The ICH (Intangible Cultural Heritage) Highlight Tours, which brings the public and tourists to explore ICH items with ICH practitioners sharing their skills and stories, will open for registration on May 15 and 16.

As the highlight programme of the second Hong Kong ICH Month in June, the tours will expand to a total of 40 field trips this year, extending the coverage to eight districts, offering a total of nine different ICH-themed routes.

Each route will have two public tours in Cantonese, accommodating 20 participants per tour.

People interested in joining the tours can register online from 10.30am on May 15 to 6.30pm on May 16. Admission is free. In case of excess applications, all quotas will be allocated by ballot.

Successful applicants will receive a confirmation email by May 26.

Hong Kong ICH Month is presented by the Leisure & Cultural Services Department and organised by its Intangible Cultural Heritage Office (ICHO).

In addition, the ICHO collaborates with the Tourism Board to organise ICH Highlight Tours in Sham Shui Po and Happy Valley for tourists.

Special ICH Highlight Tours in Kowloon City and Sham Shui Po will also be arranged for students.

The Government today invited public views on the proposed outline of the combined fourth and fifth reports under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

The Labour & Welfare Bureau said the reports will update the United Nations on Hong Kong’s implementation of the UNCRPD since the previous submission. They will also address concerns and recommendations raised by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in its 2022 Concluding Observations.

Once finalised, the reports will be submitted to the central government for incorporation into its periodic reports to the United Nations.

The consultation period will run until June 30.

Good morning. It is a pleasure to join you, once again, for the opening of the Asia Summit on Global Health, the sixth edition.

You represent the full spectrum of the global health community. That includes medical professionals and government officials, also representatives of multinational pharmaceutical and health-tech enterprises, investors and entrepreneurs.

Your presence here in Hong Kong underscores a simple but powerful truth: in an age of complex health challenges, progress is powered by collaboration.

This summit makes collaboration easy, with more than 90 high-profile speakers from 15 countries and regions. They include Nobel Prize Laureate in Chemistry Prof Michael Levitt, who will speak at the Dialogue with Global Pioneer in Health session. And count on the latest medical developments and research, together with wide-ranging opportunities for networking and creative partnerships that make all the difference.

Your expertise and contributions are desperately needed. Today's world grapples with profound health challenges, with new threats continually emerging. We also face the pressing realities of ageing populations. There is the silent crisis of antimicrobial resistance. And there are persistent inequities in healthcare access – both regional and global.

That makes the theme of this year's summit, “Fuelling Healthcare Breakthroughs”, particularly relevant. The two-day programme highlights three key areas:

First, China opportunities in aligning with the 15th Five-Year Plan's health priorities. This includes innovative drug access, modernisation of traditional Chinese medicine, silver health, and the outbound expansion of Chinese pharmaceutical companies.

Second, frontier technologies. The programme covers global healthcare trends, breakthroughs in artificial intelligence (AI) and digital health, medical robotics and devices, and gene and cell therapies.

Third, health innovation and investment trends. You will see pitching sessions for startups. You will also find deal-making sessions that connect projects with capital.

Clinical collaboration with the Mainland

Let me now outline how Hong Kong, under the “one country, two systems” principle, is investing in healthcare and, in doing so, investing in the future of our people and our economy.

Our status as a leading hub for scientific innovation is unrivalled in Asia. And our strengths are magnified by our core position in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. That is the cluster city development integrating 11 dynamic cities in southern China. It boasts a collective economy that rivals that of the world's 10th-largest nation.

In pursuit of medical innovation, Hong Kong complements the strategies set out in the National 15th Five-Year Plan. The plan optimises an evaluation and approval mechanism for innovative drugs and supports their clinical application. The goal is to develop Hong Kong into a health and medical innovation hub.

Central to this ambition is the rapid expansion of our clinical trial capabilities, the vital engine that drives biomedical research and development (R&D) from the laboratory to the bedside.

That is anchored by the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute. It is wholly government-owned and operated by the University of Hong Kong's medical faculty. It is located in the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science & Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone.

