Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Taiwan Sugar Corporation (Taisugar) continues to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with its long-standing achievements in sustainability receiving widespread recognition. This year, Taisugar once again garnered honors at the 5th Taiwan Sustainability Action Awards (TSAA), winning both a Gold Award for its Smallholder Coffee: Building Dreams through Education project and a Bronze Award for its Sustainable Taiwan Rum initiative. Taisugar Vice President Dong-Lin Tsai attended the award ceremony today (Sep. 11), expressing gratitude for the recognition and reaffirming the company’s commitment to sustainability as its core management principle-creating positive impact while enhancing social and environmental value.

Taisugar explained that the award-winning smallholder coffee and sugarcane rum projects exemplify the company’s dedication to fair trade, educational equity, and sustainable agriculture. Guided by the philosophy of “rooted in Taiwan, caring for allied nations’ livelihoods, “Taisugar introduced Guatemalan smallholder coffee beans to Taiwan two years ago, with a portion of the proceeds reinvested in rural education in Guatemala. In late 2024, in collaboration with local NGO Guatemala Prospera and Taiwan’s Embassy in Guatemala, Taisugar helped complete a new classroom in Sacatepequez Department, providing local children with a better learning environment and planting seeds of opportunity for the future. The Smallholder Coffee: Building Dreams through Education project enables Taiwanese consumers to enjoy premium coffee from an allied nation while supporting smallholder farmers and children abroad, delivering the message of “one cup of coffee, one blessing, one hope, “sending love across oceans and lighting the path for new possibilities.

In recent years, Taisugar has also actively promoted high-value applications of sugarcane, working through industry-academia collaborations to develop locally crafted sugarcane spirits. In 2022, the Taiwan Sugar Research Institute (TSRI) partnered with Professor Chien-Hao Chen of National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism to launch a subproject on diversified, high-value use of sugarcane. Using fresh local sugarcane juice, low-temperature fermentation, and oak barrel aging, they produced a terroir-driven pure cane rhum agricole, a French word for agricultural rum, that preserves tropical fruit aromas and cane molasses notes, showcasing the unique character of Taiwan’s land. This agricultural rum went on to win Double Gold at the Vinalies Internationales 2025, marking a milestone in Taiwan’s craft spirits culture and setting a benchmark for combining agriculture with artisanal distilling. TSRI has also developed prototypes for cane-based plum wine and cane beer, further expanding the scope of sugarcane innovation and driving the upgrade of Taiwan’s sugar industry.

Taisugar added that from building classrooms for Guatemalan schoolchildren to pioneering high-value agricultural innovation in Taiwan through rum distilling, the company has turned “sustainability” into tangible results. With every sip of coffee or taste of rum, consumers are also sharing in hope and goodwill. Looking ahead, Taisugar will continue to advance innovation and green initiatives, deepening corporate responsibility and fostering a vision of shared prosperity and sustainable growth.

TSC News Contact Person:
Chang Mu-Jung
Public Relations, Department of Secretariat, TSC
Contact Number: 886-6-337-8819 / 886-920-636-951
Email:a63449@taisugar.com.tw

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

​The Hurricane Signal No. 10 issued by the Hong Kong Observatory earlier this morning (September 24) remains in force.
 
As at 7am, the Home Affairs Department opened 49 temporary shelters in various districts and 738 people sought refuge at the shelters.

Regarding reports of fallen trees, the Government’s 1823 Call Centre, the Fire Services Department and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department received 33 reports, 135 reports and one report respectively as at 8am.
 
In addition, as at 8am, the Civil Engineering and Development Department received one report of landslide while the Drainage Services Department received four reports of flooding.

According to the Hospital Authority, as at 8am, 19 people (11 males and eight females) were injured during the typhoon period. They received medical treatments at the Accident and Emergency departments of public hospitals.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Attention duty announcers of radio and television stations:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:

The Department of Health (DH) announced today (September 24) that due to the Hurricane Signal No. 10 being issued, all DH clinics, including Methadone Clinics, will be closed.

The public is advised to pay attention to radio and television announcements.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

​The Hurricane Signal No. 10 issued by the Hong Kong Observatory earlier this morning (September 24) remains in force.
 
As at 4am, the Home Affairs Department opened 49 temporary shelters in various districts and 726 people sought refuge at the shelters.

Regarding reports of fallen trees, the Government’s 1823 Call Centre and the Fire Services Department received six and 24 reports respectively as at 4am.
 
In addition, as at 4am, the Civil Engineering and Development Department received one report of landslide. No report of flooding has been received so far.

According to the Hospital Authority, as at 4am, five people (three males and two females) were injured during the typhoon period. They received medical treatments at the Accident and Emergency departments of public hospitals.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The No. 8 Northwest Gale or Storm Signal issued by the Hong Kong Observatory this afternoon (September 23) remains in force.

