Hong Kong ICH Month Returns with Expanded Tours and Free Cultural Activities, Registration Starts on May 15

Registration for public tours of LCSD's "The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: ICH Highlight Tours" starts on May 15

The Intangible Cultural Heritage Office (ICHO) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will organise the second edition of the Hong Kong ICH Month, continuing its theme with "ICH Around Town", presenting a series of rich and diverse activities. The highlight programme, "The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: ICH Highlight Tours", brings the public and tourists to eight handpicked districts to explore the ICH items, in which ICH practitioners will share their skills and stories. Registration will open on May 15 and 16. Participation is free of charge.

Highly acclaimed last year, the tours will expand to a total of 40 field trips this year, extending the coverage to eight districts. Apart from the two popular routes from last year in Islands District and Yau Tsim Mong District, seven new routes across six new districts will also be introduced, including Wan Chai (two routes), Kowloon City, Kwai Tsing, North, Sai Kung and Sham Shui Po Districts, offering a total of nine different ICH-themed routes. Each route has two public tours and accommodates 20 participants, and is conducted in Cantonese.

The dates and relevant ICH items of the public tours are as follows:

Date

District

ICH Items

June 3

Wan Chai District (Happy Valley)

Traditional Architecture Preservation Technique, Diwali (Festival of Lights), Holi (Festival of Colours), etc

June 6

Sham Shui Po District

The Arts of the Guqin (the Craft of Qin Making), Puppetry and Paper Crafting Technique, etc

June 7

Kowloon City District

Chiu Chow Food Making Technique, the Art of Chiu Chow Kung Fu Tea, Chiu Chow Sugar Loaf Making Technique, etc

June 13

Kwai Tsing District

Hong Kong-style Milk Tea Making Technique, Wood Carving Technique, Neon Tube Making and Styling Technique, etc

June 14

North District

Jiao Festival of Sheung Shui Heung, Rice Cookie Making Technique, Sweet Potato Cake Making Technique, etc.

June 19

Islands District

Tai O Dragon Boat Water Parade, salted Fish Making Technique, Shrimp Paste Blocks and Shrimp Paste Making Technique, etc

June 21

Wan Chai District (Tai Hang)

Mid-Autumn Festival - the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance, Kwun Yum (Goddess of Mercy) Treasury Opening Festival, Patterned Band Weaving Technique, etc

June 27

Yau Tsim Mong District

Steamer Making Technique, Wood Carving Technique, Wood Carving Technique, Mahjong Tile Making Technique, etc

June 28

Sai Kung District

Hakka Unicorn Dance in Hang Hau in Sai Kung, Cha Kwo (Steamed Sticky Rice Dumpling) Making Technique, Rice Dumpling with Lye Making Technique, etc

Members of the public can register through the ICHO's website (www.icho.hk/en/web/icho/hk_ich_month_2026_tours.html), from 10.30am on May 15 to 6.30pm on May 16. Each applicant can only register a maximum of two persons for the same tour. In case of excess applications, all quotas will be allocated by open ballot at Orientation Room 1, Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage Centre at 2.30pm on May 20. Successful applicants will receive a confirmation email by May 26.

In addition, the ICHO collaborates with the Hong Kong Tourism Board to organise "ICH Highlight Tours" in Sham Shui Po District and Wan Chai District (Happy Valley) for tourists. Special "ICH Highlight Tours" in Kowloon City District and Sham Shui Po District will also be arranged for students to take them out of the classrooms to learn firsthand about the subject ICH items and communicate with practitioners. Details will be announced in due course.

To allow more members of the public and tourists to feel the cultural richness of ICH and the pleasure it brings, reference maps and videos produced by the ICHO will be uploaded to its website for the reference of members of the public and tourists while exploring relevant ICH items and locations.

The Hong Kong ICH Month 2026 is presented by the LCSD and organised by the ICHO, with the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust as the sole sponsor of "Hong Kong ICH Month 2026 The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series", and ICH June as a strategic partner. For details of the programmes, please visit the website www.icho.hk/en/web/icho/hk_ich_month_2026.html.

The Intangible Cultural Heritage Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will organise the Hong Kong ICH Month 2026 in June. Registration for the public tours under the highlight programme, "The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: ICH Highlight Tours", in eight handpicked districts featuring nine routes, will open on May 15 and 16. Photo shows the Hakka Unicorn Dance in Hang Hau in Sai Kung, one of the ICH items in the route in Sai Kung District. Participants can learn about the history and essence of this item through ICH practitioners. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Intangible Cultural Heritage Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will organise the Hong Kong ICH Month 2026 in June. Registration for the public tours under the highlight programme, "The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: ICH Highlight Tours", in eight handpicked districts featuring nine routes, will open on May 15 and 16. Photo shows the Wood Carving Technique, one of the ICH items in the route in Yau Tsim Mong District. Participants can learn about its making steps through ICH practitioners. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Intangible Cultural Heritage Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will organise the Hong Kong ICH Month 2026 in June. Registration for the public tours under the highlight programme, "The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: ICH Highlight Tours", in eight handpicked districts featuring nine routes, will open on May 15 and 16. Photo shows the Patterned Band Weaving Technique, one of the ICH items in the route in Wan Chai District (Tai Hang). Participants can learn about its making steps through ICH practitioners. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Intangible Cultural Heritage Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will organise the Hong Kong ICH Month 2026 in June. Registration for the the public tours under the highlight programme, "The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: ICH Highlight Tours", in eight handpicked districts featuring nine routes, will open on May 15 and 16. Photo shows the Tai O Dragon Boat Water Parade, one of the ICH items in the route in Islands District. Participants can enjoy the parade and experience this festive event during the tour. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Intangible Cultural Heritage Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will organise the Hong Kong ICH Month 2026 in June. Registration for the public tours under the highlight programme, "The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: ICH Highlight Tours", in eight handpicked districts featuring nine routes, will open on May 15 and 16. Photo shows the Neon Tube Making and Styling Technique, one of the ICH items in the route in Kwai Tsing District. Participants can learn about its making steps through ICH practitioners. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Intangible Cultural Heritage Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will organise the Hong Kong ICH Month 2026 in June. Registration for the public tours under the highlight programme, "The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: ICH Highlight Tours", in eight handpicked districts featuring nine routes, will open on May 15 and 16. Photo shows the Rice Cookie Making Technique, one of the ICH items in the route in North District. Participants can learn about its making steps through ICH practitioners. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Intangible Cultural Heritage Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will organise the Hong Kong ICH Month 2026 in June. Registration for the public tours under the highlight programme, "The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: ICH Highlight Tours", in eight handpicked districts featuring nine routes, will start on May 15 and 16. Photo shows the Chiu Chow Sugar Loaf Making Technique, one of the ICH items in the route in Kowloon City District. Participants can learn about its making steps and essence through ICH practitioners. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Intangible Cultural Heritage Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will organise the Hong Kong ICH Month 2026 in June. Registration for the public tours under the highlight programme, "The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: ICH Highlight Tours", in eight handpicked districts featuring nine routes, will open on May 15 and 16. Photo shows the Diwali (Festival of Lights), one of the ICH items in the route in Wan Chai District (Happy Valley). Participants can visit the Hindu Temple in Happy Valley and learn about the content and significance of the festival. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Intangible Cultural Heritage Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will organise the Hong Kong ICH Month 2026 in June. Registration for the public tours under the highlight programme, "The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: ICH Highlight Tours", in eight handpicked districts featuring nine routes, will open on May 15 and 16. Photo shows the lifelike and captivating Puppetry, one of the ICH items in the route in Sham Shui Po District. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Intangible Cultural Heritage Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will organise the Hong Kong ICH Month 2026 in June. Registration for the public tours under the highlight programme, "The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: ICH Highlight Tours", in eight handpicked districts featuring nine routes, will open on May 15 and 16. Photo shows the Paper Crafting Technique, one of the ICH items in the route in Sham Shui Po District. The four major steps involve crafting, pasting the paper, colouring and decoration. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Intangible Cultural Heritage Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will organise the Hong Kong ICH Month 2026 in June. Registration for the public tours under the highlight programme, "The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: ICH Highlight Tours", in eight handpicked districts featuring nine routes, will open on May 15 and 16. Photo shows the Arts of the Guqin (the Craft of Qin Making), one of the ICH items in the route in Sham Shui Po District. Qin making is an exquisite craft that starts with chopping and trimming a piece of wood, and involves nine exquisite steps, namely seeking, shaping, hollowing, inlaying, assembling, priming, polishing, lacquering and stringing, until it reaches the final stage of becoming an instrument. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

