Hong Kong's Innovation Secretary Visits Hungary to Boost Tech Collaboration and Partnerships

SITI commences visit to Hungary

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, began his visit to Budapest, Hungary, on September 21 (Budapest time). The visit aims to further deepen exchange and collaboration between Hong Kong and Hungary in innovation and technology (I&T).

In the morning, Professor Sun met with the Minister of Science and Technology of Hungary, Mr Zoltán Tanács, and the State Secretary for Science Policy and Innovation, Dr Péter Horváth, in Budapest. He reaffirmed Hong Kong's commitment to developing into an international I&T centre, noting that tangible progress is already underway, including efforts in industry development, start-up nurturing, commercialisation of research and development (R&D) outcomes, as well as attracting enterprises and talent. He expressed a view to deepening collaboration with Hungary in these fields.

Professor Sun proceeded to Szeged to visit the Center for Molecular Fingerprinting (CMF) in the afternoon. Accompanied by Dr Horváth, Professor Sun received a briefing from the founder of the CMF and a Nobel Laureate in Physics, Professor Ferenc Krausz, on H4H Program - a longitudinal health monitoring study spearheaded by the CMF to promote personalised preventive healthcare. The CMF is an interdisciplinary non-profit research institute dedicated to developing infrared electric-field molecular fingerprinting technology for the early detection of diseases. Professor Krausz also introduced the launch of a global initiative "protecting.health", which will continue to promote scientific collaboration among the CMF, the Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich and the University of Hong Kong, and will carry out research projects in Hong Kong. Professor Sun also toured the laser laboratory and biobank of the Extreme Light Infrastructure Attosecond Light Pulse Source Research Institute at the CMF.

In the evening, Professor Sun called on the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to Hungary, Mr Gong Tao, and briefed him on the newly released First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030), which reaffirms Hong Kong's strategic positioning as an international I&T centre, as well as I&T initiatives in the Chief Executive's 2026 Policy Address. He pointed out that under the National 15th Five-Year Plan, Hong Kong will actively expand co-operation opportunities with international I&T partners, including Hungary, to continuously enhance its innovation capabilities and international competitiveness.

On September 22 (Budapest time), Professor Sun visited the Corvinus University of Budapest in the morning and met with the President and Rector of the University, Professor Bruno van Pottelsberghe, to learn about the latest development of the University. He is particularly interested in the University's teaching approach in incorporating business strategy, AI, data science and digital transformation. He understood that the University and the Shenzhen Research Institute of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) had jointly established a research and innovation platform "Academic & Innovation Matrix". The University signed a co-operation agreement with the InnoHK Centre for Perceptual and Interactive Intelligence of the CUHK in March this year to launch a bilateral research project. Funded by the Hungarian National Research, Development and Innovation Office, the project seeks to enhance the safety and trustworthiness of AI architecture to cope with real-world applications.

Professor Sun also visited BrainVisionCenter to learn about its latest developments and R&D achievements, and toured its laboratory. The Center focuses on research and product development in neurophotonics and functional neuroimaging. Professor Sun welcomed the Center to further strengthen co-operation with the academic and research institutions in Hong Kong to advance translational medicine therapies.

Professor Sun concluded his visit to Budapest at noon on September 22 (Budapest time) and proceeded to Bratislava, Slovakia, in the afternoon to begin his programme.

SITI commences visit to Hungary Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SITI commences visit to Hungary Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SITI commences visit to Hungary Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SITI commences visit to Hungary Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SITI commences visit to Hungary Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SITI commences visit to Hungary Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SITI commences visit to Hungary Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SITI commences visit to Hungary Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SITI commences visit to Hungary Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SITI commences visit to Hungary Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Public urged to keep up anti-mosquito efforts continuously

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (September 22) announced that the monthly gravidtrap index for Aedes albopictus mosquitoes in August was 6.6 per cent, at Level 2, indicating that the distribution of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes in the survey areas was fairly extensive. The FEHD and relevant government departments have continuously stepped up mosquito prevention and control actions.