The institute operates alongside its Shenzhen counterpart under an integrated “one institute, one centre” model. Together, they draw on the Greater Bay Area's combined population of more than 87 million, co-ordinating multi-centre, cross-boundary clinical trials. These trials meet both national and international standards.

By streamlining cross-boundary trials, the institute serves as a one-stop agency for medical R&D institutions worldwide. It accelerates the delivery of life-changing medical technologies to patients.

Last December, we launched the Greater Bay Area Clinical Trial Collaboration Platform. We also set up the Real-World Study & Application Centre. Both deepen our co-operation with Mainland partners.

The collaboration platform offers expert consultation on medicine, statistics, regulatory affairs and ethics. The application centre uses Hong Kong's medical data advantages to generate real-world evidence. This supports drug and device registration in Hong Kong and on the Mainland.

Drug and medical device regulation

We are also enhancing our drug and medical device regulatory regime. Our “1+” mechanism for new drugs' registration expedites patient access to life-saving therapies.

It allows new drugs to be registered in Hong Kong after approval from just one recognised reference authority – instead of the traditional two. Supporting local clinical data is required, of course.

This year is transformative for our regulatory landscape. In March, we began the phased implementation of “primary evaluation” for new drugs registration. That marks a milestone in our transition to a fully independent drug evaluation framework. We aim for full implementation by 2030.

I am also pleased to announce that the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation will be established by year's end. That will put Hong Kong on the map as a trusted hub for regulatory excellence.

Innovation research

InnoHK, our flagship innovation and technology initiative, was launched to develop Hong Kong into a global research collaboration hub. And to date, two InnoHK research clusters have collaborated with more than 30 world-renowned universities and research institutes from 12 economies.

They pool more than 3,000 researchers worldwide. Sixteen of the research centres focus on healthcare-related technologies – biomedicine, chemistry, engineering and AI.

We are also establishing the Life & Health Technology Research Institute. It will be located at the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park, with three branches to be established by local universities. We expect to complete the preparatory work this year.

We are strengthening the bridge between laboratories and the market through the Research, Academic & Industry Sectors One-plus Scheme, with funding of HK$10 billion, which is US$1.3 billion, allowing money to channel more support to local university research teams. We are focused on those with good potential to become successful startups, commercialising their R&D outcomes.

Health tech downstream industry

Downstream industry is central to supporting a thriving life and health technology sector. That is why we have launched the New Industrialisation Acceleration Scheme, also with funding of HK$10 billion; that is US$1.3 billion.

It helps companies in life and health technology and other strategic fields to establish high-end smart production facilities in Hong Kong. To date, we have supported two enterprises focusing on pharmaceuticals and medical devices, with a total project cost of over US$120 million.

Another HK$10 billion, or US$1.3 billion, the Innovation & Technology Industry-Oriented Fund, will also be launched this year. It will encourage market capital to invest in five thematic areas, life and health technology among them.

We have long supported the University Grants Committee's eight funded universities. They carry out academic research in wide-ranging disciplines, including health and medicine. In the 2025-26 academic year, more than 200 research projects in medicine and biology received government support. Total funding exceeded US$32 million.

We are also nurturing PhD and postdoctoral talent. Publicly funded research postgraduate places grew from about 5,600 to 7,200 in two years, up to 2024-25; the increase is 28%. Places under the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme also rose by a third.

Ladies and gentlemen, Hong Kong is committed to medical innovation. We have established vital infrastructure and productive policies. We have also created a dynamic network that turns research into tangible solutions.

True innovation requires deep collaboration and strategic partnerships that span the world and every sector of our industry. Through your interactions over the next two days, we may begin to unlock the next great breakthroughs in medicine and biotechnology.

Chief Executive John Lee gave these remarks at the Asia Summit on Global Health on May 11.

In 2025, the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) cracked a case of illegal goat slaughtering. The premises involved were located in a remote rural area and concealed from view. Accordingly, a key factor in foiling the perpetrators was the use of aerial intelligence.

Officers used drones to capture footage, then cross-referenced this with aerial photographs taken by the Lands Department. This allowed them to identify suspicious locations.

