Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
HKETO Kuala Lumpur promotes cultural and creative industry exchanges in Malaysia
Organised by the Guangdong-HK-Macao Bay Area Entrepreneurs Alliance and co-organised by the HKETO Kuala Lumpur, the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia, and the Sunwah Media Group, the event received full support from the Guangdong Economic and Trade Office in Southeast Asia (Kuala Lumpur) and the Malaysia-China Business Council. Coinciding with the fifth anniversary of the establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the initiative aims to deepen collaboration between the cultural and creative industries of Hong Kong and Malaysia and to promote the integrated development of Chinese and ASEAN cultures.
Speaking at the launch ceremony, the Director of the HKETO Kuala Lumpur, Mr Owin Fung, said that the global cultural and creative industries generate annual revenues of almost US$ 2.3 trillion, which not only contributes to economic growth, but also showcases and bridges cultures and strengthen people-to-people ties.
Mr Fung also introduced the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government’s measures to support Hong Kong’s cultural and creative industries. These include encouraging the industries to participate in overseas cultural exchanges and promotion, as well as fostering intellectual property co-operation with different regions to stimulate innovation and creativity, thereby consolidating Hong Kong’s position as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.
Other officiating guests included Deputy Director General of Tourism Malaysia Mr Samuel Lee; the Minister Counsellor (Commercial Affairs) of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Malaysia, Mr Sun Shuqiang; and member of the Standing Committee, the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Chairman of the Guangdong-HK-Macao Bay Area Entrepreneurs Alliance, and Chairman of the Sunwah Group, Dr Jonathan Choi.
At the launch ceremony, the Guangdong-HK-Macao Bay Area Entrepreneurs Alliance also signed Memoranda of Understanding with technology enterprises, film and television production companies, and trade associations from Southeast Asian countries to jointly promote the synergistic development of the regional cultural and entertainment industries, and to explore various co-operation models such as joint productions, copyright exchanges, and talent development.
The three-day event is being held from April 17 to 19 at Sunway Velocity Mall in Kuala Lumpur, bringing together outstanding local Hong Kong productions and premium short dramas from the Chinese Mainland to showcase the cultural charm of Chinese Mainland and the HKSAR to Malaysia and other ASEAN countries.
Issued at HKT 16:30
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FEHD cracks down on illegal slaughtering activities in Yuen Long District
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has long been committed to combating the illegal slaughtering of food animals and the sale of prohibited food. The FEHD conducted a blitz operation with the Police yesterday (April 16) and successfully cracked down on illegal goat slaughtering activities and the sale of prohibited food in a goat farm in Kam Tin, Yuen Long District. A man was arrested.
During the operation, FEHD officers seized and immediately destroyed approximately 7.4 kilograms of suspected illegally slaughtered goat meat and offal at the location. Meanwhile, a set of slaughtering tools was seized.
A 67-year-old Chinese man was arrested on suspicion of operating an unlicensed slaughterhouse, illegally slaughtering food animals and selling prohibited food. The man has been charged with the relevant offences.
A spokesman for the FEHD said, “Under the Slaughterhouses Regulation (Cap. 132BU), any person operating an unlicensed slaughterhouse, illegally slaughtering food animals or selling prohibited food commits an offence and is liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months’ imprisonment. The FEHD will actively handle complaints received and proactively investigate suspected violations from time to time. If any abnormal circumstances are found, the FEHD will immediately conduct investigations and take surprise inspections and enforcement actions. If there is sufficient evidence, prosecution will be instituted.”
The spokesman emphasised the FEHD’s deep concern and strong commitment to combating the illegal slaughtering of food animals and the sale of prohibited food through stringent enforcement actions against violations.
The spokesman reminded the public that uninspected meat may carry risks such as viruses and parasites, posing a serious threat to health. Members of the public are urged not to purchase meat of unknown origin. Anyone who discovers suspected illegal slaughtering activities or has doubts about the origin of meat being sold by retailers can report it by calling 1823.
Invest Hong Kong hosts advanced therapy products forum to champion biomedical innovation
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) today (April 17) hosted the “Advanced Therapy Products Opportunities in Hong Kong and Beyond” forum, gathering over 170 leading scientists, industry leaders, and regulatory authorities from around the world. The event served as a definitive platform to showcase Hong Kong’s ascending status as a world-class hub for biomedical commercialisation, specifically within the revolutionary fields of cell and gene therapy (CGT).
Delivering her welcome remarks, the Director-General of Investment Promotion of InvestHK, Ms Alpha Lau, said, “The Government is pressing ahead with the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation and the implementation of ‘primary evaluation’ for new drug registration – a move that will shorten time-to-market for innovative drugs and devices. InvestHK, as the investment promotion agency of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, stands ready to provide bespoke, end-to-end support for global pioneers looking to scale their operations across Asia from this strategic base.”
