Tag Archives: China

     Following is the keynote speech by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, at Hong Kong Tourism Overview 2025 today (March 20): 

Dr YK Pang (Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Dr Pang Yiu-kai), Dr Peter Lam (Chairman-Designate of the Hong Kong Tourism Board), distinguished guests, friends from the travel industry, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good morning. It is with enormous pleasure and a lot of emotion that I join you all at today’s Hong Kong Tourism Board’s Tourism Overview. I was a regular attendee from 2011 to 2016, but this is my very first time joining this important event as the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism. Really happy to see so many old friends of the tourism industry in the audience, and for new friends in this room, a very warm “hello” to all of you.   
 
Strong rebound of tourism performance
 
     Tourism has been a cornerstone of Hong Kong’s economy all along. It may not be a major source of foreign investment, but travel and related sectors gallantly provide employment for some 150 000 people of our workforce. In 2024, we welcomed close to 45 million visitors, marking a more than 30 per cent increase year on year. Among them, Mainland and non-Mainland visitors exceeded 34 million and 10 million respectively, with year-on-year increases at 27 per cent and 44 per cent respectively, injecting momentum into the local economy, and showcasing the collaborative efforts of the Government and the industry. As we entered 2025, we continue to see handsome growth, and achieved in January alone the highest monthly record of 4.74 million visitor arrivals since the pandemic.
 
     And for these remarkable achievements, I would like to take the opportunity to express my heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to Dr YK Pang for leading the Hong Kong Tourism Board with dedication and passion over the past six extraordinary years, particularly through the difficult times during the pandemic. As the Chairman, you have guided the Board with exemplary leadership in successfully overcoming various challenges and then driving the recovery of Hong Kong tourism. Thank you for your invaluable contributions to the Board and to Hong Kong’s tourism development. 
      
     To sustain the momentum of the recovery, it is essential for all of us in the Government and the industry to recognise that the global tourism landscape has indeed changed substantially after the pandemic, and is continually evolving. With the advancement in digital technology and changing traveller preferences, we must embrace innovation, adapt our traditional offerings and craft new ones to maintain our competitive edge.
 
Tourism Blueprint 2.0
 
     With this in mind, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau promulgated on December 30, 2024, the Tourism Blueprint 2.0, setting out the vision and mission for the development of Hong Kong’s tourism industry for the five-year period from 2025 to 2030.

     Blueprint 2.0 is obviously a roadmap, but it is also a pragmatic and forward-looking action plan comprising four development strategies and 133 measures, which cover product development, visitor source expansion, smart tourism and service enhancement, to name but a few. We will vigorously press ahead with the implementation of these measures, many of them are suggestions from the audience in this room, to achieve our vision of consolidating Hong Kong’s position as a world-class premier tourism destination and the mission of implementing “tourism is everywhere”.
      
     I am sure most of you have already read the Blueprint 2.0, maybe serval times, so I am not going to bore you with the details yet again. But I think it is useful for me to elaborate the three key messages, which form the bases of the Blueprint 2.0, to you in person, which will shape the direction of the tourism industry in the coming years.
 
Opportunities to capitalise – Mainland’s support measures
 
     The first message is Hong Kong’s uniqueness as an international tourist city with the advantage of being backed by the motherland, the Mainland of China. This is our core strength and fundamental asset, and it is getting even more important at this day and age as we are under the cloud of geopolitical tension. It is paramount that we make the most out of the wide range of supportive measures that the Central People’s Government has so generously endowed Hong Kong, through the rolling out of the resumption and expansion of multiple-entry permits for Shenzhen residents and the gifting of two precious giant pandas “An An” and “Ke Ke”, to name just a few. These measures have injected fresh impetus into our travel, retail, catering and hospitality industries. The entire tourism industry must strategically utilise these initiatives to maximise the benefits for Hong Kong as a whole.
 
