Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) said today (February 6) that it is investigating a confirmed Mpox (also known as Monkeypox) case, and urged the public to heighten vigilance and avoid close physical contact with persons suspected of contracting Mpox. Meanwhile, high-risk target groups are advised to receive Mpox vaccinations.

     The case involves a 37-year-old male patient with underlying illness. He developed vesicles since January 28. He attended the Yau Ma Tei Male Social Hygiene Clinic of the DH on February 4. He is in stable condition and will be isolated at Princess Margaret Hospital.

     According to the patient, he had a history of high-risk exposure in Hong Kong during the incubation period. An initial investigation revealed that no epidemiological linkages between this case and other confirmed cases recorded in Hong Kong earlier have been found so far. The CHP is continuing its epidemiological investigations of the case and will report the case to the World Health Organization.

     The CHP appeals again to high-risk target groups to receive Mpox vaccinations with a view to lowering the risk of infection or the possibility of having more severe symptoms after infection. Persons who experience Mpox symptoms (including rashes, fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, exhaustion, muscle pain, and severe headaches) or suspect themselves of being infected are advised to seek medical attention and receive treatment at once, and they should not engage in activities with others during which other people may have contact with their skin rash or body fluids. Members of the public should maintain good personal and hand hygiene to prevent virus transmission or infection through contact. They should also avoid close physical contact with persons or animals suspected of infection.

     The CHP had earlier set up an Mpox telephone hotline (2125 2373). The hotline operates from Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) from 9am to 5pm, which enables those who suspect or are concerned they have had high-risk contact with confirmed patients, in particular men who have sex with men or those who have sexual practices with strangers, to make enquiries and receive relevant health advice.

     The DH provides vaccination services for high-risk groups of MPox. The following high-risk target groups can receive Mpox vaccinations on a voluntary basis:
 

1. Individuals with high-risk sexual practices, e.g. having multiple sexual partners, sex workers, or having a history of sexually transmitted infection within the past 12 months;
2. Healthcare workers responsible for caring for patients with confirmed Mpox;
3. Laboratory personnel working with zoonotic pox viruses; and
4. Animal care personnel with high risk of exposure in case of Mpox occurrences in animals in Hong Kong.

     High-risk target groups can receive Mpox walk-in vaccinations at all of the DH’s Social Hygiene Service Clinics (SocHS) (namely Chai Wan SocHS, Wan Chai Male SocHS, Wan Chai Female SocHS, Yau Ma Tei Male SocHS, Yau Ma Tei Female SocHS, Yung Fung Shee SocHS, Fanling SocHS and Tuen Mun SocHS) and the DH’s Yau Ma Tei Integrated Treatment Centre.
 
     Meanwhile, the DH’s Kowloon Bay Integrated Treatment Centre and the Hospital Authority’s Special Medical Clinics at Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital will also provide Mpox vaccination services for their clients.
      
     For more details, please visit the CHP’s page on Mpox and Mpox Vaccination Programme. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Green and Sustainable Finance Cross-Agency Steering Group (Steering Group) sets out three key priorities for this year to foster the growth of sustainable finance in Hong Kong following its meeting today (February 6).

     1. Developing a comprehensive sustainability disclosure ecosystem. With the publication of the Roadmap on Sustainability Disclosure in Hong Kong (Note 1) by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, the Steering Group will take further actions to support the implementation of the International Financial Reporting Standards Sustainability Disclosure Standards (ISSB Standards) in Hong Kong. The Steering Group will work closely with stakeholders to provide technical assistance on sustainability reporting, develop a sustainability assurance framework, and deliver capacity building programmes in collaboration with the industry.

     2. Reinforcing Hong Kong’s role as a leading sustainable and transition finance hub. To scale up the flow of green and sustainable finance, the Steering Group is engaging the industry to expand the Hong Kong Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance (Note 2) to incorporate transition elements and add new sustainable activities. The Steering Group also works alongside the industry to develop operational guidance for practising transition finance in a sectoral approach. Furthermore, the Steering Group will set up a Transition Finance Knowledge Hub on its website. Following the progress of carbon market developments at COP29 (Note 3), the Steering Group reaffirmed its commitment to develop Hong Kong into an Asia-Pacific region carbon trading hub, through increasing engagement with stakeholders and providing capacity building programmes across the region.

