Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
FEHD releases fourth batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in July
District
District The FEHD continues to carry out a series of measures, including: During the follow-up actions and following the discovery of stagnant water or stagnant water containers at two public housing estates and two private housing estates in Tai Po District, the FEHD has issued a total of four 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 17:00
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Hong Kong Customs steps up enforcement operations to combat sea smuggling activities (with photo) Since the operation began, through intelligence analysis and risk assessment, Customs has detected five cases involving river trade vessels departing from Hong Kong for Macao, seizing approximately 1.33 million suspected pharmaceutical products, 3 900 anti-obesity injections, 8 880 cosmetics injections, 59 kilograms of tobacco products, 9 700 cigarettes, 1 500 fishing tools and 723kg of suspected controlled sea cucumber, with an estimated value of about $87.5 million.
Investigations are ongoing. The likelihood of arrests is not ruled out.
Being a government department primarily responsible for tackling smuggling activities, Customs has long been combating various smuggling activities on all fronts. Customs will keep up its enforcement action and continue to resolutely combat sea smuggling activities through proactive risk management and intelligence-based enforcement strategies, and carry out targeted anti-smuggling operations at suitable times to crack down on relevant crimes.
Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years. Any person who imports pharmaceutical products and medicines without a valid import licence commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for two years.
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 17:00
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Hong Kong Customs has been mounting an enforcement operation targeting cigarette retail points in various districts since July 12. A total of about 130 000 suspected illicit cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $590,000 and a duty potential of about $430,000 were seized. Eleven persons were arrested.
During the operation, Customs officers disguised as customers conducted test buys at different cigarette retail points, including newsstands, stores, grocery shops and itinerant hawker booths. Eleven cigarette retail points in Sai Wan Ho, Yau Ma Tei, Kwai Chung and Sha Tau Kok were found to offer cigarettes for sale at a price less than the statutory duty imposed thereon. Customs officers thus took prompt enforcement actions to arrest the shop owners and staff. Eleven persons, comprising five men and six women aged between 31 and 75, were arrested.
The operation is still ongoing. Customs reminds cigarette retailers not to sell cigarettes of unknown sources and stay alert to cigarettes supplied at a price less than the statutory duty. Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109), if a cigarette is offered for sale or supply at a consideration the value of which is less than the rate of duty imposed on the cigarette, the cigarette is dutiable goods. In addition, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying duty-not-paid 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, its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Online auction of vehicle registration marks to be held from August 6 to 10 (5) A VRM can only be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser. Relevant information on the Certificate of Incorporation must be provided by the successful bidder in the Purchaser Information of the Memorandum of Sale if the VRM purchased is to be registered under the name of a body corporate.
(6) Successful bidders will receive a notification email around seven working days after payment has been confirmed and can download the Memorandum of Sale from the E-Auction. The purchaser must apply for the VRM to be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser within 12 months from the date of issue of the Memorandum of Sale. If the purchaser fails to do so within the 12-month period, in accordance with the statutory provision, the allocation of the VRM will be cancelled and a new allocation will be arranged by the TD without prior notice to the purchaser.Issued at HKT 15:00
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Coin Collection Programme Since the launch of the Programme in October 2014 up to June 30, 2026, the two Coin Carts had carried out 1 509 000 transactions, collecting 1 142 million coins with a total face value of HK$1,853 million during the period. The collected coins are re-circulated to meet demand.
The Coin Carts provide service at locations that are convenient to the public without affecting the normal flow of traffic and pedestrians. Locations that have suitable power supply facilities, such as the Leisure and Cultural Services Department mobile library service locations, are preferred so as to reduce the need for using the Coin Carts’ own stand-by generators. This makes the Programme more environmentally friendly. In selecting the service locations, the HKMA has taken into consideration comments and suggestions given by District Councils and members of public, and has consulted the Transport Department and the Hong Kong Police Force as necessary.
The two Coin Carts collect coins from members of public in the 18 districts of Hong Kong on a rotating basis. Under normal circumstances each Coin Cart will stay at a location for a week, subject to availability of the parking space and the maintenance schedule of the Cart. Service hours are from 10am to 7pm Each vehicle is equipped with two coin counting machines and operational staff will be present to provide assistance. An electrical wheelchair lift is available for use. Users can choose to exchange coins for banknotes or adding value to their stored value facilities, such as Octopus Cards or e-wallets (including AlipayHK, Octopus Wallet, Tap&Go and WeChat Pay). There is also a Community Chest donation box inside each vehicle. The coin collection service is free of charge.
The HKMA will review the Programme from time to time, and will regularly update the service schedule to give advance notice to the public. Issued at HKT 12:03
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
SITI to attend APEC Digital and AI Ministerial Meeting and other Digital Weeks high-level events in Chengdu The theme of this year’s DMM is “Digital and AI Technologies for Empowerment of the Asia-Pacific Community”. Professor Sun will speak at thematic sessions, introducing Hong Kong’s initiatives and achievements in promoting innovation and technology (I&T) development, digital transformation and smart upgrades, as well as sharing the city’s progress in promoting digital inclusion and enhancing digital literacy and competency of the community.
Professor Sun will also attend other Digital Weeks high-level events, including the High-Level Forum on AI, the High-Level Roundtable on Data for Growth, the High-level Dialogue: Leveraging Digital and AI Technologies to Empower the APEC Community, and the Workshop on New Concepts and Approaches of AI Literacy Enhancement Actions for the Public. He will deliver speeches and participate in discussions at these events.
During his visit, Professor Sun will also meet and exchange views with senior officials responsible for information technology from other APEC member economies and local government officials, as well as visit a local university, a digital economy service platform and I&T enterprises.
Professor Sun will return to Hong Kong in the afternoon of July 26. During his absence, the Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Lillian Cheong, will be the Acting Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry. Issued at HKT 9:30
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Labour Department (LD) is holding an online exhibition from 9am today (July 22) to 6pm on July 24 on the LD’s website, disseminating information about the Employment Ordinance and the Minimum Wage Ordinance to enhance the public’s understanding of employment rights and benefits.
Consolidating the content of physical exhibitions held by the LD, the online exhibition features the main provisions of the Employment Ordinance and the Minimum Wage Ordinance, employment rights and benefits for foreign domestic helpers, as well as good human resource management measures. The relevant hyperlink is www.labour.gov.hk/common/Online_exhibition_EO_MWO/index_en.html.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, arrived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, yesterday (July 21) to continue his visit. He met with the Deputy Minister of Finance of Malaysia, the Deputy Governor of the Bank Negara Malaysia (Central Bank of Malaysia), as well as representatives from the Malaysian finance, banking and gold industries, and family offices to promote the advantages of Hong Kong’s financial and gold market sectors and relevant new initiatives.
Upon his arrival in Kuala Lumpur yesterday afternoon, Mr Hui met with the Deputy Minister of Finance of Malaysia, Mr Liew Chin Tong. They exchanged views on room for further financial co-operation on various fronts ranging from capital formation, Islamic finance to Renminbi (RMB) business and the gold market. Mr Hui highlighted in particular the new measures Hong Kong recently launched to boost the offshore RMB business, such as further enhancing and expanding the Southbound Bond Connect, increasing the size of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s RMB Business Facility and promoting the development of a bilateral currency transaction framework between the Indonesian Rupiah and offshore RMB. Also attending were representatives of the Securities Commission Malaysia and Bursa Malaysia Berhad.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Results of 20-year HKD HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds tender through re-opening A total of HK$1.0 billion 20-year Government Bonds were offered today. A total of HK$6.47995 billion tender applications were received. The bid-to-cover ratio, i.e. the ratio of bonds applied for to bonds issued, is 6.48. The average price accepted is 97.27, implying an annualised yield of 4.246 per cent. Tender results of 20-year HKD HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds:
* Calculated as the amount of bonds applied for over the amount of bonds issued.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Results of 7-year HKD HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds tender through re-opening * Calculated as the amount of bonds applied for over the amount of bonds issued.