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Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) is highly concerned over an industrial accident that occurred yesterday (January 16) at the yard waste recycling centre, Y·PARK in Tuen Mun, and extends its sympathies to the injured worker and his family members.

     At around 2pm yesterday, a worker sustained injury when his left palm was severed while attempting to clear stuck debris at an operating wood chipping machine. He remained conscious and was sent to Tuen Mun Hospital for treatment. The EPD immediately deployed staff to the hospital after the incident to understand the condition of the injured and provide his family members with appropriate assistance.

     The EPD notified the Labour Department and the Police in the first instance. Staff from the Labour Department conducted on-site inspection and issued a suspension notice to the contractor, requiring suspension of operation of the concerned machinery until all improvement measures have been implemented. The EPD requested the contractor to fully co-operate with the Labour Department in its investigation, and demanded an incident report from the contractor within three days.

     The safety of its facilities remains the top priority of the EPD, with close monitoring of contractors’ operation in place. On the contractor’s front, daily regular on-site inspections on occupational safety conditions and safety training for employees and its subcontractors are part of their requirements.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, the “ReMIX · Yesterday’s Future, Invent Tomorrow!” Exhibition and Product Launch held its opening ceremony at Maison&Objet Paris (M&O) in France on January 16 (Paris time). The exhibition brings together over 90 creative and collaborative products from nearly 40 brands and design teams, highlighting Hong Kong’s creative force on the global stage.

     Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries, Miss Drew Lai, remarked that CCIDA is committed to driving the development of Hong Kong’s creative industries and strengthening the city’s role as the East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. Through its strategic partnership with M&O and support for projects such as ReMIX, CCIDA not only brings in global design excellence to Hong Kong but also enables local designers to go global and showcase their work on the international stage, thereby cultivating collaboration and business opportunities.

     Another CCIDA-sponsored intellectual property (IP) project, “Luminance by Simon Yam”, is also showcased at M&O. Through “Luminance by Simon Yam”, CCIDA provides a stage where five emerging Hong Kong fashion designers reimagine art pieces by veteran actor Simon Yam into stylish fashion and lifestyle items, presenting a “wearable art” exhibition that promotes cross-sectoral cultural IP creation and synergy.

     Organised by the Industrial Designers Society of Hong Kong, ReMIX is a creative business partnership programme now in its fourth edition. It aims to promote collaboration between Hong Kong designers and brands, drive market recognition of creative services, products and industrial design, and support the sustainable development of the industry. Following its showcases in Bangkok in 2023 and 2024, and Shenzhen in 2025, this edition of ReMIX goes beyond Asia and makes its debut at M&O in Paris. “Luminance by Simon Yam” is organised by the Hong Kong Fashion Designers Association and debuted in Hong Kong in October 2025. M&O runs from January 15 until 19.

     For more information on ReMIX, please visit remix.idshk.org/en-us and www.maison-objet.com/en/paris/exhibitors/remix-by-idshk-gift-play. For more information on “Luminance by Simon Yam”, please visit www.luminancebysimonyam.com.hk and www.maison-objet.com/en/paris/exhibitors/luminance-by-simon-yam-signature.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Financial Secretary Paul Chan will depart for Davos, Switzerland this evening to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting, due to take place from Monday to Friday.

This year’s meeting will bring together nearly 3,000 leaders from across politics, business, finance, technology, the arts and culture, as well as representatives from international organisations, non-governmental organisations and think tanks, to jointly explore important global issues. More than 130 countries and regions will be represented.

Taking “A Spirit of Dialogue” as its theme, the meeting will cover topics such as co-operation in a contested world, unlocking new sources of growth, investing in people, deploying innovation at scale in a responsible manner, and “building prosperity within planetary boundaries”.

Mr Chan will attend, speak and join in discussions at several keynote meetings, lunches and dinners. He will also meet political, business and financial leaders to brief them on Hong Kong’s situation and opportunities.

Mr Chan will leave Davos on January 23 and arrive back in Hong Kong on the morning of January 24. Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong will act as Financial Secretary during his absence.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

As the sun rises over Victoria Harbour, the city starts its day with people filling Lugard Road – jogging, walking dogs or strolling with friends.

An elderly woman who visits the Hong Kong Trail occasionally, remarked that it was a pleasant trail that was even suitable for dog walking.

“Hong Kong is a real treasure. In just 10 to 30 minutes by car, you can reach many hiking trails. So we really should cherish what we have.”

Singaporean film director Jack Neo recently led over 100 visitors to the trail for some morning exercise. He said the group was in high spirits and amazed by the landscape.

“The scenery in Singapore is very different from here – this is a mountain. We just looked down and suddenly realised how stunning the view is.”

With stops planned in Guangzhou and Shenzhen during their five-day trip, Mr Neo said he hopes to return to Hong Kong in the future to explore its countryside further.

Natural gem
Lugard Road is just the beginning of a greater natural treasure – the Hong Kong Trail.

Spanning about 50km, the trail begins at the western end of Hong Kong Island, winding eastward. It is the most hiker-friendly of the four long-distance trails managed by the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department. Starting at Victoria Peak, it crosses the island’s hills and ends at Tai Long Wan.

The trail is divided into eight sections, with Lugard Road forming part of Section 1.

Eric Lam, Country Parks Ranger Services Officer (Hong Kong) at the department, grew up hiking the trail with his father and has since covered every section.

He said the trail offers a rich variety of scenic spots – ranging from the Peak and Pok Fu Lam Reservoir to Jardine’s Lookout, Mount Butler, the Tai Tam Group of Reservoirs and Dragon’s Back – offering a real mix of vistas.

