MIL Asia Pacific Publishing Engine

Large-scale international aviation exhibition and conferences conclude in Hong Kong       
     The Director-General of Civil Aviation, Mr Victor Liu, said that holding these important international meetings in Hong Kong had demonstrated Hong Kong’s status as an international aviation hub. The Civil Aviation Department (CAD) has actively participated in and supported these international aviation meetings hosted by CANSO, and will continue to collaborate with international aviation partners and stakeholders to enhance the development of air traffic management and low-altitude traffic management.
      
     The Airspace Asia Pacific 2025 was held for three days at AsiaWorld-Expo, and concluded today (December 11). Being the first Asia-Pacific exhibition and conference under the Airspace World, the event, themed “Shaping the Future of Asia Pacific’s Skies”, has brought together over 2 000 decision-makers from air navigation service providers, professionals, regulatory bodies, and innovative technology companies from around the world, collectively driving global air traffic into a new era of digitisation and intelligence.
      
     Key guests officiating at the opening ceremony included the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan; the President and Chief Executive Officer of CANSO, Mr Simon Hocquard; the Deputy Administrator of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), Mr Ma Bing; the Director-General of the Air Traffic Management Bureau (ATMB) of the CAAC, Mr Miao Xuan; Mr Liu and the Regional Director of the Asia Pacific Office of the International Civil Aviation Organization, Mr Ma Tao. Before the start of the conference, all participants stood and observed a moment of silence to mourn the victims of the Tai Po fire.
      
     The exhibition and conference featured multiple keynote sessions and panel discussions focusing on exploring the most significant challenges and opportunities in air traffic management. Topics covered the low-altitude economy, green aviation, AI and climate challenges, etc. The event also attracted over 70 exhibitors presenting cutting-edge technologies in air traffic management, low-altitude traffic management, AI applications, and emerging aviation technologies, driving the industry towards a sustainable future with digitalisation and automation, thus creating a safe, seamless, and green airspace.
      
     Mr Liu was also invited to deliver an opening speech at the CANSO Asia Pacific Conference 2025 on December 8. Echoing the theme of “Seamless Asia Pacific Airspace – Aviation and Meteorology Integration” this year, Mr Liu shared how Hong Kong utilises meteorological data to respond to severe and unpredictable climate changes to ensure aviation safety.
      
     During the event, Mr Liu also met with a number of delegates, including the Director-General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, Mr Han Kok-juan; the Counsellor for Civil Aviation, Aviation Industry and Space from the Embassy of France in China, Mrs Marion Okunowski; the Director General of the EUROCONTROL, Mr Raúl Medina; and the Chief Executive Officer of National Air Traffic Services, Mr Martin Rolfe, to exchange views on issues of mutual concern.  
      
     The CAD also took the opportunity to invite the CAAC delegation, including Mr Ma Bing, Mr Miao, and the Director-General of the Central and Southern Regional Administration of the CAAC, Mr Li Shuangchen, to attend the sharing session themed “Quest for dreams, Pay tribute to the era”, jointly organised by the Central and Southern Regional Administration and the ATMB of the CAAC, and the CAD. Representatives of young civil aviation practitioners from the Mainland, Hong Kong, and Macao shared their experiences and insights from the exchange programme. At the same time, the delegation also visited the exhibition galleries on “Uprising of the Two Airlines” and “Our Country’s Achievements in Civil Aviation Development since the founding of the People’s Republic of China” at the CAD Aviation Education Path.
Issued at HKT 14:52

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Advisory Committee on Mental Health launches Compassionate Support Programme for Bereaved Families to provide mental health support for families bereaved in Tai Po fire (with photo)      
     Dovetailing with the “one social worker per household” service of the Social Welfare Department, the programme provides free mental health support services, including grief and bereavement counselling for the bereaved, and refers them to clinical psychologists and/or psychiatrists for follow-up services as required based on mental health risk assessments, with a view to accompanying them through the pain of loss. Participating organisations will actively reach out to the bereaved families to provide services. The Primary Healthcare Commission can also refer affected families to join the programme through the District Health Centres in all 18 districts in Hong Kong.
      
     In addition, the Hospital Authority will train the staff of the relevant social service organisations by enhancing their knowledge of and skills in responding to reactions and stress brought about by disasters.
      
     The Chairman of the ACMH, Dr Lam Ching-choi, said, “We fully understand the profound pain and loss caused by the disaster. The Compassionate Support Programme for Bereaved Families will pool strengths from different sectors to provide psychological support for bereaved families affected by the disaster in a timely manner and to journey with them through this difficult time.”
      
