MIL Asia Pacific Publishing Engine

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Government today (December 31) promulgated the updated Hong Kong Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP), which sets out the strategies and priority actions Hong Kong will adopt over the next 10 years to protect nature and support sustainable development, to protect Hong Kong’s biodiversity and thereby contribute to national and global efforts towards the goal of achieving harmony between humans and nature.
      
     A spokesman for the Environment and Ecology Bureau said, “Natural ecosystems and biodiversity are deeply intertwined with our well-being and are a vital part in achieving sustainable development in society. The harmonious coexistence between humans and nature is our country’s vision. We must act on the concept that ‘lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets and focus on building a beautiful China'”.
      
     At the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, the country led the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework which proposed a new global strategic framework for biodiversity conservation. The Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People’s Republic of China released the China National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and Action Plan (2023-2030) in January 2024. To match these frameworks, and taking into account Hong Kong’s actual circumstances and conditions as well as stakeholders’ feedback, the Government has updated the BSAP and formulated actions for the next phase, building upon the first phase of the BSAP launched in 2016.
      
     The updated BSAP puts forward four strategic areas, namely nature conservation, deepening mainstreaming, capacity building, and collaborative partnering, which include a total of 30 priority actions and 81 priority projects. The Government looks forward to continuing collaboration with various sectors in the community to strengthen Hong Kong’s biodiversity conservation, enabling sustainable development.
      
     The four strategic areas in the updated BSAP are as follows:
 
(1) Nature conservation

     The Government will protect ecosystems and species through comprehensive and area-based measures to safeguard and restore biodiversity. Priority actions include: strengthening management of protected areas and establishing a wetland conservation system; restoring degraded ecosystems and revitalising remote countryside areas; stepping up enforcement against wildlife crimes and management of invasive alien species; and preventing deterioration of the aquatic environment by controlling pollution discharges.
 
(2) Deepening mainstreaming

     The Government will continue to drive the integration of biodiversity conservation concepts into every sector of society, elevating it to a shared responsibility embedded within economic, urban and community practices. For example, non-governmental organisations and educational institutions can promote various programmes to deepen the public’s connection with nature; enterprises can disclose biodiversity-related risks and adopt sustainable operating practices; academic institutions can advance knowledge and nurture the next generation of conservation talent; urban development can also integrate biodiversity conservation concepts by adopting nature-based solutions and wildlife-friendly designs. Other sectors can also contribute to mainstreaming biodiversity by supporting sustainable agriculture and fisheries, ecotourism and the circular economy.
 
(3) Capacity building

     The Government places emphasis on enhancing Hong Kong’s biodiversity conservation capacity by advancing knowledge, professional expertise and technological development. The Government will continue to support scientific and interdisciplinary research to explore the frontiers of knowledge and technology, complemented by measures to assess the status of nature, promote knowledge dissemination and sharing with the public, nurture talent, and deepen professional capabilities. At the same time, the Government will explore the establishment of a centre or platform for biodiversity resources, to enable better access by the public to natural treasures and heritage in Hong Kong.
 
(4) Collaborative partnering

     The Government is committed to expanding and strengthening partnerships across regions, sectors and communities to safeguard the natural environment and resources; to create ecological corridors, combat wildlife crimes and manage habitats along species migration routes through cross-boundary co-operation; enhance the exchange of knowledge and expertise with the international community; learn from global best practices and case studies, optimise existing conservation measures, and enhance ecological resources management; capitalise on the role as a “super connector” to foster multi-stakeholder collaboration, advance ecological civilisation across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and support the latest initiatives on biodiversity on the national and global levels.
      
     The Government will continue to co-ordinate and monitor the implementation progress of the updated BSAP through the dedicated interdepartmental working group, and report the progress to the Advisory Council on the Environment regularly. To keep the public informed about the implementation, the Government will launch a dedicated website showcasing related work progress.
      
     The updated BSAP has been uploaded to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department’s website (www.afcd.gov.hk/english/conservation/Con_hkbsap/updating_bsap/updating_bsap.html).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Police announced today (December 31) that crowd management measures and special traffic arrangements will be implemented on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon today and tomorrow to facilitate the New Year’s Eve countdown event. Members of the public are urged to plan their journeys in advance and to make use of public transport as far as possible.

Hong Kong Island
———————– Lan Kwai Fong;
– Wing Wah Lane;
– Wo On Lane;
– Wellington Street between Wyndham Street and D’Aguilar Street; and
– On Lan Street.-    Queen’s Road Central between Garden Road and Pottinger Street;
–    Bank Street;
–    Duddell Street;
–    Ice House Street between Lower Albert Road and Des Voeux Road Central;
–    Westbound Lower Albert Road between Garden Road and Ice House Street;
–    Pedder Street between Queen’s Road Central and Des Voeux Road Central;
–    D’Aguilar Street between Wellington Street and Queen’s Road Central;
–    Wellington Street between D’Aguilar Street and Cochrane Street;
–    Stanley Street between D’Aguilar Street and Cochrane Street;
–    Cochrane Street between Wellington Street and Stanley Street;
–    Wyndham Street between Glenealy and Queen’s Road Central; and
–    Lyndhurst Terrace.-    Queen Victoria Street between Connaught Road Central and Des Voeux Road Central;
–    Wyndham Street between Arbuthnot Road and D’Aguilar Street;
–    The slip road from Cotton Tree Drive to Queensway (except for franchised buses); and
–    Northbound Arbuthnot Road.-    Ice House Street between Connaught Road Central and Des Voeux Road Central.-    The unnamed road between Connaught Road Central and Chater Road;
–    Club Street; and
–    Chater Road between Jackson Road and Murray Road.-    Lung Wo Road between Man Yiu Street and Yiu Sing Street;
–    Connaught Place between Man Yiu Street and Connaught Road Central;
–    Connaught Road Central between Pedder Street and Murray Road; and
–    The Pedder Street underpass; and
–    Lambeth Walk.-    Southbound Man Yiu Street between Finance Street and Connaught Place.-    Vehicles along northbound Ice House Street will be diverted via eastbound Des Voeux Road Central.-    Vehicles along westbound Connaught Road Central shall be diverted via Murray Road;
–    Vehicles along westbound Lung Wo Road shall be diverted via Yiu Sing Street; and
–    Vehicles along eastbound Man Cheung Street shall make a U-turn at the junction with Man Yiu Street.-    Vehicles along eastbound Upper Albert Road may only be allowed to proceed towards Garden Road.(ii) On Lan Street; and
(iii) Wyndham Street between Arbuthnot Road and D’Aguilar Street.———–

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     ​The Department of Health (DH) announced today (December 31) that Hong Kong residents born between 1950 and 1976 will be eligible to enrol in the Government-subsidised Colorectal Cancer Screening Programme (CRCSP) from January 1, 2026. The DH urges all eligible persons to participate in the CRCSP as early as possible and advocates the adoption of healthy lifestyles to lower the risk of colorectal cancer.
      
     Using a public-private partnership model, the CRCSP subsidises asymptomatic Hong Kong residents aged between 50 and 75 to undergo screening tests every two years in the private sector. Participants in the CRCSP should first attend a medical consultation provided by an enrolled primary care doctor (PCD) and receive a Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) screening arranged by the PCD. If the FIT result is positive, the participant will be referred to an enrolled colonoscopy specialist to receive a colonoscopy examination subsidised by the Government. If the FIT result is negative, the participant is advised to repeat the screening two years later.
      
     As of the end of November 2025, over 66 000 new participants have enrolled in the CRCSP this year, bringing the total number of participants to more than 579 000. Among them, 15 per cent had positive FIT screening results, approximately 45 000 persons (7.9 per cent) were diagnosed to have colorectal adenomas, and about 3 800 persons (0.7 per cent) had colorectal cancer after colonoscopy examination. Analysis showed that more than 50 per cent of the colorectal cancer cases detected under the CRCSP were in the early stages, demonstrating the effectiveness of screening.
     
