A Historic Decline Continues

HONG KONG - Exciting news from the cityscape! For the ninth year in a row, Hong Kong is witnessing a decrease in new HIV infections. Official data released on Tuesday reveals that 180 new cases were reported in the first half of 2025—a slight drop from 185 during the same time last year, marking a 3% year-on-year reduction!

Breaking Down the Numbers

Since tracking began in 1984, the total number of locally reported HIV infections has now reached a staggering 12,583 cases. Among the 180 new infections, 140 were men and 40 were women, with ages ranging from 20 to 75 years old. The statistics reveal that an overwhelming 95% of these infections were transmitted through sexual contact. Delving deeper, it appears that over 57% were from homosexual or bisexual interactions, while the rest were heterosexual.

AIDS Cases Also on the Radar

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) also reported 47 new cases of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in the first half of 2025, comprising 33 men and 14 women. This brings the total AIDS cases reported in Hong Kong to 2,604 since 1985.

The Bigger Picture: Global Context

Bonnie Wong Chun-kwan, a consultant with the CHP, stated that the prevalence of HIV infection in Hong Kong remains at a mere 0.1%, significantly lower than the global average. The consistent decline in new HIV cases highlights the effectiveness of Hong Kong's AIDS control and prevention strategies. However, all is not well—

A Growing Concern: Late Presenters