Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) today (August 10) announced that the department collected seven liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) samples from auto-LPG filling stations and LPG terminals on a random basis in July 2026 for laboratory tests. The results show that the LPG quality of all these samples complied with auto-LPG specifications.
In addition, the EMSD has been vetting independent third-party test reports submitted by LPG supply companies for each shipment to ensure that the quality of imported LPG complies with the specified requirements.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Tender results of 1-year HONIA-indexed Floating Rate Notes A total of HK$1.5 billion 1-year HONIA-indexed Floating Rate Notes were offered today. A total of HK$5.625 billion tender applications were received. The bid-to-cover ratio, i.e. the ratio of notes applied for to notes issued, is 3.75. The highest spread accepted is 0.26 per cent. Tender results of 1-year HONIA-indexed Floating Rate Notes:
Tender Date* Calculated as the amount of notes applied for over the amount of notes issued. Issued at HKT 17:00
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Government today (August 12) launched a one-month public consultation on the proposed amendments to the Building Management Ordinance (Cap. 344) (BMO). The proposals aim to further enhance the regulatory regime under the BMO following the enactment of the Building Management (Amendment) Ordinance 2024 to better cope with the changing needs of the building management and meet public expectations.
A Government spokesman said, “Good building management is an integral part of the improved district governance. It helps improve the living environment, foster community building and promote social harmony. The current-term Government has all along adopted a proactive approach to deepen building management reform and assist owners in enhancing the quality of building management. The proposed amendments are targeted at increasing owners’ participation in the building management and enhancing the transparency of decision-making, as well as clarifying the handling of proxy instruments and meeting procedures to better safeguard owners’ rights and interests.”
The spokesman added, “In February 2026, the Government set out five major directions for amendments at the Legislative Council Panel on Home Affairs, Culture and Sports, and subsequently conducted a series of preliminary consultation exercises with the property management sector and Legislative Council Members. We have incorporated the preliminary views collected and added a few proposals into the consultation document. We very much encourage members of the public to offer their views.”
The five major directions for amendments are as follows:
(1) imposing a higher attendance requirement and voting thresholds for decisions on large-scale maintenance procurement and high-value procurement;
(2) improving the system for proxy instruments;
(3) optimising the system for declaration of interests;
(4) strengthening the powers of the authority; and
(5) clarifying meeting procedures.
The consultation document has been uploaded to the Home Affairs Department’s website (www.had.gov.hk/en/whats_new/consultation_papers_bmo.htm). Members of the public may submit their views on or before September 11, 2026, by email (bm_consultation@had.gov.hk) or by post to Division V, Home Affairs Department, 31/F, Southorn Centre, 130 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Attention TV and radio announcers:
Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:
Here is an item of interest to swimmers.
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (Aug 12) that due to the sighting of a suspected red tide, the red flag has been hoisted at Silver Mine Bay Beach in Islands District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at the beach until further notice.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, at the “Hong Kong: Your Strategic Springboard to Chinese Mainland and Malaysia” business seminar and networking lunch in Kuala Lumpur today (August 12):
YB Sim (Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Mr Sim Tze Tzin), Mr Shamsul (Chief Executive Officer of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority, Mr Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (August 12) said that since the announcement in mid-March of a cluster of hepatitis A infection among men who have sex with men (MSM) and the subsequent launch of a vaccination drive offering two doses of hepatitis A vaccine free of charge to MSM, the number of hepatitis A cases involving MSM has continued to decline over the past few months to a low level. The transmission chain of this cluster is believed to have been interrupted and the risk to public health is now under control. In light of this, the CHP announced that the initiative to provide free hepatitis A vaccination to MSM will end on September 12 and the CHP’s online booking platform will stop accepting vaccination appointments from MSM starting September 11. The CHP will notify individuals who have received the first dose but are unable to complete the two-dose vaccination series by September 12 regarding arrangements for their second dose.
