Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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 – 3

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Hong Kong and Shenzhen authorities today announced the launch of five pilot projects in Qianhai that will adopt Hong Kong’s New Engineering Contract (NEC) form or the Smart Site Safety System (4S).

The announcement was made by the Development Bureau (DEVB), the Department of Housing & Urban-Rural Development of Guangdong Province, and the Authority of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Co-operation Zone of Shenzhen Municipality.

The launch ceremony of the Qianhai NEC and 4S pilot projects was held at the NEC Forum for Project Leaders.

Of the five projects, the “11th Road Space Redevelopment Project” and “Guiwan Three Innovation Corridor, Guiwan Three Hub East Corridor & Tinghai Qianwan Four Corridor Project” will adopt the NEC form to optimise their contract management systems.

With the aim of strengthening digital safety supervision, the three 4S projects include the “Tonggang Street (Mawan Second Road to Mawan Avenue) Road & Utility Corridor Project”, “Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Plaza Project (Phase 1) – Trading Plaza Section & Jingxing Jilang Section”, and “Mawan First Development Area 01 Plot East Tower Project”.

The NEC form has been applied to over 850 public works projects in Hong Kong, with a total contract value exceeding $550 billion, since it was introduced in 2009.

Other public organisations, such as the Airport Authority Hong Kong and the MTR Corporation, have also adopted the NEC form.

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To promote the use of 4S, the DEVB, in collaboration with the Construction Industry Council, launched a labelling scheme to award a label to construction sites that have been inspected on-site and assessed as having properly applied the 4S.

To date, over 800 public and private projects have received such labels. Following the 4S adoption, the overall accident rate in the construction industry has been reduced by about 20%.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Dogs will be allowed into 1,000 selected food premises starting July 9, the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) announced today.

The department received 2,205 applications between May 18 and June 8, and conducted an open ballot today to allocate the 1,000 available quotas. All applicants will receive their ballot results via SMS.

FEHD officers will visit the successful food premises on June 16 and 17 to deliver approval letters and brief operators on statutory requirements, licence conditions and compliance arrangements. Successful operators must pay a $140 fee by June 24 to complete the licence amendment process.

Approved premises will receive designated A3-sized signage, which must be displayed prominently at their main entrances starting July 9 so the public can easily identify dog-friendly venues.

To promote the new arrangements, the FEHD will launch a public awareness campaign through television and radio Announcements in the Public Interest. The department will also place advertisements at bus stops, Mass Transit Railway stations and on the exterior walls of government buildings.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Director General David Cheng-Wei Wu attended the screening and panel discussion of In the Making: An Australia–Taiwan Indigenous Art Exchange at Macquarie University’s Sydney City Campus.
In his remarks, DG Wu thanked Ms. Mei-Fen Kuo of Macquarie University’s School of International Studies, the documentary production team, and Dr. Sophie McIntyre of Queensland University of Technology for making this meaningful cultural exchange project possible. The documentary highlights the artistic exchanges between Indigenous artists from Taiwan and Australia, showcasing friendship, mutual understanding, and respect across cultures while strengthening people-to-people ties between the two countries.
DG Wu noted that Taiwan and Australia are both multicultural societies that value Indigenous cultures as an important part of their heritage. He reaffirmed Taiwan’s commitment to supporting cultural dialogue and international exchange, enabling more people to appreciate the richness and vitality of Indigenous cultures.
DG Wu also thanked Taiwan’s Ministry of Education and Macquarie University for supporting the event and expressed hope that continued cultural exchanges will further deepen Taiwan–Australia friendship and cooperation.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

With the Chief Executive-in-Council approving the financial arrangement for the Smart & Green Mass Transit System (SGMTS) in East Kowloon, the Government plans to invite tenders for the project next month, with a target to award the contract next year for commissioning on or before 2033.

The Government once explored connecting the uphill areas of East Kowloon through a heavy railway more than 10 years ago. Given the hilly topography along the proposed alignment and the limited climbing capability of a heavy rail system, some railway sections would need to run deep underground. This would lead to unsatisfactory transport benefits and cost-effectiveness, thus hindering the implementation of the project.

Empowered by technology, the Government adopted the use of SGMTS, which has strong climbing capability, does not require an overhead power system, and is lightweight and flexible in alignment, to overcome the complicated topographical constraints in the uphill areas of East Kowloon.

Similar to the arrangements for the SGMTS in the Kai Tak project, a franchisee responsible for the financing, design, construction, operation and maintenance of the SGMTS will be selected through open tender for the East Kowloon Project, so that the expertise and financial capability of the private sector could be best utilised.

The present value of all projected revenues net of projected expenditures of the project will fall short of the expected return on capital.

With a view to increasing incentives, the Government will provide funding support for the East Kowloon Project through granting property development rights of three sites primarily for residential uses to the future franchisee.

