Hong Kong Showcases Digital Innovation at UnitedXR Europe 2025 in Brussels

Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency leads industry delegation to participate in UnitedXR Europe 2025

The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau led an industry delegation to participate in UnitedXR Europe 2025 in Brussels, Belgium, from December 8 to 10 (Brussels time).

Sponsored by CCIDA, the Hong Kong Pavilion at UnitedXR Europe showcased Hong Kong's innovative capabilities of 20 Hong Kong digital entertainment companies in extended reality (XR), virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies across gaming, training and education, animation, art-tech, and immersive experiences. During the exhibition period, CCIDA also organised a series of exchange activities, business meetings and company visits to enable the exhibiting Hong Kong companies to explore business and collaboration opportunities with their international counterparts and to enhance their understanding of the European XR market and industry development trends.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Pavilion on December 9 (Brussels time), the Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries, Miss Drew Lai, remarked that CCIDA is dedicated to supporting local creative talent in applying leading XR technologies to Hong Kong's creative industries, as well as engaging and collaborating with XR ecosystems worldwide. The Hong Kong Pavilion at UnitedXR Europe not only presents Hong Kong's cutting-edge technologies and creative applications in digital entertainment but also demonstrates its commitment to advancing creative technologies and strengthening Hong Kong's connections with Europe and the global community.

The Hong Kong Pavilion is also supported by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels. The Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union, Ms Shirley Yung, also attended the opening ceremony.

UnitedXR Europe this year combines the Augmented World Expo EU and Stereopsia for the first time to launch Europe's leading XR event. For more information about UnitedXR Europe 2025 and the Hong Kong Pavilion, please visit unitedxr.eu/ and www.hkpavilion.com/respectively.

Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency leads industry delegation to participate in UnitedXR Europe 2025 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency leads industry delegation to participate in UnitedXR Europe 2025 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency leads industry delegation to participate in UnitedXR Europe 2025 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency leads industry delegation to participate in UnitedXR Europe 2025 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency leads industry delegation to participate in UnitedXR Europe 2025 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

FEHD releases first batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in December

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (December 11) released the first batch of gravidtrap indexes and density indexes for Aedes albopictus in December, covering 21 survey areas, as follows:

District

Survey Area

December 2025

First Phase Gravidtrap Index

First Phase Density Index

Eastern

Chai Wan West

0.0%

N/A

North Point

0.0%

N/A

Southern

Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau

0.0%

N/A

Deep Water Bay and Repulse Bay

0.0%

N/A

Wan Chai

Tin Hau

0.0%

N/A

Wan Chai North

0.0%

N/A

Happy Valley

0.0%

N/A

Yau Tsim

Tsim Sha Tsui

0.0%

N/A

Mong Kok

Mong Kok

0.0%

N/A

Kowloon City

Ho Man Tin

0.0%

N/A

Kai Tak North

2.7%

1.0

Sai Kung

Tseung Kwan O West

0.0%

N/A

Sha Tin

Tai Wai

0.0%

N/A

Sha Tin East

0.0%

N/A

Ma On Shan

1.6%

1.0

Sha Tin Town Centre and Fo Tan

0.0%

N/A

Tai Po

Tai Po East

0.0%

N/A

North

Sheung Shui

0.0%

N/A

Yuen Long

Tin Shui Wai

0.0%

N/A

Tuen Mun

Tuen Mun South

0.0%

N/A

Tsuen Wan

Ma Wan

0.0%

N/A

Among the first batch of First Phase Gravidtrap Indexes covering 21 survey areas in December, all were below 10 per cent.

Among these 21 survey areas, 20 recorded a decrease or remained unchanged in the individual gravidtrap index as compared to the Area Gravidtrap Index last month, i.e. November 2025, representing that the areas' mosquito infestation improved or maintained a low level. Another area recorded a slight increase, but the index was lower than 10 per cent.

The eggs of Aedes albopictus can withstand long periods of desiccation and will hatch when the temperature becomes suitable and water is present. Members of the public should continue to take mosquito control measures during winter to eliminate mosquito eggs.

Public participation is crucial to the effective control of mosquito problems. The FEHD appeals to members of the public to continue to work together in strengthening personal mosquito control measures, including:

• tidy up their premises and check for any accumulation of water inside their premises;

• remove all unnecessary water collections and eliminate the sources;

• check household items (those placed in outdoor and open areas in particular), such as refuse containers, vases, air conditioner drip trays, and laundry racks to prevent stagnant water;

• change the water in flower vases and clear the water in saucers of potted plants at least once every seven days;

• properly cover all containers that hold water to prevent mosquitoes from accessing the water;

• properly dispose of articles that can contain water, such as empty lunch boxes and cans; and

• scrub drains and surface sewers with alkaline detergent at least once a week to remove any mosquito eggs.

Starting in August this year, following the completion of the surveillance of individual survey areas, and once the latest gravidtrap index and the density index are available, the FEHD has been disseminating relevant information through press releases, its website, and social media. It aims to allow members of the public to quickly grasp the mosquito infestation situation and strengthen mosquito control efforts, thereby reducing the risk of chikungunya fever (CF) transmission.

​Following the recommendations from the World Health Organization and taking into account the local situation in Hong Kong, the FEHD sets up gravidtraps in districts where mosquito-borne diseases have been recorded in the past, as well as in densely populated places such as housing estates, hospitals and schools to monitor the breeding and distribution of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which can transmit CF and dengue fever. At present, the FEHD has set up gravidtraps in 64 survey areas of the community. During the two weeks of surveillance, the FEHD will collect the gravidtraps once a week. After the first week of surveillance, the FEHD will immediately examine the glue boards inside the retrieved gravidtraps for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes to compile the Gravidtrap Index (First Phase) and Density Index (First Phase). At the end of the second week of surveillance, the FEHD will instantly check the glue boards for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes. Data from the two weeks of surveillance will be combined to obtain the Area Gravidtrap Index and the Area Density Index. The gravidtrap and density indexes for Aedes albopictus in different survey areas, as well as information on mosquito prevention and control measures, are available on the department's webpage (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/pestcontrol/dengue_fever/Dengue_Fever_Gravidtrap_Index_Update.html#).

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD)