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2026
Ahead of the highly anticipated opening of the redeveloped Huanggang Port, the Security Bureau hosted a community experience day today, welcoming 1,500 members of the public to tour the new Huanggang Port Building Hong Kong Port Area. Participants travelled from designated pick-up points across various districts via franchised buses and cross-boundary coachs. Guided by officers from the Fire Services Department and the Correctional Services Department, the visitors explored the port building in groups. The tour began at the public transport interchange, where participants were briefed on upcoming transit arrangements. They then moved through the main building to explore its interior design features and passenger-friendly amenities, including the free government Wi-Fi service. On the fifth floor, Immigration Department officers demonstrated the new "collaborative inspection" automated channels in the departure hall, giving residents a firsthand look at the innovative "collaborative inspection and joint clearance" mode. The tour continued on the fourth-floor arrival hall, where Hong Kong Customs officers explained the streamlined passenger clearance and inspection procedures. Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung visited the venue and spoke with attendees to gather feedback and hear about their visit experiences. Expressing his gratitude for the public’s positive response, Mr Tang noted that residents are eagerly awaiting the port’s opening, which promises a faster and more convenient travel experience. He also distributed gift packs and took photos with the visitors. The bureau described the event’s atmosphere as enthusiastic and highly engaging. It added that the event deepened public understanding of the new facility’s transport logistics, customs operations and passenger services. Moving forward, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will maintain close co-operation with Shenzhen authorities to finalise preparations for the port’s official opening.
The Department of Health (DH) and the Police Force today seized over 5,900 items of suspected unregistered pharmaceutical products and/or Part 1 poisons from two premises in Tsim Sha Tsui during a raid. The operation was conducted after intelligence indicated that certain premises were suspected of providing injectable treatments involving unregistered pharmaceutical products to the public. One of the premises raided operated as a company claiming to provide medical health management services. The DH said the case remains under investigation and did not rule out further arrests. It reminded the public that injection procedures are medical procedures which must only be performed by locally registered medical practitioners or registered dentists. For queries about disease prevention and treatment, consult a registered doctor instead of blindly trusting unproven medical claims. Under the Pharmacy & Poisons Ordinance, any product that meets the definition of a pharmaceutical product must meet the criteria of safety, efficacy and quality and must be registered with the Pharmacy & Poisons Board of Hong Kong before it may be distributed in the city. The illegal supply or possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products or Part 1 poisons is a criminal offence. Upon conviction, each offence carries a maximum penalty of a fine of $100,000 and two years imprisonment. The DH stressed that it will continue taking enforcement action if it suspects that a person has illegally supplied and/or possessed unregistered pharmaceutical products. If healthcare professionals are involved, the case will be referred to the relevant professional regulatory body for follow-up. The department has been taking stringent enforcement action against such offences to safeguard public safety. From 2021 to June 2026, its Drug Office handled 138 cases resulting in convictions. The maximum penalty has been 10 months' imprisonment or a fine of up to $242,000. The DH will continue to closely monitor pharmaceutical products on the market and take appropriate follow-up action upon receiving intelligence or complaints. The department also noted that it has sent a letter to all doctors and private healthcare facilities in Hong Kong, reminding them that they must comply with the law in Hong Kong, as the illegal sale or possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products is a criminal offence.
The Police Force’s National Security Department today arrested a man and a woman on suspicion of committing seditious acts. Police reported that people were observed standing outside MTR Prince Edward Station holding bouquets and shouting seditious slogans on the evening of August 31. The arrestees are a 37-year-old local man and a 58-year-old local woman. Police arrested them for the offence of “doing an act that has a seditious intention with a seditious intention”, in contravention of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. Prior to the arrests, Police obtained court warrants to search their residences and seize relevant items. The two arrestees are currently being detained for further enquiries, and the force's arrest operation remains ongoing. Similar operations have been conducted recently. A local man and two local women were arrested on September 27 and 28, following the September 3 arrests of two local men and a local woman. All six of those arrestees have been released on bail pending further investigations. Police stated that the so-called “831 incident” lacks any factual basis, describing it as a lie perpretrated by individuals with ulterior motives to attack the HKSAR Government, smear the Police Force, and attempt to achieve their political objectives by endangering public peace. Authorities emphasised that the acts in question constitute a serious crime and carry a maximum penalty of seven years’ imprisonment upon first conviction.
