Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Land Registry logged 8,692 sale and purchase agreements received for registration for all building units in April, a rise of 12.3% compared with March and up 20.2% year on year.

The total consideration for building unit sale and purchase agreements in April increased 17% from the previous month to 72.9 billion, representing a 45.5% year-on-year increase.

A total of 7,368 agreements were for residential units, up 16.7% from the previous month and up 29.4% from a year ago.

The total consideration for residential units was $63.7 billion, an increase of 15.4% compared with the previous month and a rise of 50.9% year on year.

There were 419,404 land register searches last month.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

President Lai issues remarks after returning from state visit to Kingdom of Eswatini
On the morning of May 5, President Lai Ching-te returned to Taiwan after the conclusion of his state visit to the Kingdom of Eswatini, and delivered remarks on his visit at Taoyuan International Airport. In his remarks, President Lai reported on the achievements of the trip, including the positive results of Taiwan and Eswatini’s collaboration that he witnessed in areas such as energy, industry, agriculture, smart healthcare, women’s empowerment, and cultural and educational exchanges.
President Lai emphasized that the world is shared by all, and Taiwan is part of that world. He asserted that the people of Taiwan have the right to engage with the world and will not be deterred by pressure. The president said that this visit not only deepens the two nations’ diplomatic ties spanning over half a century, but also demonstrates Taiwan’s resolve to work with like-minded nations to uphold the international order, further underscoring Taiwan’s willingness to participate in and contribute more to the international community.
A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:
We have returned!
From our departure on May 2 to our return today, May 5, we have traveled more than 25,000 kilometers over 84 hours. We have successfully concluded this diplomatic visit to our ally, the Kingdom of Eswatini, and safely returned to Taiwan. 
On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I would like to express my gratitude to His Majesty King Mswati III, the government of Eswatini, and all the nation’s people. Thank you for your heartfelt, warm, and steadfast support. Although Taiwan and Eswatini are geographically separated by thousands of kilometers, the friendship and trust between our peoples are stronger than ever.
Standing beside me is Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla, who has personally traveled with us across vast distances to ensure my and the delegation’s smooth journey. I would also like to express our sincerest appreciation to her once again.
Deputy Prime Minister Dladla, your thoughtful and detailed arrangements truly reflect Eswatini’s exceptional hospitality. I would like to report to the people of Taiwan that throughout this visit, we have witnessed concrete results in Taiwan-Eswatini cooperation, including in energy security, industrial investment, agriculture, smart healthcare, women’s empowerment, as well as cultural and educational exchanges. Such cooperation not only symbolizes the depth of the friendship between Taiwan and Eswatini spanning over half a century, but also highlights Taiwan’s commitment to working with international partners for greater security, prosperity, and progress.
The Republic of China (Taiwan) has demonstrated through its actions that true national strength lies not in making others capitulate, but in bringing happiness to all.
Some media have characterized this state visit as a “breakthrough” amid external interference. In truth, however, visits between heads of state are very natural – as natural as visits between friends, and are a basic right of every country. The external pressure this trip temporarily experienced has, on the contrary, allowed the international community to see Taiwan’s firm determination and strong will to engage with the world. It has also underscored that upholding a rules-based international order and protecting global peace and stability from any efforts to undermine them have become a pressing issue that demands immediate attention from the international community. 
The Republic of China (Taiwan) abides by rules-based international norms and aims to advance mutual benefits and shared prosperity in the international community. This visit strengthens our diplomatic ties and is an exercise of our basic diplomatic rights. It also stands as a concrete example of how Taiwan is working with like-minded countries to maintain the international order.
Dear friends, citizens: The Earth is round – the world is shared by all. And Taiwan is part of that world.
The people of Taiwan are people of the world, and they have every right to engage with the world. We will not back down in the face of pressure. Rather, the peace-loving and freedom-loving people of Taiwan will continue to uphold the principles of justice and reason. We will continue to participate in the international community and make our contributions in a stable and responsible manner. In the spirit of mutual assistance for mutual benefits, we will work with people in every corner of the world to build a better future for all.
Finally, I want to thank my national security and foreign affairs teams, as well as the officials who remained on duty here in Taiwan. Thank you for ensuring the success of this mission in such a short time, while upholding our national interests and security under the most careful and rigorous arrangements. Thank you for your outstanding performance. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our like-minded friends and allies for their support in the success of this mission. A more stable global order requires more of this type of close cooperation. We will keep pushing forward. Let’s keep going, Taiwan! May Taiwan be blessed!
Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Saint Lucia Ambassador Robert Kennedy Lewis was present at the airport to welcome the president.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Executive John Lee

I am delighted to witness with you today’s MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) signing.

