Ping Wo Fund Launches Anti-Gambling Publicity Campaign Ahead of FIFA World Cup to Promote Responsible Fan Behavior

Ping Wo Fund launches anti-gambling publicity campaign

The following is issued on behalf of the Ping Wo Fund Advisory Committee:

The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) and the Ping Wo Fund launched a territory-wide anti-gambling publicity campaign today (June 7). The campaign aims to raise public awareness of gambling-related problems and the risks of addiction, while promoting no-gambling messages during the 2026 FIFA World Cup period.

The Ping Wo Fund will organise a range of territory-wide events and publicity activities, including today's anti-gambling football fun day and a series of thematic exhibitions. The exhibitions will also feature football-themed interactive games, with the campaign slogan "No Bets. No Regrets.", enabling the public to enjoy the fun of football while conveying anti-gambling messages.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, said that as a matter of policy, the Government does not encourage gambling. The Government adopts a multipronged strategy to address gambling-related problems, including law enforcement against illegal gambling activities, public education on the harms of gambling addiction, as well as the provision of counselling and support services to people in need. Football itself is a sport that benefits both body and mind. She urged members of the public, while watching the World Cup, to bear in mind that they should be rational and responsible football fans, stay away from gambling and build a healthy, gambling-free lifestyle for themselves and their families. She also reminded the public that participating in illegal gambling (such as placing bets with illegal websites) is an offence. Upon conviction, an offender is liable to a maximum penalty of a $50,000 fine and imprisonment for nine months.

Miss Mak added that, apart from football betting, some gambling games on the market that feature elements of "winning big with small stakes" may also be addictive, and teenagers should stay vigilant. The Ping Wo Fund will strengthen its publicity efforts in both online and traditional media to remind the public to stay away from gambling and the traps of addiction.

Sponsored by the Ping Wo Fund and managed by the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Even Centre, the Anti-Gambling Ping Wo Truck will tour the territory and pay visits to schools to educate the public on the harms caused by gambling addiction through multimedia exhibitions and interactive games. The four counselling and treatment centres funded by the Ping Wo Fund will step up their services, such as extending their service hours to answer the gambling counselling hotline (183 4633) and respond to text messages received online or from instant messaging applications. They will also organise more outreach activities so that those in need can receive timely and appropriate assistance.

The establishment of the Ping Wo Fund aims to finance public education and other measures to prevent or alleviate problems relating to gambling; provide counselling, treatment, and other support services for gamblers with gambling disorders and those affected by them; and conduct research and studies into problems and issues relating to gambling. The Ping Wo Fund Advisory Committee is a non-statutory body to advise the HYAB on the use and application of the Fund.

For details of the anti-gambling publicity campaign, please visit the Fund website atwww.donotgamble.org.hk.

The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak (front row, second right), is pictured with the Chairperson of the Ping Wo Fund Advisory Committee, Ms Lu Hai (front row, third right), and other guests at the anti-gambling football fun day today (June 7). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak (third right), is pictured with the Chairperson of the Ping Wo Fund Advisory Committee, Ms Lu Hai (third left), and other guests at the anti-gambling football fun day today (June 7). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, speaks at the anti-gambling football fun day today (June 7). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak (first left), visited the thematic exhibition "No Bets. No Regrets." at the anti-gambling football fun day today (June 7). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak (first right), and the Chairperson of the Ping Wo Fund Advisory Committee, Ms Lu Hai (second right) visited the Anti-Gambling Ping Wo Truck today (June 7) and distributed anti-gambling promotional items to citizens. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak (first right), and the Chairperson of the Ping Wo Fund Advisory Committee, Ms Lu Hai (third right), visited the Anti-Gambling Ping Wo Truck today (June 7) and were briefed by the staff about the service provided by the truck. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Permanent Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Environment) attends Environment Day cum Recycling Day Launching Ceremony

The Permanent Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Environment), Mr Eddie Cheung, today (June 7) officiated at the Environment Day cum Recycling Day Launching Ceremony. Officiating guests included the Deputy Director-General of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), Mr Ye Shuiqiu; the Level II Bureau Rank Official of Department of Ecology and Environment of Guangdong Province, Mr Wu Shuangxi; the Director of the Environmental Protection Bureau of the Macao SAR Government, Mr Ip Kuong-lam; and the Director of Environmental Protection, Dr Samuel Chui.

To echo the National Event on the Environment Day 2026 and to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Environmental Protection Department (EPD), the EPD launched the Beautiful Hong Kong Green Fest starting from June 1 and organised the annual event Recycling Day, with a view to encouraging public participation in waste reduction at source and waste separation and recycling.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Cheung said that the current-term Government is implementing environmental protection policies in full steam, striving to achieve carbon neutrality, protecting biodiversity, and making Hong Kong a demonstration base for green technologies and a low-carbon and liveable city. On waste reduction and recycling, Hong Kong has already made substantial progress. The municipal solid waste disposal quantity has declined for four consecutive years since 2021, while the recycling rate continues to rise. He sincerely invites members of the public to actively participate in the Recycling Day activities, integrate waste reduction and recycling into daily lives, and work together towards the vision of "Zero Landfill".

The Recycling Day activities include the Environment Day cum Recycling Day Carnival held today, promotional activities at 12 GREEN@COMMUNITY Recycling Stations over the territory and in collaboration with over 200 Recycling Day co-operative partners in June, as well as a creative short film competition. The EPD also offered the Environment Day 2X GREEN$ Rewards from June 5 to today, where members of the public can earn double GREEN$ points when they recycle at the GREEN@COMMUNITY community recycling network. For details, please visit www.wastereduction.gov.hk/en-hk/RecyclingDay2026.

Permanent Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Environment) attends Environment Day cum Recycling Day Launching Ceremony Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Permanent Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Environment) attends Environment Day cum Recycling Day Launching Ceremony Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Permanent Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Environment) attends Environment Day cum Recycling Day Launching Ceremony Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Permanent Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Environment) attends Environment Day cum Recycling Day Launching Ceremony Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases