Countdown Begins for 15th National Games and Special Olympics in Hong Kong, Kicking Off Major Sports Events in 2025.

2025-08-02 23:00 Last Updated At：08-03 01:03

Hong Kong celebrates 100-day countdown to 15th NG, 12th NGD and 9th NSOG

The 15th National Games (NG), the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities (NGD) and the 9th National Special Olympic Games (NSOG) will commence on November 9 and December 8, 2025 respectively. To celebrate the 100-day countdown to the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG, the National Games Coordination Office (Hong Kong) (NGCO) organised the 100-day countdown event for the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG (Hong Kong) at the Hong Kong Velodrome today (August 2).

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Hong Kong celebrates 100-day countdown to 15th NG, 12th NGD and 9th NSOG (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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Hong Kong celebrates 100-day countdown to 15th NG, 12th NGD and 9th NSOG (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, said at the ceremony that the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG are the largest multi-sport events in the nation. Hong Kong has a great honour and immense responsibility to co-host this national event with Guangdong and Macao. Looking ahead, Hong Kong will focus on improving the competition procedures, refining service arrangements, strengthening security measures, and conducting final tests and drills for all venues and scenarios, to create a fair environment for athletes and deliver an unforgettable experience for spectators. Hong Kong will leverage the NG, NGD and NSOG as a catalyst to promote the development of the sports industry in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), strive to provide young people with sports exchange opportunities and work with Guangdong and Macao to chart a new chapter for the GBA's sports legacy.

Other guests attending the event included the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Zhou Ji; the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Vice President and Secretary-General of the Organising Committee of the 15th NG and Standing Committee member of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, Mr Wang Xi; the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law; the Permanent Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ms Vivian Sum; the Head of the NGCO, Mr Yeung Tak-keung; the President of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, Mr Timothy Fok; and the President of the China Hong Kong Paralympic Committee, Mrs Jenny Fung.

To mark the 100-day countdown to the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG, the Hong Kong competition region launched an activity named "100-Days to the National Games All Together for 1 Million KM Challenge". The activity has collected over 22 000 participants' sports distances achieved in various sports activities such as walking, running, and cycling within weeks, reaching a total of 999 900 kilometres. Representatives from government departments, athletes, volunteers, partner sponsors and representatives of other sponsors joined hand to complete the final 100km under the witness of officiating guests, achieving the one million km challenge at the event.

The Guangdong competition region also held its 100-day countdown ceremony in Shenzhen this evening. Accompanied by Miss Law and Mr Yeung, Mr Lee attended the ceremony and delivered a speech. He also joined other officiating guests in activating the countdown device, signifying the official launch of the 100-day countdown to the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG, and symbolising the concerted efforts of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao in welcoming this national sports event.

In addition, the Government expressed gratitute to the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), six public transport service providers and two public utilities for their support of the Hong Kong competition region in hosting the 15th NG, 12th NGD and 9th NSOG. The sponsorship from the HKJC, the sole "Partner Sponsor" for the Hong Kong competition region, will mainly support the volunteer service programme, territory-wide community and school promotional activities, and initiatives enabling underprivileged groups and youth to attend the events as spectators. The six public transport service providers will provide free bus, subway, ferry and tram services to athletes, technical officials, and media from the Mainland. The two public utilities are also sponsoring renewable energy certificates, battery energy storage systems, hydrogen and other related equipment or services. The support from these organisations not only enhances the visitor experience for athletes from the Mainland, but also contributes to a safe, orderly and green Games in Hong Kong.

To further boost the community's passion for sports and enrich public awareness of 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG, the "2025 National Games Fiesta" will be held from August to October across 19 shopping malls and hotspot in different districts. The Fiesta will feature the sports experiences and interactive gamesassociated with the competition events of Hong Kong,and community performances for members of the public to experience the charm of sports. For more information, please visit www.2025nationalgames.gov.hk/en/ng/activity/nationalgamesfiesta.html.

At the same time, the NGCO launched the "National Games GOAL'n GO" augmented reality (AR) experience. Members of public can enter the interactive AR experience via the 2025 National Games (Hong Kong) official mini programme or the thematic website to follow an e-map exploring competition venues and nearby landmarks. For more information, please visit www.2025nationalgames.gov.hk/en/ng/nationalgamesgoalngo.html.

For more information on the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG in Hong Kong, please visit the thematic website (www.2025nationalgames.gov.hk/en/index.html), as well the Facebook page (www.facebook.com/2025nationalgames.hk) and Instagram page (www.instagram.com/2025nationalgames.hk).

Six illegal workers and an employer arrested in Hong Kong's anti-illegal worker operation Contribute.

Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation

The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted an anti-illegal worker operation codenamed "Contribute" today (January 15).During the operation, ImmD Task Force officers raided premises under renovation in a newly built public housing estate in Sheung Shui district.A total of six suspected illegal workers and one suspected employer were arrested. Thearrested suspected illegal workers comprise six men, aged 22 to 41. Furthermore, one man, aged 45, suspected of employing the illegal workers, was also arrested. An investigation into the suspected employers is ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.

Apart from mounting the enforcement operation, ImmD officers and a promotional vehicle have been deployed to distribute "Don't Employ Illegal Workers" leaflets and convey the message in the estate.

An ImmD spokesman said, "Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties."

The spokesman stressed that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years' imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years' imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.

According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee's identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.

Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) and/or forced labour victims. When any TIP and/or forced labour indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP and/or forced labour elements. Identified TIP and/or forced labour victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP and/or forced labour victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.

For reporting illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 3861 5000, by fax at 2824 1166, email to anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit "Online Reporting of Immigration Offences" form at www.immd.gov.hk.

Countdown Begins for 15th National Games and Special Olympics in Hong Kong, Kicking Off Major Sports Events in 2025.

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