This is a real milestone: the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Dongguan Government leading EcoCeres to build in Dongguan a sustainable aviation fuel value chain right here in the Greater Bay Area.

Traditional aviation fuel carries a heavy carbon footprint. Sustainable Aviation Fuel, SAF, cuts lifecycle emissions by more than 80%. That is a substantial step toward greener aviation.

The collaboration between Hong Kong and Dongguan is the realisation of the executive-led governance of Hong Kong and also the joint working of effective government and an efficient market. It is also an excellent example of synergy of the two places.

Hong Kong brings global finance, professional services and research capabilities. Dongguan brings mature chemical industry parks, logistics, and a steady supply of used cooking oil – the essential raw material for SAF. Together, we form a powerful combination.

The company at the heart of this project is EcoCeres. Incubated in Hong Kong, it has developed proprietary technology to turn waste cooking oil into internationally certified sustainable aviation fuel, SAF. That is why it holds a leading position in the global market.

Ladies and gentlemen, the world faces energy disruptions. But Hong Kong, under “one country, two systems”, enjoys a unique advantage: strong support from the motherland and close connections to the world. We can turn green challenges into green opportunities.

Today’s MOU means policy alignment, co-ordinated resource mobilisation, and joint action between Hong Kong and Dongguan. We are linking the entire supply chain, from raw materials to production. That will drive investment and support our country’s carbon reduction goals.

Looking ahead, we will continue to deepen Hong Kong-Guangdong collaboration. More policy connectivity. More resource sharing. More green projects.

Together, we will build a cleaner, greener future – for Hong Kong, for Dongguan, for the Greater Bay Area, for our country and for the world.

Chief Executive John Lee gave these remarks at the Signing Ceremony of Memorandum of Understanding – Establishment of Hong Kong’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel Base in Dongguan on May 5.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Today (May 4) is the fifteenth day of phased arrangements for residents of seven blocks of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po to return to their units. Five high-zone floors of Wang Tai House and 11 high-zone floors of Wang Shing House were opened. The access arrangements were carried out in an orderly manner and operated smoothly.
 
A total of 140 households (487 people) registered to return to their units today through the “one social worker per household” service, while 140 households (526 people) actually turned up.

The average time residents spent entering and leaving the building today was two hours and 35 minutes, with the shortest time being 20 minutes and the longest four hours and nine minutes. About 63 per cent of the residents stayed in the building for less than three hours. About 24 per cent of the residents stayed in the building for less than two hours. About 3 per cent of the residents stayed in the building for less than one hour.

​A total of 63 households (131 people) went up and down the building more than once. Among them, 36 households (87 people) made one additional trip, 22 households (37 people) made two additional trips, and 5 households (7 people) made three additional trips.

The integrated enquiry counter set up by relevant departments today received thirteen cases requesting police assistance and one case involving resident seeking help due to physical discomfort.

The 13 cases requesting police assistance involved suspected loss of property, including watch, jewellery, cash and gold items. Officers were immediately deployed to assist in searches, and lost property was recovered in one case. In three cases, the units concerned were severely damaged and residents believed after investigation that the property might have been destroyed by fire. In another five cases, there were no signs of ransacking in the units, and the residents could not provide details on the property concerned. For the remaining four cases, the Police will make further investigation.
 
The Government spares no effort in supporting the residents returning to their units. Each day, the Government deploys over 1 000 personnel from various departments, including the Police, the Civil Aid Service, the Fire Services Department, the Auxiliary Medical Service, the Home Affairs Department, the Social Welfare Department (SWD), the Housing Bureau, and the Housing Department, as well as District Services and Community Care Teams members. The “Government-wide Mobilisation” mechanism has also been activated to bring together greater interdepartmental resources to support residents.

