HAD opens temporary heat shelters
The Home Affairs Department is opening 19 community halls/community centres as temporary heat shelters today (August 12).
The temporary heat shelters will remain open for people to take refuge from the heat when the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force. From 10.30pm to 8am the next day, the temporary heat shelters will also provide bedding and a sleeping place for people in need. The shelters are manned by duty attendants.
For further information, please call the department's hotline before midnight on 2572 8427.
The heat shelters are located at:
Hong Kong Island:
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Central and Western -
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex
2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun
Eastern -
Causeway Bay Community Centre
3/F, 7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay
Southern -
Lei Tung Community Hall
Lei Tung Estate, Ap Lei Chau
Wan Chai -
Wan Chai Activities Centre
LG/F, Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai
Kowloon:
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Kowloon City -
Hung Hom Community Hall
1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices
42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom
Kwun Tong -
Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre
71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin
Sham Shui Po -
Shek Kip Mei Community Hall
G/F, Block 42, Shek Kip Mei Estate
Wong Tai Sin -
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan
Yau Tsim Mong -
Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei
New Territories:
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Islands -
Tung Chung Community Hall
G/F, Tung Chung Municipal Services Building, 39 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung
Kwai Tsing -
Kwai Shing Community Hall
Podium, Block 6, Kwai Shing West Estate, Kwai Chung
North -
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling
Sai Kung -
Hang Hau Community Hall
G/F, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex, 38 Pui Shing Road, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O
Sha Tin -
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin
Tai Po -
Tai Po Community Centre
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po
Tsuen Wan -
Lei Muk Shue Community Hall
G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan
Tuen Mun -
Butterfly Bay Community Centre
Butterfly Estate (near Tip Sum House), Tuen Mun
Yuen Long -
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long
Yuen Long -
Tin Yiu Community Centre
Tin Yiu Estate, Tin Shui Wai
In addition to the above heat shelters, a number of community halls/community centres can also be used for taking refuge from the heat during their operating hours. For their address details, please browse the following document: www.had.gov.hk/file_manager/en/documents/public_services/emergency_services/List_CH_CC_Day_E.pdf.
Source: AI-found images
Speech by SITI at 2026 WAIC UP! Global Summit
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at the 2026 WAIC UP! Global Summit today (January 16):
Professor Sun Dong, Photo by Bastille Post
Ms Qiu (Vice President of DLG Exhibitions & Events Co Ltd, Ms Qiu Haoming), Hendrick (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's Deputy to the 14th National People's Congress, Mr Hendrick Sin), Terry (Chief Executive Officer of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, Mr Terry Wong), Duncan (Member of the Legislative Council, Mr Duncan Chiu), Alex (President of the Hong Kong Information Technology Federation, Dr Alex Chung), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning. I am delighted to join you at the 2026 WAIC UP! Global Summit.Today's theme, "Wake Up More!", is a call not only for any single company, city, or country but also a timely reminder for all of us to embrace a new era of intelligence, possibility, and shared responsibility.
A big thank you to the organiser for choosing Hong Kong as a destination for this remarkable Summit. This is another testament to Hong Kong's unique position as a "super connector" and a "super value-adder" that thrives on global connection and creativity. We are delighted to see that world-class academics, industry experts and leading entrepreneurs from around the world gather here today to explore the future of AI and the opportunities it brings to us.
AI has become a core engine driving global technological and economic progress, and all economies recognise its strategic importance.Under the unique advantages of "one country, two systems", Hong Kong is also seizing this AI moment.With a focus on "strengthening infrastructure and promoting the application-oriented approach", Hong Kong is steadily advancing a series of AI initiatives.
In terms of R&D (research and development), the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government is working to establish the Hong Kong AI Research and Development Institute within this year, which is a new engine for discovery, translation, and real-world impact.Through our AIR@InnoHK research cluster, we have funded the establishment of 16 R&D laboratories focusing on AI and robotics technologies.Notably, the "HKChat" AI chatbot developed by the Hong Kong Generative AI Research and Development Center has already launched its public version.
Hong Kong's total computing power has now reached 5 000 PFLOPS, with the Cyberport AI Supercomputing Centre contributing 3 000 PFLOPS. This centre is a critical hub that supports Hong Kong's AI development, and its capacity will continue to expand to meet growing demand. The upcoming data facility cluster at Sandy Ridge in North District will further provide advanced computing power facilities, promoting the development of data and AI-related industries in Hong Kong.
And at the heart of all progress is talent. We recognise that people, not algorithms, will shape the future of AI. Our strategy is simple yet powerful: "Promote technology with talent, lead industries with technology, and attract talent with industries". To this end, we have included in the Talent List a number of professions in the I&T (innovation and technology) segment, including experienced AI Specialists, to facilitate global experts, like all of you here, in developing your careers in Hong Kong.
Looking ahead, the Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to foster strong collaboration among the Government and the industry, academia, research and investment sectors. The future of AI cannot be built by anyone or any place alone. It requires a global community that is awake, aware, and aligned.I am confident that this Summit will spark new ideas and inspire us to wake up more for high-quality AI development.
I wish the Summit great success. Thank you.
The 2026 WAIC UP! Global Summit, Photo by Bastille Post
