Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
FEHD releases second batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in September
District
District The FEHD continues to carry out a series of mosquito prevention and elimination measures, including: During the follow-up actions and following the discovery of stagnant water or stagnant water containers at a construction site and a park in Eastern District and Kowloon City District, the FEHD has issued a total of two statutory notices to the responsible persons-in-charge, requiring the clearance of such items within a specified timeframe.
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: Starting in August 2025, following the completion of the surveillance of individual survey areas, and once the latest gravidtrap index and the density index are available, the FEHD has been disseminating 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 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 62 survey areas of the community, with a surveillance period of two weeks. During the surveillance period, 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 of 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#Issued at HKT 17:59
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
In anticipation of the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays on the Golden Week of the Chinese Mainland, the Department of Health (DH) today (September 25) announced that it has stepped up inspections of Authorized Sellers of Poisons (ASPs), commonly known as pharmacies, and Listed Sellers of Poisons (LSPs), commonly known as medicine companies, focusing on tourist areas to monitor their compliance with relevant laws and codes of practice. These inspections form part of the DH’s routine year-round enforcement efforts. In the first half of 2026, around 5 800 such inspections were conducted. In response to the increased visitor numbers and business activities during the Mainland’s Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays, the DH will step up inspections to crack down on any violations to protect public health.
Stepping up efforts to crack down on illegal use of pharmacy logo
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To address the illegal use of pharmacy logos and titles by shops, the DH reminded the public, including tourists, that they can refer to the attached pharmacy logo (see Annex 1) to verify whether a shop is a registered pharmacy when purchasing medicines in Hong Kong.
According to the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap. 138) (the Ordinance), only LSPs can conduct the retail business of selling poisons listed in Part 2 of the Poisons List and sell only common drugs, such as cold and flu medicines. Such vendors do not have a registered duty pharmacist in the shop and cannot use the abovementioned pharmacy logo or title. Displaying a pharmacy logo in the prescribed form, or a logo resembling the prescribed form, at a premises other than a registered pharmacy, or using the Chinese term “藥房” or terms such as “pharmacy”, “dispensary” or “drug-store” in connection with any business engaged in the retail sale of poisons, constitutes an offence. Furthermore, illegal sale or possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products or Part 1 poisons, or illegal sale of Part 2 poisons, is a criminal offence. Upon conviction, the offender is liable to a maximum fine of $100,000 and two years’ imprisonment.
Over the past 12 months (between September 2025 and to August 2026), 10 limited companies, two company directors and two retail proprietors, none of which were operating unregistered pharmacies, were convicted of displaying logos on their premises that resembled the pharmacy logo in the prescribed form. They were fined amounts ranging from $800 to $32,000. During the same period, 23 limited companies and 11 individuals were convicted of illegal sale and/or possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products. They were fined amounts ranging from $500 to $12,000 and sentenced to imprisonment ranging from one to two months.
The DH reminded the public that illegal sale of medicines controlled under the Ordinance, regardless of the sales channel, including online sales platforms, instant messaging applications or social media, incurs criminal liability. Members of the public should not risk breaking the law.
Points to note when purchasing medicines
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The DH reminded members of the public that all registered pharmaceutical products carry a Hong Kong registration number on their packaging. Registered pharmaceutical products are labelled with a number in the format of “HK-XXXXX”. The safety, quality and efficacy of unregistered pharmaceutical products are not guaranteed. Members of the public should not self-purchase, or consume products of doubtful composition or from unknown sources, as this poses health risks. Besides the lack of a doctor’s assessment of an individual’s health condition, it is difficult to ascertain the legitimate source of the drugs. It is also impossible to know whether the drugs were properly stored during transportation (especially for drugs requiring cold-chain storage). This leaves their safety, quality and efficacy unguaranteed.
To help the public identify registered pharmacies, the DH has formulated a label (Annex 2) for identification of ASPs. The labels have been sent to each registered pharmacy for display at a conspicuous place on their premises. Members of the public and tourists can also download the eHealth app from the website (app.ehealth.gov.hk) and use the “Licence Scanner” on its homepage to scan the QR code displayed at the pharmacy. For registered pharmacies, the message “This is a QR Code issued for licensed pharmacy” will be shown, alongside details of that particular registered pharmacy.
