Month: June 2026

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Vice President Hsiao hosts appreciation banquet in Palau

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

At noon on June 10 local time (morning of the same day Taipei time), Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao hosted an appreciation banquet in the Republic of Palau. In remarks, Vice President Hsiao expressed her gratitude to the Palauan government for its assistance and support during the delegation’s visit, which fully demonstrated the deep friendship between the two countries. The vice president stated that during her visit, she toured many places and witnessed the accomplishments of collaboration in areas such as agriculture, aquaculture, education, construction, and healthcare. She expressed confidence that this exchange will help deepen cooperation, and that the two sides will continue to work together to promote tourism development, foster sustainable economic growth, and create greater opportunities for the peoples of both nations.
A transcript of Vice President Hsiao’s remarks follows:
It’s a great honor to host today’s thank-you luncheon as a small token of appreciation for the warm hospitality and friendship that the people of Palau and government have extended to our delegation throughout the past few days. It’s our fifth day here, but it feels time is so short. But thank you for a very productive trip. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to President [Surangel S.] Whipps, [Jr.] and his administration, and also to the National Congress and all of those who have worked so hard behind the scenes to make this visit productive. As this is my first official overseas visit to a diplomatic ally since assuming office as vice president, Palau will always hold a very special place in my heart.
During my stay, I’ve had the opportunity to experience some of Palau’s most remarkable treasures, from the breathtaking waters of the German Channel and Shark City to the historic island of Peleliu. These experiences have deepened my appreciation for Palau’s extraordinary natural beauty, rich culture, and resilient spirit. I sincerely hope that more people from Taiwan will have the same opportunity to visit Palau and experience its unique charm for themselves.
I was also honored during this trip to visit the National Congress, attend the construction ceremony for the interstate road project, visit with members of the Taiwan Technical Mission, and witness the accomplishments from collaboration in agriculture, aquaculture, education, and digital assistance. We were also briefed by [CECI Engineering Consultants] on proposed projects to improve the landmark Long Island Park and the quality of biking and pedestrian walking paths in the state of Koror. We also appreciated Vice President [Raynold] Oilouch’s arrangements to tour Belau National Hospital and hear about Taiwan’s public health contributions to Palau in a briefing from the Shin Kong Hospital medical professionals. But of course, our public health collaboration extends way beyond the hospital-to-hospital partnerships. Even in my walks and roaming around this hotel, I have run into a number of Taiwanese medical doctors who are here on volunteer medical missions. And I’m so pleased that members of Taiwan society, experts in all walks of life, are able to contribute and take part in the strength of the Taiwan-Palau relationship.
Furthermore, throughout this trip, we have had extended conversations, including with some traditional leaders, but also with the people of Palau, about our shared Austronesian and indigenous cultural connections between us. Each of these engagements reflected the strength of our partnership and demonstrated how cooperation between Taiwan and Palau continues to deliver and develop tangible benefits for both our peoples. I’m confident that this visit will help further deepen our cooperation as we work together to support President Whipps’ vision for tourism development, promote sustainable economic growth, and create greater opportunities for our people.
For today’s luncheon, we have brought some Taiwan-grown taro and invited the hotel’s talented chefs to prepare a Taiwanese-flavor dish, and others of course. I understand that taro holds a special place in Palauan and Pacific culture and daily life. I’ve had a taste of different versions of taro leaf soup during my stay here. But I hope that our friends can enjoy a Taiwanese-flavored taro dish too, among the many dishes that we are offering today.
In closing, please allow me to once again express my sincere appreciation to President Whipps and his team for their exceptional hospitality, leadership, and friendship. I wish all of you good health, happiness, and continued success in your endeavors. And may the friendship between Taiwan and Palau continue to grow stronger for generations. Thank you. Mesulang.
President Whipps then delivered remarks, expressing his gratitude to Vice President Hsiao on behalf of the Palauan government and people for choosing Palau as the destination for her first official overseas visit. He mentioned that Vice President Hsiao visited many places during this trip and introduced Palau through the media, encouraging more Taiwanese tourists to visit and further deepening the friendship between the peoples of the two countries.
President Whipps pointed out that Vice President Hsiao’s visit and address to the Palau National Congress once again demonstrated the firm commitment of Taiwan and Palau to jointly create prosperity and defend freedom, democracy, and the rule of law. He also reaffirmed support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the World Health Organization, the International Civil Aviation Organization, and other international agencies, allowing Taiwan to contribute to the international community. Expressing his gratitude, he noted that Taiwan has contributed greatly to improving the lives of the Palauan people, including delivering medicines and saving lives with drones, as well as providing long-term assistance in improving Palau’s infrastructure for roads, water conservancy, healthcare, education, and fishing ports.
President Whipps stated that both Palau and Taiwan are islands of resilience, standing united in the face of various challenges such as war and the pandemic. Noting that both sides belong to the Austronesian family, he said they will continue to work together and develop jointly in the future, deepening the diplomatic ties and partnership between the two countries, and safeguarding peace and prosperity in this beautiful Pacific region. In closing, he once again thanked Vice President Hsiao for her visit and asked her to convey his greetings and regards to President Lai Ching-te.
Also in attendance at the banquet were First Lady Valerie Whipps, Vice President Oilouch, Queen Bilung Gloria Salii, Speaker of the House of Delegates Gibson Kanai, Vice President of the Senate Stevenson Kuartei, Minister of Justice Jennifer Olegeriil, and Minister of Human Resources, Culture, Tourism and Development Ngiraibelas Tmetuchl. 

