Month: January 2026

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Rosanna Law today chaired a meeting to co-ordinate preparations for visitor arrivals to Hong Kong during the Mainland’s Chinese New Year Golden Week from February 15 to 23. 

Miss Law noted that various districts in Hong Kong will host festive events to create a vibrant New Year atmosphere, leading the Government to estimate a significant increase in visitor arrivals during the CNY Golden Week.

Relevant departments will work closely with related organisations and the travel trade to ensure quality travel experiences for visitors, allowing them to enjoy the city’s unique festive atmosphere.

Close communication will be maintained between relevant parties leading up to the CNY Golden Week to advance visitor reception preparations and provide updates to the interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements, chaired by the Chief Secretary.

Representatives from Police, the Customs & Excise Department, the Immigration and Transport departments along with District Offices, tourism-related organisations, major tourist attractions and the hotel industry took part in today’s session.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Applications for licenses to operate in the Mirs Bay fish culture zone are open from now until April 30, the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department announced today.

The department outlined that the Mirs Bay fish culture zone is located in open waters with favourable currents, making it suitable for the adoption of modern aquaculture facilities and technologies – including steel truss cages and high-density polyethylene gravity-type cages, which have strong wind and wave resistance.

It said the establishment of new fish culture zones enables the aquaculture industry to operate intensively, and to transition towards modernised and sustainable operations.

Interested parties hoping to operate in the Mirs Bay fish culture zone may consider applying for marine fish culture licences, either with the help of funding from the Sustainable Fisheries Development Fund or through self-financed mariculture businesses.

A briefing session will be held on February 13 to introduce the application process and licensing requirements.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Director General David Cheng-Wei Wu warmly welcomed the visit of the Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) Sydney Chapter delegation, led by Ms. Chen, Ms. Hsu and Ms. Chiao, accompanied by Mr. Jack Lin, Senior Advisor of the Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC). On behalf of Venerable Manko, the delegation presented Nan Tien Temple’s Laba congee (also known as Eight Treasure Congee), a 2026 desk calendar, and a Spring Festival couplet written by Venerable Master Hsing Yun, conveying blessings of harmony, auspiciousness and joy.
Director General Wu praised Fo Guang Shan Nan Tien Temple for its longstanding commitment to charitable work and its important contributions to promoting Taiwan–Australia exchanges in education and religion. Director General Wu and the visiting delegation exchanged warm New Year greetings, extending their best wishes for a prosperous and auspicious Year of the Horse, with peace and good health.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

The Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI) stated today (January 15) that, to ensure the safety and performance of hydrogen fuel cell applications, the international practice primarily follows the IEC 62282 series of standards for the testing and verification of hydrogen fuel cell power generation systems and their components.
To accelerate the alignment of Taiwan’s hydrogen fuel cell standards with international benchmarks, BSMI established an inter-ministerial Hydrogen Energy Standards Working Group in 2024. The working group systematically reviews and analyzes relevant international standards while continuously coordinating standardization requirements with government agencies and state-owned enterprises.
BSMI further noted that, as of the end of 2025, a total of 17 CNS national standards related to hydrogen fuel cells have been completed. These standards cover the mainstream Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC) and Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) currently available on the market, encompassing safety, performance, and testing and verification requirements from single cells, stacks, and modules through to complete power generation systems. In addition, standards for mobile grid-connected, vehicle-mounted, and micro-scale hydrogen fuel cell power generation systems will be established and revised in phases to address product safety and testing requirements in resilient power grids, transportation systems, and consumer electronics.
Moreover, in coordination with relevant policy initiatives, BSMI will establish local testing capabilities for hydrogen fuel cell systems at the 100 kW scale, providing domestic industries with testing and verification services and reducing the cost and time associated with overseas testing. To keep pace with international developments, BSMI will continue reviewing and revising relevant safety and testing standards, providing guidance for government, industry, academia, and research institutions, while driving industrial development and technological advancement.
Hydrogen fuel cells offer advantages such as high energy density, low noise, minimal pollution and carbon emissions, diverse fuel options, and long-duration operation. They can serve as distributed power sources for resilient power grids, effectively addressing noise and exhaust emissions commonly associated with conventional diesel generators. Hydrogen fuel cells can also provide power for transportation applications (such as vehicles and vessels), compact electronic devices (including laptops and portable power banks), as well as backup power supply for critical facilities, including hospitals and emergency shelters.

