CHP Investigates Mpox Case, Urges High-Risk Groups to Get Vaccinated Amid Rising Infections

CHP investigates confirmed Mpox case

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) announced today (November 11) that it is investigating a confirmed Mpox (also known as Monkeypox) case, and strongly urged high-risk target groups to receive Mpox vaccinations. Meanwhile, the public is advised to be vigilant and avoid close physical contact with individuals suspected of contracting Mpox.

Case details

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The case involves a 26-year-old man who developed a rash over his genital area, hand and face since November 1, followed by a fever. He attended Tsueng Kwan O Hospital for medical consultation on November 8 and was admitted for isolation treatment. He is currently in stable condition. Upon laboratory testing by the CHP's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch, his clinical specimen tested positive for the Monkeypox virus.

According to information provided by the patient, he had high-risk sexual contact in Hong Kong with other men met through social media platform during the incubation period. The CHP is continuing an epidemiological investigation of the case, and will report the case to the World Health Organization.

Latest situation of Mpox cases

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Since 2022, Hong Kong has recorded 119 Mpox cases (94 local cases and 25 imported cases). All patients are male. Epidemiological investigations revealed that among the 26 cases recorded since August, all patients reported having engaged in high-risk sexual activities during the incubation period, including having sex with male strangers or multiple partners, and having sex without a condom. Most of them have not received the Mpox vaccinations.

Among the local cases recorded since August, patients commonly used specific dating apps to find casual male sexual partners. After testing positive, some patients were unable to contact their newly met sexual partners, which hindered the CHP's ability to conduct effective contact tracing and implement corresponding prevention and control measures. In view of this, the CHP has increased its outreach on social media platforms to promote Mpox prevention and vaccination, and has collaborated with the operators of relevant dating apps to regularly push information about Mpox prevention and vaccination to all users in Hong Kong.

The CHP urges individuals who have engaged in high-risk sexual contact, particularly with male strangers, to remain vigilant and take appropriate personal protective measures, including receiving the Mpox vaccination and avoiding high-risk sexual contact, so as to lower the risk of infection. Members of the public should retain their sexual partners' contact information to facilitate contact tracing when necessary.

Strengthening prevention

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Mpox vaccine can prevent infection and severe disease. Since late September, the CHP had set up an additional Mpox vaccination centre at the CHP Building, in addition to regular vaccination venues established by the Government. The CHP had also collaborated with relevant non-governmental organisations to provide outreach vaccination services, providing convenience and incentives to encourage individuals with high-risk contacts to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Since September 28, 973 high-risk individuals have received the Mpox vaccine at the regular and additional vaccination venues.

Vaccination provides a highly effective protective barrier. Studies show that receiving two doses of the Mpox vaccine reduces the risk of infection by 82 per cent, which significantly lowers the risk of transmission to sexual partners, and protects both the vaccinated individual and others. Local data also show that vaccinated patients are 87 per cent less likely to experience viral spread to other parts of the body.

The CHP's Mpox hotline (2125 2373) will continue to provide health assessments and advice to high-risk individuals. The hotline will arrange individuals in need to get vaccinated inside the CHP. The hotline operates daily from 9am to 6pm.

More information on Mpox

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Mpox is not transmitted through respiratory droplets or aerosols in general, and transmission would not occur through social contact. The CHP reminds the public, especially those at higher risk of exposure, to take precautions and avoid close physical contact with persons or animals suspected of being infected. They should seek medical attention as soon as possible if they experience relevant symptoms, including rash, fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, exhaustion, muscle pain, and severe headaches. They should not engage in activities with others that may involve contact with skin rash or body fluids.

The DH has been providing Mpox vaccination services for high-risk groups, including individuals with high-risk sexual practices (such as having multiple sexual partners), sex workers, or having a history of sexually transmitted infection within the past 12 months.

For more details, please visit the CHP's webpages on Mpox and the Mpox Vaccination Programme.

The Centre for Health Protection. Photo source: reference image

Speech by SFST at opening of IMC's new Hong Kong office

Following is the speech by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, at the opening of IMC's new Hong Kong office today (November 12):

The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui. Photo source: reference image

Michael (Chief Executive Officer of IMC Trading, Mr Michael De Lathauwer), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good afternoon. It is a great pleasure to join you today at the opening of IMC Trading's expanded Hong Kong office at Two International Finance Centre. I warmly congratulate IMC Trading on this expansion and welcome your continued growth. We look forward to seeing your Hong Kong team scale further as you recruit top quantitative, technical and trading talent. I wish IMC Trading every success in this new chapter.

Hong Kong stands today as one of the world's leading international financial centres and the world's top cross-boundary wealth management hub. Our cross-boundary assets amount to around $23 trillion. This position rests on deep liquidity, a trusted legal and regulatory framework, unmatched connectivity to the Chinese Mainland and the rest of Asia, and a sophisticated ecosystem that serves both institutional capital and private wealth.

Hong Kong's securities market has continued to strengthen in both depth and liquidity. This strength reflects a series of institutional reforms, including dedicated listing channels for new-economy and technology enterprises with weighted voting rights and for specialist technology companies, as well as enhanced pathways for overseas issuers. In the first 10 months of 2026, average daily turnover exceeded $260 billion. On the primary market, we recorded more than 120 IPOs (initial public offerings) raising a total of more than $400 billion, an increase of more than 80 per cent over the amount raised in the same period last year. We have also welcomed the first Middle East-headquartered company to list in Hong Kong, alongside successive listings from Southeast Asia.We now have more than 2 700 listed companies, of which 150 are international companies.

At the same time, we have been working closely with the HKEX (Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited) and the regulators on measures to enhance efficiency across the full market chain. These include the FINI (Fast Interface for New Issuance) digital IPO settlement platform that has shortened the pricing-to-trading cycle from T+5 to T+2; continued normal operation of securities and derivatives markets under severe weather conditions; narrower minimum price spreads for equities, allowing stock prices to better reflect market conditions; and enhancements to board lot sizes. Very soon we will launch the uncertificated securities market regime, further modernising our market infrastructure and strengthening investor protection and transparency.

Looking ahead, as set out in the 2026 Policy Address, we will continue to promote the high-quality development of our market. This includes the second-stage consultation on enhancing flexibility for mergers, acquisitions, restructuring and spin-offs; the forthcoming consultation on the specialist technology listing regime; and ongoing efforts to attract dual-primary and secondary listings from Southeast Asia, Belt and Road economies and other international markets. Preparations are under way for a T+1 settlement cycle for the cash market, and we are advancing the use of wholesale central bank digital currency for after-hours derivatives trading. We will also support a richer range of indices, index-based ETFs (exchange-traded funds) and derivatives products.

Hong Kong's attractiveness to firms like IMC Trading is no accident. We continue to strengthen the foundations of our international financial centre by deepening market connectivity, enhancing our regulatory regime for financial technology, and expanding the range of products and risk-management tools available to market participants. Our strengths in institutional trading and in private wealth management complement and reinforce one another.

Congratulations once again to IMC Trading, its leadership and its Hong Kong team on this milestone. We look forward to seeing the expanded office become a platform for further innovation, while Hong Kong continues to serve as a preferred base for global trading firms. Thank you.

IMC has opened new Hong Kong office. Photo source: imc.com