Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government today launched a one-month public consultation on proposals to improve the laws on sexual offences in Hong Kong, aiming to fortify safeguards for victims while ensuring the laws keep pace with changing times.

The Government stated that it attaches great importance to the well-being of the general public, particularly children and persons with mental impairment (PMIs), and to shielding them against sexual exploitation and abuse.

Currently, numerous sexual offences in Hong Kong are based on similar provisions instituted in English laws back in 1956.

The Government said that as social perceptions related to sexual offences evolve over time, the existing provisions show inadequacies. It therefore considers it necessary to address shortcomings in these provisions.

Over several years, the Law Reform Commission (LRC) undertook a review of sexual offences and published four consultation papers on specific aspects. These were followed by two reports containing a total of 72 final recommendations.

The Government subsequently crafted a range of legislative amendment proposals based on the LRC’s recommendations and with reference to the development of relevant laws in other major common law jurisdictions.

These proposals cover non-consensual sexual offences involving children, sexual offences involving PMIs, miscellaneous sexual offences, and other related amendments, to strengthen protections for victims of sexual offences.

Members of the public are invited to submit their views by August 5 via email, fax to 2524 3762, or mail to Security Bureau A Division, 8th Floor, East Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar.

Click here for the consultation paper.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Hong Kong today launched, on a trial basis, a gold central clearing and settlement system, along with targeted initiatives to build a modern, full-chain trading ecosystem.

Launching the measures, the Financial Services & the Treasury Bureau said they include rolling out the initial phase of “Delivery Connect with the Shanghai Gold Exchange”, and a new HAU price ticker designed to furnish a specific reference rate tailored for Hong Kong.

There are plans to expand storage capacity and refining capabilities, diversify gold investment products, explore tax incentives, co-ordinate insurance arrangements, bolster the flexibility of Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) investments in gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and institute an industry-led trade association.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan underscored that the National 15th Five-Year Plan incorporates explicit support for Hong Kong in establishing a commodity trading ecosystem.

“The commencement of the trial operation of the gold central clearing and settlement system today marks a significant step forward in developing Hong Kong’s gold trading infrastructure,” he said.

Mr Chan also highlighted that the Government is committed to building a thriving gold trading ecosystem. “This will further enhance the richness, depth, and breadth of our financial markets, create new investment opportunities for local and overseas investors, and inject new momentum into the development of the financial sector.”

Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui said that the Government’s vision is to build a scalable and integrated platform with trusted capabilities in clearing, connectivity, price discovery, risk management, storage, and insurance for global participants.

Operating under the Hong Kong Precious Metals Central Clearing Company, a wholly government-owned entity, the system is geared towards delivering efficient and reliable clearing and settlement services for bilateral and over-the-counter gold transactions.

The operation is governed by a comprehensive Clearing Rulebook. A central ledger has been established to record settlement activities, gold transfers, and the balances of participating banks, and will interface seamlessly with designated vaults to facilitate and record physical gold deposits and withdrawals.

Meanwhile, gold balances within the system are managed and settled on an unallocated basis, with commingled holding enabling efficient settlement for gold meeting international standards.

Eligible gold for settlement comprises about 400 fine troy ounce bars conforming to international standards.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Labour Department (LD) today (July 6) reminded employers to make prior work arrangements for employees during and after rainstorm warnings and extreme conditions as early as possible. These arrangements not only can ensure the safety of employees and smooth operation of organisations, but also are conducive to maintaining good labour relations.

Formulate work arrangements* arrangements in respect of early release from work; 
* arrangements in respect of work resumption (e.g. the number of hours within which employees should resume duty after the relevant warning signal is cancelled or when extreme conditions come to an end, and when safety and traffic conditions allow);
* arrangements in respect of remote work (if applicable);
*arrangements regarding wages and allowances (e.g. calculation of wages and allowances in respect of reporting for duty); and
* arrangements for staff required to report for duty in times of adverse weather or extreme conditions.    
     Employers have an obligation to provide and maintain a safe working environment for their employees under the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance and the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance. If employees are required to work in times of tropical cyclone warnings, rainstorm warnings or extreme conditions, employers should ensure that the risks at work are reduced as far as reasonably practicable. Moreover, under the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance, employers are liable to pay compensation for injuries or deaths incurred when employees are travelling by a direct route from their residence to their workplace, or from their workplace back to their residence after work, four hours before or after working hours on a day when Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 or higher, a Red or Black Rainstorm Warning Signal or extreme conditions are in force.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, met with the Governor of the People’s Bank of China, Mr Pan Gongsheng, today (July 6) to exchange views on economic and financial issues. The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, and the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, also attended the meeting.
      
Mr Lee welcomed Mr Pan and his delegation to Hong Kong. Mr Lee said that the National 15th Five-Year Plan supports Hong Kong in consolidating and enhancing its status as an international financial centre, strengthening its functions as a global offshore Renminbi (RMB) business hub, an international asset and wealth management centre, and an international risk management centre, as well as building a commodity trading ecosystem. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government is pressing ahead at full speed with the preparation of Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan to proactively seize the major opportunities brought by the National 15th Five-Year Plan, and promote its high-quality development as an international financial centre. The HKSAR Government will continue to leverage Hong Kong’s unique advantages of having strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world under the “one country, two systems” principle, continue to promote a mutual market access regime between Hong Kong and Mainland financial markets, facilitate the two-way flow of capital between the two places, and further enhance the competitiveness of Hong Kong as an international financial centre.
 