Responsible Division: Inspection Technical Division
Contact Person: Yang Li-yuan, Deputy Director, Inspection Technology Division
Telephone: 02-23431700 ext. 3311;
Email: ly.yang@bsmi.gov.tw

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Financial Secretary Paul Chan today departed Davos, Switzerland to return to Hong Kong after concluding his attendance at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting.

 

Yesterday, Mr Chan spoke at a thematic session focused on how public-private collaboration can advance carbon neutrality goals against a backdrop of geopolitical tensions, a global economic slowdown, and high debt levels in advanced economies.

 

Mr Chan highlighted that both China and Hong Kong are steadily progressing towards carbon neutrality. He explained Hong Kong’s target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and its strategies to realise it – including tax concessions for electric vehicles, incentives for green buildings, and financial support for trials of innovative technologies such as sustainable hydrogen-powered transport.

 

He said that, as an international financial centre, Hong Kong facilitates private capital participation in the decarbonisation process through a rich green finance ecosystem that includes green bonds and Environmental, Social & Governance funds.

 

Mr Chan outlined that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government encourages financial innovation, including the issuance of tokenised green bonds to allow wider investor participation in green projects, and the securitisation of loans for infrastructure projects to release capital for reinvestment into new projects.

 

The finance chief stressed that public support and trust are key to achieving a green transition, adding that Hong Kong SAR Government ensures that funds are genuinely used for green projects by formulating internationally aligned standards.

He said that for high-emission enterprises, such as mining companies, listing in Hong Kong not only enables them to access capital to support their development but also helps enhance their corporate governance, transparency and recognition in global markets.

The Financial Sectary also met WEF President & Chief Executive Officer Børge Brende, and International Monetary Fund First Deputy Managing Director Dan Katz to exchange views on various aspects of global finance.

In addition, he held meetings with PricewaterhouseCoopers Global Chairman Mohamed Kande, AXA Group Chief Executive Officer Thomas Buberl, and Amazon Web Services Global Public Policy Vice President Michael Punke.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