During the six-month period from September 2025 to February 2026, Hong Kong recorded 24 cases of hepatitis A infection whose viruses were found to be genetically identical, involving 22 males and two females. Over 60 per cent of the male patients identified themselves as MSM. To control the transmission chain, the CHP has been providing two doses of hepatitis A vaccine free of charge to MSM since March 12, aiming to protect public health. As of July 31, more than 280 MSM had been vaccinated.
The number of hepatitis A cases among MSM has dropped significantly due to the CHP’s multipronged measures, including enhanced public education and the provision of free vaccines to a specific group.
The CHP recorded five and two cases of hepatitis A infection in June and July respectively, representing a sharp decline from 15 cases recorded in January and a return to baseline levels. The CHP’s epidemiological investigation showed that the patients in the past two months range in age from 21 to 83. Three of them identified themselves as MSM. Genetic analysis by the CHP revealed that no case recorded after June harboured the virus genetically identical to the aforementioned cluster of infections involving MSM. The CHP will continue to closely monitor the situation and take appropriate follow-up actions.
Hepatitis A virus is primarily transmitted through the ingestion of contaminated food or water, or contaminated hands before eating. The virus can also be transmitted through high-risk sexual contact. The incubation period of hepatitis A is usually 14 to 28 days, though it can last up to 50 days. Due to the long incubation period, symptoms such as fever, malaise, abdominal discomfort, loss of appetite, nausea, diarrhoea and jaundice may not appear until one to two months after infection.
Scientific literature indicates that, apart from foodborne transmission, hepatitis A outbreaks have occurred among MSM populations in many regions worldwide in the past. Due to the long incubation period, outbreaks transmitted through person-to-person contact tend to persist longer. Between 2015 and 2017, Hong Kong also experienced hepatitis A transmission chains involving MSM, which were successfully interrupted by vaccinating the affected at-risk groups. According to the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases under the CHP, individuals in high-risk groups (including MSM) should consult their doctors about receiving hepatitis A vaccination to protect their personal health.
For more information on hepatitis A, please visit the CHP’s website.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
New Cantonese opera “Ancient Tune of Guangling” to premiere at Chinese Culture Festival in September to honour timeless legend and scholarly integrity of Wei-Jin period The “Ancient Tune of Guangling”, an ancient “qin” (Chinese zither) masterpiece, carries a tragic legend of the famed scholar Ji Kang that has endured for millennia. Set during the Sima clan’s usurpation in the late Cao Wei dynasty, the play follows Ji Kang, who receives this “qin” music from an immortal in a dream. As Sima Zhao seeks to draw intellectuals into his service, Ji Kang evades the conscription by severing ties with his close friend Shan Tao, who was ordered to summon him to office. Later, speaking out for justice in the Lü brothers’ legal dispute, Ji Kang is falsely accused by scholar Zhong Hui, giving Sima Zhao the pretext to execute him. At the execution ground, Ji Kang calmly plays the “qin”, his soul departing as the strings snap amid the final echoes of the “Ancient Tune of Guangling”.
The production strictly follows the traditional “bang-huang” melodic system and established “qupai” (set tune-patterns), complemented by an elevated, classical diction to evoke once more the ways of the world and societal ethos during the Wei-Jin period. While contributing to the preservation of the Cantonese operatic tradition, this new creation embodies a core artistic spirit of Chinese opera – namely, to “stir the emotions, sharpen observation, foster fellowship, and give voice to grievance” – with the aspiration of touching the cultural sensibilities across different generations and striking a contemporary chord. The play delineates the intricate complexities of human nature and political intrigue amidst a turbulent era, while integrating modern stage aesthetics and lighting design to breathe new life into this traditional tale.
