Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
CEDD commended by Ombudsman on slope safety work
On preparedness, applying a risk-based approach under the LPMitP, the CEDD systematically selects government man-made slopes for upgrading works and natural hillside catchments for mitigation measures annually. Starting from 2025, the CEDD has been progressively increasing the annual targets under the LPMitP and optimising the slope selection mechanism to strengthen resilience of slopes to heavy rain. The CEDD will review the LPMitP’s targets and effectiveness in response to environmental changes, ensuring the LPMitP’s continued efficacy.
The CEDD plans to fully roll out the Smart Slope Catalogue this year, integrating records of mitigation works, maintenance, rainfall endured, and landslides to expand comprehensive monitoring and data management related to slopes. By applying artificial intelligence for big data analysis, the catalogue will improve the functionality and efficiency of slope safety management, thereby better preparing for extreme weather.
On early warning, the CEDD will fully commission the AI Landslip Warning System in the wet season of this year. The system integrates Hong Kong’s rainfall data and information in the Smart Slope Catalogue, and applies machine learning and big data analytics, to boost the accuracy of the predicted number of landslides during heavy rain, thereby enhancing the capability for landslide risk assessment and improving the reliability of the issuance of Landslip Warning.
On emergency response and recovery, the CEDD will stay abreast of the technological advancements in slope safety, and developing and introducing innovative technologies. This includes piloting applications of a smart unmanned drone management system on slope monitoring and emergency management to expand data collection and analytics capabilities. The CEDD will also continue to strengthen collaboration with relevant departments, such as sharing on common maintenance issues and assessment of the impact of heavy rain on slopes, with a view to enhancing slope safety and reducing landslide risk.
The Office noted that the landslide incident rate for government slopes is relatively higher and that there are cases of repeated occurrences. In fact, this is mainly related to the categorisation of slopes and their potential impact, reflecting the government’s risk-based approach to slope management. The man-made slopes maintained by the government are distributed over an extensive area, possess diversified nature, and have different levels of risks. These include slopes with relatively high, medium, and relatively low potential impacts, categorised mainly by the risk of loss of life in the event of a landslide. To ensure public safety, the government will prioritise landslide prevention works on slopes that pose a higher potential impact. Some of the government slopes that fall into medium or relatively low potential impact categories may not be accorded priority because of their relatively remote locations or a lower risk of loss of life. As such, those government slopes with medium and relatively low potential impacts may also experience landslides under a risk-controlled condition. On the contrary, private man-made slopes are more similar in nature. Most of them are close to private residences and would pose greater impact on the residents in the event of a landslide. They are generally categorised as having relatively high potential impact and receive a higher level of attention. This explains why the overall landslide incident rate for government slopes appears higher, and why landslides may occur repeatedly on some individual slopes with medium or relatively low potential impacts.
In fact, between 2020 and 2024, the annual landslide incident rates for both government and private man-made slopes remained below one per cent (ranging from 0.1 per cent to 0.6 per cent for government slopes and 0.03 per cent to 0.3 per cent for private slopes), which is a very low level. Overall, an average of about 214 incidents were recorded annually over the past decade (2015 to 2024), representing a decrease of nearly one-third compared to the average of about 300 incidents between 1989 and 2014. This reflects the notable results achieved through the ongoing prevention and mitigation efforts.
In response to the landslide incidents triggered by the extreme rainstorm in September 2023, the CEDD has completed a systematic review and study, putting forward a number of recommendations to optimise the LPMitP. New measures include expediting the progress of LPMitP and prioritising, under a risk-based approach, the risk management of man-made slopes located along sole vehicular accesses and those with a greater potential impact on the public’s daily lives. The CEDD thanks the Ombudsman for recognising in its report the department’s timely review and adjustment of the direction of the LPMitP, acknowledging that such an approach is proactive and effective in adapting to changing circumstances.
The CEDD will continue to closely monitor slope safety in Hong Kong and remains committed to enhancing slope safety management through collaboration, driving Hong Kong’s development as a resilient and livable world-class city.
Issued at HKT 23:22
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DH urges public to stay vigilant as summer influenza season concludes while winter influenza season approaches
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (January 8) announced that the summer influenza season has concluded. Seasonal influenza activity has continued to decline in the past few weeks and dropped below the baseline levels during the most recent week. However, influenza activity may rise again as the weather gradually turns colder. With the winter influenza season approaching, the CHP strongly urged those who have not yet received the 2025/26 seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV), particularly high-risk groups such as pregnant women, the elderly, children and those with chronic illnesses. These groups should receive their SIV promptly to reduce the risk of severe illness and death from infection.
