The following is issued on behalf of the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency: The Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency (WFSFAA) today (December 23) reminded student loan repayers that th… read more
Firing practice will take place at two military sites, namely the San Wai/Tai Ling Firing Range and the Tsing Shan Firing Range, next month (January). Red flags or red lamps will be hoisted… read more
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
​The Hospital Authority (HA) spokesperson today (December 23) announced that the general out-patient clinic (GOPC) service has been enhanced in order to cope with the service needs from members of the public and to alleviate the service pressure on Accident & Emergency Departments (A&Es) during the Christmas long holidays. A total of 18 general out-patient clinics (GOPCs) will provide public holiday GOPC services during the Christmas holidays (December 25 and 26) (see table below). Patients may book an appointment either through the telephone appointment system or the “Book GOPC” function of the “HA Go” mobile app.
The spokesperson reminded members of the public that the weather has been cold in recent days and increased activity in influenza and some respiratory pathogens is observed. They should keep warm as well as stay vigilant to personal and environmental hygiene during the public holiday to avoid spreading diseases. Members of the public who develop respiratory symptoms should wear a mask and seek medical advice promptly. The HA appeals to non-emergency patients to avoid using A&E services and seek treatment at GOPCs, private doctors or 24-hour outpatient services at private hospitals to reduce pressure on public hospital A&Es. Members of the public can visit the Health Bureau’s (HHB) Primary Care Directory (www.pcdirectory.gov.hk) to choose a family doctor and view related clinic service information. The HHB has also collated information of private hospitals, healthcare facilities, family doctors and Chinese medicine clinics that will be in operation during the 2024 Christmas holidays across the city. The information (including addresses, phone numbers and operation hours) of the relevant hospitals and clinics has been uploaded to the online portal (www.map.gov.hk/gm/s/hhbclinic/all?lg=en) for public reference in collaboration with the Spatial Data Office of the Development Bureau and the Lands Department.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson appeals to members of the public, especially high-risk groups, to get vaccinated early for seasonal influenza and COVID-19 to reduce the chance of infection for themselves and their family members, as well as to reduce critical cases and deaths. Members of the public may find details on the Centre for Health Protection COVID-19 Vaccination Programme website (www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/106934.html) and the Vaccination Schemes website (www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/17980.html).
Moreover, Chinese Medicine Clinics cum Training and Research Centres (CMCTRs) located in the 18 districts will enhance Government Subsidised Chinese Medicine Services on December 24, 27 and 28. Patients may make an appointment either by telephone during service hours or through the “18 CM Clinics” mobile app (applicable to patients who have registered for 18 CMCTRs service). Please refer to the most updated information on Chinese medicine services on the HA CMK website (https://cmk.ha.org.hk/christmas-2024).
GOPC service arrangements for the Christmas holidays (December 25 and 26):
| Region | List of GOPCs | Address | Telephone number for booking | General enquiries |
| Hong Kong Island | Aberdeen Jockey Club General Out-patient Clinic | 10 Aberdeen Reservoir Road, Aberdeen | 3543 5011 | 2555 0381 |
| Shau Kei Wan Jockey Club General Out-patient Clinic | 1/F, 8 Chai Wan Road, Shau Kei Wan | 3157 0077 | 2560 0211 | |
| Violet Peel General Out-patient Clinic | LG, Tang Shiu Kin Hospital Community Ambulatory Care Centre, 282 Queen’s Road East, Wanchai | 3157 0000 | 3553 3116 | |
| # * Kennedy Town Jockey Club General Out-patient Clinic | 45 Victoria Road, Kennedy Town | 3543 5088 | 2817 3215 | |
| Kowloon | Kwun Tong Community Health Centre | UG/F, 60 Hip Wo Street, Kwun Tong | 3157 0687 | 2389 0331 |
| Our Lady of Maryknoll Hospital Family Medicine Clinic | G/F, Out-patient Block, Our Lady of Maryknoll Hospital, 118 Shatin Pass Road, Wong Tai Sin | 3157 0118 | 2354 2267 | |
