Month: May 2025

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The service contract for Eastern District Health Centre (DHC) has been awarded to the Society for Rehabilitation, while the Yan Chai Hospital Board has been awarded the future service contract for Kwai Tsing DHC, the Health Bureau announced today. 

Under the new contract, the existing Eastern DHC Express will be upgraded and the new DHC is expected to commence operations in the fourth quarter of this year. The existing service contract for Kwai Tsing DHC will expire in the third quarter. 

The service contracts for the two DHCs were awarded via open tenders and will last for three years.

The core centre of Eastern DHC will be located at Siu Sai Wan Health Integrated Building. It will comprise a floor area of about 1,000 sq m, which is about three times the size of the current Eastern DHC Express.

The core centre will have additional consultation rooms, rehabilitation facilities and an audio-visual assessment room, and will include facilities for enhanced health education activities. The Society for Rehabilitation is to establish two satellite centres in the district within the first year of operation.

The core centre of Kwai Tsing DHC will remain on 30/F, Tower 2 of Kowloon Commerce Centre, with main services including chronic disease management and community rehabilitation services being unchanged.

Yan Chai Hospital Board is required to establish four satellite centres in the district within the first year of operation.

Together with Eastern DHC, plus the two DHCs in Central & Western and Yau Tsim Mong Districts, the total number of DHCs across the city will increase to 10 this year.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

With regard to arrests made by the Independent Commission Against Corruption at a construction site at Anderson Road, the Buildings Department (BD) said it has been actively co-operating with the commission’s investigation, and emphasised that illegal or non-compliant behaviours would not be tolerated.

The arrests relate to the suspected offering and accepting of advantages.

The BD received a report last August alleging that steel reinforcements in some structural elements of the superstructure works at six blocks of residential buildings under construction had not been installed in accordance with standards under the Buildings Ordinance. It then sent staff to conduct on-site inspections four times in September.

Having found that the number of steel reinforcements installed at some beams was lower than required by the approved plans, the department ordered the cessation of works at the entire site in October.

Subsequently, departmental staff carried out further site inspections, conducted interviews and collected project information. This included opening up concrete at various locations and testing the concrete’s strength.

To date, inspections have revealed major deviations from the approved plans in the installation of steel reinforcements. This includes positional discrepancies, the displacement of reinforcements, discrepancies in the size of reinforcements, and fewer  reinforcements than are shown in the plans.

The BD said it is consulting the Department of Justice on prosecution against the relevant individuals.

Elaborating on the situation, it said inspections indicated that the quantity of main steel reinforcements within structural components is, on average, below 10% less than that in the approved plans. Taking into account the overall configuration of the steel reinforcements and the load-bearing design of the adjacent concrete walls, the department considered that no obvious danger is posed to the overall structure.

It added that it has requested that the project’s registered structural engineer and registered contractor submit an incident report and stipulate remedial measures including localised strengthening of the buildings, demolition of part of the structural elements where necessary, reinstalment of the steel reinforcements, and concrete recasting.

Separately, the department noted that the main contractor of the Anderson Road project is also the “registered general building contractor” of five other private developments under construction. In view of the Anderson Road incident, the department has stepped up inspections of these five developments. Measures taken include doubling the number of surprise site inspections and audit checks on completed concrete structural elements using non-destructive covermeter testing technology.

No deviation in the quantity and positioning of steel reinforcements from the approved plans and no obvious structural safety issues have been found, the department stated.

To ensure building safety, it added that it will write to the developers of the five developments requesting them to carry out a number of measures.

These include urging their appointed registered structural engineers to conduct a comprehensive review of all supervision records for steel reinforcement installations at the sites concerned; submitting to the BD within two months a review report and a testing proposal for checking the installation of steel reinforcements; engaging an independent accredited laboratory to conduct the tests; and submitting an independent testing report to the BD.

The BD emphasised that the Anderson Road case is a rare incident, and that the current regulatory system for building works is robust and well-functioning. Nonetheless, it will review the experience from this case and double the number of construction sites subject to audit inspections of steel reinforcements prior to the casting of concrete at sites, from the current annual sampling rate of at least 12% to at least 25% of projects.

With regard to the configuration of steel reinforcements after the casting of concrete, the BD will, using covermeter technology for sampling tests, also conduct audit checks with an annual sampling rate of 25% of projects as a regularised practice.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced today (May 22) the successful connection between the HKMA’s Commercial Data Interchange (CDI) and the Land Registry (LR) through the Government’s Consented Data Exchange Gateway (CDEG) (LR@CDI), enabling CDI participating banks to automate their land search processes. The linkage marks another major achievement in meeting banks’ demand for government data after the connection of the Companies Registry (CR) to CDI through CDEG (CR@CDI).
 
Key features and benefits of LR@CDI
 
By connecting to the LR via the CDI-CDEG linkage, banks can search land and ownership information in a straight-through manner via Application Programming Interface (API), effectively streamlining their processes in relation to property valuation, mortgage and loan assessments for individual and corporate customers. This would in turn enable banks to enhance risk assessment, improve customer experience and reduce time costs.
 
With the launch of LR@CDI, CDI participating banks can also access e-Alert notifications via API when further charge/mortgage documents related to the mortgaged properties are lodged for registration with the LR, thereby providing banks with timely updates on the risk profile of their mortgage lending.
 
Deputy Chief Executive of the HKMA, Mr Howard Lee, said, “We are delighted to partner with the LR to promote the benefits of the CDI-CDEG linkage for the banking sector. The launch of LR@CDI marks a significant milestone in our efforts to provide banks with seamless and secure access to government data, unlocking new efficiencies for banks to enhance risk management, better serve their customers and stay ahead of the curve in a rapidly evolving digital economy. Together with the Digital Policy Office (DPO), we will explore further data sharing opportunities with more government bureaux and departments leveraging the CDI-CDEG linkage, with the aim of contributing to the advancement of Hong Kong’s digital economy.”
 
The Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Tony Wong, said, “The DPO actively develops CDEG and promotes innovative application and sharing of data, with a view to enhancing efficiency and quality of government services and bringing greater benefits to citizens and businesses. We are pleased to see the growing recognition of the significant benefits and transformative power of sharing government data with the private sector. The DPO and the HKMA are committed to accelerating the process of collaboration between the public and private sectors. By fostering a robust ecosystem of consented data sharing, we aim to unlock new opportunities for businesses and bolster the overall competitiveness of Hong Kong’s economy.”
 
The Land Registrar, Ms Joyce Tam, said, “The LR has been proactively driving innovation in service delivery to meet customer needs and support digital government initiatives. LR@CDI is the latest such initiative to enable interchange of LR data via API for digitising and streamlining banking processes in financial institutions. Our collaboration with the HKMA and the DPO demonstrates our commitment to enhancing data accessibility and increasing efficiency between both government and financial services.”
 
Growing utilisation of CR@CDI
 
Since the CDI-CDEG linkage came into full operation in August 2024, CR@CDI has been well received by banks, with average monthly data transfers amounting to approximately 1.5 million. Eight banks are actively utilising the CR@CDI connection to enhance their operational efficiency and risk management capabilities in different business scenarios such as automating online account opening process and conducting customer due diligence. More banks are expected to join the CDI service to obtain company search records in a more streamlined manner with the use of API.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     â€‹Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the International Forum for Patient Capital today (May 22):
 
Clara (Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Investment Corporation, Ms Clara Chan), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good morning.
 
     It is a great pleasure to welcome you all to the inaugural International Forum for Patient Capital, organised by the Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited (HKIC).
 
     This gathering brings together a remarkable group of global patient capital leaders and enterprises at the forefront of cutting-edge technologies. We are delighted to host you in this dynamic city of opportunities and promise. 
 
The case for patient capital
 
     Technological innovation is the engine of progress, and cutting-edge technologies are its spark. They ignite transformative change, turning bold imagination into world-changing reality. Yet, these frontier innovations often mean navigating uncharted waters. The risks are high, the outcomes are uncertain, and the timelines can be long – though the return could be huge.
 
     This is precisely where and why patient capital plays a critical role.
 
     Grounded in long-term vision, with the courage to weather the ups and downs of economic cycles and the willingness to embrace future possibilities, patient capital is guided not only by profits but more importantly, by purpose and impact.
 
     Around the world, governments and institutions are recognising the strategic importance of patient capital in powering technological advancement, industrial transformation and economic growth.
 
     For instance, our country, China, has emphasised the need to make long-term investments in nascent hard-tech enterprises, supporting deep-tech ecosystems and building new quality productive forces.
 
