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Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Hong Kong Observatory issued No. 8 Northwest Gale or Storm Signal at 2.20pm today (September 23).

The Home Affairs Department has so far opened 47 temporary shelters in various districts and 422 people have sought refuge at the shelters.

As at 5pm, the Government’s 1823 Call Centre received four reports of fallen trees, while the Civil Engineering and Development Department received one report of landslide. No report of flooding has been received so far.

According to the Hospital Authority, as at 4.50pm today, two males and one female have sought medical treatment at the Accident and Emergency Department at public hospitals during the typhoon period.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (September 23) that in view of notifications from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Iława District of Warmińsko-Mazurskie Region in Poland and Valladolid Province of Castilla y Leon in Spain, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the above-mentioned areas with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 1 730 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Poland, and about 50 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and about 50 000 poultry eggs from Spain in the first six months of this year.

“The CFS has contacted the Polish and Spanish authorities over the issues and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation,” the spokesman said.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Home Affairs Department has opened the following additional temporary shelter for people in need:

Region	Name	Address
Hong Kong Island	Hong Kong PHAB Association Jockey Club PHAB Camp	75 Pok Fu Lam Reservoir Road, Po Fu Lam

Please refer to the annex for the full list of temporary shelters that are now open. For enquiries, please contact the emergency hotline on 2572 8427.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Hong Kong Customs today (September 23) detected a drug trafficking case involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 23 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine with an estimated market value of about $7.6 million.
 
A 21-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Tokyo, Japan, today. During customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected methamphetamine in the check-in suitcase possessed by him. The man was subsequently arrested.
 
The arrested man has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. The case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (September 24).

Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.

Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Director of Water Supplies, Mr Roger Wong, today (September 23) attended the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) Water Conservation Industry Innovation and Development Conference and Expo at the Baiyun International Convention Center in Guangzhou. He also participated in the inauguration and commencement ceremony of the GBA Water Conservation Industry Alliance.

During the ceremony, Mr Wong, together with the Director of the Pearl River Water Resources Commission of the Ministry of Water Resources, Mr Wu Xiaolong; the Deputy Director General of the Water Resources Department of Guangdong Province, Ms Chen Jian; and the Director of the Marine and Water Bureau of Macao, Ms Wong Soi-man, witnessed the announcement of the water conservation declaration. The declaration sets directions for the high-quality development of the water conservation industry in the GBA and opens a new chapter in cross-boundary collaboration on water conservation.

Speaking at the opening plenary session, Mr Wong stressed that in the face of global climate change, sustainable water resources management is crucial for the highly urbanised GBA. As a core city of the GBA, Hong Kong will strengthen collaboration with other GBA cities to address common challenges in the management of water resources. Hong Kong will fully leverage its unique advantages of being closely connected to both the Mainland and the world under the “one country, two systems” framework, showcase the country’s advancement in digital water and water-saving technologies, and provide a “GBA Plan” for the country’s transition towards a water-saving society. Mr Wong noted that the establishment of the Alliance comes at a timely moment to pool technologies, policies and market forces across the region, providing a platform for industry collaboration and technological innovation.

Mr Wong then joined representatives of the Alliance to participate in the inauguration ceremony, marking a significant step forward in strengthening cross-boundary collaboration among governments, enterprises, academia and water agencies. The move underscores a shared commitment to advancing internationalisation and technological innovation in the GBA’s water conservation industry.

The Alliance comprises enterprises, academia, and water agencies across Hong Kong, Macao, and the nine Mainland GBA cities. The Water Supplies Department (WSD), together with the Pearl River Water Resources Commission, the Water Resources Department of Guangdong Province and the Marine and Water Bureau of Macao, will provide guidance to the Alliance’s work. The WSD will make use of the Alliance as a platform to deepen collaboration on water conservation initiatives among cities in the GBA, including developing the first water efficiency labelling scheme applicable to the GBA, and fostering the innovation and wider adoption of water-saving technologies.

Mr Wong returned to Hong Kong this afternoon.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Forty-one convictions were recorded in August 2025 for breaches of legislation enforced by the Environmental Protection Department.
 
     Thirteen of the convictions were under the Air Pollution Control Ordinance, six were under the Noise Control Ordinance, 11 were under the Public Cleansing and Prevention of Nuisances Regulation, five were under the Product Eco-responsibility Ordinance, three were under the Waste Disposal Ordinance and three were under the Water Pollution Control Ordinance.
 
     A person was fined $27,000, which was the heaviest fine in August, for contravening the provisions of a licence.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
 
     With Super Typhoon Ragasa edging closer to Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Observatory will issue the Gale or Storm Signal No.8 at 2.20pm today (September 23). The arrangements of the public services in the Legislative Council (LegCo) Complex will be as follows:
 

1. the public services of the LegCo Public Complaints Office, the LegCo Library, the LegCo Archives as well as guided tours and education service will be suspended at 1pm today; and
    
2. if the Typhoon Signal No. 8 is cancelled, a decision will be made, based on the weather and traffic conditions at the time, on whether to gradually resume the services no less than two hours after the cancellation. If the above signal is cancelled at or after 3pm, all services will remain suspended for the whole day.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

Please broadcast the following special announcement immediately, and repeat it at frequent intervals:

“The Social Welfare Department announces that as Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 will be issued, all welfare services units of the department, units providing child care centre services, services under the Neighbourhood Support Child Care Project, and after school care programmes for pre-primary or primary school children, elderly services centres, day pre-school rehabilitation services units and day rehabilitation units including sheltered workshops, integrated vocational rehabilitation services centres, integrated vocational training centres and day activity centres will be closed. Members of the public who have taken their children and family members to those centres or units are advised to make arrangements for their safe return home as soon as possible.”

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Government announced today (September 23) that the Chief Executive has appointed Mr Bernard Charnwut Chan to succeed Mr Henry Tang Ying-yen as Chairman of the Board of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA), as well as Mr Jat Sew-tong and Dr Eliza Chan Ching-har as Vice-Chairman and a new member of the Board of the WKCDA respectively, for a two-year term from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2027.

Commenting on the appointments, the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, said, “Mr Chan is the current Vice-Chairman of the WKCDA Board. He had been a Board member for a number of years before serving as Vice-Chairman, and is well acquainted with the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD) project. Mr Chan’s rich experience in administrative management and public services, as well as his extensive business network, will enable him to lead the WKCDA in developing the WKCD into a cultural tourism landmark earning worldwide acclaim, elevating the stature of Hong Kong on the international cultural landscape stage. Mr Jat has been actively providing valuable insights and contributions to various aspects of the WKCDA’s work since joining the Board in 2022. I believe that Mr Jat could drive the continuous development of the WKCD. I also welcome Dr Chan to join and add new momentum to the Board.”

Miss Law expressed her heartfelt gratitude to Mr Tang for his tremendous contributions to the development of the WKCD over the years. “Mr Tang had served as Chairman of the Board in different capacities. Under his adept leadership, the WKCD has achieved many important milestones. During his tenure, various world-class arts and cultural facilities in the WKCD have been completed and commissioned, including the Xiqu Centre, Freespace, M+ and the Hong Kong Palace Museum. The WKCDA has also successfully brought exhibitions and stage productions to the Mainland and overseas, showcasing and enhancing Hong Kong’s cultural soft power and consolidating its position as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchanges,” Miss Law said.

The WKCDA Ordinance (Cap. 601) provides that the Board is the governing and executive body of the WKCDA. It is responsible for the planning, development, operation and maintenance of the arts and cultural facilities and related facilities in the WKCD.

The membership of the Board commencing October 1, 2025, will be as follows:

Mr Bernard Charnwut Chan (Chairman)
Mr Jat Sew-tong (Vice-Chairman)
Dr Eliza Chan Ching-har*
Mr Abraham Chan Lok-shung
Mr Vincent Cheng Wing-shun
Dr Roy Chung Chi-ping
Mr Kenneth Fok Kai-kong
Mr Andy Hei Kao-chiang
Mr Benjamin Hung Pi-cheng
Mr Leo Kung Lin-cheng
Mr Liu Che-ning
Ms Yolanda Ng Yuen-ting
Dr Pang Yiu-kai
Mr Paulo Pong Kin-yee
Mr Anthony Wu Ting-yuk
Ms Catherine Yen Kai-shun
Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism or alternate representative
Secretary for Development or alternate representative
Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury or alternate representative
Chief Executive Officer, West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (ex officio member)

(*new appointee)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and the Hong Kong Film Development Council (FDC) led an industry delegation to participate in the 30th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) in Korea from September 19 to 23. A series of “Hong Kong Cinema @ Busan 2025” exchange activities was organised and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed with the Busan Asian Film School with a view to promoting Hong Kong films, fostering cultural exchanges and expanding overseas markets.

Sponsored by CCIDA and co-organised by the BIFF and the Asian Film Awards Academy, the “Hong Kong Night” networking reception was held on September 19 and attracted over 600 film industry representatives and filmmakers from around the world. Head (Film Promotion and Facilitation) of CCIDA, Ms Irene Yuen, said during the event that the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region was committed to supporting the development of the Hong Kong’s film industry, and had further deepened international exchanges and co-operation in recent years, supporting the film industry to participate in renowned film festivals worldwide, promoting exchanges and expanding business opportunities. She also extended her congratulations to filmmaker Sylvia Chang on receiving the Camellia Award, a special prize that celebrates her contributions to advancing women’s roles in the Asian film industry.

Besides, the film “Measure in Love”, funded by the Film Development Fund (FDF), held its world premiere at the BIFF on September 21 and attracted over 5 000 attendees with an overwhelming response. The film is the first production under the Directors’ Succession Scheme of the FDF, which aims to encourage directors to groom young talents in the spirit of mentorship. Sylvia Chang, the producer of the film, expressed her special thanks to the Scheme for its support, as it enables experienced filmmakers to partner with new generation directors in producing films and to learn from each other. Other guests present at the premiere included emerging director Kung Siu-ping and lead actors Hsu Kuang-han and Angela Yuen.

CCIDA also took the opportunity to sign an MOU with the Busan Asian Film School which aimed at strengthening co-operation in activities and exchanges related to the cultivation of film talents. At the Asian Contents & Film Market, CCIDA collaborated with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council to support the establishment of the Hong Kong Pavilion, increasing overseas exposure for Hong Kong films and promoting more business collaborations. CCIDA also recommended and sponsored four Hong Kong producers – Johnny Wang, Terence Choi, Fanny Chong and Kinnie Cheung – to participate in the “Producer Hub”, where they engaged in in-depth discussions and business liaison with international industry professionals to explore co-production and project development opportunities.

During the festival, CCIDA also held meetings with film organisations and representatives from film festivals around the world, including the Saudi Arabia Red Sea International Film Festival, the Indonesia Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival, the Italy Udine Far East Film Festival and the International Film Festival Rotterdam of the Netherlands, etc, with an aim to forging international connections and opening up pathways for future co-operation.

As mentioned in “The Chief Executive’s 2025 Policy Address”, CCIDA will enhance publicity, exchanges, and business matching overseas and in the Mainland, and continue its close communication with the industry with a view to facilitating the development of the Hong Kong film market.