Traditional and new tourism offerings
 
     This naturally brings me to my second message. Hong Kong boasts significant traditional tourism advantages, including world-class tourist attractions, like the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, which will be celebrating its 20th anniversary later this year; Ocean Park, especially with “An An”, “Ke Ke” and the two cute panda cubs “家å§�”,”細佬”; our diverse cuisine, from corner delis “chaa chaan teng” to Michelin-star restaurants; efficient urban management and transportation systems. One thing that we in Hong Kong take for granted and tourists from abroad may not be aware, Hong Kong is in fact one of the safest cities in the world for business and leisure travel. It is essential that we continue to fortify these traditional assets and optimise and strengthen our infrastructure. But it is also crystal clear that amidst fierce competition from nearby cities, there is no room for complacency at all, and we surely cannot just rely on our traditional tourism mode and attractions anymore. 
      
     In the Blueprint 2.0, we promote the four “+ tourism” directions, covering culture, sports, ecology and mega events, in which Hong Kong possesses world-class resources that have yet to be fully presented to global visitors. This is where you, my friends in the travel and tourism trade, must and can all work together and rack your brains to develop innovative and interesting tourism products that speak to the desire of new-generation travellers’ aspiration for in-depth exploration of Hong Kong’s rich, diversified, and unique characteristics. Island tourism, for example, is one of the areas that we are actively working on. Hong Kong’s countryside and outlying islands are our hidden gems. Within an hour, we can travel after attending a formal business meeting in the bustling city centre to our countryside and explore the amazing wonders of nature, just like I did just this past Sunday when I hiked for five hours from Shek Pik Reservoir to Tai O in Lantau in the day, and then dressed up to the nines for a wedding banquet in the evening. We should develop more island tourism and eco-tourism itineraries for our global visitors who now have an increase in preference in this area. Our stunning Victoria Harbour is also one of the most beautiful and must-go photo points among the world’s top visit places. We must make better use of our harbour and the surrounding water body by developing more innovative products like yacht tourism to attract tourists. Horse racing is another world-class tourist attraction that Hong Kong excels and has lots of potential, and I’m glad that CTS (China Travel Service) has recently signed an MOU with the Hong Kong Jockey Club to promote horse-racing tourism, and I believe more will come in this direction. And these days I cannot attend any public speaking engagement without mentioning the Kai Tak Sports Park, our new and proud landmark with a 50 000-sized stadium, with which we are now in a position to bring truly mega sports and entertainment events befitting Hong Kong’s role as an international metropolis. It is only by infusing the city with fresh energy through new tourism offerings can we enhance the ambiance of our vibrant city and attract visitors from around the globe. On this, I look forward to the support and efforts from all of you in unleashing our creativity and developing products that will captivate the hearts of visitors. 
 
Everyone is tourism ambassador
 
     My third message, which I have been repeating at every opportunity since appointment as the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, is that everyone in the community has a role to play in the development of tourism in Hong Kong, in particular in welcoming our visitors from around the world. This is surely most important for all of us present today, who is always the first point of contact with our tourists. Positive and warm hospitality is the key to prosperous tourism development. Hospitality is not just about providing accommodation and dining services but also about offering attentive and caring services, making visitors feel like home and willing to consume, if I am honest. Therefore, we advocate the concept of “Everyone is a tourism ambassador”, and I would encourage everyone in the tourism trade, as well as members of the public, to welcome every visitor with a warm and friendly smile. Every sunny smile by a member of the public will add to the happy vibe that we could bring to our community, and will more likely bring about quality service provided by hospitality professions. We launched the Hospitality Campaign in 2024 with various government departments, the tourism and related sectors, the education sector and district representatives, encouraging the trade and the entire community to go an extra mile in promoting the spirit of hospitality. We will continue to encourage quality services to welcome every visitor. One of our development strategies in the Blueprint 2.0 is to expand and diversify our visitor source markets. These include the Muslims, silver-haired, family, study-tour, and youth visitors. In order to attract these different segments of visitors, in addition to providing attractive tourism offerings, we must understand their needs and show our respect to make them feel welcomed and valued. This is hospitality and I am confident that our tourism industry will excel in it, giving the warmest welcome to our visitors. 
 
Conclusion
 
     My dear friends, we have come a long way recovering from the pandemic, and it is now time for us to work together to bring Hong Kong tourism to new heights. Hong Kong is a city full of energy and endless adventures. The Government, along with the tourism industry, the business sector and the community, and indeed everyone in Hong Kong, need to act together to shape Hong Kong’s attractive tourism brand vividly. I always call myself a tourism veteran, and you have my assurance that I am all ears when you have a new idea to tell me, and I shall be in action when I know that there are things that my bureau could do to facilitate your business. Equally, I hope I have your assurance that you are walking with me to rejuvenate our travel and tourism industries, and that I can count on your diligence and creativity on this journey. I also look forward to working closely once again with the new Chairman of Hong Kong Tourism Board, Dr Peter Lam, to bring Hong Kong tourism to the new and next level of excellence.
      
     Thank you very much. read more

     On the occasion of World Oral Health Day, the Department of Health (DH) today (March 20) urged the public not to neglect the prevention of dental diseases in their daily lives, as managing one’s own oral health is the most cost effective way to retain teeth and achieve oral and general health. In addition, the Primary Dental Co-care Pilot Scheme for Adolescents (PDCC) commenced its services today.
      
     The World Dental Federation has designated March 20 of each year as World Oral Health Day, with this year’s theme being “A Happy Mouth is a Happy Mind. Spread Happiness Everywhere.” The DH’s Oral Health Promotion Division (OHPD) has launched a new promotional video on its YouTube channel to encourage the public to maintain good oral health and to remind them of the importance of “Love Your Teeth, Check-ups Annually”. By maintaining good preventive oral care, people can retain their teeth to a considerable extent in old age
      
     “There is an intimate relationship between oral health and general health. Tooth decay and periodontal disease share many common risk factors as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. For example, smokers are more likely to develop cardiovascular and periodontal disease. To maintain good personal oral and general health, members of the public are encouraged to start with daily habits, such as toothbrushing and interdental cleaning thoroughly every day, having regular oral check-ups, maintaining a healthy eating habit, and refraining from smoking or drinking alcohol to minimise the risk of related diseases,” said the Consultant in-charge, Dental Services of the DH, Dr Kitty Hse.
      
     “The DH has carefully chosen this meaningful day to launch the PDCC today. Through the co-payment arrangement, the PDCC subsidises adolescents to seek dental check-ups at private dental clinics, thereby fostering their partnership with dentists to maintain a good habit of regular dental check-ups and prevent dental diseases,” she added.
      
     Eligible adolescents can receive subsidised services once every calendar year. While the Government provides a subsidy of $200 each time, participants have to pay a co-payment fee as determined by the dentists they select. The co-payment for the subsidised services recommended by the Government is $200 each time. Currently, there are around 270 registered dentists participating in the PDCC to provide services in over 370 service locations, where 67 per cent of the co-payment amount has been set at $200 or less and the minimum co-payment amount has been set at $50 (as at March 19). ​The scope of subsidised services of the PDCC includes:
           
     i. Dental check-up;
     ii. Oral health risk assessment;
     iii. Dental scaling;
     iv. Personalised self-care advice on oral care;
     v. Fluoride application as risk-based follow-up; and
     vi. Check-up report.
      
     To enhance the transparency of dental service fees other than the co-payment fee, the DH required dentists to disclose the fees for X-ray examinations, tooth fillings and tooth extractions as charged under the PDCC. All clinics participating in the PDCC will display the designated logo (see annex) outside their clinics or in visible areas for easy identification.
      
     Adolescents aged between 13 and 17 (or will turn 13 in the calendar year when applying to join the PDCC) who hold a valid Hong Kong identity card and have registered for the Electronic Health Record Sharing System (eHealth) are eligible to join the PDCC. For details, please visit the DH’s thematic website and promotional video clips. Participants may check the list of registered dentists participating in the PDCC and contact the relevant clinic to make an appointment. The list also sets out information about the dentists, such as addresses, telephone numbers, professional qualifications and co-payment fees.
      
     Adolescents participating in the PDCC and their parents can check their relevant records, including the date of the consultation and the co-payment amount, through the eHealth mobile application (eHealth App). Later this year, they will also be able to access their electronic oral health records and oral care advice from the dentists through the eHealth App to better understand and monitor their own dental health.
      