HYAB JC Y Cube officially opens
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
HYAB JC Y Cube officially opens
The thematic opening event, echoing “Good Stories of Hong Kong Youth”, was officiated by the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak; the Deputy Director-General of the Youth Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Ms Wan Ning; the Permanent Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr Patrick Li; Steward of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Mr Philip Lo; the Chairman of New World Facilities Management Company Limited, Dr Elvis Luk
In her speech, Miss Mak said that the Y Cube is one of the initiatives announced in the Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address to strengthen support for unleashing the potential of young people. The initiative is supported by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, which has contributed $150 million in funding to convert part of Youth Square into a new interactive space for young people to gather for exchanges, develop their personal potential, and participate in various activities.
Miss Mak said that suggestions from the young people were extensively incorporated during the design process of the project, fully embodying the “youth-oriented” philosophy. She also encouraged young people to make good use of the professional video production training under the Good Stories of Hong Kong Youth Programme to promote good stories of Hong Kong youth.
During the event, youth representatives from various sectors shared several good stories of Hong Kong youth. Accompanied by representative of the operator and Chairman of the Y.Elites Association, Mr Jason Wong, the guests also toured the facilities of the Y Cube.
The Y Cube offers a wide range of facilities for youth, including a cosy area, a makerspace, a cooking studio, a reading corner, and a video studio. These facilities allow young people to explore their interests and career paths, enhance their comprehensive abilities, and broaden their horizons. The second phase of the renovation project will take place on the first-floor platform of Youth Square and is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
Issued at HKT 18:55
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Hong Kong Customs detects drug trafficking case involving incoming passenger at airport
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Hong Kong Customs detects drug trafficking case involving incoming passenger at airport
A 31-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cannabis buds concealed inside vacuum-sealed bags, and the duty-not-paid cigarettes in his carry-on suitcase. The man was subsequently arrested.
After an investigation, the arrested man has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug, one count of possession of dutiable goods and one count of failing to declare to a member of the Customs and Excise Service the possession of dutiable goods. The case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (April 17).
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 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.
Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, any person who imports, possesses, sells or buys dutiable commodities without a valid licence commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.
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 18:35
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DH’s organised and subvented Chinese medicine acupuncture for smoking cessation techniques wins national award and training workshop makes relevant techniques accessible to more people
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
DH’s organised and subvented Chinese medicine acupuncture for smoking cessation techniques wins national award and training workshop makes relevant techniques accessible to more people
The CM smoking cessation service, organised and subvented by the DH and operated by Pok Oi Hospital, participated in a research project titled Research and Application of Acupuncture Intervention Techniques for Tobacco Dependence. This project recently won the second prize in the 2025 Science and Technology Award of the China Association of Chinese Medicine on the Chinese Mainland. The award not only recognises the efforts of Pok Oi Hospital and relevant medical institutions in researching, promoting and applying acupuncture techniques to address tobacco dependence, but also validates the efficacy of Hong Kong’s CM smoking cessation techniques.
Since being designated as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Smoking Cessation and Treatment of Tobacco Dependence in 2012, the DH has served as a regional hub for supporting training in smoking cessation treatment and services. It regularly provides such training to tobacco control professionals in Hong Kong, on the Chinese Mainland and across the Western Pacific region.
The workshop today attracted about 80 CM practitioners from Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and Macao. The training workshop covers smoking cessation counselling, the mechanism and treatment plans of CM smoking cessation (including acupuncture and ear-point treatment). It is designed to help CM practitioners enhance their knowledge and skills in delivering cessation treatments. Studies show that combining acupuncture with ear-point treatment and professional counselling can effectively alleviate withdrawal symptoms and relieve discomforts during the initial stages of smoking cessation, thereby achieving significant therapeutic effects and increasing the success rate.
Since last year, the number of CM smoking cessation service providers subvented by the DH has increased from one to four, namely Pok Oi Hospital, the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, the United Christian Nethersole Community Health Service and the School of Chinese Medicine of the University of Hong Kong. The smoking cessation clinics primarily offer counselling and acupuncture, and the number of service users has doubled. Currently, there are over 200 service points across Hong Kong (including CM mobile clinics and fixed clinics) offering CM smoking cessation services, providing convenient access for those seeking to quit smoking.
Apart from organising CM smoking cessation training workshops, the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the DH also organises the Annual Training Programme on Tobacco Control for tobacco control workers in the Western Pacific region, and conducts smoking cessation treatment training courses for healthcare professionals from the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao. These training workshops have attracted a cumulative total of over 1 000 participants to date.
Furthermore, the DH has prepared a variety of resources for healthcare professionals, including patient pamphlets, referral forms to cessation clinics, “Very Brief Advice” and “Brief Intervention on Smoking Cessation” delivery toolkits, online training courses, and a Practical Handbook for Smoking Cessation Treatments. These resources are designed to support healthcare professionals in helping smokers quit through various channels. Relevant information has been uploaded to TACO’s website
Members of the public can call 1833 183 or visit the smoking cessation thematic websiteIssued at HKT 15:30
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Appeal for information on missing girl in Tai Po
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Appeal for information on missing girl in Tai Po
She is about 1.68 metres tall and of thin build. She has a round face with yellow complexion, long blonde hair and a tattoo on her right forearm. She was last seen wearing a khaki jacket, black pants and pink slippers.Issued at HKT 14:35
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Tenderers invited to apply for prequalification for “Design, Build and Operate Yuen Long South Effluent Polishing Plant”
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Drainage Services Department (DSD) today (April 17) gazetted a notice to invite interested tenderers for the contract “Design, Build and Operate Yuen Long South Effluent Polishing Plant” (Contract No. DC/2026/03) to apply for prequalification. The closing time for the prequalification application is noon on June 12, 2026.
