Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

March 2, 2026-Taipower revealed its 2026 outlook today. The Company will adhere to its mission of ensuring a stable power supply, with a focus on three key topics: future electricity demand trends, developing and enhancing power facility infrasturcture, and urban planning for the semiconductor industry. A Taipower representative emphasized that electricity is a city’s competitive power. As the global AI and semiconductor industries swiftly develop, each region is vying to attract factories. When selecting locations, these industries will prioritize cities that support power plant construction, thus, future urban planning should support enhanced energy development and energy systems.

Taiwan-US tariff fluctuations spur industrial development; energy consumption expected to increase by 5 million kWh by 2030.

Due to new developments in Taiwan-US tariff policies, aligned with the expanded production needs of Taiwan’s AI sector (including related OEM, memory, seals, packaging, and server industry chains), Taipower estimates that energy consumption will increase by over 5 million kWh by 2030. Over the next decade (from 2026 to 2035), growth of energy needs for Taipower’s systems will accelerate noticeably, with the average annual growth more than double that of the previous decade. To satisfy future energy needs and aid in Taiwan’s industrial development, Taipower will continue to examine the supply and demand circumstances for its systems and plans to expand the promotion of energy R&D and grid construction.

In response to energy needs, Taipower is fully investing in energy R&D and grid construction, aiming to support all sectors of society.

In terms of energy sources, a total of four units will be successively brought online this year: Hsinta’s new gas-fired No. 2 and No. 3 units, and Taichung’s new No. 1 and No. 2 units. In the future Taipower will install units with a total capacity of over 5.2 million kWh while simultaneously investing in demonstration work at an unprecedented scale. Meanwhile, the grid faces structural transformation and upgrade challenges. For example, energy consumption by AI data centers is comparable to that of the semiconductor industry; however, the buildings are much smaller in volume than those of the average large manufacturing plant. Data centers can be built in metropolitan areas; however, their energy consumption density far exceeds anything seen before, creating a challenge for existing grid systems. Therefore, electricity resources and proper pairing of facilities are key factors for relevant industries and regional economic growth. Taipower hopes that the public will support its comprehensive investment in necessary infrastructure construction.

Taipower signs agreement with Westinghouse Technology; manufacturer officially stationed at No. 3 Nuclear Plant for safety check.

With regard to nuclear energy, Taipower’s No. 3 Nuclear Plant has completed the initial steps of its plan to restart operations, and the plan will be submitted to the Nuclear Safety Commission (NSC) before the end of March, as scheduled. As for the self-implemented safety check of the No. 3 Nuclear Plant; on January 15 of this year, Taipower signed a memorandum of understanding with the US Westinghouse Company (the original designer of the No. 3 Nuclear Plant). Westinghouse Company has agreed to provide technical assistance and necessary support for the NSC inspection. Moreover, the official procurement agreement was finalized and took effect on February 13. Technical personnel from Westinghouse will be gradually stationed at the No. 3 Nuclear Plant to begin relevant work. Taipower will also adhere to its strict professionalism of treating nuclear safety as the top priority.

Electricity is a city’s competitive power! Industrial strategies and urban planning must prioritize considerations of power infrastructure.

The semiconductor industry is turning to regions with ample power supplies, and AI data centers are being built in places with a resilient power grid. When selecting sites, semiconductor plants and AI data centers prioritize the consideration of cities that support the construction of power plants, establishing an optimal balance of computing power and electricity supply. Furthermore, urban planning is not just about building roads, but also about planning powerlines. It is therefore recommended that future urban planning incorporate the consideration of power infrastructure such as water, electricity, and other basic support lines, as well as space for power substations and other key installations. A Taipower representative emphasized that electricity is a city’s competitive power: The more plentiful a region’s energy sources and the more resilient its power grid, the greater the capability to ensure a stable power supply and attract industrial investments, thereby enhancing the city’s competitive power and promoting regional economic development.

Spokesperson: Chief Administrator Huang Mei-Lin
Phone: (02)2366-6271; 0922-696-383
E-mail: u030573@taipower.com.tw
Contact Person: Department of System Planning Director I Hsu-Chuan
Phone: (02) 2366-6890; 0963-700-600
E-mail: u494500@taipower.com.tw
Contact Person: Department of Nuclear Power Generation Director Lin Chih-Pao
Phone: (02) 2366-7040; 0921-210-506
E-mail: u808941@taipower.com.tw

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Innovation & Technology Commission today announced a third batch of 24 projects to be given funding via the Research, Academic & Industry Sectors One-plus (RAISe+) Scheme.

These projects were recommended by the scheme’s steering committee. The total funding awarded amounts to over $1 billion.

The projects cover health and medical sciences, new materials and new energy, artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, computer science/information technology, electrical and electronic engineering, advanced manufacturing, and more.

Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry Prof Sun Dong said the wide range of the projects involved is a clear testament to Hong Kong’s research and development capabilities and its vibrant I&T ecosystem. 

