A spokesman for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government said on Thursday (Jan. 14) that COVID-19 vaccines used in Hong Kong must satisfy the relevant requirements and procedures, and obtain emergency use approval in accordance with the Prevention and Control of Disease (Use of Vaccines) Regulation, with a view to ensuring the safety, efficacy, and quality of the vaccines.

The national security unit of the Hong Kong Police Force arrested 11 people on Thursday (Jan. 14) on suspicion of helping 12 fugitives to flee the city, according to local news and social media posts.

Hong Kong reported 29 new COVID-19 infections on Thursday (Jan. 14), including 26 locally transmitted cases, pushing the city's tally to 9,414. The three imported cases were from the United States, Pakistan and the Philippines, Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the Centre for Health Protection's communicable disease branch, said at a media briefing on Thursday afternoon.

Hong Kong's Food and Health Bureau announced Wednesday (Jan. 13) that the government will provide a one-off free COVID-19 testing service to all construction site workers from Friday to Jan. 31. Online booking for the service can be made starting from today.

Hong Kong remained a popular fund-raising center for global businesses last year as the funds raised through initial public offerings (IPOs) in its stock exchange ranked the second-largest globally only after Nasdaq. Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) has unveiled in its annual market statistics report that IPO equity funds raised in 2020 stood at 51.28 billion U.S. dollars, up 26.5 percent year on year.

Hong Kong's 2020-21 fiscal deficit for will probably reach a record HK$363 billion (US$46.8 billion), accounting for 13.5 percent of its estimated gross domestic product, global accounting firm Ernst & Young projected on Wednesday (Jan. 13).

Hong Kong reported 42 new COVID-19 infections on Wednesday (Jan. 13), all locally transmitted, bringing the city's tally to 9386.

The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS) announces today (Jan. 13) that the 45th Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF45), scheduled to open on April 1, will run for 12 days until April 12 and will be held for the first time in a mixed format with both in-theatre and online screenings.

Hong Kong reported 60 new COVID-19 infections on Tuesday (Jan. 12), all locally transmitted, bringing the city's tally of confirmed cases to 9,343.

Hong Kong's leader on Tuesday (Jan.12) said district councilors and members of the 1,200-strong Election Committee that picks the chief executive should be considered public officers and swear allegiance to the city in accordance with the National Security Law for Hong Kong.

Hong Kong's Chief Executive Carrie Lam says in a press conference before attending the Executive Council today (Jan. 12) that the government will provide free vaccination for the public against the coronavirus, stressing that the program is voluntary. She adds that the government will not provide monetary incentives for the vaccinations.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government said on Monday (Jan. 11) that it had notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of its objection to the modification proposed by the United States to its commitments under the WTO government procurement agreement.

In total, the authorities recorded 41 new coronavirus cases on Monday (Jan. 11), 38 of which were locally acquired. The source of infection in 11 patients was unclear. Health officials say they are concerned about coronavirus infections among healthcare workers, with small outbreaks now reported at Tsing Yi Ambulance Depot and Princess Margaret Hospital.

The new Chief Justice, Andrew Cheung, was sworn in at Government House on Monday (Jan. 11). He took the judicial oath administered by Chief Executive Carrie Lam, pledging to uphold the Basic Law, swearing allegiance to the HKSAR, and promising to safeguard the law and administer justice without fear or favor, self-interest or deceit.

A case-tracing center has been set up in a community hall in Kai Tak, Kowloon, which has started operation today (Jan. 11). Over 100 workers from HK government's disciplinary forces have been deployed to help with the tracing work, in order to carry out the tracing more professionally and quickly to cut off the virus transmission chain.