Month: May 2026

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The phased return of residents to Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po entered its twelfth day today, with the reopening of five middle-zone floors at Wang Tai House and 11 high-zone floors at Wang Kin House. 

Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing today inspected the arrangements for residents returning to their units. 

Mr Cheuk met Home Affairs Department staff operating the registration centre and exchanged views with District Services & Community Care Teams volunteers. He encouraged them to maintain their efforts in supporting residents returning to their units. 

Mr Cheuk also visited the joint command centre to learn about the latest situation.

A total of 511 residents from 130 households returned to their units today. The Government described the access arrangements as orderly and smooth.  

Residents spent an average of two hours and 26 minutes on-site, from a minimum of 17 minutes to a maximum of three hours and 56 minutes. Approximately 70% of residents completed their visits in under three hours, while 27% stayed for less than two hours and 6% left within an hour. 

Regarding movement, 160 individuals from 83 households made multiple trips to their units. Most made one to two additional entries, while seven households made three to five extra trips.

The integrated enquiry counter handled seven requests for Police assistance today, involving suspected property loss such as jewellery, cash and gold. Officers were immediately deployed to assist with searches, successfully recovering lost property in three cases. 

No signs of ransacking were found in the remaining four units, and residents were unable to provide specific details regarding the property involved. 

Additionally, two reports were received from residents seeking medical assistance for physical discomfort, while one resident requested psychological counselling services.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Government announced today (May 1) that the first batch of Phase 3 services of the Trade Single Window (TSW) has been launched, smoothly replacing the Road Cargo System (ROCARS) for the submission of advance cargo information (road) by the trade.

     The TSW provides a one-stop electronic platform for trade members to lodge business-to-government trade documents for trade declarations and cargo clearances. The TSW streamlines trade document submissions, helping traders save time and costs. The TSW Phase 3 services are rolling out in three batches starting today. The first batch of services covers the advance cargo information (road) service previously provided by ROCARS.

     User data of the former ROCARS have been automatically migrated to the TSW system. Users are not required to re-register and may log in with their original accounts for a seamless transition to the TSW service.

     A Government spokesman said, “The full implementation of the TSW will help promote the digitalisation of trade processes, enhance customs clearance efficiency, and further strengthen Hong Kong’s competitiveness as an international trade centre and logistics hub.”

     To facilitate the smooth transition of the trade to the TSW Phase 3 services, the Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) has stepped up support measures, including deploying additional staff at land boundary control points to provide on-site assistance to cross-boundary truck drivers, and enhancing hotline services. The C&ED will continue to maintain close liaison with the trade to assist them in adapting to the new system. For enquiries, please contact the Office of the Trade Single Window Operation of the C&ED at 2117 3348 or by email to enquiry@tradesinglewindow.hk.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Transport Department (TD) announced today (May 1) that a total of 1 400 regular quotas for Hong Kong cross-boundary non-commercial private cars using the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) to Macao (Hong Kong quotas) will be open for application from May 7. A new open category will be introduced to make better use of the HZMB’s carrying capacity and facilitate efficient cross-boundary travel.
 
     Apart from accepting individuals or companies meeting specific employment or business activities to apply for individual or company quotas respectively under “quotas with eligibility criteria” according to the usual practice, new “open quotas” not subject to the above eligibility criteria will be introduced in this batch for all Hong Kong permanent residents and registered companies.
 
     A spokesman for the TD said, “Hong Kong and Macao governments have adhered to the principle of making better use of the HZMB’s carrying capacity. The governments have committed to enhance the arrangements of cross-boundary driving schemes, streamline the application procedures and improve travel experiences. These new open quotas will provide additional convenience for Hong Kong residents to drive to Macao for work, business, visiting families or sight-seeing, thereby strengthening ties between the two places.”
 
Application details
 
     The 1 400 Hong Kong quotas in this batch include 900 additional quotas agreed between the governments of Hong Kong and Macao and 500 reallocated quotas upon expiry. Details of different categories and their eligibility criteria are tabulated below:
 

Category of Hong Kong quotas	Quotas with eligibility criteria (allocated based on existing eligibility criteria)	Open quotas (open to all individuals/ companies)
Individual quotas	500 (including 250 new quotas and 250 reallocated quotas) open to Hong Kong permanent residents who are employed with remuneration in Macao or who have established a registered company in Macao	200 (new quotas) open to all Hong Kong permanent residents
Company quotas	500 (including 250 new quotas and 250 reallocated quotas) open to companies registered in both Hong Kong and Macao, or companies registered in Hong Kong that are associated with another company registered in Macao	200 (new quotas) open to all companies registered in Hong Kong
Total	1 000	400

The TD reminded applicants that:
 

• Any individual or company can only hold one Hong Kong quota. Holders of existing individual or company quotas launched from September 2023 onwards are not eligible for this batch;
• Each individual or company can only submit one application under quotas with eligibility criteria or open quotas. They will be disqualified if otherwise;
• To further ensure applicants’ eligibility, during ballot registration, all applicants must fill in the reference numbers of their valid required supporting documents; and
• Applicants under quotas with eligibility criteria are also required to upload a copy of the required supporting documents (including a valid Business Registration Certificate of a Macao registered company, a valid Non-resident Worker’s Identification Card issued by the Macao Public Security Police Force or a Macao Permanent Resident Identity Card and a valid employment contract with receipts of income covering the recent three months issued by the employer in Macao).

 
Eligible applicants may submit their applications from 9am on May 7 until 5.15pm on May 20, 2026, through the GovHK website (www.gov.hk/en/residents/transport/crossboundary/hzmballot.htm), after which a ballot will be conducted. Successful balloting applicants must submit the required documents for the TD’s vetting to prove that they have met the eligibility criteria on or before May 20.

Validity period of quotas
 
Private cars issued with quotas are expected to access the city of Macao multiple times via the HZMB starting from July 13, 2026, at the earliest. The quotas are valid for not more than three years until July 12, 2029. The TD will arrange open applications for and reallocation of the quotas upon their expiry.
 
For details of the application criteria, procedures and licensing requirements of Hong Kong quotas, please visit the TD’s website or call the hotline 2804 2600 for enquiries.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​The Statutory Minimum Wage (SMW) rate has been raised from $42.1 per hour to $43.1 with effect from today (May 1).

According to the Minimum Wage Ordinance (MWO), employees are protected by the SMW whether they are monthly-rated, daily-rated, hourly-rated, piece-rated, permanent, casual, full-time or part-time, etc, and regardless of whether they are employed under a continuous contract as defined in the Employment Ordinance (EO). The SMW is not applicable to live-in domestic workers (irrespective of their sex, race and nationality), student interns and work experience students as specified in the MWO, and persons to whom the EO does not apply.

The SMW also protects employees with disabilities. A special arrangement is provided under the MWO for employees with disabilities to opt for a productivity assessment to determine whether they should be remunerated at no less than the SMW or at a rate commensurate with their productivity. For those employees with disabilities who have chosen this special arrangement, their employers must pay wages of not less than the amount calculated according to the new SMW rate and the degree of productivity assessed.

In addition, the monthly monetary cap on the requirement for employers to record the total number of hours worked by employees in a wage period under the EO has been raised from $17,200 to $17,600 per month with effect from today in tandem with the implementation of the new SMW rate. When wages payable to an employee in respect of a wage period are less than $17,600 per month, the employer is required to keep a record of the total number of hours worked by the employee in that wage period.

Enquiries about the SMW can be made through the 24-hour enquiry hotline at 2717 1771 (handled by 1823) and during office hours at branch offices of the Labour Relations Division of the Labour Department (LD). For details of the SMW, please visit the LD’s homepage (www.labour.gov.hk).

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

President Lai meets Special Envoy of King of Eswatini, Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla   
On the afternoon of April 30, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by Special Envoy of the King of Eswatini, Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla. In remarks, President Lai thanked Eswatini for taking concrete action to support Taiwan. The president emphasized that Taiwan is a sovereign country that has the right to engage with the international community and to deepen collaboration with its like-minded partners. He stated that Taiwan will continue to strengthen its friendly diplomatic ties and cooperation with Eswatini.
A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:
I warmly welcome Deputy Prime Minister Dladla, a prominent political leader in the Kingdom of Eswatini and a dear friend of Taiwan, who is visiting our country as special envoy of King Mswati III. I kindly ask you to convey my highest regard and best wishes to His Majesty.
I was very much looking forward to personally leading a delegation to Eswatini. However, due to external influences, a number of countries abruptly canceled the flight permits for our charter plane. In consideration of national security and flight safety, we made the difficult decision to postpone the trip. I want to reiterate that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is a sovereign country; it belongs to the world; our people have the right to engage with the international community; and Taiwan has the right to deepen exchanges and collaboration with its diplomatic allies and like-minded partners.
The challenges we faced this time have only brought Taiwan and Eswatini closer together. I want to thank His Majesty King Mswati III for providing timely support and assistance to Taiwan and for designating Deputy Prime Minister Dladla as special envoy. These concrete actions convey a clear message to the international community – that the Taiwan-Eswatini partnership will not waver in the face of pressure from China, and that our nations will not succumb to hegemonic powers.
Again, I want to thank the government of Eswatini for its long-standing and strong support of Taiwan’s international participation. You have firmly and without fear of pressure spoken up for Taiwan at international fora such as the United Nations and the World Health Organization. I once again want to wish His Majesty King Mswati III a very happy 58th birthday and congratulate him on the 40th anniversary of his accession to the throne. I also want to celebrate 58 years of diplomatic relations between the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Eswatini and sincerely invite His Majesty to lead a visiting delegation to our country again.
I once again welcome Deputy Prime Minister Dladla to Taiwan. I wish you a pleasant and successful visit. May the Kingdom of Eswatini continue to prosper, and may the ties between our countries endure long into the future. 
Deputy Prime Minister Dladla then delivered remarks, first thanking President Lai for his statement which confirms that Taiwan and Eswatini’s bilateral relations are strong and pure. She stated that she has been commissioned by His Majesty King Mswati III to be a special envoy and travel promptly to Taiwan and convey His Majesty’s sincere gratitude for President Lai’s having sent Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) as special envoy to Eswatini to attend celebrations and other events.  
Deputy Prime Minister Dladla then conveyed to President Lai a special message from King Mswati III. She said that the president’s presence was highly missed, and it was conspicuous in the international community that Taiwan’s president could not attend this important event because of what befell both countries. She added that the presence of Foreign Minister Lin as special envoy made a difference in the celebration of this important event despite the president’s physical absence, and that what befell us has moved our diplomatic relations to a stage whereby we are no longer just bilateral friends, but now family. She said that no force, no matter how strong it is, can break a family bond that has existed for the past 58 years, that no one can come between a strong family, and that we must not dwell in the past, but look forward to strengthening this family bond like never before. 
Deputy Prime Minister Dladla continued the message from King Mswati III, inviting President Lai to visit the kingdom when the opportunity arises and saying that despite all that befell us, President Lai must come and visit the kingdom to show the world that the airspace is free and independent, and that Africa as a whole believes and has confidence in international law. She concluded the message by saying that Taiwan is family, that family can visit anytime, day or night, and that the doors are always open. 

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

April 24, 2026  
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) sincerely thanks the US administration and Congress for their statements expressing concern over recent interference in President Lai Ching-te’s planned visit to Eswatini and urging China to stop suppressing Taiwan. These timely statements conveyed clear support of Taiwan and condemned China for pressuring African countries to disrupt overseas visits of high-level Taiwan officials.
 