The FEHD outlined that using drones to collect evidence reduces the need for manned patrols, boosts efforts to combat illegal slaughtering activities, illegal meat distribution centres and unlicensed food premises, and improves staff safety.

Expanded capabilities

Explaining the limitations of traditional methods, Food & Environmental Hygiene Department Senior Superintendent (Operations) Lo Chi-man remarked: “Relying solely on manpower-based patrols, plain-clothes operatives could only conduct surveillance in the vicinity of the target premises. Operatives also faced significant safety risks such as potential violence, aggressive dogs and structural hazards.”

After the introduction of drones, however, intelligence can now be gathered at high altitude, adopting a bird’s eye view. This allows operatives to clearly map entry or exit points, personnel distribution, suspicious vehicle locations and escape routes in advance.

Smart inspections

Beyond intelligence gathering, the FEHD has been working with the Electrical & Mechanical Services Department since 2025 to study the feasibility of using drones to support street cleanliness inspections.

Under planned trials, drones will conduct automated aerial patrols along pre-set routes in order to detect accumulated rubbish, overflowing litter bins and damaged refuse collection facilities. The captured images will then be analysed using artificial intelligence, enabling the FEHD to arrange timely follow-up actions.

Food & Environmental Hygiene Department Senior Superintendent (Innovation & Technology) Kuan Man-hou highlighted that street cleaning inspections largely depend on frontline staff making in-person site visits. Officers are required to carry out visual checks and take photos to record conditions. However, some locations are remote and transport can be inconvenient, so the trips are often time-consuming.

With the automated inspection system, however, the FEHD will be able to analyse street cleanliness more quickly and accurately, enabling more effective deployment of manpower and resources.

Drone docking stations are expected to be installed on top of public toilets managed by the FEHD, serving as bases for take-off, landing and charging. The team revealed that flight tests for the project will commence soon.

Phased trials

Electrical & Mechanical Services Department Senior Engineer (Drones, Robotics & Automation) Vanessa Yau said her team is applying to the Civil Aviation Department for operational approvals.

”The trials will be conducted in two main stages. In the first stage, flights under visual line of sight and extended visual line of sight will be tested. Once stable performance is achieved, beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations will be tested for fully automated aerial patrols.”

From May 21 to 29, residents of the seven fire-affected blocks at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po will be given the chance return once again to their units, in batches, to collect personal belongings, the Government announced today.

Access arrangements will be broadly similar to those previously implemented. On a staggered basis, 10 floors at a time will be opened within each block, starting from the lower floors. Residents will be able to return to their respective units at the time arranged for them.

Residents of Wang Yan House, Wang Sun House and Wang Tai House will be able to return on May 21, 22 and 23. Those of Wang Kin House and Wan Cheong House will be able to return on May 24, 25 and 26. May 27 to 29 are allocated for residents of Wang Tao House and Wang Shing House.

Morning sessions will run from 9am to 1pm, and afternoon sessions from 2.30pm to 6.30pm. Four residents per unit will be able to enter their building at a time. Residents will be able to stay for up to three hours and make multiple trips.

Under the “one social worker per household” arrangement, social workers will notify households of their allocated timeslots, and assist with pre-registration.

On access days, pre-registered individuals will be instructed to proceed to Kwong Fuk Community Hall to check in and collect safety gear before going to their units. 

The Cheung Chau Climbing Carnival will be held at the football pitch at Pak Tai Temple Playground on Cheung Chau from noon to 6pm this Sunday.

Members of the public who are at least 1m tall can participate in a bun tower-climbing activity, which involves climbing the 14m-tall bun tower that is being used in the Bun Scrambling Competition. Professional coaches from the Hong Kong, China Mountaineering & Climbing Union will brief participants on climbing techniques and safety aspects.

Additionally, carnival attendees can make wishes at the Wishing Bun Tower, watch variety shows and play booth games.

The Bun Tower Climbing Team Relay will take place from 9am to noon on the same day, with teams from local tertiary institutions, government departments, public utilities and commercial and industrial organisations all competing. Visitors are invited to watch the action and cheer for the teams.

The Climbing Carnival and the Bun Tower Climbing Team Relay event are highlights of the 2026 Bun Carnival. For enquiries, call 2852 3220.

The Food & Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today said restaurants may apply for permssion to have dogs enter their premises from May 18 to June 8.

The department said it expects to grant the first batch of permission in mid-June, and the permitted food premises to welcome their customers with dogs within July.

Except for hotpot restaurants and barbecue restaurants including teppanyaki and Korean barbecue, all restaurants with a full licence may apply for the dog-admission permission.

The department explained that the restriction is made out of safety considerations, adding that only applications from restaurants with an area larger than 20 sq m will be considered.

Restaurants interested in applying for the dog-admission permission may submit their applications electronically through the FEHD’s dedicated webpage during the application period.

A quota of not more than 1,000 restaurants is set for the first-phase application. If more than 1,000 applications are received, the quotas will be allocated through balloting.

To allow time for the trade to make preparations, the FEHD will specify a date in July, from which dogs will be allowed to enter permitted food premises.

Before the specified date is announced, the list of permitted restaurants will be published on the dedicated webpage for the public's information.

Starting tomorrow, the FEHD will set up two dedicated hotlines 2867 5912 and 2867 2836 to answer questions about the application.

The department will also hold several briefing sessions next week to introduce the regulatory and application arrangements to the catering trade.

According to the Immigration Department, around 1.19 million visitors arrived in Hong Kong over the Labour Day Golden Week of the Mainland from May 1 to 5, representing an 8% increase over the same period last year. Mainland inbound visitors accounted for around 1.01 million, representing an increase of 10% compared to last year.

The interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements, led by Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki, said the surge in visitor arrivals directly boosted local businesses, including retail, catering and hotels, bringing significant economic benefits.

Mr Chan said: “Popular attractions saw a large number of visitors and a vibrant atmosphere, showcasing the unique metropolitan charm of the city.

“Representatives of some shopping malls indicated that consumption in various retail categories saw year-on-year double-digit increases, while the catering sector noted that businesses in tourist areas increased about 20% in the same period, generating considerable economic benefits. These results fully reflected the function of the tourism industry as an important driver of the local economy.

“The Government will continue to work closely with these industries to promote diversified tourism products and projects, creating comprehensive and immersive travel experiences for tourists while spreading the economic advantages brought by visitor increases to different sectors to benefit the overall economy.”

During the five-day Golden Week, there was a daily average of around 200,000 Mainland visitors. Inbound Mainland visitors peaked on May 2, with around 260,000 of them arriving in Hong Kong. Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point received the highest number of Mainland visitors, followed by the Express Rail Link West Kowloon Control Point.

Around 820 Mainland inbound tour groups brought over 32,000 visitors to Hong Kong, with around 60% engaged in overnight itineraries. The number of tour groups remained similar to the same period last year. The overall hotel occupancy rate reached 90%, slightly higher than last year. Hotel prices rose 10% compared with long holidays in the past.

The Government said overall traffic conditions were generally smooth during the Golden Week.

At East Dam of the High Island Reservoir in Sai Kung, various departments took measures to control traffic, increase minibus frequencies, publish visitor flow information, and strengthen cleaning services according to the plan devised before the Golden Week.

The Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department (AFCD) implemented crowd control measures at Po Pin Chau during busy hours, with the pedestrian flow smooth and order well maintained.

Usage, hygiene and order were generally good at the campsites in Ham Tin Wan, Sai Wan and Long Ke Wan.

Separately, the AFCD issued advisories and warnings along Sections 1 and 2 of the MacLehose Trail, as well as at designated campsites nearby. A total of 19 enforcement cases were logged against offences of littering, illegal camping outside designated campsites.

Mr Chan thanked government departments, organisations, and industries for working together for properly handling the reception of visitors, creating a welcoming travel experience for them during the Golden Week.

The Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Office of the Leisure & Cultural Services Department will organise the second edition of the Hong Kong ICH Month from May 30 to June 30, featuring over 50 ICH performances, 80 promotion booths and 40 field visits held across Hong Kong.

The department said the various activities will cover over 100 ICH items, giving the public and tourists a greater insight into Hong Kong's ICH, and enable them to experience the cultural richness of ICH and the pleasure it brings, with a view to achieving "shaping tourism with cultural activities and promoting culture through tourism".

A programme briefing was held today, announcing that the opening ceremony and ICH carnival will be held on May 30 and 31 at the Cultural Centre Piazza.

Apart from Cantonese music, a female lion dance and a children/youth Cantonese opera show, there will be interactive booths featuring a shadow puppetry demonstration and experience, a lion dance experience, Cantonese opera costumes and flash mob performances, a Pixiu dance, Hoi Luk Fung/Hoklo unicorn dance, for members of the public to join.

There will also be in-depth exploration in tours of nine thematic routes, bringing the public and tourists to eight districts, namely Wan Chai, the Islands, Kowloon City, Kwai Tsing, North, Sai Kung, Sham Shui Po, Yau Tsim Mong, in which ICH practitioners will share their skills and stories. Registration will open on May 15.

A light show will be presented on the exterior walls of the Space Museum in mid-to-late June to showcase the rich historical and cultural significance of the horse in artefacts and artworks, and the underlying essence of ICH.

Meanwhile, the "10 Living ICH Treasures" Mobile Classrooms will bring ICH knowledge and Chinese culture to local primary and secondary schools through mobile displays, live performance and demonstrations, as well as interactive workshops.

Carnivals or fun days will be held in various districts across Hong Kong on several Saturdays and Sundays in June.

People of all ages may enjoy a variety of ICH performances and interactive, hands-on experiential booths. Participants may make their own ICH food items and learn about the making techniques, or take part in workshops on fishing net plaiting, salt making and movable-type printing techniques.

Other events include Hong Kong Cheongsam Heritage Salon, the "Fly with ICH Delight: Pop-up Display" and "Hong Kong-style Milk Tea Making Technique" live demonstrations, as well as a seminar where scholars and experts are invited to explore the transmission and development of ICH. 

The 15-day arrangements for residents at seven blocks of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po to return to their units in batches concluded today.

Among the 1,736 households of the seven blocks, a total of 6,265 residents from 1,674 households have returned to their units.

The Government said the process was generally smooth and completed in an orderly manner.

Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing expressed his gratitude for the understanding and co-operation of the residents.

He noted that the vast majority of the residents returned to their units within the 15-day period, while only fewer than 10 households required other arrangements. About 50 households decided not to return to their units.

“There were safety hazards at different parts in the seven blocks after the fire. Arranging safe and orderly access for over 1,670 households was highly challenging.

“To ensure the safety of residents and working staff, meticulous planning was required, including removing unsafe scaffolding, strengthening building structures, installing window safety nets on damaged windows, clearing piles of rubble and debris from common areas, accompanying residents up to the units, providing emotional support, managing crowds, and deploying a large number of interdepartmental supporting staff.”

Mr Cheuk expressed heartfelt appreciation to all staff involved in the arrangements, who worked as one team and displayed commitment and empathy in supporting the residents. Specifically, the staff attentively escorted the residents and assisted in transporting their belongings on their way down. 

Their dedication helped ensure that the arrangements proceeded smoothly, Mr Cheuk added.

The Government today announced that property owners and residents of Wang Fuk Court will be waived from the final tax payable for the 2025-26 assessment year, a move aimed at easing the financial burden on those affected by the recent fire.

This measure, combined with the tax waiver announced by the Government last December, means eligible persons will be waived from both the balance of tax payable for the 2024-25 assessment year and the tax payable for the 2025-26 assessment year.

The Inland Revenue Department will issue tax returns to the affected individuals in the third quarter of this year to assess their provisional tax for the 2026-27 assessment year. 

The phased return of residents to Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po entered its 14th day today, with the reopening of five high-zone floors at Wang Tai House and 10 middle-zone floors at Wang Shing House.

Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing today observed the arrangements for residents returning to their units.

He met social workers operating under the Government's “one social worker per household” service, as well as teams of social workers and clinical psychologists stationed in the buildings. He also spoke with engineers from the Housing Bureau and the Housing Department.

