Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

The Bureau of Industrial Parks (BIP), Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), announced that Siliconware Precision Industries Co., Ltd. (SPIL), a globally renowned semiconductor assembly and testing company, held a groundbreaking ceremony on September 11, 2026 for its new plant at the Yunlin Industrial Park. The new facility will occupy approximately six hectares and introduce CoWoS advanced packaging processes, representing and investment of approximately NT$100 billion and expected to create 2,200 job opportunities. The plant is scheduled to commence operations in 2028. Upon completion, it will become a major advanced packaging production base in central Taiwan, further strengthening Taiwan’s semiconductor supply chain.
Minister of Economic Affairs Ming-Hsin Kung said that Taiwan’s economy has maintained steady growth in recent years, while its semiconductor packaging and testing technologies remain at the forefront globally. SPIL has established deep expertise in advanced packaging and testing technologies and is actively expanding its production capacity to meet market demand. It’s NT$100 billion investment in the Yunlin Industrial Park not only demonstrates confidence in Taiwan’s investment environment, but will also create employment opportunities and cultivate local talent. He expressed confidence that more industries will invest in Yunlin in the future. The Ministry of Economic Affairs will continue its efforts to support industrial prosperity and local development, working together to foster shared growth.
The BIP pointed out that SPIL’s new plant will be located in the Yunlin Industrial Park, which offers investment advantages including comprehensive public infrastructure, stable water and electricity supplies, and favorable transportation access. These advantages will help establish a major semiconductor industrial cluster in central Taiwan. To support the smooth implementation of the company’s plant construction project, the BIP has established a dedicated project service window to assist with land acquisition, water and electricity supply, wastewater treatment, and various administrative procedures. Through interagency coordination mechanisms, the BIP will also help resolve investment-related obstacles and expedite review processes, demonstrating the government’s strong commitment to creating a business-friendly investment environment and supporting companies in establishing long-term operations in Taiwan.
In response to global supply chain restructuring and the rapid development of the AI industry, the government will continue to advance the Invest Taiwan initiative, improve the availability of industrial land, public infrastructure, and administrative services, and help enterprises accelerate their investment plans. These efforts will further strengthen Taiwan’s competitive advantages in semiconductors, high technology, and smart manufacturing, while working with industry to build more resilient and higher-value-added supply chains.
The groundbreaking ceremony was presided over by SPIL Vice Chairman Yen-Chun Chang. Minister of Economic Affairs Ming-Hsin Kung, Legislators Chien-Kuo Liu, Chia-Chun Chang, and Hsueh-Chung Ting, Yunlin County Magistrate Li-Shan Chang, Douliu City Mayor Sheng-Chueh Lin, BIP Director-General Chih-Ching Yang, Industrial Development Administration Director-General Chiu-Hui Chiu, and Chairman Tsung-Jung Huang of the Yunlin Technology Industrial Park Association, among other distinguished guests, attended the ceremony and witnessed this important milestone. The event symbolized a significant step forward in collaboration among the central government, local authorities, and industry to promote high-tech investment and advance balanced regional development.

Spokesman: Mr. Liu (Deputy Director General, BIP)
Contact Number: 886-7-3613349

Contact Person: Deputy Branch Director Kuo (Tainan Branch, BIP)
Contact Number: 886-6-3842980 ext. 6312

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The nomination period for the 2026 Election Committee Subsector Ordinary Elections will run from October 7 to 20. The number of Election Committee members to be elected by each subsector has been published in the Gazette today.

The Registration & Electoral Office (REO) stated that a candidate must be a registered geographical constituency elector aged 18 or above. They must also be a registered voter for the relevant subsector or have a substantial connection with it.

Every nomination form requires subscriptions from at least five voters registered for the respective subsector.

Nomination forms are available for download on the election website. Candidates can also obtain physical copies at District Offices, Returning Officers’ offices for the relevant subsectors, and REO offices located in Cheung Sha Wan and Kwun Tong.

Call the election hotline on 2891 1001 for enquiries.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Financial Secretary Paul Chan visited China International Capital Corporation Limited (CICC) in Beijing today and met with its Chairman Chen Liang. They had in-depth talks on securities markets, renminbi internationalisation, financial infrastructure and mutual market access.

Mr Chan said that building China into a financial powerhouse requires strong international financial centres and institutions. He noted that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s recently announced First Five-Year Plan and the 2026 Policy Address focus on strengthening Hong Kong’s role as a top financial hub.

These plans support quality enterprises using Hong Kong to grow, serve the real economy, and boost the innovation and technology sector.

Mr Chan expressed hope that CICC will maintain close ties with Hong Kong’s financial regulators to help the city’s capital markets and grow its international business, especially in Belt & Road countries. By leveraging Hong Kong’s unique advantages and strong support from the motherland, as well as its close international connections, both sides can help build the country’s financial strength.

Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui also attended the meeting. Mr Chan and Mr Hui finished their visit to Beijing and returned to Hong Kong this afternoon.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is the speech by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, during his presentation on the discussion topic of “Strengthening and Optimising Social Security Systems for Efficiency, Adaptability and Accountability” at the 8th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Human Resources Development Ministerial Meeting in Nanjing this afternoon (September 21):

Madam Chair, 尊敬的大會主席, 王曉萍部長 (Minister of Human Resources and Social Security, Ms Wang Xiaoping), fellow ministers and colleagues:

Good afternoon. We meet here today to address a structural reality that defines our generation: how can our social security system cope with a rapidly growing elderly population? It is my privilege to be here today to share Hong Kong, China’s experience.

Demographic shift and economic reality

Societal ageing is a global trend and Hong Kong, China is no exception. As of today, elderly people aged 65 and above account for 24.4 per cent of Hong Kong, China’s total population. By 2046, 20 years from now, it will exceed 2.7 million, meaning more than one in three residents in Hong Kong will be elderly. At the same time, our working-age population is shrinking due to a low birth rate.

Faced with this challenge, we must change our mindset. Today’s elderly are healthier, better educated, and more active than past generations. Instead of viewing them as a burden on public resources, we should see them as valuable contributors to our economy and community.

A multitiered financial safety net

To support our elderly population, Hong Kong, China provides reliable financial protection through a multitiered system. Firstly, the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme serves as a safety net of last resort for those experiencing severe financial hardship. I will give an example. A struggling elderly single person receives about US$1,100 per month to cover basic needs. Secondly, we also have the Old Age Living Allowance providing a cash allowance of about US$550 per month for elderly residents with financial needs but who are not too badly off and fall outside the basic safety net. Thirdly, for seniors aged 70 or above, they are eligible for the Old Age Allowance at around US$210 per month, without any financial means test.

Together, these various types of cash allowance reach about 1.4 million elderly. So, that means for every four elderly residents in Hong Kong, three are receiving some form of cash allowance from the Government.

Shifting from welfare to empowerment

A financial safety net is only the foundation. Once basic needs are secure, our focus shifts to empowerment. We encourage active ageing so that seniors can stay fit, mentally sharp, and socially connected. To unleash their full potential, we have launched the Elder Academy Scheme to provide the elderly with continuous educational opportunities. Every year, around 200 schools and universities in Hong Kong together provide over 15 000 learning places on various subjects. In addition, we also encourage volunteerism among the elderly to foster mutual help that includes conducting home visits, providing basic repair support, etc. We consider it important to actively engage our elderly people, in particular the vibrant “young-olds”, to support older generations. With adequate empowerment, we believe that our elderly can be a valuable asset instead of a liability to our society.

Closing remarks

In closing, fellow ministers and colleagues, the future of social security across the APEC region is not just about managing demographic shifts, but about unlocking human potential. By combining strong financial protection with active ageing programmes, Hong Kong, China seeks to turn the challenge of longevity into shared opportunities.

Thank you.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said today (September 21) that to safeguard environmental hygiene and food safety, the department has stepped up intelligence‑led blitz enforcement actions targeting irregularities such as unlicensed hawking and obstruction of passageways at places where foreign domestic helpers gather on holidays across various districts over the past month.
 
During the first few weeks of the operation, the department conducted publicity and education activities. Over the past two weeks, FEHD officers arrested a total of nine persons at foreign domestic helper gathering places for suspected unlicensed hawking and causing obstruction in public places, and seized about 1.5 tonnes of goods, including cooked food, clothes, hats, shoes, handbags and cosmetics. The arrested persons comprised two men and six women of non‑Chinese ethnicity, and one Chinese man, aged 30 to 55. Among them, two men held recognisance forms prohibiting them from taking up employment, and one man held Exit-entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao. For all the arrested persons suspected of breaching their conditions of stay, the FEHD will notify the relevant law enforcement departments to follow up on the cases in parallel.
 
The FEHD has long been concerned about obstruction of passageways, environmental hygiene and food safety problems arising from unlicensed hawking at foreign domestic helpers’ gathering places. The department earlier conducted a publicity and education campaign lasting several weeks in collaboration with staff of relevant consulates‑general in Hong Kong, distributing multi-lingual leaflets at places where foreign domestic helpers frequently gather across various districts to remind them that unlicensed hawking is illegal, and to appeal to them not to patronise unlicensed hawkers.
 
According to the relevant ordinances, unlicensed hawking is subject to a maximum fine of $10,000 and six months’ imprisonment. If unlicensed hawking activities also cause obstruction of passageways, offenders may be fined $25,000 or imprisoned for three months. In addition, any person who sells restricted food (including frozen meat, sashimi and sushi) without permission commits an offence and is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months’ imprisonment upon conviction.
 
The FEHD reaffirmed its commitment to relentlessly curbing unlicensed hawking activities, and stressed that foreign domestic helpers engaging in illegal hawking breach their conditions of stay. Employers are urged to remind their helpers to abide by the law and maintain environmental hygiene. Members of the public who come across suspected unlicensed hawking or other irregularities may report them to the FEHD.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, attended the 8th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Human Resources Development Ministerial Meeting (HRDMM) in Nanjing today (September 21), during which he delivered speeches at the meeting.