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‘HK and Kazakhstan share a vision’

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Executive John Lee

I am pleased to join you today for the Alatau City Round Table meeting.

I am delighted to have this welcome opportunity to return the warm hospitality my delegation and I received throughout our visit, last week, in Kazakhstan.

My thanks to the Deputy Prime Minister, here in Hong Kong leading a delegation of Kazakhstan government officials and business leaders. They cover a wide variety of sectors, from transport and infrastructure, to finance and digital development.

And I am pleased you are with us to know more about Hong Kong, and to share with us the vast opportunities of Kazakhstan and the innovative, high-tech Alatau City, fast rising at the crossroads of Europe, Central Asia and China.

The emerging smart city, with its preferential taxation and customs regulations, and administrative support for high-tech industries, is destined to become a new economic hub – for Kazakhstan, Central Asia and the wide world beyond.

Kazakhstan’s impressive economy – contributing some 60% of Central Asia’s collective gross domestic product (GDP) – will see to that. Last year, Kazakhstan’s economy rose 6.5%, supported by strong domestic demand and abundant natural resources. Then there is your ambitious target – to double the size of Kazakhstan’s economy by 2030, from 2023 levels.

I know that Kazakhstan has long been a bridge of culture and commerce on the ancient Silk Road, and that today it is a business and logistics hub with the promise of long-term, sustainable growth.

I know because I have seen Kazakhstan’s dynamism for myself. The high-level business delegation I led to Kazakhstan – 75 business and institutional leaders from Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland – represented industries spanning finance, logistics, energy, professional services and innovation and technology.

It was an honour to meet His Excellency President Tokayev (President of Kazakhstan, Mr Kassym-Jomart Tokayev) and His Excellency Prime Minister Bektenov (Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Mr Olzhas Bektenov) during our visit, to learn from them of your country’s determination to rise as the economic powerhouse of Central Asia and the wider region beyond.

My delegation held substantive talks with Kazakhstan’s business leaders, and I am pleased to say that the visit resulted in eight memoranda of understanding (MOUs) and co-operation agreements between the governments of Kazakhstan and Hong Kong. 

As for our respective companies, organisations and institutions, they reached 53 accords, covering investment, green finance, logistics, innovation and more. So the total number of MOUs and agreements reached in Kazakhstan was 61 altogether; that is an outstanding result for a three-day visit.

Kazakhstan’s ambitious reforms and its open, welcoming attitude towards international partners were both welcome and impressive. And Hong Kong is eager to build on this momentum, to explore wide-ranging business and investment co-operation with Kazakhstan – Alatau City very much included.

I can tell you Hong Kong shares your commitment to openness and connectivity. Under the unique “one country, two systems” principle, we are the only world city to combine the China advantage and the global advantage.

Hong Kong is built on the rule of law and a common law system similar to most global financial centres. We maintain a low and simple tax regime, with no sales or capital gains tax and no estate duty. We enjoy the free flow of information, capital, goods and talent. Our workforce is multi-talented, multi-lingual and well versed in the business practices of Asia and the wider world.

