Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The fourth report of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) under the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment is available on the website of the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau (www.cmab.gov.hk/en/press/hr_reports.htm), the HKSAR Government announced today (October 10).   

     “The report of the HKSAR constitutes part of the report submitted by the People’s Republic of China under the Convention against Torture. The report sets out the progress of the implementation of the Convention in the HKSAR since the HKSAR’s submission of the previous report to the United Nations Committee against Torture in June 2013 until May 2024. It also responds to the concluding observations of the Committee after its meeting on the previous report in November 2015,” a Government spokesman said.

The report will be discussed by the Committee at a future meeting, the exact date of which is to be fixed.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Demands for rates and/or Government rent for the quarter from October to December 2025 have been issued, and payment should be made by October 31, 2025.
        
     Payment can be made:

(1) by using autopay, the Faster Payment System (FPS), PPS, Internet banking or bank automated teller machines (ATMs);

(2) by uploading an e-Cheque/e-Cashier Order via the Pay e-Cheque portal (www.payecheque.gov.hk);

(3) by sending a crossed cheque to the Treasury, PO Box No. 28000, Sham Shui Po Post Office, Hong Kong (mail with insufficient postage will be rejected); or

(4) in person at any post office or designated convenience store in Hong Kong (i.e. 7-Eleven, Circle K, VanGo or U select). For the addresses and opening hours of post offices, please call the Hongkong Post enquiry hotline on 2921 2222 or visit its website (www.hongkongpost.hk).

     If payers have not received the demands, they may obtain replacement demands or enquire as to the amount payable by (i) visiting the Rating and Valuation Department (RVD)’s website (www.rvd.gov.hk); (ii) calling 2152 0111; (iii) faxing 2152 0113; or (iv) visiting the RVD, 15/F, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon.

     There will be no rates concession for this quarter. The total amount due is shown on the demand. Non-receipt or late receipt of the demand does not alter the requirement that the total amount due must be paid by October 31, 2025. A surcharge of 5 per cent will be imposed for late payment. A further surcharge of 10 per cent will be levied on the amount (including the 5 per cent surcharge) which remains unpaid six months after the last day for payment.

     For payment by autopay, the rates and/or Government rent will be debited from payers’ bank accounts on October 31, 2025. Payers should ensure that there are sufficient funds in their bank accounts to meet the payments on that date until settlement.

     To support environmental protection, payers are encouraged to utilise the RVD’s free eRVD Bill service to receive e-bills and make payments, and to settle bills by autopay or other means of e-payment (e.g. FPS, PPS, Internet banking, e-Cheque/e-Cashier Order or ATMs) to save queuing time. Application forms for autopay can be obtained by downloading from the RVD’s website, visiting the RVD, District Offices and banks or by calling 2152 0111.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will hold the Masters Games 2025/26 to encourage members of the public aged 35 or above to join competitions with peers and enjoy the fun of sports. Enrolment for different events will open from mid-October in stages.
 
     Held biennially, the upcoming Masters Games will be held from January to June next year. A total of six competition events will include badminton, distance run, swimming, table tennis, tennis and Tai Chi. Medals will be awarded to the champion, the first runner-up, the second runner-up and the third runner-up of each division for each competition event.
 
     Enrolment dates and the competition schedule are as follows:
 

Events	Dates of making e-application	Competition schedule
Table tennis	October 15 to 21, 2025	January 10 to February 8, 2026
Distance run	November 15 to 21, 2025	February 8, 2026
Tai Chi	December 15 to 21, 2025	March 15 and 22, 2026
Tennis	January 15 to 21, 2026	April 10 to June 28, 2026
Badminton	January 22 to 28, 2026	April 25 to May 10, 2026
Swimming	March 12 to 18, 2026	June 14, 2026

 
     Interested persons should make e-applications for balloting through SmartPLAY. Any remaining quotas after balloting will be released for fresh applications in the open enrolment period on a first-come, first-served basis. Details are available on the dedicated website www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/mg.
 
