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 – 4

Police today (August 11) appealed to the public for information on a woman who went missing in Kwai Chung.
 
Tang Fei-lin, aged 50, went missing after she left her residence in Tai Wo Hau Estate on January 1, 2025 afternoon. Her family made a report to Police on August 8, 2026.
 
She is about 1.5 metres tall, 68 kilograms in weight and of fat build. She has a round face with yellow complexion and long black hair. She was last seen in unknown clothing.
 
Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing woman or may have seen her is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of New Territories South on 3661 1173 or 9078 1880 or email to rmpu-nts-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.
 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York (New York ETO) continues to support the 36th Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York (HKDBF-NY), a role it has held since founding the festival in 1990.

This year’s festival marks the 40th anniversary of Hong Kong’s gift of teak wood dragon boats to cities across North America, including New York City, introducing this centuries-old Chinese tradition to the continent. This legacy takes centre stage this weekend with a special invitational race to commemorate the anniversary, alongside a display of the traditional teak wood dragon boats for visitors throughout the weekend.

At the festival opening ceremony on August 8 (New York time), the Director of the New York ETO, Ms Maisie Ho, reflected on this legacy and how the HKDBF-NY, one of New York City’s largest multicultural festivals, has brought people together for 36 years, proving that sport has a unique power to connect and unite people.

Ms Ho said the festival is a celebration of heritage, resilience and teamwork, noting that the vigour, determination and camaraderie shown by the competing athletes reflect the same qualities that define Hong Kong – a cosmopolitan and vibrant gateway city that connects business, talent and ideas, while remaining firmly rooted in its cultural heritage.

Ms Ho added that the festival is a testament to the enduring friendship between Hong Kong and New York and the United States, fostering mutual understanding and strengthening cultural and people-to-people ties. “Our office remains committed to building on this relationship in the years ahead,” she said.

This weekend’s festivities also coincide with a milestone moment for dragon boating worldwide, as the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) recently relocated its global headquarters back to Hong Kong in July, marking a homecoming to the birthplace of the modern dragon boat movement. The IDBF’s World Dragon Boat Racing Championships will also return to Hong Kong next year for the first time since 1997. Ms Ho noted that this development was a vote of confidence in Hong Kong as a world-class hub for international sport.

Ahead of the race weekend, Ms Ho and representatives of the festival’s major sponsors gathered in Hudson Yards on July 15 for the traditional “awakening” ceremony, dotting the eyes of the dragons in a ritual believed to bring good fortune to the racers. Then on August 7, the festival’s organising committee took the celebration to Wall Street, ringing the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange, a nod to the festival’s place in New York’s cultural and sporting calendar.

Over the two-day festival, more than 170 teams and over 1 800 paddlers battled for the podium in front of a strong crowd. Beyond the races, the New York ETO had a festival booth to promote Hong Kong to visitors. Visitors all enjoyed delectable Hong Kong street food, vibrant cultural and musical performances, alongside martial arts and arts and crafts demonstrations throughout the festival grounds.

Source: Government of the Republic of Korea

Distinguished representatives of leading global venture capital firms,

It is a great pleasure to be here in Silicon Valley, the global center of innovation and venture investment. You have all played instrumental roles in building world-leading businesses, and it is a pleasure to discuss with you the future of Korean startups and ways for Korea and the United States to strengthen their cooperation in innovation.

The number of foreign entrepreneurs launching startups in Korea has more than doubled over the past three years, underscoring Korea’s emergence as a hub for open innovation where talented individuals and businesses from around the world can come together to pursue new opportunities.

Korea’s competitiveness extends far beyond just technology. It rests on the ability to deliver fast execution, a world-class manufacturing base, advanced digital infrastructure, exceptional talent and the resilience of our people, who have repeatedly turned crises into opportunities.

Beyond this, I am convinced that Korea’s cultural competitiveness – its power to reach global audiences – makes it an irreplaceable hub of innovation that can offer global investors new opportunities for growth.

The government of the Republic of Korea will translate this potential into tangible results by fostering one of the world’s most attractive environments for investment and entrepreneurship.