Hong Kong is ranked No.1, globally, in economic freedom. The Global Financial Centres Index ranks Hong Kong third in the world and first in Asia, while last year’s World Competitiveness Yearbook placed us third, globally – up two places over the previous year.

Let me give you a recent example of what that means in practice. Last September, the Development Bank of Kazakhstan raised 2 billion renminbi on Hong Kong’s offshore market through a “dim sum” bond issuance – the first issuance of its kind by a Central Asian entity.

Today, some 500 Kazakhstani students are studying in our publicly funded universities, making them one of the largest groups in our Belt & Road student community. And I am pleased to add that many of them are here on the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s Belt & Road Scholarship, which covers tuition fees for outstanding students from Belt & Road countries studying in our institutions.

Ladies and gentlemen, Hong Kong and Kazakhstan can develop a hub-to-hub working relationship, with Hong Kong as a hub to East Asia, South Asia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region, and Kazakhstan as a hub to Central Asia. And Hong Kong can contribute to the future success of Alatau City in three concrete ways.

First, Hong Kong can become your gateway to global capital. Our stock exchange is one of the world’s largest, and our asset management sector is underpinned by deep liquidity. Earlier this year, we were recognised as the world’s largest cross-boundary wealth-management centre.

Kazakhstani companies and funds can confidently issue bonds, raise equity or launch initial public offerings in Hong Kong. And, thanks to our world-class professional services, you will find it easy to do so. We are well positioned to help Kazakhstan fund high-potential infrastructure and innovation projects. We speak the language of global finance – and we look forward to doing so with Kazakhstan – with you.

Second, Hong Kong is your gateway to China, our country. I know your delegation visited our neighbouring city of Shenzhen and have seen, first-hand, the city’s remarkable rise in innovation and technology.

Hong Kong and Shenzhen are two of the 11 cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, a cluster-city development counting more than 88 million people and a combined GDP similar to the world’s 10th-largest economy.

Hong Kong has unparalleled access to the Mainland market. Last year, we set up the dedicated GoGlobal Task Force to help Mainland enterprises build overseas markets, Kazakhstan included.

Through our professional services, in law, accounting, finance and much more, Kazakhstani enterprises can partner with Hong Kong, accessing supply chains throughout the Mainland, the rest of Asia and the world beyond.

Third, Hong Kong is your partner in talent and technology. Hong Kong is the only city in the world with five universities in the global top 100. The innovation cluster formed by Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Guangzhou, which brings together Hong Kong’s research strengths and the Mainland cities’ innovation and manufacturing capabilities, was ranked No.1, globally, last year by the World Intellectual Property Organization.

And I am delighted to add that Hong Kong has its own Alatau – the Northern Metropolis. Spanning one-third of our city’s geographic area, and close to the Mainland boundary, the Northern Metropolis is designed to become Hong Kong’s fast-beating I&T heart, as well as an urban centre and university town.

We are now streamlining procedures and drawing up preferential policy packages to help businesses, and a world of investors, settle smoothly into the Northern Metropolis. And we will formulate dedicated legislation to fast-track the Northern Metropolis’ development.

Ladies and gentlemen, Hong Kong builds connectivity. We share a development vision with Alatau City and Kazakhstan. Today, right here, right now, is a golden opportunity to bring our two economies closer together.

I wish you all a rewarding round table session, and the best of business today and a memorable stay in Hong Kong, Asia’s world city. Thank you.

Chief Executive John Lee gave these remarks at the Alatau City Investment Round Table on June 11.

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La Corail 600 : une course à la voile au cœur du parc naturel de la mer de Corail

Source: Gouvernement de la Nouvelle-Caledonie

Du 13 au 19 juin, le gouvernement de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, via son service du parc naturel de la mer de Corail (SPNMC) et le Cercle nautique calédonien (CNC) lancent la première édition de la Corail 600. Cette course au large de 600 miles traversera le parc naturel de la mer de Corail, l’un des espaces maritimes les plus sauvages et les plus préservés au monde. En parallèle, de nombreuses animations seront proposées à terre pour suivre la course et découvrir les trésors du Parc.

