Month: May 2026

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to false claims regarding Taiwan issued by China’s Foreign Ministry following China-Australia foreign ministers’ meeting

May 1, 2026  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) strongly denounces and protests the false claims regarding Taiwan in a press release issued by China’s Foreign Ministry on April 29 following a meeting in Beijing between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong for the China-Australia Foreign and Strategic Dialogue. The seriously distorted content of the press release included erroneous statements that Australia “adheres to the one China policy” and “does not support ‘Taiwan independence.’”
 
MOFA condemns the Chinese government for continuing to invoke the names of other countries in statements that disregard internationally recognized objective facts and for repeatedly spreading false narratives that attempt to downgrade Taiwan’s sovereignty at international events.
 
MOFA reiterates that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is a sovereign and independent country; that neither the ROC (Taiwan) nor the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is subordinate to the other; and that the PRC has never governed Taiwan. No attempt by China to utilize spurious claims or rhetorical and military intimidation will change Taiwan’s steadfast commitment to freedom and democracy. No nation has the right to obstruct or deny Taiwan, and no unilateral political declaration can change this objective reality.
 
Taiwan and Australia are like-minded partners that share such common values as democracy, freedom, and the rule of law. Safeguarding cross-strait peace and preserving Indo-Pacific stability have become an international consensus. In recent years, the Australian government and its foreign minister have issued public statements on numerous occasions reaffirming the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, opposing any unilateral actions to change the status quo, and calling on all parties to resolve differences through dialogue rather than coercion or force. MOFA welcomes and affirms these statements.
 
As a responsible partner, Taiwan will continue working with like-minded countries to defend the rules-based international order and ensure that freedom, democracy, peace, and prosperity endure across the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government today invited public views on the proposed outline of the combined fourth and fifth reports under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

The Labour & Welfare Bureau said the reports will update the United Nations on Hong Kong’s implementation of the UNCRPD since the previous submission. They will also address concerns and recommendations raised by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in its 2022 Concluding Observations.

Once finalised, the reports will be submitted to the central government for incorporation into its periodic reports to the United Nations.

The consultation period will run until June 30.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Director of Hong Kong Talent Engage (HKTE), Mr Felix Chan, led a delegation to visit Hangzhou and Ningbo from May 7 to 9 to attract local talent to pursue their careers in Hong Kong, and to deepen talent collaboration between Hong Kong and the two cities.

     During the visit, the HKTE delegation, together with representatives from the Hong Kong Talent Entrepreneurs Association and several Hong Kong enterprises, toured the headquarters of Alibaba Group in Hangzhou to learn about the latest developments in the group’s cutting-edge technologies. The delegation later met with senior officials of Zhejiang University and held two briefing sessions, one for Zhejiang University students and alumni and the other for local young professionals and entrepreneurs, to introduce to them Hong Kong’s unique advantages and industrial opportunities, understand their career aspirations, and promote talent exchanges between Hong Kong and the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) Region. 

     The delegation then travelled to Ningbo to take part in a talent salon organised by the Ningbo Hongkong Fellowship Association, engaging in dialogue with local professionals and entrepreneurs to encourage quality talent to relocate to Hong Kong.

     Mr Chan said, “Hangzhou has a thriving artificial intelligence industry and start-up ecosystem, while Ningbo is a key national maritime hub and the economic centre of the southern YRD Region. In addition to visiting Zhejiang University, this visit has successfully connected us with young talent and entrepreneurs with diverse professional backgrounds in Hangzhou and Ningbo. Our goal is to attract them to pursue their development in Hong Kong, thereby injecting new impetus into the city’s high-quality development.”

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is the speech by the Acting Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, at the Hospital Authority Convention 2026 Opening Ceremony today (May 11):

Deputy Director-General Li Wei (Deputy Director-General of the Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs of the National Health Commission), Chairman Fan (Chairman of the Hospital Authority, Mr Henry Fan), Secretary CM Lo (Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau), Chief Executive Libby Lee (Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority, Dr Libby Lee), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
Good morning. It is a great pleasure to welcome you to the Hospital Authority Convention this year, marking the Convention’s 30th edition.

In keeping with the landmark anniversary, this year’s event features a record-high 75 sessions throughout the three-day Convention, according us with the precious opportunity to hear from some 210 distinguished speakers joining us from all over the world.

The Convention’s scientific programme will focus on the Hospital Authority’s core values, namely: people-centred care, professional service, committed staff and teamwork. Plenaries, symposiums and special sessions in the next three days include healthcare and health technology advances, data-driven and evidence-based clinical practices, sustainable healthcare, research and clinical excellence, medical education, non-communicable diseases, global talent and a great deal more.

As President Xi Jinping has said, “Health is the most important indicator of people’s happiness.” To bring “happiness” to all, the Government will continue to embrace innovation in healthcare and medical services, while expanding co-operation in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and beyond, advancing the goal of a “Healthy China”.

In the furtherance of this strategy, we have been taking forward a number of initiatives. For example, the GBA Clinical Trial Collaboration Platform and the Real-World Study and Application Centre were set up last December. The Platform enables pharmaceutical companies to conduct trials simultaneously in Hong Kong and Shenzhen, accelerating clinical trials for rare-disease drugs, high-end cancer drugs and such advances as gene therapies; while the Centre aims to promote the standardisation of clinical data across the GBA.

Going forward, we will set up the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation by the end of this year. The Government will enact legislation to empower the Centre to regulate Western and Chinese medicines and establish a statutory framework for the regulation of medical devices, supporting Hong Kong’s rising role as an internationally recognised regulatory authority for medical products.

Furthermore, the Government will implement “primary evaluation” for new drug registration in phases, beginning this year. We will also expedite the “1+” mechanism for new drugs, piloting priority evaluation and approval of innovative drugs with urgent clinical use recommended by the Hospital Authority. Our goal is to accelerate patient access to the most advanced treatments.

To achieve this goal, the Hospital Authority will soon establish an Office for Introducing Innovative Drugs and Medical Devices to identify the needs and benefits of innovative drug treatments for local patients. The Office will liaise with manufacturers of innovative drugs and medical devices, promoting the “1+” mechanism for registering drugs and medical devices that are cost-effective and beneficial to patients.

The Hospital Authority is the cornerstone of Hong Kong’s healthcare system, providing about 90 per cent of our city’s healthcare services. It has achieved high international levels of healthcare quality and plays a pivotal role in both local and national health and medical development.

The Hospital Authority champions the advancement of smart hospital development and nurturing a smart workforce. It is applying artificial intelligence in clinical workflow, from tomography imaging analysis and digital pathology to simultaneous interpretation services for consultations. AI is also being used to provide clinical-decision support and early detection of disease deterioration, as well as to improve the accuracy of cancer diagnoses and streamline treatment planning.

The Hospital Authority is also making significant strides in the internationalisation of national hospital accreditation standards. To date, four public hospitals in Hong Kong have gained accreditation to China’s International Hospital Accreditation Standards, with more in the pipeline. The Hospital Authority has also established chest pain centres and stroke centres in accordance with national accreditation standards.

The Hospital Authority continues to invest in its greatest asset: its people. The Mainland Healthcare Talents Visiting Programmes flourish in Shanghai and Beijing, in cities across the GBA and throughout the Mainland. Our Global Healthcare Talent Scheme also offers exchange opportunities for professional enhancement. Through collaboration and exchanges, we are building a resilient healthcare future.

This year marks the beginning of the country’s 15th Five-Year Plan. I am confident that the Hospital Authority, with its much-celebrated achievements, will continue to strengthen its services and work with the Government in drawing up Hong Kong’s first five-year plan.

Last but not least, my thanks go to the Hospital Authority for its continuous commitment to its mission of “Helping People Stay Healthy” and for organising this meaningful Convention. Ladies and gentlemen, I wish you all a stimulating, rewarding experience at the Convention and a pleasant stay in Hong Kong. Thank you very much.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​The Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMoA) in collaboration with the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC) organised “Fermata: Hong Kong in Venice” as a Collateral Event of the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia (Venice Biennale) to present the artworks of Hong Kong artists Kingsley Ng and Angel Hui. In its first curation of Hong Kong Exhibition at the Venice Biennale, the HKMoA adopting the musical symbol “Fermata” as the curatorial theme engaged in dialogue with “In Minor Keys”, the theme of the Venice Biennale this edition, extending the mission of “connecting art to everyone” and bringing Hong Kong’s unique East-meets-West culture and life experiences to the international stage. The exhibition will run from today (May 9) to November 22.

     Speaking at the opening ceremony held on May 8 (Venice Time), the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law said: “Venice Biennale is the world’s oldest international art exhibition. For over 130 years, this prestigious event has drawn art lovers from every corner of the globe. Hong Kong has been proud to participate as a Collateral Event since 2001- one of our flagship overseas art programmes, supported by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. Over the past 25 years, this platform has not only showcased the excellence of our artists, but has also become a vital channel for sharing Hong Kong’s rich stories with the world.”

“This year marks the beginning of our country’s 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development. In alignment with this national direction, Hong Kong is committed to fostering greater artistic and cultural exchanges between the Chinese Mainland and countries around the world. It is in this light that our participation in the Venice Biennale carries special significance,” Miss Law added.

     The Chairman of HKADC, Mr Kenneth Fok, expressed that HKADC was delighted to collaborate with the HKMoA to present Hong Kong artists’ outstanding creations to the international arts community. The partnership not only strengthened the local institutional ties, but also enhanced the visibility and influence of Hong Kong arts on the global stage. Mr Fok expected that through this exhibition, more audiences from around the world would have a deeper appreciation of Hong Kong artists’ creativity and increased international exchange could be fostered.

Other officiating guests included the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Manda Chan and the Museum Director of the HKMoA, Dr Maria Mok.

An established media artist, Kingsley Ng, is known for his poetic, site-specific installations that extend the viewer’s perceptions of life. His works have been presented extensively in notable exhibitions locally and internationally. He draws inspiration from “hanging laundry”, a common everyday scenery in Venice and Hong Kong for his creation in this exhibition. He has also specially recorded and incorporated the unique night-time sounds of Hong Kong into the multimedia installations, inviting visitors to pause and appreciate the tenderness of transient moments amid the rush of city life.

A promising emerging artist, Angel Hui, is skilled at integrating traditional Chinese cultural elements with contemporary artistic language. She has invited embroiderers from Suzhou to craft millennia-old embroidery onto ordinary plastic bags in Hong Kong, thereby incorporating national Intangible Cultural Heritage into multimedia installations. She has also collaborated with traditional metalsmiths to create handcrafted iron window grilles in Hong Kong and Venetian styles, with shifting shadows casting onto the walls of an old Venetian house as natural light filters through.

The Hong Kong exhibition covers five installations across the courtyard and four gallery rooms, showcasing Ng’s works, “Sometimes, There Are Clouds in Puddles”, “Sky Well”, “Laundry Nocturne”, and Hui’s “Drifting Sanctuary” and “I Would Like to Open a Window for You”. 

     “Fermata: Hong Kong in Venice” is jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the HKADC, and co-organised by the HKMoA and the HKADC. It will be held in Venice, Italy (Campo della Tana, Castello 2126, 30122) from May 9 to November 22. For details of the exhibition, please visit hk.art.museum/en/web/ma/exhibitions-and-events/fermata-hk-in-venice.html.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Police today (May 9) appealed to the public for information on a girl who went missing in Mong Kok.

     Wong Hoi-lam, aged 13, went missing after she was last seen in her residence on Fuk Lee Street on May 4 morning. Her family made a report to Police yesterday (May 8).

     She is about 1.65 metres tall, around 50 kilograms in weight and of thin build. She has a long face with yellow complexion and with long black hair. She was last seen in unknown clothing.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing girl or may have seen her is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of Kowloon West on 3661 8039 or 9020 6542 or email to rmpu-kw@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) and the Southeast University (SEU) signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Nanjing today (May 9) to strengthen collaboration in areas such as applications of innovative engineering materials, advanced engineering technologies, and AI.

