Month: August 2025

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À Canala, un bassin versant restauré grâce au Fonds PEP

Source: Gouvernement de la Nouvelle-Caledonie

Fortement dégradé par des feux de brousse, le bassin versant de la Ouassé fait l’objet de travaux de restauration depuis 2013. Lauréat de l’appel à projets 2023/2024 de la politique de l’eau partagée (PEP), le projet de restauration a bénéficié d’une subvention permettant de poursuivre ces travaux essentiels pour assurer la pérennité du cycle de l’eau dans ce bassin versant essentiel à la population.

La tribu de Ouassé est une tribu isolée de la commune de Canala, située à environ 30 kilomètres du village. Son alimentation en eau est assurée par un captage en eau qui se fait dans l’emprise du bassin versant de la rivière Ouassé. En 2013, une grande partie du bassin versant de la Ouassé a subi une très forte dégradation de son couvert végétal à la suite d’un feu de brousse. L’impact de cet épisode sur le bassin est important avec de nombreuses conséquences telles que l’intensification de l’érosion, l’augmentation du nombre d’inondations, une dégradation de la qualité de l’eau et un appauvrissement de la biodiversité.

Des actions engagées depuis 2013

Depuis 2013, la commune de Canala a mis en place plusieurs actions afin de restaurer ce bassin versant. Elle a notamment :

  • lancé des études et entamé des travaux afin de mieux gérer les flux hydrauliques et ainsi répondre aux problèmes d’érosion et d’inondations ;
  • travaillé à une meilleure gestion des déchets sur la commune et à la tribu de Ouassé afin d’éviter de nouveaux incendies ;
  • commencé la restauration écologique du bassin grâce à un plan sur dix ans avec des plantations d’arbres, la mise en œuvre de fascines et la réalisation d’ouvrages de lutte contre l’érosion.

 L’appel à projets PEP

Afin de pouvoir poursuivre ces travaux, un projet de restauration a été présenté à l’appel à projets PEP 2023/2024.

Cet appel à projets (AAP), lancé par le service de l’eau de la direction des Affaires vétérinaires, alimentaires et rurales (DAVAR), a pour objectif d’encourager la réalisation d’actions concrètes qui entrent dans le plan d’actions de la PEP et qui concourent à la protection, à la préservation et à la gestion raisonnée de la ressource en eau de la Nouvelle-Calédonie. Ceci afin de garantir la pérennité de nos milieux aquatiques exceptionnels et une ressource en eau, en quantité et en qualité suffisantes pour les générations futures. Parmi ses axes prioritaires on retrouve notamment la protection des ressources (objectif stratégique 1 de la PEP : « sanctuariser nos zones de captage et nos ressources stratégiques, préserver nos milieux »).

Lauréat de cet AAP, le projet de restauration a obtenu une subvention de 4 740 532 francs, dont 2 370 266 francs ont déjà été versés. Ces fonds ont ainsi permis de planter près de 6 000 arbres, de terminer les 350 fascines et les dix seuils de pierre prévus.

Plusieurs partenaires impliqués dans le projet

Pour mener à bout ce projet de restauration, plusieurs acteurs ont été impliqués dans la démarche. Ainsi, les travaux ont été menés par la société anonyme d’économie mixte locale (SAEML) Canala et la société d’étude Geo.Impact, en relation avec la commune de Canala. La SAEML Canala gère également la pépinière qui fournit les plants nécessaires à la revégétalisation du bassin.

Ces acteurs ont pu s’appuyer sur le tissu associatif de la commune et notamment sur l’association « Ongui Etorry », qui regroupe les agents de la mairie de Canala et des bénévoles de la commune (coutumiers, écoles, sociétés minières, personnes des tribus avoisinant les captages), qui depuis 2018, organise deux fois par an des journées de plantations autour des captages de la commune (1 000 arbres par opération).

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Fatal traffic accident in Tsuen Wan

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident happened in Tsuen Wan today (August 5), in which a foreign man died.

At 1.52pm, a 80-year-old man reportedly felt dizzy while driving a taxi into a pick-up/drop-off area at 8 Yeung Uk Road, Tsuen Wan. The taxi suspectedly went out of control and mounted the pavement. The taxi knocked down a 35-year-old foreign male pedestrian before crashing into a hotel wall.

Sustaining severe leg injuries, the foreign male pedestrian was rushed to Princess Margaret Hospital in unconscious state and was certified dead at 3.12pm. The taxi driver, suffering from chest pain and sustaining head and hand injuries, was sent to Yan Chai Hospital in conscious state.

The taxi driver was arrested for dangerous driving causing death and is being detained for enquiries.

Investigation by the Special Investigation Team of Traffic, New Territories South is underway.

Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 36611346.

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SITI continues visit to Korea (with photos)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, continued his visit to Korea today (August 5).
 
     In the morning, Professor Sun visited the Seoul Startup Hub M+, established by the Seoul Metroplitan Government, and met with the hub’s management team to learn about its efforts in fostering and supporting the growth of start-ups and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) including network building, providing funding support and offering acceleration programmes. He was also briefed on the plan for developing the Magok Industrial Complex into an international research and development (R&D) platform for cutting-edged technologies. During the tour, Professor Sun met with the founder of a start-up that focuses on the application of quantum computing technology, to know more about the comprehensive quantum supercomputing services the company provides to its clients, as well as its future business plan.
 
