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Notice

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

In observance of Easter Holidays, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Sydney will be closed on Friday, 3rd April to Monday 6th April 2026. The office will reopen on Tuesday, 7th April 2026.
For R.O.C. (Taiwan) citizens, in case of emergency please call 0477-586-999 for immediate assistance. With regard to general enquiries, please contact our office via (02)8650-4200 during regular service hours of workdays.
Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Sydney wish you a Joyful Easter!

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President Lai meets British-Taiwanese All-Party Parliamentary Group delegation  

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

President Lai meets British-Taiwanese All-Party Parliamentary Group delegation  
On the afternoon of March 31, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation from the British-Taiwanese All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG). In remarks, President Lai expressed gratitude to the UK Parliament for its pivotal role in focusing attention on peace in the Taiwan Strait and raising support for Taiwan’s international participation. The president also thanked the UK government for its past deployment of an aircraft carrier to the Indo-Pacific for freedom of navigation operations, saying that these concrete actions help jointly safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the wider region. He expressed hope that, moving forward, Taiwan will further deepen economic and trade exchanges with the UK and promote industrial cooperation so that we can jointly open a new chapter of prosperity and development for the Indo-Pacific economy.
A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:
I warmly welcome the British-Taiwanese APPG delegation to Taiwan. Last year, Co-chair Lord Rogan came to attend the Formosa Club Annual Conference. It is a great pleasure to see him again today. This visit fully demonstrates the UK Parliament’s staunch support for Taiwan. In recent years, Taiwan-UK relations have grown even closer. The UK Parliament has always played a pivotal role in focusing UK government attention on peace in the Taiwan Strait and raising support for Taiwan’s international participation. I would like to sincerely thank our friends in the Houses of Parliament for their strong support of Taiwan through such concrete actions as public debates, written parliamentary questions, and joint letters.
The current international situation is rapidly evolving. Peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are not only vital to regional security but are also closely intertwined with global supply chain resilience and world prosperity. I would also like to thank the UK Parliament and government for openly opposing on multiple occasions any unilateral change to the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, and for emphasizing that the security of the Indo-Pacific and transatlantic regions is closely intertwined. As a responsible member of the international community, Taiwan will fulfill its responsibilities in maintaining regional security. I hope that, moving forward, the UK government will continue to place focus on peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. I also wish to express my sincere gratitude to the UK government for its past deployment of an aircraft carrier to the Indo-Pacific for freedom of navigation operations. These concrete actions help jointly safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the wider region. 
Beyond security issues, there is much potential for cooperation between Taiwan and the UK in such areas as technological innovation, economic resilience, and the green energy transition. In 2023, Taiwan and the UK signed the Enhanced Trade Partnership (ETP) arrangement, marking Taiwan’s first institutionalized bilateral economic and trade framework with a European country. Last year, under the ETP framework, we further signed three pillar arrangements under the ETP covering investment, digital trade, and energy and net zero.
In closing, I would like to reiterate my gratitude for your unwavering support of Taiwan, and may the friendship between Taiwan and the UK continue to deepen. We sincerely look forward to working together with you all to ensure that the development of Taiwan-UK relations continues to reach new milestones. Moving forward, Taiwan will further deepen economic and trade exchanges with the UK and promote industrial cooperation. We also hope that the UK will continue to support Taiwan’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership so that we can jointly open a new chapter of prosperity and development for the Indo-Pacific economy.
Co-chair Lord Rogan then delivered remarks, saying that they are very pleased and honored to visit Taiwan. He mentioned that he is an old visitor to Taiwan, having first come here in 1972 as a businessman and many years afterwards, and that he first came here as a parliamentarian in 2005. He noted that the changes he has seen in Taiwan’s society and economy from those periods were enormous and left him with a deep impression. In recent years, he mentioned, he has come to Taiwan to attend the Formosa Club Annual Conference and President Lai’s inauguration, adding that with each visit he is amazed at Taiwan’s progress and prosperity.
Co-chair Lord Rogan said that as a businessman, he has watched with envy the way that Taiwan has moved its economy from basic textiles to now high-quality jobs, high technology, and not least, its semiconductor industry, which, he noted, produces 60% of the world’s chips and 95% of the advanced chips. For Taiwan, a country that has limited natural resources, he emphasized, this is an amazing achievement. He further noted that Taiwan’s natural resources are, in fact, its people.
Co-chair Lord Rogan said that for most of his colleagues, who have never been here before, a visit like this shows them the success and the pleasure of coming to Taiwan. He said that by meeting President Lai and various ministers, officials, and business leaders, it gives them more insight and knowledge of the success of Taiwan and the problems that it may face. He said that they will be leaving Taiwan with a great impression and much pleasure. He mentioned that this visit allows his colleagues who are first visiting Taiwan to speak with authority when they speak in Parliament, since they have actually seen the situation on the ground in Taiwan.
Co-chair Lord Rogan emphasized that their visit demonstrates the support Taiwan has in the British government to the government and people of Taiwan. He explained that representatives from all parts of the UK have shown support for Taiwan – in both Houses of Parliament, the Commons and the Lords, and that the support extends into the five parties and the four countries that make up the UK – Wales, Northern Ireland, England, and Scotland. He said that the visit also shows to the outside world and Taiwan’s neighbors the support it has from the UK.
Co-chair Lord Rogan expressed his appreciation that Taiwan is a liberal democracy in a part of the world where there are others that are not democracies. He then expressed his agreement with President Lai’s remarks about the Taiwan Strait and how important it is at the current time to have the strait open for international trade, adding that this has never been more relevant than today with the current turbulent international situation. In closing, Co-chair Lord Rogan gave his assurance that in London they are striving day after day to promote Taiwan’s involvement in international relations and international groups, underscoring that they will continue to do so.
The delegation also included Lord Davies of Gower, Member of Parliament Layla Moran, Lord Randall of Uxbridge, Lord Tope, Lord Dodds of Duncairn, Member of Parliament Leigh Ingham, Member of Parliament Graeme Downie, Member of Parliament Dan Aldridge, and was accompanied to the Presidential Office by British Office Taipei Director of Regional Security Matt Nottingham. 