In August, among the 62 survey areas, the area gravidtrap indexes (AGI) in one area exceeded 20 per cent. The gravidtraps were mostly located in the vicinity of private residential areas, public housing estates, schools, hospitals, recreational and sports facilities and public places. The FEHD has collaborated with relevant government departments to take immediate action to strengthen mosquito prevention and control work in the areas concerned. In August this year, the FEHD conducted over 65 000 inspections, initiated 14 prosecutions following the discovery of mosquito breeding, and issued 63 statutory notices requiring the clearance of stagnant water or stagnant water containers.

Moreover, the monthly density index for Aedes albopictus in August was 1.2, which represented that an average of 1.2 Aedes albopictus adults were found in the Aedes-positive gravidtraps, indicating that the number of adult Aedes albopictus was not abundant in the survey areas. 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 website at www.fehd.gov.hk.

A spokesman for the FEHD said, "The FEHD continues to monitor mosquito infestation and conduct risk assessments in all districts, promptly taking appropriate and targeted mosquito prevention and elimination measures. The FEHD, together with relevant departments and stakeholders, has implemented rapid response measures and targeted deployments, and has continued to intensify the mosquito prevention and control work with relevant government departments in areas under their purview, including eliminating mosquito breeding places, applying larvicides, conducting fogging operations to eradicate adult mosquitoes, and placing mosquito trapping devices at suitable locations. The FEHD has also conducted site inspections with relevant department, and provided them with professional advice and technical support to assist them in formulating and implementing effective anti-mosquito measures swiftly. At the same time, the FEHD has strengthened publicity and education.

The FEHD continues to conduct a three-phase Anti-mosquito Campaign this year. The third phase of the Anti-mosquito Campaign was launched on August 3 and will run until October 23. During the period, the district offices of the FEHD will target residences, schools, construction sites, public housing estates, hospitals, illegal cultivation sites, waterfront public and private cargo working areas, land boundary control points, typhoon shelters and cross-boundary ferry terminals to remove accumulated water and carry out mosquito prevention and control work. To further enhance the effectiveness of mosquito control, the FEHD and relevant government departments have launched the first and second phase of the All-out Anti-mosquito Operations on March 25 and April 30 respectively. Departments will continue with the work of phase one, including eliminating potential mosquito breeding places and arranging for necessary structural repairs to minimise mosquito breeding places, and will consistently carry out the work of phase two by conducting regular ultra-low volume fogging operations at places with mosquito infestation to control the mosquitoes. The FEHD called on property management entities to continue actively participating in the All-out Anti-mosquito Operations.

The FEHD currently makes regular announcements on gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus on its webpage. To allow more citizens to quickly grasp the mosquito infestation situation, the FEHD has strengthened information dissemination by promptly announcing the latest gravidtrap indexes through press releases and social media.

To reduce the risk of transmission of chikungunya fever (CF) and dengue fever (DF), the FEHD continues to step up mosquito prevention and control measures across all districts and conduct vector investigations and targeted mosquito control operations within a 250-metre radius of the residences of patients and the places that patients had visited during the infectious period. Actions include removing mosquito breeding grounds, applying larvicides to stagnant water that cannot be cleared, and carrying out ultra-low volume fogging operations in adult mosquito habitats such as densely wooded areas, dark and secluded places, and abandoned structures to eliminate adult mosquitoes.

The FEHD 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 plant pots at least once a week, and properly disposing of containers such as empty cans and disposable meal boxes. The FEHD also advises members of the public and estate management bodies 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.

Aedes albopictus is a kind of mosquito that can transmit DF and CF. DF and CF are commonly found in countries in tropical and subtropical regions, and 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. If travellers feel unwell after returning to Hong Kong, they should seek medical advice immediately and provide their travel history to the doctor.