FEHD releases second batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in May

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (May 14) released the second batch of gravidtrap indexes and density indexes for Aedes albopictus in May, covering 13 survey areas, as follows:

District

Survey Area

May 2026

First Phase Gravidtrap Index

First Phase Density Index

Central and Western

Kennedy Town and Shek Tong Tsui

20.8%

1.2

Eastern

Chai Wan

11.5%

1.0

North Point and Quarry Bay

24.6%

1.5

Southern

Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau

31.5%

1.9

Islands

Cheung Chau

9.3%

1.4

Wong Tai Sin

Wong Tai Sin East

17.0%

1.3

Tsuen Wan

Tsuen Wan Town

8.8%

2.4

Tuen Mun

Tuen Mun North

9.5%

1.2

District

Survey Area

May 2026

Area Gravidtrap Index

Area Density Index

Kowloon City

Kowloon Tong

23.4%

1.4

Kwun Tong

Kwun Tong Central

37.3%

2.2

Yau Tsim

Tsim Sha Tsui and Yau Ma Tei

4.8%

2.0

North

Fanling North

13.1%

1.5

Tsuen Wan

Sheung Kwai Chung

10.3%

1.5

Among the second batch of First Phase Gravidtrap Indexes covering eight survey areas and Area Gravidtrap Indexes covering five survey areas in May, all were below 10 per cent, except for Kennedy Town and Shek Tong Tsui in Central and Western District; Chai Wan, North Point and Quarry Bay in Eastern District; Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau in Southern District; Wong Tai Sin East in Wong Tai Sin District; Kowloon Tong in Kowloon City District; Kwun Tong Central in Kwun Tong District; Fanling North in North District; as well as Sheung Kwai Chung in Tsuen Wan District.

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 of the increase and its extent are affected by factors like weather and rainfall. Entering the humid and rainy season, the conditions are favourable for mosquito growth and breeding, and the overall trend and extent of the rise of gravidtrap indexes this year are similar to those of previous years. In response to the rise of gravidtrap indexes, the FEHD, together with relevant departments and stakeholders, has implemented rapid response measures and deployed targeted actions.

For Kennedy Town and Shek Tong Tsui in Central and Western District; Chai Wan, North Point and Quarry Bay in Eastern District; Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau in Southern District; Wong Tai Sin East in Wong Tai Sin District; Kowloon Tong in Kowloon City District; Kwun Tong Central in Kwun Tong District; Fanling North in North District; as well as Sheung Kwai Chung in Tsuen Wan District, 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. In particular, the gravidtrap data for Chai Wan showed that areas with more mosquito problems included hospitals, parks and public and private housing estates; the gravidtrap data for North Point and Quarry Bay showed that areas with more mosquito problems included parks and public and private housing estates; the gravidtrap data for Fanling North showed that areas with more mosquito problems included parks, public and public housing estates and village houses; the gravidtrap data for Kowloon Tong showed that areas with more mosquito problems included parks, schools and private housing estates; and the gravidtrap data for Kennedy Town and Shek Tong Tsui, Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau, Wong Tai Sin East, Kwun Tong Central and Sheung Kwai Chung showed that areas with more mosquito problems included parks, schools and public and private housing estates.

In response to the high-risk areas identified in the said survey areas, the FEHD has initiated three prosecutions against relevant construction site contractors following the discovery of mosquito breeding at construction sites in Southern District, Kowloon City District and Kwun Tong District. Furthermore, following the discovery of stagnant water or stagnant water containers at a total of five parks, a construction site, three public housing estates and two private housing estates in Central and Western District, Kowloon City District, Kwun Tong District and Tsuen Wan District, the FEHD has issued 11 statutory notices to the relevant venue management companies, construction site contractors, estate management companies and property management companies, requiring the clearance of such items within a specified timeframe. The FEHD and the relevant departments 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.

The FEHD has so far released two batches of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in May 2026, covering 22 survey areas. Among these 22 survey areas, four recorded a decrease or remained unchanged as compared to the Area Gravidtrap Index last month (i.e. April 2026), representing that the areas' mosquito infestation improved or maintained a low level. Seven other areas recorded a slight increase, but the indexes were lower than 10 per cent.

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 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 second batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in May Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

FEHD releases second batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in May Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

FEHD releases second batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in May Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

FEHD releases second batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in May Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases