Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Reappointment of Chairman to Consumer Council announced
“Mr Chan has taken up the chairmanship of the Council since July 2022. During this period, he has been actively leading the Council to take forward various initiatives in safeguarding consumers’ rights and interests, while putting forward many valuable suggestions. We are confident that the Council will further strengthen its work on consumer protection under his leadership,” a government spokesman said.
Issued at HKT 11:00
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Rates and Government rent due July 31
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Rates and Government rent due July 31
(2) by uploading an e-Cheque/e-Cashier Order via the Pay e-Cheque portal
(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 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
Non-receipt or late receipt of the demand does not alter the requirement that the total amount due must be paid by July 31, 2026. 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 July 31, 2026. 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 websiteIssued at HKT 11:00
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DH investigates hospital-acquired case of Legionnaires’ disease
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
DH investigates hospital-acquired case of Legionnaires’ disease
Since the patient was hospitalised at HKSH throughout the incubation period (from June 26 to July 4), the CHP considered that this is a nosocomial case and conducted an environmental investigation at the hospital in order to determine the source of the infection.
A preliminary investigation revealed that, the patient had been admitted to a single-occupancy room in the general ward during the incubation period. The CHP collected 10 water samples and six environmental samples from the water tanks of the concerned building and the patient’s ward. The results of laboratory testing are pending.
The CHP has instructed HKSH to suspend the use of the shower rooms in the ward concerned, thoroughly disinfect the water supply systems of the concerned ward and install bacterial filters as soon as possible. The CHP has also provided the hospital with health advice and medical surveillance recommendations, and will continue to closely monitor the implementation of these measures.
In addition, the CHP is arranging for other patients who were hospitalised on the same floor as the patient during the same period to undergo medical surveillance. No additional LD cases have been identified among them so far.
The CHP’s investigation and follow-up work are ongoing.
Men, people aged over 50, smokers, alcoholics and persons with weakened immunity are more susceptible to LD. Some situations may also increase the risk of infection, including poor maintenance of water systems; living in areas with old water systems, cooling towers or fountains; using electric water heaters, whirlpool spas or hot water spring spas; and recent stays in hotels or ships. The public should observe the health advice below:
The public may visit the CHP’s LD pageIssued at HKT 20:54
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Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected counterfeit goods worth about $3.1 million
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Hong Kong Customs on June 24 seized about 6 300 suspected counterfeit goods with an estimated market value of about $3.1 million at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) Hong Kong Port.
Through risk assessment, Customs on that day intercepted an incoming lorry at the HZMB Hong Kong Port. After inspection, Customs officers found the batch of suspected counterfeit goods inside the cargo compartment of the lorry, including jerseys, handbags and footwear. A 59-year-old male driver was subsequently arrested.
An initial investigation revealed that the batch of suspected counterfeit goods would have been transshipped to overseas regions.
The investigation is ongoing and the arrested man has been released on bail pending further investigation.
Customs will continue to take stringent enforcement action against counterfeit goods and smuggling activities through risk assessment and intelligence analysis.
Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who imports or exports any goods to which a forged trademark is applied commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
Members of the public may report any suspected counterfeiting 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).
Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
An incoming local female passenger was sentenced to four weeks’ imprisonment and fined $1,000 by the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts today (July 10) for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).
Customs officers intercepted an incoming 27-year-old local female passenger at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point on July 3 and seized 581 duty-not-paid cigarettes from her personal baggage, with an estimated market value of about $2,900 and a duty potential of about $1,900. The female passenger was subsequently arrested.
Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences.
Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys 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 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
Hong Kong Customs seizes illegally imported live birds of suspected scheduled endangered species
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Hong Kong Customs seizes illegally imported live birds of suspected scheduled endangered species (with photo)
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.hkIssued at HKT 12:40
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EMSD youth outreach programme wins GovMedia Awards 2026
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Witty Bear Youth Outreach Programme – Exploring the E&M World, run by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD), won the Hong Kong Outreach Project of the Year – Youth award at the GovMedia Awards 2026. The award recognises the department’s efforts in promoting electrical and mechanical (E&M) knowledge to youth and nurturing future E&M talent.
Launched in 2022 and targeting children and young people, the programme features the EMSD’s popular mascots, Witty Bear and KnowBot, as publicity ambassadors to promote E&M safety, energy efficiency, and innovation and technology. Through a continuous array of diverse activities, including a pilot STEM education programme, exhibitions, mobile promotion trucks and book fair booths, the programme introduces E&M knowledge in a lively, interesting, educational, and easy-to-understand manner, to inspire young children and guide youth to explore the professional world of E&M engineering, thereby nurturing new blood for the industry.
The GovMedia Awards recognise outstanding government initiatives in the Asia-Pacific region, commending organisations for their exceptional leadership, creativity, and impact in public service.
Government announces quarterly land sale programme for July to September 2026
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Government announced today (July 10) the quarterly land sale programme for the second quarter of 2026-27, i.e. July to September 2026.
The Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, said in terms of the Government land sale in the second quarter of 2026-27, the Government will put up for tender a residential site at Fat Kwong Street, Ho Man Tin, Kowloon. The site is able to provide floor space of around 19 300 square metres and can provide around 250 flats. It is selected from the Annual Land Sale List announced in February this year and is situated in a mature urban neighbourhood with comprehensive surrounding facilities and traffic network. The rezoning procedures for the site from “Government, Institution or Community” use to “Residential” use have recently been completed. Furthermore, the tender for three residential sites located in the large-scale land disposal pilot area in the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area was closed on July 3, and they are expected to provide around 3 120 flats in total. Taken altogether, Government land sale in this quarter is capable of providing around 3 370 flats.
Other residential land supply this quarter will include MTR Corporation Limited’s Tuen Mun A16 Station (Package 2) development project which is estimated to supply around 5 510 flats; and the Urban Renewal Authority’s Bailey Street/Chi Kiang Street, Hung Hom project launched on July 3 and capable of providing around 1 220 flats. As for private development and redevelopment projects, three projects are expected to complete lease modification procedures in the second quarter, providing a total supply of around 90 flats.
Ms Linn said, “Taking all sources of land supply into account, the total private housing land supply in the second quarter of this financial year would support the development of around 10 190 units. Together with the supply from the first quarter, the total private housing land supply of the first half of this financial year is expected to support some 12 430 units, which is very close to the annual target of private housing supply for this financial year (12 600 units). This figure has not yet reflected private redevelopment projects not requiring lease modification from the second quarter, as such figures are only available at a later stage. The supply target for the financial year is likely to be achieved shortly because of the need for the Government to spearhead development in the Northern Metropolis or railway property development projects in a timely manner taking into account the overall land and infrastructure development strategy. Together with more active transactions in the private market, developers are more proactive in bidding for land or engaging in private development projects.”
As regards the private housing land supply for 2025-26, taking into account new private development and redevelopment projects in the fourth quarter, the actual supply is adjusted upwards to around 16 865 flats, which exceeds the supply target for that financial year by around 28 per cent.
The Government will continue to sustain its effort in rolling out land in a prudent and pragmatic manner, and flexibly adjust the land disposal strategy according to market situation, in order to meet the development needs of society.
The site to be tendered in July to September 2026 is in the Annex. The actual tender timetable will be drawn up taking into account the progress of necessary preparatory work. The Lands Department will announce the detailed land sale arrangements before individual sites are put up for tender.
Ballot applications to start on July 16 for free use of leisure facilities on Sport For All Day 2026
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Ballot applications to start on July 16 for free use of leisure facilities on Sport For All Day 2026 (* Users are required to possess the relevant qualification certificates.)
The free-of-charge sessions will be allocated through balloting. Details are as follows:
| Date of free use Members of the public may make ballot applications via the SmartPLAY system as individual users for the sessions on August 1 and/or August 2 in accordance with the above timetable. Each user may only make one application for each date, with each application covering a maximum of three choices. Each application will be processed independently. An applicant may revise his/her choices in his/her application via SmartPLAY system before the closing time at 11.59pm on the respective application closing dates (i.e. July 19 and 20 respectively). Successful applicants will be notified by the SmartPLAY system.
SmartPLAY users who have not been allocated any free session by ballot or have not made any application may book the remaining sessions on a first-come, first-served basis in accordance with the above timetable through the following channels: NNNN EDB and EdUHK jointly organise 4Rs Mental Health Professional Exchange Day cum Peer Power – Student Gatekeeper Training Programme Achievement SharingSource: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4 The Education Bureau (EDB) today (July 10) jointly organised the 4Rs Mental Health Professional Exchange Day cum Peer Power – Student Gatekeeper Training Programme (Peer Power Programme) Achievement Sharing with the Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK). The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, accompanied by the President of EdUHK, Professor John Lee, officiated at the opening ceremony of the event. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr Choi said that the EDB has always been committed to promoting mental health on campuses. She noted that the 4Rs Mental Health Charter (4Rs Charter) launched in the 2024/25 school year emphasises the integration of four core elements: Rest, Relaxation, Relationship and Resilience. This initiative aims to foster a caring school atmosphere in a holistic manner and comprehensively enhance students’ mental health. Currently, over 96 per cent of schools across Hong Kong have participated in the 4Rs Charter, demonstrating the education sector’s strong support and the importance placed on students’ physical and mental well-being. Dr Choi pointed out that promoting student mental health relies on cross-sectoral and cross-professional collaboration. She expressed her hope that everyone, inspired by new insights, would continue to work together with love, passion, determination and action to co-create healthy and happy campuses. The event featured achievement sharing from the Peer Power Programme. Through booth activities, students shared their achievements in promoting mental health on campuses. All booths at the venue were designed and hosted by the Peer Leaders. The booths were thoughtfully and diversely designed, featuring interactive games or handicraft activities, thereby practising mental health through experiential learning and reinforcing the concept of a student-led approach to promoting mental health in schools. Dr Choi extended special thanks to the principals, teachers and students of the schools participating in this school year’s Peer Power Programme for their active promotion of student mental health and their spirit of mutual care and help on campus. She gave full recognition to students’ efforts and dedication when visiting the booths of the Peer Leaders and listening to students’ sharing. She also encouraged the Peer Leaders to continue playing fully their role in peer support and promoting mental health within their schools. |