Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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Special offers set for National Day

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government and various sectors of the community will launch a series of special offers and activities to celebrate the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, spanning public transport, culture, arts and leisure, as well as dining and consumption.

Among the various offers from public transport operators, the public can enjoy free rides on all passenger tram routes and several ferry routes on October 1. The MTR will give away 77,000 e-single journey tickets via a lucky draw on that day.

Additionally, the public will be offered free admission that day to a number of fee-charging leisure facilities at sports venues of the Leisure & Cultural Services Department. Individual users may submit ballot applications via the SmartPLAY system on September 22.

The Hong Kong Wetland Park, under the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department, will offer complimentary entry.

All commercial cinemas will provide half-price movie tickets on October 1.

The Jockey Club will hold the National Day Raceday at Sha Tin Racecourse on October 1, allowing spectators free admission to the public enclosures at Sha Tin and Happy Valley Racecourses.

In the dining and consumption sector, over 2,000 restaurants and merchants will provide offers on October 1, and several public markets, under the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department, will also roll out different offers.

Members of the public can also purchase designated products at 77% of the original price via the Hong Kong Harvest physical store, online store or mobile app from October 1 to 7.

The Environmental Protection Department will offer double GREEN$ Points to the public who recycle at its community recycling network GREEN@COMMUNITY on October 1.

Click here for further details.

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Fruitful process for 5-Year Plan

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

(To watch the full press conference with sign language interpretation, click here.)

Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Janice Tse said today that the formulation of Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan has been a very fruitful process.

Ms Tse noted that the plan was developed swiftly, establishing a strategic and forward-looking blueprint for the city’s social and economic development.

“Within six months, we can formulate a plan that closely integrates into national development and helps serve the overall national development. During the process, we are indeed very grateful for all the views we received from the public and all the support and collaboration with the Legislative Council,” she said.

She added that the reports compiled by the Legislative Council provided a valuable foundation for the Government when drafting the consultation document. The reports offered clear insights into the expectations of stakeholders and the community regarding Hong Kong’s blueprint for the next five years.

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Lydia Sham bags HK’s 1st gold

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Rosanna Law today congratulated wushu athlete Lydia Sham on winning Hong Kong, China’s first gold medal at the 20th Asian Games in the Women’s Changquan event.

Miss Law commended Miss Sham for excelling brilliantly in the competitions, showing absolute focus and superb skills to secure the first gold medal for the Hong Kong, China delegation at this Asian Games, which makes Hong Kong citizens immensely proud.

Miss Law expressed her wish for Hong Kong, China athletes to shine in this year’s games and achieve more outstanding results.

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Govt to review stray dog control

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

(To watch the full press conference with sign language interpretation, click here.)

Secretary for Environment & Ecology Tse Chin-wan said today that the Government places a strong emphasis on the management of stray dogs, noting that the Chief Executive’s Policy Address announced a review of the Dangerous Dogs Regulation.

Following an incident where a woman was suspected to have died after being attacked by stray dogs, Mr Tse pointed out that the number of stray dogs captured by the Government has been significantly reduced in recent years, reflecting the general effectiveness of the current programme.

“Nonetheless, because of the current incident, tragedy, I have asked the Department to review whether there is any possibility of further strengthening the management of stray dogs in Hong Kong,” he added.

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Attendance at UN General Assembly, visit to Mexico

Source: Government of the Republic of Korea

Foreign Affairs

President Lee Jae Myung will attend in New York the high-level session of the United Nations (U.N.) General Assembly before making a state visit to Mexico.

On the afternoon of Sept. 22, he will deliver a keynote speech at the global body and hold talks with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

At the invitation of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, President Lee will fly the next day to Mexico for the first state visit to the country by a Korean president in 16 years.

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Festival Caledonia 2026 : faire de la culture, un levier de citoyenneté, d’égalité et de transformation de la société

Source: Gouvernement de la Nouvelle-Caledonie

Ernest Déméné, membre du gouvernement chargé de la culture, de la citoyenneté et de l’égalité a annoncé ce vendredi 17 septembre, le lancement de l’édition 2026 du Festival Caledonia. Cette nouvelle édition se tiendra les 23 et 24 septembre au centre culturel Tjibaou, et se déploiera également à Canala, au travers d’une résidence culturelle, ainsi qu’à Lifou, avec un mini-festival organisé le 24 septembre.

Véritable rendez-vous des cultures qui façonnent le pays, le Festival Caledonia a pour ambition de faire de la culture, un levier de citoyenneté, d’égalité et de transformation de la société.

Créé en 2022, le Festival Caledonia s’inscrit dans la continuité de la Fête de la citoyenneté. Il se veut « le grand rendez-vous annuel des Calédoniens avec eux‑mêmes, mais aussi une caisse de résonance de notre identité dans le Pacifique ».

