CS inspects operations at Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point
The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (February 17), the first day of the Chinese New Year, inspected the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point to learn about the arrangements and operation conditions for customs clearance, diverting passenger movements, public order maintenance, etc at the control point during the Chinese New Year period. Mr Chan was accompanied by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung; the Director of Immigration, Mr Benson Kwok; and the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Chan Tsz-tat. He also met the frontline staff of the Immigration Department (ImmD), the Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) and the Hong Kong Police Force on duty to extend his Chinese New Year greetings, and expressed his gratitude to them for performing their duties with dedication during the holidays, enabling visitors to continue to enjoy quality and efficient services during the arrival and departure peaks.
Mr Chan was pleased to note that the relevant government departments have been diligently co-ordinating the ancillary arrangements of boundary control points (BCPs) and transportation, as well as maintaining close liaison with relevant organisations and the travel trade to be well prepared for crowd management, information dissemination and public transportation arrangements, with a view to ensuring the smooth operation of various aspects in receiving visitors. The ImmD has operated additional and temporary counters and channels at various BCPs to divert passenger and vehicular flows. Relevant departments of the BCPs have minimised leave for frontline officers to enable a flexible deployment of manpower.
The Inter-departmental Joint Command Centre set up by the Police, the ImmD, the C&ED, and other relevant departments commenced operation last Saturday (February 14) to monitor the real-time situation at various BCPs, and to take timely contingency actions as necessary for flexible deployments. Moreover, the Emergency Monitoring and Support Centre of the Security Bureau (SB), and the Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre of the Transport Department will closely monitor the public order and traffic situation at various BCPs and districts to respond promptly to different kinds of emergencies.
Mr Chan appealed to visitors arriving in Hong Kong during the Chinese New Year holidays to plan their itineraries ahead of time. He encouraged them to stay overnight after participating in various local celebratory activities for the Chinese New Year to fully experience Hong Kong's festive culture as well as its unique city charm. Members of the public and visitors may also visit the Hong Kong Tourism Board's one-stop Chinese New Year festive webpage (www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/what-s-new/events/chinese-new-year.html) and the SB's one-stop information platform on immigration clearance "Easy Boundary" (www.sb.gov.hk/eng/bwt/status.html?type=outbound) to obtain useful information such as opening hours and waiting times of major tourist attractions, respective average waiting times for passengers and private cars at land BCPs as well as those for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge shuttle bus and the Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang cross-boundary shuttle bus to plan their trips and save waiting times.
Mr Chan expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Government colleagues and practitioners of various industries for their hard work during the Chinese New Year period. He also expressed his wishes for the stability and peace of the motherland, a thriving economy, and every success to the community.
The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki (front row, left), accompanied by the Director of Immigration, Mr Benson Kwok (back row, third right) inspects the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point as he receives a briefing from staff of the Immigration Department today (February 17), the first day of the Chinese New Year. He also thanked all the colleagues on duty during the Chinese New Year holidays. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki (first right), accompanied by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung (second right) inspects the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point as he receives a briefing from staff of the Hong Kong Police Force today (February 17), the first day of the Chinese New Year. He also thanked all the colleagues on duty during the Chinese New Year holidays. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki (third right), accompanied by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung (second left), the Director of Immigration, Mr Benson Kwok (first right); and the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Chan Tsz-tat (third left), inspects the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point as he receives a briefing from staff of the Customs and Excise Department today (February 17), the first day of the Chinese New Year. He also thanked all the colleagues on duty during the Chinese New Year holidays. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FEHD releases fourth batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in May
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (May 21) released the fourth batch of gravidtrap indexes and density indexes for Aedes albopictus in May, covering 12 survey areas, as follows:
