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Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Transport Department today announced traffic and transport arrangements ahead of the redeveloped Huanggang Port coming into operation to provide 24-hour services, to ensure smooth travel for the public and visitors.

The Huanggang Port will be served by seven franchised bus routes, six green minibus routes, and five short-haul cross-boundary coach routes operating round the clock, carrying passengers directly to various districts across the city.

Among them, the franchised bus routes will pass through nine MTR stations and four bus-bus interchanges, providing convenient interchanges with railways or buses to different districts.

The department urged cross-boundary travellers to pay attention to the daytime and overnight service hours of various routes, and choose suitable ones for travelling to and from the new port.

It has also arranged dedicated public transport lanes leading directly to San Sham Road from Fanling Highway and San Tin Highway for use by franchised buses, green minibuses and cross-boundary coaches to the new port, bypassing San Tin Interchange and thereby enhancing the efficiency of travelling to and from the port.

In addition, the department and the public transport operators will closely monitor passenger demand and step up or adjust services as necessary. 

As for taxis, drivers of vacant urban and New Territories taxis as well as pre-booked fleet taxis must first obtain a queue ticket at the public transport buffer area, and then proceed to their respective taxi stands or the designated taxi fleet pick-up area at the port’s public transport interchange to pick up passengers in order.

Passengers who have pre-booked a fleet taxi should first register at the service station by showing the vehicle registration mark to the fleet taxi ambassadors. The ambassadors will dynamically deploy taxis waiting at the public transport buffer area to the dedicated pick-up area to ensure passengers can board quickly and smoothly.

As traffic near the Huanggang Port may be relatively busy during its initial stage of commissioning, the department urged members of the public to use other land and rail boundary control points based on their needs for travelling between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, and not to rush to the new port.

Cross-boundary travellers who need to use the Huanggang Port should plan their journeys in advance and allow sufficient time to adapt to the new arrangements, the department added.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Communications Authority today announced the start of a two-month public consultation on the renewal of audio broadcasting licences.

The licences of Hong Kong Commercial Broadcasting Company Limited and Metro Broadcast Corporation Limited are due to expire on August 25, 2028 and the two organisations have submitted licence renewal applications to the authority.

In accordance with requirements under the Telecommunications Ordinance and established procedures, the authority will carry out an assessment of the licensees’ past performance and collect public views through various means. This includes launching a two-month public consultation, an opinion survey, an online public hearing and focus group discussions.

The authority said it will take into account the licensees’ past performance and renewal proposals, views in the sector and among public, and the latest industry developments, and will make recommendations on the renewal applications to the Chief Executive in Council by May next year.

Members of the public can submit their views by email, by fax to 2507 2219, or by mail to Office of the Communications Authority (Attn: Broadcasting Section 33), 20/F, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong.

They can also participate in an online public hearing due to be held on November 7.

The public consultation will end on December 6.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     In view of the National Day holidays, the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department conducted operations against suspected unlicensed hotels/guesthouses in Central and Western District, Wan Chai District, Eastern District and Yau Tsim Mong District from September 24 to 30 to ensure the safety of tourists as well as the general public.

     A spokesman for the OLA said, “During the operation, the OLA carried out surprise inspections on 71 premises based on intelligence received, of which five premises were suspected of operating unlicensed hotels/guesthouses. The OLA will initiate prosecution on cases with sufficient evidence after completion of the investigation.”

     In view of the recent emergence of new forms of short-term accommodation services in the community, the OLA has also stepped up its inspection efforts since March 2026. In particular, surprise inspections were carried out on 13 Internet computer services centres (commonly known as cyber cafes). Some of the cyber cafes were found to be suspected of providing overnight accommodation services. Evidence of suspected unlicensed guesthouse operations was collected, and the OLA will initiate prosecution against the relevant cases.