Une course exigeante

Le départ de la Corail 600 sera donné le samedi 13 juin à 16 heures depuis la baie des Citrons. Six équipages prendront part à ce périple de plusieurs jours :

  • GUILTY PLEASURE EPUREAU SPEED MARINE 
  • BNC – my :: NET / Léon
  • TEAM GROUPAMA SERENDIPITY
  • POULPITO
  • BCI – BRER FOX
  • XANAX

Classée course de catégrie 2 (difficile), la Corail 600 est réservée aux monocoques autoredressables de huit mètres minimum, en double ou en équipage, sous jauge IRC ou en temps réel. 20 % de l’équipage (dont le skipper) doivent avoir participé à une course de catégorie 3 dans l’année et un tiers de l’équipage doit être titulaire de la formation World Sailing pour y participer.

En raison de l’éloignement des côtes, l’équipage doit également avoir un haut degré d’autonomie pour affronter les éventuelles difficultés.

Par ailleurs, les conditions météorologiques annoncées pour la course sont difficiles avec des vents entre 25 et 30 nœuds et une houle pouvant aller jusqu’à 4 mètres. Des aléas qui mettront les équipages et leurs embarcations à rude épreuve.

Un parcours au cœur du parc naturel de la mer de Corail

La Corail 600 sera l’occasion pour les équipages engagés de naviguer à travers des sites d’exception du parc naturel de la mer de Corail :

  • la ride de Norfolk avec le mont sous-marin Antigonia (une zone à grand intérêt scientifique, notamment pour l’étude de la mégafaune marine) ;
  • le banc Ellet  et le banc de l’Orne sur la ride des îles Loyauté, en longeant la fausse des Nouvelles Hébrides (véritable frontière sous-marine inexplorée dans les profondeurs du Pacifique) ;
  • les eaux de Maré,
  • les abords de Walpole, île au cœur d’un projet de restauration pour la sauvegarde de sa faune endémique ;
  • l’île des Pins.

Des animations à terre pour mettre en valeur les atouts du Parc

Dès le lendemain du départ, le dimanche 14 juin, le village de la Corail 600 ouvrira ses portes au Yacht Club du CNC, baie des Pêcheurs. Expositions, rencontres, stands des partenaires du Parc, découvertes virtuelles, animations artistiques et musicales, espace contes, librairie, restauration et initiations aux sports nautiques permettront au public de mieux connaître cet immense espace marin.

« Il y a un aspect sportif, mais il n’y a pas que le sport. Pendant une semaine, cet événement sera surtout l’opportunité de faire découvrir aux Calédoniens cette immense aire marine protégée qui fait partie de l’une des plus grandes du monde, mais qui est malheureusement peu accessible, puisqu’elle se situe assez loin des côtes, a indiqué Manuel Ducrocq, chef du SPNMC. Il y a un réel enjeu pour la Nouvelle-Calédonie de préserver, de conserver et de gérer durablement cet espace maritime ».

Tout au long de la journée, les équipes du SPNMC et de la pêche, accompagnées de leurs partenaires, présenteront les actions menées pour la connaissance, la préservation et la gestion durable de cet espace océanique unique.

Du 15 au 19 juin, les animations se poursuivront dans l’espace lounge du CNC. Les matinées seront consacrées aux enfants de 9 à 11 ans avec des ateliers de découverte du Parc et de ses espèces emblématiques avec le CIE.NC, des activités artistiques (avec Charlotte mollet, Mathieu Venon et Dominique Berton) et une initiation aux sports nautiques le mercredi matin. L’après-midi, les adolescents pourront quant à eux découvrir l’univers des pirogues océaniennes avec l’association Kenu Waan Project à travers l’exposition virtuelle « Tanéé Nyawè » et son livret pédagogique.

Certaines de ces séances seront réservées à des publics ciblés par la direction de la Jeunesse et des sports et la direction de la Protection judiciaire enfance et jeunesse du gouvernement de la Nouvelle-Calédonie.

La programmation s’étendra également hors les murs avec des rendez-vous proposés par plusieurs partenaires, notamment l’école de voile du CNC (stage d’initiation aux sports nautiques), le centre culturel Tjibaou (après-midi contes, le mercredi 17 juin) et le Musée maritime (atelier Explorateur des mers).

