Month: June 2026

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

On the evening of June 5, President Lai Ching-te attended the first Pacific Cultural Gala. In remarks, President Lai stated that beyond cultural roots, Taiwan and its Pacific allies also share the values of freedom and democracy. For many years, the president said, we have supported one another, together contributing to the peace, stability, and prosperity of the region. President Lai expressed hope that Taiwan will continue to advance cooperation across all areas with its friends and allies in the Pacific, deepening friendships and working together to preserve the Austronesian heritage and build a brighter future for the next generation.
A transcript of President Lai’s remarks follows:
In 2024, the year I took office, I embarked on state visits to the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and Palau. That journey truly showed me that we are one family. I was also moved by the courage of the Austronesian ancestors who sailed the vast ocean despite hardships. Braving wind and waves, they built brilliant and diverse maritime civilizations.
Tonight, I especially want to thank the embassies of the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and Palau. Thank you for your efforts organizing the first Pacific Cultural Gala. This evening brings us together to celebrate the deep friendships between Taiwan and our Pacific allies.
We are all maritime nations; the ocean defines our heritage. Beyond cultural roots, we also share the values of freedom and democracy. For many years, we have supported one another, and walked side by side. Together, we contribute to the peace, stability, and prosperity of our region.
I saw our partnerships in action during my visits in 2024. In the Marshall Islands, I marked our concrete achievements in advancing smart medicine. In Tuvalu, I witnessed the signing of a letter of intent for an undersea cable. In Palau, I observed a joint maritime rescue drill. Tomorrow, Vice President [Bi-khim] Hsiao departs for Palau, where she will see firsthand how we are deepening our alliance.
To me, the Pacific has never been a barrier. It has always been the great road that connects us. Going forward, Taiwan will continue to advance cooperation across all areas with our friends and allies in the Pacific. We will drive prosperity and growth for all our peoples. And we will ensure that the Pacific remains true to its name – an ocean of peace, of cooperation, and of hope.
With tonight’s gala, let’s keep deepening our friendships and working together to preserve the Austronesian heritage. Let’s build a brighter future for the next generation.
I wish tonight’s gala great success. And may Taiwan’s friendships with the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and Palau deepen and grow stronger each year. Thank you.
Also in attendance at the event were Marshall Islands Ambassador Anjanette Kattil, Tuvalu Ambassador Lily Tangisia Faavae, Palau Chargé d’Affaires David Adams Orrukem, and other members of the foreign diplomatic corps stationed in Taiwan.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Residential Care Homes (Elderly Persons) (Amendment) Regulation 2026 and the Residential Care Homes (Persons with Disabilities) (Amendment) Regulation 2026 were gazetted today to establish the new professional rank of health and care practitioners (HCPs).

The Government proposes to amend the Residential Care Homes (Elderly Persons) Regulation and the Residential Care Homes (Persons with Disabilities) Regulation to establish a registration system for HCPs and incorporate HCPs into the staffing requirements for residential care homes (RCHs) whilst maintaining the existing statutory staffing requirements unchanged.

The amendment allows RCH operators to employ either enrolled nurses or HCPs to meet the relevant statutory requirements.

The Labour & Welfare Bureau said the establishment of the HCP rank will attract people who aspire to pursue a career in the social welfare sector, providing health workers with promotion and career development prospects, thereby assisting the sector in retaining talent.

The bureau noted that the new initiative will enable RCHs to utilise their manpower resources more flexibly as well as establish a dedicated pool of care talent for the social welfare sector, and reduce competition for nursing talent with the healthcare sector.

The Social Welfare Department (SWD) will implement a three-year subsidy scheme to support eligible serving registered health workers with potential to undergo the HCP professional diploma programme recognised by the department.

As residential care homes for the elderly and residential care homes for persons with disabilities often encounter difficulties in recruiting or retaining staff, the SWD had engaged a consultant earlier to conduct a holistic review of the skill and qualification requirements of RCH staff, with a view to establishing professional standards and a career progression path for them.

The Consultancy Study report showed that in terms of the nursing care work in RCHs, the duties of enrolled nurses and health workers were similar. Health workers could further take up more care responsibilities with appropriate training and assessment.

The report recommended establishing a new professional rank of HCP for the social welfare sector. The rank will specialise in providing nursing care as well as health and care services in elderly and rehabilitation social welfare service units, and undertake duties equivalent to those of enrolled nurses in the welfare service units concerned.

Moreover, the amendment exercise also changes the basis of calculating the staffing requirements for nursing homes from the total number of beds as currently adopted to the total number of residents aligning with the international practice and the relevant requirements for RCHs of other care levels in Hong Kong.

The Amendment Regulations will be tabled at the Legislative Council for negative vetting on June 10 and come into effect on October 14 after completion of the legislative procedures.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​The Department of Health (DH) today (June 5) invited senior reviewers from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) Center for Drug Evaluation and Inspection of the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) to attend a forum called “New Chapter in Pharmaceutical Regulation: 2026 Drug Regulation and Review Trends Forum” to provide the local pharmaceutical industry with a detailed overview of the latest developments and relevant regulatory requirements regarding drug regulation and registration evaluation in the Chinese Mainland. The forum aimed to help the local industry seize opportunities to expand into the Mainland market, while fostering drug innovation and collaboration within the GBA.

The forum was co-organised by the Hong Kong Institute of Biotechnology Limited and the Hong Kong Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association Limited, with the DH as the supporting organsiation. The forum featured a comprehensive programme, covering key drug regulatory legislation in the Chinese Mainland, drug registration procedures and application requirements, as well as quality and specification requirements. It helped local pharmaceutical manufacturers and agents to better understand the preparatory work required for drug registration in the Chinese Mainland, including the documents and information that need to be submitted.

The forum attracted over 100 representatives from the local pharmaceutical sector, including manufacturers and wholesalers. Participants generally considered that the content was practical and highly valuable. Not only did it provide a clear roadmap and timeline for drug registration in the Chinese Mainland, it also significantly reduced the time and effort required for information collection and document preparation.

Prior to the forum, a delegation from the GBA Center for Drug Evaluation and Inspection met with the staff of the DH’s Drug Office yesterday (June 4) to exchange views on practical experiences in drug evaluation and inspection in the Chinese Mainland. DH staff also briefed the delegation on the initiatives of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government to develop Hong Kong into an international health and medical innovation hub; enhance the evaluation, approval and registration mechanism for drugs; implement a “primary evaluation” mechanism for new drugs; and prepare for the establishment of the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation within this year.

The DH has been actively promoting and enhancing Hong Kong’s drug regulatory standards. The NMPA and its GBA Center for Drug Evaluation and Inspection have been providing staunch support for the HKSAR’s pharmaceutical regulatory efforts. The DH expressed its sincere gratitude to the delegation. Looking ahead, the DH will continue to deepen cooperation and exchanges with the drug regulatory authorities in the Chinese Mainland, support the development of Hong Kong’s pharmaceutical industry, and actively align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan to better integrate into and serve overall national development. At the same time, the HKSAR will leverage Hong Kong’s distinctive advantages of enjoying strong support of the Motherland and being closely connected to the world, to fulfil its role as a “super connector”.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the National Day of Sweden reception 2026 today (June 5):

Consul General Ms Louise Bergholm (Consul General of Sweden to Hong Kong), Deputy Commissioner Zhang (Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Mr Zhang Changwei, members of the diplomatic community in Hong Kong, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, 
     The Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong is a strong testament to our enduring business ties. This year, the Chamber celebrates its remarkable 40th anniversary – 40 years of bringing Hong Kong and Swedish businesses together. 
     Our role as a gateway to the Chinese Mainland, our business potential, free market economy, and simple and low tax regime remain the most appealing advantages for Swedish companies here.  
     There is much scope for collaboration with Sweden in AI – from research and application to education and talent development. A recent study by Statistics Sweden reports that 35 per cent of Swedish companies used at least one form of AI technology last year, well above the European Union average of 20 per cent.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Independent Committee in relation to the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po:
 
     The Independent Committee in relation to the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po announced today (June 5) that the fifth round of evidential hearings, comprising three hearings, would be held from June 22 to June 25. Members of the public may pre-register for selected hearings under this round that they wish to observe via the online system from 10am on June 8 to 10am on June 11.
 
     The exact dates for the fifth round of three evidential hearings are as follows:
 

	Date
1.	June 22 (Monday)
2.	June 24 (Wednesday)
3.	June 25 (Thursday)

 
     The evidential hearings will be held from 10am to 1pm and from 2.15pm to 4.30pm at the Multi-purpose Hall, 3/F, City Gallery, 3 Edinburgh Place, Central.
 
     In the fifth round of evidential hearings, the Committee will receive oral evidence from the experts appointed by the Government and the Committee respectively on issues relating to the causes that led to the fire and its rapid spread. Part of the evidence will be given in English. Simultaneous interpretation in Cantonese, Putonghua and English will be provided in the City Gallery. The Committee will release the list of exact witnesses who will be giving evidence at each date of hearing on its website (www.ic-wangfukcourtfire.gov.hk/eng/timetable.html) nearer the time.
 
     Some seats for the hearings will be reserved for the involved parties, and some seats will be open to the public to observe the proceedings. To allow more members of the public to attend the hearings, the proceedings will be broadcast simultaneously in transmission areas set up on the ground floor of the City Gallery and in the Lecture Theatre of the Hong Kong Central Library. Arrangements will be made for some members of the public to observe the hearings in these two areas. A total of about 360 seats will be available for public observation in the main venue and the two transmission areas. About half of the seats will be set aside for residents of Wang Fuk Court on a priority basis. Separate arrangements will be made for the media.
 
     To avoid members of the public queuing outside the venue for a long time, and to allow those who wish to observe the hearings to have certainty of whether seats have been secured before the day of the hearings, for the fifth round of hearings, individuals (including Wang Fuk Court residents) are required to pre-register online (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ic-hearing/en/) from 10am on June 8 to 10am on June 11. Registrants should select on the online registration form the dates they wish to observe (one or more sessions can be selected) and submit the duly completed form. The Secretariat of the Committee will allocate seats on a first-come, first-served basis according to the system’s record of the time that the pre-registration forms are received.
 
     Successful registrants will receive a “Confirmation of Successful Registration” for the fifth round of hearings issued by the Secretariat of the Committee by June 17. An SMS notification will be sent from the sender name “#IC-hearing”. If an email address is also provided during pre-registration, an email notification will be sent from hearing@ic-wangfukcourtfire.gov.hk. Pre-registration will be considered unsuccessful for those who have not received a notification by that date. Each person can only pre-register for each day of hearing once. Duplicate registrations will not be processed.
 
     According to the current plan, more hearings will be held. Relevant details (including the specific dates and the pre-registration arrangements for public observation) will be announced separately.
 
     The Chief Executive established the Committee to review the causes of the fire at Wang Fuk Court and related issues, and to make recommendations to prevent similar incidents from occurring again. The Committee formally commenced its work on December 19, 2025. The evidential hearings commenced on March 19, and so far four rounds of 24 hearings have been held. The Committee hears evidence in the evidential hearings on matters in accordance with its terms of reference. The Committee aims to clarify the relevant facts through oral evidence, written submissions, and other forms of evidence presented by witnesses. This provides an important basis for the preparation of its report and recommendations.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​The Town Planning Board announced today (June 5) that the Secretary for Development has referred the approved Tuen Mun Outline Zoning Plan (OZP) to the Board for amendment to mainly reflect Lingnan University’s campus expansion plan.

The OZP incorporating the respective amendment(s) will be exhibited for public inspection under the provisions of the Town Planning Ordinance.

The Tuen Mun OZP was last approved by the Chief Executive in Council in June 2025.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​Three owners were convicted and fined $262,480 in total at the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday (June 2) for failing to comply with removal orders issued under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap. 123).  

The first case involved four unauthorised structures with a total area of about 77 square metres on a flat roof of two units in a residential building on Wan Tau Street, Tai Po. As the unauthorised building works (UBWs) were carried out without prior approval and consent from the Buildings Department (BD), two removal orders were served on the two co-owners under section 24(1) of the BO. 

Failing to comply with the removal orders, the two co-owners had been prosecuted by the BD and were fined a total of $20,660 upon convictions by the court. As they persisted in not complying with the removal orders, they were prosecuted for the second time and were fined $171,960 in total, of which $51,960 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued, upon convictions by the court.

The second case involved an unauthorised structure of about 20 sq m on a flat roof of another unit in the same building as the first case. As the UBW was carried out without prior approval and consent from the BD, a removal order was served on the owner under section 24(1) of the BO. Failing to comply with the removal order, the owner was prosecuted by the BD and was fined $90,520 in total, of which $30,520 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued, upon conviction by the court.

A spokesman for the BD said today (June 5), “UBWs may lead to serious consequences. Owners must comply with removal orders without delay. The BD will continue to take stringent enforcement action and instigate prosecutions against owners again if they persist in not complying with removal orders, so as to ensure building and public safety.”

Failure to comply with a removal order without reasonable excuse is a serious offence under the BO. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $200,000 and one year’s imprisonment, and a further fine of up to $20,000 for each day that the offence continues.