     Currently, more than 1 200 PCDs have enrolled in the CRCSP, covering about 2  300 clinics to provide services, while 260 colonoscopy specialists have also joined the CRCSP to provide examination at about 790 clinics. The colonoscopy specialists can only charge participants a co-payment of no more than $1,000 for providing standard colonoscopy examination services, with over 70 per cent of these service locations not charging any additional payment for colonoscopy and polyp removal.
      
     “Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and the second most common cause of cancer death in Hong Kong. In 2023, there were 5 467 newly diagnosed colorectal cancer cases, accounting for 14.4 per cent of all new cancer cases. Colorectal cancer screenings can identify people at higher risk of colorectal cancer and asymptomatic patients, and enable them to receive early treatment, thus significantly improving prognosis. Also, removing colorectal adenoma during a colonoscopy can prevent it from developing into cancer,” said the Controller of the Centre for Health Protection of the DH, Dr Edwin Tsui.
         
     Dr Tsui called on eligible persons to join the CRCSP starting at age 50. If the screening result is normal, rescreening should be performed every two years until age 75. In addition, adopting a healthy lifestyle can help prevent colorectal cancer; this includes exercising regularly, eating two servings of fruit and three servings of vegetables daily, maintaining a healthy body weight, and avoiding smoking and alcohol drinking. Participants are also encouraged to invite eligible relatives and friends to join the CRCSP. 

     At the same time, the Primary Healthcare Commission is actively promoting the Life Course Preventive Care Plan. Based on the core principles of prevention-oriented and whole-person care, a personalised preventive care plan will be formulated to address the health needs of citizens across different life stages with reference to the latest evidence. Family doctors and primary healthcare professionals will collaborate to provide services based on age, sex, family history and other personal factors, such as advice on healthy lifestyle, chronic disease and cancer screening, which includes colorectal cancer screening.

     The years of birth for eligible persons are updated at the beginning of each year. Eligible persons who are interested in joining the CRCSP must enrol in the Electronic Health System (eHealth). Please refer to the eHealth website at www.ehealth.gov.hk or call the Registration Office at 3467 6300 for details.
 
     For more information on the CRCSP, please visit the DH’s thematic website www.colonscreen.gov.hk or call the dedicated hotline (3565 6288) during office hours.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     ​The Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) today (December 31) invited tenders for the contract for Ground Investigation Works for Development of San Tin Technopole (Phase 2) (Contract No. ND/2025/04). The closing time for the tender is noon on January 23, 2026.

     The ground investigation works mainly include drillholes, trial pits, groundwater monitoring and associated in-situ and laboratory tests.

     The works are scheduled to commence in February 2026 and will take about 16 months to complete. 

     The CEDD has commissioned AECOM-AtkinsRealis Joint Venture to design and supervise the works. Interested contractors can obtain the tender forms and other particulars from the company at 13/F, Wharf T&T Centre, Harbour City, 7 Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong.

     Details of the tender notice are available on the CEDD website (www.cedd.gov.hk/eng/tender-notices/contracts/tender-notices/index.html). For enquiries, please call AECOM-AtkinsRealis Joint Venture at 2972 1000 during office hours.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Government announced today (December 31) the membership of the Trade and Industry Advisory Board (TIAB) in the new term for two years from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2027.

     The 10 new members appointed are Ms Agnes Chan Sui-kuen, Mr Leslie Choy Chi-fai, Professor Thomas Ho On-sing, Ms Rose Kay Lo-hei, Mr Anthony Lam Sai-ho, Mr Bosco Law Ching-kit, Mr Lee Shing-kan, Mr Roden Tong Man-lung, Mrs Annie Tse Yau On-yee and Mr Desmond Yip Koon-shing, and 17 incumbent members are reappointed.

     The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (SCED), Mr Algernon Yau, thanked the 27 members for accepting the appointments. He said, “The TIAB serves an important function of advising the Government on promoting the development of Hong Kong’s trade and industry, in particular on matters concerning how Hong Kong can leverage the opportunities of the Belt and Road Initiative, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development and the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement, and how to cope with the changes in the global economic and trade landscape. With the experience and expertise of members in their respective sectors, I am confident that they will provide valuable advice and strong support on promoting our work.”

     He thanked the 11 outgoing members, namely Mr Chan Chak-ming, Mr Ivan Chu Kwok-leung, Dr Steve Chuang Tzu-hsiung, Ms Miranda Kwan Ching-yi, Dr Peter Lam Kin-ngok, Mr Willy Lin Sun-mo, Dr Dennis Ng Wang-pun, Mr Shiu Ka-fai, Mr Sunny Tan, Dr Conrad Wong Tin-cheung and Mr Harold Wong Tsu-hing, for their support and contributions to the work of the TIAB.

     The TIAB advises the SCED on matters affecting Hong Kong’s trade and industry, including trade in textiles and garments, trade relations with the Mainland, the Belt and Road Initiative, the development plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement and related matters.

     The 2026-27 membership list of the TIAB is as follows:

Chairman
————
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development

Non-official members
—————————–
Mr Chan Chuen-wai
Mr Calvin Chan Ka-wai
Mr Kenneth Chan Kin-nin
Ms Jennifer Chan Pui-kwan
Ms Agnes Chan Sui-kuen
Mr Leslie Choy Chi-fai
Professor Thomas Ho On-sing
Mr Michael Hui Wah-kit
Ms Rose Kay Lo-hei
Mr Andrew Kwok Chi-wah
Mr Michael Lai Cheuk-pun
Mr Anthony Lam Sai-ho
Mr Bosco Law Ching-kit
Mr Ian Lee Eon
Mr Lee Shing-kan
Dr Wingco Lo Kam-wing
Mr William Shum Wai-lam
Mr Chester Szeen Pok-yung
Mr Augustus Tang Kin-wing
Mr Roden Tong Man-lung
Mrs Annie Tse Yau On-yee
Mr Andrew Yao Cho-fai
Ms Karmen Yeung Ka-yin
Mr Gary Yeung Man-yui
Dr Yim Fung
Mr Desmond Yip Koon-shing
Ms Elsa Yuen May-yee

Ex-officio members
—————————–
Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs (or representative)
Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (or representative)
Director-General of Trade and Industry (or representative)
Director-General of Investment Promotion (or representative)
Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (or representative)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Digital Policy Office (DPO) announced its collaboration with the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited to launch the Digital Corporate Identity (CorpID) Sandbox Programme today (December 31). This Programme provides a free simulated environment for service providers interested in supporting the CorpID (including public and private organisations as well as government departments) to conduct proof-of-concept testing and develop applications, thus supporting the design of application scenarios and solutions for different industries and markets. This initiative aims to kick-start the ecosystem development of the CorpID with a view to assisting and facilitating Hong Kong corporations to accelerate their digital transformation, thereby further enhancing the business environment for Hong Kong corporations.
 
CorpID Platform
 
     To speed up the process of digital economy development in Hong Kong, the DPO is planning to launch the CorpID Platform by the end of 2026 for use by Hong Kong corporations with gradual extension of services. The Platform will provide one-stop digital corporate identity authentication and related services for Hong Kong corporations established or registered under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622) and local businesses registered under the Business Registration Ordinance (Cap. 310), thereby facilitating e-business activities between Hong Kong corporations and the Government as well as other public and private organisations.
 
     The main functions of the Platform include digital corporate identity authentication, digital signing, pre-filling of forms and storage of digital licences and permits, etc., which facilitate Hong Kong corporations to undergo corporate identity authentication and corporate signature verification in a secure and convenient manner when using e-government services and conducting online  transactions, hence alleviating the complicated procedures of submitting and verifying duplicate copies of related original documents and company chops. At the same time, it enables corporations to reuse information previously provided when using different electronic services, saving processing time and reducing human errors, hence facilitating the digital transformation of corporations.
 
CorpID Sandbox Programme
 
     The CorpID Sandbox Programme will provide participating service providers with appropriate technical support, reference documentations and simulated Application Programming Interface (API). It will also introduce suitable application scenarios enabling service providers to test the functions of the CorpID.
 
     Through this Sandbox Programme, government departments as well as public and private organisations can understand the API specifications related to the CorpID, and utilise these API for testing and application development, thus making adequate preparations for the adoption of the CorpID in the future.
 