Chaque fin d’après-midi, projections, conférences et échanges ouverts au public permettront d’aborder les grands enjeux du Parc avec les acteurs de terrain : recherche scientifique, suivi des espèces, préservation des milieux, surveillance maritime et équilibre entre les usages et la conservation. Ces rendez-vous précéderont le point course quotidien organisé dans la salle du Trois Mâts à 19 h, offrant ainsi au public l’occasion de suivre l’aventure des équipages au fil de leur progression en mer. Les plus jeunes ont rendez-vous à la même heure pour des contes au violon sur le thème des îles et de l’Océan.

Entre défi sportif, découverte scientifique et sensibilisation à l’environnement marin, la Corail 600 invite chacun à porter un nouveau regard sur la mer de Corail et les patrimoines naturels exceptionnels qu’elle abrite.

Retrouvez le programme complet : https://mer-de-corail.gouv.nc/fr/corail-600-le-programme-des-animations

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CE meets Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, today (June 10) met with the Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Mr Kanat Bozumbayev, at Government House to exchange views on deepening co-operation between the two places. The Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan; the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau; and the Director of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms Carol Yip, also attended the meeting.
 
     Mr Lee said he was pleased to meet Mr Bozumbayev for the first time and welcomed him and his delegation to Hong Kong for the Alatau City Investment Round Table event scheduled to take place tomorrow (June 11). Mr Lee noted that a business delegation comprising representatives from Hong Kong and Mainland enterprises led by himself had successfully concluded a visit to Central Asia last week and made various achievements. During his visit to Kazakhstan, Mr Lee met respectively with the President of Kazakhstan, Mr Kassym-Jomart Tokayev; the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Mr Olzhas Bektenov; and two Deputy Prime Ministers, to exchange views on topics such as finance, economic and trade relations, and innovation and technology, and to establish high-level liaison between the governments. He thanked the government of Kazakhstan for the great importance it had attached to the visit, providing high-level hospitality and meticulous arrangements for the visit. Mr Lee witnessed the signing of multiple agreements between the two sides, including eight co-operation documents at the government level and 53 co-operation agreements and Memoranda of Understanding beyond the government level, covering such areas as trade and economic co-operation, investment, finance, technology and aviation. These fruitful results have brought co-operation between the two places to a new level. Mr Lee added that he was delighted to further follow up on these outcomes with Mr Bozumbayev today, and looks forward to the continuous deepening of co-operation between the two sides in the future.
 
     Mr Lee said that Hong Kong supports and upholds free trade and multilateralism, as it continues to deepen international exchanges and co-operation, strives to create new trade corridors, and explores emerging market opportunities. Kazakhstan is an important commercial and logistics hub connecting China and Europe. It is also the place where the Belt and Road (B&R) Initiative was first proposed, and is Hong Kong’s largest trading partner in Central Asia. There are broad prospects for further co-operation. The multiple outcomes achieved during Mr Lee’s visit demonstrate Hong Kong’s role as a functional platform for the B&R Initiative, as the city actively plays its roles as a “super connector” and “super value-adder” to promote broader and deeper co-operation between the two places and establish a hub-to-hub co-operation model. With the launch of direct flights from Hong Kong to Almaty, Kazakhstan, in the first quarter of next year, people-to-people exchanges between the two places will become even more frequent.
 
     Mr Lee noted that Kazakhstan is promoting reforms on various fronts and driving economic diversification. It is making every effort to develop Alatau City, with a focus on technological innovation and green growth. Hong Kong harnesses its unique advantages under the “one country, two systems” principle in connecting the Mainland and the world, ranking No. 1 globally in economic freedom. Hong Kong is speeding up the development of the Northern Metropolis as the city strives to become an international innovation and technology centre. Mr Lee said he looks forward to Hong Kong and Kazakhstan achieving complementary advantages and co-ordinated development across different sectors. He welcomed enterprises in Kazakhstan to make good use of Hong Kong’s premier financial and innovation and technology platforms, as well as its world-leading professional services, to explore more business opportunities. At the same time, Hong Kong will further help local and Mainland enterprises to go global and discover more opportunities, venturing into a new blue ocean in Central Asian countries like Kazakhstan.

