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79th round of computer ballot registration for submitting applications for Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles to be open May 18 to 21 
　　Eligible applicants for the scheme can register for computer balloting through the designated website (www.hzmbqfs.gov.hkIssued at HKT 10:00

CHP’s measles vaccination booth at airport to remain open until end of May (with photo)      
     In mid-April, a cluster of measles infections      
     Over the past month, the CHP has been closely monitoring the measles cluster involving airport backend support staff, and has completed medical surveillance of relevant close contacts. No further transmission has been detected. The CHP believed that the above-mentioned measles cluster is under control and that the transmission chain has been interrupted. Based on the results of the risk assessment and in order to make optimal use of public resources, the CHP’s measles vaccination booth at the airport will remain open until the end of this month.
      
     The CHP urged eligible airport staff to take this opportunity to visit the vaccination booth and complete the two-dose measles vaccination process as soon as possible. Those who have received their first dose of vaccine at the booth but cannot complete the second dose by the end of this month will be notified individually by the CHP regarding the arrangements for their second dose.
      
     In addition, the CHP has recommended that the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) proactively enhances measles vaccination coverage among airport staff in the future to ensure immunity. Given the high proportion of non‑locally born staff, the onboarding of new recruits at the airport from time to time, and the possibility that these newly recruited non‑locally born staff may not have received measles vaccinations during childhood, the DH and AAHK will work with the airport community to step up measures and publicity to encourage airport staff to receive measles vaccinations, thereby reducing the risk of transmission.

     So far this year, seven measles cases have been recorded in Hong Kong, including four imported cases and three local cases (two of which were epidemiologically linked to an imported case and all of which belonged to the abovementioned airport backend support staff cluster). In the past two years (2024 and 2025), 10 cases were recorded each year.
      
     Measles outbreaks are currently occurring in many regions around the world. In recent years, North America (including the United States, Canada and Mexico) and Southeast Asia (including Indonesia, Cambodia and the Philippines) have seen persistent measles outbreaks due to low vaccination coverage. About 1 800 cases have been recorded in the United States so far this year, a figure significantly higher than the same period last year. In Europe, the number of measles cases in the United Kingdom and Spain has increased this year, with 542 and 110 cases recorded respectively since January. In Asia, measles remains prevalent in the Philippines, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Cambodia. Japan has also seen a substantial rise in cases this year, with 462 cases recorded as of May 8, surpassing last year’s total of 265 cases and marking the highest record since 2019. Singapore and Australia have reported 33 and 102 measles cases respectively this year, which is also higher than the same period last year. Most of the overseas cases involved individuals who were not vaccinated against measles or had an unknown vaccination status, highlighting the importance of maintaining a high vaccination rate and herd immunity within the community.
      
     As a city with a high volume of international travel, Hong Kong faces the potential risk of importation of the measles virus and its spread in the local community. The CHP’s territory-wide immunisation surveys showed that under the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme, the two-dose measles vaccination coverage has consistently stayed above 95 per cent. The local seroprevalence rates of measles virus antibodies reflect that most people in Hong Kong are immune to measles. However, measles is highly contagious. A small number of people who have not completed measles vaccinations (such as non-locally born people including new immigrants, foreign domestic helpers, overseas employees and people coming to Hong Kong for further studies) are still at risk of being infected and spreading measles to others without immunity against measles, such as children under one year old who have not yet received the first dose of the measles vaccine. Those who have unknown immunities against measles or need to receive measles vaccinations are urged to consult their doctor.
      
     The Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme introduced a measles vaccine for the first time in 1967. Since then, the incidence of measles has gradually decreased. People born and raised in Hong Kong before 1967 can be considered to have acquired immunity to measles through natural infection, as measles was endemic in Hong Kong at that time. People born in Hong Kong in or after 1967 who have not yet completed the two doses of measles vaccination, or whose measles vaccination history is unknown, should consult their family doctors as soon as possible to complete the vaccination and ensure adequate protection against measles.
      
     The incubation period of measles (i.e. the time from infection to onset of illness) is seven to 21 days. Symptoms include fever, skin rash, cough, runny nose and red eyes. If travellers returning from places with a high incidence or an outbreak of measles develop symptoms of measles (e.g. fever and rash), they should seek medical advice immediately and avoid contact with non-immune individuals, especially pregnant women and infants under 1 year old. They should also report their symptoms and prior travel history to healthcare workers so that appropriate infection control measures can be implemented at the healthcare facilities to prevent any potential spread.      For more information on measles, the public may visit the CHP’s measles thematic pageIssued at HKT 18:24

Home and Youth Affairs Bureau holds Hong Kong’s five-year plan Thematic Consultation Session – District Governance       
     The fourth session of the 14th National People’s Congress approved the “Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of the People’s Republic of China” (the 15th Five-Year Plan) in March 2026. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) is proactively aligning with the 15th Five-Year Plan and is drawing up its first Hong Kong five-year plan, which should take a macro view and be strategic and forward looking.
      
