on August 21, 2025 at 4:00 pm
A total lunar eclipse will occur in Hong Kong late on the night of September 7 to the early hours of September 8. The lunar eclipse will begin at 11.26pm on September 7 and the entire process will end at 4.57am the following day. It can be observed at places with an unobstructed view to the south and southwest if weather permits. The eclipse will be webcast live here. The next lunar eclipse observable in Hong Kong will be on March 3, 2026.
on August 18, 2025 at 4:00 pm
Secretary for Environment & Ecology Tse Chin-wan today departed for Beijing, where he will call on the Ministry of Ecology & Environment and the State Grid Corporation of China. Aiming to keep abreast of developments in China’s electric vehicle charging network and electricity market, he will also make site visits to the National Charging Infrastructure Monitoring & Service Platform and the Beijing Power Exchange Center. Director of Environmental Protection Samuel Chui and Commissioner for Climate Change Arthur Lee are accompanying Mr Tse on the trip. Mr Tse will return to Hong Kong on Thursday. During his absence, Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong will be Acting Secretary.
on August 16, 2025 at 4:00 pm
Located far in the rural area of Sheung Shui, the Tai Lung Experimental Station is the only crop experimental farm handled by the Government. This is where the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department (AFCD), in its quest to find production techniques and crop varieties fit for the local environment as a way to support the upgrading and transformation of the agriculture industry, conducts key research and trials. Tech-driven agriculture The station has been actively promoting organic farming, with various vegetables and fruits grown on the farm, to introduce farmers to quality crop varieties so as to enhance their productivity. It also provides a farm machinery and equipment landing service to acquaint farmers with the advantages of modern production technologies. AFCD Agricultural Officer Calvin Cheung pointed out that the use of modernised technology to promote the sustainable development of agriculture is a global trend. It can also reduce the industry’s dependence on manpower and address the challenges posed by climate change. “Through the use of modernised technology, we hope to drive the industry towards high-quality development,” he said. The greenhouse in the station showcases how smart technology can help with regulating watering and temperature. In addition, the station collaborates with the Logistics & Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre to develop a mobile application utilising artificial intelligence technology with image recognition technology to identify and diagnose crop pest and disease problems, enabling early detection and intervention. Locally-grown strategy While Hong Kong mainly relies on food imports, local agricultural production primarily serves as a supplementary source. The local agriculture industry generally produces high-quality crops through intensive land use and production methods. The department hopes that through reviving distinctive or historically significant agricultural varieties, it can provide unique selling points for local agricultural products and attract consumers. In recent years, the department successfully reintroduced a vegetable variety named hok tau pak choy and a local rice variety called “Fa Yiu Tsai”. “Fa Yiu Tsai” was once extinct locally, but the department obtained its seeds from a seed bank in 2019 and successfully reintroduced it at the Tai Lung Experimental Station. It then distributed the seeds to local farmers to promote cultivation of the local rice variety. Comprehensive blueprint In its effort to promote the upgrading and transformation of the agriculture and fisheries industries towards modernisation and sustainable development, the Government announced the Blueprint for the Sustainable Development of Agriculture & Fisheries in 2023. The blueprint outlines eight key development areas and various specific measures covering financial and infrastructure support, application of technology, and so on. It also proposes initiatives such as developing an agricultural park and promoting urban farming. In terms of financial support, the department, through the $1 billion Sustainable Agricultural Development Fund, assists the industry to switch to a sustainable and high-value added mode of operation, thereby boosting the industry’s overall competitiveness. The fund has also set up the Farm Improvement Scheme to subsidise farmers in purchasing new machinery and equipment, such as tillers, enabling them to farm more efficiently. AFCD Agricultural Officer Karina Poon added that to further strengthen sales and promotion of local agricultural and fisheries products, the department plans to introduce a unified new brand in 2025-2026 to advance safe, low-carbon and premium local agricultural and fisheries products . This new brand will establish production standards, farming methods, and a certification and traceability system to ensure quality standards are met.
on August 14, 2025 at 4:00 pm
National Ecology Day 2025 was held today, with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government staging a launch ceremony and symposium to kick off a series of activities themed around environmental protection and ecological conservation. Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing, Secretary for Environment & Ecology Tse Chin-wan and Deputy Director-General of the Department of Educational, Scientific & Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Ye Shuiqiu officiated at the ceremony. Delivering the opening speech, Mr Cheuk remarked that this year’s National Ecology Day, the third such event, coincided with the 20th anniversary of President Xi Jinping introducing the concept that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets”, and that this made the occasion even more special. Mr Cheuk emphasised that the Hong Kong SAR Government places great importance in the country’s “ecological civilisation” initiatives, and is working to promote green transformation in society, conserve the natural environment, and strengthen co-operation with the Mainland, in order to build a beautiful China and a beautiful Hong Kong. At the launch ceremony, the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department (AFCD) signed a “Memorandum of Understanding on the Joint Rescue Mechanism for Large Aquatic Wild Animals” with the Ocean Development Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality. Its aim is to strengthen co-operation between the two places in the rescue of large aquatic wild animals, and to facilitate the sharing of experience and technology in order to improve ecological safety in the waters adjacent to Hong Kong and Shenzhen. At the symposium, representatives from the Mainland and Hong Kong SAR Governments, and from non-governmental organisations, as well as scholars and experts, exchanged ideas on conservation work and the concept of ecological civilisation. Various special activities and offers are available from today to September 28 to encourage the public to respond to and participate in this year’s National Ecology Day. More details can be found on the Countryside Conservation Office website, the AFCD’s Hong Kong Biodiversity Information Hub, and on the websites or social media pages of participating organisations.
on August 14, 2025 at 4:00 pm
More than 1,000 food outlets, spanning nearly 100 catering brands, have joined hands with almost 30 tableware suppliers in signing up for the Non-Plastic Container Trial Programme, launched today by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD). The programme invites local catering businesses to participate in the trial use of various types of non-plastic containers, and to provide feedback on operational scenarios and product performance. Under the trial, participating non-plastic container suppliers will offer discounts to encourage catering businesses to adopt non-plastic containers and gradually expand their usage. The containers being tested are made of paper, bamboo pulp, bagasse and other materials. The EPD added that it will collect comprehensive data from the trial in order to improve product design and supply chains. It will also continue recruiting local catering businesses and suppliers to join the programme.