Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to IPAC statement on Chinese interference in President Lai’s planned visit to Eswatini

Date：2026-04-22
Data Source：Department of European Affairs

April 22, 2026  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomes the statement from the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) released on April 21 condemning China’s coordinated coercion of other nations to block President Lai Ching-te’s flight path on a planned visit to Eswatini. IPAC’s announcement pointed out that China’s actions had exposed its relentless drive to isolate Taiwan, which had extended to an attempt to control the skies. The statement underlined that President Lai was a democratic leader who, like other heads of state, had the right to engage with partners without interference. It added that China had no right to determine the foreign policy of other countries. MOFA thanks IPAC and other like-minded partners for taking concrete action in support of Taiwan. It further calls on democratic countries to jointly denounce China for using political pressure to disrupt international civil aviation and interfere in the legitimate diplomatic activities of other states.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to EU statement on Chinese interference in President Lai’s planned visit to Eswatini

Date：2026-04-22
Data Source：Department of European Affairs

April 22, 2026  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) expresses sincere gratitude and affirmation to the European Union for its statement that decisions concerning overflights should not be taken to achieve political objectives. The statement came in response to China’s politically motivated interference in international civil aviation operations and legitimate diplomatic exchanges, which led to the postponement of President Lai Ching-te’s planned visit to diplomatic ally Eswatini.An EU spokesperson stated on April 21 in response to a media inquiry that the European Union attached great importance to the Chicago Convention, under which civilian aviation was to be safe, orderly, and predictable. The spokesperson also stressed that overflight rights were a cornerstone of international civil aviation, while predictability and neutrality in airspace management were critical to safety, commerce, and diplomacy. While states exercised sovereignty over their airspace, the spokesperson continued, related decisions should be taken in a transparent and predictable manner, with the primary consideration being aviation safety and operational stability, not political objectives.President Lai had intended for the trip to enhance bilateral relations and promote cooperation projects. However, China applied political pressure on third countries and interfered with their control over their own airspace. This amounts to not only undue influence on international civil aviation but also a disruption of both regional flight security and normal diplomatic exchanges. MOFA emphasizes that, as a responsible member of the international community, Taiwan has always adhered to related international norms. It strongly condemns China for its actions. Moving forward, Taiwan will continue to work with the European Union and like-minded partners to deepen cooperation and uphold the rules-based international order so as to ensure an environment conducive to secure, open, and predictable international aviation and diplomacy.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Leisure & Cultural Services Department (LCSD) today invited commercial entities or groups to submit expression of interest (EOIs) in introducing commercial business models to the operation of Ma Wan Tung Wan, Butterfly and Big Wave Bay beaches.

The 2025 Policy Address stated that the LCSD would explore the feasibility of engaging the market to operate beaches and select some public beaches as pilot sites, all with a view to exploring how commercial operations might enhance beach facilities, develop beaches as recreational, leisure and aquatic venues, and attract more people to visit them.

The LCSD is inviting the market to submit proposals for the introduction of market-based business models at the three beaches. The feedback and information gathered will assist the LCSD in formulating a way forward.

Interested parties should submit their EOIs by June 18. Email avu@lcsd.gov.hk with enquiries.

It was also announced in the 2025 Policy Address that the LCSD would explore the feasibility of engaging the market to develop Lei Yue Mun Park holiday camp as a recreational and leisure hotspot.

The LCSD is inviting interested commercial entities and non-profit organisations to submit EOIs in introducing market-based business models for the entire holiday camp.

Interested parties should submit their EOIs by June 10. Email lymp@lcsd.gov.hk with enquiries.

Source: Government of Singapore

24 April 2026 – Singapore and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have signed the fourth iteration of Singapore’s Country Programme Framework (CPF) for 2026–2031, building upon decades of technical cooperation since Singapore became an IAEA Member State in 1967. The agreement was signed by Mr Jaya Ratnam, Singapore’s Resident Representative to the IAEA, and Mr Hua Liu, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Technical Cooperation.

