Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Vice President Hsiao attends ribbon-cutting ceremony for infrastructure project in Ngchesar State, Palau
On the afternoon of June 8 local time (afternoon of the same day Taipei time), during her visit to the Republic of Palau, Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a Taiwan-funded road project in Ngchesar State. In remarks, Vice President Hsiao stated that improved roadways will assist in stimulating economic growth and bolstering connectivity among states. She noted that together, Taiwan and Palau also hope to complete a major interstate road network on Babeldaob by 2028, building a brighter and more balanced future for Palauans.
A transcript of Vice President Hsiao’s remarks follows:
I’m delighted to join you for today’s meaningful ribbon-cutting ceremony. A well-developed road system helps to bridge the gap between urban and rural development, improving the lives of local people. I’m confident that this interstate road project will further connectivity and prosperity across Palau.
In fact, balanced development is not only a priority in our partnership with Palau – it is also President Lai [Ching-te]’s priority inside Taiwan. We want to ensure that our citizens living across our island, in different parts of the country, and in different occupations can grow and develop and enjoy the prosperity of our economy together. So balanced growth is an important priority.
Of course, Taiwan and Palau enjoy longstanding diplomatic ties based on shared values. And over the years, we have collaborated on many important initiatives benefiting both our countries and peoples. Taiwan continues to attach great importance to this bilateral partnership and is pleased to support Palau’s infrastructure development through annual assistance programs. To date, roads constructed with contributions from Taiwan account for approximately – I’m told – 68 percent of Palau’s existing transportation networks on land. This remarkable figure is a concrete testament to the unwavering trust, friendship, and cooperation between our two peoples.
Looking ahead, Taiwan is committed to supporting Palau’s development across all sectors and backing the visionary goals of President [Surangel S.] Whipps, [ Jr.]. Together, we hope to complete the major interstate road network on Babeldaob by 2028. Improved roadways will assist in stimulating economic growth and bolstering connectivity among states, building a brighter and more balanced future for Palauans. Through joint efforts, I’m confident that Taiwan-Palau relations will steadily grow and flourish, and that the friendship between our countries and our peoples will remain rock-solid.
And in closing, I’d like to thank you again for joining us, and I wish everyone the best of health, happiness, and success – and of course, smooth cruising along this road. Thank you. Mesulang!
Following her remarks, Vice President Hsiao and President Whipps proceeded with the ribbon-cutting ceremony on the new road, marking the smooth and successful completion of its construction and a new chapter for transportation development in Palau.
Also in attendance at the ceremony were Minister of Human Resources, Culture, Tourism and Development Ngiraibelas Tmetuchl, Paramount High Chief Reklai Raphael Ngirmang, Governor of Ngchesar State Jackson Doktok, Ngchesar State Delegate Rebecca Sebalt-Ngirmechaet, Ambassador-designate to Taiwan Gaafar J. Uherbelau, and Ambassador of Japan to Palau Kasahara Kenichi.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Chan Tsz-tat, today (June 8) welcomed the visit by
the Director General in the Huangpu Customs District, Mr Jin Hai, and his delegation. The two sides also held a meeting to exchange views on deepening collaboration between the two Customs administrations.

During the meeting between Mr Chan and the Huangpu Customs delegation, both sides engaged in detailed discussions and exchanges on matters including strengthening co-operation on trade facilitation measures between the two Customs administrations, as well as optimising cross-boundary intermodal transportation.

     On the same day, the two signed a Memorandum of Co-operation (MoC) regarding the inspection and quarantine of air-to-sea transhipments of fresh fruits to the Chinese Mainland via Hong Kong. It is agreed under the MoC that Hong Kong Customs will issue Certificates for Transhipment Confirmation for fruit transhipments in non-original air cargo containers to be imported to Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) Dongguan Logistics Park via HKIA to confirm there is no irregularity found in their outer packaging and comply with the Chinese Mainland’s inspection and quarantine regulatory requirements. The MoC will take effect from November 1, 2026. It is expected to deepen collaboration in clearance and quarantine operations, as well as promote high-quality development of the cold chain trade in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

The delegation also visited the West Kowloon Station of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link to learn about the operations of passenger clearance of Hong Kong Customs; and visited the Customs Marine Base on Stonecutters Island, taking a ride on a sector patrol launch to visit sea-borne smuggling black spots to learn about its maritime patrol and enforcement work.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Labour Department (LD) today (June 8) reminded employers to make practical and reasonable work arrangements for employees after the cancellation of tropical cyclone warnings or rainstorm warnings, with due consideration to the road and traffic conditions and other factors, and make flexible arrangements for staff to resume work or work remotely (if applicable). This will help maintain good labour relations, and ensure the safety of employees as well as the smooth operation of organisations. 

     “For staff who have genuine difficulties in resuming work on time upon cancellation of a tropical cyclone or rainstorm warning, employers should be considerate and handle the situation in a flexible manner. For example, employers may allow employees to resume work by batches, permit employees who have difficulties in returning to workplaces to work remotely (if applicable) or allow more time for them to report for duty and resume work,” a spokesman for the LD said. 

     The spokesman reminded employers to observe the statutory liabilities and requirements under the Employment Ordinance, Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance, Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance, Employees’ Compensation Ordinance and Minimum Wage Ordinance.

     “Tropical cyclones and rainstorms are natural calamities. If employees are not required to report for duty, or are released from workplaces early, or are unable to report for duty at workplaces or resume work on time, etc due to adverse weather, extreme conditions or other environmental factors beyond their control, employers should not deduct their wages, good attendance bonus, or allowances, nor require employees to compensate subsequently for the loss of working hours in response to the aforementioned situations, or reduce employees’ entitlements to annual leave, statutory holidays or rest days under the Employment Ordinance to compensate for the loss of working hours resulting from the issuance of adverse weather warnings or the extreme conditions announcement,” the spokesman said.

     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. 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 a Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 or higher, a Red or Black Rainstorm Warning Signal or extreme conditions are in force.

     The LD’s latest revised “Code of Practice in Times of Adverse Weather and ‘Extreme Conditions'” sets out the relevant guidelines in a reader-friendly and concise manner, reiterating the three major principles for formulating work arrangements under adverse weather and extreme conditions, including formulating work arrangements in advance, giving prime consideration to employees’ safety, and complying with requirements of labour legislation, and incorporating corporate examples for reference. The booklet can be obtained from branch offices of the Labour Relations Division or downloaded from the department’s webpage (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/wcp/Rainstorm.pdf).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Labour Department (LD) today (June 8) 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

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region