| Robert Black General Out-patient Clinic | 600 Prince Edward Road East, San Po Kong | 3157 0113 | 2383 3311 | |
| Yau Ma Tei Jockey Club General Out-patient Clinic | 1/F, 145 Battery Street, Yau Ma Tei | 3157 0880 | 2272 2400 | |
| # Cheung Sha Wan Jockey Club General Out-patient Clinic | 2 Kwong Lee Road, Cheung Sha Wan | 3157 0122 | 2387 8211 | |
| New Territories | Lady Trench General Out-patient Clinic | 213 Sha Tsui Road, Tsuen Wan | 3157 0107 | 2614 4789 |
| Lek Yuen General Out-patient Clinic | G/F, 9 Lek Yuen Street, Sha Tin | 3157 0972 | 2692 8730 | |
| North District Community Health Centre | North District Family Medicine Clinic, 3/F, North District Community Health Centre Building, No.3 Wai Wo Street, Sheung Shui | 3157 0965 | 2957 5186 | |
| Tai Po Jockey Club General Out-patient Clinic | G/F, 37 Ting Kok Road, Tai Po | 3157 0906 | 2664 2039 | |
| Tseung Kwan O (Po Ning Road) General Out-patient Clinic | G/F, 28 Po Ning Road, Tseung Kwan O | 3157 0660 | 2191 1083 | |
| Tuen Mun Clinic | 11 Tsing Yin Street, San Hui, Tuen Mun | 3543 0886 | 2452 9111 | |
| Yuen Long Jockey Club Health Centre | 269 Castle Peak Road, Yuen Long | 3543 5007 | 2443 8511 | |
| * Ha Kwai Chung General Out-patient Clinic | 77 Lai Cho Road, Kwai Chung | 3157 0100 | 3651 5411 | |
| * North Lantau Community Health Centre | 3/F, North Lantau Hospital, 8 Chung Yan Road, Tung Chung, Lantau Island |
3157 0106 | 3467 7374 |
The Secretariat of the Green Tech Fund (GTF) said today (December 23) that a total of three projects have been approved in the fourth round of applications, involving a grant of around $14 million. Together with the first three rounds of applications, the GTF has so far approved 33 projects, involving a total grant of around $147 million.
About 125 applications were received in the fourth round of applications from December 2023 to March 2024. The three research and development (R&D) projects approved in this round of application cover promotion of new energy technology and turning waste into resources. They are:
The Council of the China National Arts Fund recently announced the list of arts projects to be funded by the China National Arts Fund 2025. After assessment, the adjudication panel of the China National Arts Fund selected 818 projects out of 11 091 formal applications. Twelve Hong Kong arts projects were selected.
The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, said, “I would like to express heartfelt thanks to our country for the support and recognition of Hong Kong’s arts and culture sectors, and congratulate the 12 Hong Kong arts projects supported by the China National Arts Fund. The projects selected in this exercise cover different genres and scales, manifesting Hong Kong’s thriving and diversified arts and culture ecology. We are deeply encouraged that some of the arts groups have continuously contributed to the development of high-quality arts, culture and creative industries, and are recognised by the China National Arts Fund again.”
The Hong Kong projects selected for 2025 cover areas such as large-scale productions, small-scale productions, visual arts creations, cultural exchange, training of arts talents, and youth in arts creation, which showcase the diverse arts and cultural achievements of Hong Kong.
Miss Law said, “The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government will continue to leverage our cultural characteristics which are rooted in Chinese culture and embracing Western culture to enhance international cultural exchanges and promote people-to-people bonds, further consolidating Hong Kong’s position as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.”
The China National Arts Fund was opened up for projects from Hong Kong and Macao in 2022. The HKSAR Government has announced various policy measures to support the awardees of the China National Arts Fund in Hong Kong in past Policy Addresses, as well as in the Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development which was promulgated last month. Many Hong Kong arts projects have benefited so far. Those selected for 2025 will also benefit from the relevant measures, including providing funding to bring quality arts projects outside Hong Kong, as well as presenting them at the annual Chinese Culture Festival, and enabling the local public and international audience to understand the essence of Chinese culture in a more holistic and multifaceted manner, thereby promoting the inheritance and development of Chinese culture. read more