The play is penned by local poet Woo Kwok-yin as playwright, alongside veteran Cantonese opera practitioner Leung Wai-hong as artistic director and director. Celebrated stars Loong Koon-tin (as Ji Kang), Tang Mi-ling (as Ji Kang’s wife, Lady Cao), Yuen Siu-fai (as Shan Tao) and Liu Kwok-sum (as Sima Zhao/the immortal) join forces with a talented cohort of young performers including Man Shuet-kau (as Sima Zhao’s wife, Wang Yuanji), To Wing-sum (as Zhong Hui) and Ng Lap-hei (as Lü An). Together, they grace the stage to carry forward the heritage of Cantonese opera traditions and illuminate the brilliance of Chinese culture.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, leads a delegation to Hainan Province today (August 12) for a three-day visit to meet with local health officials, with a view to further deepening exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong and the Mainland in healthcare-related areas. The delegation will also visit the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone in Hainan and a local pharmaceutical enterprise to understand about the latest developments of healthcare services and pharmaceutical industry there.
Members of the delegation include the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam; the Senior Advisor (Secretary for Health’s Office), Dr Joe Fan; the Director of the Real-World Study and Application Centre, Professor Cheung Ching-Lung; as well as officers of the Health Bureau, the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority. Professor Lo will return to Hong Kong on August 14. During his absence, the Under Secretary for Health, Dr Cecilia Fan, will be the Acting Secretary for Health.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (August 11) urged the public not to consume two kinds of bottled olive oil products, as the products might contain mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH). For the sake of prudence, the CFS urged the public not to consume the products concerned, regardless of batches. The trade should stop using or selling the affected products immediately if they possess any of them.
Product details are as follows:
Brand: Olitalia
Product names: Olitalia Pomace Olive Oil 1L
Olitalia Pomace Olive Oil 5L
Distributor: Lorence & Company Limited
Place of packaging：Italy
A spokesman for the CFS said, “The CFS proactively monitored through the Food Incident Surveillance System and noted an announcement issued by the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain of Belgium indicating that the above-mentioned products were detected with mineral oil MOAH at levels exceeding the relevant standard. All batches of products concerned are being recalled in Belgium.”
Preliminary investigation revealed that the distributor concerned had distributed the affected products. As a precautionary measure, the distributor has voluntarily stopped sales, removed the affected products from shelves and initiated a recall. Members of the public may call the distributor’s hotline at 2293 9398 during office hours for enquiries about the recall.
According to the Mineral Oil in Food Regulations (Cap 132AR), no person shall sell for human consumption any article of food containing any mineral oil, unless the presence of mineral oil in any article of food is due to its use as a lubricant or greasing agent on some surface with which the article of food comes into contact in the course of its preparation (at levels not exceeding 0.2% by weight of the article of food).
The CFS has collected over 3 000 edible oil samples for chemical and microbiological testing from 2023 to July 2026, under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. Except for one unsatisfactory sample that was announced earlier in which it was found to contain metallic contaminant, the remaining samples were found to be satisfactory.
The CFS has contacted the Belgium authority over the incident and will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. The investigation is ongoing.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
In response to media enquiries regarding the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme (HKCIP), the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (August 11) emphasised that all public health policies and medical recommendations must be based on scientific evidence. Vaccination schedules should not be altered arbitrarily without reliable scientific data or medical research supporting such changes, in order to avoid posing significant and irreversible public health risks to children. Since delaying vaccinations reduces protection against relevant infectious diseases, the CHP reminds parents to arrange for their children to receive vaccinations in accordance with the HKCIP to ensure comprehensive and timely protection.
Hong Kong has implemented the HKCIP since the 1960s, providing immunisation services to children through the DH’s Maternal and Child Health Centres (MCHCs) and School Immunisation Teams. Currently, based on the recommendations of the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases (SCVPD) under the CHP, infants from birth to students of Primary Six should receive multiple vaccines and booster doses under the HKCIP to prevent tuberculosis, poliomyelitis, hepatitis B, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, pneumococcal infection, chickenpox, measles, mumps and rubella (also known as “German Measles”). Besides, the HKCIP provides the human papillomavirus vaccinations to eligible Primary schoolgirls to prevent cervical cancer. In addition to immunising children, the Government also provides vaccination services to high-risk groups against seasonal influenza, pneumococcal infection and COVID-19 infection.