At the estate's joint command centre, Mr Cheuk learned about the latest situation and spoke to frontline personnel. He also met Wang Tai House residents in the waiting area at Tai Po Baptist Public School.

A total of 455 residents, from 120 households, returned to their units today. The Government said the access arrangements were implemented smoothly.

Residents spent an average of two hours and 25 minutes on-site. This ranged from a minimum of 15 minutes to a maximum of three hours and 40 minutes. About 69% of the residents completed their visits in under three hours, while 27% stayed for less than two hours and 7% left within one hour.

One hundred and twenty people, from 61 households, conducted multiple trips to their units. Breaking this down, 37 households made one additional trip, 16 households made two additional trips, five households made three more, and three households made four more.

The integrated enquiry counter at Wang Fuk Court today handled ten requests for Police assistance and two cases involving residents seeking help due to physical discomfort.

The requests for Police assistance were related to suspected property loss. Lost property was recovered in one case. Another case concerned severe damage to a unit. In another five cases, Police found no signs of ransacking in the units, and residents were unable to provide details of the property they said was lost. Regarding the remaining three cases, Police will conduct further investigations.

The phased return of residents to Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po entered its 13th day today, with the reopening of five middle-zone floors of Wang Tai House and 10 low-zone floors of Wang Shing House.

Supported by the Government's “one social worker per household” service, 457 residents from 119 households returned to their units – exceeding the 438 people individuals initially registered to do so. The Government said the access arrangements were implemented smoothly.

Residents spent an average of two hours and 23 minutes on-site. This ranged ffom a minimum of 10 minutes to a maximum of three hours and 33 minutes. About 77% of the residents completed their visits in under three hours, while 24% stayed for less than two hours and 5% left within an hour.

One hundred and thirty-five individuals, from 73 households, made multiple trips to their units. Breaking this down, 44 households made one additional trip, 15 households made two more, and nine households three more. Three households made four additional trips, and two households made five or more trips.

The integrated enquiry counter at Wang Fuk Court today handled 12 requests for Police assistance and three cases involving residents seeking help due to physical discomfort, in addition to one seeking psychological counselling services.

The requests for Police assistance were related to suspected property loss. Lost property was recovered in four cases. Another  four cases were related to severe fire damage.

The phased return of residents to Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po entered its twelfth day today, with the reopening of five middle-zone floors at Wang Tai House and 11 high-zone floors at Wang Kin House. 

Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing today inspected the arrangements for residents returning to their units. 

Mr Cheuk met Home Affairs Department staff operating the registration centre and exchanged views with District Services & Community Care Teams volunteers. He encouraged them to maintain their efforts in supporting residents returning to their units. 

Mr Cheuk also visited the joint command centre to learn about the latest situation.

A total of 511 residents from 130 households returned to their units today. The Government described the access arrangements as orderly and smooth.  

Residents spent an average of two hours and 26 minutes on-site, from a minimum of 17 minutes to a maximum of three hours and 56 minutes. Approximately 70% of residents completed their visits in under three hours, while 27% stayed for less than two hours and 6% left within an hour. 

Regarding movement, 160 individuals from 83 households made multiple trips to their units. Most made one to two additional entries, while seven households made three to five extra trips.

The integrated enquiry counter handled seven requests for Police assistance today, involving suspected property loss such as jewellery, cash and gold. Officers were immediately deployed to assist with searches, successfully recovering lost property in three cases. 

No signs of ransacking were found in the remaining four units, and residents were unable to provide specific details regarding the property involved. 

Additionally, two reports were received from residents seeking medical assistance for physical discomfort, while one resident requested psychological counselling services.

The phased return of residents to Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po entered its 11th day today, with the reopening of five low-zone floors of Wang Tai House and 10 middle-zone floors of Wang Kin House.

Supported by the “one social worker per household” service, 457 residents from 117 households returned to their units – exceeding the 437 individuals initially registered. The Government described the access arrangements as orderly and smooth.

Residents spent an average of two hours and 25 minutes on-site, from a minimum of 14 minutes to a maximum of three hours and 40 minutes. Approximately 77% of residents completed their visits in under three hours, while 27% stayed for less than two hours and 4% left within an hour.