     The enrolment fees for individual and team events are $20 and $60 respectively. Participants aged 60 or above, full-time students or persons with disabilities are eligible for a 50 per cent concessionary rate. For enquiries, please call 2601 7673.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following are the opening remarks by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, at the LSCM Logistics Summit 2025 today (October 10):

Alan (Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre (LSCM), Professor Alan Lam), Simon (Chief Executive Officer of the LSCM, Mr Simon Wong), Frankie (Legislative Council member Mr Frankie Yick), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, friends,

We have so many friends and partners with us here today, current, past and future, who have contributed to logistics, to technology, and in particular to the PCS (Port Community System). I wish I would not miss key messages in my speech that my team would like me to deliver. Alan just mentioned inviting me to join this Summit; it is indeed my great honour and privilege to be able to participate among you, to witness the ceremony today. I also vividly remember that I came to this venue back in 2023, in my days as the Permanent Secretary of the Transport and Logistics Bureau. Throughout these past few years, the passion and dedication demonstrated by various partners and stakeholders in the logistics sector have remained the same, if not higher. I am really impressed by all the friendship, collaboration and relationship that we have built among ourselves over all these years. 

Today’s theme is particularly topical, and not only embraces the term PCS. I think naming is very important. On the Mainland, when we go to visit different provinces and ports, they have big screens showing data platforms, and it is really a daunting task. In Hong Kong, we seem to start in a very humble manner: we call it PCS, Port Community System. Nobody else on the Mainland or overseas knows what we are talking about. Port, community, system – those three words cannot relate to them, and they are not familiar to them. When I just hear what Professor Alan Lam said, port community system means different things to me. Port, P – I think we can brand it as “platform”, å¹³å�°. Community – we should brand it as “collaboration”. System, S – we should brand it as “smart”. I think PCS really embraces all these three concepts, that is, platform, collaboration, and the need to work smart. We need to build a smart system. 

Reflecting on our progress, it seems like just yesterday that we gathered for the PCS launching ceremony in May. I think the momentum we have gathered and maintained has been truly remarkable. It is not just a demonstration or promulgation of an action plan, but it means a lot of actions by you all and also by my team. I am really thrilled to witness all the substantial achievements and advancements made in just this past five months or so. This rapid progress underscores our unwavering commitment in our logistic sector. This is also articulated in both the 2024 and 2025 Policy Addresses. Without clear leadership and very deep commitment by our senior echelon of the Government, I do not think the community can unite so quickly and rapidly together. By now, I can see that we have already created a synergy and awareness, so we can unite together and then we can move even faster ahead. At the HKMA Data Summit in July, I emphasised that “whoever masters data defines the future”. Data is power. Today, I am very proud to say that through the PCS, we are not just mastering data; we are harnessing it to redefine what is possible for Hong Kong’s future, in particular for the maritime, port and logistics industry. I am very confident that we have a very bright future for our industry and for our young generations ahead.

The PCS represents not just a technological upgrade, but it is also the cornerstone of our Action Plan on Maritime and Port Development Strategy. It is a very fundamental piece of digital infrastructure nowadays for our city. Thanks to the ITF (Innovation and Technology Fund), Ivan (Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, Mr Ivan Lee), and also to the Commissioner for Customs and Excise, our bureau has been working very closely with all the policy bureaux and departments to work ahead for logistics development and technological upgrade. As a government-funded and government-led initiative scheduled for launch in January 2026, which is just two months ahead, the PCS is designed to be a transformative force. It will provide a comprehensive, real-time cargo tracking function, creating a seamless digital thread that connects sea, land, and air networks like never before. I think for Hong Kong’s future roadmap, we need to harness and build on our advantage of intermodal logistics and cargo transportation and transshipment. So PCS, you were born at the right moment. This digital backbone is poised to significantly bolster trade and capital flows, directly enhancing Hong Kong’s competitiveness as an international trade, finance, and logistics hub. As Simon always says, and I am sure all of you present here are very well familiar with, we would like to highlight three points. It is easier to hammer into our audience’s heads. If I can summarise or highlight three fundamental cornerstones or pillars that underpin the PCS:

