A special scheme has been approved to import 3,000 care home workers next year, in a bid to tackle what the government calls an extreme shortage of labour in the industry. The idea was put forward in John Lee's maiden policy address and endorsed by the Executive Council. Damon Pang reports:

Following the rolling back of some key Covid measures from Tuesday, Secretary for Health, Lo Chung-mau, urged the public not to delete the LeaveHomeSafe app from their phones. He said the app provided other services and was not just for scanning QR codes at premises to gain entry. He also defended the continuing use of the vaccine pass, as Frank Yung reports:

The changes in the Covid measures meant many establishments no longer displayed QR codes that were previously necessary for customers to scan to gain entry. But the vaccine pass is still in use, meaning people still need to prove they are fully-vaccinated to enter. The changes in the rules caused confusion to some diners and restaurant staff. Natale Ching reports:

The tourism trade has called for the further easing of Covid restrictions so more visitors will come to Hong Kong. They say Tuesday's announcement by the government to relax curbs is a step in the right direction, but more can still be done. While new arrivals will no longer be banned from various establishments for their first three days, they must still submit to PCR tests, meaning they could be quarantined if they test positive for Covid. Kelly Yu reports:

The National Health Commission has stopped reporting new asymptomatic Covid infections. The mainland health authority also announced that high-risk groups would soon be able to get their second Covid vaccine booster shot. Aaron Tam reports:

Chinese University researchers have awarded Hong Kong's children and adolescents a low 'D-minus' grade for their overall physical activity. They said only 25 percent of youngsters met the global standard of doing 60 minutes of exercise each day. Professor Cindy Sit from the university's Department of Sports Science & Physical Education told Ben Tse that the SAR lagged behind the mainland, as well as the global average and many countries in Asia:

A concern group says banning future generations from buying tobacco products is not the right way to discourage them from taking up smoking. Community Development Pulsation says the focus should instead be on those buying tobacco on behalf of minors, as well as those taking part in the trading of illicit cigarettes. Hong Kong is considering banning residents who were born in 2009 or after, from ever buying cigarettes by 2027. A similar law came into effect in New Zealand on Tuesday, meaning anyone now aged 14 or below will never be able to buy tobacco there. Secretary-general of Community Development Pulsation, Parry Cheung, told Vicky Wong more about its survey it completed on the issue:

The former vice-chairwoman of the now-disbanded Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, Chow Hang-tung, has won an appeal against a conviction and 15-month prison term over a banned June Fourth vigil last year. A Court of First Instance judge says police did not exercise their responsibility in allowing and facilitating a peaceful public assembly wherever feasible. Joanne Wong reports:

Cathay Pacific says its passenger numbers are on the rise and it is resuming flights to more destinations in Asia as the Christmas and New Year holidays approach. The airline made the announcement in a statement welcoming the lifting of amber health code restrictions for Hong Kong arrivals, saying it will help further boost travel sentiment. Frank Yung reports:

Four people have died after a boat carrying migrants got into difficulties crossing the English Channel on a freezing night. A fishing crew spotted the dinghy sinking in ice-cold waters between Kent and France on Wednesday, and helicopters and lifeboats were dispatched to the English Channel for rescue operations. It comes after Britain’s prime minister, Rishi Sunak, unveiled tough plans to tackle illegal crossings by migrant boats. RTHK's UK correspondent Gavin Grey told Vicky Wong that deaths from such dangerous crossings had not deterred other asylum seekers: