Month: May 2026

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

May 17, 2026  No. 213  
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung and Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang cohosted a banquet in Geneva, Switzerland, on May 16 for World Health Assembly (WHA) delegations and permanent representatives from diplomatic allies of Taiwan. Minister Lin and Minister Shih expressed appreciation for their continued and steadfast support of Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Organization (WHO) and exchanged views on related issues with the guests. This marked the first time that Taiwan’s minister of foreign affairs and minister of health and welfare had both traveled to Geneva to promote Taiwan’s bid for participation. The two ministers engaged in lively interactions with representatives from Taiwan’s diplomatic allies during the banquet. Minister Lin said that the inaugural Taiwan Smart Medical and Health Tech Expo would be held parallel to the WHA this year to showcase Taiwan’s achievements in smart medicine, smart technologies, and humanitarian assistance. He noted that it would convey the spirit of Taiwan can help and Taiwan can lead while also aiming to deepen global health cooperation. He stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) had been actively promoting the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project to assist allied nations in enhancing their medical and healthcare capabilities and supporting sustainable development. He added that these efforts had received widespread recognition. Furthermore, he emphasized that during the COVID-19 pandemic and in other times of international need, Taiwan had promptly provided medical supplies, humanitarian aid, and technical assistance, fully demonstrating that Taiwan was a responsible member of the international community and concretely implementing the concept of health without borders. Minister Lin reiterated that Taiwan was part of the world, that it had the right to participate in global affairs, and that its determination to actively participate in WHO, the WHA, and related mechanisms remained unchanged. He also thanked Taiwan’s diplomatic allies for their support and stressed that only through international cooperation could a healthier, more secure, and more resilient world be built. Minister Shih underscored that Taiwan continued to work with its diplomatic allies to advance medical and health care in such areas as health information, chronic disease prevention and treatment, maternal and infant health, and mental health, thereby seeking to improve global health and well-being. On behalf of the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW), he thanked the countries for supporting Taiwan’s participation in WHO and the WHA. He also sincerely invited their representatives to attend the 2026 Global Health and Welfare Forum in Taiwan to jointly create a digital health future centered on trust.Speaking at the event on behalf of Taiwan’s allies, Palau Vice President and Minister of Health and Human Services Raynold Oilouch stated that all diplomatic allies at the event shared the vision of leaving no one behind. He also recognized Taiwan’s long-term contributions in such domains as health care, infrastructure, sustainable agriculture, and education, which had strengthened familial-like bonds and partnerships between Taiwan and its diplomatic allies. He called on the international community to support Taiwan’s participation in global affairs to ensure Taiwan’s voice would be heard. He thanked the countries present for their support of and friendship with Taiwan at such events as the WHA. The banquet was jointly hosted by Minister Lin and Minister Shih in Geneva and attended by the 11 diplomatic allies of Taiwan that are members of WHO—namely, Belize, Eswatini, Guatemala, Haiti, the Marshall Islands, Palau, Paraguay, Tuvalu, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The event helped further Taiwan’s exchanges and cooperation in medicine and health with diplomatic allies and bolstered their support for Taiwan’s international participation. (E)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Hong Kong Customs detected two dangerous drugs cases in Tseung Kwan O and Hong Kong International Airport respectively yesterday (May 21) and today (May 22), and seized a total of about 21.8 kilograms of assorted drugs with a total estimated market value of about $7.95 million. Two men and one woman, aged between 38 and 49, were arrested. 

In the first case, Customs officers intercepted a 48-year-old man and a 49-year-old woman in Tseung Kwan O during an anti-narcotics operation yesterday afternoon. About 3.8kg of suspected drugs, including ketamine, methamphetamine, etomidate capsules, psilocybin mushrooms, MDMA and a batch of suspected drug packaging paraphernalia were found in their residence in the same district. They were then arrested.

In the second case, a 38-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, today. During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 18kg of suspected ketamine inside his check-in suitcase and 33 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarette inside his carry-on baggage. The man was subsequently arrested.

The arrested man and woman in the first case have been jointly charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug and one count of possession of apparatus fit and intended for the inhalation of a dangerous drug. The case will be brought up at the Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (May 23), while an investigation is ongoing for the second case.

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 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.

Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

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).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     Legislative Council (LegCo) Members met with the Kowloon City District Council (DC) and Yau Tsim Mong DC members at the LegCo Complex today (May 22). This was the first meeting held between LegCo Members and the DCs since the commencement of the Eighth LegCo. They held in-depth discussions and exchanged views on issues related to community development and people’s concern. Going forward, LegCo Members will gradually meet with members of other DCs to gather public views and assist the Administration to achieve good governance.