     3. Harnessing data and technology to facilitate sustainability reporting and promote sustainable financing activities. The Steering Group is developing the official Hong Kong Green Fintech Map (Note 4) with the industry, which will be published in the first half of 2025, in view of the potential of green fintech solutions in facilitating large-scale mobilisation of sustainable capital and enabling information flow with greater transparency and accessibility. To support sustainability reporting and increase data availability, the Steering Group will continue to enhance the free-for-all public utility data tools on its website throughout the year, including two greenhouse gas emissions calculation and estimation tools and the Climate and Environmental Risk Questionnaire for Non-listed companies/small and medium-sized enterprises. 
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     For details on the initiatives of the Steering Group and its members, please visit sustainablefinance.org.hk/en/.
 
About the Steering Group

     Established in May 2020, the Steering Group is co-chaired by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the Securities and Futures Commission. Members include the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, the Environment and Ecology Bureau, the Insurance Authority, the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority, the Accounting and Financial Reporting Council, and Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited. The Steering Group aims to coordinate the management of climate and environmental risks to the financial sector, accelerate the growth of green and sustainable finance in Hong Kong and support the Government’s climate strategies.
 
Note 1: In December 2024, the HKSAR Government launched the Roadmap on Sustainability Disclosure in Hong Kong, providing a well-defined pathway for large publicly accountable entities in Hong Kong to fully adopt the ISSB Standards no later than 2028.

Note 2: In May 2024, the HKMA published Phase 1 of the Hong Kong Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance, encompassing 12 economic activities under four sectors, namely power generation, transportation, construction, and water and waste management.

Note 3: The 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, commonly known as COP29.

Note 4: In March 2024, the Steering Group launched the Prototype Hong Kong Green Fintech Map with Cyberport and Invest Hong Kong. read more

     The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released the latest provisional figures on restaurant receipts and purchases today (February 6).             The valu… read more

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (February 6) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about an outbreak of highly… read more

     The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) announced today (February 6) the appointment and reappointment of members to the new-term Mega Arts and Cultural Events (ACE) Committee for a period of two years from February 1, 2025, to January 31, 2027. 
      
     A spokesperson for the CSTB said that the reappointed and newly appointed members are all leaders from the arts and cultural and related sectors. The CSTB looks forward to their valuable advice to attract mega arts and cultural events to be held in Hong Kong. Appreciation was extended to the outgoing member, Professor Eric Yim Chi-ming, for his support and contribution to the Mega ACE Committee.

     The membership of the Mega ACE Committee with effect from February 1 is as follows:
 
Chairman
————
Dr Adrian Cheng Chi-kong
  
Vice-Chairman
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Mrs Helen Chan
  
Members
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Ms Ann Au Chor-kwan
Ms Winnie Chiu Wing-kwan
Mr William Fong Yuen-ming*
Dr Evelyn Lam Ho-yi*
Mr Lo Bing-chung*
Mr Wesley Ng Pui-sun
Mr Ng Sui-wan (Ng Yu)
Ms Yolanda Ng Yuen-ting
Ms Joyce Tam Joy-yee*
Mr Paul Yeung Kwok-leung
 
* New appointees

     The CSTB launched the Mega ACE Fund in April 2023. The Mega ACE Fund aims to attract and support international and large-scale arts and cultural events to be held in Hong Kong, with a view to fostering Hong Kong’s development as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. The Mega ACE Committee advises the Government on strategies to attract mega arts and cultural events to be held in Hong Kong, and on the operation of the Mega ACE Fund. It also assesses applications under the Mega ACE Fund for the Government’s approval.
      
     Further to the CSTB’s announcement on details of the enhancement of the Mega ACE Fund’s operation and its application arrangement on November 30, 2024, the new application mechanism officially took effect on January 1, 2025. For more information and the application form, please visit www.cstb.gov.hk/en/councils-boards-and-committees/mega-arts-and-cultural-events-committee.html. read more