, film and television, and music industries.
 
     Speaking at the kick-off ceremony, Assistant Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries Miss Yvonne Ip noted that since its launch, the scheme has facilitated collaboration between more than 340 advertising production companies and some 290 groups of singers, providing the local film and television, advertising, and music sectors with a valuable creation platform and hands-on opportunities. CCIDA will continue to actively foster cross-sector collaboration in the local creative industries, with a view to promoting the professionalism, industrialisation and internationalisation of the industries.
 
     This year’s scheme consists of two funding categories, namely the “Advertising Production Start-ups” and the “Professional Advertising Production Houses”. The selected creative teams will receive production funding as well as professional training and mentoring opportunities to produce original microfilms. At the kick-off ceremony, 10 start-up advertising production companies under the category of “Advertising Production Start-ups” were paired with singers, while the five teams under the category of “Professional Advertising Production Houses” were formed by directors, scriptwriters, singers and advertising production companies individually. The microfilms will premiere online in January next year and will be showcased to the industry at the Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (FILMART) in March next year.
 
     Launched in 2013, the Microfilm Production Support Scheme (Music) is a cross-sector collaboration initiative that brings together advertising and film production with music creation. It aims to enable local emerging directors and their creative teams to collaborate with local singers in producing original microfilms, thereby promoting the development of Hong Kong’s creative industry ecosystem.
 
     For more information about the 14th Microfilm Production Support Scheme (Music), please visit www.hkmfa.hk (Chinese only).

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki today chaired the seventh meeting of the fourth-term Human Resources Planning Commission, with members acknowledging that the youth unemployment situation warrants attention.

The meeting heard that rising unemployment and the youth employment situation are structural challenges faced by most advanced economies worldwide, Hong Kong being no exception.

Members took note that the Government continues to invest heavily in education and skills training for the local workforce. This includes launching a two-year 30,000 Youth Employment & Internship Programme, as announced in the Policy Address, to facilitate youth employment and development. 

The Labour Department will also launch the Youth Employment Link online service portal to facilitate young people’s access to employment information and support services. Looking ahead, the continued expansion of the local economy is expected to underpin overall labour market conditions.

The Labour & Welfare Bureau also briefed the meeting on the “Mid-term Update of Manpower Projection” report. Members heard that the Government will continue to promote “AI for All” and support lifelong learning, ensuring that skills in the labour force remain aligned with Hong Kong’s future economy.

The bureau will commence a new review of the Talent List soon.

Members said they supported the Government in continuing to closely monitor the labour market and in formulating and refining forward-looking policies on a rolling basis, with a view to maintaining manpower supply in support of economic development, whilst also safeguarding employment priority for local workers.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Heal Fertility (“the centre”) can resume accepting new patients for assisted reproductive technology procedures from tomorrow, following the Department of Health’s decision to lift its earlier directive suspension.

The centre was previously requested to stop accepting new cases for such procedures following a “Serious Untoward Event” involving a mix-up in embryo biopsy specimens.

The department said the decision to lift the suspension was made in light of confirmation by the Council on Human Reproductive Technology that the centre has properly implemented all remedial and improvement measures.

The council convened a special meeting today to review the centre’s licence. 

It highlighted that the council conducted an unannounced on‑site inspection of the centre on September 22, focusing on all aspects of the remedial measures.

The council was satisfied that the centre had refined its internal sample‑handling procedures, strengthened staff training, and upgraded laboratory management and security systems.

The council’s requirements included implementation of CCTV surveillance on the premises, installation of biometric locks on all cryostorage tanks, and enhancement of sample identification and verification. 

The council also outlined that the main personnel involved in the incident had already left the centre, and that new staff had been recruited and trained. 

After thoroughly reviewing the relevant reports and inspection results, the council therefore allowed Heal Fertility to fully resume all 17 treatment services covered by its licence from tomorrow.

The council said it will continue to closely monitor Heal Fertility’s performance.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government today urged the public not to be misled by fake messages on social media claiming whole-day use of the new Huanggang Port for vehicles under the “Guangdong-Hong Kong Regular Quota” system.

The messages wrongly claimed that the vehicles of “Guangdong-Hong Kong Regular Quota” holders issued with Closed Road Permits (CRPs) for the Heung Yuen Wai/Liantang Port, Shenzhen Bay Port or Sha Tau Kok Control Point, can directly use the new Huanggang Port to cross the boundary at any time throughout the day.

The Government said the case will be referred to law enforcement agencies for follow-up.

It explained that “Guangdong-Hong Kong Regular Quota” applicants must submit specific documentation to the Mainland authorities and satisfy their requirements.

Upon issuance of an Approval Notice to applicants by the Mainland authorities, they can apply to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s Transport Department for CRPs for the land control points endorsed on the Approval Notice.

Vehicles with CRPs for the abovementioned control points are only permitted to travel between Guangdong and Hong Kong via the existing Lok Ma Chau Control Point or the soon-to-open new Huanggang Port between midnight and 6.30am daily.

The Government said that similar false information has previously surfaced on social media and in messaging groups. Messages have repeatedly impersonated government announcements and falsely claimed that “Guangdong-Hong Kong Regular Quota” holders are free from control point or eligibility restrictions.

It added that such claims are particularly misleading to road users of both places amid the anticipated upcoming opening of the new Huanggang Port, and that the public should exercise heightened vigilance.

The Government reiterated that arrangements regarding “Guangdong-Hong Kong Regular Quotas” and the use of control points are jointly deliberated on by the governments of the two places. There are currently no plans to adjust the arrangement of enabling cross-boundary vehicles with CRPs for designated control points to use the Lok Ma Chau Control Point/new Huanggang Port overnight.

Members of the public should refer to official announcements, especially regarding the opening arrangements for the new Huanggang Port, and verify messages carefully to guard against deception.

Source: Government of Singapore

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) today launched a new media platform and an AI mascot, Wavee, in response to specific calls outlined in last month’s Policy Address.

The Policy Address urged the broadcaster to strengthen its use of AI technologies and new media platforms in order to enhance production quality and efficiency, tell good stories about China and Hong Kong, and elevate its international communication.

Director of Broadcasting Angelina Kwan remarked that RTHK hopes to leverage its new platform and AI mascot to inject greater dynamism and approachability into its offerings, thereby drawing a wider audience, especially the younger generation, to tune in to RTHK’s productions.

The new media platform includes content organised around five key themes: “Wa~ So Hong Kong”, which uncovers heartwarming human stories in local communities; “Wa~ So Cheeky” which takes a light-hearted look Hong Kong’s unique quirks; “Wa~ So Chill”, which introduces residents and visitors to the city’s signature events, cultural attractions and culinary scene; “Wa~ So Classic”, which leverages AI technology to restore precious footage from RTHK’s archives, charting the city’s development through a compelling then-and-now format; and the forthcoming “Wa~ So Dramatic”, comprising short online dramas produced in a range of formats, including AI-generated, animated, live-action and hybrid content. 

RTHK said the new mascot’s design draws on the electromagnetic waves that underpin its radio and television services. It explained that Wavee embodies the rich heritage of RTHK’s long broadcasting history and carries deep significance as a symbol of delivering information to the people of Hong Kong.