     During the meeting with the Kowloon City DC, LegCo Members discussed and exchanged views with DC members on various issues, including mitigating the traffic pressure in Ho Man Tin so as to prevent further congestion arising from a growing residential population in the area and extensive driving practice activities. They also explored the development of the Kai Tak Runway Area and strengthening the synergy among the Kai Tak Sports Park, the “Youth Post” hostel, and the cruise terminal. In addition, they discussed the accessibility of Kai Tak Hospital and measures to ensure services will be transitioned smoothly to the hospital from Queen Elizabeth Hospital in phases.

     LegCo Members will continue to liaise with the DC and the Administration on issues relating to transport and district development in Kowloon City, as well as Kai Tak Hospital, and will proactively convey their views. Members’ concerns include traffic congestion and the impacts of driver training and road tests on traffic in Ho Man Tin, the overall transport planning of the Kai Tak Development and the synergistic development of the facilities and merchants to boost the local economy, as well as enhancement of public transport connectivity for Kai Tak Hospital. 

     The meeting was convened by Professor Priscilla Leung. A total of 26 Members attended the meeting, including Dr Chan Han-pan, Mr Jimmy Ng, Dr Junius Ho, Mr Vincent Cheng, Dr Hoey Simon Lee, Mr Robert Lee, Dr Johnny Ng, Mr Chau Siu-chung, Ms Nixie Lam, Mr Yiu Pak-leung, Mr Rock Chen, Mr Chan Yung, Mr Chan Siu-hung, Ms Joephy Chan, Mr Yang Wing-kit, Mr Tang Fei, Professor Chan Wing-kwong, Mr Wu Yingpeng, Captain Lothair Lam, Mr Andrew Fan, Mr Cheung Pui-kong, Mr Lau Ka-keung, Ms Michelle Tang, Professor Michael Ngai and Mr Tam Chun-kwok.

     As regards the meeting with the Yau Tsim Mong DC, LegCo Members discussed and exchanged views with DC members on various issues, including the promotion of in-depth thematic tourism in the district by linking intangible cultural heritage items, historic buildings and featured streetscapes into cultural routes. Members and DC Members also explored the optimization of transport arrangements and information dissemination as Queen Elizabeth Hospital relocates its services to Kai Tak Hospital gradually. They were also concerned about ancillary facilities along the West Kowloon waterfront development and called for the strengthening of traffic information dissemination and the provision of pedestrian signage when major events are being held at the West Kowloon Cultural District to ensure more effective crowd dispersal.

     LegCo Members agreed to refer Yau Tsim Mong DC members’ views and suggestions on Yau Tsim Mong in-depth tourism, improving transport arrangements to and from the New Acute Hospital in Kai Tak, and enhancing the accessibility of the West Kowloon Cultural District and West Kowloon waterfront and the recreational facilities therein to the relevant LegCo Panels for follow-up.

     The meeting was convened by Ms Elizabeth Quat. A total of 28 Members attended the meeting including Dr Chan Han-pan, Mr Vincent Cheng, Mr Lee Chun-keung, Mr Lam Chun-sing, Ms Nixie Lam, Mr Yiu Pak-leung, Mr Leung Man-kwong, Mr Rock Chen Chung-nin, Mr Chan Pui-leung, Mr Chan Yung, Mr Chan Siu-hung, Mr Erik Yim, Mr Aaron Bok, Mr Wu Yingpeng, Dr Elvin Lee, Professor Alex Fan, Mr Andrew Fan, Ms Grace Chan, Mr Alan Chan, Mr Chan Cho-kwong, Mr Albert Chuang, Mr Augustine Wong, Mr Ken Wong, Mr Chris Ip, Mr Lau Ka-keung, Ms Michelle Tang and Professor Michael Ngai.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting next Wednesday (May 27) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex.  During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on “Developing a strategic tax regime to consolidate Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre”. The motion, moved by Dr Webster Ng, is set out in Appendix 1. Mr Rock Chen and Mr Lothair Lam will move separate amendments to Dr Ng’s motion.

Mr Chan Pok-chi will move a motion on “Aligning with the Outline of the National 15th Five-Year Plan to drive the agriculture and fisheries industries towards high-quality development”. The motion is set out in Appendix 2. Mr Jonathan Leung and Mr Aaron Bok will move separate amendments to Mr Chan’s motion.