A spokesperson of the US Department of State responded promptly to the situation, stating that related African countries had acted at the behest of China by interfering in the safety and dignity of routine travel by Taiwan officials. The spokesperson stressed that these countries’ responsibility in managing international airspace within their respective flight information regions that extended beyond their sovereign airspace was solely to ensure aviation safety and should not serve as a political tool for Beijing. 
 
The State Department pointed out that this was yet another case of Beijing waging its intimidation campaign against Taiwan and its supporters around the world, abusing the international civil aviation system, and threatening international peace and prosperity. It urged Beijing to cease its military, diplomatic, and economic pressure against Taiwan and instead engage in meaningful dialogue. Raymond Greene, Director of the American Institute in Taiwan, echoed the State Department’s position.
 
Furthermore, leaders of key committees in both the Senate and the House of Representatives from across the political aisle actively spoke up for Taiwan. For instance, Jim Risch (R-ID), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, stated that the United States should not allow China to normalize such behavior. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on the Budget, emphasized that supporting Taiwan’s democracy required firm opposition to Beijing’s coercion and bullying. Brian Mast (R-FL), Chairperson of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, condemned China’s bullying of Taiwan, a close US partner, and said that the United States would stand with Taiwan to counter such blatant threats. 
 
Several other members of Congress also publicly expressed concern. Among them were chairpersons of three subcommittees of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee: Ted Cruz (R-TX) (Africa and Global Health Policy); Pete Ricketts (R-NE) (East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy); and John Curtis (R-UT) (Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women’s Issues). 
 
Rick Scott (R-FL), Chairperson of the Subcommittee on Seapower of the Senate Armed Services Committee; Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL), Cochair of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus; and John Moolenaar (R-MI), Chairperson of the House Select Committee on China also made public comments concerning the issue.
 
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung welcomes these statements and thanks the United States and like-minded partners for standing up for Taiwan. He reiterates that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is a sovereign and independent country and has the right to conduct normal diplomatic exchanges with diplomatic allies and other international partners.
 
Furthermore, MOFA strongly condemns China’s politically motivated interference in international civil aviation operations and in Taiwan’s legitimate diplomatic interactions with other countries. Taiwan will continue to maintain close coordination with the US administration, Congress, and like-minded partners so as to jointly safeguard international civil aviation safety and protect peace, stability, and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Transport Department announced today that 1,400 regular quotas for Hong Kong cross-boundary non-commercial private cars using the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) to Macau (Hong Kong quotas) will be open for application from May 7. A new open category will be introduced in this batch to further facilitate travel between the two cities. 

The 1,400 Hong Kong quotas include 900 new slots agreed upon by the Hong Kong and Macau governments, alongside 500 reallocated quotas following their expiry.

Under the new arrangements, “open quotas” will be available to all Hong Kong permanent residents and registered companies without the need to meet specific employment or business criteria. These quotas aim to provide greater convenience for residents driving to Macau for work, business, sightseeing or family visits.

The department noted that the existing “quotas with eligibility criteria” – which require applicants to meet specific business or professional requirements – will also continue to be accepted.

Eligible applicants may submit their registrations online from 9am on May 7 until 5.15pm on May 20.

Following the application period, a ballot will be conducted to allocate the quotas. Successful applicants are expected to be able to access Macau via the HZMB starting from July 13 at the earliest. The quotas will be valid for a period of no more than three years, expiring July 12, 2029. 

