50 h. ago 12 Hong Kong children hospitalised with flu prompt urgent vaccination calls

Twelve children have been admitted to intensive care with influenza since September, Hong Kong’s health minister has said, urging parents to arrange vaccinations as soon as possible. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau renewed calls for flu vaccination on Wednesday after two more severe paediatric cases were reported on consecutive days, both involving two-year-old children. Lo said the summer flu season begun unusually late, in early September, and warned of a possible overlap between the summer...

Science

50 h. ago Severe flu cases among Hong Kong children prompt urgent vaccination calls

Twelve children have been hospitalised with severe influenza since September, Hong Kong’s health minister has said, urging parents to arrange vaccinations as soon as possible. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau renewed calls for flu vaccination on Wednesday after two more severe paediatric cases were reported on consecutive days, both involving two-year-old children. Lo said the summer flu season has started unusually late, in early September. He warned of a possible overlap between the summer...

Politics

2 d. ago Hong Kong will lead push for green fuel to elevate status as aviation hub: minister

Hong Kong will play a pivotal role in pushing for the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in an effort to raise the city’s status as an international aviation hub, the city’s transport chief has pledged. Speaking at the International Air Transport Association (IATA)’s World Sustainability Symposium hosted in Hong Kong on Tuesday, Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan also said the government’s green fuel usage target of 1 to 2 per cent by 2030, announced after Chief Executive John...

Politics

3 d. ago Hong Kong minister admits procurement vigilance ‘below expectations’, vows reform

Civil servants’ vigilance in guarding against potential procurement scams falls short of public expectations, Hong Kong’s treasury minister has admitted, pledging to conduct site visits and prevent the process from becoming a “robotic” arrangement of “checking boxes”. But Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui Ching-yu stressed on Tuesday that the principle of “the lowest bidder wins” did not apply to government procurement procedures this time around and denied that...

Politics

6 d. ago Envoys take special tour of Hong Kong’s exhibition on Chinese side of WWII

China’s foreign ministry arm in Hong Kong has organised its first tour for diplomats and business chamber representatives of an exhibition on the country’s war of resistance against Japan, with a Beijing official saying the event promotes remembering history, cherishing peace and creating a better future. More than 20 consuls general, consuls and representatives from foreign commerce chambers on Friday afternoon joined the visit to “United in Arms, Standing for Peace: 80th Anniversary of Chinese...

Events

6 d. ago Envoys given special tour of Hong Kong exhibition on Chinese victory in WWII

The Chinese foreign ministry’s arm in Hong Kong has organised its first tour for diplomats and business chamber representatives of an exhibition on the country’s war of resistance against Japan, with a Beijing official saying the aim of the visit was to remember history, cherish peace and create a better future. More than 20 consuls general, consuls and representatives from foreign chambers of commerce joined the visit on Friday afternoon to the “United in Arms, Standing for Peace: 80th...

Events

2 w. ago Hong Kong minister rejects imposing storm chasing fines, warns against risks

Hong Kong's security chief has ruled out introducing fines for reckless people who need to be rescued during adverse weather, adding that drafting a new law against storm chasing would be challenging. Instead, Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung warned residents on Saturday to think twice before taking the risk to chase storms, saying such action was like “committing suicide”. Tang made the remarks during a television interview as Severe Tropical Storm Matmo headed closer to Guangdong...

Events

3 w. ago Beijing sets 4 red lines after US envoy’s contact with Hong Kong opposition figures

Beijing has laid down four red lines for the United States’ top diplomat in Hong Kong, including warning her not to meet anyone an envoy “should not meet with”, after she reportedly invited local opposition figures to her inaugural reception. Cui Jianchun, commissioner of the foreign ministry’s office in Hong Kong, had lodged “solemn representations” with US Consul General Julie Eadeh during a meeting on Tuesday about “her conduct since she assumed duties”, the office revealed on...

Politics

3 w. ago Underperforming top brass face probes, warns Hong Kong civil service chief

Senior officials may face disciplinary probes if their departments are found to have performed badly by the ombudsman or audit commissioner under the new accountability system being pushed by the Hong Kong government, the civil service minister has said. Speaking at a Legislative Council panel meeting on Monday, Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan also dismissed concerns that department heads could be subject to overlapping probes. She was highlighting the initiatives on...

Events

3 w. ago Beijing, Hong Kong slam ‘biased’ US investment climate report ‘smearing’ city

The Chinese foreign ministry’s arm in Hong Kong and the city government have slammed the latest edition of a US report on the local business environment, saying it continues to “maliciously smear and make unfounded and false accusations” against the national security law. The US State Department issued its “2025 Investment Climate Statements” report two days ago covering more than 170 countries and economies, with the section on Hong Kong prompting the rebukes on Sunday. The foreign ministry’s...

