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Sydney ETO promotes Hong Kong’s energy and cultural vitality at Sydney Lunar New Year Dragon Boat Festival  
     Over 2 000 paddlers powered through the waters in thrilling races during the two-day event in Darling Harbour. The Sydney ETO organised a Hong Kong team to compete in the Corporate Category and the Government Industry Challenge on March 1. This year’s marquee races included the Hong Kong Talent Cup, Hong Kong Opportunity Cup, Hong Kong Dynamic Cup, and Hong Kong Connect Cup, with medals presented by the Director of the Sydney ETO, Mr Ricky Chong.
 
     During the awards presentation, Mr Chong highlighted the significance of the Sydney Lunar New Year Dragon Boat Festival as a vibrant cultural event in Sydney. He noted that dragon boat racing is a Chinese tradition and sporting event with over 2 000 years of history, which has developed into an international sport that represents teamwork, endurance, and community spirit. He further emphasised the importance of community gatherings during Chinese New Year and the positive role such events play in strengthening Hong Kong-Australia relations.
 
     The Sydney ETO set up a marquee during the Dragon Boat Festival to showcase Hong Kong’s latest developments, major city events, and talent-attraction initiatives, giving visitors a firsthand experience of the city’s innovation, culture, and excitement. Souvenirs distributed at the marquee and Hong Kong-themed banners added to the festive atmosphere, highlighting the city’s dynamic culture and celebratory spirit.
 
     The Sydney Lunar Festival, organised by the City of Sydney, is one of the largest celebrations of Chinese New Year outside Asia. This year the festival is held from February 14 to March 1, featuring an array of programmes including lion dancing, lantern displays, and cultural performances, as well as jet pack and firework shows.
 
     The Sydney Lunar New Year Dragon Boat Festival, the biggest event of its kind in the southern hemisphere, was a highlight of the Sydney Lunar Festival, attracting tens of thousands of spectators.
 
     ​The Sydney ETO also displayed Hong Kong-themed street banners with Chinese New Year greetings at major locations across Sydney during the festive period.
Issued at HKT 16:55

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Government announces tender result for Sandy Ridge site 
     A two-envelope approach was adopted in the tender assessment for the Sandy Ridge Data Facility Cluster site to enable a comprehensive evaluation of both non-premium and premium proposals with a view to selecting the proposal that best unleashes the site’s potential. In the tender evaluation, a weighting of 70 per cent was allocated to the non-premium proposal, and 30 per cent to the premium proposal. The tender must comply with the requirements on both non-premium and premium aspects as specified in the tender documents.
 
     The Tender Assessment Panel assessed the tender in accordance with the criteria set out in the tender documents and confirmed the successful tenderer met the requirements in both the non-premium (such as the tenderer’s contribution to Hong Kong in terms of investment and industrial development) and the premium proposals. The premium proposal of the tender is $581 million, and the successful tenderer expects to commence operations within 42 months, with an estimated cumulative investment of $23.8 billion from the development to the operation in the first three years. Other key aspects of the Sandy Ridge Data Facility Cluster to be developed by the successful tenderer include:

(1) A total gross floor area of 250 000 sq m, of which about 90 per cent (88 per cent) of the floor area will be dedicated to high-tier data centre use. 
     Since the 2023 Policy Address announced the rezoning of the Sandy Ridge site for innovation and technology and related uses, the ITIB has been taking forward the plan of developing the Sandy Ridge site into a data facility cluster and for related industry uses. Subsequently, the ITIB and the Digital Policy Office solicited expressions of interest in 2024 for the use of the Sandy Ridge site as a data centre, and requested further information from the industry in 2025. After gaining a deep understanding of the industry’s interests and considerations for the development of the site, the tender was launched in the fourth quarter of 2025, inviting the industry to lead the development and operation, provide advanced computing power facilities, and promote the development of data and AI-related industries. One tender was received in this exercise.
 
     The Sandy Ridge Data Facility Cluster is located in the Northern Metropolis, a core area of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Boundary Control Points Economic Belt, and is well-positioned to attract resources such as technology and talent from both Hong Kong, Shenzhen and other parts of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), facilitating the aggregation of Chinese data from around the world and the development of related industries, forming an industrial cluster effect and driving the vigorous development of data and AI industries across the GBA.
 
     A spokesperson for the ITIB said, “The Sandy Ridge Data Facility Cluster will provide crucial support for the development of AI in Hong Kong with essential elements such as data and computing power, deepening Hong Kong’s leading advantage in regional digital infrastructure and cross-boundary data flow, promoting the development of the digital economy and smart city, as well as making an active contribution to the country’s high-quality development and the ‘AI+’ initiative.”
Issued at HKT 17:38

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Man sentenced to two months’ imprisonment for illegally importing alternative smoking products           
     The Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the DH was notified by Hong Kong Customs on February 28 that 32 000 heat sticks and 40 heated tobacco devices had been intercepted in the luggage of the aforesaid man arriving from Japan. TACO immediately arrested and prosecuted the individual.
      
     Since the amendments to the Tobacco Control Legislation (Amendment) Ordinance 2025, which conferred arrest powers on TACO inspectors, took effect on September 19, 2025, TACO has prosecuted 16 cases involving importation of large quantities of alternative smoking products. Eighteen persons have been convicted and sentenced to prison terms ranging from two to six months.
      
     According to the Import and Export Ordinance (Cap. 60), a person who imports alternative smoking products, including electronic smoking products, heated tobacco products and herbal cigarettes, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for two years; or liable on conviction on indictment to a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
      
     Under the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance (Cap. 371), no person may promote, manufacture, sell, or possess for commercial purposes alternative smoking products. An offender is liable to a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months.
      
     TACO will continue to closely monitor and enforce the law to combat related offences.
      
     In addition, the DH also cautions the public that alternative smoking products are addictive and are not effective smoking cessation tools. E-cigarettes may increase the risk of cancer, respiratory diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. Smokers are urged to quit smoking as early as possible for their own health and that of others. For assistance, please call the DH’s Integrated Smoking Cessation Hotline on 1833 183, and or visit www.livetobaccofree.hkIssued at HKT 16:30

Hong Kong Customs reminds non-local jewellery exhibitors about statutory requirement to submit cash transaction report under Dealers in Precious Metals and Stones Regulatory Regime                
     Non-Hong Kong dealers can also download the related form at www.drs.customs.gov.hk/download/drsform/CED418_Form%208_Cash%20transaction%20report.pdf                
     Dealers can visit the website (www.customs.gov.hk/en/service-enforcement-information/anti-money-laundering/supervision-of-dealers-in-precious-metals-and-ston/index.htmlIssued at HKT 16:25

CE to attend opening meeting of NPC annual session in Beijing     
     Mr Lee will return to Hong Kong on March 5. During his absence, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, will be the Acting Chief Executive.
Issued at HKT 14:00

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Nominations now open for Best Landscape Award for Private Property Development 2026 which introduces new category for Subsidised Sale Housing 
     The Award, held biennially, is one of the LCSD’s major activities to promote greening. It aims to bring about sustained environmental improvements in private property developments and encourage private bodies to incorporate more quality green elements into the planning and management of horticultural projects for the benefit of such developments.
 
     Entries must be properties and facilities located within the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The landscape and green areas of the entries must be for communal use or accessible to the public or residents. Entries may be nominated by the developer, management company, design company, owners’ organisation, landscape or horticultural company of the property, with prior consent from the owners’ representative group of the property concerned.
 
     The competition is divided into six categories. Details are as follows:
 
Domestic property:
(1) Large-scale Domestic Property (with a site area of 20 000 square metres or above)
(2) Medium-scale Domestic Property (with a site area from 2 000 sq m to below 20 000 sq m)
(3) Small-scale Domestic Property (with a site area under 2 000 sq m)
(4) Subsidised Sale Housing (including domestic properties under the following projects: Tenants Purchase Scheme, HOS (Home Ownership Scheme) Secondary Market Scheme, Private Sector Participation Scheme, Green Form Subsidised Home Ownership Scheme, Subsidised Sale Flats Project, Starter Homes Pilot Project for Hong Kong Residents, Flat-for-Sale Scheme, Sandwich Class Housing Scheme, Urban Improvement Scheme, Dedicated Rehousing Estates, Full Market Value Development, and Urban Renewal Project)
 
Non-domestic property (such as hotels, shopping malls, commercial buildings, schools under the Direct Subsidy Scheme (private premises) and private schools):
 
(5) Large-scale Non-domestic Property (with a gross floor area of 40 000 sq m or above)
(6) Small and Medium-scale Non-domestic Property (with a gross floor area under 40 000 sq m)
 
     Except category 4 (Subsidised Sale Housing), each of the other categories are divided into three groups according to the age of the property:
 
i) Properties below six years of age
ii) Properties between six and below 21 years of age
iii) Properties of 21 years of age or above
 
     Each category features a Gold Award, Merit Award(s) and Environmental Efficiency Award(s). Additionally, a Supreme Gold Award has been introduced this year and will be presented to the most outstanding entry among all Gold Award winners.
 
