Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme invites new round of applications
The Main Programme under the Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme (PASS) is inviting a new round of applications for project proposals starting today (March 1) from non-profit-distributing organisations such as professional bodies, trade and industrial organisations and research institutes.
PASS, with a total allocation of $200million, aims at funding non-profit-making industry-led projects to increase exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong's professional services and external counterparts, promote relevant publicity activities, and enhance the standards and external competitiveness of Hong Kong's professional services.
The maximum grant for each approved project under the Main Programme of PASS is $3million or 90per cent of the approved project cost, whichever is lower. A wide range of professional services, such as accounting, legal and dispute resolution, architecture, engineering, healthcare, information and communications technology, design and technical testing and analysis, are eligible for the Main Programme. Sector-specific projects and cross-sectoral projects are both welcome. Expenses directly incurred for implementing a project, such as manpower costs, venue and set-up costs, production and promotion costs, and the project team and active participants' travel and accommodation costs outside Hong Kong, are typically eligible for funding support under the Scheme. Funding support may also be provided for travel and accommodation costs incurred by participants of relatively longer professional internships or attachment programmes outside Hong Kong which are funded by the Main Programme.
Up to early February2026, around 130projects had been funded under the Main Programme, including project deliverables in and outside Hong Kong. The deliverables include capacity-building programmes for enhancing the standards of local professionals, such as training programmes, workshops and study tours; outreach and promotional activities for showcasing the strengths of Hong Kong's professional services, such as roadshows, promotional seminars and participation in exhibitions outside Hong Kong; exchange activities for deepening interaction between Hong Kong professionals and their external counterparts, such as visits to other economies and international conferences and seminars held in Hong Kong; and research projects on potential external markets for Hong Kong professional services and development of best practice guidelines and manuals for professionals. Details about the Main Programme and its funded projects are available at www.pass.gov.hk/main/en/home.
Furthermore, with a view to stepping up the promotion of Hong Kong's competitive edges and professional services to the Mainland and overseas markets, $50million has been set aside for the Professionals Participation Subsidy Programme (PSP) under PASS to subsidise Hong Kong major professional bodies to participate in relevant activities organised by the Government (such as Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council after the pandemic situation has stabilised. Details of the PSP and its list of activities are available at www.pass.gov.hk/psp. Hong Kong professionals from the eligible professional sectors under PASS may make use of the PSP subsidy to join the relevant activities.
The Main Programme and the PSP receive applications for project and activity proposals all year round, and they are processed on a quarterly basis. The deadline for the new round of applications is May 31,2026. A briefing session will be held this month for organisations interested in applying for the PASS funding. One-on-one consultations are also available upon request for discussing preliminary project ideas or projects in the planning stage. To register for the briefing session, schedule a consultation, or for other enquiries, please contact the PASS Secretariat at 36555418 or pass@cedb.gov.hk.
Source: AI-found images
CHP investigates suspected norovirus outbreak on inbound cruise ship
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (March 1) investigated a suspected norovirus outbreak on the cruise ship MS Westerdam, which is making a brief stop at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal during daytime today. The CHP is actively following up on the incident in collaboration with relevant departments.
"On Friday evening (February 27), the CHP's Port Health Division received notification from a cruise operator indicating that certain passengers and crew members aboard a vessel en route to Hong Kong were suspected of having contracted norovirus. The CHP immediately requested additional information from the cruise operator and the ship's medical personnel. Upon receiving the information yesterday, the CHP promptly convened a meeting with the relevant government departments and organisations to comprehensively assess the risks and make thorough arrangements to protect the health of those on board," the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui, said.
The cruise ship concerned arrived in Hong Kong at 4am today. Professionals from various divisions of the CHP (including medical and nursing staff from the Port Health Division and the Epidemiology Division of the Communicable Disease Branch, as well as the Infection Control Branch) immediately boarded the cruise ship to conduct epidemiological investigations and environmental assessments, and inspect the environment and food hygiene. The CHP also set up a temporary medical station at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal to provide health assessments for passengers, and instructed the cruise operator to conduct a thorough cleaning and disinfection of the cruise ship after passengers disembarked.
Data indicated that approximately 2 000 passengers and 800 crew members were on board when it arrived in Hong Kong. The cruise ship operates a circular route and had called at ports including multiple cities in Japan, Busan in Korea, and Shanghai on the Chinese Mainland since February 15. The CHP's epidemiological investigation identified 76 individuals (38 males and 38 females, aged 24 to 92) have successively developed acute gastroenteritis (AGE) symptoms, including vomiting, diarrhoea and fever, on board since February 15. Among them, 65 were passengers and the remaining 11 were crew members. The two passengers who fell ill first boarded the cruise ship in Japan on February 15 and developed symptoms on the same day. Subsequently, other individuals were affected. The investigation also found that some patients vomited in public areas on board. According to the ship's doctor, the vast majority of patients experienced mild symptoms and remained clinically stable. As of this morning when the cruise ship arrived Hong Kong, only three individuals still exhibited mild symptoms and did not require hospitalisation. According to the preliminary testing by the cruise ship's laboratory services, the stool samples from seven patients tested positive for norovirus. The CHP's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch will conduct further testing on the relevant samples.
"After inspecting the cruise ship, the CHP personnel briefed the affected individuals and the operator on health advice and necessary infection control measures, including thorough disinfection, proper handling of vomit, and attention to personal and environmental hygiene. The CHP also recommended enhancing training for frontline cleaning staff. After completing environmental hygiene inspections and epidemiological investigations onboard, and confirming that individuals preparing to enter Hong Kong were in good health, passengers and crew members disembarked this morning. Additionally, the CHP personnel provided detailed information about norovirus to arriving passengers and crew, advising them to seek medical attention promptly if they develop related symptoms," Dr Edwin Tsui said.
After the CHP confirmed that the cruise ship had undergone thorough environmental cleaning and disinfection and the onboard hygiene conditions were deemed satisfactory, passengers and crew are allowed to board the cruise ship. It will depart Hong Kong for the Philippines this evening. The CHP will notify the health authorities in the Philippines of the incident.
"Given the current high activity levels of norovirus in some tourist destinations, particularly in neighbouring regions like Japan and Korea where activity has been rising since late last year, I urge cross-border cruise passengers and operators to pay special attention to personal, food and environmental hygiene to safeguard individual health and public health," Dr Edwin Tsui added.
Norovirus infection typically causes food poisoning and AGE with symptoms including nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, low-grade fever and malaise. The symptoms are usually self-limiting and most people will get better within one to three days. Norovirus can also cause outbreaks of AGE in crowded settings such as schools, elderly care facilities, hotels, amusement parks and cruise ships. Generally, norovirus is more active in winter (around December to March). As norovirus is highly contagious, individuals may become infected after being exposed to even a small amount of norovirus. The virus can be transmitted through various means, such as eating contaminated food, contact with the vomit or excreta of infected persons, and contact with contaminated objects.
To prevent norovirus infection, apart from maintaining personal hygiene, all food should also be thoroughly washed and cooked before consumption. Before handling food or eating, and after using the toilet, members of the public should wash hands with liquid soap and water, and rub for at least 20 seconds, then rinse with water and dry with a disposable paper towel or hand dryer. Since alcohol is not effective in killing the norovirus, alcohol-based handrubs are not a substitute for handwashing with soap and water.
CHP investigates suspected norovirus outbreak on inbound cruise ship Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