Summer influenza season concludes and winter influenza season approaches
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“Hong Kong entered the summer influenza season in early September last year. Seasonal influenza activity peaked in mid-to-late October last year and has since been gradually declining. The latest surveillance data shows that the percentage of respiratory specimens tested positive for seasonal influenza viruses during the most recent week (December 28, 2025, to January 3, 2026) was 4.08 per cent, while the influenza admission rate in public hospitals was 0.23 cases per 10 000 population. As both indicators have dropped below the baseline levels (i.e. 4.94 per cent and 0.27 cases per 10 000 population respectively), the CHP confirmed that the summer influenza season has ended. Hong Kong entered the summer influenza season in September last year and it has lasted about four months. The summer influenza season started later than usual,” the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui, said.
“This summer influenza season has ended, meaning there was no overlap between the summer and winter influenza seasons. However, influenza activity may rise again as the weather gradually turns colder in the first quarter of this year and it cannot be ruled out that the circulating virus strains may change as the winter influenza season approaches. Therefore, I once again urge all individuals aged 6 months or older, except those with known contraindications, to act promptly if they have not yet received an SIV. This includes those who contracted influenza during the summer influenza season in order to guard against other circulating virus strains that may emerge during the upcoming winter influenza season. Furthermore, although there are some antigenic differences between the currently circulating influenza A (H3) virus strain and the virus strain contained in the vaccine, an SIV can still offer protection against the variant strain of subclade K, as well as the influenza A (H1) and influenza B strains included in the vaccine,” Dr Tsui said.
2025/26 SIV Programmes
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“Although the influenza activity has declined to below the baseline level at the moment, sporadic outbreaks caused by influenza viruses are still possible in schools and residential care homes. For children who did not join the SIV School Outreach Programme, parents should promptly bring their children to private doctors
Members of the public may refer to the CHP’s COVID-19 & Flu Express
New requirements for mandatory fitting and wearing of seat belts and placing of mobile telecommunications devices while driving to be implemented from January 25 (with photos/videos)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Government today (January 8) reminded members of the public that, starting from January 25, all public transport and commercial vehicles’ seated passengers must wear seat belts, and all drivers must not place more than two mobile telecommunications devices (MTDs) in front of them during driving, further enhancing road, passenger and driving safety.
All passenger’s seats in public and private buses, rear passenger’s seats in private light buses and goods vehicles (GVs), and driver’s seats and all passenger’s seats of special purpose vehicles (SPVs) must be equipped with seat belts in these vehicles first registered on or after January 25. Drivers and passengers occupying the seats of these vehicles (whether newly registered or not), where seat belts are fitted, are required to wear them. Studies show that wearing seat belts will reduce the risk of death and serious injury of drivers and passengers in head-on collisions by about 40 per cent and 70 per cent respectively.
Offending vehicle owners, drivers or passengers will be liable to a maximum fine of $5,000 and imprisonment for up to three months. All passengers occupying seats shall be responsible for wearing seat belts. Among them, any driver who still drives with a passenger aged under 15 seated in the rear seat of a GV or the passenger’s seat of an SPV without wearing a seat belt will be subject to a maximum fine of $2,000.
The Government noted that the transport trades are ready for the new requirements. In franchised buses, all seats in newly procured buses have been equipped with seat belts. Together with existing double-deck buses retrofitted with seat belts on the upper-deck seats by operators under government subsidy, to date, around 3 500 buses are now equipped with seat belts, representing about 60 per cent of the entire fleet in Hong Kong.
In addition, from the same day onwards, any driver must not place more than two MTDs (i.e. mobile phones, tablet computers or laptop computers) in front of them during driving. The diagonal length of each screen must not exceed 19 centimetres. The MTDs must not obstruct the driver’s view of the road and traffic, as well as any mirror, device or camera-monitor fitted for viewing the roads. Offenders will be liable to a maximum fine of $2,000.
The Government has stepped up publicity and public education since November 2025. The Transport Department (TD) has strengthened collaboration with the Police, the Education Bureau, the Information Services Department, the Road Safety Council and the transport trades including public transport operators to introduce the legal requirements through websites, videos, media, social media, the “e-Bulletin for Parents” and publicity posters on traffic signal controllers across various districts. Franchised bus operators have also strengthened publicity and broadcast inside compartments and at bus stops to alert passengers to the new requirement of wearing seat belts.
Members of the public may refer to the TD’s webpage on the new requirements on seat belts (www.td.gov.hk/en/road_safety/sb) and placing MTDs during driving (www.td.gov.hk/en/road_safety/mtd) or the Agent T Facebook page (www.facebook.com/AgentT.hk), or call the hotline 2804 2600 for details.
CHP investigates two suspected food poisoning clusters with epidemiological linkage
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
CHP investigates two suspected food poisoning clusters with epidemiological linkage
The first cluster involves 12 boys and 16 girls aged between 6 and 11. They attend a primary school in Sham Shui Po. The investigation revealed that the affected students developed abdominal pain and diarrhoea approximately three to 31 hours after eating school lunch containing fish, chicken cutlets, sauce, garnish and rice, which was provided by the abovementioned school lunch supplier on January 6.
While investigating the first cluster, the CHP of the DH traced the supply chain of the school lunch supplier and identified another cluster, involving eight boys and three girls, aged between 10 and 12, who attend a primary school in Diamond Hill. The investigation revealed that the affected students developed abdominal pain and diarrhoea approximately five to 15 hours after eating lunch containing chicken, cervelat sausage, sauce and fusilli at school yesterday (January 8). The food concerned was also provided by the same school lunch supplier.
None of the affected students required hospitalisation and they are all currently in stable condition.
Officers of the CHP and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, including personnel of the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) and the Environmental Hygiene Branch, have inspected the food factory of the school lunch supplier concerned and the kitchen of the first school. They inspected the food storage, the food preparation process and environmental hygiene. Investigation revealed that some food items, such as meat and sauce, were prepared at the food factory, while the other food items, such as rice and garnish, were prepared at the school kitchen. It is suspected that some food items were prepared too early in advance. The CFS immediately instructed the premises concerned to suspend operations for thorough cleaning and disinfection, improve food preparation process and hygiene standards. The CFS has provided food safety and environmental hygiene education to the staff. Food and environmental samples were collected for testing.
The investigation of the CHP and CFS is ongoing. Issued at HKT 22:47
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Public Healthcare Fees and Charges Reform Strengthens Protection for Poor, Acute, Serious and Critical Patients Number of Waiver Recipients is 3.5 times Annual Total of Previous Year
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hospital Authority (HA) spokesperson announced today (January 9) that in addition to the 600 000 people who have been benefiting from medical fee waivers both before and after the reform (including Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients, Old Age Living Allowance recipients aged 75 or above, and holders of Residential Care Service Voucher Scheme Level 0 vouchers), as of January 7, the HA has approved 49 310 medical fee waiver applications. This figure is 3.5 times of approximately 14 000 patients who received medical fee waivers in previous year, demonstrating that the enhanced medical fee reduction mechanism has significantly strengthened support for low-income families and underprivileged groups. Over the past week, many patients have benefited from the enhanced medical fee waivers mechanism, receiving immediate fee reduction when using Accident and Emergency Departments (A&E), outpatient and inpatient services.
Medical fee waivers take effect covering more than 10 000 poor patients
As an essential component of the public healthcare fees and charges reform, the HA expanded its medical fee waivers mechanism at the same time, which significantly increased the number of eligible individuals from approximately 300 000 to about 1.4 million – around 4.6 times the previous number of beneficiaries. This ensures that limited medical resources can be more precisely directed to help those most in need: the poor, acute, serious, and critical patients. As of January 7, among the 49 310 medical fee waiver applications approved by the HA, 32 249 cases have completed assessment and received formal waiver certificates valid for up to 18 months but claimed . For patients who claim to meet the medical fee waivers eligibility criteria but are unable to submit supporting documents for financial assessment, the HA has exercised flexible arrangements to approve 17 061 “conditional waivers”, allowing patients to obtain immediate medical fee reductions when using public healthcare services. These patients must submit relevant documentation within three months.
After the fees and charges reform, many patients are benefited for the first time from the expanded medical fee waivers mechanism, changing from paying full fees to receiving free services. From January 1 to 7, excluding the number of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients, Old Age Living Allowance recipients aged 75 or above, and holders of Residential Care Service Voucher Scheme Level 0 vouchers who can continue to use their medical fee waivers, there are over 11 200 patients benefitted from the enhanced medical fee waivers mechanism, including:
- About 500 poor patients at A&Es, who were triaged as urgent, semi-urgent and non-urgent, received medical fee waivers, triple of last year’s figure;
- About 2 100 poor patients received medical fee waivers for inpatient services, 3.5 times of last year’s figure; and
- About 8 600 poor patients received medical fee waivers for specialist outpatient services, six times of last year’s figure.