In addition to its diverse landscapes, the trail also boasts rich habitats.

“Woodlands, streams and reservoirs support a wide range of wildlife, including species with high conservation value – like the Hong Kong Camellia and Primrose, both first discovered on the island,” Mr Lam added.

Witnessing history
The Hong Kong Trail is also packed with historical and cultural elements.

Hikers can encounter significant sites along the route, including Hong Kong’s first reservoir – Pok Fu Lam Reservoir, completed in 1863 – and several declared monuments related to the city’s early waterworks system.

Wartime relics such as Second World War-era air raid shelters and pillboxes, alongside early 1900s markers like the Kwan Tai Lo Milestone and the Tai Tam Obelisk, are also visible along the trail.

In April 1985, the Hong Kong Trail was officially inaugurated at Tai Fung Au, which also marks the start of Section 6. Many hikers still pause to take photographs at the memorial plaque.

Tai Fung Au has been there from the very beginning, even remnants of the former Taikoo company town – including the now-demolished Taikoo Sanitarium and the world’s first passenger cable car. The remaining stone, brick and concrete foundations have faded into the landscape, standing as silent witnesses to the passage of time.

Hiking challenge
To encourage the public to explore the Hong Kong Trail, the department launched the “Unlocking Hong Kong Trail” hiking challenge, setting up eight checkpoints – one for each trail section. Each checkpoint features an e-badge inspired by the section’s landmarks and biodiversity, allowing hikers to check in and take part in a “treasure hunt”.

Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department Country Parks Ranger Services Officer (Education) Francis Tsang explained that participants should register on the event website, then hike to the eight checkpoints. Once there, they scan a QR code and answer a fun fact question to unlock an e-badge.

“Once they have unlocked all eight checkpoints within the event period – by February 28  – they can redeem a set of souvenirs on a first-come, first-served basis while stocks last,” Ms Tsang noted.

Since the challenge was launched in November 2025, over 7,400 people had signed up, with around 1,800 successfully unlocking all checkpoints as of the end of last year.

She advised participants to plan based on fitness and experience, hike in groups, and follow Leave No Trace principles.

Earlier, the department launched a series of activities encouraging public involvement in trail upkeep, including restoring erosion-prone sections to ensure hikers can safely and comfortably enjoy nature.

“Four Peaks” Tourism
Last year, the Government introduced the “Four Peaks” tourism initiative, covering Tai Mo Shan, Lantau Peak, Sai Kung Hoi and Victoria Peak, which overlaps with Section 1 of the Hong Kong Trail.

The department is phasing in the initiative, upgrading trails and facilities near High West, and working with nearby stakeholders to design themed green tourism routes linking the Peak Tram, landmarks and specialty cuisines.

The tourism routes, along with facility upgrades and green tourism products are expected to be in place by late 2026.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is the speech by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, at the rollout ceremony of the Port Community System today (January 16):

     Recognising that some of our guests are non-Chinese speaking, I would also like to extend our warm welcome to you all in English as well. Today marks a pivotal moment in Hong Kong’s journey towards a smarter, more connected future as an international maritime centre, as our Port Community System (PCS) is finally in place for full roll-out for the industry’s use.

     In the face of global transformation in the digital world, port digitalisation is a strategic imperative. The PCS is our foundational digital infrastructure, designed to integrate multimodal transport information and enhance transparency. Its core mission is to connect transport information, trade flows with capital flows, thereby solidifying Hong Kong’s multifaceted role as an international financial, trade and maritime centre.

     Looking ahead, we will unlock even greater value from the PCS. We will collaborate with the Customs and Excise Department to develop a dedicated module on the PCS platform. As the first phase, the PCS will help digitise the cargo detention notification process, thereby providing industry players with faster and more transparent information. This marks a concrete step towards a “Smart Customs” vision, enhancing customs clearance efficiency through digital collaboration.

     Furthermore, LSCM (Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre) and my bureau will sign a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding with FUNDel Limited, a local fintech start-up that connects e-commerce merchants, logistics companies, and financial institutions to collaborate in catalysing the development of innovative financial products by leveraging the trusted logistics data within the PCS. I look forward to the success of this collaboration; this is the first step, and I look forward to seeing more, which will help transform data potential into tangible financial benefits, particularly for our SMEs. 

     The PCS system that we roll out formally today signifies the shared vision for our port in three “i’s”: that is intelligent, interconnected, and indispensable to global trade. A port where data does not only track cargo but fuels growth, unlocks finance, and builds trust within our industry. 

     Indeed, maritime and port are closely entwined with logistics, and so is the PCS, which covers sea, land and air. Hence, I am very delighted to announce two more achievements on logistics development on this momentous day. First, we will announce the findings of the planning study on the development of a modern logistics cluster in Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area later today. Our aim is to leverage the transport network under planning in the area and Hong Kong’s edge in sea, land and air cargo transport, and create a market-enabling environment through introducing market-oriented provisions and development terms as well as innovative measures to answer the industry’s needs. Together, we hope to build a smart and green modern logistics cluster in our pivotal and strategic location in Hung Shui Kiu and Ha Tsuen New Development Area. We will invite expressions of interest from the industries to attract major enterprises to lead the cluster’s development based on an enterprise-oriented development principle. Second, we are also releasing today an ESG data collection toolkit that will help the trade, especially the SMEs, the frontline industry practitioners, to effectively collect and record ESG data, so as to enable them to better comply with international and global ESG compliance requirements. Thank you very much. 

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

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region