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Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today said it strongly opposes and disapproves of smears by government officials and politicians from the US, Canada and Australia, and by anti-China organisations, regarding its lawful acts to pursue individuals wanted in connection with national security offences who have absconded from Hong Kong.

Nineteen people suspected of involvement in a subversive organisation named the “Hong Kong Parliament”, in breach of Article 22 of the National Security Law (HKNSL), have been put on the city’s wanted list.

In a statement, the Hong Kong SAR Government explained that the HKNSL is applicable to Hong Kong permanent residents, and to incorporated or unincorporated bodies set up in Hong Kong, if such residents or bodies commit offences under the HKNSL outside the Hong Kong SAR. Additionally, it said, the HKNSL is applicable where offences under it are committed elsewhere against the Hong Kong SAR by individuals who are not Hong Kong permanent residents.

The Hong Kong SAR Government stressed that the Hong Kong Police Force therefore has a responsibility to pursue, in accordance with the law, people suspected of committing offences under the HKNSL outside of Hong Kong. Acts smearing Hong Kong’s work to safeguard national security are hypocritical and irresponsible, and will not win any public support, it added.

The statement iterated that both the HKNSL and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance clearly stipulate that human rights shall be respected and protected in safeguarding national security in the Hong Kong SAR, but clarified that the Hong Kong SAR Government will not condone criminal acts, and will not give up pursuing them those who commit them.

Emphasising that absconders should not think that they can evade criminal liability by absconding from Hong Kong, the Hong Kong SAR Government also remarked that no country or organisation should harbour criminals or try to exonerate absconders.

Any attempt by foreign countries or external forces to undermine Hong Kong’s situation will be doomed to fail, the Hong Kong SAR Government added, reiterating that it will continue to discharge its duty in safeguarding national security unwaveringly.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Education Choi Yuk-lin today began a visit to Osaka, Japan, where she will outline Hong Kong’s experiences in achieving quality and equity in education, and promote its advantages as an international post-secondary education hub, in a speech at an education seminar.

The seminar falls under the “Theme Weeks” programme, which forms part of the World Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai and brings together experts and scholars to share their insights on educational issues.

Before attending the seminar, Ms Choi will meet education representatives from various places to discuss new trends in global education.

She will return to Hong Kong on Tuesday. During her absence, Under Secretary for Education Sze Chun-fai will be Acting Secretary.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Executive John Lee today led 21 principal officials in attending the 2025 Policy Address District Forum to gather views and suggestions form members of the community ahead of the current-term Government’s fourth Policy Address.

 

Held at Ma Tau Chung Government Primary School (Hung Hom Bay), the forum was attended by about 120 people from different backgrounds.

 

The two-hour forum consisted of two sessions. In the first, the Chief Executive and principal officials listened to the views of members of the public. Matters raised straddled land and housing; transport; innovation and technology; financial services; culture and sports; education; youth issues, poverty alleviation; healthcare; and social welfare.

 

In the second session, community participants, divided into four groups, focused on “pursuing development and economic growth” and “improving people’s livelihood and building our future together” as they engaged in extensive exchanges with the Chief Executive and the officials. Mr Lee also held discussions in turn with each of the groups and listened to their views.

 

He said: “There are issues that members of the public care deeply about, so I attach great importance to district consultations.

 

“These views will let me have a better grasp on formulating policies and allocation of resources when I prepare the Policy Address.”

 

Principal Officials attending today’s event included Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki; Financial Secretary Paul Chan; Secretary for Justice Paul Lam; Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing; Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong; Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan; Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang; Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui; Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung; Secretary for Environment & Ecology Tse Chin-wan; Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Algernon Yau; Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau; Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn; Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho; Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung; Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry Prof Sun Dong; Secretary for Home & Youth Affairs Alice Mak; Secretary for Labour & Welfare Chris Sun; Secretary for Transport & Logistics Mable Chan; Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Rosanna Law; and Acting Secretary for Education Sze Chun-fai.

 

The Government said it will continue to gather input from a wide variety of organisations and individuals over the coming month through consultation sessions and district visits. Members of the public can also give their views via the Policy Address website, social media platforms, hotlines, email, fax and post.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Troubleshooting is key to uncovering the hidden culprit behind dripping air conditioners.

In the scorching summer, people turn on their air conditioner for comfort. But if they are not maintained properly, this can lead to environmental problems such as dripping water, especially during the evening when most people are home. This not only causes noise but also poses potential health risks.

Investigation-enhancing tool

The Food & Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has recently introduced new technology using cameras with infrared night-vision function to assist teams in tracking down the source of the dripping during nighttime.

Food & Environmental Hygiene Department Health Inspector Tam Yee-wan describes the challenges inspectors face during nighttime investigations:

“When our team conduct investigations during the night, sometimes we face difficulties due to insufficient lighting or air conditioners being blocked by clothes drying racks. Our new series of infrared night-vision cameras can clearly capture the source of dripping water from high-rise buildings in dark environments, significantly improving the efficiency of nighttime investigations.”