     Dr Hse emphasised that receiving preventive dental services is more effective in safeguarding oral health and more cost-effective than paying for curative dental services later. For more information about oral health and the PDCC, please visit the OHPD’s website, the Facebook fan page of “愛牙 Love Teeth HK”, the YouTube channel and the PDCC website. The DH has issued letters through the Education Bureau to all secondary school students and parents in Hong Kong to introduce the PDCC, and has promoted the PDCC to targeted students at the Student Health Service Centres and School Dental Clinics. read more

     The Department of Health (DH) today (March 20) announced that it has cancelled the licence of a day procedure centre (DPC), Dr MD Clinic and Ambulatory Centre, in Causeway Bay.
      
     In view of the potential risks to patients arising from the multiple serious breaches of the Code of Practice for Day Procedure Centres, the DH suspended the licence of the DPC concerned earlier this month and simultaneously initiated the procedure for cancellation of its licence. The DH has considered the licensee’s representation. In accordance with the Private Healthcare Facilities Ordinance (Cap. 633), the statutory period of notification lapsed today, and the Office for Regulation of Private Healthcare Facilities of the DH had published the information on its website. With immediate effect, the DPC is not allowed to provide specialised services including surgical and anaesthetic procedures.
      
     Upon receipt of a complaint about the suspected mishandling of medical equipment by the DPC concerned, the DH immediately investigated and conducted unannounced inspections. During the inspections, the DPC was found to have contravened the Code of Practice for Day Procedure Centres under the Private Healthcare Facilities Ordinance, namely improper handling and management of an anaesthetic drug, failure to properly sterilise medical equipment, and inadequate staff training and supervision. In addition, the DPC was suspected to have filled in false information in the checking and monitoring of records, including those concerning medical equipment.
      
     The DH will continue to closely monitor licensed private healthcare facilities to protect patient safety. read more

     The Health Bureau announced today (March 20) that the Chronic Disease Co-Care Pilot Scheme (CDCC Pilot Scheme) will be expanded to provide blood lipid testing starting from March 28. In addition, starting from April 15, over 20 additional service points will be introduced across the city to provide dedicated nurse clinic and allied health services for eligible District Health Centre/Express (DHC/DHCE) members who have not participated in the CDCC Pilot Scheme.
 
Expansion of CDCC Pilot Scheme screening service scope to blood lipid testing
 
     The Government launched the CDCC Pilot Scheme in November 2023 to subsidise eligible participants through pairing with a family doctor of their choice to undergo diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HT) screening, as well as attending doctor consultation and receiving laboratory services in the private healthcare sector on a co-payment basis, with a view to achieving “early prevention, early identification and early treatment”. Starting from March 28, the scope of screening under the CDCC Pilot Scheme will be expanded to include blood lipid testing in addition to DM and HT screening to achieve full coverage of the “three highs”, with a view to implementing the policy initiative as set out in “The Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address”, allowing more citizens to comprehensively assess and manage their cardiovascular disease risk factors through the Scheme.
 
     The eligibility criteria for the CDCC Pilot Scheme will remain unchanged (i.e. Hong Kong residents aged 45 or above with no known medical history of DM or HT). The Government subsidies for consultation visits, and the co-payment amount to be paid by the participants will remain at the current level. If participants are diagnosed with hyperlipidaemia, they are entitled to a maximum of four subsidised consultation visits in the first year, and a maximum of two subsidised consultation visits annually from the second year onwards. If they are also diagnosed with prediabetes or suffering from DM or HT, they are entitled to a maximum of four or six subsidised consultation visits per year respectively. The arrangements for subsidised consultation visits will be similar to the current arrangement. Healthcare professionals will also arrange for the participants to receive dedicated nurse clinic and allied health services under the district health network according to their clinical conditions and needs.
 
     The basic-tier drug list of the CDCC Pilot Scheme covers basic drugs for treating chronic diseases (including anti-diabetic drugs, anti-hypertensive drugs and lipid-regulating drugs) as well as episodic illnesses. Participants prescribed with drugs on the list will not be required to pay for such medication. Participants who are confirmed with no sign of DM, HT or hyperlipidaemia upon screening can receive follow-up and assistance in setting health management goals from the DHC/DHCEs, and will be arranged to participate in activities to promote healthy lifestyles according to their health needs to maintain good health.
 