On the afternoon of January 22, President Lai Ching-te presided over the sixth meeting of the National Climate Change Committee. In his opening statement, the president stated that facing the challenges of the global net-zero transition and extreme weather, climate governance has become a crucial factor in national security, industrial competitiveness, and social stability. He emphasized that the government will reduce carbon while supporting enterprises and commit to net zero to save the planet, continuing to improve the institutional environment and working with industries and the public to achieve cross-sector collaboration. President Lai also stated that the government will accelerate the promotion of carbon reduction, energy transition, and NDC 3.0 initiatives, and let the world see a more resilient and vibrant Taiwan.
A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:
Today is the sixth meeting of the National Climate Change Committee. First, I would like to express gratitude to all the advisors and committee members who have continued to provide professional advice for some time now, laying a solid foundation for climate governance in Taiwan.
Climate governance and energy transition are not issues that stand alone, independent from national development; they are the core foundations supporting Taiwan’s industrial sustainability and social stability. Therefore, in the new year, we must continue our efforts, and ensure that every transition initiative is more thoroughly institutionalized and implemented.
I want to emphasize that addressing the net-zero wave in global supply chains is a total war with repercussions for the nation’s survival. The net-zero transition is a collective mission in which government, industry, and the public must participate and become partners.
The government will take on the responsibility of establishing a stable institutional environment and incentive mechanisms. At the same time, we need all industries to invest in technological upgrades, and all individuals to implement carbon reduction practices in their daily lives so that Taiwan can seize opportunities in the midst of transitional change.
At the end of last year, COP30 concluded in Brazil. In addition to emphasizing the need to accelerate action, the international community also reaffirmed its consensus on collective global action. To address the challenges of extreme weather and net-zero transition, the government, civil society, and industries must not only fulfill their own respective transition obligations. They must also cooperate across sectors and assume collective responsibility through in-depth collaboration.
Therefore, the government will accelerate the promotion and implementation of net-zero transition in the following key directions:
First, we must pragmatically reduce carbon while supporting enterprises. Now that our carbon fee system has officially taken effect, it will lead enterprises to invest in voluntary carbon reduction plans. The government will launch a pilot carbon emissions trading system, and carefully plan a Taiwan version of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. The government will support industries, help align with international standards, and turn transition pressures into competitive advantages.
Regarding the energy issues that enterprises are concerned about, I want to emphasize again that based on objective scientific data, Taiwan’s power supply will remain stable. While upholding our net-zero target, the government will continue to actively promote renewable energy and energy decarbonization, maximize green energy, and enhance power grid resilience to ensure an even more stable power supply.
Second, we must firmly commit to net zero to save the planet. At our committee meeting in January last year, we proposed the beta version of NDC 3.0 to the people of Taiwan. The administrative team has continued to listen to suggestions from all sectors and review and improve that plan, and has completed an overall carbon reduction action plan for Taiwan. These more ambitious NDC 3.0 targets demonstrate Taiwan’s firm determination to contribute to the global sustainable transition.
This kind of cooperative spirit cannot be just a concept, but must be implemented in government policy decisions and social participation. Therefore, this first committee meeting of 2026 will review the practical results of cross-sector collaboration:
First, the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Transportation and Communications, and Ministry of Agriculture will jointly report on the interim results and future prospects for net-zero transition in six major sectors. This report documents the impact of the collective efforts of the government, industry, and citizens.
Whether it is the low-carbon transition of the energy and manufacturing sectors, the transformation of residential, commercial, and transportation models, or the expansion of green agriculture, each achievement is concrete proof of the public’s collective cross-sector efforts as the government improves systems, industries introduce technology and capital, and society makes lifestyle adjustments. This proves that Taiwan has not only established a carbon reduction path, but has also demonstrated solid capabilities to execute it.
After that, the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) will report on the implementation and results of community-driven net-zero sandboxes. Among the six major institutional innovations for transition, community-driven initiatives are key to ensuring that policies are implemented effectively.
We have used technological innovation to bring net-zero concepts into neighborhoods, extending net-zero momentum from industry chains to everyday life. When technology is transformed into a tool to solve life problems and promote mutual benefits and well-being, the shared practices of the public become the most solid social foundation for Taiwan’s sustainable development.
Fellow committee members, the climate challenge has no end. As we pursue national security, societal resilience, and investment in the future, climate governance will be the most critical concrete action we can take.
The new year will be a year full of hope and action. Let us forge greater consensus, accelerate our transition, and let the world see a more resilient and vibrant Taiwan. Thank you.
Following his statement, President Lai heard the report on the interim results and future prospects for net-zero transition in six major sectors from Minister of Environment Peng Chi-ming (彭啓明), Vice Minister of Economic Affairs Lai Chien-hsin (賴建信), Deputy Minister of the Interior Tung Chien-hung (董建宏), Minister of Transportation and Communications Chen Shih-kai (陳世凱), and Minister of Agriculture Chen Junne-jih (陳駿季), and the report on the implementation and results of community-driven net-zero sandboxes from NSTC Deputy Minister Lin Faa-jeng (林法正). Afterward, President Lai exchanged views with the committee members regarding the content of the reports.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government today announced the launch of an open tender for the development of the Advanced Construction Industry Building (ACIB) in Tsing Yi under a two-envelope approach, with the tender invitation scheduled to close at noon on April 22.

Covering an area of about three hectares, the ACIB will be the local construction industry’s first multi-storey facility dedicated to the adoption of advanced construction technologies aimed at enhancing productivity and efficiency.

The land is currently used by a low-density steel rebar prefabrication yard under a short-term tenancy. Construction of the ACIB is scheduled to commence in the second half of 2026, with commissioning targeted for 2028.

In May last year the Development Bureau invited the market to submit expressions of interest in the project. It subsequently reviewed seven submissions, mainly from local and Mainland construction industry contractors and operators. The views collected were used to formulate the open tender.

Under a 30-year contract, adopting a Build-Operate-Transfer approach, the successful tenderer will be responsible for project financing, design, construction and operation. Upon expiry of the contract, the whole building – including all manufacturing facilities and equipment – shall be transferred to the Government.

Facilities to be provided shall include no less than 15,000 sq m of floor area for steel rebar prefabrication; no less than 5,000 sq m for Multi-trade Integrated Mechanical, Electrical, & Plumbing (MiMEP) processing; and no less than 5,000 sq m of floor area to be leased to the industry either for steel rebar prefabrication or MiMEP processing.

Aside from the floor area to be leased, the successful tenderer will be responsible for operating the facilities mentioned, and these must have a minimum annual production capacity of 300,000 tonnes of prefabricated steel rebar and 6,000 MiMEP modules.

The tender notice was published in the Government Gazette and uploaded to the bureau website today. Call 3509 8672 for enquiries.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government said today it vehemently opposes a resolution adopted by the European Parliament on Hong Kong, and strongly condemns it for using the Lai Chee-ying case to make baseless allegations about Hong Kong and smear its laws safeguarding national security.