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MOEA Holds Zonal Development Selection Briefing, Aims to Complete Allocation by Year-End

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) held another briefing today (February 26) on the draft selection mechanism for the Phase 3 Zonal Development of Offshore Wind Power, presenting the revised framework to stakeholders. The draft outlines the review focus and scoring principles for various performance capability criteria.

Under the revised proposal, the incentive mechanism will consolidate three elements, including early completion and grid connection, local industrial and economic benefits, and energy resilience. Projects are eligible to receive up to five years of extended power sales period as an incentive. In addition, the purchase price for surplus green electricity will be set at NTD 2.29 per kWh, based on Taipower’s average avoided cost.

The current round also introduces a capacity expansion mechanism, allowing selected wind farms to expand their allocated capacity by up to 50% of the originally awarded capacity, depending on their evaluation ranking.

The MOEA stated that the revised draft incorporates feedback received during the previous briefing. The objective is to further clarify the content of the draft selection mechanism so that developers can better evaluate the framework and prepare for the selection process. Stakeholders are invited to submit written comments to the Ministry by March 5, and the MOEA aims to formally announce the mechanism in the first quarter of 2026.

For the Round 3 of Zonal Development selection, developers will be evaluated based on their performance capabilities. The scoring criteria include developer track record (35 points), financial capability (30 points), and project execution capability (35 points). Within the project execution capability category, the assessment covers project implementation readiness (15 points), ESG planning (15 points), including local industrial and economic benefits, environmental sustainability, and corporate social responsibility, and energy resilience (5 points). The Energy Administration (EA) under the MOEA emphasized that developers must provide comprehensive explanations and planning regarding their track record, financial capability, and project execution capability, stressing that participation in the selection process goes beyond a purely paper-based evaluation.