We will boldly reform the visa policies that hinder the inflow of entrepreneurial talent from around the world, while further strengthening cooperative platforms that connect businesses, research institutes and investment institutions at home and abroad.

We will also seamlessly integrate the Korea Fund of Funds, the National Growth Fund, pension funds and private capital, providing comprehensive support for investment, financing and global market entry so that promising startups can grow to become global companies.

Distinguished global investors,

Venture capital is far more than a source of funding. It is a driver of innovation, drawing attention to the potential of new technologies and helping startups acquire strategies and networks needed to succeed on the global stage.

When Korea’s promising startups are able to benefit from your global investment expertise, investors will gain new opportunities for growth, while our startups will secure the foundation they need to compete and thrive in global markets. I believe that this represents the most successful model of innovation – one that involves reciprocal growth between investors and businesses.

The Republic of Korea and the United States must now broaden their cooperation, moving beyond a long-standing security alliance to form a close partnership in technology, innovation and startups.

The United States has world-class venture investment capabilities and global networks, while the Republic of Korea possesses excellent technological prowess, manufacturing competitiveness and a dynamic startup ecosystem. By combining our two nations’ strengths, we will be able to create the next generation of companies like Samsung, Hyundai, SK and NAVER, as well as innovative, world-leading new businesses.

When Korean startups gain access to U.S. capital and markets, and when American investors and innovative businesses tap in to Korea’s technology, manufacturing capabilities and human resource ecosystems, our two nations will become partners in innovation, shaping the next thirty years together.

I hope that today’s gathering will help promising Korean startups and global investors unlock new growth together. I also invite you to join us as reliable partners of an “irreplaceable Korea,” so that talented individuals, technology and capital from around the world can converge in Korea to create growth opportunities over the next thirty years.

Thank you.

Source: Government of the Republic of Korea

San Francisco Declaration on Artificial Intelligence By President Lee Jae Myung

Distinguished business leaders and innovators from around the world,

Here today in San Francisco – the heart of global innovation – I would like to share with the world the Republic of Korea’s vision for a new era of artificial intelligence.

In this very place, where the future we once imagined takes shape faster than anywhere else, small ideas have grown into world-changing innovations. These innovations have not just brought about new industries but also helped transform human civilization.

San Francisco and the Republic of Korea have much in common. Rising from the devastation of the Great Earthquake of 1906, San Francisco became a global center of technological innovation through its indomitable spirit and relentless pursuit of new challenges. In much the same way, the Republic of Korea – one of the world’s poorest countries after the Korean War – built itself into an information technology powerhouse through its people’s determination and hard work. Today, Korea plays a pivotal role in the global AI ecosystem.

Although Samsung Electronics was a latecomer in the semiconductor industry, it has become a leader in the global memory chip market. SK Hynix overcame intense technological competition to secure the top spot in high-bandwidth memory. Recently, the company was successfully listed on the Nasdaq.

Last June, a plan to invest about 4,700 trillion won in an AI megaproject was announced. It is an initiative that will help take the Korean economy and global AI industry alike to new heights.

And here today in San Francisco, I am pleased to announce a major AI investment initiative that leading Korean and multinational companies – with a combined valuation of over 20 quadrillion won – have forged over time through a shared vision.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the business leaders of both the Republic of Korea and the United States who are joining us in this bold undertaking.

The AI revolution is no longer a story of the future. It is a reality here and now that we are all creating together. AI is no longer bound by a single technology or single industry.

We have entered an era in which competitiveness hinges not merely on developing more sophisticated software algorithms, but on securing greater computing power, guaranteeing a stable energy supply, integrating vast amounts of data and rapidly deploying these capabilities across industry and daily life.

Even the world’s most advanced AI model cannot function without a stable supply of cutting-edge semiconductors. In turn, even the most advanced semiconductor can create new value only if AI demand is strong.

In the AI era, technology and production capacity, data and energy, markets and talent are all linked through a single vast supply chain. Building a resilient supply chain is one of the main challenges we must address together.