     Speaking at the thematic consultation session, the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, highlighted that the 15th Five-Year Plan sets out important strategies for the country in various areas, including improvement of the social governance system. She stressed that the HKSAR Government will closely align with these strategies, strengthen institutional advantages, and improve the efficacy of district governance, thereby strengthening the public’s sense of fulfilment, happiness and security. The HYAB hoped to gather the insights and expectations of stakeholders with rich district experience through the thematic consultation session to assist the HKSAR Government in preparing the first Hong Kong’s five-year plan.
      
     The HYAB will continue to collect views from various sectors of society on its policy areas through different channels and formats, with the aim of ensuring that the Hong Kong’s five-year plan better meets Hong Kong’s practical needs and provides clear directions for future development.
Issued at HKT 18:05

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International Hydrogen Development Symposium 2026 opens       
     The opening ceremony was officiated by the Acting Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong; the Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services, Mr Poon Kwok-ying; the Chief Engineer of the National Energy Administration, Mr Liu Deshun; the Deputy Director-General of the International Cooperation Department (Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs Office) of the State Administration for Market Regulation, Mr Zhu Zhongliang; the Deputy Director-General of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Ye Shuiqiu; the Second-level Inspector of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Guangdong Province, Mr Xia Fangming; and the Secretary-General of the China Hydrogen Alliance, Mr Liu Wei.
      
     Delivering a welcoming speech at the symposium, Miss Wong stated that under the country’s “dual carbon” goals, Hong Kong is striving to halve its carbon emissions from the 2005 level by 2035 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Hydrogen development helps drive the clean energy transition and plays a key role in achieving carbon neutrality, bringing with it opportunities. Hong Kong will continue to serve as a demonstration base for hydrogen technologies, and provide green financing and professional services to facilitate the export of innovations developed in the country and scale up relevant hydrogen initiatives globally.
      
     In his speech, Mr Poon said that Hong Kong enjoys unique advantages of connecting with the Mainland and the world. It will play a role in regulatory alignment by establishing standards and certification systems to connect domestic and international markets. At the same time, as an international financial centre, Hong Kong can establish smooth financing channels for green capital and the hydrogen industry, and help build a global hub for hydrogen exchanges and co-operation. He thanked over 120 speakers from 16 countries for their contributions, and encouraged participants to learn about the latest hydrogen developments through the industry exhibition.
      
     During the symposium, the EMSD signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of the Republic of Korea and the Korea Gas Safety Corporation. The MOUs aim to promote the development of hydrogen ecosystems and enhance technical co-operation in gas safety between the two places. In addition, 10 enterprises from the Mainland, Hong Kong and the Republic of Korea also signed an MOU to collaborate on hydrogen business development in Hong Kong, fostering regional integration of the hydrogen supply chain and demonstrating a commitment to decarbonisation.
      
     The three-day symposium, running from today until May 20 at the HKCEC, brings together representatives from government departments, the industry and academia from Hong Kong, the Mainland and overseas. It provides an exchange platform for the latest technological developments, engineering solutions and future trends. The symposium aims to promote global co-operation and innovation in the hydrogen industry. An exhibition area of nearly 4 000 square metres is also set up to enable participating enterprises to showcase their hydrogen products and market solutions.
      
     For public education, various science education activities and competitions will be held during Hydrogen Week to deepen students’ understanding of carbon neutrality and hydrogen technology in an entertaining yet educational way. Key events include the “HydroRace Challenge 2026”, in which students can incorporate AI and coding elements into assemblies and racing, learning the principles of hydrogen applications through hands-on experience. Students from the Mainland are also invited to Hong Kong to compete alongside local youths, promoting interactions and inspiration on green technologies between the two places. Moreover the “H2Future for Good Challenge” encourages secondary school students to propose innovative solutions on topics related to hydrogen and low-carbon living, using STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) knowledge. The Net Zero Youth Forum will connect young engineering talents from Hong Kong and around the globe to explore practical pathways for Hong Kong to serve as a regional energy transition hub and further deepen cross-regional exchanges.

     Following the symposium, the EMSD will lead technical visits to the Yangtze River Delta region from May 21 to 23, including visits to national testing bases, key laboratories and major hydrogen enterprises, to develop on-the-ground understandings of hydrogen application outcomes in various scenarios.
      
     For more details on Hydrogen Week and the symposium, please visit the event website at h2symposium.comIssued at HKT 17:10

LegCo to consider Stamp Duty (Amendment) Bill 2026 
     On Members’ motions, Professor Michael Ngai will move a motion on “Strengthening Hong Kong’s function as an offshore Renminbi business hub to contribute to the Renminbi internationalization process”. The motion is set out in Appendix 1. Mr Chan Chun-ying will move an amendment to Professor Ngai’s motion.
 