The EA stated that, in addition to assessing developers’ domestic and international track records, the evaluation criteria will also cover developers’ past contract performance records. Scoring will consider the progress made in obtaining key approvals and documentation, such as the preparatory permit for the electricity enterprise establishment and underwater cultural heritage survey documents for the wind farm project.

Moreover, local industrial and economic benefits (10 points) and energy resilience (5 points) will be evaluated based on the wind farm capacity and the corresponding investment amounts. Taking a 500 MW wind farm as an example, a project may receive 5 points under the local industrial and economic benefits category if the committed amount reaches NTD 20 billion, and the full 10 points if it reaches NTD 30 billion. For the energy resilience category, 2 points may be awarded if the committed amount reaches NTD 1.6 billion, and the full 5 points if it reaches NTD 2.5 billion.

Additional criteria include environmental sustainability (3 points) and corporate social responsibility (2 points), which will be evaluated based on principles such as the adoption of recyclable blades, compliance with fisheries liaison guidelines, and the planning of social responsibility measures by developers and their supply chains. In essence, the mechanism emphasizes quality over quantity and aims to encourage capable teams with strong execution capabilities.

The EA further noted that, under the newly introduced incentive mechanism in this round, the items of early completion and grid connection, local industrial and economic benefits, and energy resilience will be combined for calculation. Wind farm projects may receive up to five years of extended power sales period as an incentive.

Another newly introduced capacity expansion mechanism will grant selected wind farms eligibility to expand their capacity based on their evaluation ranking. The expanded capacity may reach up to 50% of the originally allocated capacity, and such expansion must be completed and connected to the grid by the end of 2031.

Lastly, the EA stated that the total capacity of 3.6 GW allocated in this round will, in principle, be distributed based on existing available sea areas. The MOEA also expressed appreciation for the constructive suggestions provided by stakeholders regarding offshore wind development policies and the selection mechanism. Taking these inputs into account, the MOEA has refined and optimized the proposed mechanism.

The selection mechanism is expected to be formally announced in the first quarter of 2026, with the goal of completing the capacity allocation process by the end of 2026. Through stable and predictable policy planning, the government aims to create a favorable environment for green power development, attract continued international investment in Taiwan, and ensure the timely achievement of renewable energy policy targets.

Spokesperson for Energy Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs: Deputy Director General, Chung-Hsien Chen
Phone Number: 02-2775-7770, 0919-998-339
Email: ctchen2@moeaea.gov.tw

Business Contact: Director, Ju-Ming Cheng
Contact Phone Number: 02-2775-7778, 0952-279-720
Email Address: jmcheng@moeaea.gov.tw

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Mobilisation collective pour une consommation d’énergie responsable

Source: Gouvernement de la Nouvelle-Caledonie

Dans le contexte international actuel, marqué par des tensions au Moyen-Orient qui ont déjà des répercussions sur les prix de l’énergie et sont susceptibles d’en entraîner de nouvelles dans les semaines à venir, le gouvernement de la Nouvelle-Calédonie appelle chacun à faire preuve de responsabilité et de mesure, sans céder à l’inquiétude.
Dans cet esprit, et en cohérence avec les recommandations de l’Agence internationale de l’énergie (AIE), il apparaît utile d’encourager, dès à présent, des gestes simples permettant de maîtriser notre consommation de carburant et d’énergie.

Le gouvernement invite donc les Calédoniens, lorsque cela est possible, à :

  • limiter leurs déplacements non essentiels, dans une logique d’économie de carburant ;
  • privilégier le télétravail, en concertation avec les employeurs ;
  • recourir au covoiturage, afin d’optimiser les trajets et réduire le nombre de véhicules en circulation ; 
  • favoriser l’usage des transports en commun, chaque fois que les conditions le permettent.

Ces pratiques contribuent à une utilisation plus raisonnée de l’énergie, tout en participant à la réduction des dépen ses contraintes pour les ménages. 

Souhaitant être exemplaire dans cette démarche, le gouvernement de la Nouvelle Calédonie va également engager ses directions et services à renforcer les mesures de sobriété énergétique (adaptation de l’éclairage et de la climatisation, limitation des consommations inutiles, et diffusion de bonnes pratiques dans les usages quotidiens) et à encourager le recours au télétravail lorsque cela est possible pour les agents publics.

Par ailleurs, le gouvernement appelle l’ensemble des administrations et des établissements publics à renforcer leurs efforts en matière de sobriété énergétique.

Cette démarche se veut préventive, collective et non contraignante. Elle repose sur l’engagement de chacun, dans un esprit de solidarité et d’anticipation face aux évolutions du contexte international.

Le gouvernement de la Nouvelle-Calédonie continuera de suivre avec attention la situation et tiendra la population informée si nécessaire.

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50th Hong Kong International Film Festival opens today

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

50th Hong Kong International Film Festival opens today       
     Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Permanent Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ms Vivian Sum, extended her congratulations on the Golden Jubilee of the HKIFF, adding that the HKIFF has been showcasing remarkable local and Chinese Mainland productions to the world over the years, while also bringing outstanding international works to the city, fully demonstrating Hong Kong’s advantages as the East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. The Government will continue to provide steadfast support for the development of the local film industry, further encouraging more multidisciplinary collaborations and film tourism initiatives, with a view to highlighting the unique charm of Hong Kong cinema.
      
     The HKIFF, running from April 1 to 12, features over 200 films from more than 70 countries and regions. Other events include masterclasses and seminars where audiences will be able to engage with international filmmakers. In addition, a commemorative exhibition titled “50 and Beyond: The Hong Kong International Film Festival Golden Jubilee Exhibition” is being held at Hong Kong City Hall. The exhibition, which reviews the HKIFF’s 50-year journey and its achievements in promoting cultural exchange, is open to the public for free.
      
     For more information about the HKIFF, please visit www.hkiff.org.hkIssued at HKT 21:15

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Director of Immigration officiates at Passing-out Parade

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Director of Immigration officiates at Passing-out Parade  
     In his speech, Mr Kwok said that the year 2026 marks the significant milestone of the 65th anniversary of the establishment of the Immigration Department (ImmD). He stated that since its establishment in 1961, the ImmD has always walked abreast with the Hong Kong community, staying united in guarding Hong Kong and serving the public. Reflecting on his 36 years of service with the ImmD, he has witnessed the continuous evolution of its services, which has fully demonstrated the spirit of keeping pace with the times and striving for excellence. With the department’s headquarters relocated to Tseung Kwan O, all its branches have been working together to enhance efficiency by proactively embracing technology and harnessing AI to move towards the era of a “Smart ImmD” while steadfastly upholding its original aspiration of providing “people-oriented” services.
 
     Looking ahead, Mr Kwok remarked that the ImmD will continue to stand at the forefront of Hong Kong’s development, supporting the National 15th Five-Year Plan, and to better integrate into and serve the overall development of the country. Specifically, this will include further enhancement of clearance modes at various control points, implementing “collaborative inspection and joint clearance” and “contactless clearance”; deep integration of AI with next-generation identity-identification technologies to ensure Hong Kong’s continued leading position in immigration management internationally; and constant refinement of visa policies to inject new impetus into Hong Kong’s economic development.
 
     Mr Kwok encouraged the graduates to remain united and display team spirit. He also urged them to demonstrate integrity and probity during law enforcement, while maintaining a warm and sincere attitude when delivering services to honour the uniform they put on. He expressed hope that the graduates, in whatever positions, would “identify, respond to and steer changes” to ensure that ImmD service has always acted ahead of time.
 
     During the parade, the Immigration Band played multiple pieces of military band music of a new era, patriotic songs and pop classics, then assembled with the Guard of Honour to form the number “65”, followed by concentric circles representing the department’s values. This was to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the department’s establishment, and to symbolise that all members of the ImmD work in seamless harmony with one heart and one mind. The ImmD is committed to taking the safeguarding of national security as its primary mission by upholding its core values of “Patriotism and Perseverance”, thereby guarding the southern gateway of the country while fully supporting social development and the needs of the community.
Issued at HKT 19:22

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Hong Kong Customs conducts anti-illicit cigarette patrol and publicity activities in Sham Shui Po District

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Hong Kong Customs conducts anti-illicit cigarette patrol and publicity activities in Sham Shui Po District       
     Customs will continue to strengthen patrols, publicity and education to raise the public awareness of anti-illicit cigarettes. Customs reminds members of the public not to buy or sell illicit cigarettes to avoid creating a criminal record that could affect their future.Issued at HKT 17:35

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Re-launch of Reporting Scheme for Unauthorised Building Works in New Territories Exempted Houses

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following the direction of earlier proposals, the Buildings Department (BD) announced today (April 1) the re-launch of the Reporting Scheme for Unauthorised Building Works (UBWs) in New Territories Exempted Houses (NTEHs). The reporting period will last for one year from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027.
 
“In view of the history and unique circumstances of the NTEHs (commonly known as village houses), the Government launched a one-off administrative reporting scheme in 2012 as a special arrangement. Under the scheme, owners could report to the BD about UBWs that were erected before June 28, 2011, posed lower risks or constituted less serious contravention of the law. The reporting period ended in December 2012. The Development Bureau (DEVB) put forward proposals to amend the Buildings Ordinance in December 2024, which included rationalising the policy for handling UBWs. The DEVB also pointed out that in response to the views of villagers and Legislative Council members that the reporting period was too short, the Government prepared to re-launch the Reporting Scheme to allow owners who at that time did not report their UBWs to do so,” a spokesman for the BD said. 
 
Relevant stakeholders and Legislative Council members generally considered the above proposals practical and feasible, and they welcomed the proposals. The DEVB and the BD have also consulted Heung Yee Kuk on the relevant implementation arrangements.
 
The re-launched Reporting Scheme will maintain the original criteria, including:
 
(1) The types of UBWs that can be reported and their erection dates are the same as the original Reporting Scheme, meaning that only UBWs erected before June 28, 2011, posed lower risks or constituted less serious contravention of the law and were not the First Round Targets (Note) are eligible. Examples include signboards projecting from the external walls of village houses; enclosed rooftop structures with a coverage of not more than 50 per cent of the roofed-over area of the main building.
 
(2) Same as the original Reporting Scheme, owners are required to conduct safety inspections on the reported UBWs every five years.
 
“The BD will not require the immediate removal of the reported UBWs unless their structures become obviously dangerous. Regarding UBWs in village houses, the BD is prioritising the handling of First Round Targets. If any relevant UBWs remain not reported after the application deadline of March 31, 2027, the BD will, after dealing with the First Round Targets, take priority enforcement action against the non-reported UBWs. The BD will formulate enforcement strategy for the reported UBWs at a later stage in accordance with the risks and the actual situation,” the spokesman added.

To enhance the efficiency of processing applications, reports must be submitted via the electronic platform on the BD’s website by technically competent persons or registered professional engineers appointed by owners. In accordance with the user-pays principle, an administrative fee of $600 is payable for each application. Upon successful reports, owners must also pay the relevant administrative fee when conducting safety inspections of the reported UBWs every five years.
 
Details of the re-launched Reporting Scheme are available on the BD’s website at https://www.bd.gov.hk/en/safety-inspection/ubw/UBW-in-new-territories-exempted-houses/index_relaunch_reporting_scheme.html; Villagers who wish to report can call 2626 1616 for enquiry. The BD will also use different channels such as distributing leaflets and posters to Rural Committees to enable villagers to know more about the re-launch of the Reporting Scheme.
 
Owners who had successfully participated in the Reporting Scheme in 2012 are not required to submit reports again. However, they must continue to comply with the requirements of the original Reporting Scheme, including conducting safety inspections of the reported UBWs every five years, submitting safety certificates and paying administrative fees to the BD.

Note: The First Round Targets refer to UBWs with higher potential risks and more serious nature, such as village houses of four storeys or more, and enclosed rooftop structures covering more than 50 per cent of the roofed-over area.

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LCQ21: Toys and children’s products safety

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

LCQ21: Toys and children’s products safety 
Question:
 
     The Government published in the Gazette the Toys and Children’s Products Safety Ordinance (Amendment of Schedules 1 and 2) Notice 2026 on March 13 this year, which seeks to update the safety standards for toys and four classes of children’s products listed in Schedule 2 (i.e. children’s high chairs and multipurpose high chairs for domestic use, children’s paints, playpens for domestic use, and wheeled child conveyances) under the Toys and Children’s Products Safety Ordinance (Cap. 424). The Notice will take effect in August this year. The industry has reflected that with frequent updates of the standards, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) including importers, retailers and manufacturers face multiple challenges in adapting to new regulations, clearing existing stock and complying with international standards; and at the same time, the influx of large quantities of untested cross-border online-purchased toys into Hong Kong also creates an unfair situation for law-abiding local businesses. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) in the past three years and this year to date, of (i) the number of complaints concerning unsafe toys and children’s products received, (ii) the number of proactive inspections carried out, (iii) the number of samples taken for testing, (iv) the number of cases found to be in breach of regulations (stating the main causes of non-compliance: excessive levels of plasticiser and heavy metals, small detachable parts posing choking hazards, absence of bilingual warning labels, etc) by the Customs and Excise Department, and (v) the number of prosecutions initiated by the authorities and the penalties imposed on the convicted, with a breakdown of the aforesaid in tabular form;
 
(2) as it has become increasingly popular in recent years for members of the public to purchase toys through cross-border e-commerce platforms, whether the authorities have compiled statistics on the number and proportion of toys that do not meet the latest safety standards of Hong Kong; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
 
(3) in response to the inflow of non-local toys into Hong Kong that are not tested locally, whether the authorities have proactively established cross-regional co-operation and notification mechanisms with the relevant Mainland authorities or major online shopping platforms to block at source the inflow of unsafe toys into Hong Kong; if so, of the details and timetable; if not, the reasons for that;
 
(4) whether the authorities will consider providing one-stop regulatory advisory services or transitional guidance, with designated personnel assisting SMEs in clarifying the latest toy safety standards of different economies (such as the European Standard BS EN and the International Standard ISO); if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
 
(5) given that the latest revised standards will come into force in August this year and many local toy manufacturers have reflected that the transition period is too short such that they may not have enough time to procure and upgrade production machinery and testing equipment in order to comply with the new regulatory requirements, whether the authorities will consider providing a more flexible grace period or transitional arrangements for the industry; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
 
Reply:

President,
 
     The Government attaches great importance to ensuring the safety of toys and children’s products and regulates the safety of toys and children’s products which are manufactured, imported or supplied for local consumption, in accordance with the Toys and Children’s Products Safety Ordinance (Cap. 424).
 
     The relevant safety standards set out in the Ordinance are international standards or standards adopted by major economies. The Government keeps in view any updates or amendments made to the relevant safety standards and amends the schedules to the Ordinance annually to update the safety standards applicable to toys and children’s products supplied in Hong Kong, ensuring the standards are up-to-date and operative versions. For this year’s amendments, the Government submitted the proposed amendments to the safety standards applicable to toys and four classes of children’s products, namely “children’s high chairs and multi-purpose high chairs for domestic use”, “children’s paints”, “playpens for domestic use” and “wheeled child conveyances”, which was laid on the table of the Legislative Council on March 18, 2026.
 
     As the enforcement agency of the Ordinance, the Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) proactively conducts surveillance visits in the market and on online shopping platforms. In light of risk assessment, the C&ED test-purchases different types of toys and children’s products and passes them to the Government Laboratory for safety tests. Besides, the C&ED conducts investigations into the complaints received and the cases referred from relevant government departments or organisations and takes appropriate enforcement actions based on facts and evidence. In addition, the C&ED will actively follow up information about suspected unsafe toys and children’s products obtained from different sources, such as media coverage, measures taken by the Mainland or overseas places against certain toys and children’s products, the news about product safety issued by law enforcement agencies and institutions of product safety outside Hong Kong, etc.
 
     Having consulted the C&ED and the Trade and Industry Department (TID), our reply to the various parts of the question is as follows:
 
(1) and (2) From 2023 to the end of February 2026, the C&ED received 72 complaints in relation to unsafe toys and children’s products, conducted 5 695 surveillance visits and spot checks, conducted 671 product samples testing and investigated 90 cases. During the above period, the C&ED prosecuted the persons or companies involved in eight cases related to toys and four cases related to children’s products. All the defendants (including nine companies and two persons) were convicted and fined by the Court, with the amount ranging from $3,000 to $32,000. Furthermore, the C&ED issued 17 prohibition notices to prohibit related persons from supplying products that were believed to be unsafe for a specified period of time; and issued 68 warning letters. Meanwhile, the C&ED conducted 38 blitz checks at boundary control points to combat the import of unsafe toys and children’s products into Hong Kong. The relevant figures categorised by year are listed in the table at Annex. The C&ED did not compile statistics on the situation involving cross-boundary e-commerce platforms separately.
 
     All along, the C&ED considers the enforcement priorities in accordance with the established risk management principles and procedures, with a view to ensuring the proper and effective use of resources. Meanwhile, the C&ED conducts risk assessments on individual cases, closely monitoring the toys available in the market as well as on online platforms and stepping up spot checks and safety testing on toys of relatively higher risk. In addition to law enforcement actions, the C&ED strives to strengthen compliance promotion to assist traders (including online platforms) in understanding the requirements of the Ordinance. Regarding the publicity and education, the C&ED has been organising seminars and distributing pamphlets about the Ordinance to provide consumers with the information on toy safety.
 
(3) As many local goods are purchased through different channels from the Mainland, the C&ED has maintained effective communication and co-operation with the relevant Mainland authorities, covering exchange of information and intelligence on unsafe products under the established notification mechanism. In addition, the C&ED has proactively engaged with major Mainland online shopping platforms to establish closer communication channels, thereby strengthening the efforts to block unsafe products from entering the local market.
     
     In February this year, the C&ED signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the cross-boundary e-commerce platform, namely Taobao & Tmall, to further enhance collaboration and promote compliance so as to jointly prevent unsafe products from entering Hong Kong through online shopping channels, thereby providing more comprehensive protection for local consumers.
 
(4) According to the Ordinance, toy manufacturers, importers and suppliers are required to comply with all the applicable requirements contained in any one of the three toy standards specified in Schedule 1 to the Ordinance. The Government keeps in view amendments to the safety standards, and at the same time monitors the latest requirements for toys safety standards from law enforcement agencies and institutions of product safety outside Hong Kong, and will update or revise the Schedules to the Ordinance as and when appropriate.
 
     The TID publishes the Commercial Information Circulars about the relevant trade information (including toy safety) on its website to keep the trade informed of the latest safety requirements or standards of markets outside Hong Kong in a timely manner. The C&ED has also been striving to carry out compliance promotion for traders to assist the traders in understanding the relevant toy safety requirements of the Ordinance.
 
(5) In the light of the updates or amendments to various safety standards by the standardisation bodies concerned, the Government formulates proposals to amend the schedules to the Ordinance annually, conducts public consultation on the amendment proposals to inform relevant stakeholders, including the trade, of the latest amendments to the relevant safety standards and seeks their views on the relevant amendments. Regarding this amendment proposal, we consulted 47 major trade associations (including the Hong Kong Toys Council), children’s product suppliers, testing and certification bodies and organisations advocating for children welfare, which did not raise any objection in principle to the proposed updates or request a grace period or transitional arrangement.
 
     In setting the commencement date of the amendments to the schedules to the Ordinance, the Government needs to consider ensuring the safety of toys and children’s products supplied in Hong Kong, while taking into account the situation that the trade needs time to adapt to the newly amended standards. We will continue maintaining close communication with the trade through existing channels to jointly ensure the safety of toys and children’s products.
Issued at HKT 19:40

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Business of Innovation and Technology Week in April gathers global innovation and technology elites to showcase cutting-edge innovations

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Business of Innovation and Technology Week in April gathers global innovation and technology elites to showcase cutting-edge innovations      
     The fourth InnoEX, co-organised by the ITIB and the HKTDC, will be held from April 13 to 16 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). This annual I&T event, themed “Innovate • Automate • Elevate” this year, will bring together I&T enterprises, industry elites and buyers from Hong Kong, the Mainland and overseas to jointly promote the application of cutting-edge technology solutions in five key areas, namely AI+, robotics, the low-altitude economy, property technology and retail technology, while exploring global collaboration opportunities. The “RoboPark” zone will also be held concurrently, showcasing over 100 robots from technology enterprises in Hong Kong, the Mainland and overseas.
      
     Another highlight of InnoEX is the Smart Hong Kong Pavilion set up by the Digital Policy Office. This year, themed “AI+ Hong Kong”, the pavilion will showcase over 100 I&T solutions, including those developed by the Government that benefit the public and businesses, as well as award-winning I&T projects by local industry and students, demonstrating Hong Kong’s achievements in I&T and smart city development.
      
     The third Hong Kong World Youth Science Conference and the Xiangjiang Nobel Forum will also be held from April 12 to 16 at the HKCEC. The event is organised by the Hong Kong Alumni Association of Beijing Universities with full support from the ITIB. Top I&T talent from around the world including Nobel Prize and Turing Award laureates, academicians, renowned scientists, etc, will gather in Hong Kong to discuss frontier developments and co-operation in areas such as AI, embodied robotics, biomedicine, quantum technology and green energy, thereby enhancing Hong Kong’s international standing in the global scientific arena.
      
     In addition, the International Academicians Hong Kong Forum to be held on April 14 by the International Alliance of Academicians has joined the BIT Week this year. The forum has invited a Fields medallist and over 10 globally renowned experts and academicians in the fields of medicine, AI and higher education as speakers to jointly promote the translation of academic achievements from research to application.
      
     Meanwhile, the 2026 World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit will be held April 13 and 14 at the HKCEC. Under the theme “Digital and Intelligent Empowerment for Innovative Development – Jointly Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace”, the summit is expected to attract more than 1 000 government and business leaders, representatives of international organisations, experts and scholars from around the world to Hong Kong. They will engage in in-depth exchanges on Internet frontier topics to strengthen regional digital collaboration and jointly create new momentum and advantages for the development of the Asia-Pacific region.
      
     The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, said, “Under ‘one country, two systems’, Hong Kong is the only open economy in the world that simultaneously benefits from the strengths of both China and the global community. Through flagship exhibitions and a wide range of activities, the BIT Week in April will bring together over 3 700 exhibitors from 28 countries and regions. This demonstrates Hong Kong’s distinctive advantages of enjoying strong support from the motherland and being closely connected to the world, as well as its best bridging role of ‘bringing in’ and ‘going global’, thereby helping Hong Kong proactively seek development breakthroughs, actively integrate into the National 15th Five-Year Plan, accelerate its development into an international I&T centre, and deepen co-operation with the Mainland and overseas markets.”
      
     Other major industry events during the BIT Week include the HKTDC Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition) and Smart Lighting Expo, as well as the Hong Kong Web3 Festival. Details of the BIT Week can be found at bitweek.hktdc.com/enIssued at HKT 18:23

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