At the same time, we face a number of fundamental questions. How can we move beyond simply making AI more intelligent and apply it rapidly across industry and everyday life to create new markets?

How can we build an AI ecosystem that is not confined to just one country, but a huge global AI market in which all nations can participate?

And how can we ensure that AI is developed based on human-centered values and that its benefits are equitably distributed?

These challenges cannot be overcome through fierce competition alone. They are the defining challenge of our time, and we must address them through global cooperation, pooling our respective strengths while continuing to lead in technology.

Here today, I would like to present the Republic of Korea’s vision for the future of AI and propose a cooperative global framework to help turn that vision into reality.

First, the Republic of Korea will emerge as an irreplaceable pillar of the global AI supply chain.

Building on our world-class competitiveness in memory chips and related production capacity, Korea will serve as a trusted manufacturing base for AI semiconductors and as a reliable supply chain partner. We will help ensure that companies worldwide can build resilient AI infrastructure and continue pursuing technological innovation under any circumstances.

To drive this vision forward, Korea unveild a landmark investment plan June. We are now establishing a multi-hub production network, enabling both the Seoul metropolitan area and local provinces to jointly ensure a stable global supply of semiconductors.

This domestic supply chain will act as a national safeguard that ensures uninterrupted semiconductor production through any crisis. It is also a responsible investment by the Republic of Korea to prevent future global chip shortages.

Beyond semiconductors, we will establish a world-class AI hub capable of reliably providing the core infrastructure needed by the global AI ecosystem. This hub will connect data centers – the brains of AI – with physical AI systems that bring AI into the real world.

Building on Korea’s resilient supply chain, we will provide steadfast support so that all of you can pursue even bolder innovation and drive the global AI revolution forward.

Second, the Republic of Korea will not only supply AI infrastructure, but will also become the nation that utilizes AI most rapidly and effectively, creating new markets that will foster shared global growth.

The Republic of Korea has unique strengths in the AI era. We have world-class manufacturing competitiveness, advanced digital infrastructure and a dynamic AI ecosystem. Above all, our companies and citizens are the fastest to embrace new technologies and are among the first to apply them across industry and everyday life.

The Republic of Korea will become a nation that deploys AI most rapidly at industrial sites, in public services and in every area of daily life – thereby generating new demand and creating new markets.

The Republic of Korea will become a global AI test bed and production platform, moving beyond laboratories and digital spaces and adopting AI in the real world, including in manufacturing plants, in cities and at logistics centers.

Through the AI production platform built by the Republic of Korea, AI will be developed and verified faster and broadly applied at various industrial sites.

The data accumulated through this process will enhance the performance and reliability of AI systems, and more advanced AI systems will, in turn, improve industrial productivity and people’s lives, thereby creating a virtuous cycle.

Through this virtuous cycle, the Republic of Korea will present a new global model for innovation, in which the utilization of AI keeps pace with its development.

Toward the end of this year, we will launch the “AI for All” project, involving all 50 million of our citizens. By actively integrating AI into daily life and public services – from administration and welfare through to education – we will build the world’s most dynamic AI market.

Not only will this drive the Republic of Korea’s growth – it will also serve as a new engine for demand, spearheading the advancement of the entire global AI ecosystem.

I invite you to choose Korea as your stage for innovation and investment – the place where your technologies and ideas can become reality faster than anywhere else. Korea’s people and businesses will be your most reliable partners.

Third, the Republic of Korea will become a global hub, helping expand the AI market worldwide.

We will not stop with the mere use of AI. By building horizontal partnerships with various nations, we will create new AI markets and open opportunities for people in more countries to take part in AI innovation.

Our cooperation must not be confined to technologically advanced nations alone. Nor should our support for developing countries merely involve narrowing the AI divide. It must be an investment in the shared prosperity of a global AI ecosystem, involving the cultivation of talented individuals, birth of new ideas and creation of new services and markets.

Guided by the vision of “AI for All, AI for Solving Global Challenges,” the Korean government has recently been partnering with international organizations to advance the Global AI Hub initiative.