     The Government has announced earlier that the Primary Healthcare Commission will expand the CDCC Pilot Scheme to designated General Out-patient Clinics under the Hospital Authority in three phases, providing preventive screening and healthcare services for the underprivileged group. Relevant services will also cover blood lipid testing from the same date.
 
     In addition, starting from April 15, podiatry services of the dedicated nurse clinic and allied health services under the CDCC Pilot Scheme will be enhanced. Podiatrists will conduct foot assessments for participants with DM and/or HT and provide treatment plans on problems such as foot ulcers, peripheral vascular disease, neuropathy or foot deformities.
 
Expansion of dedicated nurse clinic and allied health services to DHC/DHCE members
 
     Following the provision of dedicated nurse clinic and allied health services for participants in the CDCC Pilot Scheme by the Government since January 20, the DHC/DHCEs will also introduce dedicated nurse clinic and allied health services at over 20 service points across Hong Kong to provide personalised chronic disease management, pain management and rehabilitation services to their members who have not participated in the CDCC Pilot Scheme from April 15.
 
     The dedicated nurse clinics will provide initial assessments on osteoarthritis of knee and back pain, basic self-management and dietary advice and counselling, muscle and joint function assessments, as well as checking of common women’s health issues to members in need. Occupational therapists will provide assessment of capabilities in daily life and personalised functional therapy activities for patients with knee osteoarthritis, back pain and stroke, as well as advising patients and their carers on assistive devices and home environment improvements to reduce fall risks and enhance their self-management and self-care ability in daily life. Chinese medicine practitioners will provide acupuncture and acupressure treatment for patients. Physiotherapists will provide clinical consultations and appropriate intervention treatments including pain relief modality, electrotherapy and manual therapy for complex cases (such as individuals suffering from both overweight and joint pain). Speech therapists will provide assessment and training to patients with difficulties in swallowing, speaking or communication due to stroke, and provide advice on feeding and dietary improvement to the patients suffering from stroke or their carers. Dietitians will design personalised meal plans and provide targeted nutritional guidance to participants. The addresses and service hours of relevant service points will be uploaded to the DHC website (www.dhc.gov.hk/en/healthcare_service_providers.html) on the service effective date.
  
     The co-payment model will be adopted for DHC/DHCE members receiving dedicated nurse clinic and allied health services. Eligible individuals will receive partial subsidies from the Government and pay a designated co-payment fee for services. The co-payment fee for DHC/DHCE members and CDCC Pilot Scheme participants receiving dedicated nurse clinic and allied health services are set out in the Annex.
 
     The CDCC Pilot Scheme has received a positive response since its launch, and over 100 000 participants have joined the programme to date. As at March 12 this year (provisional figures), about 62 700 participants have completed screenings, of which around 24 200 (nearly 40 per cent) have been diagnosed with prediabetes, DM or HT and have entered the treatment phase. The Government will continue to promote the CDCC Pilot Scheme to encourage citizens to prevent and manage chronic diseases proactively, thereby enhancing the overall health of the general public. read more

     Hong Kong Customs arrested the sole director of a wedding rings design company yesterday (March 19) on suspicion of engaging in wrongly accepting payments when selling products, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).

     The company concerned had been constantly delaying the delivery of wedding rings ordered by consumers recently by making up various reasons. The company eventually lost contact with consumers and closed its retail shop earlier this month. As of 8am today, Customs had received a total of 57 complaints against the company concerned. Complainants reported making prepaid orders for wedding rings, but failing to receive the goods or obtain refunds from the company. The total amount involved in the case is approximately $520,000, with the largest of individual cases amounting to around $20,000.

     In view of the sudden business suspension of the company and  its suspected violation of the TDO, Hong Kong Customs promptly established a special task force to follow up on related cases and took enforcement action yesterday. The 41-year-old male sole director of the company was arrested during the operation. He has been released on bail pending further investigation. 
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     Under the TDO, any trader commits an offence if, at the time of acceptance of payment, the trader intends not to supply the product or intends to supply a materially different product, or there are no reasonable grounds for believing that the trader will be able to supply the product within a specified or reasonable period. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment of five years.
      
     Customs reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO and refrain from engaging in unfair trade practices when supplying goods.
      
     Members of the public may report any suspected violations of the TDO 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). read more