The HA spokesperson stated, “The data concerned shows obviously that the enhanced medical fee waivers mechanism, which is newly introduced in line with the public healthcare fees and charges reform, can allocate resources more precisely to strengthen protection for poor, acute, serious and critical patients, ensuring that no patient is denied from medical care due to lack of means.”
The current situation regarding patients’ applications and usage of medical fee waivers aligns with the HA’s projection. The HA will continue to strengthen its manpower to provide assistance to patients in need. To ensure the integrity of the medical fee assistance system and prevent abuse, the HA will conduct regular reviews of approved cases.
Number of non-urgent A&E patients reduced significantly while treatment efficiency for emergency patients improved
Regarding A&E services, from January 1 to 7, 32 147 patients attended the 18 A&Es under the HA, significantly decreased by about 11.9 per cent of the same period last year. Among the cases, 1 807 patients were classified as critical and emergency cases, and 14 077 patients were classified as urgent cases, showing a slight increase compared to the same period last year. The remaining 16 263 patients were classified as semi-urgent and non-urgent cases, showing a significant decrease of 17.8 per cent compared to the same period last year. Since the implementation of the public healthcare fees and charges reform, the operations of public hospital A&E services has initially met expected results, including:
- Significant decrease in average daily A&E attendances by about 11.9 per cent;
- In the past seven days, about 1 800 critical and emergency patients exempted from A&E fees under the new fees and charges reform. These patients were required to pay the fees before the reform;
- For patients classified as urgent cases, the percentage of those being treated within 30 minutes – meeting the service pledge target – increased from 82.7 per cent last year to 88.8 per cent, with average waiting time reduced from 22 to 19 minutes; and
- Among the five triage categories, semi-urgent and non-urgent patients decreased from 54.2 per cent in the same period last year to 50.6 per cent.
The HA spokesperson said, “The service data of the past week shows that the fees and charges reform allowed A&Es to perform their emergency care function more effectively. A&Es can better concentrate resources, treat patients with urgent medical needs more effectively, and improve treatment efficiency for urgent cases.”
The HA will continue to closely monitor the fees and charges reform as well as the overall operations of services of public hospitals, in order to ensure achieving the aim of protecting poor, acute, serious or critical patients.
FSD introduces new measures to enhance fire service installations management and information transparency
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
FSD introduces new measures to enhance fire service installations management and information transparency
FSD Circular Letter No. 1/2026 stipulates that when there is any defect in FSIs such as hose reels and manual call points, RFSICs must affix a Damage Notice complying with standard requirements in a prominent position on the FSI to facilitate easy identification. Members of the public can therefore avoid using non-operable FSIs during emergencies. In addition, RFSICs are required to apply seals on the main power switches of FSI systems to prevent power from being turned off by mistake, and facilitate inspections by property management staff to identify the status of power supply and take necessary follow-up actions in a timely manner.
FSD Circular Letter No. 2/2026 reminds RFSICs that before turning off any FSIs for works, pre-assessment should be conducted on whether functions of other FSIs will be affected. All areas being affected should be reported concurrently to the FSD. RFSICs must put up large-sized notices at prominent locations such as main building entrances and lift lobbies, clearly outlining information including dates of FSI operation suspension and areas being affected, to keep occupants, property management staff, and other relevant parties informed. Occupants will therefore be reminded to raise awareness of fire safety when the FSIs are not in working order or being shut down.
The FSD emphasises that RFSICs must strictly adhere to the new requirements. Any misconduct or negligence may result in disciplinary actions by the FSD, including being removed from the register of RFSICs.
The FSD has been committed to enhancing building fire safety through regulation, inspection, and public education. It will continue to review and enhance various fire safety measures.
Details of the two circular letters are available on the FSD’s website:
Issued at HKT 18:15
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Government to sell site in Shau Kei Wan by public tender
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Government to sell site in Shau Kei Wan by public tender
Shau Kei Wan Inland Lot No. 860 has a site area of about 1 349.2 square metres and is designated for non-industrial (excluding godown, hotel and petrol filling station) purposes. The minimum gross floor area for private residential purpose is 7 286 sq m and the maximum gross floor area for private residential purpose that may be attained is 12 142 sq m. The maximum gross floor area for non-industrial (excluding private residential, godown, hotel and petrol filling station) purposes is computed according to the relevant special condition in the Conditions of Sale. Both the total gross floor area and that for non-industrial (excluding private residential, godown, hotel and petrol filling station) purposes shall exclude the gross floor area of Government Accommodation, being a sub-base of district elderly community centre, to be constructed by the purchaser under the Conditions of Sale.