District |
Survey Area |
May 2026 |
First Phase Gravidtrap Index |
First Phase Density Index |
Eastern |
Shau Kei Wan and Sai Wan Ho |
9.1% |
1.4 |
Islands |
Tung Chung |
2.0% |
1.0 |
Kowloon City |
Hung Hom and To Kwa Wan |
6.7% |
1.5 |
Tai Po |
Tai Po East |
2.2% |
2.0 |
Tai Po West |
15.5% |
1.0 |
Tuen Mun |
Tuen Mun South |
9.1% |
1.4 |
District |
Survey Area |
May 2026 |
Area Gravidtrap Index |
Area Density Index |
Central and Western |
Kennedy Town and Shek Tong Tsui |
16.8% |
1.3 |
Eastern |
Chai Wan |
15.4% |
1.0 |
North Point and Quarry Bay |
18.9% |
1.4 |
Southern |
Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau |
20.8% |
1.7 |
Sha Tin |
Sha Tin Town Centre and Fo Tan |
18.3% |
1.4 |
Tsuen Wan |
Tsuen Wan Town |
6.9% |
2.3 |
The fourth batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in May includes First Phase Gravidtrap Indexes covering six survey areas and Area Gravidtrap Indexes covering six survey areas. Among which, six survey areas recorded gravidtrap indexes above 10 per cent, while Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau in Southern District recorded a gravidtrap index above 20 per cent. Meanwhile, the gravidtrap indexes of six survey areas, namely Kennedy Town and Shek Tong Tsui in Central and Western District; North Point and Quarry Bay in Eastern District; Shau Kei Wan and Sai Wan Ho in Eastern District; Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau in Southern District; Tai Po East in Tai Po District; and Tuen Mun South in Tuen Mun District, have recorded a decrease as compared to the indexes recorded in the last survey period, reflecting the progress of relevant mosquito control work.
With reference to the data from the past few years, the gravidtrap indexes start to rise from April or May every year. The actual timing and extent of the rise are affected by factors like weather conditions and rainfall. The average temperature and rainfall recorded in April this year were higher than those in the same period last year, creating favourable conditions for mosquito growth and breeding. As a result, the rise in gravidtrap indexes occurred earlier this year. With the increase in rainfall in May, the gravidtrap indexes are expected to rise further.
For survey areas which recorded indexes exceeding 10 per cent, in accordance with the mechanism implemented by the FEHD in response to the chikungunya fever (CF) situation (i.e. strengthening mosquito control work in areas with a gravidtrap index between 10 per cent and 20 per cent, instead of 20 per cent or above under the original mechanism), the FEHD is collaborating with relevant departments and stakeholders to identify locations with high mosquito infestations and carry out intensive and targeted mosquito control measures. The FEHD has initiated two prosecutions against the relevant construction site contractors following the discovery of mosquito breeding at construction sites in Tai Po District and Southern District. Moreover, following the discovery of stagnant water or stagnant water containers in a park, a construction site, a private housing estate, a clinic and a private premises in Tai Po District, Central and Western District, as well as Southern District, the FEHD has issued five statutory notices to the responsible persons-in-charge, requiring the clearance of such items within a specified timeframe. The FEHD, the relevant departments and stakeholders are following up on the mosquito control work, and will also organise exhibitions, distribute leaflets and posters, and notify residential estates that have subscribed to the gravidtrap Rapid Alert System, advising property management agents and residents to stay vigilant and work together in taking mosquito prevention and elimination measures. In addition, the FEHD will strengthen the monitoring of the gravidtrap index in the areas to review the effectiveness of the mosquito control work.
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 the 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 water in flower vases and scrub their inner surfaces thoroughly, and remove water in saucers under potted plants at least once a week;
properly cover all containers that hold water to prevent mosquitoes from accessing the water;
properly dispose of articles that can contain water, such as disposable meal boxes and empty cans; and
scrub drains and surface sewers with alkaline detergent at least once a week to remove any mosquito eggs.
Starting in August 2025, 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 CF transmission.
Following 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 62 survey areas of the community, with a surveillance period of two weeks. During the surveillance period, 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#).
FEHD releases fourth batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in May Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FEHD releases fourth batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in May Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FEHD releases fourth batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in May Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FEHD releases fourth batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in May Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FEHD releases fourth batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in May Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
