SCMA unveils Greater Bay Area Aircraft
The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, officiated at the unveiling ceremony of the Greater Bay Area Aircraft at Hong Kong International Airport today (June 2). The Greater Bay Area Aircraft, with the promotional design livery that reads "Leveraging Hong Kong's Strengths, Developing a First-class Greater Bay Area", will operate flights between Hong Kong and Mainland and overseas cities to promote the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and Hong Kong to the world.
Following its earlier promotional efforts to reach out to the community through means of transportation such as buses, trams and ferries, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Office (GBA Office) of the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau is using an aircraft for the first time as a mobile display platform to further promote the Greater Bay Area to a global audience.
Mr Tsang said, "The development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is the best entry point for Hong Kong to actively integrate into the overall national development. Hong Kong possesses the unique advantages of enjoying the strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world under the 'one country, two systems' principle, and a business environment that is highly market-oriented and internationalised, underpinned by the rule of law, free flow of capital, a comprehensive financial regulatory system, a simple and low tax regime, and a pool of global professional talent. All these have enabled Hong Kong to become a 'super connector', connecting the Mainland with the world, and leveraging its dual roles in going global and attracting foreign investment for the GBA."
Mr Tsang expressed his hope that the aircraft would serve as an "ambassador in the sky" to promote the Greater Bay Area, raising awareness of the latest developments of the GBA and Hong Kong's role in connecting the Mainland with the world. He encouraged all sectors to capitalise on Hong Kong's distinctive strengths to seize the enormous opportunities brought about by GBA development, thereby promoting the high-quality development of the GBA.
The Greater Bay Area Aircraft mainly travels between Hong Kong and various destinations on the Mainland and in Asia. The airline's unique positioning of being rooted in Hong Kong and radiating to the GBA, together with its main routes that closely connect the GBA and the international market, fully demonstrates Hong Kong's role as the international gateway to the GBA.
The Chief Executive Officer of Greater Bay Airlines, Ms Liza Ng, expressed her wholehearted support for this meaningful activity of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. Through daily flights to and from different cities, the vision of the GBA is promoted overseas, enabling more people to gain a deeper understanding and actively participate in the GBA's development. The airline has been established in support of the national strategy of developing the GBA, and makes its contributions as Hong Kong fully leverages its distinctive advantages of having strong support from the motherland and enjoying close connections with the world as well as its status as an international aviation hub to integrate into the overall national development.
Hong Kong residents, together with people and enterprises from the Mainland and abroad, will be able to catch a glimpse of the Greater Bay Area Aircraft at Hong Kong International Airport or when travelling on Greater Bay Airlines' flights. The GBA Office will continue to disseminate the stories of the GBA through diversified channels, and encourage all sectors to actively seize the good opportunities that GBA development presents to develop the region into an international first-class bay area.
SCMA unveils Greater Bay Area Aircraft Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SCMA unveils Greater Bay Area Aircraft Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SCMA unveils Greater Bay Area Aircraft Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
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