Hong Kong’s vision and pathway
 
     Here in Hong Kong, we understand the importance of patient capital in our pursuit of a more diversified economic structure with leading-edge competitiveness.
 
     It is our aspiration not only to be a leading international financial, shipping and trade centre, but also a world-class innovation and technology (I&T) hub. Looking ahead, finance, trading and I&T will be the key engines powering Hong Kong’s economic growth
 
     Over the years, we have made substantial investments in the tech sector. We have formulated a comprehensive strategy to expedite I&T development across the entire spectrum. From supporting basic research and the commercialisation of research outcomes, to nurturing start-ups, attracting strategic enterprises and promoting advanced manufacturing, we are scaling the tech ecosystem in Hong Kong from upstream to downstream.
 
     Our edge in innovation is amplified by our synergistic development with sister cities in the GBA (Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area). In fact, the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou science and technology cluster has been ranked second globally by the Global Innovation Index for five consecutive years.   
 
     Our tech ecosystem benefits from a complete and deep funding chain, from angel investments, venture capital, private equity to IPOs. 
 
     However, at times traditional investors are hesitant to enter the early, risky stages of innovation, where potential may be the greatest, yet certainty is the lowest. To address this gap in the funding chain, the Government may need to take the lead.
 
     That is why we established the HKIC. One of its key priorities is to channel market capital into high-potential, nascent-stage industries, and attract innovative enterprises to help us build the related ecosystem in Hong Kong.
 
     The HKIC carries a dual mandate: to enhance the long-term competitiveness and economic vitality of Hong Kong and, at the same time, seek reasonable financial returns over the medium to long term.
     So far, the HKIC has participated in over 100 projects. It has drawn in four dollars of long-term private capital for every dollar it invested.
 
     On the tech front, the HKIC focuses on artificial intelligence (AI), hard tech, biotech, new materials and new energy. These sectors were chosen with strategic ambition. In AI, Hong Kong is home to outstanding academic institutions and uniquely positioned at the convergence of Mainland and international data and talent. In healthcare, we are proud to host two of the world’s top 40 medical schools, and maintain the highest regulatory and professional standards. In green tech, we have more than 300 such start-ups in our Science Park and Cyberport, and many of them are already exporting solutions overseas.
 
     Let me stress one point: the HKIC is not just an investor. It is a co-investor and a collaborator. We work alongside strategic partners to support sectors where we see long-term potential and where Hong Kong has distinct advantages.
 
     HKIC’s vision extends beyond borders. We are committed to supporting regional and global collaboration, guided by the conviction that openness and partnership are the best pathways to sustainable growth and shared success.
 
     I’m sure Clara will talk more about the work of the HKIC shortly.
 
Opportunities ahead
 
     Looking to the future, geo-economic fragmentation has no doubt cast a shadow over global growth and investment flows. But even in fragmentation, opportunities emerge.
 
     As supply chains realign and countries localise critical industries, patient capital can fund scalable alternatives. As technological divides widen, new spaces are open for alternative platforms, creative new entrants and innovative breakthroughs.
 
     A compelling example is the “DeepSeek Moment”. Although start-ups may have a modest and recent beginning, DeepSeek demonstrates how ingenuity, creativity and agility can overcome resource constraints and lead to success on a global scale.
 
     What matters is whether we are willing and ready to support start-ups like them, and provide the capital bridge they need to succeed.
 
Our appeal
 
     That brings us to today’s Forum. More than a dialogue, this event is a platform to connect global patient capital with the transformative ideas and projects that will shape our future.
 
     There is no better place than Hong Kong to host this initiative. 
 
     Under the“one country, two systems”framework, we remain firmly committed to our status as an open, diverse and international city, with free flow of capital, goods, talent and information. We uphold the common law system, underpinned by a judiciary exercising powers independently, with robust intellectual property rights protection. These are the foundations of Hong Kong’s success, and the reasons why we are trusted as a hub for global capital .
 
     We are also committed to working with international partners to chart new and sustainable pathways of growth, and to allow the dividends of innovation to transcend borders and benefit the people.
 
     I am therefore deeply encouraged to see so many leaders of capital and technology coming together today. The conversations you begin here will lead to partnerships, to investments, and to shared progress.
 
     Allow me to conclude by quoting an African proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
 
     Ladies and gentlemen, let us go far-together. Thank you very much.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Health Bureau (HHB) announced today (May 22) that the operation service contract for the Eastern District Health Centre (DHC) has been awarded through open tender to the Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation (HKSR) to upgrade the existing Eastern DHC Express (DHCE) to the Eastern DHC, which is expected to commence operations in the fourth quarter of this year. Meanwhile, the existing operation service contract for the Kwai Tsing DHC will expire in the third quarter this year.  After an open tender exercise, the HHB has awarded the operation service contract of the Kwai Tsing DHC to the Yan Chai Hospital Board. Both service contracts are for three years.
  
     The core centre of the Eastern DHC will be located at the Siu Sai Wan Health Integrated Building, 11 Harmony Road, Siu Sai Wan, Chai Wan, with a total floor area of about 1 000 square metres, representing an increase of about three times the size of the current Eastern DHCE. The core centre will provide additional consultation rooms, rehabilitation facilities and an audio-visual assessment room. Facilities for health education activities will also be enhanced. According to the operation service contract, the HKSR is required to establish two satellite centres in the district within the first year of operation to enhance service accessibility. The core centre and two satellite centres will operate six days a week with a minimum of 10 hours of service per day.

     Moreover, after changing the operator of the Kwai Tsing DHC, its core centre will remain on 30/F, Tower 2, Kowloon Commerce Centre, 51 Kwai Cheong Road, Kwai Chung. The main services provided, including chronic disease management and community rehabilitation services, will remain unchanged. Meanwhile, the satellite centres will be relocated. In accordance with the operation service contract, the Yan Chai Hospital Board is required to establish four satellite centres in the district within the first year of operation. The core centre and four satellite centres will operate six days a week with a minimum of 10 hours of service per day. 

     After changing the operator of the Kwai Tsing DHC, the existing members can continue to use the services of the DHC without the need for re-registration. The Primary Healthcare Commission (PHC Commission) will discuss with the relevant operators and implement the handover of the Kwai Tsing DHC services and premise to ensure a smooth transition. The PHC Commission will also discuss with the relevant operators and implement the transitional plan for upgrading the Eastern DHCE to a DHC. Both DHCs will continue to co-ordinate primary healthcare services in the districts, serving as case managers to support primary healthcare doctors while also acting as resource hubs for district healthcare services that connect various public and private service organisations across sectors in the community. The DHCs will continue to assist citizens in pairing with family doctors, providing comprehensive advice on disease prevention through the Life Course Preventive Care Plan, promoting the Chronic Disease Co-Care Pilot Scheme, as well as offering health education and promotion, health risk assessments, community rehabilitation services, dedicated nurse clinic and allied health services, and more.
 
     The Chief Executive announced in the 2024 Policy Address the upgrading of more DHCEs to DHCs. With the Eastern DHC, the Central and Western DHC and the Yau Tsim Mong DHC expected to commence operations within this year as announced earlier, the total number of DHCs across the city will increase to 10 this year. The PHC Commission will continue to implement the relevant upgrading plans to establish DHCs across the 18 districts at the earliest juncture, with a view to strengthening the prevention-oriented, district-based, and family-centric primary healthcare network.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

May 20, 2025  
No. 167  

Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung hosted a luncheon on May 20 to mark a state visit by President Surangel Whipps, Jr. of the Republic of Palau. During the luncheon, Minister Lin conveyed a warm welcome on behalf of the government of Taiwan and thanked Palau for its staunch support for Taiwan’s international participation. He said he expected Taiwan and Palau to continue their close cooperation and together promote sustainable development across a range of areas in both nations.
 
In his remarks, Minister Lin explained that since taking office, he had launched a strategy of integrated diplomacy to serve as Taiwan’s primary focus for foreign affairs, adding that its three pillars of values-based diplomacy, alliance diplomacy, and economic and trade diplomacy were advancing the promotion of the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project in Palau. He also noted that, in addition to personally leading an industrial delegation to Palau in January, several business delegations had visited Palau on information-gathering missions, and that in March President Whipps had appointed Taiwanese business leader Stan Shih to serve as a senior economic advisor to Palau. Minister Lin said that these activities had laid a successful foundation for using public-private partnerships as a cooperative model through which to promote the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project.
 
In his remarks, President Whipps thanked the government of Taiwan and Minister Lin for their gracious reception. Observing that he had already made several trips to Taiwan, President Whipps said that visiting once again felt just like experiencing the warmth of home. Likening the 26-year ties between Taiwan and Palau to a marriage, he said that the nations’ sincere friendship was based on such shared values as freedom and democracy, a common Austronesian culture, and mutual support and prosperity.
 