Members of the public can also visit the website of the Drug Office of the DH for names and addresses of all licensees including ASPs.
In addition, to help Mainland visitors distinguish between pharmacies in Hong Kong, the DH has provided relevant information on its social media and official WeChat account regarding important points to note when purchasing medicines in Hong Kong. The DH has also distributed relevant information including “three Steps to Buying Medicine Wisely” to relevant tourism authorities which include the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Tourism Board to strengthen public awareness.
For more information on the safety of buying and safe use of medicines, please visit the website of the DH’s Drug Office.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore (Singapore ETO) hosted a high-level seminar titled “Bridging Innovation & Technology: Navigating the AI & FinTech Landscape in Hong Kong” on September 24, 2026, in Singapore. Organised in partnership with the Federation of Hong Kong Industries (FHKI) and Singapore’s Kowloon Club, the event drew approximately 100 senior business leaders and executives from both cities. Attendees gathered to explore collaborative opportunities in AI and fintech, underscoring a deepening partnership between Asia’s two premier financial and innovation hubs.
The seminar served as the anchor event for a visiting 27-strong FHKI delegation led by the Chairman of the FHKI, Mr Anthony Lam, during their visit to Singapore on September 23 and 24. It was also an event under the Economic and Trade Express platform, a collaborative initiative of ETOs, Invest Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.
Delivering the opening remarks, the Director of the Singapore ETO, Ms Elsa Hung, highlighted that the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030) and the Chief Executive’s 2026 Policy Address, which were recently unveiled, marked a significant strategic milestone. For the first time, Hong Kong has formulated a medium-term development blueprint that places AI and fintech at the centre of its economic agenda, closely aligning with the National 15th Five-Year Plan. She emphasised that the Northern Metropolis stands as a central pillar of this strategic blueprint.
In addition, Ms Hung said that Hong Kong is advancing an ambitious AI+ Initiative through two complementary tracks – “industries for AI” and “AI for industries”. The dual goal is to develop AI as a strategic and globally competitive industry in its own right and to accelerate its application across finance, professional services, healthcare, logistics, manufacturing and beyond. On fintech, Hong Kong’s strategy focuses on four pillars, including AI, data and payment infrastructure, financial tokenisation and resilience enhancement.
The seminar also featured presentations from Mr Lam, alongside representatives from the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited and the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute, followed by a dynamic fireside chat titled “Singapore-Hong Kong Nexus: Building a Shared Working Environment & Business Portability”. The event concluded with a vibrant networking session, where participants actively engaged and forged new pathways for bilateral collaboration.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, today (September 25) met with the Director of the National Cancer Center (NCC), Dr He Jie, for in-depth discussions on the latest developments in cancer prevention and control, big data applications and talent training. They reached a broad consensus on the future direction of collaboration.
The NCC and the Health Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSAR) signed the Framework Agreement on Collaboration between the National Cancer Center and the Health Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (Framework Agreement) in January this year. Guided by the principles of complementarity and mutual benefit, the two parties are actively promoting comprehensive collaboration in the field of cancer prevention and management. This meeting marked an important milestone in the implementation of the Framework Agreement, signifying that the two parties are advancing side by side in the shared cause of cancer prevention and control.
“The First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the HKSAR (2026-2030) and the Chief Executive’s 2026 Policy Address clearly stated that we will develop Hong Kong into a health and medical innovation hub with global influence, strengthen collaboration of medical talent between Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland, and dovetail with our country’s strategic development of the emerging industries of biomedicine and medical devices. The DH will spare no effort to continue enhancing cancer prevention and control in an evidence-based manner, promoting the integrated development of healthcare across the region, and contributing to the key national strategy of ‘Healthy China’,” said Dr Lam.
“The DH sincerely thanks the NCC for its continued, steadfast support for the development of cancer prevention and control initiatives in Hong Kong. The Framework Agreement, signed earlier this year, has laid an important foundation for strengthening our collaboration further. Today’s exchange enabled us to share insightful and forward-looking views on areas such as the application of big data in cancer prevention and control, formulating screening measures and the latest developments in treatment,” he added.