In a statement, the Hong Kong SAR Government said the European Parliament had made sweepingly generalised and grandstanding comments, completely disregarding the profound historical significance of the National Security Law (NSL) and its undeniably positive impact on Hong Kong.

The statement added that the European Parliament said nothing about the strict enforcement of national security laws by other governments, thereby laying bare its own double standard and despicable political manipulation. It said the European Parliament showed no respect for the independent judgment of Hong Kong’s courts in the Lai Chee-Ying case, and refused to acknowledge the evidence set out in the reasons for the verdict.

The Hong Kong SAR Government stated that it fulfilled its constitutional duty in 2024 by enacting, with broad societal consensus, the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO), thereby improving the city’s legal system and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security. It said the SNSO’s enactment has enabled Hong Kong’s transition “from chaos to order” and advancement “from stability to prosperity”.

The statement added that in the five years of its implementation the NSL has restored the rights and freedoms Hong Kong citizens could not enjoy during the “black-clad violence” period, and returned livelihoods and the city’s business environment back to normal.

With regard to the conviction of Lai Chee-Ying, the statement said the verdict was entirely free from any political considerations.

It outlined that the court made clear in a well-founded and reasoned verdict that he was not on trial for his political views or beliefs, and iterated that the court made its decision strictly in accordance with the law and evidence, free from any interference and absolutely free of any political considerations.

The statement added that any suggestion that certain individuals or organisations should be immune from the legal consequences of their illegal acts amounts to advocating for special privileges to break the law, which runs contrary to the spirit of the rule of law.

Further, it stressed that the Lai Chee-ying case had nothing to do with freedom of the press, and that the defendants involved had used journalism as a guise over the years to commit acts that brought harm to the country and Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong SAR Government said Lai Chee-ying’s health has been properly cared for, highlighting that the senior counsel representing him said in court that he had been receiving appropriate treatment and care in prison, and that he had made no complaint regarding his custodial arrangements.

The statement added that anyone seeking to use the case to vilify Hong Kong’s rule of law and human rights situation is guilty of twisting the facts and lacks any integrity.

It emphasised that the Hong Kong SAR Government will resolutely, fully and faithfully implement the NSL, the SNSO and other relevant laws safeguarding national security, whilst upholding the rights and freedoms of residents in accordance with the law to ensure the steadfast and successful implementation of the “one country, two systems” principle.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government will carefully study and follow up on the coroner’s verdict on the deaths of passengers in a 2012 vessel collision near Lamma Island.

In a statement after the Coroner’s Court finished reading the inquest verdict today, the Government added that it respects the court’s judgment, and reiterated its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased passengers.

The Government said the Marine Department (MD) will study and follow up on the four recommendations made by the coroner.

Firstly, the coroner recommended that the department have regular engagement with shipbuilders, marine transport service operators and relevant professional bodies, or issue simple guidance notes or clarifications to ensure that they understand the application of relevant rules and regulations.

The MD responded that it had implemented a Local Safety Management system, which has enhanced communication with the industry through the adoption of a proactive approach to risk management.

The second recommendation is to launch a new declaration system requiring vessel owners, before each periodical survey, to confirm whether any alterations have been made since the previous survey.

Regarding this proposal, the MD said it is preparing to introduce a requirement, under the existing ship inspection system, that shipowners must declare “no unauthorised alterations” to vessels prior to a survey.

The MD is also urged to continue its review of seafarers’ working hours and rest arrangements, with a focus on identifying fatigue risks in day-to-day operations. The department should also consult major ferry operators in the process and hold discussions via the Local Vessels Advisory Committee.

The Government said it will review local seafarers’ working environment and conditions, and consult stakeholders thoroughly.

Lastly, the coroner proposed that the MD pass on to the wider trade the recommendations given to Cheoy Lee Shipyards by the coroner. The MD said it will communicate with other shipyards on regarding these recommendations.

Separately, the Government said that following the incident it established a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) in accordance with the CoI Ordinance. An internal investigation was led by the then Transport & Housing Bureau. Expert reports under various investigations were also accepted.

The Government emphasised that it has been diligent in supervising the MD in following up on the recommendations presented, and in fully implementing five categories of enhancements.

Regarding the responsibilities of the MD officers involved, the Government said an internal investigation report was forwarded to the Civil Service Bureau. The latter, in accordance with the report’s recommendations and the Department of Justice’s legal advice, took disciplinary actions and carried out follow-up work.

In addition, two MD officers involved in the incident were prosecuted and sentenced to imprisonment, the Government added.