Tag Archives: China

     Hong Kong Customs detected a drug trafficking case involving an incoming air passenger at Hong Kong International Airport today (October 21) and seized about 10 kilograms of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of about $6 million.

     A 20-year-old Mainland male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Istanbul, Turkey, today. During Customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cocaine inside his check-in suitcase. The man was subsequently arrested.

     An investigation is ongoing.

     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).

  

     ​The Correctional Services Department (CSD) conducted a large-scale emergency exercise, code-named “Concord XXV”, at Pik Uk Correctional Institution today (October 21). The exercise simulated a series of incidents, which included fighting among remand persons in custody (PICs), a hostage-taking situation, a fire breakout, a mass riot and the discovery of explosives.
      
     The exercise aimed to review the response capabilities of various units of the CSD when handling emergencies. These include command and communication capabilities at the scene, the effectiveness of activating the Emergency Response System at different tiers according to the developments of emergency situations and the effectiveness of emergency responses as well as information dissemination at departmental levels. The exercise also tested the CSD’s co-ordination with other government departments when responding to emergencies. The exercise also included the use of emergency evacuation procedures in the event of the discovery of explosives within the area of the correctional institution.
      
     A total of more than 150 staff members from different government departments, including the CSD’s Correctional Emergency Response Team and Regional Response Team, the Hong Kong Police Force and the Fire Services Department, took part in the exercise.
      
     The Assistant Commissioner of Correctional Services (Operations), Mr Chan Siu-hang, was in charge of the whole exercise at the CSD’s Central Control Centre in Stanley. He said that the exercise enhanced the response capabilities of the CSD and the effectiveness of its emergency support. It also ensured effective communication and co-operation between government departments.
      
     The CSD holds regular emergency exercises of different scales, including those at institutional, regional and departmental levels, with a view to ensuring that staff members are capable of handling different types of incidents, thereby safeguarding national security, providing a safe and secure custodial environment for PICs and maintaining Hong Kong as one of the safest cities in the world.

          

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (October 21) urged the public not to consume a batch of ready-to-eat turkey meat product imported from the United States (US) due to possible temperature abuse during storage. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected batch of the product immediately if they possess it. 

     Product details are as follows: 

Product name: Oil Braised Oven Roasted Turkey Breast
Brand: Mckenzie 
Place of origin: US 
Batch number: 26175 
Best before date: September 7, 2027
Importer: Etak International Limited 
 
     “The CFS, through its Food Incident Surveillance System, noted a notification from the US authorities that the above-mentioned product is being recalled as it might have undergone possible temperature abuse during storage. Upon learning of the incident, the CFS immediately contacted local importers and retailers to follow up. A preliminary investigation found that the above-mentioned importer had imported into Hong Kong the affected batch of the product concerned,” a spokesman for the CFS said. 

     The importer concerned has stopped sales, removed from shelves the affected batch of the product, and initiated a recall according to the CFS’s instructions. Members of the public may call the importer’s hotline at 2526 2371 during office hours for enquiries about the recall. 

     “If meat and poultry products are subjected to temperature abuse during storage, this can facilitate the growth of foodborne pathogens or lead to spoilage. Infected individuals with foodborne pathogens may experience symptoms such as fever, abdominal cramps, vomiting, and diarrhoea. However, severe complications may occur in newborns, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals,” the spokesman added. 

     The spokesman advised members of the public to stop consuming the affected batch of the product and seek medical treatment as soon as possible if they feel unwell after consuming the product concerned. 

     The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. The investigation is ongoing.  read more

     The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, met with the Minister of Finance, Mr Lan Fo’an, at Government House today (October 21) to exchange views on economic and financial development of the Mainland and Hong Kong. Also attending the meeting were the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan; the Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong; and the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui.

     Mr Lee welcomed and thanked Mr Lan for leading a delegation to visit Hong Kong and chairing the 2026 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Finance Ministers’ Meeting (FMM). The FMM, being the last sectoral ministerial meeting before the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting to be held in Shenzhen in November this year, was of great significance to the outcomes in the financial field of APEC China 2026. The country is the host economy of APEC this year, and the FMM was hosted by the Ministry of Finance and organised for the first time by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government. The two-day meeting started yesterday and was successfully held in Hong Kong, during which candid and in-depth exchanges were conducted on key issues in the financial and economic fields, and a series of pragmatic outcomes were achieved. 

     The meeting adopted and issued the 2026 APEC Finance Ministers’ Joint Statement and the Policy Statement on Digital Infrastructure Financing Across the Asia-Pacific Region, setting a clear direction and providing guidance for deepening financial and economic co-operation among Asia-Pacific economies. The meeting further deepened consensus among the parties in three areas: first, strengthening communication and co-ordination on macroeconomic policies to jointly address external risks and challenges; second, advancing pragmatic fiscal and financial co-operation to support the long-term sustainable development of the Asia-Pacific economy; and third, deepening the process of regional integration and promoting the building of an Asia-Pacific community. The meeting also produced two outcome documents in specialised areas and summarised the programme promoting dialogue for young financial talent across the APEC region.

     Mr Lee expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the country for its trust in and support for Hong Kong, as well as its strong affirmation of Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre. Hong Kong actively leveraged the FMM as a platform for international exchange to showcase its unique strengths of connecting with the Mainland and the world, and to deepen its economic and trade exchanges and co-operation with APEC member economies. As an engine of global economic growth, the Asia-Pacific region bears greater responsibilities amid the multiple challenges facing world economic growth. Hong Kong will continue to give full play to its roles as a “super-connector” and a “super value-adder”, and work with others to promote regional economic co-operation, prosperity and stability.

     Mr Lee said that the National 15th Five-Year Plan supports Hong Kong in consolidating and enhancing its status as an international financial centre. The HKSAR Government announced last month the Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan and the Policy Address, proactively aligning with national development strategies, further developing the Renminbi (RMB) business and commodity trading, and consolidating Hong Kong’s international competitive advantages. Hong Kong will continue to advance its high-quality development as an international financial centre, deepen mutual access between Hong Kong and Mainland financial markets, and serve the country’s high-level financial opening up.

     Mr Lee said that the Ministry of Finance has issued RMB sovereign bonds in Hong Kong for consecutive years, and made its inaugural issuance of RMB sovereign green bonds in Hong Kong this year, helping consolidate and enhance Hong Kong’s position as the world’s offshore RMB business hub. The HKSAR Government will continue to promote the development of Hong Kong’s bond market, advance the internationalisation of RMB and further enhance the sustainable finance ecosystem. Mainland financial institutions may leverage Hong Kong’s internationalised market, professional services and talent pool to further expand their business. In addition, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) will soon establish an office in Hong Kong. As a member of the AIIB, Hong Kong will continue to actively support its work.

  

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (October 21) recorded a fatal case of paediatric influenza infection. The CHP urged the public, especially high-risk groups, to receive vaccinations as early as possible in order to safeguard their own health and that of their families. In addition, the public should maintain good personal and environmental hygiene at all times to prevent influenza and other respiratory illnesses.
 
     The case involved a 12-year-old girl with underlying health conditions. She developed a fever, cough and diarrhoea on October 17, followed by vomiting. Her condition worsened on the evening of October 19 and she was brought to the Accident and Emergency Department of Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital. She suffered a cardiac arrest and was resuscitated. She was admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit for treatment. Her respiratory specimen tested positive for influenza A (H1) virus. Her clinical diagnosis was influenza A infection complicated with septic shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation and multi-organ failure. The patient passed away yesterday (October 20).
 
　　The CHP’s preliminary investigation revealed that the patient had no travel history during the incubation period and had not received the 2026/27 Seasonal Influenza Vaccination (SIV). One of her household contacts recently developed mild upper respiratory symptoms, but the symptoms were mild and did not require hospitalisation. The CHP will continue to investigate the case. The case will be referred to the Coroner.
 
     “Hong Kong entered the influenza season in late June this year and the influenza season has lasted for nearly four months by now. Currently, local influenza activity remains at a high level. A cumulative total of 25 cases of severe paediatric influenza infection have been recorded in the current influenza season, which is the same as that recorded during the same period last season. Among these cases, 20 patients had recovered and been discharged from hospital, one patient is in serious condition, two patients are in critical condition and two passed away (including the above case). I urge the public not to take influenza lightly, and to take appropriate preventive measures, including receiving SIV as early as possible in order to build an immunity barrier in the community and reduce the risk of severe illness and death,” said the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui.
 
     “The CHP’s analysis of data from the previous year revealed that the rate of severe complications or death among unvaccinated children following influenza infection was approximately five times higher than that among vaccinated children. Among unvaccinated residents aged 65 years or older living in residential care homes for the elderly, the rate of severe complications was approximately four times higher than that among vaccinated residents. These data clearly demonstrate that SIV is the most effective way to prevent severe cases of seasonal influenza and its complications. SIV also reduces the risk of hospitalisation and death. Therefore, all people aged six months or above, except those with known contraindications, should receive SIV for personal protection as early as possible,” Dr Tsui added.

     The 2026/27 SIV Programmes, including the SIV School Outreach Programme (SIVSOP), commenced on September 17. The SIVSOP this year has introduced a new Electronic Consent Form (e-consent form) feature via eHealth. This new measure not only facilitates the public to join the SIV Programmes but also streamlines the administrative procedures for healthcare service providers and schools, so that SIV outreach activities can start as early as possible. About 960 schools have organised SIV outreach activities. SIV outreach activities are expected to be completed by mid-December, about two weeks earlier than last year.

     “Due to widespread influenza transmission in the community in recent months, there has been a significant increase in both the number of infections and severe cases. Since the new school year started in September, nearly 460 influenza-like illness outbreaks have been recorded in schools, affecting a total of approximately 2 800 persons. Schools and parents must remain vigilant and take preventive measures. The CHP anticipates that influenza activity will continue to fluctuate at high levels in the coming weeks,” said Dr Tsui.

     Dr Tsui reminded parents that the health condition of children with influenza can deteriorate rapidly. Parents must pay close attention to their condition and visit an accident and emergency department immediately if the child’s condition deteriorates with symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, blue lips, chest pain, confusion, a persistent fever or convulsions. Members of the public should seek medical attention as soon as possible if they develop respiratory symptoms. If they live with members of high-risk groups, such as children, the elderly and those with underlying illnesses or compromised immune systems, they should wear a surgical mask at home to reduce the risk of infecting them. Other effective ways to reduce the spread of the disease include maintaining household hygiene, frequently cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces, practising good hand hygiene, and ensuring proper indoor air circulation.

　　Members of the public may refer to the CHP’s COVID-19 & Flu Express, Seasonal Influenza Webpage and Vaccination Schemes for the latest information. read more