     Service providers interested to participate can visit the CorpID Sandbox Programme website (sb.corpid.gov.hk) for registration.
 
     The DPO encourages the industry to actively participate in the Sandbox Programme and jointly explore the application potential of the CorpID, thereby together promoting the digital economy development of Hong Kong’s digital economy and facilitating corporations to enhance business efficiency through digital transformation.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Police are investigating a murder case happened in Sau Mau Ping on December 29 in which a woman died.

At around 9.40pm on December 29, Police received a report from the family of a 35-year-old local woman that she was found missing after leaving her residence in Sau Mau Ping in the small hours on the same day.

Upon further investigation, Police believed the woman had been to a unit in Hei Wah House, Lok Wah South Estate. Police officers located the woman in the unit yesterday (December 30) morning. Sustaining multiple injuries to her head and body, she was certified dead at scene. Initial investigation revealed that the deceased was suspectedly assaulted with a hard object.

Post-mortem examinations will be conducted later to ascertain the cause of death of the deceased.  

Active investigation by the Regional Crime Unit of Kowloon East is under way.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 0065 or 5965 8337.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (December 31) instructed the trade to suspend the import of shellfishes harvested in area Étang de Thau in France. The trade should also stop using or selling the product concerned immediately should they possess it.

A spokesman for the CFS said, “The CFS noted a notification from the Rappel Conso of France that shellfishes harvested in area Étang de Thau in France were suspected to be contaminated with norovirus and under recall. Upon learning of the incident, the CFS immediately conducted investigation and contacted local major importers for follow-up. A preliminary investigation by the CFS found that a local importer, City Super Limited, had imported and sold the raw oysters harvested in the area concerned. For the sake of prudence, the CFS has immediately suspended the import into and sale within Hong Kong of shellfishes harvested in the area concerned, and instructed the importer to stop sale of, remove from shelves and recall the affected oysters. Members of the public may call the hotline of City Super Limited at 2736 3866 during office hours for enquiries about the recall of the products concerned.”

The trade should also stop selling other shellfishes products from the affected area if they possess them. 

The spokesman pointed out that as shellfishes including oysters feed by filtering a large volume of seawater, pathogens can accumulate in them if they are grown in or harvested from contaminated water. Raw or partially cooked shellfishes are high-risk foods. Susceptible groups, such as pregnant women, young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems or liver diseases, should avoid eating raw oysters.

The CFS will inform the French authorities and will also notify the local trade. It will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. An investigation is ongoing.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     In light of the expected increase in hikers to country parks during the New Year holidays, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) today (December 31) urges hikers to pay attention to safety and to use the designated hiking trails managed and maintained by the AFCD.

     The AFCD has placed information boards and directory signs at appropriate locations within the country parks. Warning signs have also been installed near dangerous areas in the country parks, reminding hikers not to enter those areas to avoid accidents.

     The AFCD reminds the public that the cliffs near the Po Pin Chau Viewing Platform in Sai Kung have been weathered and eroded over the years. Hikers must follow the waymarks, stay on the designated hiking trails and refrain from striding over railings. The AFCD has added barriers and placed warning signs around the Po Pin Chau Viewing Platform and surrounding areas to prevent hikers from wandering into dangerous areas, hence avoiding accidents. During the New Year holidays, the AFCD will deploy additional staff to disseminate messages about hiking safety at the viewing platform and surrounding areas, to ensure the safety of hikers.

     The AFCD promotes comprehensive information about trails through the “Enjoy Hiking” website (www.hiking.gov.hk) to help hikers select suitable routes. The website also provides comprehensive database on various hiking trails, including trail length, difficulty and nearby facilities, for hikers to plan hiking trips that are suitable for themselves according their personal conditions. The website also lists out high risk locations with records of fatal and serious accidents in country parks, with a view to reminding hikers to avoid visiting those areas.

     For information on hiking safety, please visit the AFCD page (www.afcd.gov.hk/english/country/cou_vis/cou_vis_gac/cou_wha_whe_sat.html).