Conçu dans l’esprit de Mélanésia 2000, événement fondateur organisé en 1975 par Jean‑Marie Tjibaou pour affirmer l’existence de la culture kanak, le Festival Caledonia a pour vocation de mettre en valeur les cultures des différentes communautés de Nouvelle‑Calédonie à travers les arts, les pratiques et les savoir‑faire.

Après une interruption en 2024, le festival revient cette année dans un format en deux temps : une première journée consacrée aux échanges et à la réflexion à travers différents ateliers autour de la culture, suivie d’une seconde journée placée sous le signe de la convivialité, rythmée par une programmation culturelle riche et variée.

Culture, citoyenneté, égalité : un continuum au service du Pays 

Le Festival Caledonia, à travers la valorisation  de la production et de la création artistique locale, ainsi que la richesse des savoir-faire culturels contribue à faire de la culture un levier de citoyenneté, d’égalité et de transformation de la société.

« La culture est un des meilleurs médiums, un levier puissant pour s’avancer vers la cohésion sociale, s’avancer vers la citoyenneté et puis pour aller chercher un peu plus d’égalité sur le territoire. C’est comme ça que je m’engage dans la structuration de ce festival », a déclaré le membre du gouvernement.

Ce grand rendez-vous, à la fois accessible et populaire, mobilise ceux qui œuvrent à la vitalité des arts et de la culture sur leurs territoires.

Nouveauté de cette édition 2026, le festival intègre pour la première fois un espace entièrement dédié au Salon international du livre océanien (SILO), événement emblématique créé en 2003 sous l’impulsion de Déwé Gorodey, avec pour ambition de dynamiser  la filière territoriale et régionale du livre.  

Un espace d’échange et de partage

D’autre part, une dimension réflexive autour de la culture sera également proposée avec un séminaire professionnel intitulé « La Fabrique de la politique culturelle », organisé le 23 septembre. Une synthèse des échanges sera présentée lors de la journée festive du 24 septembre.

« Nous avons souhaité donner une nouvelle dimension à l’événement parce qu’après les évènements que nous avons traversés en 2024 et la suspension du festival depuis deux ans, il était très important d’associer les communautés présentes en Nouvelle-Calédonie dans la construction du festival.  Nous avons eu à cœur de mettre en place un espace de dialogue car c’est un moment important où il va falloir qu’on se parle et qu’on crée les conditions pour s’avancer vers la démarche de citoyenneté puisque c’est une journée qui met en évidence la citoyenneté », a expliqué Ernest Déméné à propos des ambitions du festival.

Dans cette perspective, un atelier sera organisé en partenariat avec la Communauté du Pacifique (CPS) autour des enjeux liés au rayonnement culturel régional, dans le cadre notamment de l’organisation de la 14ème édition du Festival des arts et de la culture du Pacifique (FESTPAC) en juin 2028.

Par ailleurs, la journée du 23 septembre sera ouverte au jeune public, avec un temps dédié aux scolaires le matin et une ouverture au grand public l’après-midi, notamment à destination des centres de vacances et de loisirs.

 

Le Festival Caledonia décentralisé dans le Nord et les îles Loyauté

Pour renforcer l’ancrage territorial et assurer une équité de rayonnement culturel, le festival se décline cette année dans les provinces Nord et îles Loyauté.

Deux initiatives décentralisées sont ainsi soutenues par le gouvernement :

  • une résidence culturelle à Canala célébrant les 40 ans du Kaneka, du 14 au 26 septembre;
  • un mini‑festival à Lifou, dédié aux créations artistiques et aux saveurs locales, le 24 septembre.
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HK wins Asian Games double silver

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Rosanna Law today congratulated karate competitor Grace Lau on winning a silver medal in the Women’s Individual Kata event at the 20th Asian Games, and swimmers Siobhan Bernadette Haughey, Natalie Kan, Li Sum-yiu, Gilaine Ma and Wang Xintong on winning silver in the Women’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay.

Miss Law applauded Grace Lau’s outstanding achievement of surpassing her bronze-medal finishes in the previous two Asian Games.

The sports chief also expressed her delight that the swimming relay team worked together in unity to pick up the silver medal with a new Hong Kong record.

“I wish the Hong Kong, China delegation success in the coming competitions,” Miss Law added.

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Haze Situation Update (20 September 2026)

Source: Government of Singapore

Air Quality Forecast

24-hr PSI Forecast: Moderate – Low Unhealthy

Health Advisory

Healthy persons: If 24 hr PSI is Moderate, normal activities. If 24 hr PSI is Unhealthy, reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion. If 1 hr PM2.5 is Normal (Band 1), normal activities. If 1 hr PM2.5 is Elevated (Band 2), reduce strenuous outdoor activity for the next hour.
Elderly, pregnant women & children: If 24 hr PSI is Moderate, normal activities. If 24 hr PSI is Unhealthy, minimise prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion. If 1 hr PM2.5 is Normal (Band 1), normal activities. If 1 hr PM2.5 is Elevated (Band 2), avoid strenuous outdoor activity for the next hour.
Persons with chronic lung/heart disease: If 24 hr PSI is Moderate, normal activities. If PSI is Unhealthy, avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion. If 1 hr PM2.5 is Normal (Band 1), normal activities. If 1 hr PM2.5 is Elevated (Band 2), avoid strenuous outdoor activity for the next hour.