The MOU was signed by the Director of Civil Engineering and Development, Mr Michael Fong, and President of the SEU, Professor Sun Youhong. Under the MOU, both parties will engage in reciprocal visits, technical exchanges and information sharing, as well as collaborate on research projects, and joint conferences or seminars.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr Fong said that the CEDD has been working closely with the construction sector on the Chinese Mainland in recent years to actively promote new quality productive forces. Leveraging the SEU’s robust scientific research capabilities, the MOU will deepen co-operation in the field of frontier technologies, inject new momentum into the development of the Northern Metropolis, and cultivate top engineering talent for the construction industry through exchanges, thereby jointly building the “China construction” brand.

Professor Sun commended the CEDD for its continuous application of innovative technologies in construction projects, demonstrating foresight and strong execution. He expressed hope that the value of the SEU’s research findings would be enhanced through practical applications in the CEDD’s projects, and that these achievements would reach the international stage by leveraging Hong Kong’s role as a “super value-adder” and “super connector”.

     Located in Nanjing, the SEU is a national key university administered directly by the Ministry of Education and jointly supported by the Ministry of Education and the People’s Government of Jiangsu Province. The SEU is also designated as a key university under China’s national “Project 985” and “Project 211”.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     ​Following is the speech by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, at the opening reception of “Fermata: Hong Kong in Venice” Collateral Event of 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia (Venice Biennale) on May 8 (Venice time):

Mr Li (Charge d’Affaires ad interim at the Chinese Embassy in Italy, Mr Li Xiaoyong), Dr Ambrosetti (Ambassador of Italy to the People’s Republic of China, Dr Massimo Ambrosetti), Kenneth (Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, Mr Kenneth Fok), Kingsley (exhibition artist Kingsley Ng), Angel (exhibition artist Angel Hui), our exhibition artists, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is the speech by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, at the Plenary Session: Strengthening Pandemic Preparedness through Global Collaboration of the Asia Summit on Global Health today (May 11):

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     Good morning. Welcome to the Asia Summit on Global Health.

     We are here today at a very perfect time to address how to strengthen pandemic preparedness through global collaboration. As the world is closely watching the outbreak of severe acute respiratory illness from the laboratory-confirmed Hantavirus infection causing at least three deaths already in a Dutch-flagged cruise ship – although the World Health Organization assesses that the risk of this outbreak developing into a global pandemic is low – the world is already having its hair standing on end, and people are already crying out – not again!

     We cannot resist the feeling of deja vu that just a few years ago, the world was in fact gripped by the crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic that disrupted every facet of our societies.

     The COVID-19 pandemic taught us a sobering lesson: No health system, however advanced, can stand alone against a pandemic, and no one is safe until everyone is safe. When the next pandemic emerges – and it will – I am sure, our collective survival will depend not on walls, but on bridges.

     Building on the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, Hong Kong has strengthened our preparedness for the next pandemic. For example, to enhance our multi-source surveillance system, we have regularised the territory-wide sewage surveillance programme for COVID-19 and have expanded it to cover other pathogens including seasonal influenza viruses and poliovirus, and more to come. 

     We will further build up the infection control capability of the staff in high-risk venues including our residential care homes through systematic training. And we have set up a new Emerging Disease Preparedness Research Fund to turn research into real-world strategy for pandemic preparedness.

     These are just a few of our preparedness work and of course, pathogens do not respect borders, and neither can our responses. Hong Kong remains fully committed to working with our motherland and partners in the region and beyond.

     With our unique position under the constitutional advantage of “one country, two systems”, we are committed to building bridges between East and West, between research and application, between policy and practice. 

     Hong Kong has long been recognised for the quality and efficiency of our healthcare system. We consistently rank at the top of global health indices, with a life expectancy that remains among the highest in the world, with women over 88 years and men about 83 years in 2024. Our public healthcare system serves as a robust safety net, ensuring universal health coverage for all at a very low cost.

     The National 15th Five-Year Plan calls for a health-first development strategy. Hong Kong is fully aligned and will continue to contribute to this national vision through our work in pandemic preparedness and medical innovation.