​Under the “Government-wide Mobilisation” mechanism, the Civil Service Bureau has co-ordinated nine government departments to mobilise civil servants to form the Government Quick Response Unit to support these access arrangements. These civil servants come from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), the Architectural Services Department (ArchSD), the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD), the Environmental Protection Department (EPD), the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), the Lands Department (LandsD), the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), the Post Office, and the Water Supplies Department (WSD). They will form dedicated teams with social workers and clinical psychologists from the SWD, stationed on different floors to provide support to residents returning to their units. The civil servants mobilised in the first three days were from the AFCD, those mobilised from the fourth day to the sixth day are from the EMSD and the LCSD, those mobilised from the seventh day to the ninth day are from the LandsD and the WSD, those mobilised from the tenth day to the twelfth day are from the Post Office and the ArchSD, while those mobilised from the thirteenth day to the fifteenth day (including today) are from the FEHD and the EPD.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Immigration Department (ImmD) and the Travel Industry Authority (TIA) today (May 4) mounted a joint anti-illegal worker operation to combat illegal workers providing tourist guide and tour escort services in Hong Kong. A Mainland visitor, who is a suspected illegal worker, was arrested.
 
As there have been suspected illegal workers utilising social media platforms to advertise tour guide and tour escort services in Hong Kong, the ImmD and the TIA initiated an operation. Officers disguised as customers enquired about and booked services from the suspect. The suspect was subsequently arrested while providing such services in Hong Kong. The arrested illegal worker was a man, aged 27. The ImmD will consider prosecution against him for the offence of breaching conditions of stay.
 
The ImmD and the TIA have also deployed officers to distribute leaflets to the public and visitors at tourist hotspots, conveying the message of “Don’t employ illegal tour escorts or tourist guides”.
 
An ImmD spokesman said, “Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years’ imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties.”
      
The spokesman stressed that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years’ imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years’ imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.
 
According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee’s identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker’s valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.
 
Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) and/or forced labour victims. When any TIP and/or forced labour indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP and/or forced labour elements. Identified TIP and/or forced labour victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP and/or forced labour victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.
 
For reporting illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 185 185, fax at 2824 1166, email anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit the “Online Reporting of Immigration Offences” form at www.immd.gov.hk.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about a fatal work accident that happened at a construction site in Stanley this afternoon (May 4), in which a male worker was struck by a falling object while he was working inside a lift shaft. He was certified dead later in hospital. The LD is saddened by the death of the worker and expresses its deepest sympathy to his family.

The LD’s spokesman said, “We commenced an immediate on-site investigation as soon as we were notified of the accident and issued suspension notices to the contractors concerned, suspending the lift works at the site. The contractors cannot resume the work process until the LD is satisfied that suitable measures to abate the relevant risks have been taken.”

The spokesman added, “We will complete the investigation as soon as possible to identify the cause of the accident, ascertain the liability of the duty holders and recommend improvement measures. We will take actions pursuant to the law if there is any violation of the work safety legislation.”
      
To prevent workers being struck by falling objects while working inside a lift shaft, the LD reminds employers to plan and coordinate works inside the lift shaft well to avoid incompatible activities being conducted at the same time; and ensure the lift works are conducted under the immediate supervision of a qualified person who is competent by virtue of his/her substantial training and practical experience in relation to the relevant works. 

The general duty provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance require employers to provide safe working environments, plant and systems of work for their employees. Those who contravene the relevant provisions are liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for two years.

In regard to today’s accident, the LD will issue a Work Safety Alert through its mobile application “OSH 2.0”, website and email, giving a brief account of the accident concerned to duty holders, workers’ unions, professional bodies of safety practitioners and others, and reminding the industry of the importance of following safety precautionary measures to prevent a recurrence of similar accidents.

The LD will also remind the employer concerned of the liability for employees’ compensation under the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance, assist family members of the deceased to claim employees’ compensation and closely follow up on the case. For those with financial difficulties, the LD will assist them to apply for appropriate emergency funds. Subject to the needs and wishes of family members of the deceased, the LD will also liaise with the Social Welfare Department for financial or other assistance.

For the sake of securing the safety and health of employees at work, the LD appeals to employers to provide plant and systems of work that are safe and without risks to health. Employees should co-operate with their employers, adopt all safety measures and use personal protective equipment provided properly to avoid endangering their own work safety and that of other workers.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

April 30, 2026  No. 168  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) strongly condemns and protests Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s inappropriate distortion of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 2758 during a recent meeting with President of the 80th session of the UNGA Annalena Baerbock. He falsely claimed that the resolution had resolved the issue of representation for all of China—including Taiwan—and that it had been universally accepted within the UN system.
MOFA reiterates that UNGA Resolution 2758 merely addressed the issue of China’s representation in the United Nations and that it made no mention of Taiwan throughout its entire text. The resolution did not determine that Taiwan was part of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), and it certainly did not authorize the PRC to represent Taiwan in the UN system. Thus, the resolution has no bearing on Taiwan and cannot serve as a basis for precluding Taiwan’s participation in the UN system or other multilateral mechanisms. Only the democratically elected government of Taiwan has the right to represent Taiwan in the UN system and other international organizations and multilateral mechanisms.
 
MOFA notes that following World War II, the Treaty of San Francisco—which has the force of international law—replaced political declarations such as the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation. The treaty did not grant sovereignty over Taiwan to the PRC, and the PRC has never governed Taiwan. Therefore, Taiwan is by no means part of the PRC.
 
Moreover, in the mid-1980s, Taiwan began a bottom-up transition toward political liberalization and democratization, culminating in its first direct presidential election in 1996. Since then, the representatives of the executive and legislative branches of the Republic of China (Taiwan) government have all been democratically elected by the people of Taiwan, making the ROC (Taiwan) government the sole lawful government that effectively governs and represents Taiwan internationally. This has also established the objective fact that the ROC (Taiwan) and the PRC exist as equals and the status quo that neither is subordinate to the other. Further, the ROC (Taiwan) has experienced three changes of governing party—in 2000, 2008, and 2016. The continued consolidation of Taiwan’s democratic system and sense of identity reflects the Taiwan people’s staunch belief in and unwavering commitment to the pursuit of freedom and democracy. 
 
MOFA urges the international community to continue taking concrete action to counter China’s misrepresentation of UNGA Resolution 2758 and jointly refute China’s efforts to claim that the issue of Taiwan is an internal matter by improperly linking the resolution to the so-called “one China principle,” thereby attempting to change the objective cross-strait status quo and establish a legal basis for the potential future use of force against Taiwan.
 
MOFA also calls on the UN system to strictly abide by the principle of neutrality and refrain from acquiescing to China’s unreasonable suppression of Taiwan’s legitimate right to seek participation and acceding to inappropriate statements on behalf of all UN member states.
 
MOFA emphasizes that Taiwan, as a force for good in the international community, is capable of actively contributing to the UN system’s varied initiatives, including the Sustainable Development Goals and international peace and security. Only by including Taiwan can the United Nations truly realize the principle of universality and the goal of leaving no one behind. (E)

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The 15-day arrangements for residents at seven blocks of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po to return to their units in batches concluded today.

Among the 1,736 households of the seven blocks, a total of 6,265 residents from 1,674 households have returned to their units.

The Government said the process was generally smooth and completed in an orderly manner.

Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing expressed his gratitude for the understanding and co-operation of the residents.

He noted that the vast majority of the residents returned to their units within the 15-day period, while only fewer than 10 households required other arrangements. About 50 households decided not to return to their units.

“There were safety hazards at different parts in the seven blocks after the fire. Arranging safe and orderly access for over 1,670 households was highly challenging.

“To ensure the safety of residents and working staff, meticulous planning was required, including removing unsafe scaffolding, strengthening building structures, installing window safety nets on damaged windows, clearing piles of rubble and debris from common areas, accompanying residents up to the units, providing emotional support, managing crowds, and deploying a large number of interdepartmental supporting staff.”

Mr Cheuk expressed heartfelt appreciation to all staff involved in the arrangements, who worked as one team and displayed commitment and empathy in supporting the residents. Specifically, the staff attentively escorted the residents and assisted in transporting their belongings on their way down. 

Their dedication helped ensure that the arrangements proceeded smoothly, Mr Cheuk added.