Leveraging its accumulated AI infrastructure and technological capabilities, the Republic of Korea will further expand its cooperation with countries and businesses in order to help develop and deploy AI tools suited to each country’s language, culture and industrial environment.

Rather than seeking growth for Korea alone, we will be a responsible partner – sharing the opportunities and benefits of AI to grow together with the world.

I invite all of you, global business leaders, to take an active part in this significant journey.

Fourth, we will usher in an era of AI that is more responsible and human-centered, ensuring that the breakthroughs create new opportunities for all.

Last January, Korea enacted its Framework Act on AI. We hope to share with the global community our efforts to ensure that safe, trustworthy AI systems are practically deployed in industry and people’s daily lives.

Here in San Francisco, a city where the legacy of human-centered innovation lives on, I invite the international community to cooperate on achieving a future of harmonious coexistence and joint growth between humans and AI.

Even as we foster dynamic innovation, Korea is actively deliberating on a new model of distribution – to ensure that AI’s benefits reach every corner of society, not just a privileged few. For the future of AI cannot be solely defined by technological advances and economic growth.

No country has a complete answer yet. That is why Korea also aims to deliberate, experiment and seek out new solutions alongside the international community.

In the era of AI, Korea will build a society where the fundamental rights of every citizen – from education to healthcare – are guaranteed even more soundly, and where no one is left behind, including small and medium-sized enterprises, microbusiness owners and the vulnerable. We call this the “AI Universal Basic Society.”

As a responsible nation, we will fulfill our duty by helping this philosophy of the AI Universal Basic Society take root in the international community.

Over the years, the Republic of Korea has achieved its success by rapidly catching up with the world’s leading nations. Going forward, Korea aspires to take the lead in presenting a vision for the future of AI, join forces with the rest of the world and help build a better future for humanity.

The Republic of Korea will become a global AI production base and a fertile place for innovation. It will rise as an irreplaceable global hub for AI cooperation where technology, capital, talent and ideas from around the world converge.

Just as San Francisco’s iconic Golden Gate Bridge spans the bay to bridge this city to the world and has paved the way for economic prosperity, I ask you – the leaders of the global AI industry – to become the bridges that link the world. Join the Republic of Korea in forging the bold future of AI that you envision.

I assure you that the Republic of Korea will be your most steadfast partner.

Distinguished business leaders and innovators from around the world,

Back in the 1990s, the world fell in love with the U.S. sitcom Friends. Its theme song includes the lyric “I’ll be there for you, cause you’re there for me too.”

When we stand together, AI becomes a beacon of hope for more people, opening the door to a greater, brighter tomorrow. I invite each and every one of you to join us in shaping a future of AI that truly serves us all.

Thank you.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Hong Kong Wetland Park will offer free admission and guided tours for the public on August 15 as a way to support National Ecology Day (NED).

To promote societal awareness of ecological civilisation and environmental protection, as well as to implement the important concept that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets”, the country has designated August 15 of every year as NED.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and non-governmental organisations will launch various special activities and offers from August to September for the public to support and participate in NED.

Apart from free admission to the Hong Kong Wetland Park, the members of public who recycle through the Environmental Protection Department’s GREEN@COMMUNITY community recycling network, including smart recycling bins, will earn double GREEN$ points on the same day.

Moreover, the Countryside Conservation Office (CCO) under the Environment & Ecology Bureau will hold an NED thematic exhibition at The Corner, an indoor space on the ground floor of the East Kowloon Cultural Centre, from September 1 to 6, featuring a variety of interactive experiences to enhance public knowledge of nature conservation and environmental protection in Hong Kong.

The CCO will also organise a sharing session and performance on September 5, featuring Cellphone Soundscape & Movement, composed by internationally renowned musician Tan Dun. Accompanied by a live harmonica and violin performance, the work will showcase the cultural heritage and natural landscapes of the remote villages around Yan Chau Tong.

Furthermore, the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department will organise four ecological guided tours at Shing Mun Country Park and the Lions Nature Education Centre, a night-time session at Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve to share tips on firefly watching with the public, free public guided tours at Long Valley Nature Park, and a number of guided tours exploring marine ecology. The department will also hold a roving exhibition entitled “Marine Parks 30th Anniversary” at the Hong Kong Maritime Museum.