President Whipps also reiterated his heartfelt gratitude for Taiwan’s assistance toward national development in Palau, adding that Taiwan’s status as one of the world’s leading producers of semiconductors and other technologies was a reflection of its successful education system and outstanding industrial development. Remarking that President Lai Ching-te’s visit to Palau in December 2024 had established a robust foundation for a new era of Taiwan-Palau collaboration, he said he hoped the two nations would continue to use public-private partnerships to engage in close cooperation on sustainable tourism, green energy, smart medicine and healthcare, education and training, and food security, together creating a vision of economic prosperity for both countries.
 
Among others attendees at today’s luncheon were Cheng Shih-chung, Director-General of the Ministry of Education’s Sports Administration; Professor Wang Ying-chou, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Fu Jen Catholic University; Liao Song-yie, Chairman of COTA Commercial Bank; and Liu Qing-ling, Chairperson of Chuan Cheng Hat Co., Ltd. Amid a warm and cordial environment, guests and the members of the Palauan delegation engaged in in-depth exchanges regarding various aspects of Taiwan-Palau cooperation. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

May 19, 2025  
No. 163  

The 78th World Health Assembly (WHA) is opening in Geneva on May 19. Following proactive efforts by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and related overseas missions, Taiwan’s bid to participate in the WHA has received staunch and concrete support from the Group of Seven (G7), the executive and legislative branches of government of more than 50 countries, the European Union, the European Parliament, and representative offices of like-minded nations in Taiwan. MOFA expresses sincere appreciation for this support.
 
Eleven of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies, as members of the World Health Organization (WHO), submitted a proposal to the WHO Secretariat to invite Taiwan to participate in the WHA as an observer, requesting that the proposal be included as a supplementary item on this year’s WHA agenda. Saint Lucia Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre personally wrote a letter urging WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to invite Taiwan to attend the WHA. The parliaments of Guatemala, Palau, and Saint Christopher and Nevis adopted resolutions backing Taiwan.
 
The magnitude of support for Taiwan from like-minded countries has continued to grow. The current US administration has publicly endorsed Taiwan’s international participation more than 10 times. This includes a joint statement issued at the US-Japan leaders’ summit by President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in February, which for the first time contained text advocating Taiwan’s meaningful involvement in international organizations. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed firm US support for Taiwan’s international participation during his congressional confirmation hearing as well as in interviews and joint statements issued at two meetings with the foreign ministers of Japan and the Republic of Korea. The United States twice spoke up for Taiwan at the WHO Executive Board session held in February. In April, it publicly refuted China’s misuse of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 2758 at the UN Security Council for the first time, reiterating that the resolution did not preclude Taiwan’s participation in the UN system or other multilateral fora. In terms of US congressional support, the House of Representatives passed the Taiwan International Solidarity Act without opposition on May 5. The act urged the US government to resist China’s efforts to suppress Taiwan through mischaracterization of UNGA Resolution 2758. In addition, nine US state legislatures approved resolutions backing Taiwan’s involvement in international organizations.
 
Furthermore, in a joint statement issued following a meeting in March, the G7 foreign ministers reaffirmed support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations. On May 15, the European Union expressed a similar stance and recognized the extraordinary contributions Taiwan can make through its digital healthcare capabilities. In February, the European Parliament overwhelmingly adopted a resolution on the implementation of the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy, which backed Taiwan’s meaningful participation in relevant world bodies. 
High-ranking European officials who publicly spoke up for Taiwan included Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani, Irish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Harris, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong, Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard, and Swedish Minister for Social Affairs and Public Health Jakob Forssmed. A total of 534 members of the European Parliament and 29 national parliaments across Europe cosigned a letter of the Formosa Club reaffirming support for Taiwan. The World Medical Association and other professional groups endorsed Taiwan’s participation in WHO and the WHA as they had done in the past.
 
MOFA thanks the representative offices in Taiwan of the United Kingdom, France, Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, Germany, Japan, and Lithuania for issuing a joint statement for the fifth year prior to the WHA affirming the immense benefits that Taiwan could bring to WHA discussions. The statement also emphasized that there was no legitimate reason for Taiwan’s exclusion from the WHA and that Taiwan’s absence would undermine the spirit of inclusive global public health cooperation and safety that WHO’s founding documents called for.
 
