Month: June 2026

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will conduct an open lot drawing and computer balloting at 10am on July 15, 2026 (Wednesday), for the allocation of new extendable public niches at Wo Hop Shek Columbarium Phase VI in Fanling, Cape Collinson-San Ha Columbarium in Eastern District and Shek Mun Columbarium in Sha Tin.

Upon completion of the open lot drawing and computer balloting, applicants can check the ballot results immediately on the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk) using their application numbers and identity card numbers. In addition, the FEHD will notify the successful applicants by WhatsApp/SMS and email or letter of the designed niche number allocated. Applicants can also visit the FEHD’s Hong Kong or Kowloon Cemeteries and Crematoria offices, the Public Niche Allocation Office or call the hotline 2841 9111 to check the ballot results on the same day after the lot drawing and computer balloting.

A spokesman for the FEHD said, “Following the completion of this annual allocation, the FEHD will launch a new monthly public niche allocation arrangement starting from August 1 to entirely replace the existing annual allocation. Under the new arrangement, in addition to Tsang Tsui Columbarium in Tuen Mun, the FEHD will include three additional columbaria in the monthly niche allocations: Shek Mun Columbarium in Sha Tin, Wo Hop Shek Columbarium Phase VI in Fanling, and Cape Collinson-San Ha Columbarium in Chai Wan, providing a total of not less than 1 600 extendable niches each month.”

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Financial Secretary Paul Chan’s visit to Shanghai continued today, as he sought to deepen co-operation between Shanghai and Hong Kong in finance, innovation and technology, and trade and commerce, and to further leverage Hong Kong’s role as a “super connector” and “super value-adder”.

In the morning, Mr Chan met China Securities Regulatory Commission Chairman Wu Qing, who was in Shanghai to attend the Lujiazui Forum. The two sides had in-depth exchanges on matters including continued support for Mainland enterprises to list in Hong Kong, optimising mutual market access mechanisms between the Mainland and Hong Kong capital markets, and taking forward financial regulatory co-operation between the two places.

Mr Chan then visited the Shanghai Gold Exchange and met its Chairman Yu Wenjian to exchange views on the collaborative development of the gold markets in Shanghai and Hong Kong.

He subsequently visited the Shanghai Pudong Development Bank and met its Chairman Zhang Weizhong. Their discussion focused on advancing financial co-operation between the two places, in particular supporting finance to better serve Mainland enterprises in expanding their overseas businesses and empowering the innovation and technology ecosystem.

Mr Chan also visited two leading enterprises in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector and held detailed exchanges with their representatives. One of the enterprises focuses on distributed AI cloud computing services and has established its offshore headquarters in Hong Kong to provide computing power services to overseas users.

The other is dedicated to developing next-generation photonic computing chips, seeking to break through computing power bottlenecks with optical computing technology.

​Mr Chan said the country’s 15th Five-Year Plan clearly sets out to nurture and strengthen emerging and future industries, besides expanding high-level opening-up. He highlighted that Hong Kong pools capital and top talent from both the Mainland and overseas, and possesses international data resources and rich application scenarios, a robust intellectual property protection regime, and high-quality, full-fledged financial and professional services.

Mr Chan urged the two enterprises’ active consideration of listing and raising funds in Hong Kong, and invited them to make good use of the city’s unique international advantages to expand their international operations.

​​In the afternoon, Mr Chan concluded his visit to Shanghai and arrived in Nanjing to continue the next leg of his trip.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Hong Kong’s global competitiveness has risen for a third consecutive year, up one place to second globally this year, the highest since 2019, in the World Competitiveness Yearbook (WCY) 2026, published by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD).

In terms of the yearbook’s four competitiveness indicators, Hong Kong ranks second globally in government efficiency, third in business efficiency, eighth in infrastructure, and 11th in and economic performance.

With regard to sub-factors, Hong Kong tops the rankings in tax policy and business legislation, ranks second globally in finance, third globally in international trade, international investment, management practices and education, and fourth in public finance and basic infrastructure.

The Government said that the WCY 2026 reaffirms Hong Kong as one of the most competitive economies in the world, noting that Hong Kong’s rise to second globally sustains the strong upward trajectory from 2024.

It added that Hong Kong continues to rank second globally in government efficiency, reflecting the Government’s ongoing efforts to promote free and open, stable, predictable and business-friendly economic policies, as well as the international community’s trust in Hong Kong’s legal and regulatory environment.

Hong Kong’s business efficiency is ranked third globally, reflecting the strong support for industry development rendered by the city’s robust financial ecosystem, as well as the seamless alignment of the city’s business practices and environment with international best standards.

The Government added that amid rapidly evolving geopolitical dynamics, Hong Kong, with its close connectivity to both the Chinese Mainland and the world under the “one country, two systems” principle, and its sound institutions, open markets and sustained investments in innovation, has become a value hub that offers both security and growth opportunities.