First, it establishes a single, unified platform whereby we can connect all supply chain partners, and most importantly, through this connection, we break the information silos. The silos not only exist within the Government, but also in the trade, in the sector. We are here to serve, to break all the information silos so that we will not overlap; we will not duplicate the efforts, but we can synergise. Second, by its nature, it is government-run, official, so in a way it instils and upholds a high level of confidence in the trade. I think digital system is not new to the trade. Willy (Chairman of Hong Kong Shippers’ Council, Mr Willy Lin) always says that to me. In the past, we have different kinds of experimental systems, but this time, it is government-run, government-led. So, in a way, we will try to reduce, if not eliminate, the industry’s concern over commercial sensitivity or favouritism. We are open, we are neutral, we are frank. So we are there to open up and attract different people to join and participate in the system. Amy (Deputy Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Miss Amy Chan), my team, recently did a presentation, and we are so amazed and blessed that we win high recognition for the technology software that we use for the PCS, and they said that it is actually among the top in the world. Third, and very crucially, we finally get a taste of how blockchain technology can help and guarantee us a very trusted, immutable, and verifiable record of the cargo flow. This is not just academic or theoretical; we are already seeing several various practical applications. I mentioned just now our collaboration with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA). I am very happy to see that through collaboration with the HKMA, they have a Project CargoX Expert Group, in which nearly all banks in Hong Kong are actively using PCS data for robust cargo verification, streamlining their financing verification processes, reducing credit costs for SMEs, and unlocking new opportunities for financial innovation. Henry (President of the Hong Kong E-Commerce Logistics Association, Professor Henry Ko), who is present here, you are the President of the Hong Kong E-Commerce Logistics Association, in which a lot of small and medium enterprises participate. I think trade finance and loan finance are very important to help overcome any cash flow problems in order to unlock a huge amount of potential and opportunities for new entrants to join our logistics centre.

Our ambition, however, extends well beyond Hong Kong’s boundaries. To genuinely future-proof our role in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and the global supply chain, strategic connectivity is paramount. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) we signed with Guangdong e-Port Management Company Limited in May was a critical first step, laying the groundwork for more transformative services like the one we provide with the Guangdong e-Port Management Company, which is the “One-Data-Multiple-Declarations”, 一單多報, and the pre-declaration of sea-cargo manifest, 海上船務貨物é �å ±. Such initiatives will dramatically reduce administrative burdens, accelerate customs clearance, and bring tangible efficiency, economic gains to businesses operating across the GBA. We are actively pursuing similar dialogues with other Mainland and international ports and logistics platforms to ensure Hong Kong remains at the heart of the digital shipping world. I would like to emphasise that you did not hear me wrong: Hong Kong will definitely remain at the heart of the world’s digital shipping sector.

This naturally brings me to a highlight of today’s event, the signing of further MOUs. These partnerships embody the very collaboration highlighted in this summit’s theme, collaboration and innovation. Such collaborations are the testament to the spirit of this summit and will be instrumental in further enriching the PCS ecosystem, 生態圈, driving innovation, and building a more vibrant and resilient port community. 

Talking about the geopolitical challenges worldwide and also the US tariff war, I think it is of paramount importance that we, the logistics sector, help ourselves among each other, in particular the small ones, the medium ones, who may not afford to diversify their market and business in such a short period of time. So we really need to build the resilience of our ecosystem. Every part of the supply chain counts and works, and we should not lose sight of their sustainability and business viability. I am very grateful to be able to witness the MOUs signing ceremony that will take place later today.

