Brussels ETO Promotes Hong Kong's Innovation and Sustainability at NHKBA Annual Summer Event

Brussels ETO promotes Hong Kong's latest economic opportunities to European business leaders at NHKBA annual summer event

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (Brussels ETO) once again supported the annual summer event of the Netherlands Hong Kong Business Association (NHKBA), held under the theme "Go Global with Hong Kong: Connecting Innovation, Sustainability & Opportunity" on June 25 (Amsterdam time) in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

During a seminar at the event, the Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union, Ms Shirley Yung, delivered a presentation highlighting Hong Kong's continued progress in the innovation and technology sector. Assistant Representative of Brussels ETO Ms Eva Wong also participated in a fireside chat, engaging with the audience on related topics.

Speaking at the networking dinner following the seminar, Ms Yung remarked that Hong Kong has set clear green targets to contribute to a more sustainable future, including achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. She highlighted a range of initiatives supporting green finance and green innovation, including the issuance of green bonds and tokenised green bonds, the introduction of the Hong Kong Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance, pilot projects for cross-boundary carbon trading settlements, and various forms of support for green technologies. She noted, "With a comprehensive innovation ecosystem, we believe Hong Kong can become a place where green technologies are not only invented, but also commercialised, financed and deployed globally."

Ms Yung further underlined Hong Kong's steadfast commitment to free trade and international co-operation, and the growing importance of its roles as a "super connector" and "super value-adder" linking the Chinese Mainland with the rest of the world amid an increasingly complex geopolitical environment.

She also introduced the Hong Kong Government's latest initiatives to support trade and investment, including the "Go Global" initiative, which assists Chinese Mainland enterprises in expanding internationally through Hong Kong, as well as the Economic and Trade Express platform, which brings together the expertise and networks of Hong Kong's overseas Economic and Trade Offices, Invest Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council to strengthen two-way trade and investment promotions through enhanced collaboration.

The NHKBA summer event is an annual business gathering of the Dutch and Hong Kong business communities, providing a platform to explore the latest economic and trade opportunities and to strengthen collaboration between Europe and Hong Kong. This year's event attracted around 100 business leaders, investors, entrepreneurs, and professionals from the Netherlands and across Europe.

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels once again supported the annual summer event of the Netherlands Hong Kong Business Association on June 25 (Amsterdam time) in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Photo shows European business leaders networking during the event. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels once again supported the annual summer event of the Netherlands Hong Kong Business Association on June 25 (Amsterdam time) in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Photo shows the Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union, Ms Shirley Yung, delivering a welcoming speech to European business leaders during the networking dinner. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels once again supported the annual summer event of the Netherlands Hong Kong Business Association on June 25 (Amsterdam time) in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Photo shows the organiser, distinguished speakers and guests, including the Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union, Ms Shirley Yung (sixth left). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels once again supported the annual summer event of the Netherlands Hong Kong Business Association on June 25 (Amsterdam time) in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Photo shows the Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union, Ms Shirley Yung, delivering a presentation to European business leaders during the seminar. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

FEHD releases sixth batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in June

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (June 30) released the sixth batch of gravidtrap indexes and density indexes for Aedes albopictus in June, covering 14 survey areas, as follows:

District	Survey Area	June 2026
		First Phase Gravidtrap Index	First Phase Density Index
Kowloon City	Kowloon City	3.7%	1.5
Wong Tai Sin	Wong Tai Sin West	5.6%	1.0
Kwai Tsing	Tsing Yi South	7.0%	1.0
Tuen Mun	Tuen Mun North	6.3%	1.0

District	Survey Area	June 2026
		Area Gravidtrap Index	Area Density Index
Central and Western	Central and Admiralty	3.8%	1.8
Southern	Deep Water Bay and Repulse Bay	7.5%	1.3
Kwun Tong	Kowloon Bay	8.8%	1.8
Mong Kok	Mong Kok and Tai Kok Tsui	3.4%	1.3
Sham Shui Po	Sham Shui Po and Shek Kip Mei	3.3%	1.0
Wong Tai Sin	Diamond Hill and Tsz Wan Shan	15.8%	1.0
Kwai Tsing	Kwai Chung West	16.7%	1.0
	Lai King	8.7%	1.0
	Tsing Yi North	6.8%	1.3
Tuen Mun	Tuen Mun West	3.0%	1.3

With reference to the data from the past few years, the gravidtrap indexes start to rise from April every year. The indexes are higher from May to June. The actual timing and extent of the rise are affected by factors like weather conditions and rainfall. As compared with last year, the temperature began to climb earlier this year and the rainfall in June increased substantially, creating favourable conditions for mosquito growth and breeding. Depending on factors like rainfall, the indexes may rise further, but the overall trend of gravidtrap indexes this year is similar to those of previous years.

The FEHD has also carried out a series of actions, including:

• conducting risk assessments to identify locations with more serious mosquito infestation, so as to carry out intensive and targeted mosquito control work, including stepping up inspections, eliminating mosquito breeding and potential breeding grounds, applying larvicides, conducting fogging operations to eradicate adult mosquitoes, and placing mosquito trapping devices at appropriate locations;
• convening special meetings of the interdepartmental task forces on anti-mosquito work to co-ordinate relevant departments and stakeholders, such as construction site contractors, schools and property management companies, in strengthening venues' mosquito control work;
• organising exhibitions with the relevant departments and stakeholders, and distributing leaflets and posters; and
• notifying residential estates that have subscribed to the gravidtrap Rapid Alert System, advising property management companies and residents to stay vigilant and work together in taking mosquito prevention and elimination measures.

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 chikungunya fever (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 sixth batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in June Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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