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SED expresses deep sorrow over passing of Dr Hu Hung-lick

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, today (July 28) expressed deep sorrow over the passing of the President of Hong Kong Shue Yan University, Dr Hu Hung-lick, and extended her heartfelt condolences to his family.

Dr Choi said, “Dr Hu dedicated himself to education. Together with the late Dr Chung Chi-yung, they established Shue Yan College in 1971, striving to promote the popularisation of higher education and nurturing numerous young talent for society over the past half century. In 2006, Shue Yan College was officially renamed as Hong Kong Shue Yan University and became the first private university in Hong Kong, which was an important milestone in the local higher education. Guided by the motto of ‘cultivating virtues of benevolence; broadening horizons and knowledge’, Dr Hu cultivated students with both moral integrity and benevolence. His educational philosophy and enthusiasm have benefited generations of students, making him a true role model for the education sector.”

Dr Choi firmly believes that the selfless contributions and noble spirit of this educational pioneer will be remembered fondly by all.

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Announcement by Judiciary on arrangements during Black Rainstorm Warning

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:
 
     The Judiciary has announced that, because of the issuance of the Black Rainstorm Warning Signal, all court and tribunal hearings listed at or after 9.10am are adjourned this morning (July 29).
 
     Hearings will remain adjourned this afternoon if the Black Rainstorm Warning Signal is still in force at or after 11am.
 
     Court/tribunal registries and offices will remain open during business hours. Court users may also use the integrated Court Case Management System for those electronic services which have been implemented at individual court/tribunal registries as usual.

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DH gears up for emergency preparedness in response to risk of Chikungunya fever imported cases

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

DH gears up for emergency preparedness in response to risk of Chikungunya fever imported cases 
“CF is not transmitted from person to person, and is primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of female Aedes mosquitoes carrying the CF virus. Aedes albopictus, which is ubiquitous in Hong Kong, can transmit CF. During the early stage after the onset of symptoms (especially when a fever is present), the blood of patients of CF and Dengue Fever (DF) contains a large amount of virus, which is infectious to mosquitoes. If they are bitten by mosquitoes during the communicable period, further local transmission via mosquitoes is possible. If mosquito infestation is serious, it may even lead to large-scale of local outbreaks. Therefore, early identification of infected persons and preventing them from mosquito bites during communicable period is vital in prevention of local transmission,” said the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui.
 
Emergency preparedness
 
Despite severe or fatal cases caused by CF is rare and the symptoms are milder than that of DF, and most patients recover on their own, as local mosquitoes have not carried the CF virus, we must strive to prevent CF from becoming endemic in Hong Kong. The Government has adopted multi-pronged emergency preparedness, including:
 Collaboration on disease prevention and control
 
Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao have been working closely in communicable disease prevention and control and emergency response according to the Guangdong Provincial Disease Control and Prevention Administration. Owing to the communicable disease notification mechanism established by the three places, the CHP has kept abreast of the latest situation of CF in Guangdong Province.
 
The CHP’s Port Health Division steps up publicity and education efforts regarding CF at the BCPs, conducts more frequent inspections to ensure good environmental hygiene and effective implementation of anti-mosquito measures, conducts temperature screening for inbound travellers. Any travellers with fevers or related symptoms will be assessed on health conditions and referred to hospitals for follow up when necessary. The CHP also maintains close liaison with relevant stakeholders such as airlines and the travel industry to provide the latest disease information and health advice in a timely manner.
 
Public education and publicity
 
The CHP will issue letters to all schools and institutions (including residential care homes for the elderly and residential care homes for persons with disabilities) in Hong Kong to provide them with the latest epidemiological information and remind operators to adopt preventive measures to avoid mosquito bites. The CHP and the FEHD will continue to provide advice on anti-mosquito measure to institutions.

The CHP will also hold online seminars this week to raise public awareness of CF and address related inquiries from the public. Details will be announced later on the CHP’s social media accounts, and the public is welcome to watch. The CHP has also set up mobile promotional booths at multiple locations across Hong Kong (including public markets, community health centres, and shopping malls) to educate the public on how to prevent mosquito-borne diseases. Details can be viewed at www.chp.gov.hk/en/other/events/476.html 
Measures the public should continue to take
 
The CHP recommends that the public properly use DEET-containing insect repellents or other effective active ingredients to effectively prevent mosquito bites. The following precautions should be taken when using them:
 Members of the public returning from areas affected by CF should apply insect repellent for 14 days upon arrival in Hong Kong. If they feel unwell, they should seek medical advice promptly and provide their travel details to a doctor.
 
Latest situation regarding CF
 
According to the information from the Foshan health authority, as of July 26, there were over 4 700 cases in Foshan city. The majority of cases (4 210 cases) were in Shunde District. All cases were mild, with no severe or fatal cases so far. Moreover, confirmed cases were also recorded in other cities in Guangdong Province recently. Regarding Macao, as of July 25, there were four imported cases of CF, three of them travelled to Foshan city during the incubation period. 
 
There have been no CF cases in Hong Kong since 2020.
 
The public should call 1823 in case of mosquito problems and may visit the following pages for more information: the dengue fever page of the CHPIssued at HKT 23:21

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I&T funding schemes to consolidate

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Innovation & Technology Commission (ITC) announced today that it would streamline and consolidate funding schemes under the Innovation & Technology Fund (ITF) with a view to promoting new industrialisation and supporting the development of new quality productive forces in a more focused manner.

To more effectively support enterprises in seizing opportunities brought by new industrialisation to upgrade and transform through relevant funding schemes, the ITC will consolidate three funding schemes under the ITF which promote new industrialisation – the New Industrialisation Funding Scheme, the New Industrialisation & Technology Training Programme, and the Manufacturing+ to be launched this year – into the New Industrialisation Support Scheme.

Under the new scheme, the objectives and modus operandi of the three schemes will remain unchanged.

Given that the objectives and beneficiaries of both the Research & Development Cash Rebate Scheme and the Innovation & Technology Support Programme (ITSP) largely overlap, these two schemes will be consolidated.

Local public research institutes may continue to collaborate with enterprises for applied research and development  (R&D) projects through the ITSP after the consolidation measures take effect.

Additionally, given that existing R&D-related funding schemes under the ITF – ITSP, Mainland-Hong Kong Technology Cooperation Funding Scheme & Enterprise Support Scheme – have already been subsidising patent registration fees for R&D projects by universities, research institutions and enterprises, the ITC considers that the Patent Application Grant (PAG) has achieved its goal of fostering a patent development culture in Hong Kong. PAG will be integrated into existing funding schemes.

The consolidation of resources, adjustments to funding ceilings and ratios for the aforementioned funding schemes will take effect from August 1.

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Contractors suspended from bidding

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Development Bureau said today that it has issued notifications to the contractors and a subcontractor involved in a July 27 fatal industrial incident at a public works construction site in Southern District, suspending them from tendering for public works contracts with immediate effect.

The contractors involved were on the List of Approved Contractors for Public Works, while the sub-contractor concerned was on the List of Approved Suppliers of Materials & Specialist Contractors for Public Works.

As the body responsible for procuring services for public works, the bureau stressed that it attaches great importance to site safety at all construction sites under the purview of contractors on the lists.

It explained that the contractors and subcontractor have been instructed to conduct an independent safety audit to review their safety management system, submit an improvement action plan based on the audit, and then implement measures with a view to demonstrating that their safety management system is effective. A lifting of the suspension will be considered once these steps are taken.

The suspension from tendering is not limited to future tender exercises, but is also applicable to tender exercises which have been initiated but not concluded.

The Labour Department is investigating the industrial incident and will handle it in accordance with the law.

Subject to the findings of the department’s investigations, the bureau may carry out further regulating actions against the contractors and subcontractor which may include extending the suspension period or even removal from the lists.

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1 institution joins voucher plan

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government announced today that the Elderly Health Care Voucher Greater Bay Area Pilot Scheme will be extended to Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine (GPHCM) in Guangzhou starting July 31.

The Elderly Health Care Vouchers are applicable for outpatient healthcare services provided by 10 departments at the GPHCM. The service fees are denominated in renminbi.

The GPHCM is the fourth service point in Guangzhou and the second Chinese medicine hospital under the pilot scheme, providing eligible seniors with additional choices in healthcare services, the Government said.

With this additional service point, the number of service points in the Greater Bay Area where the vouchers can be used will increase to 16, benefitting more than 1.78 million eligible Hong Kong elderly people.

Apart from the GPHCM, the other three service points in Guangzhou are The First Affiliated Hospital and its Nansha Division at Sun Yat-sen University, and Guangdong Clifford Hospital.

Users should register with eHealth before using the vouchers at GBA service points, the Government added.

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Complaints Watch Issue No. 26

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Complaints Watch Issue No. 26 
In the first half of 2025, the HKMA received 1,889 banking complaints, representing an increase of 33 per cent compared to the same period last year. The primary contributor to this rise was a 54 per cent increase in complaints related to the operation of banking accounts. The HKMA has reminded AIs to strengthen their communication with customers in order to minimise inconvenience. Some good practices are shared in this latest issue of the Complaints Watch (see the feature article about “Handling complaints concerning operation of banking accounts”). This issue of Complaints Watch also contains another feature article about “Designing banking products from the customer’s perspective”. 
 
The Complaints WatchIssued at HKT 18:00

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