Source: Government of Singapore

20 April 2026 — The National Environment Agency (NEA) has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) with the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (US NRC) on Regulatory Skills Development.

2            The agreement was signed on 17 April 2026 by Mr Ang Kok Kiat, Group Director of the NEA’s Radiation Protection and Nuclear Science Group, and Mr David Skeen, Director of the US NRC’s Office of International Programs, during the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Convention on Nuclear Safety Review Meeting in Vienna.

Strengthening Nuclear Safety Capabilities

3            Under the MOC, a new training programme will be designed to develop nuclear safety capabilities and regulatory understanding for NEA and its newly formed Nuclear Safety Division. NEA officers will undertake courses and attachments to the US NRC to gain practical experience in areas including reactor regulation, safety assessments, probabilistic risk assessment and inspection procedures. This enhanced expertise will deepen Singapore’s nuclear regulatory knowledge as Singapore studies the potential deployment of nuclear energy.

4            This MOC builds on NEA’s longstanding partnership with the US NRC under an existing arrangement for technical information exchange and cooperation in nuclear safety matters. This partnership also supports the broader US-Singapore civil nuclear cooperation framework, reinforced by the signing of the 123 Agreement in July 2024. It also reflects Singapore’s commitment to building world-class nuclear safety capabilities through international partnerships, including through collaborations with other nuclear regulators in France and Finland.

The agreement was signed on 17 April 2026 by Mr Ang Kok Kiat, Group Director of the NEA’s Radiation Protection and Nuclear Science Group, and Mr David Skeen, Director of the US NRC’s Office of International Programs, during the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Convention on Nuclear Safety Review Meeting in Vienna.

 

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Source: Hong Kong Information Services

To promote National Security Education Day, the Auxiliary Medical Service (AMS) held an open day at its headquarters in Ho Man Tin today. 

The event aimed to enable members of the public to learn about the work of the AMS in safeguarding national security, to enhance public awareness of national security and to further deepen their understanding of its daily operations.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui said that safeguarding national security is the common responsibility of all. 

He highlighted that national security is not confined to a single area, but is closely linked to finance, public health, and everyday community life. Among the 20 major fields of national security, biosecurity is closely related to the work of the AMS. 

The AMS’ services include non-emergency ambulance transfer services, first aid coverage during large-scale public events, as well as duty at country parks and cycling tracks. 

Mr Hui said the AMS spares no effort in safeguarding the safety and health of the general public and thanked its members for their unwavering dedication and commitment to protecting the public.

The open day featured national security-themed game booths, first aid demonstrations, band foot drills, medical and health seminars, health screenings, as well as displays of ambulances and first aid bicycles.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

A local shopping centre is not the first place you would expect to find an indoor soccer pitch, but thanks to a programme run by the Housing Authority, imaginative use of retail spaces is becoming more commonplace.

Offering soccer classes for children, the soccer academy at So Uk Shopping Centre in Sham Shui Po opened last month.

Holly So, one of the school’s coaches, said it primarily caters to children aged three to six. “We mainly provide them with soccer training, as well as soccer competitions.”

 

Pursuing dreams

To support young people in pursuing their entrepreneurial dreams, the Housing Authority’s “Well Being·Start-Up 2.0” programme allows them to trial their business plans rent-free at premises in shopping centres under the authority.

The scheme targets individuals aged 35 or below. After seven rent-free months, the authority offers them discounted rents, with staged increases, for another three years.

Ms So added: “We hope that this pitch can become the established Hong Kong kindergarten soccer competition pitch. We can attract more football players from kindergartens, and we can spread the message that football and kindergarten education can actually integrate together.”

Scaling up

To extend the programme’s coverage and impact, the authority has encouraged private shopping centres and landlords in the commercial sector to join it.

Housing Department Chief Estate Surveyor/Commercial Properties Evelyne Fung said the response from the private sector has been positive, supplementing the shop units offered by the Housing Authority.

“Currently, there are altogether 17 private owners joining this programme, offering shop units with varying rent-free periods. Together with the 12 shop units offered by the Housing Authority, this programme now offers more than 70 shop units for young startups to try out their business plans. The scale is more than seven times that of the first phase.”

Vital programme

The Housing Society also fully supports “Well Being·Start-Up 2.0” by offering designated retail premises to young entrepreneurs.

One group of youngsters has established Hong Kong’s first fitness centre focused on “inclusive” exercise at Health Village in North Point, a property managed by the Housing Society. The facility strives to provide fitness programmes targeted specifically at people with disabilities and the elderly.

Fitness centre founder Adonis Chow remarked that the scheme is vital for startups.

“This programme has let us reduce our economic pressures. The Hong Kong Housing Society provided a seven-month rent-free period for us, and we can feel free to provide more services. Nowadays, around 30% of our customers are newcomers.”

The Housing Authority, meanwhile, stressed that the programme has not only helped startups achieve success but has given residents a greater variety of choice and enhanced retail experiences.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Labour Department’s Registry of Trade Unions (RTU) organised the Seminar on National Security for Trade Unions today to enhance the awareness and sense of responsibility of trade unions in safeguarding national security.