     The spokesman stressed, “Operating unlicensed hotels/guesthouses is a criminal offence, and such an offence leads to a criminal record upon conviction. According to the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance, an offender is liable to three years’ imprisonment and a maximum fine of $500,000. A fine of $20,000 for each day can also be imposed during which the offence continues. A six-month closure order may also be issued for a hotel/guesthouse involved in a repeated offence. Moreover, a licensed hotel/guesthouse which contravenes any licensing conditions (e.g. carrying out alteration and addition works without seeking prior approval) is liable to a maximum fine of $100,000 and two years’ imprisonment. A fine of $10,000 for each day can also be imposed during which the offence continues.”

     To enhance deterrence against unlicensed hotels and guesthouses, the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance was amended in 2020 to empower the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Authority to apply to the court, upon the second conviction within 16 months of operating an unlicensed hotel/guesthouse or the new strict liability offence in respect of the same premises, to issue a closure order to close the premises for six months. As at October 1, the OLA has applied for five closure orders under the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance from the court, of which three closure orders have been issued by the court.

     Apart from conducting special operations during festive seasons, the OLA also steps up efforts to combat unlicensed guesthouses via online platforms. The OLA has strengthened its intelligence collection by forming a dedicated team to browse webpages, mobile applications, social media, discussion forums, etc, to search for information and intelligence on suspected unlicensed guesthouses. The OLA’s law enforcement officers will initiate follow-up investigations when information on unlicensed guesthouses advertised via online platforms is found. The OLA also conducts publicity work on Internet search engines outside Hong Kong to enable tourists’ access to the information provided by the OLA in the course of planning their trips to Hong Kong.

     Tourists and members of the public can make use of the search functions on the OLA’s website (www.hadla.gov.hk) to check whether the hotel/guesthouse concerned is licensed or not. Any suspected unlicensed hotel/guesthouse should be reported to the OLA by the hotline (Tel: 2881 7498), by email (hadlaenq@had.gov.hk), by fax (2504 5805), or through the mobile application “Hong Kong Licensed Hotels and Guesthouses”.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

With regard to a media report concerning the quality of steel reinforcement in a house at One Stanley in Stanley, the Buildings Department (BD) is highly concerned about the incident and has been following it up seriously and conducting investigation upon receiving the report. If any building professionals and contractors are found to have violated the Buildings Ordinance (BO) after investigation, the BD will pursue the matter seriously, including instigating prosecutions and/or disciplinary actions.

The occupation permit of the house was issued in July 2023. The owner is carrying out decoration works after purchasing the house. The BD received a report in January this year from the owner’s representative regarding the structural safety of the floor slabs in the house. After making an appointment with the owner, staff of the BD was arranged to carry out an on-site inspection in March and considered that the overall structure of the house posed no obvious danger. The BD then launched an investigation into the case and also wrote to the registered structural engineer of the development, requesting a report and relevant information, including test reports and certificates for the materials concerned.

The BD deployed its staff to the house several times between June and September to carry out inspections, tests and examinations. These included rebound hammer test on concrete strength, cover-meter survey, surface penetrating radar survey for checking alignment of reinforcement, concrete core compressive strength test, as well as on-site open-up inspections. The BD is currently analysing the data obtained from these tests and examinations. It is found that the concrete cover of one of the beams at the ground floor is not installed with wire mesh as required by the approved plan, and the steel reinforcement of some slabs deviated from the approved plan. Although such situations will not pose obvious danger, the BD considers that the quality of works warrants concerns and follow-up actions. The BD will conduct further investigation and has written to the relevant parties, including the authorized person, the registered structural engineer, the registered contractor and the developer of the development, requesting interviews to assist in the investigation and to provide information.

The BD reminded the industry that under the BO, building professionals (including structural engineers) and contractors must supervise and carry out building works in accordance with the approved plans. Building professionals or contractors are subject to prosecutions and/or disciplinary actions if they are found to have failed to properly supervise or carry out building works during the BD’s audits and/or upon receiving complaints. The Development Bureau will submit a bill to the Legislative Council by the end of this year to amend the BO, which will also include increasing penalties of the relevant provisions.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore (Singapore ETO), with funding provided by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, supported the Hong Kong harmonica virtuoso and two-time solo harmonica world champion CY Leo (Ho Cheuk-yin) in presenting a series of music and cultural exchange activities in Singapore from October 2 to 4 as part of his Asia Tour 2026. 

The highlight of the Singapore programme was the “Two Worlds in One” concert at the Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay this evening (October 3), which drew an audience of over 200 and was warmly received. The Singapore ETO invited guests from across the Singapore community, including representatives of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Singapore, business associations, cultural organisations and the local Hong Kong community.

Led by Leo on harmonica, the performance featured Hong Kong guest singer Ashley Lin, Hong Kong musician Daniel Chu on piano and keyboards, Korean musicians Jongkuk Kim on drums and Jaeshin Park on electric bass. The programme featured a range of works including “Forgiveness”, “Bewildered Heart”, “A Mantra Samba”, “Two Worlds” and “New Beginnings”.

Upon completion of the performance, the Director of the Singapore ETO, Ms Elsa Hung, met Leo and the other performers to show her support and encouragement ahead of the concert. Ms Hung encouraged them to make full use of the opportunity to connect with local audiences and fellow musicians, and to showcase Hong Kong’s creativity and cultural vibrancy through their exchanges in Singapore.

The Singapore ETO’s support for the tour forms part of its ongoing efforts to bring Hong Kong’s arts and cultural talent to wider audiences in Southeast Asia, create opportunities for Hong Kong artists to connect with overseas audiences and industry counterparts, and foster closer cultural and people-to-people exchanges. These efforts also contribute to Hong Kong’s development as an East-meets-West centre for international arts and cultural exchanges.

The Singapore stop was organised in collaboration with Harmonica Aficionados Society (Singapore) (HAS), with side activities arranged to deepen exchanges with the local harmonica community. On October 2, Leo conducted a workshop entitled “The Bottleneck in the Study of Chromatic Harmonica” for around 40 local harmonica enthusiasts. On October 4, he will give a guest performance at the HAS’s “Qin Yuan 51: A Tapestry of Harmonics” at the Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay.

“Two Worlds in One” concert is a musical project initiated by Leo that explores the possibilities of the harmonica through jazz, pop and world music. The Asia tour includes stops in Taipei, Penang and Seoul. The Singapore concert also featured local harmonica groups and ensemble performances alongside Leo and his touring musicians, showcasing Hong Kong’s musical talent overseas while fostering exchanges and collaboration between musicians from Hong Kong and Singapore.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Correctional Services Department (CSD) today (October 3) held the Inauguration Ceremony for the Honorary Advisory Committee of the Correctional Services Pioneer Leaders (CSPL) and Trainees Promotion Ceremony to appoint new committee members and commend outstanding trainees.

The Commissioner of Correctional Services, Mr Wong Kwok-hing, officiated at the ceremony. Other guests included members of the CSPL Honorary Advisory Committee and representatives from schools participating in the school-based CSPL programme. More than 100 trainees and their family members attended.

To support the long-term development of the CSPL, the CSD appointed eight distinguished individuals from different sectors of society as new members of the CSPL Honorary Advisory Committee this year. They will inject new momentum into the youth uniformed group, driving the group toward continuous development.

Moreover, the CSD also hosted a promotion ceremony for CSPL trainees today. With their outstanding performances, 79 trainees were promoted this year following the completion of stringent assessments. Among them, three were promoted to Senior Leaders, 11 were promoted to Intermediate Leaders, and 65 were promoted to Advanced Leaders. Mr Wong extended his congratulations to the promoted trainees and encouraged them to pass on their knowledge and experiences to new trainees, guiding them in their collective development, fostering team spirit, and contributing to society.