     Mr Yiu Ming will move a motion on “Increasing the average living space per person in the Northern Metropolis to build a ‘Blissful Northern Metropolis’ ideal for living”. The motion is set out in Appendix 2. Ms Michelle Tang, Mr Leung Man-kwong, Mr Augustine Wong and Mr Dennis Leung will move separate amendments to Mr Yiu’s motion.
 
     Members will also ask the Government 22 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies.
 
     The agenda of the above meeting is available on the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hkIssued at HKT 15:54

Tenders invited for licence of advertising areas at Tsim Sha Tsui Interchange Subways and Middle Road Subway 
     The licence should be used for the installation, operation, management, maintenance and control of the advertising display systems (as defined in the respective Form of Licence Agreement) for the display of advertisements at the abovementioned adverting areas only.
 
     The tender notice was uploaded today (May 18) to the GPA Property PortalIssued at HKT 12:04

Practice Note on use of integrated Court Case Management System for case commencement in High Court      
     The Judiciary issued a Practice Note today (May 18) setting out a new requirement on use of the integrated Court Case Management System (iCMS) for case commencement in the High Court for all legal representatives, in preparation for the mandatory use of iCMS in the last quarter of 2026.

     To encourage the migration towards using iCMS as the primary litigation platform, the Judiciary has continually been taking various promotion and facilitation measures. They include maintaining a dedicated information webpage (www.judiciary.hk/en/e_courts/index.htmlIssued at HKT 11:30

Bun Scrambling Final to be held on Cheung Chau this Sunday 
     Trophies will be awarded to the champion, first runner-up and second runner-up in the men’s division and the champion in the women’s division who get the highest scores. The Full Pockets of Lucky Buns award will continue to be presented to the participant who gathers the most buns.
 
     An opening ceremony for the Bun Scrambling Final will be held at 11.30pm on Sunday. By tradition, the final competition will start at midnight. An invitation relay will be held immediately after the individual competition. In anticipation of a high volume of spectators, the organisers, together with the Islands District Office, the Police, the Transport Department (TD) and government departments concerned, will implement the following measures.
 
     Four spectator zones will be set up on the competition night at the soccer pitch of Pak Tai Temple Playground, which can accommodate about 1 650 people. Distribution of free admission tickets will start at 10pm. Members of the public can line up at Pak She First Lane, next to the Cheung Chau Fire Station, and along Ping Chong Road for the tickets. Each person will be given one ticket on a first-come, first-served basis while tickets last. Spectators with tickets should follow the instructions of the Police and the organisers for entry into Zone 1 to Zone 4 starting from 10.30pm.
 
     Public notices will be put up at Central Pier No. 5 on the arrangements of the event. Similar notices and enquiry counters will also be set up at Cheung Chau Ferry Pier and the entrance of Pak Tai Temple Playground, where relevant staff will address public enquiries.
 
     The organisers will pay close attention to the weather conditions that evening. For public safety, the Bun Scrambling Final may be cancelled under inclement weather (e.g. thunderstorms). As stipulated in the prospectus, the awards would then be determined based on the selection contest results. Since the Bun Scrambling Final is traditionally held in a specified period during the Cheung Chau Jiao Festival, the competition would not be rescheduled.
 
     The Police will conduct crowd-control measures. Members of the public should follow the instructions of the Police and the organisers, and be patient in crowded places.
 
     The TD will closely monitor passenger demand for public transport services, and will closely liaise with ferry and bus companies in making appropriate arrangements.
 
     To facilitate members of the public to leave Cheung Chau after the event, the ferry company will operate a special service from Cheung Chau to Central at 1.15am on May 25.
 
     The bus companies will operate special bus route No. 104R from Central Pier No. 5 to Mong Kok from about 1.10am to 2.30am on May 25.
 
     In addition, overnight bus routes including Citybus route Nos. N8X (to Siu Sai Wan) and N90 (to South Horizons), Cross-Harbour Tunnel route Nos. N182 (to Kwong Yuen), N619 (to Shun Lee), and Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB) route Nos. N373 (to Fanling), and N368 (to Yuen Long West) will be diverted via Central Pier No. 5 from their first departures on May 25. The diversion arrangements will last on that day until about 2am (for route No. N8X), about 2.15am (for route No. N90) and about 2.50am (for the remaining routes aforementioned).
 
     Citybus overnight bus route Nos. N930 (departure at 1.35am to Tsuen Wan Discovery Park), N952 (departure at 1.25am to Tuen Mun Chi Lok Fa Yuen), N962 (departures at 1.15am and 1.45am to Tuen Mun Lung Mun Oasis) and KMB overnight bus route No. N960 (departure at 1.25am to Tuen Mun Kin Sang Estate) will also be diverted via Central Pier No. 5.
 
     A temporary bus stop of the routes concerned will be designated outside Central Pier No. 5 for passengers’ convenience.
 
     For emergency rescues, St John Hospital will arrange manpower to respond to possible needs. The Government Flying Service will send its search and rescue team to provide assistance if necessary.
Issued at HKT 11:00

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