During the meeting, both parties engaged in in-depth and fruitful discussions on topics such as the latest national cancer prevention and control strategies; experiences in establishing cancer registration systems and databases; as well as ways to improve screening adherence through opportunistic screening in hospitals. Both parties agreed that sharing experiences and fostering talent exchanges can further enhance the precision and effectiveness of cancer prevention and control efforts. The DH will continue to strengthen its multidimensional collaboration with the NCC to implement various collaborative initiatives for the benefit of people.
The DH has all along been promoting the adoption of healthy lifestyle as a key strategy for cancer prevention, and is committed to strengthening public education to enhance public awareness of cancer prevention and screening. The DH also implements an evidence-based cancer screening strategy. Since 2004, the Cervical Screening Programme,Colorectal Cancer Screening and Breast Cancer Screening Pilot Programme have been sequentially introduced to enhance the recovery rate of patients through “early prevention, early detection and early treatment”.
In response to the establishment of the Office for Introducing Innovative Drugs and Medical Devices (the Office) by the Hospital Authority (HA) this year under the policy direction set out in the Chief Executive’s 2025 Policy Address, the DH’s Drug Office has also established the Priority Review Pathway under the existing “1+” mechanism for new drugs, to expedite the review of registration applications for innovative cancer drugs recommended by the Office, enabling patients to access new treatments more promptly with more therapeutic options.
The DH will establish the Centre for Medical Products Regulation by this year to progressively establish a robust approval system, and accelerate the clinical application of innovative medical products, providing strong momentum for the development and market expansion of the healthcare industry in the HKSAR, the Chinese Mainland, and beyond, thereby transforming Hong Kong into an international health and medical innovation hub.
Representatives from the HA and Hong Kong Cancer Registry also attended the meeting today.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Adjustment in ceiling prices for dedicated LPG filling stations in October 2026
Location of Dedicated LPG Filling StationCeiling Price in October 2026 (HK$/litre)Ceiling Price in September 2026 (HK$/litre) The spokesman said that the details of the LPG international price and the auto-LPG ceiling price for each dedicated LPG filling station had been uploaded to the EMSD website (www.emsd.gov.hkIssued at HKT 11:00
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Tenders invited for site formation and engineering infrastructure works for Yuen Long South New Development Area Second Phase Development Contract 6 (Framework Contract) The first batch of works to be implemented under Job Requests is scheduled to commence in the first quarter of 2027. The works under the framework contracts will take about 55 months to complete.
The CEDD has commissioned AECOM Asia Company Limited to design and supervise the works. Interested contractors may download the tender forms and other particulars from the e-Tendering System (e-TS). Tenderers must submit tenders in electronic format via the e-TS.Issued at HKT 11:00
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Tenders invited for Development of the Loop – Eastern Connection Road The works are scheduled to commence in the second quarter of 2027 and will take about 39 months to complete.
The CEDD has commissioned AECOM Asia Company Limited to design and supervise the works. Interested contractors may download the tender forms and other particulars from the e-Tendering System (e-TS). Tenderers must submit tenders in electronic format via the e-TS. Issued at HKT 11:00
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Appointments to Endangered Species Advisory Committee The ESAC was established in accordance with the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586) to advise the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation on the administration of the Ordinance.
The following members will serve in the new term:
Dr Theresa Kwong Fuk-ning (Chairperson) Ms Kelly Chan Kwan-yee Dr Tommy Hui Tin-yan Mr Ling Man-sum Dr Elaine Shiu Yin-ning Ms Cammy So On-man Mr Stanley Wong Cho-hang Ms Josephine Wong Lai-mei Mr Yang Jianhuan Mr Henry Yau Yik-chung Ms Fanny Yeung Shuk-fun Mr Andrew Kelvin Yu Wai-kit Ms Zhu Huiling Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation with Deputy Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation as alternate member Commissioner of Customs and Excise with Assistant Commissioner of Customs and Excise (Boundary and Ports) as alternate member Principal Assistant Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Nature Conservation) with Assistant Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Nature Conservation)2 as alternate Member Assistant Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation (Conservation)
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department expresses its gratitude for the service and valuable contributions of the outgoing Chairman Professor Wong Kam-bo and members, Mr Chan Chun-pang, Ms Angela Chan Nga-chi, Ms Rose Ko Lai-fong and Dr Simon Sin Yung-wa. Issued at HKT 11:00
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The following is issued on behalf of the University Grants Committee:
Pursuant to the Government’s initiative to bolster STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) education at the primary and secondary school levels, as well as to step up efforts in identifying and nurturing local STEAM talent, the Research Grants Council (RGC) will organise a series of public lectures from October to November 2026. Various topics including cultural preservation with AI, online pricing, children education, artificial intelligence (AI), and universe exploration, etc, will be covered. Admission is free on a first-come, first-served basis. All are welcome.