In his speech, Mr Wong noted that since the launch of the Captain Gor Union in December 2024, with Captain Gor being the mascot of the CSPL, the Department has been recruiting primary and secondary school students as non-uniformed group members. The Captain Gor Union aims to nurture a new generation of young people with an affection for the country and Hong Kong and a positive mindset, in a systematic manner through a wide range of activities. It will also enable the CSD to recruit young people with potential to join the CSPL to inject new blood into the team. The new website of the Captain Gor Union was officially launched last month, providing a one-stop platform for youth and education-related organisations to access the latest information and enrol in various community education activities at any time.

At the ceremony, CSPL trainees shared their experiences from participating in the programme. They mentioned that the training broadened their horizons and helped them discover their potential. They aspired to actively give back to society, promote the values of inclusiveness and being law-abiding, and work together to build a better Hong Kong.

The CSD will continue to disseminate to young people the messages of safeguarding the country and home, leading a law-abiding and drug-free life as well as supporting offender rehabilitation through diverse activities.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) announced today (October 4) that the North East New Territories (NENT) Landfill Extension has commenced full operation today, taking over from the original NENT Landfill as one of the major terminal waste management facilities in the territory. The original landfill will cease operation later this year and undergo restoration.

     The NENT Landfill Extension is located to the southeast of the original landfill and has a design landfill capacity of about 19 million cubic metres. The essential works of the landfill extension, including site formation, installation of impermeable liners, construction of a surface water collection system, as well as provision of leachate treatment and landfill gas management systems, have been completed in the middle of this year. Trial operation involving limited waste reception has subsequently commenced, along with the phased transition of landfilling operation to the landfill extension.

     The EPD will remain committed to enhancing the operation and management standards of the landfill extension, as well as its environmental and safety performance. Meanwhile, the EPD will take forward the remaining restoration and greening works at the original landfill at full speed.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

In anticipation of the upcoming opening of the redeveloped Huanggang Port, the Security Bureau today (October 4) organised a community experience day, inviting members of the public from all districts to visit and tour the Huanggang Port Building Hong Kong Port Area. Participants used the public transport services connecting to the port and facilities inside the port building, and learned about the novel “collaborative inspection and joint clearance” mode as well as the building’s architectural design features.

Through the co-ordination of the Home Affairs Department with the District Offices across all 18 districts, more than 1 500 members of the public from various districts participated in the event. Participants travelled from designated pick-up points in their districts to the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area by franchised buses or cross-boundary coach services. They toured the port building in groups guided by officers from the Fire Services Department and the Correctional Services Department.

Participants first arrived at and visited the public transport interchange of the port building to learn about the public transport arrangements. They then toured the port building to learn about its interior design features and experience various passenger-friendly facilities, including the free Government Wi-Fi service. They subsequently took the escalators to the departure hall on the fifth floor, where officers of the Immigration Department introduced the operation of the “collaborative inspection” automated channels, giving participants a better understanding of the novel “collaborative inspection and joint clearance” mode. Officers of Hong Kong Customs then explained the passenger clearance and customs inspection procedures at the arrival hall on the fourth floor.

The Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, visited the venue and met with participants to learn about their views on the port and experiences of the visit today. He was pleased to note that many participants responded positively and were looking forward to the early opening of the redeveloped Huanggang Port, which would bring a more efficient and convenient clearance experience to the public. Mr Tang also distributed gift packs prepared by the Security Bureau and took photographs with participants.

The community experience day was conducted in a positive and enthusiastic atmosphere, with many participants expressing excitement about the event. The event effectively enhanced participants’ understanding of the public transport arrangements, immigration and customs clearance, and passenger-friendly facilities at the port building. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to work closely with the Shenzhen side to prepare comprehensively for the opening of the port.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, today (October 4) congratulated the Hong Kong, China delegation on their outstanding achievements at the 20th Asian Games, and commended Hong Kong, China athletes for demonstrating their perseverance and exceptional prowess in the competitions.