Land sale documents including the Form of Tender, the Tender Notice, the Conditions of Sale and the sale plan of the lot will be available for downloading from the LandsD website (www.landsd.gov.hkIssued at HKT 17:35
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Tender for re-opening of 3-year RMB HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds to be held on January 15
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Tender for re-opening of 3-year RMB HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds to be held on January 15
An additional amount of RMB1.25 billion of the outstanding 3-year Bonds (issue no. 03GB2807001) will be on offer. The Bonds will mature on July 28, 2028 and will carry interest at the rate of 1.59 per cent per annum payable semi-annually in arrear. The Indicative Pricings of the Bonds on January 9, 2026 are 99.47 with a semi-annualised yield of 1.805 per cent.
Tender is open only to Primary Dealers appointed under the Infrastructure Bond Programme. Anyone wishing to apply for the Bonds on offer can do so through any of the Primary Dealers on the latest published list, which can be obtained from the Hong Kong Government Bonds website at www.hkgb.gov.hk
Tender results will be published on the HKMA’s website, the Hong Kong Government Bonds website, Bloomberg (GBHK
| Issue Number9.30am to 10.30amthe Stock Exchange of Hong Kong LimitedIssued at HKT 16:30 NNNN New measures boost fire safetySource: Hong Kong Information Services The Fire Services Department yesterday introduced new measures, with immediate effect, to enhance the management of fire service installations and the transparency of relevant information. The department issued two circular letters to regulate registered fire service installation contractors (RFSICs). The letters direct RFSICs to enhance the management of fire service installations and equipment (FSI) and to increase the transparency of information relating to the operational status of FSIs. When there is any defect in FSIs such as hose reels and manual call points, RFSICs must affix a Damage Notice complying with standard requirements in a prominent position on the FSI to facilitate easy identification. This is to guide the public to avoid using non-operable FSIs during emergencies. In addition, RFSICs are required to apply seals to the main power switches of FSI systems to prevent power from being turned off by mistake. They must also facilitate inspections by property management staff to assess power supply status and ensure timely follow-up actions. The department also reminds RFSICs that before turning off FSIs for works, pre-assessment should be conducted on whether functions of other FSIs will be affected, and all areas being affected should be reported concurrently to the FSD. RFSICs must put up large-sized notices at prominent locations such as main building entrances and lift lobbies, clearly outlining information including dates of any FSI operation suspension and areas that will be affected, to keep occupants, property management staff, and other relevant parties informed. This is to raise occupants’ awareness of fire safety when FSIs are not in working order or being shut down. The department emphasises that RFSICs must strictly adhere to the new requirements. Any misconduct or negligence may result in disciplinary actions by the department, including being removed from the register of RFSICs. MOFA response to China listing Taiwan officials as “diehard Taiwan independence advocates”Source: Republic of China Taiwan MOFA response to China listing Taiwan officials as “diehard Taiwan independence advocates” January 7, 2026 On January 7, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office listed Taiwan Minister of the Interior Liu Shyh-fang and Minister of Education Cheng Ying-yao as “diehard Taiwan independence advocates” and Prosecutor Chen Shu-yi from the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office as an “accomplice” in related activities. China’s government has repeatedly engaged in heavy-handed transnational repression and long-arm jurisdiction, targeting individuals from Taiwan and other countries through intimidation, harassment, and interference. These actions have infringed upon these individuals’ human rights, shown complete disregard for the rule of law and civilized norms, and gravely contravened the spirit of international law and international human rights standards. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) strongly condemns these actions and calls on the international community to jointly stop China’s malicious behavior and illegal transnational repression. MOFA solemnly reiterates that neither the Republic of China (Taiwan) nor the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is subordinate to the other and that China has no jurisdiction over Taiwan nationals. All Taiwan nationals targeted by transnational repression will be protected by the government. Furthermore, anyone in Taiwan cooperating with China’s transnational repression will be subject to legal sanctions. MOFA will continue to coordinate with other government agencies, strengthen cooperation with the international community, and bolster the emergency response and assistance mechanisms of overseas missions so as to safeguard Taiwan nationals’ safety. |