Environmental samples from Mai Po Nature Reserve test positive for H5 virus
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) was notified yesterday (November 12) by the University of Hong Kong (HKU) that two environmental samples taken from the Mai Po Nature Reserve (MPNR) had tested positive for the H5 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus.
In collaboration with the AFCD, a research team of the School of Public Health, HKU, regularly collects samples from the MPNR for avian influenza surveillance. Two of the environmental samples collected on November 11 were confirmed to be positive for the H5 virus.
An AFCD spokesman said that the World Wide Fund for Nature Hong Kong, which assisted the Government in managing the MPNR, has stepped up cleansing and disinfection of tourist facilities, including bird hides and the floating boardwalk. Disinfection mats have been placed at the entrance of the MPNR for visitors to disinfect the soles of their shoes. In addition, the AFCD is closely monitoring the situation of the birds in the MPNR and has put up notices to remind visitors to pay attention to personal hygiene.
There are no chicken farms within three kilometres of where the samples were collected. The AFCD has strengthened avian influenza surveillance and is closely monitoring the situation of the local poultry farms and the wholesale market. Poultry farmers, pet bird shop owners, and licence holders of bird exhibitions are reminded from time to time to ensure that proper precautions against avian influenza are implemented.
"People should avoid contact with wild birds and live poultry as well as their droppings. They should clean their hands thoroughly after coming into contact with them. The public can call 1823 for the AFCD to follow up if they come across suspected sick or dead birds, including the carcasses of wild birds and poultry," the spokesman said.
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will maintain vigilance over live poultry stalls. It will also remind stall operators to maintain good hygiene.
The Department of Health will continue its health education to remind members of the public to maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene to prevent avian influenza.
The AFCD, the FEHD, the Customs and Excise Department and the Police will strive to deter the illegal import of poultry and birds into Hong Kong to minimise the risk of avian influenza outbreaks caused by imported poultry and birds that have not gone through inspection and quarantine.
All relevant government departments will continue to be highly vigilant and strictly enforce preventive measures against avian influenza. Health advice about preventing avian influenza is available on the AFCD website at www.afcd.gov.hk/english/quarantine/qua_live/H5N1_healthadvice.html.
Source: AI-found images
Speech by DSJ at YBC Conference 2026
Following is the speech by the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, at the YBC (Young Barristers' Committee) Conference 2026 today (November 13):
Martin (Vice-Chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association, Mr Martin Hui, SC), Former Chief Justice Geoffrey Ma (Former Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal, Mr Geoffrey Ma), distinguished guests, fellow members of the Bar, ladies and gentlemen,
It is my pleasure to join you at this annual conference hosted by the Standing Committee on Young Barristers of the Hong Kong Bar Association. I am delighted to be among so many of our future leaders of the Bar.
My boss has just mentioned the exciting developments in sports dispute resolution in Hong Kong. The Pilot Scheme on Sports Dispute Resolution, which began as an initiative in the Policy Address 2024 in direct response to calls from both the sports and legal sectors for a neutral, fair and efficient mechanism for resolving sports disputes, has now been included in Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan.
We took the initiative to get the ball rolling. The Pilot Scheme was rolled out in February this year to establish a sports dispute resolution system and promote sports mediation and arbitration, thereby leveraging the institutional advantages of Hong Kong in dispute resolution. It adopts a set of tailored mediation and arbitration rules and features dedicated panels of 53 mediators and 43 arbitrators, comprising local and international experts from 23 jurisdictions. Since its launch, the Pilot Scheme has gained remarkable traction, actively handling applications and recording successfully mediated cases. I am pleased to share that the implementation of the Pilot Scheme is steadily on track.
By the way, I must express my appreciation for the Hong Kong Bar Association's support for and contribution to this initiative. For example, in October last year, the Department of Justice (DoJ), the Hong Kong Bar Association and Hong Kong Baptist University jointly organised a Sports Arbitration Demonstration, showcasing arbitration as an effective means of resolving sports disputes. Members of the Bar acted as moderators and speakers at the Sports Mediation Seminar during the DoJ's flagship event Mediation Week in May this year, attracting nearly 400 attendees. The Hong Kong Bar Association was also one of the supporting organisations of our Sports Dispute Resolution Workshop in July this year, which brought together 120 participants from 30 sports organisations.
To gain further momentum, the DoJ will co-organise a Sports Dispute Resolution Summit with the Hong Kong Bar Association and the Law Society of Hong Kong on December 1 this year. It will gather local, regional and international experts to have an in-depth dialogue on the development of sports dispute resolution and chart the way forward. We will continue to explore co-operation opportunities with international and regional sports associations, with a view to developing Hong Kong into an international sports dispute resolution centre. Meanwhile, I would like to share some great news with you - there will be a prominent regional sports-law-related organisation to be headquartered in Hong Kong within this year, but I will keep everyone in suspense for the time being. So please stay tuned for more news.
For your information, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau also launched its three-year pilot scheme in April this year to provide financial support to attract Asian and international sports associations to set up their headquarters or regional headquarters in Hong Kong. So far, six international and regional sports federations have already set up their headquarters in Hong Kong.
I am delighted to conclude that Hong Kong has really made remarkable achievements in sports dispute resolution, and I am confident to say that Hong Kong is moving towards becoming Asia's sports dispute resolution hub.
I invite you all to continue to support the development of sports dispute resolution and, better still, consider getting specialised as sports mediators and sports arbitrators.
Equip yourselves, and help shape this field. With your energy, expertise and commitment, Hong Kong can certainly strengthen our sports ecosystem and become Asia's sports dispute resolution hub for years to come. Thank you very much.
The Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, speaks at the YBC Conference 2026 today (November 13). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
