Update on mosquito-borne diseases, dengue fever and chikungunya fever
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (March 13) announced the latest situation of dengue fever and chikungunya fever. The Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui, reminds the public that as temperatures gradually rise and humidity increases, creating favourable conditions for mosquito breeding, members of the public should take appropriate measures to prevent mosquito bites and mosquito breeding, both in Hong Kong and when travelling to areas affected by mosquito-borne diseases, in order to prevent mosquito-borne diseases.
Dengue fever
----------------
From March 6 to yesterday (March 12), the CHP recorded one imported dengue fever (DF) case. The patient had travelled to Malaysia during the incubation period.
As of yesterday, Hong Kong has recorded 10 DF cases so far this year, all of which were imported cases. A total of 59 DF cases were recorded last year (2025), all of which were also imported cases.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the global incidence of DF has markedly increased over the past two decades, posing a substantial public health challenge. In 2024, the WHO recorded over 14 million cases, which was a record number. From January to July 2025, over 4 million cases and over 3 000 DF-related deaths were reported in 97 countries/territories.
DF is prevalent in many neighbouring tourist destinations. In 2025, Indonesia, India and Vietnam each recorded over 120 000 cases; Malaysia and Thailand each recorded over 50 000 cases; and Singapore recorded over 4 000 cases.Meanwhile, the Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention recorded over 3 500 locally infected cases in Guangdong Province in 2025.
Detailed information on the latest DF situation in Hong Kong, as well as neighbouring and overseas countries and areas, has been uploaded to the CHP'swebsite.
Chikungunya fever
-----------------------
From March 6 to yesterday, no new cases of chikungunya fever (CF) had been recorded. Hong Kong has recorded two confirmed CF cases so far this year, all of which were imported cases. Hong Kong has recorded a total of 82 confirmed CF cases last year. Among them, 11 were local cases, and the rest were imported cases.
Since the beginning of 2025, and as of December 10, 2025, a total of 502 264 CF cases and 186 CF-related deaths have been reported in over 40 countries/territories. Cases have been reported in the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe.
Preventive measures to be taken by the public
----------------------------------------------------
Mosquito-borne diseases such as DF and CF are endemic in various countries worldwide. The risk of importation persists. Members of the public should check the situation at their destinations before travelling abroad, especially when travelling to Southeast Asian countries. Additionally, whether traveling or not, Members of the public should use DEET-containing insect repellents or other effective active ingredients properly to prevent mosquito bites, but the following precautions should be taken when using them:
read the label instructions carefully first;
apply right before entering an area with a risk of mosquito bites;
apply on exposed skin and clothing;
use DEET of up to 30 per cent for pregnant women and up to 10 per cent for children (for children who travel to countries or areas where mosquito-borne diseases are endemic or epidemic, and where exposure is likely, those aged 2 months or above can use DEET-containing insect repellents with a DEET concentration of up to 30 per cent);
apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent;
reapply only when needed and follow the instructions; and
in addition to DEET, there are other insect repellents available on the market containing different active ingredients, such as IR3535 and picaridin. When using any insect repellent, the public should follow the usage instructions and precautions on the product label.
The FEHD also appeals to members of the public to continue to stay alert and work together to carry out mosquito prevention and control measures early, including inspecting their homes and surroundings to remove potential breeding grounds, changing water in vases and scrubbing their inner surfaces, removing water in saucers under potted plants at least once a week, and properly disposing of containers such as empty cans and lunch boxes. The FEHD also advises members of the public and property management agencies to keep drains free of blockage and level all defective ground surfaces to prevent the accumulation of water. They should also scrub all drains and surface sewers with an alkaline detergent at least once a week to remove any mosquito eggs.
The public should call 1823 in case of mosquito problems, and may visit the following pages for more information: the CF page of theCHPand theTravel Health Service, the latestTravel Health News,tips for using insect repellents, and the CHPFacebook Page,Instagram AccountandYouTube Channel, and also theMosquito Prevention and Control dedicated pageof the FEHD.
Source: AI-found images
Speech by FS at Joint Business Community Luncheon
Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the Joint Business Community Luncheon today (March 13):
Agnes (Chairman of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, Ms Agnes Chan), Anthony (Chairman of Federation of Hong Kong Industries, Mr Anthony Lam), Wingco (President of the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, Dr Wingco Lo), Jonathan (Chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong, Dr Jonathan Choi), presidents and chairmen of chambers of commerce, Consuls-General, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good afternoon. Thank you for the kind welcome. It’s a great pleasure to be with you again.
