Brussels Celebrates Chinese New Year with Prestigious Reception for Year of the Horse

Brussels ETO celebrates Chinese New Year in Brussels as Year of Horse begins

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (Brussels ETO) hosted a Chinese New Year reception in Brussels, Belgium, on February 17 (Brussels time), celebrating the arrival of the Year of the Horse on its first day.

The Brussels reception has long been regarded as one of the most prestigious events within the European diplomatic community, attracting over 260 esteemed guests, including officials from European institutions, national governments and diplomatic missions, as well as senior representatives from the business, trade, academic, arts and cultural sectors, the media, and the local Chinese community. The event was supported by the Belgium-Hong Kong Society.

The Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union, Ms Shirley Yung, opened her speech by welcoming guests to the festive occasion, noting that the Year of the Horse symbolises energy, loyalty, and perseverance. Ms Yung remarked that these traits define the enduring friendship between Europe and Hong Kong, particularly as both navigate an increasingly complex global environment.

While acknowledging that the past year posed significant hurdles for the global economy, Ms Yung highlighted that Hong Kong has weathered the storm and emerged more resilient and promising than ever. She emphasised that under the “one country, two systems” principle, Hong Kong remains the world’s freest economy and a “super connector”, bridging global capital with the immense growth of Asia, in particular the Greater Bay Area.

With its strong economic fundamentals, Hong Kong provides international investors with a reliable platform to navigate global volatility. Beyond traditional strengths in finance and trade, Ms Yung shared that Hong Kong is rapidly evolving into a global hub for innovation, technology, and world-class talent, driven by strategic initiatives such as “Go Global via Hong Kong” and the development of the Northern Metropolis.

“We believe that prosperity is fostered by building bridges that connect people, ideas, and cultures,” Ms Yung stated. She concluded with a call for continued collaboration, encouraging both Europe and Hong Kong to turn challenges into opportunities and build a more prosperous future together.

Moreover, Brussels ETO hosted another Chinese New Year reception in Paris, France, on February 19 (Paris time) which attracted more than 250 guests of various backgrounds including government representatives, businessmen, academic representatives, the media and members of the local Chinese community. The reception was co-organised by Brussels ETO and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, with the support of the France Hong Kong Business Association.

In both receptions, guests were greeted by an enchanting performance from the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, featuring a vibrant repertoire of traditional Chinese folk melodies, alongside a nostalgic medley of iconic Hong Kong television themes. The performance perfectly captured Hong Kong’s lively cultural spirit and the exceptional skill of its musicians, earning high praise from local guests.

FEHD releases fourth batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in February

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (February 23) released the fourth batch of gravidtrap indexes and density indexes for Aedes albopictus in February, covering 13 survey areas, as follows:

District

Survey Area

February 2026

First Phase Gravidtrap Index

First Phase Density Index

Central and Western

Kennedy Town and Shek Tong Tsui

0.0%

N/A

Sha Tin

Ma On Shan

0.0%

N/A

Tuen Mun

Tuen Mun South

0.0%

N/A

District

Survey Area

February 2026

Area Gravidtrap Index

Area Density Index

Eastern

Shau Kei Wan and Sai Wan Ho

0.0%

N/A

Wan Chai

Happy Valley and Tai Hang

0.0%

N/A

Islands

Tung Chung

0.0%

N/A

Kowloon City

Ho Man Tin

0.0%

N/A

Kowloon Tong

1.7%

1.0

Sham Shui Po

Cheung Sha Wan

0.0%

N/A

Yau Tsim

Tsim Sha Tsui and Yau Ma Tei

0.0%

N/A

North

Sheung Shui

0.0%

N/A

Tsuen Wan

Ma Wan and Sham Tseng

0.0%

N/A

Yuen Long

Yuen Long Town

0.0%

N/A

Among the fourth batch of First Phase Gravidtrap Indexes covering three survey areas and Area Gravidtrap Indexes covering 10 survey areas in February, most of the areas recorded 0 per cent, indicating that the distribution of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes was not extensive.

The FEHD has so far released four batches of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in February 2026, covering 51 survey areas. Among these 51 survey areas, 50 recorded a decrease or remained unchanged in the individual gravidtrap index as compared to the Area Gravidtrap Index last month, i.e. January 2026, representing that the areas’ mosquito infestation improved or maintained a low level. Only one area recorded a slight increase, but the index was lower than 10 per cent.

The eggs of Aedes albopictus can withstand long periods of desiccation and will hatch when the temperature becomes suitable and water is present. Members of the public should continue to take mosquito control measures during winter to eliminate mosquito eggs.

Public participation is crucial to the effective control of mosquito problems. The FEHD appeals to members of the public to continue to work together in strengthening personal mosquito control measures, including:

tidy up their premises and check for any accumulation of water inside their premises;

remove all unnecessary water collections and eliminate the sources;

check household items (those placed in outdoor and open areas in particular), such as refuse containers, vases, air conditioner drip trays, and laundry racks to preventstagnant water;

change the water in flower vases and clear the water in saucers of potted plants at least once every seven days;

properly cover all containers that hold water to prevent mosquitoes from accessing the water;

properly dispose of articles that can contain water, such as empty lunch boxes and cans; and

scrub drains and surface sewers with alkaline detergent at least once a week to remove any mosquito eggs.

Starting in August 2025, following the completion of the surveillance of individual survey areas, and once the latest gravidtrap index and the density index are available, the FEHD has been disseminating relevant information through press releases, its website and social media. It aims to allow members of the public to quickly grasp the mosquito infestation situation and strengthen mosquito control efforts, thereby reducing the risk of chikungunya fever (CF) transmission.

Following recommendations from the World Health Organization and taking into account the local situation in Hong Kong, the FEHD sets up gravidtraps in districts where mosquito-borne diseases have been recorded in the past, as well as in densely populated places such as housing estates, hospitals and schools to monitor the breeding and distribution of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which can transmit CF and dengue fever. At present, the FEHD has set up gravidtraps in 62 survey areas of the community, with a surveillance period of two weeks. During the surveillance period, the FEHD will collect the gravidtraps once a week. After the first week of surveillance, the FEHD will immediately examine the glue boards inside the retrieved gravidtraps for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes to compile the Gravidtrap Index (First Phase) and Density Index (First Phase). At the end of the second week of surveillance, the FEHD will instantly check the glue boards for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes. Data from the two weeks of surveillance will be combined to obtain the Area Gravidtrap Index and the Area Density Index. The gravidtrap and density indexes for Aedes albopictus in different survey areas, as well as information on mosquito prevention and control measures, are available on the department’s webpage (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/pestcontrol/dengue_fever/Dengue_Fever_Gravidtrap_Index_Update.html#).

Brussels Celebrates Chinese New Year with Prestigious Reception for Year of the Horse

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