Members will also ask the Government 22 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies.

The agenda of the above meeting is available on the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk). Members of the public can watch or listen to the meeting via the “Webcast” system on the LegCo Website. To observe the proceedings of the meeting at the LegCo Complex, members of the public may call 3919 3399 during office hours to reserve seats.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The spokesperson for the Environment and Ecology Bureau said today (May 22) that to ensure the proper implementation of the diesel subsidy, the Government has been enforcing the “pay later” arrangement for reimbursing the price difference to oil companies in order to ensure the proper use of public funds.
 
The Government has, since April 30, been implementing the Diesel Subsidy Scheme, which runs for a period of two months, with a view to supporting public and commercial vehicles and vessels and related industries that use diesel as fuel. Under the Subsidy Scheme, users who consume diesel locally may receive a subsidy of HK$3 per litre of diesel when they purchase diesel to reduce the selling price by HK$3 per litre accordingly.
 
Recently, there have been views suggesting that the increase in diesel prices is due to oil companies and distributors profiteering from the subsidy scheme by increasing prices in advance since the announcement of the Subsidy Scheme on April 10. There are also claims that the pump price of diesel had already increased by almost HK$3 per litre within the intervening 20 days. The spokesperson emphasised that these claims do not correspond with the facts, and it is necessary for the Government to make clarifications to set the record straight.
 
Firstly, the prices of fossil fuels have been rising around the world, as affected by the situation in the Middle East, and the price rises are by no means unique to Hong Kong. It is necessary to consider the broader picture and the situation in other regions instead of inferring that oil companies might increase their prices in advance to profiteer merely based on the fact that fuel prices are on the rise. If compared with the position before the conflict in the Middle East, the international refined oil product price (including Means of Platts Singapore) for diesel had increased by around HK$10 per litre at most, whilst the maximum increase of the local diesel pump price was HK$7.5. From mid-April to now, the international refined oil product price has increased by around HK$0.5 (+6.67%). Over the same period, the maximum retail price of diesel in the Chinese Mainland had increased twice by a total of around HK$0.4 (+4.0%), while the local diesel pump prices had increased by HK$0.6 (+1.66%). Furthermore, some oil companies have reduced their diesel retail pump prices as of today, but it is expected that the diesel price may fluctuate as affected by the conflict in the Middle East.
 
Secondly, it is the Government’s responsibility to ensure the proper use of public funds. In designing the Subsidy Scheme, the Government has introduced multiple layers of safeguards to ensure that users will benefit from the subsidy. Among the safeguards, the Subsidy Scheme has introduced a “pay later” arrangement, where oil companies and distributors must first sell subsidised diesel to consumers at a price reduced by HK$3 per litre, and specify the subsidy amount and the selling price on the receipts issued to their customers. Oil companies and distributors must then submit a report to the Government one week later to apply for reimbursement of the amounts they have advanced. The Government will then verify the reports, sales records and invoices submitted by the oil companies and distributors, and will only reimburse the price difference if the information provided is confirmed to be accurate. Should there be issues arising, the Government reserves the right to refuse to reimburse the price difference, and to refer the case to law enforcement agencies for follow-up. Therefore, should oil companies attempt to profiteer, they will not be reimbursed the price difference they have advanced. The operation of the Subsidy Scheme has been largely normal and smooth since its implementation. The Government is receiving weekly reports from the oil companies and distributors, and is conducting the necessary checks.
 
Thirdly, upon the completion of the Subsidy Scheme, oil companies and distributors will need to submit to the Government an audited audit report, which will require them to state the comparison of the change in the average retail price after deducting all discounts (excluding the HK$3 per litre subsidy) with the corresponding import prices before and during the subsidy period. Should there be changes in this ratio, these may suggest profiteering which can be easily detected by auditors. The Government may then use the audit report to take the necessary follow-up action with the oil companies and distributors.
 
The Government will spare no effort to implement the above arrangements by gatekeeping to ensure that the Subsidy Scheme will benefit users who are affected by surging diesel prices.  

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Environment & Ecology Bureau today said that to ensure the proper implementation of the diesel subsidy, the Government has been enforcing the “pay later” arrangement for reimbursing the price difference to oil companies in order to ensure the proper use of public funds.

The Government has, since April 30, been implementing the Diesel Subsidy Scheme, which runs for a period of two months, with a view to supporting public and commercial vehicles and vessels and related industries that use diesel as fuel.