Hong Kong is currently formulating its first Five-Year Plan at full speed to proactively align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan. The Government said that with the staunch support of central authorities, it will work together with all sectors of society to strengthen the city’s functions as a super connector and super value-adder.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

On the morning of June 18, President Lai Ching-te attended a reception for the international press corps at the Taipei Guest House. In remarks, President Lai stated that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the institution of direct presidential elections in Taiwan, and that over the past 30 years, it has been proven time and time again within Taiwan’s society that democracy is irreversible. The president also emphasized that Taiwan’s achievements have received international acclaim, and that embracing the world and steadfastly upholding democracy and freedom have brought about the country’s prosperity and development. He stressed that Taiwan will resolutely cooperate with the international community to maintain the status quo of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. In closing, President Lai said that he looks forward to the international press corps’ continued interest in, coverage of, and support for Taiwan, helping the international community more deeply understand the free, resolute, and prosperous democratic Taiwan.
A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:
Welcome to today’s reception. No matter how long you have lived in Taiwan or covered stories here, I believe you must have all gained a deep impression of this nation’s democracy, freedom, and vitality. I would like to take this special opportunity to thank all of you for contributing your expertise, and for upholding the spirit of press freedom as you carry out your work here. Your efforts enable the world to see Taiwan.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the institution of direct presidential elections in Taiwan. Thirty years ago, having bravely endured 38 years of martial law, our citizens went to the polls, showing their immense courage once again, this time in the face of missile threats from China. With a voter turnout of over 76 percent, this first direct presidential election sent a clear message to the international community:
First, Taiwan’s sovereignty rests in the hands of the people. Our nation belongs to the people, to whom the president is accountable, and they hold the right to determine the leader of their country.
Second, the building of a democratic Taiwan confers both legal authority and democratic legitimacy upon the government through direct popular sovereignty. Taiwan’s future can only be decided by its 23 million people.
Third, neither the Republic of China nor the People’s Republic of China is subordinate to the other, and Taiwan is not a part of the PRC.
Over these past 30 years, the people of Taiwan have determined their nation’s future, ballot by ballot. Through one peaceful transfer of power after another, our society has established that democracy is irreversible.
I also want to emphasize that Taiwan’s achievements over the past 30 years have received international acclaim. Last year, Taiwan ranked second in Asia in both the Democracy Index and the Freedom in the World report. Furthermore, among economies with a population exceeding 20 million, Taiwan’s World Competitiveness Ranking has been first globally for five consecutive years. Our economic growth rate last year was 8.76 percent, and it is projected to reach 9.64 percent this year. Also this year, Taiwan’s stock market capitalization achieved a ranking of fifth worldwide.
Through our role in global supply chains, advanced semiconductor manufacturing, AI applications, and computing infrastructure, Taiwan has won the trust of our international partners. This is enough to prove that embracing the world and steadfastly upholding democracy and freedom have brought about our prosperity and development.
The most significant piece of international news today is that the United States and Iran are on the verge of signing a peace agreement; we are seeing a new dawn for the Middle East. We also sincerely hope that the Russia-Ukraine war will end at the earliest possible juncture so that the Ukrainian people may soon be spared the suffering of war.
As for the development of the Indo-Pacific region, I would like to express my deep gratitude to the G7 for their latest joint statement, which reaffirms their opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the East China Sea, South China Sea, and across the Taiwan Strait, particularly by force or coercion. Therefore, I reiterate here that Taiwan is willing to respond to the G7’s call and will resolutely cooperate with the international community to maintain the status quo of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. We also call upon China to halt its military expansion in the South China Sea, East China Sea, and Taiwan Strait, and to renounce the use of force against Taiwan. Under the principles of parity and dignity, Taiwan is willing to engage in exchanges and cooperation with China to promote peace and mutual prosperity.
I want to express my gratitude once again to all of you for your interest in and coverage of Taiwan. We look forward to your continued support.
Today’s reception presents a rare opportunity for us to exchange views and deepen our understanding. I hope all of you will continue to bring your professional insights to bear as you share Taiwan’s story and help the international community more deeply understand our free, resolute, and prosperous democratic Taiwan. Thank you.
Also in attendance at the event was Chairman of the Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club Thompson Chau.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

In their recently issued joint statement, the leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) underscored the importance of a free and open Indo-Pacific based on the rule of law and reaffirmed their opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the East and South China Seas and across the Taiwan Strait by force or coercion, stating that these issues should only be resolved peacefully through dialogue. In response to the statement, on June 17, Presidential Office Spokesperson Karen Kuo (郭雅慧) emphasized that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and in the region as a whole represent the broadest consensus within the international community, and are also closely tied to global core interests. The Office of the President sincerely thanks the G7 leaders for once again taking concrete action to demonstrate their support for peace, stability, and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait.
Spokesperson Kuo stressed that Taiwan stands on the frontline of the defense of democracy and serves as a cornerstone of global supply chain security. As a responsible member of the region and of the international community, Taiwan will continue to work with like-minded democratic partners to strengthen defense capabilities, supply chain resilience, and economic resilience. Together, we will safeguard our shared values of democracy and freedom, while promoting peace, prosperity, and development across the region and the world. 

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Executive John Lee will lead a delegation to visit Fujian on Monday to attend the High-level Meeting and the Fifth Plenary Session of the Hong Kong/Fujian Co-operation Conference.

The meeting and plenary session, which will be held in Fuzhou on Monday, will facilitate in-depth exchanges on deepening co-operation between Hong Kong and Fujian.

During the visit, Mr Lee will meet provincial and municipal leaders and visit local innovation and technology enterprises and cultural projects.

Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki and Director of the Chief Executive’s Office Carol Yip will join the delegation.

Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui, Secretary for Home & Youth Affairs Alice Mak, Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Rosanna Law and Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Janice Tse, among other officials, will also join some parts of the visit programme.

Mr Lee will return to Hong Kong on Wednesday. During his absence, Financial Secretary Paul Chan and Secretary for Justice Paul Lam will take turns as Acting Chief Executive.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA thanks Australia and New Zealand for issuing joint statement reaffirming support for peace and stability across Taiwan Strait

Date：2026-06-08
Data Source：Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs

June 8, 2026  
No. 254  

Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung strongly affirms and warmly welcomes the joint statement released by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on June 6, in which they devoted a separate paragraph to underscore the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, oppose any unilateral action to change the status quo through coercion or the use of force, and encourage cross-strait dialogue. 
 
The statement was issued following a meeting between the leaders in Noosa, Queensland. Last August, the prime ministers also jointly underlined their consistent position on prioritizing a peaceful and stable Taiwan Strait. The statement released after the Australia-New Zealand Foreign and Defense Ministerial Consultations this March expressed a similar stance. The latest pronouncement is a further affirmation by the two governments of the need to maintain cross-strait peace and stability.
 
The two leaders’ statement also expressed concerns about the intensification of tensions in the South and East China Seas, including the militarization of disputed features and other destabilizing activities. It called on all countries to resolve maritime disputes peacefully in adherence with the principles of international law, in particular the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
 
Australia and New Zealand are both important partners of Taiwan in the Indo-Pacific region that share the values of democracy and freedom. The government of Taiwan welcomes the continued focus of attention by Australia, New Zealand, and other democratic partner countries on the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and in the South and East China Seas. Taiwan will continue to deepen cooperation with like-minded nations to safeguard a stable, peaceful, and prosperous region. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

June 2, 2026  No. 248  International support for Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Organization (WHO) has remained strong despite the WHO decision—in contravention of its principle of leaving no one behind—to yield to pressure from China and exclude the 23 million people of Taiwan from the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA), which concluded on May 23. 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and its overseas missions made concerted efforts to maintain global backing. For this year’s WHA, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung led a Taiwan public healthcare team to Geneva to host the Taiwan Smart Medical and HealthTech Expo. Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang also traveled to Switzerland for the occasion, marking the first time that Taiwan’s minister of foreign affairs and minister of health and welfare jointly promoted Taiwan’s bid in Geneva.

Formed by representatives of 30 leading domestic healthcare facilities and businesses, the public healthcare team showcased Taiwan’s innovation capabilities, smart technology, and resilience and gave the international community a more comprehensive understanding of the contributions that Taiwan can make to public health.

Attracting 1,300 visitors, the expo facilitated talks between Taiwanese participants and 683 foreign buyers. The value of preliminary orders reached US$1.2 million, and US$6.71 million in other potential business opportunities were identified, making the event a great success. 

In Geneva, Minister Lin interacted with delegates from allies and like-minded countries to cultivate support for Taiwan. One week before the opening of the WHA, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Baushuan Ger also visited the city, where he met with the WHA representatives of 14 diplomatic allies and friendly countries to gain their endorsement.

MOFA sincerely appreciates all the backing it has received from the international community. The 11 diplomatic allies of Taiwan that are WHO members submitted proposals and spoke up for Taiwan at the WHA. In particular, Haiti, Belize, Palau, and Paraguay engaged in two-on-two debates with China and its allies at the WHA General Committee and plenary session. Furthermore, 15 like-minded countries championed Taiwan’s bid, including Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Estonia, Luxembourg, Sweden, Latvia, and Israel. The European Union (represented by Cyprus) also extended support. 