     The prospectus and nomination form can be downloaded from the LCSD webpage at www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/green/property/index.html 
*by email: gcs@lcsd.gov.hk*by post: 11/F, Leisure and Cultural Services Headquarters, 1-3 Pai Tau Street, Sha Tin (the date of postmark will be taken as the date of receipt); or
*in person: 11/F, Leisure and Cultural Services Headquarters, 1-3 Pai Tau Street, Sha Tin (no later than 5pm on the last day for submission).
 
     For enquiries, please call 2601 8026.
 
     The Best Landscape Award for Private Property Development 2026 is organised by the LCSD and co-organised by the Home Affairs Department, the Hong Kong Institute of Architects, the Hong Kong Institute of Landscape Architects, the Institute of Horticulture (Hong Kong), the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors, the Professional Green Building Council, the Hong Kong Association of Property Management Companies and the Hong Kong Green Building Council.
Issued at HKT 12:36

Major Sports Events Committee awards “M” Mark status to HSBC LIV Golf Hong Kong 2026 
     The Major Sports Events Committee (MSEC) has awarded “M” Mark status to the HSBC LIV Golf Hong Kong 2026 to be held from March 5 to 8 at the Fanling Golf Course of the Hong Kong Golf Club.
      
     The Chairman of the MSEC, Mr Wilfred Ng, said today (March 2), “LIV Golf is making a triumphant return, holding its event in Hong Kong for the third consecutive year. The spotlight of global golf will once again shine on the Fanling Golf Course of the Hong Kong Golf Club. The tournament will continue to bring together the world’s top players showcasing their exceptional skills alongside a variety of exciting entertainment activities, which will fully demonstrate Hong Kong’s unique appeal as a capital of international sports events.”
      
     The “M” Mark System aims to encourage and help local National Sports Associations and private or non-government organisations to organise more major international sports events and nurture them into sustainable undertakings. Sports events meeting the assessment criteria will be considered for “M” Mark status by the MSEC. Funding support will also be provided to some events. The “M” Mark System aims to promote the development of major sports events, cultivate a sustainable sporting culture, enhance Hong Kong’s image as a centre for major international sports events and bring tangible economic benefits to the community.
      
     For details of “M” Mark events, please visit www.mevents.org.hkIssued at HKT 12:00

Nominations for Young Astronaut Training Camp 2026 to start tomorrow         
     The training camp will run from July 23 to 31. During the nine-day training camp, participants will visit Beijing, Jiuquan and Xi’an. The itinerary includes visiting various key aerospace and astronomy facilities such as the Beijing Aerospace City, the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center and the Xinglong Observatory of the National Astronomical Observatories. In addition, participants will experience astronaut training activities and have a chance to engage with astronauts and aerospace experts to learn about their unwavering dedication and pioneering spirit.
         
     The quota for the training camp is 30. Candidates must be local full-time students currently enrolled in Secondary Two to Secondary Six for the 2025/26 academic year, aged 12 or above, and be nominated by their respective schools. Each school can nominate two students at most. There will be three rounds of selection – a quiz, a pre-camp training and an interview. Candidates with outstanding performance will be selected to join the camp. The Hong Kong Space Museum (HKSpM) will hold a briefing session on the afternoon of March 17 (Tuesday). For more details, please visit the HKSpM website at hk.space.museum/en/web/spm/activities/yatc.html         
     The training camp is jointly presented by the LCSD and the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce in association with the China Space Foundation and the Beijing-Hong Kong Academic Exchange Centre. The training camp is organised by the HKSpM and sponsored by the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce.
                     
     The camp is also one of the activities in the Chinese Culture Promotion Series. The LCSD has long been promoting Chinese history and culture through organising an array of programmes and activities to enable the public to learn more about the broad and profound Chinese culture. For more information, please visit www.ccpo.gov.hk/enIssued at HKT 11:52

Online appointment for counter services for direct issue of Hong Kong Full Driving Licence to be fully implemented from March 16