CHP investigates confirmed Mpox case
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) said today (February 12) that it is investigating a confirmed Mpox (also known as Monkeypox) case, and urged the public to heighten vigilance and avoid close physical contact with persons suspected of contracting Mpox. Meanwhile, high-risk target groups are advised to receive Mpox vaccinations.
The case involves a 30-year-old male patient with good past health. He developed rashes and vesicles since February 6. He attended the Yau Ma Tei MaleSocial Hygiene Clinicof the DH on February 10. He is in stable condition and is being isolated at Princess Margaret Hospital.
An initial investigation revealed that he had a history of high-risk exposure in Hong Kong during the incubation period, but no epidemiological linkages between this case and other confirmed cases recorded in Hong Kong earlier could be identified so far. The CHP is continuing its epidemiological investigations of the case and will report the case to the World Health Organization.
High-risk target groups are advised to receive Mpox vaccinations with a view to lowering the risk of infection or the possibility of having more severe symptoms after infection. In addition, persons who experience Mpox symptoms (including rashes, fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, exhaustion, muscle pain, and severe headaches) or suspect themselves of being infected are advised to seek medical attention and receive treatment at once, and they should not engage in activities with others during which other people may have contact with their skin rash or body fluids. Members of the public should maintain good personal and hand hygiene to prevent virus transmission or infection through contact. They should also avoid close physical contact with persons or animals suspected of infection.
The CHP had earlier set up an Mpox telephone hotline (2125 2373). The hotline operates from Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) from 9am to 5pm, which enables those who suspect or are concerned they have had high-risk contact with confirmed patients, in particular men who have sex with men or those who have sexual practices with strangers, to make enquiries and receive relevant health advice.
The DH provides vaccination services for high-risk groups of Mpox. The following high-risk target groups can receive Mpox vaccinations on a voluntary basis:
Individuals with high-risk sexual practices, e.g. having multiple sexual partners, sex workers, or having a history of sexually transmitted infection within the past 12 months;
Healthcare workersresponsible forcaring forpatients with confirmed Mpox;
Laboratory personnel working with zoonotic pox viruses; and
Animal care personnel with high risk of exposure in case of Mpox occurrences in animals in Hong Kong.
High-risk target groups can receive Mpox walk-in vaccinations at all of the DH's Social Hygiene Service Clinics (SocHS) (namely Chai Wan SocHS, Wan Chai Male SocHS, Wan Chai Female SocHS, Yau Ma Tei Male SocHS, Yau Ma Tei Female SocHS, Yung Fung Shee SocHS, Fanling SocHS and Tuen Mun SocHS) and the DH's Yau Ma Tei Integrated Treatment Centre.
Meanwhile, the DH's Kowloon Bay Integrated Treatment Centre and the Hospital Authority's Special Medical Clinics at Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital will also provide Mpox vaccination services for their clients.
For more details, please visit the CHP's page onMpoxandMpox Vaccination Programme.
LegCo Secretariat releases Research Brief on "The 2026-2027 Budget"
The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Financial Secretary (FS) presented the fourth Budget of the current-term Government on February 25. The Legislative Council Secretariat (the Secretariat) today (April 2) released a Research Brief on "The 2026-2027 Budget".
Supported by strong stock-trading stamp duty income and bond issuance, total government revenue soared by 21.9per cent year-on-year to HK$688.8 billion in the 2025-2026 fiscal year (see Annex 1). With a HK$2.9 billion surplus for the Consolidated Account, Hong Kong recorded a fiscal surplus for the first time after three consecutive years of deficits. While this arrived three years earlier than the Government projected, when excluding net bond proceeds, the underlying deficit remained at HK$100.4 billion. This equates to 3per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which is still below the average (4.6 per cent) of the 37 advanced economies tracked by the International Monetary Fund.
The Research Brief examined the Government's near-term fiscal position and the reinforced fiscal consolidation programme already implemented, as well as analysing the fiscal space for expanded bond issuance. The Research Brief pointed out that total public expenditure grew 5.4per cent to HK$844.2 billion. This is estimated to rise a further 7.2per cent to HK$904.7 billion in this fiscal year. Driven mainly by an ageing population, health and social welfare remain the largest spending areas, with infrastructure replacing education as the third-largest (see Annex 2). Over the past five years, infrastructure expenditure has surged by over 40 per cent. As Northern Metropolis-related (NM) projects are rolled out progressively, capital works expenditure is expected to average around HK$120 billion per annum over the next five years.
As part of the fiscal consolidation programme in the 2026-2027 fiscal year (see Annex 3), FS proposed transferring HK$150 billion of the Exchange Fund's (EF) investment income to finance the development of NM and other infrastructure projects. This withdrawal, which is the first in 42 years, has drawn considerable debate. Some argue that it could undermine the EF's capacity in preserving Hong Kong's financial stability, and question whether such a drawdown might become a "regular practice". Others, however, regard this proposal as an "innovative" measure that is "safer" than expanding bond issuance.
Meanwhile, FS also proposed raising the bond issuance ceiling from HK$700 billion to HK$900 billion, with a greater share of longer-term bonds. The Research Brief noted that concerns over the trajectory of government debt persist, given mounting repayment pressure on the bonds issued in recent years. Net bond proceeds are projected to be compressed by 43.3 per cent between 2026-2027 and 2030-2031 fiscal years, and the gross government-debt-to-GDP ratio is expected to increase to 19.9 per cent. However, this ratio remains far below the average of advanced economies (see Annex 4), and interest expenses amount to just 1.2per cent of government revenue. As reflected in a range of key financial indicators, Hong Kong's fiscal position remains resilient by international standards and its creditworthiness continues to rank among the strongest of any major advanced economy.
The Research Brief also suggested that as the Government moderates expenditure growth to restore fiscal balance, the recovery of the private sector will be key to sustaining economic growth momentum. To actively support and proactively align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan, Hong Kong is formulating the first-ever Five-Year Plan, which could provide a framework for sequencing public investment commitments alongside the fiscal consolidation timetable.
On long-term fiscal health, the Research Brief pointed out that population ageing, low fertility and the impact that AI will bring to the labour market could further strain public finances. Despite the pro-natalist measures introduced by the Government, registered births fell to a record low in 2025. The Research Brief compared the pro-natalist policies in Hong Kong with those in selected advanced economies in Asia and Europe, noting that effective responses require early, sustained and comprehensive intervention, rather than relying primarily on financial incentives. International experience points to facilitating workforce transition as crucial to safeguarding the tax base. As profits tax and salaries tax account for a large share of the Government's recurrent revenue, the ability to steer workforce towards high complementarity with AI has direct implications for the tax base. The Research Brief observed that the upgrading of the Employees Retraining Board into Upskill Hong Kong with a mandate to provide skill-based training, specifically incorporating AI applications, is a timely policy response.
The Legislative Council (LegCo) will resume the Second Reading debate on the Appropriation Bill 2026 at its meeting of April 22 and Members will speak on the Bill.
The Research Brief is prepared by the Secretariat's Research Office of the Research and Information Division with a view to enhancing information support for Members. The Research Brief is now available on LegCo website: app7.legco.gov.hk/rpdb/en/uploads/2026/RB/RB01_2026_20260402_en.pdf.
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