Refer to the 1-hr PM2.5 for immediate activities, and the 24-hr PSI forecast to plan ahead.

Singapore, 20 September 2026 – Showers occurred mainly over the northern and eastern parts of Singapore in the afternoon today. As at 5pm, the 1-hr PM2.5 concentration readings were 24 – 73µg/m3, in Band 1 (Normal) / Band 2 (Elevated), and the 24-hr PSI was 71 – 102, in the Moderate to Unhealthy range.

Update on Hotspot and Haze Situation

2.             Moderate to dense smoke plumes continue to be observed from fires in Kalimantan and southern and central Sumatra. Smoke haze from Sumatra was observed drifting towards Singapore.

3.           Dry conditions are expected to persist in southern Sumatra and southwestern Kalimantan. With the prevailing winds forecast to blow from the southeast, there is a risk of smoke haze affecting Singapore. The 24-hr PSI for Singapore is forecast to be in the Moderate – Low Unhealthy range.

Activity Guidelines

4.         The health impact of haze is dependent on one’s health status, the PSI level, and the length and intensity of outdoor activity. For immediate outdoor activities, please check the 1-hr PM2.5 concentration readings and personal guide. Use the 24-hr PSI forecast and corresponding health advisories for planning next day outdoor activities.

5.         For updates, visit our haze microsite (www.haze.gov.sg), the NEA website (www.nea.gov.sg), MSS website (www.weather.gov.sg), mobile app (myENV) or follow us on NEA Facebook (www.facebook.com/NEASingapore). For information on the distribution of hotspots detected over the past fortnight in the region, please refer to the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) website at http://asmc.asean.org.

Areas with lighter smoke haze are not indicated as they cannot be clearly discerned from satellite imagery.

– End –

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HK-ASEAN protocol signed

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The “First Protocol to Amend the Investment Agreement (IA) Between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Hong Kong” was signed today in Manila, the Philippines, ensuring non-discriminatory treatment for Hong Kong firms across 10 ASEAN member states.

The Commerce & Economic Development Bureau said ASEAN is a key investment partner for Hong Kong and has been the city’s third-largest destination of outward direct investment for four consecutive years, with a cumulative investment of $671.2 billion.

It added that the investment agreement boosts flourishing investment relations between the two sides and strengthens Hong Kong’s position as an international investment hub.

The bureau said it is confident that the protocol’s signing and subsequent implementation will drive steady growth in Hong Kong’s economic, trade and investment relations with the ASEAN region. It will also work side by side with ASEAN partners to bring about further economic development and investment growth in the region.

The protocol was signed by Under Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Bernard Chan, Secretary of the Department of Trade & Industry of the Philippines Ma. Cristina A. Roque, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce of Thailand Suphajee Suthumpun.

Following the signing, Hong Kong and the Philippines – the ASEAN Chair this year – co-chaired the “10th ASEAN Economic Ministers – Hong Kong, China Consultation”.

The protocol mainly incorporates schedules of reservations that give effect to the IA’s Article 3 (National Treatment) and Article 4 (Most-Favoured-Nation Treatment). These articles provide that a party shall accord the other parties’ enterprises and their investments non-discriminatory treatment, except for those outlined as being reserved.

The signing of the protocol is anticipated to bring about legal certainty, enhance the investment environment and create more investment flows.

Complementing the free trade agreement (FTA) between Hong Kong and the 10 ASEAN member states, the IA will accord enterprises and their investments in non-services sectors national treatment and most-favoured-nation treatment.

In addition to non-discriminatory treatment, the IA provides for fair and equitable treatment of investments, physical protection and security of investments, and assurance of the free transfer of investments and returns.

In case of expropriation or investment losses owing to war, armed conflict or similar, compensation will be provided according to the agreed standard as specified under the IA.

The text of the protocol will be uploaded to the Trade & Industry Department’s website after all parties have completed its signing.

Hong Kong and the 10 ASEAN member states will continue to work closely to bring about the protocol’s early implementation.

The 10 ASEAN signatories are Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

An extension of the FTA and IA to Timor-Leste, the 11th member state of ASEAN, is in progress, pending ASEAN’s internal procedures.

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CS to visit Beijing for youth event

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki will depart this afternoon for Beijing, where he will join the “Hong Kong & Macau Youth Flag-Raising Teams’ Beijing Visit Delegation” in a “Salute to the National Flag” activity tomorrow. 

​Mr Chan will return to Hong Kong on Tuesday. During his absence, Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing will be Acting Chief Secretary.