As at 11pm, the Home Affairs Department has opened 49 temporary shelters in various districts and 684 people have sought refuge at the shelters.

Regarding reports of fallen trees, the Government’s 1823 Call Centre and the Fire Services Department received five and seven reports respectively as at 11pm.

In addition, as at 11pm, the Civil Engineering and Development Department received one report of landslide. No report of flooding has been received so far.

According to the Hospital Authority, as at 10.50pm, four people (two males and two females) have been injured during the typhoon period. They received medical treatment at the Accident and Emergency Department of public hospitals.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Hong Kong Observatory issued the Increasing Gale or Storm Signal No.9 at 1.40am today (September 24). It replaced the No. 8 Northwest Gale or Storm Signal.
 
As at 1am, the Home Affairs Department opened 49 temporary shelters in various districts and 711 people sought refuge at the shelters.

Regarding reports of fallen trees, the Government’s 1823 Call Centre and the Fire Services Department received five and 10 reports respectively as at 1am.
 
In addition, as at 1am, the Civil Engineering and Development Department received one report of landslide. No report of flooding has been received so far.

According to the Hospital Authority, as at 1am, five people (three males and two females) were injured during the typhoon period. They received medical treatments at the Accident and Emergency departments of public hospitals.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, started his visit to Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, on September 22 (Ljubljana time) and welcomed Slovenia’s recognition of the benefits that a Comprehensive Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement (CDTA) with Hong Kong would bring to both economies.
 
     On the invitation of the Slovenia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Mr Klemen BoštjanÄ�iÄ�, Mr Hui will join a high-level roundtable conference hosted by the Ministry of Finance (MoF) of Slovenia for financial ministers and financial experts. At a welcome dinner hosted by Mr BoštjanÄ�iÄ� for panellists held on September 22, Mr Hui was greeted with the good news that the Slovenian Government and National Assembly are deliberating on the decision to prioritise the CDTA with Hong Kong.
 
     “It is reassuring to receive the encouraging response from the Slovenian Government soon after my initial proposal to Mr BoštjanÄ�iÄ� this June that both sides are attaching importance in reaching a CDTA so that our business communities would be able to reap the tremendous benefits as soon as possible. With a CDTA in place, the business communities and residents of the two places will better understand the potential tax liabilities from cross-border investments, and enjoy avoidance of double taxation. This will be conducive to creating a more favourable and attractive business environment for investors to establish or expand their businesses. With the commitment of both sides, the first round of CDTA negotiations should be possible in the near future,” he said.
 
     Earlier in the day, Mr Hui met with the Chairman of the Capital Market Authority (CMA) of Saudi Arabia, Mr Mohammed bin Abdullah Elkuwaiz, to update him on the situation of Hong Kong’s financial market and the various initiatives announced in “The Chief Executive’s 2025 Policy Address” to consolidate Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre. The CMA is the regulator of the Saudi Arabian capital market, including the Saudi Stock Exchange, which is the only authorised entity allowed to carry out the trading of securities in Saudi Arabia.
 
     Mr Elkuwaiz has a great interest in Hong Kong’s financial market and its various advantages. Mr Hui suggested enhanced co-operation between the two parties to help build the Saudi capital market into one of the most important financial markets in the world. He noted that the co-operation between the two financial markets is not new and Saudi Arabia can take the city as a reliable partner for investment and financial development. Collaboration between the two financial markets include the first Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) investing in the Saudi market listed in Hong Kong since 2023, two ETFs tracking Hong Kong stock indices on the Saudi Exchange since last year and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding last year between the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia to work jointly towards anchoring an investment fund of a target size of US$1 billion as well as the first Islamic bond (sukuk) ETF listed in Hong Kong this May.
 
     Mr Hui also paid a courtesy call on the Charge d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Slovenia, Mr Zhao Binghui. They discussed the latest trend and opportunities of Mainland enterprises going global, and how Hong Kong can play its unique role to better serve the relevant needs.
 
     On September 23 (Ljubljana time), Mr Hui will attend a high-level roundtable conference hosted by the MoF of the Republic of Solvenia as well as a business event organised by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia. He will also meet ministers of finance from other countries on the sidelines of the Slovenian MoF roundtable conference.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:

     The Marine Department has announced that To Kwa Wan and Tuen Mun typhoon shelters are now full.

     Local vessels are advised to use other typhoon shelters.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

​The Home Affairs Department has opened the following additional temporary shelter for people in need:
 

Region	Name	Address
New Territories (except Islands District)	Luen Wo Hui Community Hall	G/F, 9 Wo Mun Street, Luen Wo Hui, Fanling, New Territories

 
Please refer to the annex for the full list of temporary shelters that are now open. For enquiries, please contact the emergency hotline on 2572 8427.