More than 30 non-governmental organisations will also provide a range of special activities and offers, including free admission to facilities, free ecological guided tours, night tours, workshops and talks.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

President Lai meets delegation from Japan Forum for Strategic Studies and Formosa Republican Association
On the afternoon of August 7, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation from the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies (JFSS) and Formosa Republican Association (FRA). In remarks, President Lai stated that, in the face of expanding authoritarianism, Taiwan will continue to strengthen its national defense capabilities and whole-of-society defense and resilience. He expressed hope that Taiwan and Japan will continue to deepen cooperation in areas such as economic and trade security, the high-tech industry, and societal resilience, promoting peace and prosperity to jointly realize the vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:
Let me begin, on behalf of the people of Taiwan, by warmly welcoming our distinguished guests. At a time of profound geopolitical change in the Indo-Pacific, they have shown support for Taiwan through concrete actions, for which I express my sincere gratitude on behalf of our citizens.
Last week, a major earthquake struck Kumamoto, Japan. I join the people of Taiwan in extending our concern and deepest sympathies. I sincerely hope that, through the efforts of the Japanese government, the impact of the disaster can be minimized and those affected will be able to return to their normal lives as soon as possible. Whenever Taiwan has experienced earthquakes or typhoons, we have received concern and support from the Japanese government, Diet, and general public. And whenever natural disasters have struck Japan, the people of Taiwan have likewise offered their concern and support. For decades, Taiwan and Japan have shown mutual concern and provided assistance and support after natural disasters, forging close bonds in times of adversity and developing a relationship akin to family.
At this critical time, as authoritarianism continues to expand, I would especially like to thank the FRA and the JFSS for jointly organizing their first policy simulation exercises in Taiwan. The exercises will be centered on the idea of establishing a trilateral Shield of Democracy cooperation mechanism between Taiwan, Japan, and the United States. They will bring together Japanese Diet members and experts and scholars from Taiwan and Japan to discuss and exchange ideas on peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, as well as the broader security situation. Your efforts will not only contribute to Taiwan’s security and stability across the Taiwan Strait, but to peace in the Indo-Pacific region as well.
Taiwan is determined to defend our nation and safeguard peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. Since taking office, I have continuously worked to strengthen Taiwan’s national defense capabilities. This year, our defense budget surpassed 3 percent of GDP, the first time Taiwan’s defense budget has ever surpassed that percentage. We have also established the Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee at the Presidential Office to methodically strengthen all-out defense and promote military-civilian cooperation, ensuring that every sector of society can serve as a pillar of support for our armed forces. Together, we can use our collective strength to safeguard Taiwan’s national security.
On August 5, Taiwan began its most important annual military exercises, the Han Kuang exercises. Beginning this year, local governments and civic organizations are also working together to conduct resilience exercises. Through these military and urban resilience exercises, we aim to strengthen cooperation and response capabilities between the central and local governments, as well as between the government and the private sector, enhancing the nation’s overall strength.
I sincerely hope that we can continue to deepen partnerships with like-minded countries to promote peace and prosperity. With your support, I am confident that Taiwan and Japan will continue to strengthen cooperation in areas of shared interest such as economic and trade security, the high-tech industry, and societal resilience, and work together to realize the vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific. This vision was championed by former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, but is, in truth, a shared aspiration of the international community. Taiwan will do everything in its power to work with Japan and other democratic nations in pursuit of this goal.
House of Representatives Member Onodera Itsunori then delivered remarks, first thanking President Lai and officials from the Taiwanese government for taking the time to receive the delegation. He stated that the fundamental goal of politicians, be they from Japan or Taiwan, is to pursue peace for their country and prosperity for their people. He noted that disputes nevertheless persist in the current global landscape, including the war in Ukraine and conflict in the Middle East. He said that many countries are attempting to change the status quo by force, pointing to China’s increasingly frequent military activities, as President Lai had previously noted.
Representative Onodera pointed out that for Japan, Taiwan, and the US to ensure peace in the East Asian region, they must work closely together and remain fully prepared for any unexpected situations that may arise. He also stated that the JFSS has conducted numerous simulation exercises, by which it has continuously discussed how to safeguard regional peace in emergency situations and what response measures Japan should take. Each time individuals from Taiwan and the US have been invited to join in the simulations, he said, contributing their respective experiences.
Representative Onodera noted that the JFSS, with support from the FRA and individuals in Taiwan, will conduct simulation exercises for the first time in Taiwan. He expressed his belief that these exercises and preparations will serve as an important deterrent force for maintaining regional peace. He concluded by extending his sincere appreciation to President Lai and the FRA for making this exchange possible. He also thanked everyone from the JFSS for their participation and support.
The delegation also included House of Councillors Member Arimura Haruko and House of Representatives Members Yamashita Takashi, Otsuka Taku, and Kashima Yusuke.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