Featuring exchanges of measures taken by the labour sector to safeguard national security, contributing to the security and development of the country and Hong Kong, the seminar attracted around 420 participants on-site and online.

In his opening remarks, Secretary for Labour & Welfare Chris Sun said that the successful conclusion of the eighth-term Legislative Council General Election last year, which fully implemented the principle of “patriots administering Hong Kong” and faithfully upheld the principle of “one country, two systems”, was a crucial realisation of strengthening the national security shield. 

The voter turnout rate in the functional constituency of the labour sector was nearly 90%, fully reflecting the proactiveness of the labour sector in safeguarding the country and home. 

Noting this year marks the beginning of the National 15th Five-Year Plan, Mr Sun said it is incumbent upon all sectors of the community to consider and act on how Hong Kong can make full use of its strengths to serve the country’s needs and further integrate into the overall national development. 

He encouraged the labour sector to seize the opportunities from the National 15th Five-Year Plan, and help contribute Hong Kong’s strengths to the country’s development. 

The labour chief added that apart from the establishment of solid institutional safeguards, every individual and institution must also have the commitment to national security. 

The National 15th Five-Year Plan clearly states the need to strengthen national security education and fortify the defensive line in people. 

According to the Hong Kong National Security Law, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall promote national security education through social organisations, including trade unions, to raise the awareness of national security and law-abidingness among Hong Kong residents. 

He called on the labour sector’s concerted efforts to safeguard national security.

The seminar featured two keynote presentations and a panel discussion session in which four guests shared the measures and practical experiences of labour organisations and trade unions in promoting national security education.

The seminar was co-organised by the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions and the Federation of Hong Kong & Kowloon Labour Unions.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Justice Paul Lam will depart for Beijing tomorrow to attend meetings with various central ministries and authorities to discuss the work of the Department of Justice. 

      

He will be accompanied on the visit by Director of Public Prosecutions Maggie Yang, Law Officer (International Law) James Ding, Solicitor General Llewellyn Mui, Law Officer (Civil Law) Clifford Tavares, and government counsel from various legal divisions.

Mr Lam will return to Hong Kong on April 24. During his absence, Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan will be the Acting Secretary.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The opening ceremony of Hong Kong Reading Week 2026 and 2026 Hong Kong Reading+ was held today to lift the curtain on the diverse reading activities of Hong Kong Reading Week (HKRW) to be held from April 20 to 26.

Addressing the opening ceremony in a video message, Chief Executive John Lee said reading is an important pathway to acquire knowledge, inspire wisdom and cultivate moral integrity, and the promotion of a reading culture can nurture among the public the qualities of in-depth thinking, openness and inclusiveness for developing a rich culture in society. 

He highlighted that the Government has adopted a multipronged approach to promote a reading culture, while fostering regional co-operation and a reading culture spanning various places. 

Mr Lee called upon the public to actively participate in the activities of HKRW and Hong Kong Reading+ to build together a book-loving atmosphere for the country and the city.

 

Under the theme “Delight/LIBRARY”, HKRW offers about 470 activities to foster a reading habit among the public, encouraging participants to savour the flavour of living and the beauty of life through reading. 

To tie in with HKRW, the Hong Kong Publishing Federation is holding 2026 Hong Kong Reading+ at New Town Plaza in Sha Tin from today to next Sunday, with activities including author sharing sessions, an exhibition and workshops. 

The Hong Kong Public Libraries will also introduce its electronic resources to the public and hold parent-child reading activities and handicraft workshops at the venue.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Civil Service Ingrid Yeung said today Permanent Secretaries, though excluded from the accountability system, may still be held responsible if departmental management problems are serious enough to warrant investigation.

Mrs Yeung told reporters this morning the Heads of Department Accountability System is aimed at urging the senior management of departments to improve the day-to-day management of the departments, so that systemic problems would not go unnoticed. 

“The department head and his senior staff will be able to have a very good grasp of what is happening daily in the department, what are the problems, pressure points that the departments are facing, so that these problems and pressure points can be dealt with expeditiously. 

“The emphasis is on the day-to-day management of the department. The main responsibility of it rests with the department head and his senior team of management staff.”

She explained that it is very rare for Permanent Secretaries in the bureaus to be involved in the day-to-day management of departments, hence they are excluded from the definition of heads of departments. 

“​​Permanent Secretaries in the bureaus are to assist the directors of bureaus to formulate and design mechanisms, systems or legislations to implement policies. It is very rare that they are involved in the day-to-day management of departments.”

Mrs Yeung emphasised that everyone who is responsible for the problem will be investigated.

“The investigation team will be tasked to point out everyone involved – everyone having to be responsible for the problem, for causing the problem or not dealing with the problem quickly enough, including anybody, Permanent Secretary or even the one who is on the most frontline, the one who has no management responsibility, if he or she has made a mistake or if he or she has a part to play in causing the problem. The investigation team will point out this is their responsibility,” she added.