This will also enhance the growth and vitality of the areas served by the SGMTS, and in turn strengthen the ridership of the SGMTS.

The three sites are the Depot Site at Ma Yau Tong, the Kai Tak Site which comprises Sites 3E1 and 3E2 in Kai Tak, and the Cha Kwo Ling Road Site at Cha Kwo Ling Road and near Kwun Tong Road.

A tenderer will propose in its financial proposal a fixed sum payable to the Government, which will serve as the key financial assessment criterion of the tender.

The Government will grant these three sites to the franchisee to be selected through open tender by way of private treaty grants at nominal premium, while the franchisee has to pay the Government the fixed sum specified in its tender.

Upon completion of the East Kowloon Project, the anticipated commuting time to and from Po Tat/Sau Mau Ping areas to either Yau Tong or Choi Hung will be around 10 to 15 minutes, which is about half of that for road-based traffic.

Along the alignment, over 300,000 residents will be served, covering more than 40 housing estates, more than 50 key medical and social welfare facilities/venues, including medical facilities, services for the elderly, vocational rehabilitation services, rehabilitation services for persons with disabilities, and rehabilitation services for the elderly, as well as more than 35 schools.

In the early planning stage, the Government conducted more than 20 consultation sessions and site visits to listen to views and improve the proposal.

The project will provide round-the-clock pedestrian links at the stations and will install 10 sets of escalators and lifts, which will serve as additional convenient uphill and downhill access routes for enhancing connectivity among the communities and facilitating accessible mobility for the elderly and those in need, including enhancing the barrier-free connectivity between the station at Shun On and United Christian Hospital.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

