Hong Kong Environmental Database Wins Awards for Smart Environment Innovation at HSODC 2025.

Hong Kong Environmental Database earns another recognition

The Hong Kong Environmental Database (HKED) (hked.epd.gov.hk), developed by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has once again been honored with awards, winning the "Best Smart Environment Award" and the "Grand Award" at the Hong Kong/Shanghai Co-operation Open Data Challenge (HSODC) 2025 yesterday (August 27), reaffirming the remarkable progress made by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government in applying innovative technologies to optimise the environmental impact assessment (EIA) processes.

HSOSC 2025, jointly steered by the HKSAR Government's Digital Policy Office (DPO) and the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Data, adopted the theme "Co-creating a Data Industry Platform for the Two Cities". It encouraged participants to leverage open data resources from both Hong Kong and Shanghai to develop innovative solutions in four key areas: Smart Mobility, Smart Living, Smart Environment, and Smart Economy, thereby fostering deeper integration and synergy in the digital economies of the two cities. Following the first round of judging, 13 teams from Hong Kong advanced to the final judging held in Shanghai on August 26. They competed with local teams for the top-four finalists and the Grand Award.

Conducting his visit to Hangzhou and Shanghai from August 24 to 28, the Director of Environmental Protection, Dr Samuel Chui, led representatives from the EPD to attend the award ceremony held in Shanghai yesterday to receive the awards.

The HKSAR Government has taken a number of measures to optimise the EIA process, including the establishment of the HKED in 2022. The EPD has consolidated around 300 EIA reports handled since 1998. Through meticulous verification, data organisation, and format conversion, more than 200 high-value environmental data layers have been created, providing a robust foundation for local EIA studies. The HKED has also been benefitted from the HKSAR Government's Common Spatial Data Infrastructure portal, which allows the integration of over 20 environment-related core decision-making layers. Supported by smart assessment tools, the HKED enables more efficient data analysis and audit, thereby enhancing the accuracy and credibility of EIA reports.

Since its launch, the HKED has won several awards. Following the Best Environmental Innovation Award received at the Southeast Asia Forum International Conference last December, the HKED was also honoured with theInternational Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) 2025 "Corporate Initiative Award" in March this year.

On his visit to Hangzhou and Shanghai, Dr Chui inspected the Artificial Intelligence ecological monitoring program in the Xixi National Wetland Park and visited the talent training base at the Huawei Global Training Center during the first stop in Hangzhou.

On August 25, Dr Chui proceeded to visit Shanghai, where he held discussions with the Level I Bureau Rank Official of the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment, Mr Bai Guoqiang, on co-operation between Hong Kong and Shanghai in environmental protection. Dr Chui also exchanged views on technical solutions for sewage and waste treatment with the Director of Shanghai Municipal Engineering Design Institute, Mr Zheng Zhimin, and visited the Laogang Ecological and Environmental Protection Base. In addition, Dr Chui met and exchanged views with the Director of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Shanghai, Mrs Laura Aron.

Hong Kong Environmental Database earns another recognition Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Environmental Database earns another recognition Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Environmental Database earns another recognition Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Environmental Database earns another recognition Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Environmental Database earns another recognition Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Environmental Database earns another recognition Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Environmental Database earns another recognition Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Police National Security Department charges two men and arrests one woman

The National Security Department (NSD) of the Hong Kong Police Force arrested a 26-year-old woman on December 12 night for being suspected of committing the offence of “unlawful drilling” under Section 13 of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, in connection with the enforcement operation conducted on December 11.

Regarding the nine persons arrested earlier, NSD has laid charge against two of the men, aged 24 and 25, jointly with one count of "conspiracy to commit subversion". The case will be mentioned at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (December 15) morning.

The arrested woman and other arrestees were released on bail and are required to report back to the Police in mid-January 2026.

Investigation revealed that a syndicate has been conducting unlawful drilling inside a unit of an industrial building in Kowloon. The training content includes firearms drills, knife techniques and combat techniques. Police conducted searches at the unit suspected of being used for unlawful drilling and seized offensive weapons associated with the unlawful drilling.

Police remind members of the public that "conspiracy to commit subversion" is a serious offence. Offenders shall be liable to imprisonment for more than 10 years on first conviction. Members of the public are urged not to defy the law.

Source: AI-found images