Opening remarks by SCST at dinner reception in Dubai
Following are the opening remarks by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, at the dinner reception in Dubai today (April 28):
Thank you, Glenn (Emcee of the dinner reception). I hope that you agree with me that the best part of Hong Kong is about the people. And we brought quite a number of people from Hong Kong tonight so that we will be in for a joyful and enjoyable evening. And again, I would like to really express our sincere gratitude. As Glenn has said, we personally were at the ATM (Arabian Travel Market) this afternoon. We saw how busy and how vibrant it was. We understand fully that each and everyone of you here at this dinner have a lot of important initiatives tonight but you choose to honour us with your presence and that makes it even more important and special for us all. From the bottom of my heart and from the bottom of the hearts of our delegation, a big, big thank you very much. Here comes the official opening statement but again it is also from the bottom of my heart.
Good evening, distinguished guests, friends from the trade, ladies and gentlemen,
It is my great pleasure to welcome you all to this special evening where I could meet key partners from the Middle East's tourism industry, alongside distinguished travel trade leaders, industry representatives from Hong Kong, and of course, the Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board and their team.
I am the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. And I took office about five months ago. This visit marks my debut overseas visit outside of China and I am glad to have picked the Middle East as the first destination of this tour. I am truly honoured to be able to play an important role in forging stronger tourism ties between the Middle East and Hong Kong, and I indeed look forward to exchanging views with you on how we can collaborate to bring more visitors to Hong Kong.
Let me start by saying how keen we are to receive friends from the Middle East. Last year, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region outlined the vision in his Policy Address to establish Hong Kong as a welcoming destination for the Middle East travellers. Following this, my Bureau promulgated the Development Blueprint for Hong Kong's Tourism Industry 2.0 which sets out the roadmap for the development of Hong Kong's tourism industry from 2025 to 2030. A key focus in this Blueprint is expanding our visitor base with the Middle East at the forefront. The Middle East is one of the fastest-growing markets globally. By 2028, it is estimated that there will be 250 million Muslim visitors worldwide, generating US$225 billion in tourism revenues. That's why I am here to share with you that Hong Kong, as the Pearl of the Orient, and a unique fusion of the East and the West, is more than ready and happy to welcome you from the Middle East to enjoy the all-in-one experiences in the city.
But that is not all. It is not about business. It is not just about business. It is about establishing friendship between us in Hong Kong and you all in the Middle East and for those who come from Dubai locally, I enjoy the city very much and I hope that in the rest of my journey, I will be enjoying the other cities that I will be visiting as much as I do here.
Hong Kong also has its unique appeal in a wide spectrum, offering multifaceted tourism products and experiences that fit for visitors of all ages and with different interests. First, we offer a myriad of possibilities and experiences by presenting world-class tourist attractions such as the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, which will be celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the Ocean Park which is home for six adorable pandas, among others, the very iconic Peak Tram which brings you to the Victoria Peak to enjoy the magnificent panoramic views of Victoria Harbour and the heart of Hong Kong, or the Ngong Ping 360 cable car that takes you to the tranquil Po Lin Monastery and the famous Big Buddha. For arts and culture lovers, we have unmissable experiences at world-class landmarks like the M+ and the Hong Kong Palace Museum, which carry an exciting array of exhibitions on East and West cultural themes. Apart from attractions, we are also promoting mega events tourism, island tourism and horse-racing tourism which offer tourists unforgettable and unique experiences. Last month, we commissioned the largest state-of-the-art sports infrastructure in Hong Kong, the Kai Tak Sports Park, which marked a thrilling new era and would see lots of great sports and entertainment events being held in Hong Kong. In addition to staging our signature Hong Kong Sevens rugby matches for the first time in end March this year, the new venue, the Kai Tak Sports Park, will play host to the Hong Kong Football Festival featuring four world-renowned football clubs, including Liverpool which just secured its champion on the English Premier League for the 20th time. And also we will have Arsenal, AC Milan and Tottenham Hotspur this July. Horse racing has a history of 140 years in Hong Kong and our racecourses are well-known tourist hotspots. The new racing season of Hong Kong usually starts in September, climaxing on the Hong Kong International Races in early December with world-class jockeys and horses competing fiercely for the world championships. The magnificent green and blue from our green landscape, the beautiful beaches and outlying islands are also the hidden gems of the city awaiting you to explore.
We are indeed dedicated to making Hong Kong a welcoming home for Middle East visitors. Our 60 hotels and 170 restaurants in Hong Kong are halal-certified, and many attractions and venues provide prayer facilities and cultural training for their staff. Not only do we have strong and keen enthusiasm in joining the Arabian Travel Market and setting up a Hong Kong pavilion again to showcase the city's novel experiences like what we did this afternoon and the coming days, we have also arranged familiarisation visits for trade partners from the Middle East to go to Hong Kong to experience our various offerings, and we also partnered with major Middle East airline and online travel agents to promote Hong Kong as an ideal tourism destination across the region.
Looking ahead, we are eager to build even closer ties with the Middle East - not just welcoming you as visitors to Hong Kong but also inspiring more Hong Kong people to explore the incredible destinations for both business and leisure in the Middle East.