     After that, Professor Sun visited the AI start-up incubator and accelerator, Seoul AI Hub, which was also established by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. He learned about the hub’s operation mode, specific initiatives to support AI start-ups, and plan to facilitate expansion of start-ups in the global market. Both sides also explored ways to further strengthen partnership between their respective innovation and technology (I&T) parks. In addition to providing office space and technical infrastructure, the hub also organises nurturing, R&D and investment matching events regularly. Professor Sun also met with founders of several AI start-ups based at the hub. These start-ups focus on providing comprehensive AI solutions for the semiconductor industry, AI-assisted diagnosis and therapies, etc. He listened to their business expansion plans and encouraged Korean start-ups to expand globally by fully leveraging Hong Kong’s unique advantages of having connections to both the Mainland and the world.
 
     Professor Sun then visited the Seoul National University and met with the university’s President, Dr Ryu Hong Lim. He received a briefing on the university’s latest development and achievements in R&D, plans and projects to promote innovation and entrepreneurship development, as well as initiatives to support and incubate start-ups. Both sides also exchanged views on nurturing I&T talents and R&D collaboration. Professor Sun also toured the Soft Robotics and Bionics Laboratory and learned about its latest R&D outcomes. 
 
     Professor Sun also called on the Chinese Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, Mr Dai Bing, to brief him on plans and initiatives by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in promoting the developments of I&T and AI in Hong Kong to support the high-quality development of Hong Kong’s economy. They also explored ways to enhance co-operation and exchange between Hong Kong and Korea in the I&T field.
 
     Professor Sun will participate in a visit programme of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Digital and AI Ministerial Meeting to tour the Incheon Free Economic Zone Promotion Center and the Incheon Smart City Integrated Operation Center tomorrow (August 6). He will respectively learn about the economic zone’s development plans and investment opportunities, as well as smart city management.
 
     Professor Sun will conclude his visit tomorrow afternoon and return to Hong Kong.

                          

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Appeal for information on missing man in Sheung Shui (with photos)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Police today (August 5) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Sheung Shui.

     Liu Wai-lun, aged 35, went missing after he was last seen in Sheung Shui Wai in the morning on August 20, 2021. His family made a report to Police on July 18, 2025.

     He is about 1.75 metres tall, around 55 kilograms in weight and of thin build. He has a pointed face with yellow complexion and short black hair.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of New Territories North on 3661 3128 or email to rmpu-ntn-1@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station

     

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Mui Wo Sports Centre reopened

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (August 5) that the Mui Wo Sports Centre in Islands District has been reopened.

     The sports centre was temporarily closed earlier today for use as a temporary shelter operated by the respective District Office of the Home Affairs Department.

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Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected cannabis buds worth about $2.6 million at airport (with photo)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Hong Kong Customs today (August 5) detected a drug trafficking case involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 13 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $2.6 million.
 
A male passenger, aged 20, arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, today. During customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cannabis buds concealed inside vacuum-sealed bags in his check-in suitcase. He was subsequently arrested.
 
The arrested person has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. The case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (August 6).
 
Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.

Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

  

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Sun Dong visits startup hubs in Seoul

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry Prof Sun Dong today visited the “Seoul Startup Hub M+” and the AI start-up incubator and accelerator “Seoul AI Hub”, as he continued a visit to South Korea. Both hubs were established by the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

 

Visiting the Seoul Startup Hub M+ this morning, Prof Sun met its management team to learn about the hub’s efforts in fostering and supporting the growth of startups and small and medium enterprises through network building, funding support, and acceleration programmes.

 

Prof Sun was also briefed on plans to develop the Magok Industrial Complex into an international research and development (R&D) platform for cutting-edge technologies.

 

During his tour, Prof Sun met the founder of a startup that focuses on the application of quantum computing technology, to learn more about the firm’s comprehensive quantum supercomputing services and its future plans.

 

Afterwards, the technology chief visited Seoul AI Hub, where he was briefed on the hub’s operations, specific initiatives to support AI startups, and efforts to support startups’ global expansion plans.

 

Prof Sun and his hosts also explored ways to further strengthen partnerships between their respective innovation and technology (I&T) parks.

 

Prof Sun met the founders of several AI startups based at the hub and heard about their business expansion plans. He encouraged South Korean startups to consider leveraging Hong Kong’s unique advantages of being connected both to the Mainland and the rest of the world as they seek to expand globally.

 

Prof Sun then visited Seoul National University and met with its President Ryu Hong Lim.

 

The tech chief received a briefing on the university’s latest development and achievements in R&D, its efforts to promote innovation and entrepreneurship development, and its initiatives to support and incubate startups.

 

Both sides also exchanged views on nurturing I&T talent and R&D collaboration.

 

In addition, Prof Sun toured the Soft Robotics & Bionics Laboratory and learned about its R&D outcomes.

 

He also called on Chinese Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Dai Bing, and briefed him on the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s efforts to promote the development of I&T and AI in Hong Kong in support of the city’s high-quality development.

 

They also days ways of enhancing co-operation between Hong Kong and Korea in the I&T field.