On the morning of June 10 local time (morning of the same day Taipei time), Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao held a reception in Palau for the press corps traveling with her delegation. At the reception, the vice president explained the three objectives assigned to her by President Lai Ching-te, including deepening the diplomatic ties between Taiwan and Palau, assisting Palau in promoting tourism, and witnessing the achievements of Taiwan-Palau cooperation through the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project. The vice president also shared the experiences and insights she gained on the trip.
The vice president stated that she was deeply honored to be entrusted by President Lai to visit Palau on behalf of the people of Taiwan. She mentioned that during the reception she would be explaining the three objectives assigned to her by President Lai and sharing her experiences and impressions from the trip. The vice president said that during the packed itinerary of the past few days, she also gained many valuable lessons and insights.
The vice president pointed out that the first task entrusted to her by President Lai was to “deepen the diplomatic ties between Taiwan and Palau.” During this visit, President Surangel S. Whipps, Jr. personally accompanied the delegation to visit the iconic natural and historical sites of Palau. The trip also included exchanges with various sectors of Palau society, including traditional leaders and government officials. Vice President Raynold Oilouch even greeted the delegation at the airport upon their arrival. As Vice President Oilouch also serves as the minister of health and human services, he personally briefed the delegation on the cooperative achievements of Taiwan and Palau in medicine.
In addition, the visiting delegation interacted with many local schoolchildren and received a warm welcome at events ranging from the welcoming banquet and baseball activities to various other stops on their itinerary. Overall, this visit touched on a wide range of areas, and good interactions were established with local residents through grassroots activities and joint inspections of Taiwan-Palau cooperative projects.
Regarding the second objective, “assisting Palau in promoting tourism,” the vice president stated that tourism is one of Palau’s important industries, and Palau also hopes that Taiwan can further assist in promotion. Accompanied and guided by President Surangel S. Whipps, Jr., the vice president once again witnessed the beautiful scenery of Palau, and said that over the past few days, she had also continued to communicate with the Palauan side and discuss the travel preferences of Taiwanese tourists.
The vice president mentioned that over the past few years, Palau has also been impacted by China’s weaponization of tourism, by which it uses the number of tourists as a means of coercion. Sometimes they allow tourists to enter, and other times they restrict or prohibit entry, implementing various forms of control that have caused significant fluctuations in Palau’s number of tourists. However, Taiwanese tourists have always loved Palau, and in recent years, more and more travelers from Europe and America have come to visit.
The vice president stated that the third objective is to “witness the achievements of the long-term efforts of the Taiwan-Palau diplomatic alliance.” Taking road construction as an example, she said that on Palau’s Babeldaob and Peleliu islands, one can see many infrastructure projects for which Taiwan has provided assistance. The flags of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the Republic of Palau are visible everywhere, symbolizing the achievements of the joint efforts of both countries. In addition to infrastructure, the delegation also witnessed the efforts and contributions of the Taiwan Technical Mission in Palau, including their professional assistance in agricultural development and engagement in education, language teaching, and information technology. Young people from Taiwan doing alternative national service in Palau are also helping to promote digitalization locally, and their achievements are deeply appreciated by the people of Palau.
The vice president further explained that the Taiwan Technical Mission not only provides guidance in agricultural technology, but also helps improve the nutritional profile of Palau’s people, which is related to close cooperation in the fields of medicine and public health. The fresh fruits and vegetables cultivated by the Taiwan Technical Mission provide more diverse options for local elementary school students. Due to Palau’s geographical and environmental factors, canned foods have long been a staple, and highly processed foods can pose long-term health risks. Taiwan’s promotion of fresh fruits and vegetables and local communication and interaction have therefore won praise from Palauans.
The vice president further pointed out that this trip also included a special visit to Belau National Hospital, and she expressed gratitude to Shin Kong Hospital for officially launching medical cooperation with Palau. During the various exchanges, she said that she could see that in addition to government-supported cooperation projects, there was also significant involvement from Taiwan’s private healthcare system. For example, physicians from Chang Gung Memorial Hospital traveled to Palau to open volunteer clinics and led young medical students participating in President Lai Ching-te’s Taiwan Global Pathfinders Initiative to engage in medical diplomacy together, fully demonstrating the close cooperation between the two sides in various fields. In addition, the vice president mentioned, in August this year Palau will host the Pacific Islands Forum. She said she looks forward to sharing the achievements of Taiwan-Palau cooperation with other Pacific Island countries through the forum, showcasing the spirit of “Taiwan Can Help” and the people of Taiwan as a force for good.
The vice president mentioned that the past few days of close interactions have helped her to develop a deeper understanding of Palauan culture and aspirations. She noted that besides being the nearest diplomatic ally of Taiwan, Palau is also the only one of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies that has direct flights to and from Taiwan, which is convenient regardless of whether one is traveling for tourism or for other purposes. Another interesting point is the fact that Palau and Taiwan are both island nations with deep ties to Austronesian history. Palau attaches great importance to the preservation of traditional culture and languages, and the people are deeply proud of their traditional culture. The vice president noted that the trip has afforded her opportunities to engage in exchanges with traditional Palauan leaders. The vice president also spoke with Minister of Human Resources, Culture, Tourism and Development Ngiraibelas Tmetuchl about how to spur more diverse exchanges between our two countries, as well as about the indigenous peoples of Taiwan. They focused especially on how to make more use of the Taiwan Global Pathfinders Initiative launched by President Lai to bring about more cultural exchanges between the indigenous youth of Taiwan and young people in Palau, so that more Taiwanese people can understand the highly unique culture of Palau.
In addition to the allure of Palau’s maritime tourism, the vice president also expressed hope that more Taiwanese travelers will develop a deep familiarity with Palau itself. In the future, she said, a more systematic approach can be used to introduce Palau to visitors, including guided tours of notable sites, visits to walking paths, hikes, and other types of outings designed to help Taiwanese visitors better understand Palau’s rich and diverse culture. As for cuisine-focused exchanges, the taro dishes that appear in so much of Palau’s traditional food are key staples in many Pacific Island nations. Taiwan, as well, has many taro products, she noted, but each country has its own flavors and different styles of preparation. These cultural ties will provide important opportunities for more bilateral exchanges in the future.
The vice president stated that in relations between Taiwan and Palau, national interests take top priority, with each side seeking arrangements that best contribute to its own development, including such areas as the economy, industry, and global influence. Palau has long supported Taiwan’s participation in international organizations. She mentioned the example of Vice President and concurrent Health Minister Oilouch, who recently spoke up in strong defense of Taiwan’s international participation during proceedings at the UN General Assembly. Vice President Hsiao said that Taiwan also hopes, by carrying out its various flagship cooperation projects with Palau, to demonstrate to the world Taiwan’s professionalism and capabilities, and to show that Taiwan is able to contribute to the international community.
The vice president said that in addition to diplomatic and strategic interests, our bilateral relations also entail friendships and exchanges at the interpersonal level. Besides government-to-government cooperation projects, she said she has also witnessed many exchanges and interactions among the people of Taiwan and Palau. Mentioning baseball as one example of this, she said that the Palau baseball team is the current champion of the Pacific region. The team has trained with assistance from Taiwan, and locals have expressed gratitude for that support, crediting it with contributing to its development. Now other national teams are seeking Taiwan’s training assistance following the Palau model. Breakthroughs achieved through sports diplomacy of this sort flow from Taiwan’s people power. In the field of medicine, many Taiwan-based NGOs are showing that “Taiwan Can Help” and that “Taiwan is a force for good” in their diplomatic efforts, further building up the bilateral friendship. She said that, in this regard, this trip has been very meaningful.
In closing, the vice president thanked the diplomatic team and embassy staff in Palau for their assistance with the trip. She also thanked the traveling press corps, pointing out that the media workers following the delegation have carried heavy equipment from place to place and worked under intense heat and sunlight – no small feat. She thanked the members of the media for using their professional cameras and in-depth reporting to convey the results of this visit to the people of Taiwan, allowing more people to understand the deep friendship between Palau and Taiwan and become more familiar with Palau’s rich cultural heritage and beautiful natural landscapes.
 