Regarding movement, 123 individuals from 65 households made multiple trips to their units. Among them, 55 people from 25 households made one additional trip, 48 people from 26 households made two more, 15 people from 11 households made three extra, three people from two households made four additional, and two people from the same household made five or more trips.

The integrated enquiry counter today handled nine requests for Police assistance, as well as one case involving physical discomfort.

The nine cases requesting Police assistance were related to suspected property loss such as watches, jewellery, cash and gold. In one case, the unit concerned was severely damaged and residents believed after investigation that the property might have been destroyed by fire. In another five cases, there were no signs of ransacking in the units, and the residents could not provide details on the property concerned. For the remaining three cases, Police will make further investigations. 

The Hong Kong Heritage Museum (HKHM) is staging the Meet Mona Lisa & Portraying the Renaissance exhibition from May 1 to July 27 to take visitors on an immersive digital journey to explore the famous Mona Lisa painting and showcase a selection of Renaissance art treasures from various French and Italian cultural institutions. Admission is free.

Addressing the opening ceremony today, Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Rosanna Law said the exhibition is undoubtedly a highlight programme of this year's French May Arts Festival.

“Through the immersive digital journey specially curated by the Louvre and the Grand Palais Immersif, alongside the outstanding artworks on loan from exceptional museums and art institutions, we can step inside the frame and breathe new life into classical heritage,” she added.

The first section of the exhibition "Meet Mona Lisa", is centred on the Leonardo da Vinci masterpiece, condensing the extraordinary journey of the portrait spanning more than 500 years into six chapters, Mona Lisa herself narrates the captivating stories behind her mysterious smile in a monologue.

Meanwhile, the second section "Portraying the Renaissance" highlights a selection of Renaissance art treasures from several renowned museums and cultural institutions, including the Musée national de la Renaissance and the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, in diverse forms of art such as paintings, prints, sculptures, decorative art, and everyday objects.

Most exhibits are being shown in Hong Kong for the first time, including four precious Leonardo da Vinci manuscripts, and works by other Renaissance period artists such as The Virgin and Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist by Luca Penni, The Crucifixion by Noël Bellemare, and Michelangelo Buonarroti's The Rebellious Slave (plaster reproduction cast using moulds).

Exhibits from the HKHM collection and paintings by Chinese Mainland artist Xu Lei that echo Renaissance art are also on display.

Furthermore, the museum lobby features a giant five-metre animated installation that blends Hong Kong-style neon elements with classic art symbols to create a unique Hong Kong version of the Mona Lisa.

The ban on the possession of alternative smoking products (ASPs) in public places came into effect today. In a press statement, the Department of Health rejected claims that the new measure will discourage tourists from visiting Hong Kong, and stressed that such claims completely overlook the fact that the importation and sale of e-cigarettes and heat sticks have already been banned for four years.

Pointing out that rumour-mongers are spreading false information, misleading the public and visitors, causing unnecessary alarm and damaging Hong Kong’s reputation, the department urged all sectors to work with the Government to convey accurate information to tourists and prevent misleading messages from damaging Hong Kong’s image as a healthy travel destination.

Since April 30, 2022, Hong Kong has prohibited the import, sale and possession of ASPs for commercial purposes, meaning that in the past four years, all inbound travellers have been legally barred from bringing those items into the city, and such items have not been available for purchase locally.

The new ban simply extends regulation to cover possession in public places, without imposing additional restrictions in practice on tourists, the department explained.

It also pointed out that the number of tourists visiting Hong Kong have continued to rise from 2023 to 2025, demonstrating that public health protection and tourism development can co-exist.

Additionally, the department’s Tobacco & Alcohol Control Office has adopted a multipronged publicity approach to spread relevant information to tourists, including giving out promotional leaflets, displaying information on large electronic screens on the Mainland side of ports, and co-ordinating with airlines to make in-flight announcements. It also conducts promotional activities on social media, at boundary control points and at major tourist attractions to remind citizens and visitors to comply with the law.

According to the extended ban, any person who possesses e-cigarette capsules, e-liquids, heat sticks or other specified ASPs in public places will be liable for a fixed penalty of $3,000. If the possession exceeds the specified quantity or involves a commercial purpose, an offender is liable to a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months.

