Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, attended the Governors’ Business Session of the 59th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on May 4 (Samarkand time).
 
The Governors’ Business Session discussed matters related to the business and operations of the ADB. Mr Hui said at the meeting that Hong Kong, as a leading international financial centre and harnessing its unique advantages of connectivity with the Mainland and the world under “one country, two systems”, is well equipped to contribute to translating ADB members’ shared ambitions into action. One area is in green and sustainability, where Hong Kong’s financial ecosystem can help direct capital towards projects with positive social and environmental impact. Amid rising geopolitical tensions and increasing global demand for gold, Hong Kong is now striving to develop a world-class international gold trading market and actively exploring open dialogues with various countries across the region to build a more connected, efficient and innovative gold ecosystem and unlock new opportunities for the region.
 
On the day, Mr Hui also attended the opening session and a lunch for Governors of the Annual Meeting, as well as a reception and gala dinner organised by Uzbekistan, the host country of the Annual Meeting.
 
In addition, Mr Hui met with the Public Debt Advisor of the Public Debt Management Office, Thailand, Ms Supak Chaiyawan. He introduced to her the strength of Hong Kong’s world-class financial and professional services, which can support Thailand in fundraising and capital diversification.
 
On May 5 (Samarkand time), Mr Hui will attend the Governors’ Plenary at the ADB Annual Meeting and meet with financial officials of other countries.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

In support of World Hand Hygiene Day promulgated by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (May 5) officially launched its promotional campaign in 2026 to encourage the public to incorporate hand hygiene into their daily lives, and develop proper and timely hand hygiene habits, to jointly safeguard community health.
 
“Hand hygiene is a highly cost-effective public health measure. International studies show that keeping hands clean can not only prevent the transmission of up to 80 per cent of drug-resistant bacteria (pathogenic bacteria) in hospitals, but also prevent approximately 30 per cent of diarrhoea-related illnesses and about 20 per cent of respiratory infections. Therefore, developing good hand hygiene habits is the simplest way to stay healthy. Under the slogan ‘Clean Hands Bring Health’ (see Annex 1: Promotional poster), the CHP’s campaign this year will feature a step-by-step flowchart and reminder stickers on hand hygiene, or promotional videos at over 2 200 locations throughout Hong Kong, including public and private hospitals, government clinics, District Health Centres, residential care homes for the elderly, elderly service units under the Social Welfare Department (SWD), public markets, and cooked food markets. In addition, the CHP has specially created handwashing WhatsApp stickers (see Annex 2: QR code) for the public to download free of charge, serving as a constant reminder of the importance of handwashing,” said the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui.
　
The WHO and the United Nations Children’s Fund released the first global Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Community Settings last year. The document outlined that implementing effective hand hygiene in community is crucial. Dr Tsui noted that the Guidelines are fully aligned with the CHP’s ongoing work. The CHP has consistently strengthened public awareness of hand hygiene through multifaceted publicity and education efforts, such as setting up a thematic website and producing posters and videos on hand hygiene, to enhance public awareness on hand hygiene. The CHP also collaborated with various stakeholders, including the Hospital Authority, private hospitals, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the SWD, to build a hand hygiene-friendly environment and disseminate health messages about hand hygiene to the community, building upon the provision of hand hygiene facilities by these institutions.

The CHP urged healthcare professionals and the public to recognise the importance of hand hygiene, the appropriate times to practice it, and the correct steps involved, and to establish the habit of washing hands at the right times. This is aimed at building a healthy community and safeguarding public health, particularly that of the elderly, young children, and high-risk groups.
 
Members of the public should clean their hands appropriately according to the situation: if hands are visibly dirty, they should be washed with liquid soap and water; if hands are not visibly dirty, use 70-80 per cent alcohol-based handrub. When washing hands, follow the seven steps of hand hygiene: thoroughly rubbing the palms, backs of hands, finger webs, backs of fingers, thumbs, fingertips, and wrists for at least 20 seconds to ensure thorough cleaning.
 
In addition, members of the public should clean their hands promptly at the following moments to prevent the spread of causative agents:
 

• Before and after touching one’s eyes, nose, or mouth;
• Before eating or preparing food;
• After using the toilet;
• After hands are contaminated by respiratory secretions (such as after coughing or sneezing);
• After changing diapers for children or the sick, or handling soiled items;
• After touching animals, poultry, or their droppings;
• After handling garbage;
• After touching public installations or equipment (such as escalator handrails, elevator buttons, or door handles);
• Before and after visiting hospitals, residential care homes, or caring for the sick; and
• Whenever hands are visibly dirty.

 
Members of the public may view hand hygiene videos by visiting “Epidemic Prevention Clinic – Hand Hygiene” at www.youtube.com/watch?v=olE4gaBNX8M and “Clean your hands Prevent infection” at www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5Iq2k6O3AY. For more information and resources on hand hygiene, please visit the CHP’s dedicated website or social media page.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government today announced that Kimmey Ho will assume the post of District Officer (Wong Tai Sin) tomorrow, succeeding Thomas Wu.

Ms Ho joined the Administrative Service in 2008 and has served in various bureaus and departments, including the Home Affairs Department, the Commerce & Economic Development Bureau, the then Office of the Government Chief Information Officer and the Housing Department.

Most recently, she was Principal Assistant Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury (Treasury) (Works) at the Financial Services & the Treasury Bureau.

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