The first lecture titled “Digital Society: Cultural Preservation and Online Pricing” will be held on October 4 (Sunday). The lecture will be conducted in Cantonese. Details are as follows:
Session 1: “Preserving Endangered Culture with AI”
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Can AI help us read old books and archives? This lecture, presented by Assistant Professor in the Division of Humanities at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Professor Michael Chung, will introduce a project that uses AI to recognise Manchu, an important language of Qing dynasty history that few people can read today. Through this example, the talk explains how AI can help preserve endangered scripts, make rare historical materials more accessible to the academia and the public, and bring the past closer to the public.
Session 2: “Online Prices”
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This lecture, presented by Assistant Professor in the Department of Decisions, Operations and Technology at the Chinese University of Hong Kong Professor Justin Leung, will share the analysis of an extensive set of high-frequency data from a major online shopping website in Hong Kong in order to understand how sellers set prices across a broad range of products. This lecture will discuss how sellers react to short-term, intra-week fluctuations in demand, and their response to the launch of consumption voucher initiatives, etc.
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.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Appointments of Chairperson and members to Veterinary Surgeons Board of Hong Kong announced The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, thanked Professor Ng for accepting the re-appointment to continue to lead the VSB and uphold high veterinary standards in Hong Kong. He also welcomed the eight new members: Ms Chan Kwan-yee, Ms Angela Chan Nga-chi, Mr Michael Lam Ka-yau, Dr Belinda Lum Suet-man, Ms Masami Toda, Dr Tse Ching-nga, Dr Wong Ho-yi and Mr Kenneth Wong Ka-kei, and the four reappointed members: Professor Vanessa Rosemary Duke Barrs, Dr Bronte Stuart Forbes, Dr Wilson Li and Dr Owen Swan.
Mr Tse also thanked the eight outgoing members, Ms Fiona Chin Chun-yee, Mr Howard Chuk Hau-chung, Dr Jennifer Go Le-lin, Dr Anthony Kwok Wai-leung, Dr Hilary Lam Ho-yan, Mr John Lau Hon-kit, Professor Angela Ng Lai-ping and Dr Esther To Man-wai, for their dedicated service and valuable contribution to the VSB during their terms of appointment.
Enacted in 1997, the Veterinary Surgeons Registration Ordinance (Cap. 529) provides for the establishment of the VSB, which is responsible for the regulation of the practice of veterinary surgery, the registration of veterinary surgeons, and the disciplinary control of the professional activities of registered veterinary surgeons in Hong Kong.
The Ordinance specifies that six of the seats of the VSB are to be filled by registered veterinary surgeons elected by members of the profession. In accordance with the Veterinary Surgeons Board (Election of Members) Regulation (Cap. 529B), the VSB conducted its third ordinary election for the elected members in 2026. The election was concluded in June and three candidates were returned uncontested, namely Dr Ruth Evangeline Ng Hoe-yue, Dr Katherine Mary Simpson and Dr Joshua Perry Steinhaus. As with appointed members, these elected members shall hold office for a term of three years with effect from October 1, 2026. To fill the remaining three vacancies, the VSB will hold a by-election in 2027.
The membership list of the VSB with effect from October 1, 2026, is as follows:
Chairperson ——— Professor Charles Ng Wang-wai
Appointed members ——— Professor Vanessa Rosemary Duke Barrs Ms Chan Kwan-yee Ms Angela Chan Nga-chi Dr Bronte Stuart Forbes Mr Michael Lam Ka-yau Dr Wilson Li Dr Belinda Lum Suet-man Dr Owen Swan Ms Masami Toda Dr Tse Ching-nga Dr Wong Ho-yi Mr Kenneth Wong Ka-kei
Elected members ——— Dr Ruth Evangeline Ng Hoe-yue Dr Katherine Mary Simpson Dr Joshua Perry Steinhaus Issued at HKT 15:00