The Government today announced that a resident who has completed a sentence in the Philippines has returned to Hong Kong safely accompanied by officers from the Immigration Department (ImmD). He reunited with his family at the Hong Kong airport upon arrival in the city and expressed gratitude to the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government for their years of assistance, which enabled his prompt return to the city to reunite with his family after being released. His family was delighted with the reunion and thanked the Hong Kong SAR Government and the ImmD for maintaining close contact with them and for providing proactive responses to their assistance requests. The Government stated that it has always attached great importance to cases involving Hong Kong residents detained or imprisoned overseas, safeguarding their legal rights and remaining committed to providing assistance to them. Upon the ImmD's receipt of the request-for-assistance from the resident's family in 2003, the Hong Kong SAR Government maintained close contact with the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the HKSAR (OCMFA) and the Embassy, making every effort to provide practicable assistance to the resident and his family. The Embassy also attached great importance to the case, having arranged officials to pay visits to the detained Hong Kong resident during his sentence and actively approached the local judicial authorities to follow up on the situation. Upon learning that the resident had completed his sentence in the Philippines, the ImmD and the Embassy actively liaised with relevant Filipino authorities to follow up and immediately issued him with travel documents to expedite the overall repatriation procedure. The Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit of the ImmD also sent officers to the Philippines to co-ordinate the relevant repatriation arrangements with the Embassy and the Filipino authorities. The Hong Kong SAR Government expressed gratitude to the OCMFA and the Embassy for their support and assistance in facilitating the prompt return of the resident following his release, which resulted in a prompt and smooth repatriation arrangement. The ImmD will continue to follow up on the case and provide practicable assistance to the resident.
The Immigration Department estimates that around 7.44 million travellers, including Hong Kong residents and visitors, will pass through Hong Kong's sea, land and air control points during the Mainland's upcoming National Day Golden Week period, from October 1 to 7. The information was released today by the interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements, led by the Chief Secretary. The department, in consultation with the "Shenzhen General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection" and other Mainland authorities, estimates that around 6.31 million passengers will pass through land boundary control points (BCPs). The number of outbound and inbound passengers using land BCPs will be comparatively higher on the weekend. Around 587,000 passengers are expected on Saturday, and around 586,000 on Sunday. The department estimates that passenger traffic at the Lo Wu Control Point, the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point and the Shenzhen Bay Control Point will be heavy, with daily average forecasts of about 220,000, 190,000 and 150,000 passengers at the three points respectively. Residents and visitors can visit Easy Boundary, a one-stop information platform on immigration clearance launched by the Security Bureau. It carries information on average waiting times for passengers and private cars at land BCPs, as well as waiting times for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge cross-boundary shuttle bus and the Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang cross-boundary shuttle bus.
The Government will expand two immigration facilitation schemes starting October 1 to boost economic and trade interactions and exchanges by allowing more visitors to Hong Kong. Among them, the coverage of the Immigration Facilitation Scheme for Invited Persons will extend beyond current Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states to countries and regions in Central Asia and the Middle East. Newly covered Central Asian countries include Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Gulf Cooperation Council nations will also be included: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Consequently, all bureaus and departments can issue invitations under the initiative to facilitate invited people to visit Hong Kong for exchanges. The second one to be expanded is the Immigration Facilitation Scheme for Visitors Participating in Short-term Activities in Designated Sectors (STV Scheme). Following a review, the STV Scheme will add the social welfare sector to its existing 17 categories, enabling non-local talent to enter Hong Kong for specified short-term activities such as symposiums, workshops and research. Additionally, more authorised organisations and specified short-term activities are added across three existing fields, including international/mega events, higher education and finance. Invited people can visit Hong Kong for these activities as visitors without needing employment visas or entry permits from the Immigration Department. All participating bureaus and departments will ensure the implementation of the scheme consistently meets relevant policy objectives, avoiding displacement of the local workforce and minimising abuse risks.
The Immigration Department (ImmD) announced today a relaxation of the eligibility criteria for enrollment in the Pilot Seamless e-Channel service at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) Hong Kong Port with immediate effect. Under the revised arrangements, Hong Kong permanent residents aged 11 or above holding a valid smart identity card are now eligible to enrol if they have arrived in or departed from Hong Kong via the port’s Passenger Clearance Building six times or more within the past 90 days. In addition to using the ImmD’s Contactless e-Channel mobile application, eligible residents aged 18 or above can now complete their enrolment directly via designated e-Channels at the HZMB Hong Kong Port. Eligible passengers using the designated e-Channels for immigration clearance will be automatically identified for enrolment into the Seamless e-Channel service and shown an on-screen prompt message. Travellers can choose to opt in, allowing them to simultaneously pass through immigration and complete the registration process. Once enrolled, passengers can utilise the Seamless e-Channel service for their subsequent departures. Since its launch on June 25 this year, approximately 14,000 eligible Hong Kong permanent residents have enrolled in the Seamless e-Channel service, with total passenger throughput exceeding 100,000 trips. The ImmD will continue to review system operations and collect performance data to evaluate the feasibility of extending the Seamless e-Channel service to other immigration control points and expanding eligibility for other passengers. Enquiries can be made by calling the hotline at 2824 6111, by faxing 2877 7711, or via email.
In preparation for the 94th INTERPOL General Assembly, due to be held in Hong Kong in late November, the Hong Kong Police Force, in collaboration with other government departments and relevant organisations, last night conducted a comprehensive inter-departmental exercise at the Convention & Exhibition Centre, Victoria Harbour and the West Kowloon area. The exercise featured on-site rehearsals of the assembly's opening and closing ceremonies, with drills covering a wide range of arrangements. These included security and traffic co-ordination for VIPs; simulated crowd flow management for approximately 1,000 delegates, including their movement between the main and secondary venues; venue command centre operations; and stress tests of the wireless network. Through the exercise, the force aimed to ensure that all aspects of the General Assembly are seamlessly coordinated, and staged in a safe and orderly manner, demonstrating Hong Kong's capabilities in hosting major international events. The exercise also simulated a suspected biochemical terrorist attack in which an unattended backpack suddenly released an unknown gas during a cocktail reception, causing a number of people to feel unwell. Concurrently, other emergencies were staged near the venue, prompting various departments and organisations to swiftly activate their emergency response mechanisms. The exercise tested the co-ordination of relevant stakeholders in key operational facets, including immediate tactical interventions, emergency response, decontamination and triage of casualties, and the handling of suspicious objects and affected people. By refining contingency protocols, the exercise further strengthened inter-departmental counter-terrorism preparedness and incident response capabilities. The exercise mobilised about 3,000 personnel from various government departments and relevant organisations, including the force, the Fire Services Department, the Hospital Authority and the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority. Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung and Commissioner of Police Chow Yat-ming observed the exercise on-site. Afterwards, Mr Tang commended all participating units for their professional conduct, co-ordination and co-operation.
The Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department (AFCD) captured a total of eight unattended dogs during a five-day operation following a suspected fatal dog attack on Pok Wai South Road in Yuen Long on September 19. The operation was conducted in collaboration with Police. The captured dogs have been transferred to the AFCD's Animal Management Centre for detention and observation. Among the animals, three were found to be implanted with microchips, though their licences had expired. Following an initial investigation, the AFCD has instituted a prosecution against the registered keeper of one dog for failing to hold a valid licence and failing to keep the animal under proper control in a public place. The AFCD highlighted that it is making every effort to investigate the remaining cases and is co-operating with Police to help establish the facts of the incident. Separately, a frontline AFCD staff member sustained a dog bite to the hand while performing duties on September 23. His condition remains stable after treatment, and he is currently under observation in hospital. Regarding the handling of unattended dogs, the AFCD noted it will continue to arrange targeted capture and enforcement operations at locations with serious stray problems using a risk-based approach. The AFCD also solemnly clarified that rumours alleging it engages in "convenience culling" or euthanises animals fours days after intake are untrue. It pointed out that the statutory four-day period is simply the timeframe required by law for the AFCD to make enquiries and locate keepers. Following any capture, staff check whether the dogs are microchipped and licensed to contact keepers and cross-reference lost-and-found records. If a keeper cannot be traced, staff and veterinary officers at the Animal Management Centres will continue to patiently observe the animals. To prevent public safety risks, the AFCD emphasised that it will not release dogs back into the community, stressing that sterilisation alone cannot eliminate the risks associated with unowned and uncontrolled dogs in a high-density urban environment. Instead, the AFCD manages stray animals using a multi-pronged approach in line with international standards set by the World Organisation for Animal Health. This strategy includes collaborating with animal welfare organisations to promote sterilisation and adoption, alongside continuous public education on responsible pet ownership.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today strongly rejected the unfounded and biased content concerning Hong Kong in a so-called annual report issued by the European Commission and the European Union (EU) High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. It noted that the Hong Kong SAR Government will resolutely implement the Hong Kong National Security Law (HKNSL), the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO) and other relevant laws to prevent, suppress and punish acts endangering national security. It emphasised that these measures safeguard the lawful rights and interests of Hong Kong residents and others in the city, ensuring the successful implementation of the “one country, two systems” principle. The implementation of these laws has effectively safeguarded national security and restored stability, providing a solid foundation for Hong Kong’s economic and social development. The Hong Kong SAR Government stated that the rights and freedoms enjoyed by residents are better protected and that citizens’ well-being is steadily improving. Strongly urging the EU to respect facts, abide by international law, and adhere to the basic norms governing international relations, the Hong Kong SAR Government demanded an immediate halt to what it termed long-arm jurisdiction and interference in Hong Kong matters, which are purely China's internal affairs. It stated that the HKNSL and SNSO clearly stipulate that human rights shall be respected and protected. Freedoms of speech, the press, publication, association, assembly, procession and demonstration remain protected under the Basic Law and international covenants, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. However, the Hong Kong SAR Government stressed that, as is the case globally, such rights and freedoms are not absolute and may be subject to legal restrictions necessary for protecting national security, public safety, public order or the rights of others. The Hong Kong SAR Government strongly condemned the so-called report for selectively quoting figures to twist facts and negate the city’s dedication to safeguarding the lawful exercise of rights and freedoms, including those of journalists. It highlighted that the media continue to enjoy the freedom to comment on and criticise government policies without any restriction, provided they do not violate the law, adding that the so-called report’s attempt to use press freedom as an excuse for lawbreaking exposes the EU's biased stance and double standards. On judicial matters, the Hong Kong SAR Government stressed that judges remain independent and impartial when adjudicating national cases, free from any interference. It added that any objective observer reading publicly accessible court judgments would reach the same conclusion, and strongly opposed the absurd and false allegations in the report regarding local laws and efforts that safeguard national security. The Hong Kong SAR Government pointed out that the enactment of the HKNSL by the central authorities restored stability and safety with unquestionable necessity and legitimacy. As an inalienable part of the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong must fulfil its constitutional responsibility to improve its legal system and enforcement mechanisms. It noted that while the EU and its member states continuously enact laws for national security or anti-terrorism, they repeatedly distort facts when evaluating Hong Kong's laws, displaying clear hypocrisy. Regarding malicious smears against the verdict in the national security case involving Lai Chee-ying, the Hong Kong SAR Government stressed that the court conducted 156 days of public hearings, reviewed up to 2,220 pieces of evidence, over 80,000 pages of documents, and more than 1,000 pages of written submissions. It called the EU's continued attacks in the face of these ironclad facts a disgrace. Turning to political development, the Hong Kong SAR Government noted that the Legislative Council, formed following the 2021 electoral improvements, has fully implemented the principle of “patriots administering Hong Kong”. The council has broken free from past polarisation to return to rationality and pragmatism. Given that EU member states have different electoral systems and political traditions, the Hong Kong SAR Government urged the EU to view the city's democratic development with a positive and respectful attitude. Reiterating that external attempts to undermine Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability are doomed to fail, the Hong Kong SAR Government affirmed that it will continue discharging its duty under the rule of law. It pledged to ensure the successful implementation of “one country, two systems”, better integrate a capable government with an efficient market, and proactively attract enterprises and talent to strengthen the city’s competitiveness.