“The Government has consistently promoted childhood vaccinations on all fronts. The SCVPD under the CHP makes recommendations on the HKCIP from a public health perspective. Thanks to the trust and support of parents, schools and the healthcare professionals towards the HKCIP over the years, immunisation coverage has remained extremely high, successfully keeping the incidence of related childhood infectious diseases in Hong Kong at extremely low levels. With the help of vaccines, smallpox was eradicated globally in 1980, and poliomyelitis was eliminated in Hong Kong in 2000. Measles and rubella were successful eliminated in Hong Kong in 2016 and 2021 respectively,” the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui, said.
Combined Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine
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Under the HKCIP, children receive the combined MMR vaccine at 12 months, followed by the Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Varicella (MMRV) vaccine at 18 months. All of the currently used vaccines are combination vaccines. Extensive international and local scientific data confirm that both types of combination vaccines are safe and effective, providing sufficient protection against the infectious diseases they cover. In addition, combination vaccines have the advantage of reducing the number of injections children need to receive and significantly lowering the risk of missed doses. These combination vaccines are currently widely used around the world. Since 1990, Hong Kong has provided the combined MMR vaccine to all one-year-old children and introduced a two-dose MMR vaccination schedule in 1996, resulting in a significant decline in the number of related disease cases. According to immunisation coverage rates among primary school students and regular territory-wide immunisation coverage surveys conducted by the DH, the MMR and MMRV vaccination coverage has remained well above 95 per cent, while the local seroprevalence rates of measles antibodies reflect that the vast majority of the public in Hong Kong are immune to measles.
Measles remains endemic in many parts of the world. Over the past two years, a substantial upward trend has been observed in the number of measles cases in multiple regions, with large-scale outbreaks persisting due to the relatively low vaccination rate. This has led to a resurgence of community transmission in some countries that had previously eliminated measles, serving as a wake-up call that we must continue to maintain high overall vaccination rates to ensure herd immunity. Overseas cases mainly affected people who were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status, underscoring the importance of keeping up a high vaccination rate and herd immunity. As Hong Kong’s vaccination coverage has consistently remained at a high level, the number of imported cases recorded in the city over the past two years has not risen significantly as a result, and the city has successfully maintained its measles-eliminated status to date.
Hepatitis B vaccine
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According to the World Health Organization’s recommendations, receiving the hepatitis B vaccine at birth and completing the three-dose series as scheduled are crucial measures for preventing infection and reducing the public health burden of hepatitis B.
Hong Kong’s current hepatitis B vaccination coverage rate among pre-school children stands at 99 per cent. According to the Population Health Survey 2020-22, prevalence of hepatitis B among those born after the introduction of the universal childhood hepatitis B immunisation programme in 1988 has dropped to below one per cent, reflecting Hong Kong’s successful progress towards realising the goal of “hepatitis B-free generation”. The provision of hepatitis B vaccination to newborns has been instrumental in this achievement.
COVID-19 and seasonal influenza vaccines
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Scientific evidence shows that vaccination is one of the most effective means to prevent severe cases of seasonal influenza and COVID-19 as well as their complications. The vaccines can significantly reduce the risks of in-patient admission and mortality. Therefore, the CHP urged members of the public, particularly high-risk groups such as the elderly, children, and adults with underlying illnesses or immunosuppression, to receive vaccination timely to protect their personal health and reduce the risk of serious complications and death from infection.
Parents of preschool children who have not yet received the age-appropriate vaccines are urged to make an appointment at their registered MCHCs as soon as possible, or consult their family doctors to arrange vaccination. New immigrants to Hong Kong or those recently arrived in Hong Kong, as well as their children, who are unsure of their immunisation status or have not completed their vaccination series, are advised to complete any missing doses before arrival to prevent infectious diseases such as measles, chickenpox, and hepatitis B.
The DH will continue to work with the SCVPD to monitor the situation regarding various vaccine-preventable diseases and scientific developments regarding new vaccines. Experts will be consulted as needed to review and update the vaccines recommendations in a timely manner.