Promoting clinical trials: the real-world engine of preparedness

     Vaccines, antivirals, and therapeutics all emerge from robust clinical trial ecosystems. Nowhere is that bridge between research and application more vital than clinical trial. 

     In a pandemic, every day lost in trial recruitment or data silos costs lives. Hong Kong has recently built two essential pillars to address that.

     First, the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute (GBAICTI), established in November 2024, serves as a one-stop clinical trial support platform to co-ordinate and integrate clinical trial resources in Hong Kong’s public and private sectors. It connects Hong Kong’s world-class universities with the Greater Bay Area (GBA)’s population of 87 million – a diverse, accessible patient pool for rapid trial recruitment during an outbreak.

     Second, the Real-World Study and Application Centre, launched in December last year under the GBAICTI, leverages Hong Kong’s territory-wide electronic health records. 

     The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the value of these data in practice: When vaccines were actually deployed under emergency authorisation faster than conventional trials could confirm their real-world performance across all populations, Hong Kong’s comprehensive electronic health records enabled rapid generation of real-world evidence to validate vaccine effectiveness, shaping both our vaccination policy and the broader global scientific response.

     These initiatives form the Greater Bay Area Clinical Trial Collaboration Platform, a “one institute, one center” model that integrates the resources of the GBAICTI in Hong Kong and the GBA International Clinical Trials Center in Shenzhen. The Platform provides a one-stop service entry point for global biomedical enterprises and researchers, co-ordinating multi-centre cross-boundary clinical trials that meet both national and international standards. Should another novel pathogen emerge, this integrated infrastructure – spanning institutions, data systems and regulatory pathways across the GBA – will enable a rapid, evidence-based clinical research response that can inform both regional management and the broader global scientific community.

Regulatory innovations for medical products 

     To keep pace with approval and registration, we are overhauling our regulatory regime. We have already launched the “primary evaluation” with the target of full implementation by 2030.The “1+” mechanism, implemented since 2023 as a precursor step, has already taken effect in hastening many new drug registrations.

     The Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation (CMPR) will be established by this year, consolidating the regulation of Western pharmaceuticals, Chinese medicines and medical devices. The CMPR will strengthen international collaboration, and expedite patient access to safe and effective medical products while reinforcing collective pandemic readiness.  

     Complementing the measure allowing designated healthcare institutions in the GBA to use Hong Kong-registered drugs and medical devices used in Hong Kong public hospitals before they become available on the Mainland, there is an unparalleled green channel for innovators and a vital pipeline accelerating patient access.

Chinese medicine development

     The pandemic also reminded us of the value of diverse therapeutic arsenals. Chinese medicine was not a footnote in our COVID 19 response – it was a frontline partner. As part of China, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is one of the first places in the world to systematically integrate Chinese medicine into our pandemic preparedness framework.

     Our Chinese Medicine Development Blueprint sets five key domains, from Chinese medicine services to Chinese medicine profession, Chinese medicines development, cultural inheritance and go global. The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong commenced phased operations last year. As the first Chinese medicine hospital in Hong Kong, the Chinese Medicine Hospital will pioneer a “Hong Kong model” of integrated care and serve as a training hub for practitioners who can deploy Western and Chinese medicine in a public health crisis.

     Our Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute is establishing internationally recognised reference standards for herbal medicines. Having science-based, globally accepted quality standards means that Chinese medicine can be deployed as a reliable, scalable, and verifiable component of pandemic response. This will not be alternative medicine. This will be evidence-based, standardised, and ready.

Closing

     Ladies and gentlemen, the Hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship rings the bell again to warn us that the next pandemic is not a hypothetical. It is a matter of when, not if. Our task today is not to predict its arrival, but to ensure that when it comes, we are not caught unprepared.

     True pandemic preparedness demands global collaboration. Hong Kong stands ready to be a partner of the world and the World Health Organization. Let us build not just resilience, but also bridges. Let us ensure that when history writes the story of the next pandemic, it will not be a story of misguided actions, missed warnings or closed borders, but of swift, collaborative, and compassionate action. Thank you.