The scope of works under the contract comprises the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the proposed Yuen Long South Effluent Polishing Plant (YLSEPP) with a sewage treatment capacity of 65 000 cubic metres per day (in average dry weather flow). The contract is scheduled to commence in August 2027. In addition to the design and construction works, the contract includes the operation and maintenance of the YLSEPP for a period of 10 years (extendable by five years at most).
The Government intends to prequalify no more than five applicants as prequalified tenderers. They would then be invited to join the tender exercise tentatively scheduled to be held in September 2026. Applications will be considered in accordance with the selection criteria and the marking scheme as set out in the prequalification documents.
The DSD has commissioned Arup – Binnies Joint Venture as the project’s engineering consultant. Interested contractors may obtain the prequalification documents from the office of the consultant at Level 5, Festival Walk, 80 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong.
Details of the notice are available on the DSD website (www.dsd.gov.hk/EN/Tender_Notices/Current_Tenders/index.html). For enquiries, please contact the person-in-charge of the consultant, Dr Simon Tsang (tel: 2268 3595; fax: 2268 3953, email: arupylsepp@arup.com), during office hours.
Labour Department to hold briefing for employers of foreign domestic helpers
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Labour Department (LD) will hold a briefing on the employment of foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) on May 20 (Wednesday), at 7pm at the Hall of Moreton Terrace Activities Centre, 20 Tung Lo Wan Drive, Causeway Bay. Enrolment is now open.
The briefing will provide an overview of the employment rights and obligations of employers of FDHs. A representative from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data will also speak on the protection of personal data privacy for employers and FDHs. Employers of FDHs, especially first-time employers, are welcome to attend.
The briefing will be conducted in Cantonese, and admission is free. Interested parties may register online at the LD’s dedicated FDH Portal (www.fdh.labour.gov.hk), or download the enrolment form (www.fdh.labour.gov.hk/res/pdf/Enrolment_Form_ER.pdf) and submit it by email (fdh-enquiry@labour.gov.hk) or by fax (3101 0604). The deadline for enrolment is May 18 (Monday). The quota will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. For enquiries, please contact the LD at 3582 8995.
Speech by PSCST at opening ceremony of Centre for Exercise Science and Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University (English only)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Speech by PSCST at opening ceremony of Centre for Exercise Science and Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University (English only)
Dr Wong (Chairman of the Council and the Court of HKBU, Dr Kennedy Wong), Professor Wai (President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU, Professor Alex Wai), Professor Pigozzi (President of the International Federation of Sports Medicine, Professor Fabio Pigozzi), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen:
Good morning.
I am very happy to join you all today at the opening ceremony of the Centre for Exercise Science and Medicine at the Hong Kong Baptist University.
Sports development in Hong Kong has witnessed remarkable growth in recent years, which is evident in athletes’ outstanding achievements. Our elite athletes brought home a record of two golds and two bronzes at the Paris Olympic Games in 2024, and set another record by capturing 19 medals at the 15th National Games last year. Such triumphs not only speak for the talent and strength of our athletes, but also demonstrates the contributions of our sports medicine and sports science professionals.
The Government has shown continuous support in the development of sports medicine and sports science, which is essential to elite sports development in Hong Kong.
The Government and the Hong Kong Jockey Club jointly committed $300 million to launch the Sports Science and Research Funding Scheme in 2022, which aims to enhance athletes’ competitiveness in major international games. As of today, a total of 31 research projects have been approved with the funding amount reaching $198 million. The Hong Kong Baptist University has taken part in one of these projects on monitoring athletes’ health, the results of which have been applied to support athletes’ training. The Hong Kong Sports Institute will continue to explore more research projects with research institutes to further enhance the training effectiveness of our elite athletes.
The opening of the Centre for Exercise Science and Medicine today represents an important milestone in the development of sports medicine and sports science in Hong Kong. As the first collaborating centre of the International Federation of Sports Medicine in Hong Kong, it is expected to foster exchanges between the sports medicine and sports science community in Hong Kong and that around the world.
I would like to express my gratitude to the Hong Kong Baptist University for your long-standing commitment to and support in nurturing sports talents over the years. With the establishment of this new Centre, I am confident that the University will continue to contribute to the excellence of our athletes, advance research in sports medicine and sports science, and further enhance professionalism in the wider sports community.
Congratulations again to the Hong Kong Baptist University. May this Centre serve as a platform where academic excellence and commitment to sports continue to flourish.
Thank you.
Issued at HKT 11:58
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