Month: August 2025

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Transport Department (TD) today (August 29) announced that the 55th Personalised Vehicle Registration Marks (PVRMs) Scheme will be open for applications from September 1 to 30, 2025.
 
     Starting from September 1, 2025, applications will be invited for the allocation of PVRMs upon sale by auction. Completed application forms should reach the TD no later than September 30, 2025. If there are more than 1 500 applications, those to be considered will be selected by lot.
 
     The application form (TD 569) and the Guidance Notes for Application can be downloaded from the TD’s website (www.td.gov.hk/en/public_services/vehicle_registration_mark/pvrm_application/index.html) or obtained from the TD’s Licensing Offices as well as the Home Affairs Enquiry Centres of the Home Affairs Department.
 
     Interested persons should complete and submit the application form through one of the following ways:
 
(a) By post to the Vehicle Registration Marks Unit, Transport Department, 12/F, South Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon. Applications received by post will be dated by the postmark; 
 
(b) Via the drop-in box at any of the TD’s Licensing Offices at Admiralty, Cheung Sha Wan, Kwun Tong and Sha Tin. For easy identification, please mark “PVRM Application” on the envelope of the application; or
 
(c) Through the online application service at the GovHK website (www.gov.hk/en/residents/transport/vehicle/ospvrm.htm) if the applicant possesses an “iAM Smart+” account with the digital signing function (for Hong Kong residents only) or a digital certificate.
 
     Applicants are advised to read carefully the Guidance Notes for details of the scheme before completing the application form. They can also check whether a proposed PVRM is in compliance with the basic combination requirements by using the online service at the GovHK website.
 
     No payment of deposit is required when submitting an application. Each applicant can submit only one application in each exercise. If an applicant submits more than one application, all of his or her applications will not be processed. Once submitted, the applicant cannot withdraw the application or change the arrangement of the PVRM stated in the application form.
 
     Upon successful submission of an online application, the applicant will receive an acknowledgement immediately. Those who submit applications by post or drop-in box will receive the TD’s acknowledgement by ordinary post within two weeks after submission. Applicants who do not receive the acknowledgement within this time frame should call 2804 2600.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will present two classical music lecture series centred on symphonies from October to December. Hosted by seasoned music practitioner Jimmy Shiu, the first series, “Beethoven 1-9”, will delve into the nine symphonies composed by Beethoven from perspectives such as musical elements, compositional techniques and the contexts behind the works, exploring the enduring allure of these masterpieces. The second series, “Top 10 Romantic Symphonies”, will feature a selection of representative works of the Romantic period, tracing the development of the symphony while offering insights into the creative intentions of the composers. 

     Details of each lecture are as follows:

Classical Music Lecture Series 1: “Beethoven 1-9”
——————————————————————————–
Venue: Cultural Activities Hall, Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre
Time: 8pm

Lecture 1
Date: October 8 (Wednesday)
Content and compositions: …Inheriting the Past, “Symphony No. 1 in C” and “Symphony No. 2 in D”

Lecture 2
Date: October 15 (Wednesday)
Compositions: “Symphony No. 3 in E-flat, ‘Eroica'” and “Symphony No. 4 in B-flat”

Lecture 3
Date: October 22 (Wednesday)
Compositions: “Symphony No. 5 in C minor” and “Symphony No. 6 in F, ‘Pastoral'”

Lecture 4
Date: October 29 (Wednesday)
Compositions: “Symphony No. 7 in A” and “Symphony No. 8 in F”

Lecture 5
Date: November 5 (Wednesday)
Content and composition: “Symphony No. 9 in D minor, ‘Choral'”, Ushering in the Future… 

Classical Music Lecture Series 2: “Top 10 Romantic Symphonies”
——————————————————————————–
Venue: Recital Hall, Hong Kong City Hall
Time: 8pm

Lecture 1: Past and Future
Date: November 13 (Thursday)
Compositions: Schubert’s “Symphony No. 8 in B minor, ‘Unfinished'” and Berlioz’s “Symphonie fantastique”

Lecture 2: German Tradition
Date: November 20 (Thursday)
Compositions: Mendelssohn’s “Symphony No. 4 in A, ‘Italian'”, Schumann’s “Symphony No. 3 in E-flat, ‘Rhenish'” and Brahms’s “Symphony No. 1 in C minor”

Lecture 3: Two Giants
Date: November 27 (Thursday)
Compositions: Bruckner’s “Symphony No. 7 in E” and Mahler’s “Symphony No. 2 in C minor” 

Lecture 4: Slavonic Sound
Date: December 4 (Thursday)
Compositions: DvoÅ™ák’s “Symphony No. 8 in G” and Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 6 in B minor, ‘Pathétique'”

Lecture 5: Romance of the Twentieth Century
Date: December 11 (Thursday)
Compositions: Sibelius’s “Symphony No. 2 in D minor” and Rachmaninov’s “Symphony No. 2 in E minor”

     Shiu graduated from the Hong Kong Baptist College, where he majored in Composition. He then pursued further studies at the University of Sheffield, the United Kingdom, where he earned a double Master’s degree in Composition and Vocal Performance. He has been invited to give lectures and serve as master of ceremonies at concerts. Shiu has published several works related to music appreciation, composition of sacred music (original and arrangements), and recently served as the writer of Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra’s 50th anniversary publication.