The HRDMM has adopted the theme “Modernizing Human Resources Development for A Stronger Asia-Pacific Community”, which echoes the theme of this year’s APEC China “Building an Asia-Pacific Community to Prosper Together”. Addressing the morning session, themed “Promoting High-quality and Full Employment and Employment-Friendly Economic Development”, Mr Sun stated that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG) is paying close attention to the employment situation of young people amidst the wave of AI. The Government is planning a multipronged strategy and formulating appropriate measures to assist more young people in securing on-the-job training opportunities and work experience. He mentioned that the 30 000 Youth Employment and Internship Programme announced by the Chief Executive in the 2026 Policy Address, aims at encouraging employers to provide more opportunities suitable for young people entering the workforce and to facilitate young people’s access to employment information and support services.

Speaking during the first session of the afternoon meeting, themed “Investing in People and Enhancing Vocational Skills Training”, Mr Sun said to address the challenges of an ageing population and AI transformation in Hong Kong society, the HKSARG will continue to invest resources in education and skills upgrading. One of the measures is the upgrading of the Employees Retraining Board to the Upskill Hong Kong, which comprises plans to launch in the first half of 2027 an 18-month AI upskilling campaign, including a free online training course for all with a focus on the workplace application of AI.

The HKSARG will continue to promote lifelong learning and skills enhancement for all, providing various types of skill-based training courses, including AI applications, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of the local workforce and support Hong Kong’s economic development.

The theme of the second session was “Strengthening and Optimising Social Security Systems for Efficiency, Adaptability and Accountability”. Mr Sun briefed the participants regarding the social security system for the elderly introduced by the HKSARG. He mentioned that the Government encouraged active ageing and lifelong education, thereby providing opportunities for the elderly by engaging them in the community. The Government’s view is that by shifting from welfare to empowerment, Hong Kong could seek to turn the challenge of longevity into shared opportunities.

Following the meeting, Mr Sun met with the Director-General of Department of Human Resources and Social Security of Jiangsu Province, Mr Zhu Congming, in the evening to exchange views on promoting talent exchanges and co-operation in human resources services between the two places. The Director of Hong Kong Talent Engage (HKTE), Mr Felix Chan, also joined the visit.

Upon his arrival in Nanjing on the evening of September 19, Mr Sun attended the opening ceremony of the International (Jiangsu) Conference on the Development of Human Resources Services yesterday morning (September 20). In his address at the ceremony, he said that the National 15th Five-Year Plan elevates AI to a strategic level, clearly calling for the comprehensive implementation of the “AI+” initiative to empower all industries in every aspect through AI. The HKSARG has just unveiled Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan and the 2026 Policy Address, formally designating AI as a core strategic industry for driving Hong Kong’s transformation, aligning with the national development strategy and establishing Hong Kong as an international innovation and technology centre. The HKSARG will enrich the Talent List to include more talent categories relating to AI applications, with a view to specifically attracting high-calibre AI technology and industry professionals from both home and abroad.

In the afternoon, Mr Sun also attended a talent entrepreneurship seminar organised by the HKTE in Nanjing, where he met and exchanged views with representatives of local enterprises and individuals interested in moving to Hong Kong. In his speech, Mr Sun highlighted the latest results of Hong Kong’s various talent admission schemes and encouraged entrepreneurs in Nanjing and other Mainland cities to make good use of Hong Kong’s strengths as an international platform for finance, professional services, and innovation and technology to bring innovative ideas, competitive industries and mature business models to Hong Kong and share the opportunities arising from the integrated development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Mr Sun will travel to Shanghai tomorrow (September 22) to continue his visit.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government welcomes the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) to approve the establishment of an Accession Working Group (AWG) today (September 21) to commence the accession process for respective applicant economies including Hong Kong. 
 
The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, said, “The decision concerned is a pivotal step forward in enlarging the membership of RCEP. Hong Kong will actively cooperate and take part in the work of the AWG, including the relevant accession negotiations with RCEP members, with a view to completing all the required procedures as soon as possible”.
 
He reiterated Hong Kong’s full readiness for early accession to RCEP, leveraging Hong Kong’s strengths to contribute significantly to both RCEP and the promotion of regional economic integration. At the same time, Hong Kong’s accession will help consolidate and enhance its status as an international trade centre, generating synergies and creating a win-win outcome.
 
Mr Yau thanked in particular the Central People’s Government, including the Ministry of Commerce, for their strong and enduring support of Hong Kong’s early accession. He also expressed appreciation to RCEP members, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), in support of the establishment of the AWG. During his attendance at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting in Suzhou in May 2026 and his visit to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in August 2026, Mr Yau met many of the Ministers respectively to solicit support for Hong Kong.
 
The HKSAR Government will continue to work closely with the RCEP Support Unit and maintain close liaison with all stakeholders of RCEP members to foster favourable conditions for early accession of Hong Kong to RCEP.
 
The other applicant economies being admitted to the AWG are Bangladesh, Chile and Sri Lanka.
 
RCEP is the world’s largest free trade agreement. Its fifteen member economies include the Chinese Mainland, the ten member states of the ASEAN (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam), Australia, Japan, Korea, and New Zealand. RCEP entered into force on January 1, 2022. The HKSAR Government submitted Hong Kong’s accession request within the same month, being the first among the applicant economies.