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

President Lai meets former Minister for Digital Transformation Taira Masaaki of Japan  
On the afternoon of April 30, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by former Minister for Digital Transformation Taira Masaaki of Japan. In remarks, President Lai indicated that the signing of the Taiwan-Japan Digital Trade Agreement marked a significant milestone in our bilateral cooperation. He also thanked Japan for expressing concern for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait to the international community on numerous occasions. The president stated that in the face of authoritarian expansion and challenges from the “red supply chain,” Taiwan and Japan will continue to make steady strides forward together, enhancing mutual economic resilience and competitiveness while jointly defending regional peace, stability, and prosperity.
A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:
I would first like to extend a very warm welcome to Representative Taira, who is leading a delegation to Taiwan for the first time. It is also a pleasure to welcome Representatives Kihara Seiji and Nishino Daisuke today. I look forward to an in-depth exchange of views with our guests on a range of issues.
Representative Taira has served as the minister for digital transformation and has long been dedicated to Japan’s digital policy and technological development. He also has a deep understanding of the complementary advantages within the digital industries of both Taiwan and Japan. Last year, we saw the signing of the Taiwan-Japan Digital Trade Agreement, a significant milestone in our bilateral cooperation. Your visit today not only fully demonstrates your steadfast support for Taiwan, but also allows us to jointly explore further opportunities for collaboration. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I would like to express my sincere welcome and gratitude.
I would also like to thank the Japanese government for its repeated emphasis on regional peace and stability at major international venues. For instance, in March and early April of this year, Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae held talks with United States President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, respectively. Both of these leaders’ summits conveyed to the international community a strong sense of concern for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and such attention is highly influential in ensuring that peace and stability.
In the face of China’s continued authoritarian expansion, Taiwan is not only strengthening its self-defense capabilities, but also actively enhancing cooperation with an even greater number of like-minded nations. From boosting cybersecurity and addressing cognitive warfare to improving overall societal resilience, we will work hand-in-hand to jointly defend regional peace, stability, and prosperity.
On the economic and industrial front, in response to dumping by the “red supply chain,” it is more important than ever for democracies to cooperate closely to build trusted and more resilient democratic supply chains. Currently, Taiwan and Japan have already begun collaborating in key strategic fields such as semiconductors and AI. I hope that, going forward, Taiwan and Japan can further enhance our mutual economic resilience and overall competitiveness. With the support of the delegation members, I look forward to the early signing of an economic partnership agreement between Taiwan and Japan, which would stimulate vigorous industrial growth and create even greater well-being for our peoples.
In closing, I once again welcome you all to Taiwan. Although we face rapid changes in the international landscape, Taiwan and Japan will continue to make steady strides forward together. Through close exchanges and cooperation, we will make even greater contributions to regional peace, stability, and prosperity.
Representative Taira then delivered remarks, first thanking President Lai for taking the time to meet with him and for the excellent remarks he had just given regarding Taiwan-Japan relations. He pointed out that Taiwan-Japan relations are currently at their best, noting that this is not only due to the deep bond between our peoples, but also closely related to the long-term importance President Lai has placed on relations with Japan.
Representative Taira stated that there remains room for Taiwan and Japan to further deepen cooperation across many fields, particularly in the area of cybersecurity, where the possibilities and potential for collaboration are immense. Having previously served as minister for digital transformation and having led the construction and preparation of Japan’s cybersecurity systems, he noted that he pays close attention to Taiwan-Japan cooperation regarding cybersecurity and countering cognitive warfare. He added that his visit to Taiwan has involved many meaningful discussions, and upon returning home, he will promptly present concrete recommendations to the relevant government departments.
The representative said that he looks forward to promoting further cooperation between Taiwan and Japan in advanced industrial fields such as AI and semiconductors, and to continuing to strengthen the resilience of their respective supply chains. He stated his belief that this is vital to boosting the momentum of Japan’s economic growth, while also promoting growth and prosperity for both Taiwan and Japan, as well as contributing to regional peace and stability.
Introducing the other members of the delegation, Representative Taira mentioned that Representative Kihara is a key figure in driving Japan’s growth strategy. He also noted that Representative Nishino, a highly anticipated next-generation member of the National Diet, represents the Kumamoto constituency where Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company has established facilities. He concluded by saying that he looks forward to an in-depth exchange of views with President Lai.
The delegation was accompanied to the Presidential Office by Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Taipei Office Chief Representative Katayama Kazuyuki.