     Dr Lam also visited the Lok Sin Village transitional housing project in Tai Po operated by the Lok Sin Tong Benevolent Society, Kowloon, yesterday (December 10) to learn more about the living environment, facilities and support available to the victims of the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, who have been rehoused there on a temporary basis.
Issued at HKT 12:05

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CA promotion truck tours all 18 districts in Hong Kong to promote anti-phone scam messages  
     A spokesman for the Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA) said, “The publicity campaign aims to remind members of the public to always stay vigilant against unknown telephone calls and short messages, and to refrain from disclosing their personal or account information, or transferring money to unfamiliar callers or message senders under any circumstances. It also aims to inform the public about the various anti-phone scam measures jointly implemented by OFCA, the telecommunications industry and law enforcement agencies.”
 
     The Director-General of Communications, Mr Chaucer Leung, visited one of the parking locations of the promotion truck on Hennessy Road in Wan Chai today to introduce anti-phone scam information to members of the public. He also distributed promotional leaflets and souvenirs to remind members of the public to stay vigilant at all times against unfamiliar telephone calls and short messages.
 
     OFCA has launched the District Anti-Phone Deception Ambassador Scheme in January this year. District Council (DC) members and their ward offices’ staff members of all 18 districts in Hong Kong were invited to be ambassadors, with a view to promoting anti-phone scam messages to the public through concerted efforts at the local level in a more comprehensive manner. The scheme has received support from over 150 DC members’ ward offices covering all 18 districts in Hong Kong. Since the implementation of the scheme, OFCA has been actively collaborating with the ambassadors to promote anti-phone scam messages through various activities, including roadshows, community talks, and school talks.
 
     Details of the promotion truck campaign, including the tour schedule and parking locations, are available at OFCA’s website (www.ofca.gov.hk/trucktourIssued at HKT 19:23

DH advises public to avoid visiting Tsing Yi Nature Trails to reduce risk of contracting chikungunya fever    
     Regarding some local cases of CF who visited the Tsing Yi Nature Trails or the surrounding area, the CHP has held an interdepartmental meeting with representatives from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), the Home Affairs Department, the Drainage Services Department (DSD), the Lands Department, and the Civil Engineering and Development Department, to further confirm measures to strengthen mosquito prevention and control in the vicinity of the Tsing Yi Nature Trails.

     The CHP continues to urge individuals who have recently hiked along the Tsing Yi Nature Trails to seek medical attention as soon as possible if they develop relevant symptoms and to call the enquiry hotline (Tel: 2125 2373). All doctors and hospitals in Hong Kong should closely monitor whether their patients present with compatible symptoms and arrange blood tests for those concerned. The CHP’s Public Health Laboratory Services Branch will provide free testing services.
 
     Specifically targeting confirmed cases who visited the Tsing Yi Nature Trails or the surrounding area, the FEHD has been continuously conducting intensive fogging operations to eliminate adult mosquitoes along the hiking trails. At suitable locations, large ultra-low volume foggers have been deployed, and robot dog is being put on trial to enhance operational effectiveness. The FEHD has also set up new mosquito trapping devices, cleared discarded containers and garbage that could bring stagnant water, and applied larvicide oil or larvicides in areas with stagnant water that cannot be removed immediately. The FEHD has been collaborating with the Kwai Tsing District Office, the Lands Department and the DSD to strengthen efforts in eliminating potential mosquito breeding sites along the Tsing Yi Nature Trails. Pamphlets have been distributed to hikers in the area, urging citizens to be vigilant against mosquito infestations and take personal protective measures. The FEHD also held meetings of the interdepartmental task forces on anti-mosquito work across districts, to discuss the latest developments regarding the situation and plan accordingly to co-ordinate relevant departments and stakeholders in strengthening mosquito prevention and control measures in areas under their purview.
 
     Furthermore, the FEHD and relevant departments have comprehensively enhanced the mosquito control operations in Hong Kong since July this year, and this has continued. Among these, the FEHD has conducted vector investigations and targeted mosquito control operations against the imported and local cases. In light of the local cases, the FEHD has immediately conducted follow-up actions, including:
      ​​The abovementioned measures will be continued. Furthermore, the Government will further enhance the mosquito control efforts in addition to the existing measures.

     Members of the public should use DEET-containing insect repellents or other effective active ingredients properly to prevent mosquito bites, but the following precautions should be taken when using them:
      ​The FEHD also appeals to members of the public to continue to stay alert and work together to carry out mosquito prevention and control measures early, including inspecting their homes and surroundings to remove potential breeding grounds, changing water in vases and scrubbing their inner surfaces, removing water in saucers under potted plants at least once a week, and properly disposing of containers such as empty cans and lunch boxes. The FEHD also advises members of the public and property management agencies to keep drains free of blockage and level all defective ground surfaces to prevent the accumulation of water. They should also scrub all drains and surface sewers with an alkaline detergent at least once a week to remove any mosquito eggs.

     The public should call 1823 in case of mosquito problems, and may visit the following pages for more information: the CF page of the CHPIssued at HKT 18:37