2            The CPF serves as the strategic reference for medium-term planning of technical cooperation between Singapore and the IAEA, identifying priority areas where nuclear technology transfer and resources will support national development goals.

3            The 2026–2031 framework identifies six priority areas: nuclear and radiation safety and nuclear security; environment; food safety; human health; energy; and industrial applications. It aims to enhance Singapore’s capabilities in assessing the suitability of new energy technologies, strengthen environmental radiation monitoring capacities, food radiochemistry and safety testing, and advance the quality and safety of nuclear imaging and cancer therapy. The framework augments Singapore’s efforts to build capabilities in nuclear safety as it assesses the potential deployment of nuclear energy and in light of the region’s growing interest in nuclear energy.

4            The CPF was developed by the National Environment Agency (NEA) in consultation with the IAEA and stakeholders across government agencies and relevant sectors. The framework builds upon achievements from previous technical cooperation programmes, ensuring Singapore remains well-positioned to leverage nuclear science and technology for national development whilst contributing to regional capacity building efforts. A CPF is the frame of reference for the medium-term planning of technical cooperation between a Member State and the IAEA and identifies priority areas where the transfer of nuclear technology and technical cooperation resources will be directed to support national development goals.

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Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government said today the Road Cargo System (ROCARS) for handling advance road cargo information will cease operating from May 1, with the first batch of Phase 3 services under the new Trade Single Window (TSW) launching on the same day.

User data from ROCARS will be automatically migrated to the TSW system. Users are not required to re-register and only need to log in with their existing accounts to use the new TSW services.

ROCARS will cease operating from midnight on May 1, while the TSW system is expected to launch in the early morning of the same day. During the system “cutover” period, cargo clearance services at land boundary control points will remain as normal.

Customs urged operators to plan ahead with regard to the submission of advance road cargo information and the completion of relevant bundling arrangements, so as to ensure smooth cross-boundary transportation flows during the cutover period.

Call 2117 3348 or send an email for enquiries.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Air-Land Fresh Lane has reached another milestone. A shipment of live lobsters weighing 986 kilograms arrived in Hong Kong yesterday (April 22) by air from Canada, and was immediately transhipped by a cross-border refrigerated truck across the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) directly to Macao. This marks the first consignment of overseas fresh products delivered to Macao via Hong Kong utilising the Fresh Lane, realising a seamless “Overseas-Hong Kong-Macao” one-stop delivery.
 
The extension of the Fresh Lane to Macao was attributed to the concerted efforts and co-operation of the governments of Hong Kong and Macao. This was also the first time that Hong Kong Customs applied the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Three-Places-One-Lock Scheme (Hong Kong-Macao Section) to the Fresh Lane, implementing closed-loop management with real-time monitoring throughout the entire process by using the same e-lock and GPS devices.
 
In addition, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has exempted the registration requirement of food importers participating in the Fresh Lane, further expediting the food clearance procedures and facilitating business. This allows fresh products to be transported directly to Macao using the “Through Truck Transportation” model after customs clearance at the air cargo terminal at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), ensuring a seamless end-to-end process. The new arrangement has significantly shortened clearance time, reduced losses of fresh aquatic products, and helped preserve the freshness of the ingredients. Macao importers have also expressed satisfaction with the new operation model, noting that it has effectively improved logistics efficiency and preserved product quality.
 
The Fresh Lane has successfully facilitated the transhipment of over 420 tonnes of overseas fresh products to the Chinese Mainland since its launch last year, achieving remarkable results and positive feedback from the industry. The transhipped products include chilled tuna, live lobsters, live geoducks, live eels, cherries and grapes.
 