TIPO launched the Pilot Program for Accelerated Examination of Invention Patent Applications Filed by Female Applicants on a one-year trial basis on July 1, 2025, with the initial trial period ending on June 30, 2026. During the trial period, the average time from filing an application to receiving the examination result was only 44.2 days, demonstrating the program’s effectiveness.

To encourage greater participation by women in innovation and invention and help them obtain patent protection more quickly, TIPO evaluated its examination capacity and decided to extend the pilot program for another year, through June 30, 2027. All eligible applicants are welcome to take advantage of this program.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

To accelerate the commercialization of Taiwan’s innovative technologies and strengthen links with industry channels, TIPO established the Taiwan Patent GO Pavilion at Medical Taiwan from June 25 to 27. Leveraging one of Taiwan’s leading exhibitions for the medical and healthcare industry, the pavilion integrates patent, industry, and market resources to facilitate connections between research outcomes with commercialization potential and healthcare institutions, distributors, and industry partners. Through this initiative, TIPO seeks to accelerate technology transfer and market adoption while enhancing the visibility of Taiwan’s smart healthcare innovations.

In response to global trends toward population aging and digital healthcare, TIPO has selected 10 outstanding patented technologies with strong innovation and commercialization potential for exhibition. The technologies are presented in four categories:

1. Assistive Devices & Orthotics: Addressing the needs of an aging society and long-term care, this category features patented technologies such as an electric mobility scooter and walker, a cooling assistive device with adjustable positioning and support, and an assistive commode chair, all designed to improve the quality of life of older adults and enhance caregiver convenience.

2. Hospital Equipment: Focusing on healthcare and public safety, this category showcases innovations including an Evacuation Ladder with Hospital Bed Guiding Mechanism and a Laser Lighting Device for Pain Relief, demonstrating Taiwan’s innovation capabilities in medical equipment.

3. AI & Smart Medical: Reflecting the development of digital healthcare and smart hospitals, this category features an Artificial Intelligence Based Automatic Recognition and Inventory System for Surgical Instruments in Operating Rooms, which combines artificial intelligence and data analytics to improve operating room management efficiency and enhance patient safety.

4. Precision Medicine and Advanced Pharmaceuticals: This category highlights Taiwan’s biotechnology R&D capabilities through patented technologies including: Nano eye drops and manufacturing method thereof, Hexa-Lactoside Tri-azanonane Tri-acetic Acid (NOTA) / Derivative, Method for Radiolabeling HexaLactoside Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Imaging Agent for Liver Receptor with Ga-68, and Hexa-Lactoside PET Imaging Agent for Liver Receptor, Use of a polyenylpyrrole derivative in preparation of anti-oral cancer drugs, and A fermented cereal hydrolysate for treating sarcopenia and alcoholic liver injury and its use in health food composition. These innovations demonstrate Taiwan’s strengths in new drug development, diagnostic technologies, and precision medicine.

On June 26, TIPO will also host the seminar Patents Leading the Way: Smart Healthcare Reimagined in Medical, where experts and patent owners will share successful experiences in patent commercialization and industry collaboration. Free patent consultation services will also be available throughout the exhibition.