So, thank you all once again for joining us tonight. May I take this opportunity to wish you all good health and many good returns. Have an enjoyable evening. And thank you again.
Update on chikungunya fever
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health announced that, as of 5pm today (January 11), no new cases of chikungunya fever (CF) had been recorded.
Latest surveillance data
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Hong Kong has recorded a total of 82 confirmed CF cases last year. Among them, 11 were local cases, and the rest were imported cases.
Since the beginning of 2025, and as of December 10, 2025, a total of 502 264 CF cases and 186 CF-related deaths have been reported in over 40 countries/territories. Cases have been reported in the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe. Although the northern hemisphere has entered the winter season, temperatures in subtropical and some temperate regions remain elevated due to climate change, creating favourable conditions for mosquito breeding. In addition, CF outbreaks continue to occur in many countries worldwide. The risk of imported cases persists. Members of the public should check the situation of the destinations before travelling abroad, especially when travelling to Southeast Asian countries.
Government's comprehensive follow-up actions
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Given that some local cases of CF have visited the Tsing Yi Nature Trails or the surrounding area in November last year, the trails are currently closed until further notice. Relevant government departments continue to conduct large-scale mosquito control and prevention efforts along the trails, and the CHP appeals to the public not to enter the area in order to reduce the risk of contracting CF and to avoid exposure to chemicals or interfering with the mosquito control operations. Since the confirmation on December 10, 2025, of a case involving a person who had visited the Tsing Yi Nature Trails on November 30, 2025, no further local cases have been recorded to date. The CHP continues to urge individuals who have recently hiked along the Tsing Yi Nature Trails to seek medical attention as soon as possible if they develop relevant symptoms and to call the enquiry hotline (Tel: 2125 2373), which operates from 9am to 6pm.
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has been continuously conducting intensive fogging operations to eliminate adult mosquitoes along the Tsing Yi Nature Trails and the surrounding area. At suitable locations, large ultra-low volume foggers have been deployed, and a robot dog is being put on trial to enhance operational effectiveness. The FEHD has also set up new mosquito trapping devices, cleared discarded containers and garbage that could cause stagnant water, and applied larvicide oil or larvicides in areas with stagnant water that cannot be removed immediately. The FEHD has been collaborating with the Kwai Tsing District Office, the Lands Department and the Drainage Services Department to strengthen efforts in eliminating potential mosquito breeding sites along the Tsing Yi Nature Trails. Pamphlets have been distributed to hikers in the area, urging citizens to be vigilant against mosquito infestations and take personal protective measures. The FEHD has also held meetings of the interdepartmental task forces on anti-mosquito work across districts to discuss the latest developments regarding the situation and plan accordingly to co-ordinate relevant departments and stakeholders in strengthening mosquito prevention and control measures in areas under their purview.
Continuously strengthening prevention and control
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The FEHD and relevant departments have comprehensively enhanced the mosquito control operations in Hong Kong since July last year, and this has continued. Among these, the FEHD has conducted vector investigations and targeted mosquito control operations against the imported and local cases. In light of the local case, the FEHD has immediately conducted follow-up actions, including:
carrying out intensive fogging in scrubby areas within a 250-metre radius of the relevant locations to kill adult mosquitoes;
carrying out inspections of the locations, removing stagnant water, applying insecticides and disposing of abandoned water containers every week with a view to preventing mosquito breeding; and
enhancing public education efforts through organising health talks, setting up mobile education stations, and distributing publicity leaflets.
The abovementioned measures will be continued. Furthermore, the Government will further enhance the mosquito control efforts in addition to the existing measures.
Preventive measures to be taken by the public
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Members of the public should use DEET-containing insect repellents or other effective active ingredients properly to prevent mosquito bites, but the following precautions should be taken when using them:
read the label instructions carefully first;
apply right before entering an area with a risk of mosquito bites;
apply on exposed skin and clothing;
use DEET of up to 30 per cent for pregnant women and up to 10 per cent for children (for children who travel to countries or areas where mosquito-borne diseases are endemic or epidemic and where exposure is likely, those aged 2 months or above can use DEET-containing insect repellents with a DEET concentration of up to 30 per cent);
apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent;
reapply only when needed and follow the instructions; and
in addition to DEET, there are other insect repellents available on the market containing different active ingredients, such as IR3535 and picaridin. When using any insect repellent, the public should follow the usage instructions and precautions on the product label.
The FEHD also appeals to members of the public to continue to stay alert and work together to carry out mosquito prevention and control measures early, including inspecting their homes and surroundings to remove potential breeding grounds, changing water in vases and scrubbing their inner surfaces, removing water in saucers under potted plants at least once a week, and properly disposing of containers such as empty cans and lunch boxes. The FEHD also advises members of the public and property management agencies to keep drains free of blockage and level all defective ground surfaces to prevent the accumulation of water. They should also scrub all drains and surface sewers with an alkaline detergent at least once a week to remove any mosquito eggs.
The public should call 1823 in case of mosquito problems, and may visit the following pages for more information: the CF page of theCHPand theTravel Health Service, the latestTravel Health News,tips for using insect repellents, and the CHPFacebook Page,Instagram AccountandYouTube Channel, and also theMosquito Prevention and Control dedicated pageof the FEHD.
Source: AI-found images
