At 8:44 AM this morning (Dec. 24), a man was discovered hanging in the wooded area beneath the flyover near Hung Luen Road, Hung Hom Bypass. A passerby spotted the man and immediately called the police.

The government today (Dec. 23) announced that the Chief Executive (CE) has reappointed Ms Mary Huen as Hong Kong, China (HKC)'s representative and Mr Spencer Fung as an alternate representative to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Advisory Council (ABAC). At the same time, the CE has appointed Mr Geoffrey Kao as HKC's alternate representative to ABAC. All appointments are for a term of two years from Jan. 1, 2025.

M+ and the Hong Kong Palace Museum will remain open on Dec. 24 (Tuesday).

Taiwan's singer-songwriter David Tao will come to Hong Kong for concerts in March next year!

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced that it will collaborate with other government departments to implement a series of measures during the Christmas period at its venues, particularly in areas expected to attract large crowds. Key locations include the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza, Salisbury Garden, the Avenue of Stars, Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, the Central Road Children's Playground, the Tsim Sha Tsui East Waterfront Garden, and the Municipal Council's Centenary Garden.

The Health Bureau announced that the Government is dedicated to supporting health and medical research in Hong Kong through the Health & Medical Research Fund (HMRF).

The Sha Tau Kok Checkpoint has introduced a facial recognition pilot program, allowing individuals with valid restricted zone permits to enter and exit after pre-registration, eliminating the need to stop and show their permits.

Octopus announced today (Dec. 23) that Hong Kong taxi drivers can now accept payments through PayMe by HSBC via the Octopus network. This new feature expands digital payment options for over 27,000 taxi drivers across the city, supporting the growing move toward cashless transactions.

Bank of China Hong Kong announced today that it will extend the cross-border clearing service hours for renminbi clearing banks starting from Dec. 23. Through the Hong Kong RMB Real-Time Gross Settlement System and the RMB Rapid Payment System, the bank will provide 24-hour instant cross-border RMB clearing services from Monday to Friday, enhancing Hong Kong's position as an offshore RMB business hub.

The Mark Six has gone unclaimed for the last five draws, heightening excitement among players for the upcoming draw on Christmas Eve (Dec. 24). The accumulated prize has reached HK$33.81 million, with the jackpot estimated to hit HKD 42 million for a single winning ticket.

Election Committee member and Legislative Councilor Ng Kit-chong remarked that this year has seen significant breakthroughs in the global cryptocurrency landscape. Ng called on the Hong Kong government to continue improving the legal framework surrounding cryptocurrencies, suggesting that easing regulations will foster industry growth. He believes these efforts are crucial for reinforcing Hong Kong's status as an international financial center and developing it into a hub for innovation and technology.

A four-vehicle collision on Des Voeux Road West in Sai Wan has left a taxi driver critically injured after his cab was crushed between two trucks. Emergency services rescued the unconscious driver, who was rushed to the hospital. The accident caused severe traffic disruptions, and authorities are investigating the incident's cause.

Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry, Prof. Sun Dong, chaired the fifth meeting of the Committee on Innovation, Technology & Industry Development today, focusing on key initiatives outlined in the 2024 Policy Address.

Twelve projects in Hong Kong are on the list of arts projects to be funded by the China National Arts Fund 2025, the Culture, Sports & Tourism Bureau said today.

A total of 18 general out-patient clinics (GOPCs) will provide public holiday GOPC services during the Christmas holidays (Dec. 25 and 26) (see table below). Patients may book an appointment either through the telephone appointment system or the "Book GOPC" function of the "HA Go" mobile app.