     Each lecture will run for about one hour and 30 minutes and will be conducted in Cantonese. Tickets priced at $80 (for each lecture, with free seating) are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 3166 1288. For programme enquiries, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/programs_1903.html.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     To prepare for the onboarding of Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) scheme to the eMPF Platform, the Government published in the Gazette today (August 29) the following legal notices:
 
(i) the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes (Specification of Dates for Purposes of Section 19M(2)(a)) (Amendment) (No. 5) Notice 2025 (Mandatory Use (Amendment) (No. 5) Notice 2025); and
 
(ii) the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes (Appointment of Dates for Purposes of Section 19U(4)) (Amendment) (No. 5) Notice 2025, the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes (Appointment of Dates for Purposes of Section 19Y(3)) (Amendment) (No. 5) Notice 2025, and the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes (Appointment of Dates for Purposes of Section 19Z(4)) (Amendment) (No. 5) Notice 2025 (collectively Fee Control (Amendment) (No. 5) Notices 2025).
 
     The Mandatory Use (Amendment) (No. 5) Notice 2025 specifies October 3, 2025, as “material day” for the Sun Life Rainbow MPF Scheme administered by the Sun Life Trustee Company Limited (Sun Life), such that Sun Life is mandated to use the eMPF Platform to perform scheme administration functions in relation to this MPF scheme. On cost savings and fee-setting of MPF scheme to be charged by MPF trustee on scheme members, the Fee Control (Amendment) (No. 5) Notices 2025 appoint January 3, 2026, as “material day” for the constituent funds of the MPF scheme mentioned above, such that Sun Life is mandated to make corresponding reduction in its fees charged on scheme members in relation to the constituent funds of this MPF scheme.
 
     Relevant legal notices for the remaining MPF schemes will be published in the Gazette when the respective onboarding dates are ascertained having regard to the onboarding preparation status of the MPF trustees concerned.
 
     If scheme members/employers have any question regarding the detailed operation of the eMPF Platform, they may visit the Platform’s official website (empf.org.hk), or call the Platform’s customer service hotline (183 2622).
 
     The aforementioned legal notices will be tabled at the Legislative Council for negative vetting on September 10, 2025.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA thanks members of US Congress for condemning China’s unilateral activation of W121 flight route and urging ICAO to include Taiwan

Date：2025-08-26
Data Source：Department of International Organizations

August 26, 2025  
No. 300  

US Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), US Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Chairman of the House Select Committee on the CCP John Moolenaar (R-MI), and Ranking Member of the committee Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) sent a joint letter to Secretary General of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Juan Carlos Salazar on August 21. In the letter, they condemned China’s unilateral activation in July of the W121 flight route— which connects to the M503 flight route—stating that it “provokes regional instability in the Indo-Pacific and clearly demonstrates a disregard for international order and the potential dangerous civilian consequences of this decision.” They also called on ICAO to invite Taiwan to participate in the 42nd session of the ICAO Assembly and related technical meetings this year.
 
This follows strong US congressional backing of Taiwan in July, when Chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Jim Risch (R-ID), Chairman Moolenaar, and members of the House Select Committee on the CCP Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Carlos Gimenez (R-FL), and Neal Dunn (R-FL) spoke out against China’s unilateral activation of the W121 flight route. Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung extends sincere appreciation to the US Congress for reiterating staunch public support of Taiwan.
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) notes that Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) is the sole competent authority for the Taipei Flight Information Region (FIR), which is adjacent to such flight routes as M503 and W121. In line with ICAO standards, China should consult with Taiwan and jointly coordinate any route changes in advance. However, China has thus far refused to do so, underscoring its heavy-handed authoritarian nature and blatant disregard for international civil aviation standards and the safety of passengers. 
 
MOFA emphasizes that Taiwan is an important aviation hub in the Indo-Pacific and that the Taipei FIR, administered by Taiwan’s CAA, is responsible for the safety of over a million flights and tens of millions of passengers annually. Because aviation safety knows no borders, ICAO should promptly accept Taiwan’s full and unimpeded participation in all meetings, mechanisms, and activities. The 42nd session of the ICAO Assembly will soon take place at ICAO headquarters in Montreal, Canada. In 2013, Taiwan was invited to attend the ICAO Assembly. Given this precedent, MOFA urges ICAO to again invite a delegation from Taiwan to ensure that no one is left behind and that ICAO’s Safer Skies Initiative can be realized. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA extends heartfelt sympathies to diplomatic ally Marshall Islands following fire at Nitijela

Date：2025-08-26
Data Source：Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs

August 26, 2025  
No. 301  
 
A fire seriously damaged the Nitijela parliament building of the Republic of the Marshall Islands—a diplomatic ally of Taiwan in the Pacific—in the early hours of August 26. Total losses have yet to be determined. Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung promptly instructed the Embassy of the ROC (Taiwan) in the Marshall Islands to assess the situation and express concern and sympathies to the government of the Marshall Islands on behalf of the Taiwan government. The Marshall Islands thanked the government and people of Taiwan. 
 
According to initial information available to Taiwan’s embassy, no Taiwan or Marshall Islands nationals have been injured, killed, or trapped by the fire. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) will closely monitor developments and maintain contact with relevant agencies in the Marshall Islands to provide necessary assistance in a timely manner.
 
Taiwan nationals in the Marshall Islands requiring emergency assistance should call the emergency hotline of Taiwan’s embassy at +692-455-0910 or the embassy office at +692-247-4141. They can also ask family or friends in Taiwan to call MOFA’s emergency hotline at 0800-085-095. (E)