Politics

3 w. ago Hong Kong to get tough on lung cancer with new AI screening tools: minister

Hong Kong is set to deploy artificial intelligence to detect early signs of lung cancer among residents and plans to create a new government office to proactively fast-track approval for innovative treatments from around the globe, the health minister has said. The move signals a major strategic shift by authorities towards new technologies and an aggressive intervention against various forms of cancer, which accounts for one in every four deaths in the city. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau...

Politics

3 w. ago Hong Kong to look for early lung cancer signs with new AI screening tools

Hong Kong is set to deploy AI to detect early signs of lung cancer among residents and plans to create a new government office to proactively fast-track approval for innovative treatments from around the globe, the health minister has said. The move signals a major strategic shift by authorities towards new technologies and an aggressive intervention against various forms of cancer, which accounts for one in every four deaths in the city. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau also said on Sunday...

Politics

3 w. ago Strong public backlash behind ongoing hold on Hong Kong waste charging: minister

Hong Kong’s environment minister has said strong public opposition led to the continued suspension of the government’s long-delayed waste-charging scheme, but has stressed that the volume of rubbish being disposed of has fallen over the years. Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan on Saturday defended the government’s decision to shelve the waste-charging scheme indefinitely. He said multiple surveys showed about 70 to 80 per cent of respondents thought the scheme should not be...

Politics

3 w. ago Hong Kong to learn from Ragasa, boost flood mitigation measures: minister

Hong Kong’s development minister has vowed to learn from the experience of Super Typhoon Ragasa and review coastal facilities, saying that flood mitigation measures will be introduced for high-risk areas such as Tseung Kwan O and Aberdeen. Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho made the pledge on Saturday, three days after Ragasa inundated low-lying and coastal areas, with restaurants along a Tseung Kwan O promenade and Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel among those hit by flooding. “Based on...

Events

3 w. ago Beijing’s top diplomat in Hong Kong urges US consul general to be ‘constructive’

Beijing’s top diplomat in Hong Kong has laid down the scope of engagement for the new US consul general in the city, urging her not to interfere in local matters and the country’s internal affairs, while playing a constructive role in the development of China-US relations. Cui Jianchun, the commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong, also told newly appointed US Consul General Julie Eadeh that Washington should lift sanctions concerning the city during her courtesy call on...

Politics

4 w. ago Hong Kong could link proposed teacher certificate to living in city: minister

Hong Kong might consider whether teachers are residing in the city before issuing proposed practising certificates, the education minister has said, in a move that could prevent educators who moved away in recent years from working locally in the future. Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin also said on Friday that teachers who failed to declare any criminal record would be banned from renewing their certificates to safeguard the interests of students and the image of the...

Politics

4 w. ago Hong Kong studying financial proposals for city’s third medical school: minister

The three universities in Hong Kong applying to set up the city’s third medical school have “very different” financial proposals, the health minister has said, adding authorities are studying how sustainable these plans are. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau also said on Friday that a dedicated task group had already studied the proposals submitted by the three universities, including curriculum as well as staff and student recruitment plans, with capital requirements and financial...

Politics

4 w. ago Hong Kong’s economic losses from Ragasa may hit billions, experts say

Super Typhoon Ragasa may have resulted in billions of Hong Kong dollars in economic losses to the city, but its overall impact may have been less severe than past storms, with more people working from home and the stock market trading despite the adverse weather, experts have said. But they warned on Thursday that as extreme weather became more frequent, significant annual economic losses were becoming a “new normal” for Hong Kong. The world’s most powerful tropical cyclone this year, Ragasa,...

Economics

4 w. ago Balloon festival organiser was urged to cancel rides: Hong Kong tourism minister

The Hong Kong government had “clearly stated” to the organiser of a failed hot-air balloon festival that the chance of approving passengers to ride in the aircraft was “extremely slim” and had recommended that it cancel the attraction and issue refunds ahead of time, the tourism chief has revealed. Making public the details for the first time, Secretary for Sports, Culture and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui on Thursday said authorities told the organiser eight days before the event began in...

Politics

4 w. ago Hong Kong minister rejects work suspension legislation for adverse weather

Hong Kong’s labour minister has ruled out legislating for work suspension arrangements under adverse weather, saying the move will hinder the functioning of society and the early resumption of normalcy. Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han rejected the call on Thursday as some lawmakers urged authorities to improve the protection of workers under inclement weather, after Super Typhoon Ragasa wreaked havoc across the city. He said different industries and job categories were...

Politics