Again, the PCS represents a strategic investment in Hong Kong’s high-quality development. It serves as the critical digital link that synergises our status as a financial centre, a trade and industry hub, and a maritime gateway, creating a powerful virtuous cycle for sustainable economic growth. The journey ahead, I assure you, requires a collective effort, and it will involve a very bright future.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the speech.)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a series of territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations for eight consecutive days from October 2 to yesterday (October 9). A total of 13 suspected illegal workers, three suspected employers and three suspected aiders and abettors were arrested.

     The ImmD has long been highly vigilant against the problem of illegal employment and has taken vigorous and effective enforcement actions. The ImmD has mounted intelligence-led focused operations in multiple targeted locations. During the joint operation with Labour Department codenamed “Lightshadow”, five suspected illegal workers and three suspected aiders and abettors were arrested by ImmD Task Force officers. The five arrested suspected illegal workers were non-ethnic Chinese males aged 21 to 59. Four of them were found to be holders of recognisance forms and were non-refoulement claimants, which prohibit them from taking any employment in Hong Kong. Furthermore, three suspected aiders and abettors were Hong Kong male residents aged 28 to 50. They were arrested for being suspected of aiding and abetting illegal workers to take up food delivery works, and conspiracy to defraud delivery platforms.

     Among the other anti-illegal worker operations, eight suspected illegal workers and three suspected employers were arrested by ImmD investigation officers. The arrested suspected illegal workers comprised one man and seven women, aged 37 to 58. In addition, two women were also suspected of using and being in possession of a forged Hong Kong identity card. Three Hong Kong male residents, aged 34 to 44, were suspected of employing the illegal workers and were also arrested. An investigation into the suspected employers is ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.

     An ImmD spokesman said, “Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years’ imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties.”

     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 any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years’ imprisonment. As stipulated in section 20(1)(a) of the Immigration Ordinance, the Chief Executive may make a deportation order against an immigrant, prohibiting the immigrant from being in Hong Kong at any time thereafter if the immigrant has been found guilty in Hong Kong of an offence punishable by imprisonment for not less than two years. Under the prevailing laws, it is an offence to use or possess a forged identity card or an identity card related to another person. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $100,000 and up to 10 years’ imprisonment.”

     The spokesman stressed that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. 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, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years’ imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years’ imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.

     According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee’s identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker’s valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.

     Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) victims. When any TIP indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP elements, such as threats and coercion in the recruitment phase and the nature of exploitation. Identified TIP victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.

     For reporting illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 3861 5000, 24-hour Immigration Offences Hotline 2824 1551, by fax at 2824 1166, email to anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit “Online Reporting of Immigration Offences” form at www.immd.gov.hk.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Hong Kong Customs on September 10 detected a smuggling case involving a passenger at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) and seized 1 746 pieces of pharmaceutical injections containing Part I Poisons, 8 080 tablets of pharmaceutical products containing Part I Poisons and 74 tubes of pharmaceutical ointment containing Part I Poisons. The total estimated market value was about $1.3 million. The passenger concerned was convicted and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment by the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts today (October 10) for contravening the Import and Export Ordinance (IEO) (Cap. 60).
 
Customs officers intercepted a male passenger, aged 54, on September 10 at the Arrival Hall at HKIA for Customs clearance. Upon examination, the batch of pharmaceutical injections and pharmaceutical products was found inside his check-in suitcases and personal baggage.
 
Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences.
 
Customs reminds the public not to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong.
 
Under the IEO, any person who imports pharmaceutical products and medicines without a valid import licence 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 smuggling activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or 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 – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the University Grants Committee:

Echoing the upcoming 15th National Games, the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games, the Research Grants Council (RGC) will organise a series of sports- and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics)-related public lectures from October to November. Admission is free on a first-come, first-served basis. All are welcome.
 