As China and its allies continued to distort United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 2758 and WHA Resolution 25.1 at the WHA, Haiti, Palau, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Belize publicly and strongly refuted such claims, emphasizing that the resolutions had nothing to do with Taiwan and could not serve as basis for precluding Taiwan’s participation in WHO or the UN system. At the plenary session on May 22, the Japanese delegation also openly contested China’s misrepresentation of UNGA Resolution 2758. 

To express staunch support for Taiwan’s participation in WHO and the WHA, the representative offices in Taiwan of nine countries—Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Poland, and Lithuania—issued a joint statement during the WHA. Moreover, the executive and legislative branches of government of over 50 countries also advocated for Taiwan through social media, letters, and resolutions. These efforts were spearheaded by US Permanent Representative to the UN Michael Waltz; former US Permanent Representative to the UN Nikki Haley; Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard; Spanish Cochair of the Formosa Club Eloy Suárez and 39 club members; the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the United Kingdom; and the European Parliament. Internationally renowned healthcare organizations, such as the World Medical Association and the Standing Committee of European Doctors, as well as professional medical organizations and healthcare professionals from Europe, Asia, and Latin America, submitted letters to the WHO director-general on behalf of Taiwan and issued public statements. 

Meanwhile, to further aid Ukraine in public health, Taiwan’s International Cooperation and Development Fund and Malteser International, the international humanitarian relief agency of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, signed a letter of intent for cooperation during the WHA on rehabilitation and psychosocial support programs for amputees in Ukraine. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Minister Lin. Through this initiative, Taiwan will assist with training 250 healthcare professionals, including prosthetists, physical therapists, and psychotherapists in Ukraine, helping 3,000 amputees and their families with physical rehabilitation and psychological recovery and demonstrating that humanitarianism knows no borders. 

A cross-party delegation of legislators comprising Liao Wei-hsiang, Kuo Yu-ching, and Chen Gau-tzu traveled to Geneva this year to demonstrate to the international community through concrete action that the Taiwan government’s WHO bid enjoyed strong backing from across the political spectrum and the public. 

Furthermore, around 150 people from Taiwanese communities and student groups overseas gathered in Geneva to hold exhibitions, organize marches and parades, and participate in forums and international seminars, bolstering the government’s efforts and highlighting Taiwan’s appeal and determination to participate in WHO and the WHA.

Through the active coordination and arrangements of MOFA and its overseas missions, a total of 443 media contributions were published. These included articles by Minister Shih and overseas missions in international media outlets, interviews with heads of missions, and supportive columns and commentaries by scholars and experts. Videos for this year’s WHA bid and the Taiwan Smart Medical and HealthTech Expo received more than 429,000 views. MOFA and its overseas missions made a total of 1,695 posts in multiple languages on such social media platforms as Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and X, reaching over 1.2 million views. 

This year in Geneva, Taiwan successfully adopted new approaches in its international engagement through positive, active, and creative outreach. Besides creating opportunities overseas for Taiwanese enterprises, our efforts have ensured that the international public health community was fully aware that excluding Taiwan from WHO would be detrimental to all mankind. These efforts fully exemplified the integrated diplomacy policy, encompassing the aspects of values-based diplomacy, alliance diplomacy, and economic diplomacy. 

MOFA will continue to leverage cross-agency cooperation and public-private efforts to inject further momentum into Taiwan’s WHO bid. It will also work with global partners to advance the health, well-being, and the right to health of all of humanity. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to joint statement by foreign and defense ministers of Australia and UK reaffirming importance of Taiwan Strait peace and stability

June 12, 2026  Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung greatly affirms and welcomes the joint statement issued following the Australia-United Kingdom Ministerial Consultations (AUKMIN) on June 10. The statement reiterated the critical importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, opposed any unilateral action to change the status quo, and encouraged dialogue rather than coercion or the use of force. 

The statement also expressed concern at China’s destabilizing military exercises around Taiwan. It recognized that the international community benefits from the expertise of the people of Taiwan. And it conveyed the two countries’ commitment to supporting Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations and deepening relations with Taiwan in the economic, trade, scientific, technological, and cultural fields.

The consultations were held in London. They were attended by UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, Defence Secretary John Healey, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong, and Minister for Defence Richard Marles. 

The statement marked the third consecutive year that Australia and the United Kingdom have jointly issued such a public declaration of support for Taiwan.

The United Kingdom, Australia, and Taiwan are like-minded partners that share such universal values as democracy, freedom, and the rule of law. They play a key role in ensuring stability and peace in the Indo-Pacific. 

As an indispensable member of the international community, Taiwan will continue to work closely with like-minded countries to safeguard peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, expand Taiwan’s international participation, defend the rules-based international order, and jointly promote security and prosperity throughout the Indo-Pacific region.