The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) today (March 7) announced that the department tested 64 water samples collected from cooling towers in 27 buildings during its routine inspections in February 2025. None of them were detected to have a total legionella count at or above the upper threshold, which is 1 000 colony-forming units per millilitre. The latest statistics are set out in Annex 1.

     The EMSD also announced the locations of buildings which were served with nuisance notices during the preceding three-month period as the total legionella count was found in the fresh water cooling towers to be equal to or above the upper threshold. Details can be found in Annex 2.

     The EMSD publishes the latest statistics of the above information on a half-monthly basis on its website
     (www.emsd.gov.hk/en/other_regulatory_services/cooling_towers/water_sampling/index.html).
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     The EMSD reminds the owners of fresh water cooling towers that they have the responsibility to design, operate and maintain cooling towers properly. They should arrange regular inspections, timely maintenance and periodic testing of the water quality in their cooling towers in accordance with the Code of Practice for Fresh Water Cooling Towers issued by the department to prevent the proliferation of legionella.

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     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (March 7) that due to big waves, the red flag has been hoisted at Silverstrand Beach in Sai Kung District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at the beach.

     The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, met with the Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Mr Sam Hou-fai, at Government House last month to exchange views on further promoting Hong Kong's co-operation with Macao and the high-quality development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). To implement and enhance co-operation between the two places, Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) cohosted an investment promotion seminar with the Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute of the Macao Special Administrative Region in Macao yesterday (March 6), receiving about 90 local representatives from various sectors, including manufacturing, branding, retail, food and beverage (F&B), import and export trading, as well as chambers and associations. The seminar aimed to update Macao enterprises on Hong Kong's latest business environment and new opportunities, especially in retail, F&B and trade sectors, encouraging them to leverage Hong Kong's unique advantages to expand overseas.

     Entitled Macao Enterprises Expansion Series – Hong Kong's New Business Opportunities Seminar (Retail, F&B and Trade), the seminar marked the first collaboration between the two promotion agencies in 2025, aiming to enhance learning from each other and strengthen co-operation between the two cities, as well as to explore new business opportunities in the GBA.

     "Hong Kong and Macao share a strong bond as dynamic and complementary economies within the GBA," said Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion at InvestHK Mr Arnold Lau. "Macao goods have long been a favourite among Hong Kong consumers, showcasing the strong cultural and economic ties between the two vibrant cities. By expanding into Hong Kong, Macao enterprises can extend their reach not only to the local market, but also promote their products to the international and Mainland visitors passing through Hong Kong. Moreover, Hong Kong has many trade shows that attract international buyers. The city is an ideal platform for Macao enterprises to connect to the world and expand globally," he explained.

     At the seminar, the President of the Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Mr Vincent U, said, "Hong Kong and Macao have maintained close business co-operation and commercial ties for many years, including holding joint investment promotion activities to promote opportunities in the GBA. Building on this long-standing collaboration, we aim to further strengthen two-way investment co-operation and explore more opportunities for Hong Kong-Macao collaborations and the development of the GBA market."

     The Head of Consumer Products of InvestHK, Ms Angelica Leung, and the Head of Tourism and Hospitality of InvestHK, Ms Sindy Wong, highlighted the latest industry trends and shared case studies respectively with Macao enterprises during the seminar, helping them to gain a better understanding of Hong Kong's market and advantages. They also provided information on the latest government policies, including details on industry events and available funding support to help businesses expand, enhance competitiveness through digital transformation and explore international markets. Macao enterprises that have a presence in Hong Kong also shared their practical insights at the event, encouraging local enterprises to raise brand awareness and "go global" via Hong Kong.

     InvestHK will continue to collaborate with related Macao organisations to jointly promote business opportunities in Hong Kong, assisting local enterprises to expand overseas via the city.

            

     â€‹The Government gazetted the Rural By-election today (March 7). Eleven Rural Representative vacancies will be open for nominations from March 18 to 31.
 
     The by-election will return one Resident Representative (ReR) for each of the six Existing Villages, and one Indigenous Inhabitant Representative (IIR) for each of the five Indigenous Villages/Composite Indigenous Village. The six Existing Villages are Wu Shek Kok, Kam Shan Village, Tai Po Tau, Wai Tau Tsuen, Kwong Shan Tsuen and Tung Chun Wai; whereas the five Indigenous Villages/Composite Indigenous Village are Kwun Yam Shan and Kong Pui, Ha Ling Pei, Kap Tong, Ho Chung, and Ping Tun.
 
     For the IIR By-election, a candidate must be an indigenous inhabitant of an Indigenous Village/Composite Indigenous Village as well as an elector of the relevant Village and ordinarily resides in Hong Kong. For the ReR By-election, a candidate must be a resident of the relevant Existing Village and has resided there for six years immediately preceding the nomination. The candidate must also be an elector of the relevant Village.
 
     All candidates must be Hong Kong permanent residents aged 21 or above and must be nominated by at least five registered electors from that Village. No person is allowed to stand as a candidate in more than one type of election (i.e. IIR or ReR By-election).
 
     Nomination forms are available at the Home Affairs Department (HAD), the New Territories District Offices (NTDOs) and the Rural Representative Election (RRE) website (www.had.gov.hk/rre).
 
     Completed nomination forms must be submitted in person to the Returning Officer concerned between 9am and 5pm from Mondays to Fridays, and from 9am to noon on Saturdays, except general holidays.
 
     A gazette notice on all valid nominations will be published within 14 days after the nomination period. Each validly nominated candidate will be informed separately.
 
     A spokesman for the HAD said that if there is more than one validly nominated candidate for the same Indigenous Village/Composite Indigenous Village or Existing Village, a poll would be held for that Village on April 27 (Sunday). Eligible electors will receive a polling notice which specifies the date, time and place of the poll.
 
     For enquiries, please call 2152 1521 or contact the respective NTDO. Members of the public can also visit the RRE website for more information.

     The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, led a delegation of representatives from Hong Kong's innovation and technology (I&T) sector to visit Lisbon, Portugal, on March 6 (Lisbon time).

     Professor Sun and the delegation visited Taguspark, which is the largest science and technology park and incubator in Portugal, to learn about the latest effort of Taguspark in pooling technology companies to move in, developing applied science and technology and promoting economic activities covering multiple areas.

     Professor Sun and the delegation then met with representatives of the Oeiras Valley Investment Agency and were briefed on the agency’s work in promoting the municipality’s economic growth and attracting investment. The two parties exchanged views on promoting collaboration between innovative parks of Hong Kong and Portugal, as well as investment and exchanges among enterprises in the two places. They also had an exchange with several local enterprises. 

     In the evening, Professor Sun met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Portuguese Republic, Mr Zhao Bentang, to brief him on the new initiatives by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in promoting I&T, and developing new industrialisation to support the high-quality economic growth of Hong Kong. They also explored ways to enhance co-operation between Hong Kong and Portugal in the I&T field.

     Members of the delegation include heads from the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC), Cyberport, the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute and the Hong Kong Microelectronics Research and Development Institute, as well as representatives of 24 local I&T enterprises or institutions. The HKSTPC and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council co-ordinated the participation of the I&T representatives of the enterprises and institutions at the MWC 2025.

     Professor Sun will conclude the visit in Portugal on March 7 and will return to Hong Kong in the afternoon on March 8 (Hong Kong time).