The first lecture titled “Sports and Child Growth: Communication and Swimming Skills” will be held on October 19 (Sunday). The lecture will be conducted in Cantonese. Details are as follows:

Time: 3pm to 5pm
Venue: Lecture Theatre, G/F, Hong Kong Central Library
Live broadcast: YouTube channel of the Hong Kong Public Libraries
(www.youtube.com/channel/UCJUipdvSACZjO1ldoO3YQBA)
 
Session 1: “Sport’s Role in Boosting Children’s Language Development and Addressing Communication Challenges in Adult Athletes with Brain Injury”
—————————————————————————————————————–
This lecture, led by the Unit Head and Associate Professor of the Academic Unit of Human Communication, Learning, and Development of the University of Hong Kong, Professor Anthony Kong, along with speech therapists Ms Elaine Eramela and Ms Amy Wong, will explore how engaging in sports activities can positively impact the language acquisition and communication skills of children with or without special needs. In addition, the lecture will explore how speech-language therapists can assist adult athletes with breathing issues, voice disorders, and communication difficulties related to brain injuries.
 
Session 2: “How Competent Can Children in Hong Kong Swim?”
—————————————————————————————————————–
This lecture, presented by Associate Head and Associate Professor of the Department of Early Childhood Education of the Education University of Hong Kong Dr Derwin Chan will introduce groundbreaking studies on Hong Kong children’s swimming competence, and explain the factors associated with their swimming abilities. The lecture will also discuss how the research findings can be applied to develop an internationally recognised standard that systematically evaluates the age-relevant swimming competence of children.

The RGC has been regularly organising public lectures since 2009, featuring various distinguished scholars as speakers. These lectures aim to promote research knowledge from Hong Kong’s tertiary institutions and raise public awareness of the significance and value of local research work.
 
For enquiries, please call 2524 3987 or visit the University Grants Committee webpage (www.ugc.edu.hk/eng/rgc/about/events/lectures/lectures.html). Additionally, members of the public can register for the RGC’s email subscription service at www.ugc.edu.hk/eng/rgc/about/subscribe to receive regular updates.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, today (October 10) expressed his gratitude to the Legislative Council (LegCo) for passing the Motion of Thanks in respect of “The Chief Executive’s 2025 Policy Address”.

Mr Lee said, “This year’s Policy Address, entitled ‘Deepening Reforms for Our People and Leveraging Our Strengths for a Brighter Future’, outlines short-, medium- and long-term policies while setting out a systematic layout for diverse development through further reforms and planning. This Policy Address is anchored in two pillars – the economy and people’s livelihood. By developing the economy through reforms, society will generate wealth and resources, and the Government will provide additional services and infrastructure that will achieve my ultimate objective in governance – improving people’s livelihood. This Policy Address combines government planning with public insight, forming a strategic plan for shaping Hong Kong’s future together.

“I express my gratitude to LegCo Members for offering their views on various measures in the Policy Address during the debate on the Motion of Thanks for three consecutive days. Their discussions covered areas including deepening reforms, implementing the ‘one country, two systems’ principle steadfastly and successfully, strengthening the governance systems, advancing the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, accelerating the development of the Northern Metropolis, promoting industry development and reform, integrating into the overall national development, consolidating Hong Kong’s status as an international hub, promoting the integrated development of education, technology, and talent, and enhancing measures in housing, labour, healthcare, and social welfare. The Government will analyse and study these views to ensure more effective implementation of relevant measures and to further benefit the public.

“My team and I will continue to maintain rational and constructive interaction, as well as close communication and collaboration with the LegCo. I am confident that under the principles of an executive-led system and ‘patriots administering Hong Kong’, the executive authorities and the legislature will jointly promote the vision of the Policy Address, leading society in deepening reforms for our people and leveraging our strengths for a brighter future.”

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Berlin (HKETO Berlin) supported the performances and exchange tour of the Hong Kong Clarinet Ensemble Clarisma at the International Rising Musician Exchange Programme, held at Haute École de Musique (HEMU) in Lausanne, Switzerland, from October 7 to 10 (Lausanne time).
 