Under the subsidy scheme, users who consume diesel locally may receive a subsidy of HK$3 per litre of diesel when they purchase diesel to reduce the selling price by HK$3 per litre accordingly.

Recently, there have been views suggesting that the increase in diesel prices is due to oil companies and distributors profiteering from the subsidy scheme by increasing prices in advance since the announcement of the subsidy scheme on April 10.

There are also claims that the pump price of diesel had already increased by almost HK$3 per litre within the intervening 20 days.

The Government emphasised that these claims do not correspond with the facts, and it is necessary for the Government to make clarifications to set the record straight.

Global prices
Firstly, the prices of fossil fuels have been rising around the world, as affected by the situation in the Middle East, and the price rises are by no means unique to Hong Kong. It is necessary to consider the broader picture and the situation in other regions instead of inferring that oil companies might increase their prices in advance to profiteer merely based on the fact that fuel prices are on the rise.

If compared with the position before the conflict in the Middle East, the international refined oil product price for diesel had increased by around HK$10 per litre at most, whilst the maximum increase of the local diesel pump price was HK$7.5. From mid-April to now, the international refined oil product price has increased by around HK$0.5 (+6.67%).

Over the same period, the maximum retail price of diesel in the Chinese Mainland had increased twice by a total of around HK$0.4 (+4.0%), while the local diesel pump prices had increased by HK$0.6 (+1.66%).

Furthermore, some oil companies have reduced their diesel retail pump prices as of today, but it is expected that the diesel price may fluctuate as affected by the conflict in the Middle East.

‘Pay later’ arrangement
Secondly, it is the Government’s responsibility to ensure the proper use of public funds. In designing the subsidy scheme, the Government has introduced multiple layers of safeguards to ensure that users will benefit from the subsidy.

Among the safeguards, the subsidy scheme has introduced a “pay later” arrangement, where oil companies and distributors must first sell subsidised diesel to consumers at a price reduced by HK$3 per litre, and specify the subsidy amount and the selling price on the receipts issued to their customers.

Oil companies and distributors must then submit a report to the Government one week later to apply for reimbursement of the amounts they have advanced.

The Government will then verify the reports, sales records and invoices submitted by the oil companies and distributors, and will only reimburse the price difference if the information provided is confirmed to be accurate.

Should there be issues arising, the Government reserves the right to refuse to reimburse the price difference, and to refer the case to law enforcement agencies for follow-up. Therefore, should oil companies attempt to profiteer, they will not be reimbursed the price difference they have advanced.

The operation of the subsidy scheme has been largely normal and smooth since its implementation. The Government is receiving weekly reports from the oil companies and distributors, and is conducting the necessary checks.

Audit report
Thirdly, upon the completion of the subsidy scheme, oil companies and distributors will need to submit to the Government an audited audit report, which will require them to state the comparison of the change in the average retail price after deducting all discounts, excluding the HK$3 per litre subsidy, with the corresponding import prices before and during the subsidy period.

Should there be changes in this ratio, these may suggest profiteering which can be easily detected by auditors. The Government may then use the audit report to take the necessary follow-up action with the oil companies and distributors.

The Government reiterated that it will spare no effort to implement the arrangements by gatekeeping to ensure that the subsidy scheme will benefit users who are affected by surging diesel prices. 

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA strongly protests Nauruan government directive that distorts Taiwan’s sovereignty

Date：2026-05-21
Data Source：Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs

May 21, 2026  
No. 224  
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) strongly protests the May 15 decision by the government of the Republic of Nauru to order all personnel representing the government and state-owned enterprises to observe the “one China principle.” MOFA expresses great displeasure at this policy, which is not in keeping with the facts. 
 
MOFA solemnly states that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is a sovereign nation of 23 million people. Neither it nor the People’s Republic of China is subordinate to the other. The PRC has never governed Taiwan, and Taiwan is not a part of the PRC.
 
As is widely known, UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 addresses only the issue of China’s representation. The resolution does not mention Taiwan, nor does it recognize Taiwan as part of the PRC. These are established facts and the objective situation on which there is international consensus. The Nauruan government’s attempt to distort Taiwan’s sovereign status is therefore fundamentally flawed.
 
MOFA emphasizes that Taiwan has long held to the principles of mutual respect, transparent cooperation, and shared democratic values in pursuing stronger partnerships with Pacific nations. In the future, Taiwan will continue to further deepen cooperation and jointly address such challenges as climate change, disaster resilience, sustainable development, and maritime security to ensure a free, open, peaceful, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. (E)