MOFA points out that these positive developments fully demonstrate that China’s unreasonable obstruction of Taiwan’s participation in WHO has gained little traction or support among nations worldwide. MOFA reiterates that UNGA Resolution 2758 and WHA Resolution 25.1 make no mention of Taiwan, have nothing to do with Taiwan, and therefore cannot be cited as a legal basis for precluding Taiwan from participating in WHO or other international organizations or multilateral mechanisms or fora. MOFA asks that the WHO Secretariat listen closely to member countries, stop further condoning political manipulation by China, and instead work to realize WHO’s goals of “Leaving No One Behind” and “One World for Health” so as to fulfill its responsibility to maintain and improve the health and well-being of all people. MOFA also asks that Taiwan be allowed full and unobstructed participation in all WHO meetings, mechanisms, and activities, including the WHA. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

May 18, 2025  
No. 161  

Former Vice President Chen Chien-jen, serving as special envoy of President Lai Ching-te, together with his wife and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs François Chihchung Wu, attended the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV on the morning of May 18. In an audience with the pontiff following the ceremony, Mr. Chen conveyed greetings from President Lai and the sincere congratulations of the government, people, and Catholic community of Taiwan.
 
Upon arriving for the ceremony in St. Peter’s Square, Mr. Chen was received by a ceremonial officer for the Holy See. The inauguration, a grand and solemn occasion, took around two hours. According to statistics released by the Holy See, more than 150 delegations attended. Before the ceremony commenced, Mr. Chen exchanged greetings with Paraguayan Chamber of Deputies Speaker Raúl Latorre; Guatemalan Special Envoy and Ambassador to the Holy See Alfredo Vásquez Rivera; other officials from diplomatic allies; and delegates from the United States, Japan, Europe, and numerous other friendly countries. He also extended felicitations to and shared cordial interactions with several high-ranking members of the Vatican clergy, including Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Secretary of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue Monsignor Indunil Janakaratne Kodithuwakku Kankanamalage. 
 
After the inauguration, Pope Leo received the heads of national delegations. Mr. Chen presented the pontiff with a congratulatory letter from President Lai, a commemorative set of postage stamps depicting four of Taiwan’s Catholic churches—St. Joseph’s Church in Jinlun Village, Taitung County; the Holy Family Catholic Church in Taipei City; the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Wanjin Village, Pingtung County; and the Holy Rosary Cathedral Basilica in Kaohsiung City—and a collection of postcards on Holy See artifacts jointly produced by Taiwan and the Apostolic Nunciature in Taiwan, highlighting the close connection between the Catholic Church in Taiwan and the Holy See. Mr. Chen also presented Pope Leo with a photo taken in 2020, when the pontiff was serving as bishop of the Chiclayo Diocese in Peru. The picture showed him accepting antipandemic supplies donated by Taiwan. The materials, delivered in cartons labeled “Taiwan Box,” were donated to Cáritas Chiclayo and other Peruvian healthcare and charitable organizations by the Pingtung County Government and Dr. Lai Hsien-yung of Hualien County’s Mennonite Christian Hospital. The government and people of Taiwan provided proactive assistance to the international community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, fulfilling their international responsibilities and demonstrating that Taiwan could help and that Taiwan was helping.
 
When Mr. Chen arrived at the airport in Rome on May 17, he met with Eswatini Prime Minister Russell Dlamini, who had also made the trip to attend the papal inauguration. Mr. Chen also attended a mass and prayer service for peace led by Bishop John Lee Keh-mien, President of the Chinese Regional Bishops’ Conference of Taiwan, at St. Benedict’s Monastery. On May 18, Mr. Chen had dinner with 16 prominent members of the Catholic clergy and several key officials and ambassadors of diplomatic allies, including Special Delegate of the Holy See to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta Cardinal Silvano Tomasi and Haitian Special Envoy and former Minister of Foreign Affairs Alrich Nicolas. 
 
Since establishing diplomatic ties 83 years ago, Taiwan and the Holy See have enjoyed a profound diplomatic alliance and shared the core values of religious freedom, human rights, peace, and benevolence. The two sides will build on their existing friendship and solid foundation of cooperation in humanitarian assistance and other domains to further deepen bilateral relations and together make even greater contributions to the world. (E)