Currently, the FEHD has equipped all its 19 district offices with these devices, capable of detecting the source of dripping water up to 20 floors high. The newly introduced second-generation device can observe such problems up to 40 floors high.

Widespread problem

According to the data from the FEHD, complaints about dripping air conditioners have been on the rise in recent years, increasing from approximately 31,000 cases in 2023 to about 34,000 last year, especially in old urban districts like Sham Shui Po and Yau Tsim Mong.

Yau Tsim Mong District Councillor Ann Au stated that such areas face significant challenges due to ageing buildings and facilities. As there is no communal drainage system for many of these old buildings, wastewater from the air conditioners drips directly onto the streets below, which not only affects environmental hygiene but also causes nuisances to citizens.

City-wide operation

 

To step up the FEHD’s efforts to address this environmental issue, it has conducted a city-wide operation from May to September.

Assistant Director of Food & Environmental Hygiene (Operations) Wan Chi-shun shared more information on how the operation works.

“We have adopted a multipronged approach, including publicity and education as well as law enforcement. We have also selected 30 black spots of dripping air conditioners in various districts which are affecting citizens who queue up for buses on the streets. Our staff will conduct enforcement actions at these black spots at least once a week at different times of the day.”

He highlighted that such stringent enforcement will be maintained throughout the summer and extra manpower will be deployed to support areas with more black spots.

As of mid-July, the FEHD has issued about 700 nuisance notices in this targeted operation.

Public education

In addition to law enforcement, public education is also important. As such, the FEHD actively collaborates with the Home Affairs Department and district councillors to enhance awareness about the matter through community networks.

Yau Tsim Mong District Councillor Chung Chak-fai stressed that the district council is willing to serve as a bridge, co-ordinating residents, community organisations and the FEHD in tackling the issue.

Industry participation

For private housing estates, the FEHD has been working with property management agents, inviting them to participate in a scheme to assist in handling such complaints. If the property management agents cannot resolve the complaints, the FEHD will intervene by taking up the case for follow-up action.

An average of more than 80 property management agents and over 200 private housing estates participate in the scheme each year. The scheme has successfully handled over 4,000 related complaints in five years.

Property Management Services Authority Chairperson James Wong encourages the industry to actively participate in the scheme as there are clear advantages to having property management agents follow up on these key issues.

“As property management agents thoroughly understand residential facilities, they can identify the issues quickly. Plus, their familiarity with the residents can enhance communication and reduce conflicts.”

Preventive measures

Mr Wong also pointed out that the property management agents should proactively conduct inspections, post notices and promote regular maintenance to prevent leaking air conditioners.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Algernon Yau today attended the 2nd Zhejiang-Hong Kong Modern Professional Services Cooperation Conference in Ningbo, Zhejiang.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr Yau said that, building on the foundation of the Hong Kong/Zhejiang Co-operation Conference Mechanism established in April, the two places will work together to promote collaboration in professional services such as accounting and auditing, legal and dispute resolution, management consulting, intellectual property, industrial design, planning, and architectural and engineering services.

In the first half of this year, Hong Kong has completed 42 initial public offerings, raising over HK$107 billion, which is 20% more than the full-year total for 2024. Mr Yau highlighted that as of June, 19 enterprises from Zhejiang had applied for listings in Hong Kong, accounting for about 10% of the total number of applicants.

He added that this fully reflects the fact that Hong Kong’s robust financial market has become the prime listing platform for Mainland enterprises.

The commerce chief emphasised that thanks to a solid foundation of economic and trade co-operation, Zhejiang and Hong Kong can jointly strengthen collaboration in modern professional services, thereby attracting global investors to use Hong Kong as a springboard to tap the potential of the enormous Zhejiang market, while enabling Zhejiang enterprises to go global by making use of Hong Kong’s professional services.

Mr Yau returned to Hong Kong this evening.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today said it strongly disapproved of untrue and biased remarks by UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper regarding lawful acts by Hong Kong to pursue wanted individuals who have absconded from Hong Kong.

 

In a statement, the Hong Kong SAR Government demanded that the UK Government stop interfering in Hong Kong matters, stressing that these are purely China’s internal affairs.

 

Nineteen people suspected of involvement in a subversive organisation named the “Hong Kong Parliament” have been put on the city’s wanted list.

 

The Hong Kong SAR Government said the “Hong Kong Parliament” aims to subvert state power through objectives that include promoting “self-determination”, promulgating a “Hong Kong Constitution”, and overthrowing or undermining by unlawful means the basic system and power of the People’s Republic of China or of the Hong Kong SAR.

 

The 19 individuals are suspected of committing the offence of subversion, contrary to Article 22 of the National Security Law. The Hong Kong Police Force applied for arrest warrants for them and has put them on the wanted list.

 

The Hong Kong SAR Government stated that absconders hiding in the UK and other Western countries are wanted because they blatantly engage in activities endangering national security, and even collude with external forces to cover for their evil deeds. It added that it is therefore justified, necessary and legitimate for the Police Force to take all lawful measures to combat such acts of abscondment.