Mr Lee said that Hong Kong is one of the top three international financial centres in the world, and is also the world’s largest offshore RMB business hub and the world’s largest cross-boundary wealth management centre. With the country’s support, Hong Kong has steadily expanded its offshore RMB business and continuously enriched the RMB product ecosystem. Hong Kong will continue to deepen collaboration with the Mainland and spare no effort in facilitating more efficient circulation of RMB funds in the offshore market and serving the country’s prudent and solid advancement of RMB internationalisation.
 
Mr Lee said that the HKSAR Government is now striving to build an international gold trading market in Hong Kong, including the establishment of the Hong Kong gold central clearing system, to attract the storage, clearing and delivery of physical gold in Hong Kong, drive the development of related services such as trading, risk management, insurance, warehousing and logistics, and gradually build a comprehensive gold trading ecosystem. The HKSAR Government will continue to work with relevant Mainland authorities and the industry to take forward relevant work, improve the infrastructure of and support for Hong Kong’s gold market, inject new impetus into the diversified development of the financial market, and thereby contribute to the development of the country as a financial powerhouse.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

One incoming Mainland male passenger and two incoming local female passengers were sentenced to six weeks’ imprisonment with a fine of $1,000 to ten months’ imprisonment and a fine of $500 by the Courts today (July 6) for importing or possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

Customs officers intercepted an incoming Mainland male passenger, aged 33, at Hong Kong International Airport on May 15 and seized 136 200 duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $681,000 and a duty potential of about $450,000, from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to ten months’ imprisonment and fined $500 by the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts today.

Customs officers intercepted an incoming 80-year-old local female passenger at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point on June 29 and seized 381 duty-not-paid cigarettes from her backpack. The estimated market value of the seized cigarettes was about $1,900, and the duty potential was about $1,200. The female passenger was subsequently arrested. She was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment with a fine of $1,200 by the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts today.

In addition, Customs officers intercepted an incoming 30-year-old local female passenger and her accompanying child at the same control point on June 30. Officers discovered that the female passenger had concealed 600 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $3,000 and a duty potential of about $1,980, in the backpack carried by her accompanying child. She was sentenced to six weeks’ imprisonment with a fine of $1,000 by the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts today.

Customs welcomes the sentences. The custodial sentences have imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflect the seriousness of the offences.

Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to false statements by China’s Taiwan Affairs Office regarding Taiwan’s democratic achievements

March 15, 2026  

On March 14, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) criticized President Lai Ching-te’s remarks regarding Taiwan’s democratic achievements, attempting to distort the truth and mislead the international community. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) refutes the statements made by the TAO and expresses its strongest condemnation.
 
Through sustained efforts to promote the democratic process, Taiwan smoothly completed its eighth presidential election on January 13, 2024, setting another milestone in its democratic development. The executive branches and parliaments of over 50 countries—including diplomatic allies, the United States, Japan, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia—promptly extended their congratulations and lauded Taiwan’s democratic accomplishments. In societies where citizens do not yet have the opportunity to exercise sovereignty through democratic elections, there is no doubt that they look forward to a day when they, too, can directly elect their president and determine the future of their nation and society.
 
MOFA reiterates that neither the Republic of China (Taiwan) nor the People’s Republic of China is subordinate to the other and that the Chinese Communist Party regime has never governed Taiwan. This is the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. No attempts to distort Taiwan’s sovereign status can change the internationally recognized cross-strait status quo and objective reality. Taiwan’s future must be decided by the 23.5 million people of Taiwan. China has no right to interfere.
 
MOFA emphasizes that the government’s cross-strait policies are guided by mainstream public opinion and that the future of Taiwan must be determined by the people of Taiwan. MOFA calls on the Beijing authorities to engage in dialogue with the legitimate government elected by the Taiwan people, handle issues pragmatically, respond to the expectations of the international community and people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, and adopt a responsible and mature attitude to jointly safeguard cross-strait peace and stability.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to transnational repression by Chinese state media targeting Taiwan Legislator Shen

January 3, 2026  
 
Chinese state media have recently used social media platforms to spread satellite photos of the Taipei residence and work location of Legislator Puma Shen in a malicious attempt to intimidate the people of Taiwan and conduct long-arm jurisdiction and transnational repression. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) strongly condemns these actions. 
 
MOFA solemnly reiterates that neither the Republic of China (Taiwan) nor the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is subordinate to the other and that China has no jurisdiction over Taiwan nationals.
 
Having previously threatened to arrest Taiwan Legislator Puma Shen anywhere in the world, Chinese state media have recently employed malicious digital authoritarian tools to jeopardize the safety of Taiwan nationals, attempting to sow fear in Taiwan’s democratic society and thereby create a chilling effect. These contemptible actions contravene provisions in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights concerning the protection from arbitrary interference with privacy, family, or home. In addition, they constitute a comprehensive violation of people’s privacy and show a complete lack of civilized norms. 
 
MOFA once again reiterates that China’s transnational repression, harassment, and interference against nationals of Taiwan or any other country gravely contravene the spirit of international law and international human rights. Such behavior clearly shows that the Beijing authorities have no regard for the fundamental values of human rights and privacy common in civilized nations. Any Taiwan nationals targeted by transnational repression will be protected by the government. Furthermore, anyone in Taiwan cooperating with China’s transnational repression will be subject to legal sanctions. 
 
MOFA will continue to coordinate with other government agencies, strengthen cooperation with the international community, and bolster the emergency response and assistance mechanisms of overseas missions so as to safeguard Taiwan nationals’ safety. At the same time, MOFA calls on the international community to jointly condemn China’s malicious actions aimed at undermining human rights and people’s privacy and block China’s inappropriate efforts to conduct long-arm jurisdiction and transnational repression.