Mr Lee said, “The Hong Kong, China delegation consisted of some 580 athletes competing in 38 events at this Asian Games. All the participating athletes have given their utmost in every competition. They have won a total of 54 medals, comprising 11 gold medals, 19 silver medals and 24 bronze medals – surpassing previous record for the total number of medals while also securing the most gold medals ever, marking an encouraging achievement, demonstrating Hong Kong, China athletes’ perseverance and standards of excellence that have brought honour to both the country and Hong Kong.

“Hong Kong, China athletes won gold medals in wushu, swimming, rowing, squash, sailing, tennis, windsurfing, and rugby sevens. Among them, the squash team, the sailing team and the tennis team achieved historic results, writing a glorious chapter for Hong Kong sports. The courage, relentless spirit, perseverance and unyielding determination shown by Hong Kong, China athletes on the field of play are the finest embodiment of the Hong Kong spirit. I believe all Hong Kong people share my excitement and immense pride in their excellent performances.

“Hong Kong, China athletes have once again achieved excellent results at this latest edition of the Asian Games, demonstrating that the Government’s policies and its strategic resource support are on the right track. I also extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI), the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, the various national sports associations and the coaching and medical teams for their unwavering support and dedication to nurturing our athletes over the years. I look forward to extending my congratulations to the athletes in person at the commendation ceremony to be held in due course.

“The current-term Government is proactively promoting sports development and continuously developing elite sports, with various measures implemented to enhance the quality of training and support for elite athletes. This comprehensive support includes the hardware facilities of the HKSI, training resources, and research and development of sports medicine and sports science. In the 2024 Policy Address, I proposed to review the mechanism of direct financial support for elite athletes. The grant level of direct financial support for them has been comprehensively increased from April 1, 2025, and the subsidy ceiling of athletes’ participation in competitions has also been raised this year. We will continue to provide full support for Hong Kong, China athletes to excel at international and regional competitions, and to take Hong Kong sport to a new level.”

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (October 6) that a sample of prepackaged bamboo shoot was found to contain sulphur dioxide, a preservative which is allowed to be used in certain foods, but the functional class and the name of the additive were not declared on the food label. Members of the public should not consume the affected batch of the product. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected batch of the product immediately if they possess it.

Product details are as follows:

Product name: Baby Bamboo Shoots
Brand: Unionsum Food
Net weight: 250 grams
Place of origin: China
Sole distributor: Unionsum Food Company
Retailer: HKTV Mall
Best-before date: August 2, 2027

“The CFS collected the above-mentioned sample from an online shop for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained sulphur dioxide. Although the sulphur dioxide level detected is within the legal limit, the functional class and the name of the additive were not declared on the food label of the sample,” a spokesman for the CFS said.

“The CFS has informed the sole distributor and the vendor concerned of the irregularity and instructed them to stop sales and remove from shelves the affected batch of the product. According to the CFS’s instructions, the sole distributor concerned has initiated a recall of the affected batch of the product. Members of the public may call its hotline at 6275 2510 during office hours for enquiries about the recall of the product concerned,” the spokesman added.

​Sulphur dioxide is a commonly used preservative in a variety of foods including dried vegetables, dried fruits, pickled vegetables and salted fish products. This preservative is water soluble, most of it can be removed through washing and cooking. However, susceptible individuals who are allergic to this preservative may experience breathing difficulties, headaches and nausea after consumption.

The spokesman reminded the food trade that the use of preservatives in food must comply with the Preservatives in Food Regulation (Cap. 132BD). Furthermore, the Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulations (Cap. 132W) require that for all prepackaged food for sale in Hong Kong containing sulphite in a concentration of 10 parts per million or more, the functional class of the sulphite and its name shall be specified in the list of ingredients. Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months’ imprisonment upon conviction.

The CFS will alert the trade, and will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. An investigation is ongoing.