 

Moreover, the Hong Kong SAR Government remarked that the UK has at least 14 items of legislation to protect British national security, and has therefore displayed hypocrisy and double standards by pointing fingers at Hong Kong’s legal system and attempts to safeguard national security.

 

It emphasised that it will exhaust all possible means to pursue and combat criminals who abscond from Hong Kong, and to ensure that violations of the law are cracked down on.

 

The wanted individuals are urged to return to Hong Kong and surrender.

 

The Hong Kong SAR Government reiterated that it will continue to resolutely discharge its duty of safeguarding national security, whilst upholding the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong people in accordance with the law, so as to ensure the steadfast and successful implementation of the principle of “one country, two systems”.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Home & Youth Affairs Alice Mak said today that the Government plans to optimise services provided by the second-term District Services & Community Care Teams in three key directions.

 

At a media session, Miss Mak said the new-term care teams will be expected to provide residents with uninterrupted services, cater for district needs, and also deepen and broaden their service coverage.

 

The first-term service agreements for care teams will conclude between late September and mid-October, and the Government has decided to increase the number of teams from 452 to 455 in the second-term.

 

Sha Ta (North District) will be split into two sub-districts, while Sheung Shui Rural (North District) and Hang Hau West (Sai Kung District) will each acquire one new team. The boundaries of six sub-district clusters will also be fine-tuned.

 

Miss Mak said: “We have assessed the service coverage and the demographic changes in each sub-district. We can see that the populations of certain districts have increased, so we have increased two care teams to cater for the demographic changes.

 

“This is to provide better services for our residents.”

 

As of the end of June, care teams had visited about 530,000 elderly households and other households in need. They had provided basic home or other support services on some 76,000 occasions, and organised about 38,000 district-level activities.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, attended the 2nd Zhejiang-Hong Kong Modern Professional Services Cooperation Conference in Ningbo, Zhejiang, today (July 26) to foster co-operation between the two places in the field of professional services to achieve complementarity.
 
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr Yau said that right after the establishment of the Hong Kong/Zhejiang Co-operation Conference Mechanism and the convening of the High-Level Meeting cum the First Plenary Session of the Hong Kong/Zhejiang Co-operation Conference in April this year, the Hong Kong Investment Promotion Conference – Zhejiang (Ningbo) Forum cum Ningbo-Hong Kong Economic Co-operation Forum was held in Ningbo. He said he was very pleased to visit Ningbo again to further promote Zhejiang-Hong Kong and Ningbo-Hong Kong economic and trade co-operation.
 
Mr Yau said that Zhejiang is an economic powerhouse of the country with its GDP ranking among the top and has been a leading force in advancing the upgrading and transformation of industries and the development of new quality productive forces, especially in the areas of innovation and technology and artificial intelligence. On the other hand, Hong Kong, with its robust research capabilities, high level of internationalisation and extensive networks for international exchange and co-operation, presents vast potential in becoming a globally significant hub for education, technology and talent.
 
Mr Yau said that building on the foundation of the Hong Kong/Zhejiang Co-operation Conference Mechanism, the two places will work together to promote collaboration in the field of professional services such as accounting and auditing, legal and dispute resolution, management consulting, intellectual property, industrial design, planning and design, architectural and related engineering services.
 
He added that in the areas of finance, Hong Kong boasts quality, efficient and internationalised financial institutions and financial services, as well as a deep and broad capital market, making it an ideal fundraising platform. Hong Kong is also the world’s fifth-largest merchandise trading entity, after the Mainland, the United States, the European Union and Japan.
 
Mr Yau noted that despite uncertainties brought about by the ever-changing global trade landscape and geopolitics, Hong Kong’s real GDP recorded a year-on-year increase of 3.1 per cent in the first quarter of this year. In the first half of this year, Hong Kong has completed 42 initial public offerings, raising over HK$107 billion, 20 per cent more than the full-year total for 2024. As at June this year, among the enterprises applying for listing in Hong Kong, 19 of them were from Zhejiang, accounting for about 10 per cent of the total number of applicants. This fully reflected that Hong Kong’s robust financial market has become the prime listing platform for Mainland enterprises.
 
Mr Yau said he believes that with a solid foundation of economic and trade co-operation, Zhejiang and Hong Kong can jointly strengthen collaboration in modern professional services, attracting global investors to use Hong Kong as a springboard to tap into the immense potential of the enormous Zhejiang market, while enabling Zhejiang enterprises to go global by making use of Hong Kong’s professional services.
 
Also speaking at the opening ceremony were Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Mr C Y Leung; Deputy-Head of the United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Mr Ma Lihuai; the Chairman of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Mr Lian Yimin; and the Mayor of the Ningbo Municipal People’s Government, Mr Tang Feifan. The Under Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Liu Chun-san, and the Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Lillian Cheong, also attended the opening ceremony. In addition, Mr Liu and Ms Cheong attended two thematic sessions to promote the synergistic development of the two places in areas such as port and maritime services, innovative applications and technological services.
 
Mr Yau will return to Hong Kong this evening.