Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Taiwan has established a comprehensive support system for startups through initiatives such as the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program, the Positive Patent Examination Pilot Program for Startup Companies, and the Asia Silicon Valley Development Plan. On June 16, TIPO outlined a series of measures centered on the Three Core Strategies for Startup Patent Portfolios to further strengthen startup competitiveness and accelerate patent portfolios. These measures aim to help innovative enterprises obtain patent protection more quickly, enhance their technological competitiveness, and strengthen their fundraising capabilities.

1. Positive Patent Examination Pilot Program for Startup Companies: Under this program, examiners proactively conduct interviews with applicants and provide recommendations for revisions, helping improve application quality and examination efficiency. In 2025, the average disposal pendency was only 65.8 days, with an approval rate exceeding 93%, benefiting 97 startup companies to date. Since 2025, the program has also expanded its eligibility to include companies that have received national innovation awards within the previous two years, and companies receiving guidance from organizations commissioned by TIPO under the technology development program.

2. Accelerated Examination Program (AEP): The AEP is available when the corresponding foreign application has been granted, when early examination is necessary for commercial exploitation, or when an invention relates to green technologies. Under this program, applicants can generally receive the examination results in approximately two months, helping startups seize opportunities in international markets and the growing ESG economy.

3. Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) and Taiwan-Support Using the PPH Agreement (TW-SUPA): TIPO has established PPH cooperation with patent offices in eight jurisdictions, including the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea. These mechanisms enable startup companies that obtain patents in Taiwan to accelerate corresponding patent applications in major overseas markets.

According to the latest statistics, startup companies using the Positive Patent Examination Pilot Program have secured 39 investment cases, with total fundraising reaching US$298 million (approximately NT$9 billion), demonstrating that strategic patent portfolios can significantly enhance startups’ fundraising capabilities.

In addition, to help startups develop effective patent portfolios, TIPO provides technology intelligence support through patent trend reports, compilations of cases, and the Standard-Essential Patent (SEP) Information Platform, covering key industries such as artificial intelligence (AI), net-zero technologies, semiconductors, and smart aging technologies. TIPO also promotes the Accelerated Examination Program for Startups, which offers integrated support ranging from prior-art searches and intellectual property consultation to investor matchmaking. The project is directly linked with the Positive Patent Examination Pilot Program, helping startups reduce filing risks while connecting with potential investors even before patent rights are granted, accelerating patent portfolios and enhancing international competitiveness.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Police are investigating an attempted murder and suicide case in Wong Tai Sin this morning (August 8), in which a 46-year-old man died.

     At 7.19am, Police received a report from a security guard that someone was injured inside an elevator in Chiu Sin House, Upper Wong Tai Sin Estate.

     Police officers sped to the scene. A 25-year-old man was found lying inside the elevator. Sustaining multiple serious injuries, he was rushed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in conscious state. Officers later found that a 46-year-old man was lying on the podium of Chiu Sin House, who was suspected to have fallen from height. He was certified dead at scene.

     Initial investigations revealed that the 46-year-old man had allegedly assaulted the 25-year-old man with a chopper inside the elevator. The 46-year-old man then fled away and was later suspected to have fallen from the unit he lived in.

     A chopper in suspected connection with the case was seized inside the unit the 46-year-old man lived in.

     Post-mortem examinations will be conducted later to ascertain the cause of death of the deceased.

     Active investigation by the District Crime Squad of Wong Tai Sin District is underway. Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 6157.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Police today (August 9) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Sha Tin.

     Tam Hing-man, aged 72, went missing after he left his residence on Pik Tin Street yesterday (August 8) morning. His family then made a report to Police.

     He is about 1.73 metres tall, around 65 kilograms in weight and of medium build. He has a square face with yellow complexion and short white hair. He was last seen wearing a blue shirt, black shorts, orange and white shoes and carrying a black backpack.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of New Territories South on 3661 1176 or 5562 1342 or email to rmpu-nts-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (SCED), Mr Algernon Yau, will lead a business delegation to depart for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, tomorrow afternoon (August 10) to promote Hong Kong’s business advantages and assist Mainland enterprises in gaining a better understanding of the latest developments in Malaysia for business expansion.

This is one of the outbound missions organised by the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global steered by the SCED. It aims to enable Mainland enterprises planning to go global to understand the situation and needs of overseas markets. Members of the delegation include representatives from Mainland enterprises and Hong Kong chambers of commerce and other organisations. The Director-General of Investment Promotion, Ms Alpha Lau, and the Commissioner for Belt and Road, Mr Nicholas Ho, will also join.

The delegation will attend the Think Business, Think Hong Kong Symposium organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the business seminar cum networking lunch organised by Invest Hong Kong. It will also conduct company visits and have exchange sessions with local chambers of commerce and related institutions. In addition, Mr Yau will attend the official opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Kuala Lumpur.

Mr Yau will return to Hong Kong on August 13. During his absence, the Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan, will be the Acting SCED.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government aims to publish Hong Kong’s first Five-Year Plan in September, Chief Executive John Lee announced today following a district forum for the Five-Year Plan and the 2026 Policy Address.

The two-hour forum, held at Kowloon Tong Government Primary School, was attended by Mr Lee and principal officials to gather views from about 120 community members.

During the first session, participants shared views on topics including the Northern Metropolis development, spatial planning, economy, finance, trade, innovation, technology, industry development and people’s livelihood. Discussions also covered regional co-operation, culture, sports, tourism and green living.

In the second session, participants split into four groups to exchange ideas with officials on two core themes: “pursuing development and economic growth” and “improving people’s livelihood and building our future together”. Mr Lee engaged directly with each group.

The Chief Executive noted that he and his governing team have held district forums over two consecutive Sundays, gaining deep insights into the public’s views on Hong Kong’s current and long-term economic and social development.

“We will consolidate these valuable views in a holistic manner, analyse them and consider incorporating them into Hong Kong’s Five-Year Plan and the Policy Address,” Mr Lee said. He added that this ensures policy measures are effectively implemented to translate the blueprint into tangible outcomes for economic development and livelihood improvements.

Public consultations for Hong Kong’s Five-Year Plan and the Policy Address launched in June, with numerous sessions held to collect feedback from all walks of life.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Food & Environmental Hygiene Department today announced that the first month of allowing dogs into permitted restaurants has been generally smooth, with the number of participating eateries rising from about 940 to over 980.

Over the past month, the department’s dedicated team inspected catering premises across various districts to offer support and raise compliance awareness among operators and customers through publicity and education. 

With the one-month adaptation period ending today, the department said it will now conduct risk-based inspections and take immediate enforcement action against non-compliance without prior warning.

As of yesterday, officers had conducted about 29,600 inspections of permitted restaurants, issuing 77 verbal warnings, and taking enforcement action against serious breaches.

Enforcement actions included issuing warning letters to three permitted restaurants for persistent non-compliance regarding cooking or heating food on dining tables. Two prosecutions were also instituted for failing to keep dogs securely on leashes.

Additionally, officers proactively inspected non-permitted restaurants, initiating six prosecutions against operators who allowed dogs to enter their premises in breach of the regulation.

The first phase of the measure has a quota of 1,000 restaurants. The department reminded operators to carefully consider their market positioning, customer base and operational conditions before applying, and to ensure sufficient preparation.

A waiting list mechanism is in place to ensure that when individual restaurants withdraw, released quotas are reallocated swiftly and orderly.

Source: Government of Singapore

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE ISSUED ON BEHALF OF AGENCIES IN THE HAZE TASK FORCE

9 August 2026 – As of 9 August 2026, 1.00pm, the 24-hr Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) is 81 (Moderate range) in the Central region of Singapore. The 28 public agencies that make up the Government’s Haze Task Force (HTF) are ready to roll out their respective haze action plans should the air quality deteriorate into the Unhealthy range, when the 24-hour PSI exceeds 100. 

2.        Recent dry conditions have resulted in an escalation in the hotspot situation. Hotspots and smoke plumes were observed over parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan. Under prevailing southeasterly winds, smoke haze could be transported towards Singapore, particularly from the hotspots in the southern parts of Sumatra. The dry conditions are expected to continue in the coming week which could increase the risk of haze should the fires persist.

3.        NEA will continue to closely monitor the haze situation and provide further updates if the situation changes. If the 24-hour PSI enters the Unhealthy range, NEA will issue daily haze advisories. The daily haze advisory will include the 24-hour PSI forecast, which can be used by the public to plan their activities and events the next day.

4.        1-hour PM_2.5 concentration as an indicator of current air quality, and 1-hour PM2.5 associated personal guide when planning outdoor or strenuous activities over the next few hours. The 1-hour PM_2.5 concentration level can be volatile and fluctuate throughout the day based on weather conditions, particularly during periods of transboundary haze.

5.        The impact of haze on an individual is dependent on his or her health status, the 24-hour PSI level, and the duration and intensity of outdoor activities. Reducing outdoor activities and physical exertion, and drinking water to stay hydrated can reduce ill effects from haze exposure. Those with pre-existing chronic heart and lung conditions should ensure medication is readily on hand. Vulnerable persons, including the elderly, pregnant women, children, and those with pre-existing chronic heart and lung conditions, who develop symptoms or feel unwell, should seek medical attention promptly. More practical tips for households to reduce exposure to haze can be found here. Current air quality readings and advisories to protect public health, especially vulnerable groups are available on www.haze.gov.sg, www.nea.gov.sg and the myENV app.

Government Haze Task Force

6.        The HTF, which is chaired by NEA, develops and implements action plans to minimise and manage the impact of haze on Singapore. HTF member agencies have robust action plans in place, allowing tiered responses depending on the intensity of the haze, which are based on the air quality readings and forecasts.

7.        The HTF convenes annually, before the start of the dry season in June to update its plans. This year’s HTF has convened twice so far – once in end-January in light of the peatland and vegetation fires in east Johor (due to dry weather), resulting in some plumes from the fires to drift towards Singapore, and once in April. Refer to Annex A for the list of HTF members. For more details of the HTF’s action plans for mitigating the impact of haze, refer to Annex B.

Issued on behalf of agencies in the Haze Task Force

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

To promote the general awareness of Hong Kong and its unique East-meets-West food culture, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Washington, DC, (HKETO, Washington DC), hosted on August 5 and 7 (Washington time) “A Taste of Hong Kong” workshops in which participants prepared and tasted classic Cantonese dim sum dishes and delicacies.

The hands-on, family-friendly event, organised in partnership with chefs from DC Cooking School, attracted government officials, Congressional staff, representatives from business associations, the food and beverages and hospitality industries, other private sector businesses, as well as the diplomatic community.

The Director of the HKETO, Washington DC, Ms Elania Luk, welcomed guests and offered a primer on Hong Kong’s vibrant and diverse dining landscape. “Even though Hong Kong is more than 8 000 miles away and 12 hours ahead of Washington, our cuisine has gladly made that journey to reach the dining tables of our friends here. This is testament to the close people-to-people connection between Hong Kong and the US (United States). There are over 80 000 US citizens living in Hong Kong. Hong Kong is also a key export destination for US agricultural products. For instance, despite having a population of only about 7.5 million, Hong Kong was the seventh-largest overseas market for US beef and beef products by value last year”, said Ms Luk.

“We encourage friends from all over the world, including the US, to come and explore Hong Kong’s globally renowned food scene alongside our East-meets-West culture”, said Ms Luk. “With a unique blend of Cantonese and Western influences, the city’s cuisine is shaped by tradition and ingenuity. Dim sum is the quintessential dining experience.”

Following last year’s The World’s 50 Best Bars award ceremony and this year’s Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026 awards ceremony, both held in Hong Kong, Ms Luk said the city is firmly established as a culinary capital.

Offering a fusion of cuisines, many Hong Kong restaurants are featured in the prestigious Michelin guide. “The MICHELIN Guide Hong Kong & Macau 2026” recognises 219 eateries in Hong Kong, showcasing the city’s high standards and ingenuity in the catering industry.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Navigating career options amid rapid transformation in the media industry presents a tough choice for communication students weighing options between public relations, advertising and news reporting.

For Sophia Chong, a second-year student in the Department of Journalism & Communication at Hong Kong Shue Yan University (HKSYU) facing a choice of major next year, clarity came through a new cross-boundary initiative.

“I genuinely wish I had more opportunities to try different things before making a choice, so I can find a path that suits me best,” Miss Chong said. 

Miss Chong joined 15 other Hong Kong tertiary students in Changsha for a three-week immersive placement at Hunan Satellite TV’s production hub, also known as the “Colourful Box”.

The initiative was rolled out under the Youth Internship Programme at Hunan on Media Industry, jointly organised by the Home & Youth Affairs Bureau, Hunan Satellite TV and the Journalism Education Foundation.

The interns were assigned across three variety shows – a cooking competition, a singing contest and an entertainment show – extending their practical exposure with a firsthand taste of production and advertising far beyond traditional news reporting.

Hands-on production

Assigned to a brand-new regional culinary show, Miss Chong had to conduct background research on the evolution of Cantonese dishes, pitch recipes and source renowned chefs and influencers as guest judges.

The work soon extended beyond desk research. She recalled the stand-in rehearsals – where interns simulated show sequences by taking on the roles of chefs, judges or hosts so camera operators and lighting crews could calibrate their setups – as a key highlight.

“It was a thrill like no other,” she said.

Industry praise

On entertainment sets, interns pitched creative game concepts to pump up the studio energy and came up with ideas to promote the guests’ upcoming releases and movies.

Meanwhile, those who were tasked with the singing contest programme faced a high-stakes trial by fire. Stepping into specialised production roles spanning props, lighting and stage positioning, they managed real-time technical execution, including lyric cueing.

For HKSYU student Jenny Hui, the internship was a demanding crash course in large-scale live broadcasting, where artistes’ movements, props and timing required precise co-ordination.

Hunan Satellite TV mentor Deng Junyin praised her eye for detail and adaptability on set.

“From communication to design, to execution and finally going on stage. I think she did a great job,” Mr Deng said.

Elsewhere in the studio, Christella Chan from the Chinese University of Hong Kong served on the teleprompter team, adjusting lyrics to each singer’s breathing rhythm.

She also leveraged her native language skills from the control room, providing real-time Cantonese-to-Putonghua translation for her team as singer Leah Dou chatted on stage with her crew after rehearsals, according to Zhu Zhenni, another mentor from Hunan Satellite TV.

“The interns from Hong Kong were a great help to us,” Miss Zhu said.

Fresh perspectives

The three-week immersion experience sparked Miss Chong’s passion for variety shows and creative production outside the newsroom. Yet, her biggest eye-opener came from the youthful, dynamic energy driving a Chinese Mainland media organisation.

“We were quite surprised that most of the directors are really young. They were actually born in the late 1990s or even 2000s. They try to bring in a lot of new ideas rather than following a traditional frame.”

Secretary for Home & Youth Affairs Alice Mak emphasised that the inaugural internship programme offers Hong Kong’s media talent a front-row seat to Mainland trends, while fostering a broader perspective on the country’s overall development.

“Through this internship programme, students can work alongside professional programme production teams, gaining an in-depth understanding of the media landscape and industry trends on the Chinese Mainland,” Miss Mak said.

She added the initiative aims to cultivate young talent equipped with a better understanding of the country’s development alongside a professional media perspective.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region