On October 9, the talented performers of Clarisma collaborated with musicians from HEMU to deliver a mesmerizing ensemble concert that captivated the Swiss audience. The performance highlighted their unique artistic pieces, combining Western classical rigor with contemporary Chinese musical elements. This fusion demonstrated the versatility of the clarinet and the harmonious blend of traditional and modern music.
 
In a bid to support young performers and foster their international exposure, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau provided funding support to sponsor Clarisma’s exchange tour. During their stay, Clarisma also engaged in two public performances and participated in two workshops, which brought together music practitioners for cultural and musical exchanges between diverse backgrounds.

About HKETO Berlin
 
HKETO Berlin is the official representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in commercial relations and other economic and trade matters in Germany as well as Switzerland, Austria, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (October 10) released the first batch of gravidtrap indexes and density indexes for Aedes albopictus in October, covering eight survey areas, as follows:
 

District	Survey Area	October 2025
		First Phase Gravidtrap Index	First Phase Density Index
Central and Western	Sheung Wan and Sai Ying Pun	3.6%	1.5
Eastern	North Point	5.4%	1.0
Southern	Pokfulam	1.8%	1.0
Wanchai	Wan Chai North	0.0%	N/A
Mong Kok	Mong Kok	0.0%	N/A
Wong Tai Sin	Ngau Chi Wan	1.9%	3.0
Sha Tin	Sha Tin East	1.7%	1.0
Tuen Mun	Tuen Mun North	3.1%	1.0

     Among the first batch of First Phase Gravidtrap Indexes covering eight survey areas in October, all were below 10 per cent.

     Among these eight survey areas, four recorded a decrease or remained unchanged in the individual gravidtrap index as compared to the Area Gravidtrap Index last month, i.e. September 2025, representing that the areas’ mosquito infestation improved or maintained a low level. Four other areas recorded a slight increase, but the indexes were lower than 10 per cent.

     Public participation is crucial to the effective control of mosquito problems. The FEHD appeals to members of the public to continue to work together in strengthening personal mosquito control measures, including:

• tidy up their premises and check for any accumulation of water inside their premises;
• remove all unnecessary water collections and eliminate the sources;
• check household items (those placed in outdoor and open areas in particular), such as refuse containers, vases, air conditioner drip trays, and laundry racks to prevent stagnant water;
• change the water in flower vases and saucers of potted plants at least once every seven days;
• properly cover all containers that hold water to prevent mosquitoes from accessing the water; and
• properly dispose of articles that can contain water, such as empty lunch boxes and cans.

     Starting in August this year, following the completion of the surveillance of individual survey areas, and once the latest gravidtrap index and the density index are available, the FEHD will disseminate the relevant information through press releases, its website, and social media. It aims to allow members of the public to quickly grasp the mosquito infestation situation and strengthen mosquito control efforts, thereby reducing the risk of chikungunya fever (CF) transmission.

     Following the recommendations from the World Health Organization and taking into account the local situation in Hong Kong, the FEHD sets up gravidtraps in districts where mosquito-borne diseases have been recorded in the past, as well as in densely populated places such as housing estates, hospitals and schools to monitor the breeding and distribution of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which can transmit CF and dengue fever. At present, the FEHD has set up gravidtraps in 64 survey areas of the community. During the two weeks of surveillance, the FEHD will collect the gravidtraps once a week. After the first week of surveillance, the FEHD will immediately examine the glue boards inside the retrieved gravidtraps for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes to compile the Gravidtrap Index (First Phase) and Density Index (First Phase). At the end of the second week of surveillance, the FEHD will instantly check the glue boards for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes. Data from the two weeks’ surveillance will be combined to obtain the Area Gravidtrap Index and the Area Density Index. The gravidtrap and density indexes for Aedes albopictus in different survey areas as well as information on mosquito prevention and control measures are available on the department’s webpage (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/pestcontrol/dengue_fever/Dengue_Fever_Gravidtrap_Index_Update.html#).