The phased return of residents to Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po entered its tenth day today, with the opening of five low-zone floors at Wang Tai House and 10 low-zone floors at Wang Kin House. 

Both blocks are reopening for the first time. 

Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing and Secretary for Home & Youth Affairs Alice Mak today inspected the arrangements for residents returning to their units at Kwong Fuk Community Hall in Tai Po and Wang Tak House. 

A total of 395 residents from 111 households returned to their units today. The Government described the access arrangements as orderly and smooth.  

Residents spent an average of two hours and six minutes on-site, from a minimum of four minutes to a maximum of three hours and 35 minutes. Approximately 89% of residents completed their visits in under three hours, while 42% stayed for less than two hours and 12% left within an hour. 

Regarding movement, 152 individuals from 73 households made multiple trips to their units. Most made one to four additional entries, while nine individuals from different households made five to seven extra trips.

The integrated enquiry counter handled five requests for Police assistance today, involving suspected property loss such as watches, jewellery, cash and gold. Officers were immediately deployed to assist with searches, successfully recovering lost property in one case. 

For the remaining four cases, there were no signs of ransacking in the units, and the residents could not provide details on the property concerned. 

One case involving residents seeking help due to physical discomfort was also received.

Chief Executive John Lee today attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the University of Science & Technology (UST) Medical Education & Research Complex, marking a milestone in the establishment of Hong Kong’s third medical school.

Joining Mr Lee were Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Zhou Ji, Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong SAR Li Yongsheng, Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau, and Secretary for Education Choi Yuk-lin.

Located at the UST’s Clear Water Bay campus, the complex is a core facility of the new medical school. Scheduled for completion by mid-2028, it will admit its first cohort of students that same year and serve as an interim campus until the permanent facility in the Northern Metropolis is completed.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Lee said the National 15th Five-Year Plan supports Hong Kong’s development as an international hub for high-calibre talent. He noted that the new medical school will help realise this vision by attracting and training top healthcare and education professionals, while enhancing the quality, efficiency and capacity of local healthcare services.

The Chief Executive added that the UST’s medical school will adopt a unique development model to create synergy with existing schools, drive innovation and boost the capabilities of the city’s scientific research and medical education.

Mr Lee stated that the new medical school and its teaching hospital will become a key pillar of Hong Kong’s medical teaching and service system, and that the Government is backing this commitment with substantial resources. He added that today’s groundbreaking is a tangible step forward, and it will support the new medical school’s phased development for years to come.

Prof Lo thanked the Medical Council of Hong Kong for swiftly establishing an accreditation committee to begin preparatory work. This will ensure the medical school’s new four-year graduate-entry programme meets the quality and standards of the city’s medical education.

Meanwhile, Ms Choi said the Government looks forward to the new medical school complementing the existing two medical schools to create a more comprehensive and diverse medical education ecosystem. She added that it will nurture outstanding medical talent with global vision, humanistic care and innovative thinking.

In November last year, the Chief Executive in Council approved the establishment of the third medical school and gave approval-in-principle for it to be established by the UST, with a target of admitting its first cohort of 50 students in the 2028-29 academic year.

The Health Bureau today clarified that the Government never requested the CUHK Medical Centre (CUHKMC) to repay its government loan ahead of schedule.

The bureau noted that the proposal for early repayment was initiated jointly by the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and the CUHKMC.

In a press statement, the bureau said the CUHKMC formally notified the Government in writing on April 22 of its proposal to fully repay the loan ahead of schedule, citing its gradually stabilising financial position.

Taking into account various considerations, the Government has agreed to the proposal in principle that the CUHKMC may repay the full loan amount on March 19 next year. Specific arrangements are being finalised.

The bureau added that the Government will maintain close liaison with the CUHK and the CUHKMC to complete the necessary procedures. It will also closely monitor the CUHKMC’s compliance with deed-related obligations to ensure proper operations before and after the repayment.

The Government, the CUHK and the CUHKMC will report the latest updates on the loan arrangement to the Legislative Council Panel on Health Services on May 8.