I am grateful for the opportunity to share with you the key thinking behind this year’s Budget and, more importantly, to hear your views on how we can better support our businesses to prosper and create more opportunities for our people.
We are living in a time when the world faces greater uncertainty: geopolitics, re-globalisation, technological disruption, especially artificial intelligence. Old assumptions don’t hold the way they used to. But Hong Kong has never been brought down by uncertainty. We are defined by agility, confidence and innovative spirit, and by our ability to turn challenges into opportunities.
For the Budget, I want to speak on three topics: first, where our economy stands; second, how we should align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan, making full use of our competitive advantages under the “one country, two systems” framework. These two form the backdrop to which the Budget was prepared. And third, how to advance our economy along two major themes, namely “AI+” and “Finance+”, to drive high-quality, inclusive growth.
The economy
In the past year, our economy showed much resilience and grew steadily. Our GDP growth was 3.5 per cent. Merchandise export was a key driver, increasing by about 12 per cent, while services export rose by about 6.3 per cent, supported by a very vibrant financial market and the continued growth in visitor arrivals - close to 50 million. Capital investment also increased by about 4.3 per cent, reflecting more optimistic business sentiment.
Private consumption, including retail and F&B, was our weaker spot, but still grew by about 1.7 per cent, with further gradual improvement in recent months. Inflation had stayed low, at about 1.1 per cent. The labour market remains broadly stable, with the unemployment rate at around 3.9 per cent, Some sectors have been under greater pressure, notably retail, F&B and construction. However, the residential property market has been improving, with transaction volumes back to pre-COVID levels. Coupled with a steady economic outlook, we are seeing clearer signs of pick-up in construction activities.
There is an oversupply in the commercial property sector. That is why we have stopped selling commercial land since 2024. Besides, we are promoting more flexible use of suitable office premises, for example, as student hostels, to improve their utilisation. This situation is improving, with rental pressure for office property easing in core areas. In fact, office demand from financial institutions, in particular firms in asset and wealth management as well as digital assets, is increasing notably.
As you may recall, the Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited, or HKIC, is a company established for the purpose of, among other things, assisting the Government in attracting businesses and investments as well as building ecosystems that will enhance Hong Kong’s competitiveness and help diversify our economic structure. The HKIC will collaborate with long-term capital, such as sovereign wealth funds, to invest in high-quality commercial property projects and match them with enterprises in target industries that have been attracted to Hong Kong.
Coming back to the overall economy, we forecast growth of 2.5 per cent to 3.5 per cent for this year. However, the events that are currently unfolding in the Middle East may weigh on the global economy and affect Hong Kong too. The impact will be assessed continuously.
National 15th Five-Year Plan and Hong Kong’s role
The second part of the backdrop to this Budget is the National 15th Five-Year Plan, which sets out a blueprint for Chinese modernisation and the country’s high-quality development in the years ahead.
Several themes in the Plan matter greatly for Hong Kong. First, it places a strong emphasis on building a modernised industrial system and advancing technological self-reliance. In the years to come, we can expect more breakthroughs from China in frontier fields - AI, quantum computing, semiconductors, biotechnology, communications, and new energy. And we can expect key technological “chokepoints” that have held back China’s development in certain critical areas to be overcome.
Second, the Plan underscores a continued drive for high-level, two-way opening up. The purpose is clear: to strengthen the country’s strategic resilience by diversifying and deepening economic relationships. On the one hand, more Mainland enterprises will be encouraged to go global as supply chains and industrial chains are being reconfigured. On the other, the country is welcoming more high-quality foreign goods and services to enter the domestic market. China is becoming a consumption powerhouse.
For Hong Kong, our strategy is clear: we must align proactively with national development strategies, while fully leveraging our unique advantages under the “one country, two systems” framework.
We have long been a trusted gateway for two-way trade and investment. But we can do more. We can contribute to the country’s efforts in building a modernised industrial system and advance technological innovation, accelerating our rise as an international innovation and technology hub.
Budget main lines: “AI+” and “Finance+”
A key theme of this year’s Budget is therefore making good use of finance and technological innovation to drive Hong Kong’s future development.
We call this “AI+” and “Finance+”. But they are not two separate tracks but one strategy. Done right, each will strengthen the other - creating momentum that brings new value, new jobs and new opportunities for Hong Kong.
AI+
Let me begin with “AI+”. Globally, AI is an unstoppable wave. The real question is not whether to embrace it, but how we can lead.
Hong Kong is well placed to lead. In basic research, three of our universities rank among the world’s top 20 in data science and AI, with two more among the top 50. Hong Kong is also a natural hub, where global talent, Mainland and international standards, real-world use cases, and cross-border data converge and connect. And Hong Kong, together with the Greater Bay Area, is where high-end manufacturing capabilities and cutting-edge technologies simultaneously reside.
Over the past year, the pace of AI development has shocked the world. Its power to strengthen industries and reshape daily life is no longer a distant promise - it is already here. Just look at the recent headlines around OpenClaw. We are seeing a breakthrough of large-language-model application from dialogue to execution: instead of simply providing answers to your questions, it gets the job done. That is a glimpse of what is coming as AI agents become personal assistants who will work for you 24x7 without tea breaks. Of course, we need to address the associated challenges such as privacy, cybersecurity and token costs.
To seize the first-mover advantage in AI+, I am establishing the Committee on AI+ and Industry Development Strategy. We must embed AI into different industries and accelerate our progress in high-potential areas.
We will start with the areas that Hong Kong already has competitive strengths in, that is life and health technology; and where the next frontier is opening fast, that is embodied intelligence. Life and health technology is a natural fit for Hong Kong, with our world-class medical professionals, universities, and healthcare institutions. With AI, researchers can predict molecular structures more accurately, shorten the path to new medicines, and strengthen clinical research.
For embodied intelligence, Hong Kong can offer something invaluable: real-world applications where safety, reliability and usefulness can be proven in domestic settings and in service environments. If it works here, it can be refined, improved and scaled well beyond Hong Kong.
At the same time, we fully recognise that AI also creates genuine concerns - the impact on jobs, the risk of leaving behind those who are not AI-literate, the spread of misinformation, and the rise of scams. That is why we must popularise AI understanding and empower people to use it safely and productively. This is the rationale behind our “AI Training for All” initiative. From schoolchildren to working adults and the wider community, we aim to provide suitable training options so that everyone can better equip themselves for the AI era.
Finance+
Another integral part of our strategy is “Finance+”. It means applying the strengths of Hong Kong’s financial services to power our technological innovation and grow our industries.
As you all know, Hong Kong is a leading international financial centre, offering a full range of funding options supporting companies in different sectors and at different stages of development. Today, I would like to highlight two points.
First, patient capital. Often, cutting-edge sectors, such as semiconductors, require long-term investment. The HKIC is supporting this by channelling capital into such sectors. It has so far invested in over 190 projects, with 10 investee companies already listed, and 20 in the pipeline for listing this year. Every dollar invested by the HKIC attracted over eight dollars of long-term capital investment.
Second, new financial and professional services will emerge with the new wave of technology growth. Demand will rise for newer kinds of services and expertise, such as in the valuation and risk assessment of intellectual property and other intangible assets, and the relevant accounting, certification and financing services.
Northern Metropolis
Meanwhile, no discussion would be complete without the Northern Metropolis, which remains a key focus of this year’s Budget. We are making substantial investments, including a $10 billion injection each into the Hetao Hong Kong Park Company and the dedicated companies for the San Tin Technopole and Hung Shui Kiu Industry Park. We are also supporting the NM University Town through $10 billion in loans for campus development.
We are also adopting an innovative mindset for development. Major land disposal projects are being rolled out, and dedicated legislation will be introduced soon to accelerate the development of the Northern Metropolis. The Budget also encourages developers to partner with technology enterprises in submitting joint development proposals to the Government. And we have prepared preferential policy packages covering land and tax concessions, financial support and co-investment to attract target industries to establish their presence in Hong Kong.
Closing
Ladies and gentlemen, I hope our efforts would inspire further confidence in our economic future and stimulate your interest in increasing your investment in Hong Kong and in exploring more multi-party business collaboration.
I look forward to hearing your views and taking your questions. Thank you very much.
Speech by FS at Joint Business Community Luncheon Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