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

On the evening of June 10, Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao returned to Taiwan after the conclusion of her visit to the Republic of Palau, and delivered remarks at Taoyuan International Airport. Vice President Hsiao shared her impressions regarding the diplomatic friendship between Taiwan and Palau, Palauan tourism, and the achievements of the two nations’ cooperation through the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project. She expressed confidence that on their existing solid foundation, Taiwan and Palau will continue to deepen cooperation across various fields to jointly promote well-being and national development for both peoples. The vice president also emphasized that the people of Taiwan are people of the world and have every right to engage with the world, and that continued efforts will help ensure that the world sees Taiwan’s value.
In her remarks, the vice president first thanked those who had come to the airport that evening to greet her, and stated that the mission for the “Palau Prosperity Project” entrusted to her by President Lai Ching-te was a success. This trip marked her first visit to a diplomatic ally since assuming the vice presidency, she noted, adding that the thoughtful arrangements made by President Surangel S. Whipps, Jr. and the Palauan government made her time there deeply memorable. Sharing her impressions from the visit, the vice president noted first that the friendship between Taiwan and Palau is that of Austronesian family members connected across the ocean. The delegation received an enthusiastic reception from President Whipps, Vice President Raynold Oilouch, Palauan government officials, and traditional leaders. The warmth and hospitality of Palau’s people, much like that of the people of Taiwan, allowed her to deeply appreciate the close, family-like bonds between the two, while the familiarity of the shared Austronesian cultural connections that transcend language particularly struck a chord with her.
Second, Vice President Hsiao emphasized that Palau’s deep blue ocean and sunshine are beautiful sights not to be missed. She extended special thanks to President Whipps for personally arranging and leading the delegation to visit some of Palau’s well-known attractions. Through the eyes of the delegation members and the lenses of the media, she noted, the beauty and warmth of Palau can be conveyed to more of Taiwan’s citizens. Palau is the closest diplomatic ally to Taiwan geographically, with four scheduled flights per week taking less than four hours each way. Given these convenient travel options, she strongly recommended that her fellow citizens take the opportunity to visit Palau and experience firsthand its beauty and brilliant sunshine. Third, the vice president highlighted witnessing many achievements of Taiwan-Palau cooperation through the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project, showcasing Taiwan’s capability to contribute to the international community. She pointed out that during the visit, it was announced that Taiwan’s Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau will station personnel in Palau, and drones will be donated to the Palauan government to strengthen various forms of cooperation. She also inspected related infrastructure projects funded by the Taiwan government, observing ongoing construction plans and the tangible achievements of completed projects. Furthermore, she visited Palau’s national hospital, the Taiwan Technical Mission’s demonstration farm, and an aquaculture center, jointly witnessing recent years’ achievements in areas such as infrastructure, agriculture and fisheries, and medicine and public health. These substantive cooperative efforts, she said, give us confidence that Taiwan and Palau will continue to deepen cooperation in various areas on our existing solid foundation, promoting the well-being of both peoples in addition to national development.
The vice president stated that Taiwan’s diplomatic situation is indeed full of challenges, and the pressure faced has never been light. Taiwan is deeply grateful to the Palauan government and people for continuously providing warmth and support, she noted. As President Lai has said, the people of Taiwan are people of the world, and they have every right to engage with the world. Taiwan does not fear adversity, because its people have always been well-intentioned and eager to make concrete contributions to the international community.
Finally, the vice president once again thanked the government of Palau for its gracious support and assistance during her visit. She also expressed special gratitude to Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Lin Ching-yi (林靜儀) and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Baushuan Ger (葛葆萱) for accompanying her throughout the visit, as well as to all the team members from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs involved in preparing the itinerary. The vice president particularly highlighted the personnel stationed at Taiwan’s embassy in Palau, praising the frontline efforts of colleagues across various departments to strengthen Taiwan-Palau relations, expand Taiwan’s international space, and contribute to the global community. This includes experts from the medical and technical missions, numerous civic groups, and the many Taiwanese tourists who love Palau’s oceans. She thanked everyone for their contributions to continuously deepening the friendship between the two diplomatic allies, adding that everyone’s participation made the trip exceptionally rewarding. In addition, the vice president thanked the traveling press corps, noting that their involvement provided fellow citizens with more opportunities to learn about Palau while giving the world more opportunities to see Taiwan’s value.
Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Saint Lucia Ambassador Robert Kennedy Lewis and Palau Embassy Chargé d’Affaires David Adams Orrukem were present at the airport to welcome the vice president.