Hong Kong Customs has always adhered to its mission of “stringent enforcement and trade facilitation” and has been working closely with the trade industry to promote a series of innovative trade facilitating measures, thereby consolidating Hong Kong’s leading position as an international aviation hub. Looking ahead, Hong Kong Customs will continue to promote the use of the Fresh Lane, further deepen co-operation among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, and advance the high-quality integrated development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
 
The Air-Land Fresh Lane was fully launched on September 26, 2025, aiming to utilise the strengths of HKIA and the HZMB to facilitate overseas fruits, chilled and live seafood being imported into the Mainland with streamlined customs clearance while empowering high-quality fresh products from the Mainland to go global, thereby developing the HZMB into a “green channel” for fresh products.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Acting Secretary for Education, Dr Sze Chun-fai, today (April 23) presented certificates to awardees under the HKSAR Government Scholarship Fund (GSF) and the Self-financing Post-secondary Education Fund (SPEF) for the 2025/26 academic year at the GSF and SPEF Joint Scholarship Presentation Ceremony 2026.

Over 6 600 meritorious post-secondary students received scholarships and awards, amounting to about $210 million in total. Both the GSF and the SPEF also give recognition to meritorious post-secondary students with special educational needs (SEN) through the Endeavour Merit Award and the Endeavour Scholarship. This year, a total of around 690 SEN students were given awards/scholarships.

Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Sze said Hong Kong’s post-secondary education system enjoys an international reputation, with local universities ranking among the top in global rankings for the most international universities. This not only demonstrates the strength of Hong Kong’s post-secondary education sector, but also attests to the effectiveness of the Government’s long-term commitment to investing in education and enhancing educational competitiveness. The Education Bureau (EDB) has been consistently adhering to the principle of integrity and innovation, integrating itself into the overall national development. It has been seizing the opportunities brought about by the country’s Belt and Road initiatives and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to deepen Hong Kong’s role as an international post-secondary education hub and a cluster of talent, while striving to promote the “Study in Hong Kong” brand globally.

Dr Sze encouraged the awardees to continuously equip themselves, and strive to realise their personal aspirations, thereby commencing the pursuit of dreams from Hong Kong while giving back to society and contributing to the country.

The GSF was established in 2008 to attract outstanding local students to advance their studies at home, and meritorious non-local students to pursue higher education opportunities in Hong Kong. There are five types of scholarships and awards under the GSF, namely Scholarships for Outstanding Performance, Belt and Road (B&R) Scholarship, Talent Development Scholarship, Reaching Out Award and Endeavour Merit Award. Scholarships and awards are offered to students studying full-time publicly funded sub-degree, undergraduate-level and above programmes in Hong Kong. Up to mid-April this year, about 2 100 students received scholarships/awards in the 2025/26 academic year, including about 1 200 local students and about 900 non-local students. In terms of levels of study, about 1 500 students were at an undergraduate level and above, while about 600 students were at the sub-degree level. In addition, the B&R Scholarship was introduced to encourage students from B&R countries/regions to pursue studies in Hong Kong. In the 2025/26 academic year, 150 students from 33 B&R countries/regions were awarded this scholarship for the first time.

The Self-financing Post-secondary Scholarship Scheme (SPSS) was established under the SPEF in 2011 to promote the quality and sustainable development of the self-financing post-secondary sector. There are five types of scholarships and awards under the scheme, namely Outstanding Performance Scholarship, Best Progress Award, Talent Development Scholarship, Reaching Out Award and Endeavour Scholarship. These scholarships and awards are offered to students pursuing full-time locally accredited self-financing sub-degree or undergraduate programmes. In the 2025/26 academic year, the SPEF offered scholarships and awards to about 4 000 local students and about 500 non-local students. In terms of levels of study, about 2 500 of them pursued undergraduate studies, while about 2 000 students were at the sub-degree level.

A list of participating institutions is in Annex I. A broad distribution of the scholarship recipients is set out in Annex II. Details of the scholarships and awards under the GSF are available on the EDB’s website (www.edb.gov.hk/en/edu-system/postsecondary/local-higher-edu/publicly-funded-programmes/scholarship.html). Those under the SPSS as well as the SPEF are available on the Committee on Self-financing Post-secondary Education’s website (www.cspe.edu.hk/en/index.html).