  

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CHP investigates severe paediatric case of COVID-19 infection

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

CHP investigates severe paediatric case of COVID-19 infection 
Case details
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     The case involves a 19-month-old boy with good past health. He developed a fever, runny nose, cough, shortness of breath and stridor on June 4. He was taken to a private clinic for medical attention on the next day (June 5) and was referred to the Accident and Emergency Department of Kwong Wah Hospital, where he was admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit for treatment. His respiratory specimen tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus upon laboratory testing. The clinical diagnosis was COVID-19 complicated with croup. He remains hospitalised and is currently in critical condition.

     The CHP’s preliminary investigation revealed that the boy had not received COVID-19 vaccine and had mostly stayed in Hong Kong throughout the incubation period. His three household contacts remain asymptomatic so far.
 
Government’s COVID-19 Vaccination Programme
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     “Scientific evidence shows that COVID-19 vaccines are effective in reducing the risk of severe disease and death. Although COVID-19 has become a common respiratory infection in Hong Kong and around the world, certain high-risk individuals, especially young children, who have not received their initial dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and have not developed immunity through natural infection, face a higher risk of serious complications if they become infected. I would like to specifically remind the public that individuals who have not yet received their initial dose of the COVID-19 vaccine (including children aged six months or above) should get vaccinated as soon as possible, while high-risk individuals (particularly the elderly and those with underlying comorbidities) should also receive booster dose at appropriate times for effective protection against COVID-19.” said the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui.      Apart from vaccination, in order to prevent COVID-19, influenza, and other respiratory illnesses as well as transmission in the community, the public should maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene at all times and note the following:
      For more information on the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme and the latest recommendations on vaccine use, please refer to the CHP’s websiteIssued at HKT 19:52

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Hospital Authority statement on intern doctor’s inappropriate act

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Hospital Authority statement on intern doctor’s inappropriate act      
     The HA is aware of recent social media posts concerning the inappropriate act of an intern doctor across different hospitals. The HA considers the matter extremely serious, affecting the professional image of healthcare staff.
      
     The HA spokesperson reiterates that there is zero tolerance for any behaviour undermining patient safety and the professional conduct of doctors. Action has been taken to follow up rigorously to safeguard patient safety. The HA strongly condemns any inappropriate act concerned.
      
     Regarding the suspicions of someone who logged into the Clinical Management System at Caritas Medical Centre (CMC) with another person’s account and accessed patient records at Tuen Mun Hospital without authorisation, the HA has reported to the Police. The HA will co-operate fully with the police investigation and is conducting a comprehensive review of the relevant patient records to ascertain that patient safety has not been affected. No irregularities in patient treatment have been identified at this stage. The HA has immediately suspended the clinical duties of the intern doctor concerned and a resident doctor at Tuen Mun Hospital, and has also suspended their access right to the system in order to protect patient and system security.
      
     The HA had previously seriously warned the intern doctor concerned for an inappropriate act committed during an internship at Ruttonjee Hospital, and had already taken disciplinary action against the intern doctor concerned and another resident doctor for inappropriate acts at CMC. The HA will continue to investigate whether the intern doctor concerned is involved in any other inappropriate act. If it is confirmed that the intern doctor concerned or any other doctor has engaged in an inappropriate act that violates medical professional standards, the HA will handle the matter seriously and refer it to the Medical Council of Hong Kong for follow-up.
      
     The HA has notified the medical school of the relevant university to follow up on the intern doctor’s assessment of being fit for practice.
      
     The HA holds doctors to the highest standards of professional conduct, behaviour, and discipline. The HA insists that all doctors serving patients in public hospitals must possess both medical competence and conduct themselves in a professional manner. In addition to having professional knowledge to treat patients, they must uphold the strictest professional conduct and place patient well-being, safety, and care as their foremost priority at all times. The HA has absolutely zero tolerance for any form of behaviour that undermines the professional conduct of doctors. The HA will follow up on such behaviour with utmost seriousness, and will not permit any doctors concerned to practise in public hospitals to safeguard patient safety.
 
Issued at HKT 19:02

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Seven individuals and two companies charged by Police and ICAC with 25 offences of manslaughter, conspiracy to defraud, etc over Wang Fuk Court fire

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Seven individuals and two companies charged by Police and ICAC with 25 offences of manslaughter, conspiracy to defraud, etc over Wang Fuk Court fireThe ICAC’s prosecution list:The Police laid charges against three individuals and two companies with jointly five counts of manslaughter 
     On June 10, 2016, Wang Fuk Court received a statutory notice under the Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme. In this connection, through respective tendering processes, Will Power was appointed for preparing a building inspection report and monitoring the repair works; Prestige was appointed for carrying out the prescribed repair works.

     Following careful study of the case details and a comprehensive review of numerous documents and statements from parties concerned, the Police revealed that the companies and persons-in-charge responsible for the major renovation project are suspected of serious breach of duty of care, resulting in gross negligence in the supervision of construction materials and procedures. Investigation revealed that issues arising from the repair works include the use of non-fire-retardant safety nets and canvases; the use of flammable foam boards; and the creation of window openings at the fire escape routes of staircases for workers’ access to the external wall scaffolding. These construction arrangements are suspected of severely compromising the fire safety of the buildings, causing the fire to spread rapidly and obstructing escape routes, resulting in a large number of causalities. 
　　The charges mainly cover four areas: (1) fraud in tendering process; (2) fraud in project supervision; (3) “money laundering” by project consultancy firm’s director; and (4) attempting to pervert the course of public justice in ICAC’s investigation.
 
Area 1: Fraud in the tendering process of Wang Fuk Court’s major renovation project(involving two counts of conspiracy to defraud) 
　　Another charge alleges that during the same period, Will Power’s director Wong Hap-yin, Will Power and an employee of the company conspired together to defraud the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) by causing a tender analysis report containing false information to be published onto the URA’s electronic platform for access by flat owners of Wang Fuk Court, facilitating the award of the major renovation project.
 
Area 2: Fraud in project supervision at Wang Fuk Court and other estates(involving one count of conspiracy to defraud) 
Area 3: “Money laundering” by project consultancy firm’s director(involving five counts of “money laundering” and 10 counts of tax evasion)(involving two counts of attempting to pervert the course of public justice) 
　　The two cases were adjourned to September 2, 2026 for mention at the West Magistrates’ Courts. As the relevant investigations by the Police and the ICAC are continuing, further law enforcement actions would not be ruled out.
Issued at HKT 18:50

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Inland Revenue (Amendment) (Tax Concessions for Shipping-related Activities and Physical Commodity Trading) Bill 2026 to be gazetted on Friday

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Inland Revenue (Amendment) (Tax Concessions for Shipping-related Activities and Physical Commodity Trading) Bill 2026 will be published in the Gazette this Friday (June 12) to amend the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap. 112) to enhance the existing tax concessions for shipping-related activities and to introduce a new half-rate tax concession regime for physical commodity trading.

To facilitate the compliance of in-scope multinational enterprise groups with the BEPS (Base Erosion and Profit Shifting) 2.0 requirements – a new tax reform package formulated by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) – the Government proposes to introduce an additional option of a 15 per cent concessionary tax rate in the preferential tax regimes for shipping-related companies to elect on an annual basis, which will help save their compliance costs in completing the complex tax calculations under BEPS 2.0 regarding their operations in Hong Kong.

In addition, to attract commodity traders to Hong Kong to propel the maritime services sector towards a more vibrant trajectory, the Bill proposes to provide a new half-rate profits tax concession for physical commodity trading, echoing the industry’s calls to strengthen the local maritime services ecosystem. The aforementioned 15 per cent concessionary tax rate option also applies to the half-rate tax concession regime for physical commodity trading.

A spokesperson for the Transport and Logistics Bureau said, “A favourable tax regime is a key factor in attracting shipping-related companies to Hong Kong. In light of changes in international tax rules, the Government has reviewed the existing tax concessions for shipping-related activities and proposed making enhancements in compliance with international tax rules, including the introduction of tax deduction arrangements in line with international standards, while ensuring that Hong Kong’s preferential tax regimes for shipping-related activities maintain their competitiveness after the implementation of BEPS 2.0, thereby sustaining the development momentum of the high value-added maritime services industry in Hong Kong.

“Commodity traders form an integral part of the maritime services ecosystem and are key users of maritime services. The proposed new tax concession regime for commodity trading will give Hong Kong a distinct advantage in attracting commodity traders to set up or expand their businesses in Hong Kong, thereby injecting demand and impetus into the maritime services industry, and unlocking substantial new growth opportunities for our city in forging ahead with the vision of becoming a global maritime capital,” the spokesperson added.

Since 2020, the Government has launched and been actively promoting a series of tax concessions to encourage more shipping-related companies to establish or expand their presence in Hong Kong, yielding tangible results. For the years of assessment 2020/21 to 2023/24, the number of qualifying ship lessors benefiting from the tax concessions has soared by five times.

Since the introduction of the aforementioned tax concessions, there have been new changes in the international tax landscape. In response to base erosion and profit-shifting risks arising from the digitalisation of the economy, the OECD has formulated BEPS 2.0. To implement this new tax reform package, Hong Kong has introduced the Hong Kong Minimum Top-up-Tax under the Inland Revenue Ordinance to require an in-scope multinational enterprise group to pay a top-up tax as from 2025 if the effective tax rate of the tax paid by its constituent entities in Hong Kong is less than 15 per cent.

The Bill will be introduced into the Legislative Council for first reading on June 24.

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CE meets Kazakh Deputy PM

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Executive John Lee today met Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Kanat Bozumbayev who is leading a delegation to Hong Kong for the Alatau City Investment Round Table scheduled to take place tomorrow.

Recalling his recent trip to Central Asia, Mr Lee said he met President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov and two Kazakh Deputy Prime Ministers, establishing high-level liaison between the governments. He also thanked the Kazakh Government for the high-level hospitality and meticulous arrangements for the visit.

During the Kazakh trip, the two sides signed eight co-operation documents at the government level, as well as 53 co-operation agreements and memoranda of understanding beyond the government level, covering such areas as trade and economic co-operation, investment, finance, technology and aviation. Mr Lee said he was delighted to follow up on these outcomes with Mr Bozumbayev today, and looks forward to deepening co-operation in the future.

The multiple outcomes achieved during the visit demonstrate Hong Kong’s role as a functional platform for the Belt & Road Initiative, as the city plays its roles as a “super connector” and “super value-adder”, the Chief Executive highlighted, adding that the launch of direct flights from Hong Kong to Almaty, Kazakhstan, in the first quarter of next year will boost people-to-people exchanges.

Mr Lee said he looks forward to Hong Kong and Kazakhstan achieving complementary advantages and co-ordinated development. He also remarked that enterprises in Kazakhstan are welcome to make good use of Hong Kong’s premier financial, innovation and technology platforms, as well as its world-leading professional services, to explore business opportunities.

At the same time, Hong Kong will further help local and Mainland enterprises to go global and discover opportunities in Central Asian countries like Kazakhstan, the Chief Executive added.

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Director-General David Cheng-Wei Wu Welcomes University of Tokyo Professor Yasuhiro Matsuda

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Director General David Cheng-Wei Wu was honored to welcome Professor Yasuhiro Matsuda of the University of Tokyo for an insightful exchange of views on developments in the Indo-Pacific, the evolving international landscape, and Taiwan–Australia relations.
Professor Matsuda is widely respected for his distinguished scholarship in history and international relations. His research has provided valuable perspectives on regional developments and the international order, reflecting both academic rigor and profound expertise. During the meeting, he shared his latest observations and analyses, which were both enlightening and thought-provoking.
We would also like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Professor Matsuda on receiving the prestigious 27th Yomiuri Yoshino Sakuzo Prize for his latest book, China and Taiwan: The Politics of Crisis and Balance. This distinguished honor is a testament to his years of scholarly dedication and an acknowledgment of his significant contributions to the field.
Taiwan and Japan share the core values of freedom, democracy, and the rule of law, and the bonds between our peoples continue to grow stronger through close and friendly exchanges. We look forward to further deepening Taiwan–Japan academic dialogue and fostering more cross-disciplinary collaboration for the advancement of knowledge and the promotion of peace and stability in the region.
Once again, congratulations to Professor Matsuda on this well-deserved achievement. We wish him continued success in his research and look forward to the inspiration his work will bring to future generations of scholars.