Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

LEAP East 2026, the first LEAP conference to be held outside of Saudi Arabia, highlights Hong Kong’s role as a unique gateway connecting the Chinese Mainland with the world.

Running at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre until tomorrow, the event has brought together 340 speakers, 450 exhibitors and over 35,000 visitors from 30 countries and regions.

Among the exhibitors is a Saudi digital enterprise specialising in artificial intelligence and data analytics. Its Strategic Relations Vice President Majid Saad Alarifi said LEAP East can facilitate the expansion of its overseas business.

He elaborated that with governments showing increasing interest in the smart city concept, Hong Kong, as a high-tech and well-governed place, provides an excellent platform allowing his firm to tap into the Asia-Pacific market.

Meanwhile, at the HKSTP Pavilion set up by the Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation, 23 park companies are showcasing their innovations and services. Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation Chief Marketing Officer Hilda Chan stressed that LEAP East realises Hong Kong’s role as a super-connector.

She added that the event has brought startups to Hong Kong so that they can better understand the city’s ecosystem, while also allowing Hong Kong startups to connect with overseas investors and find business match-ups.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Education Bureau announced today that the selection process for the fifth cohort under the School Nominations Direct Admission Scheme (SNDAS) has been completed, with 319 students accepting university offers.

For this cohort, a total of 847 valid nominations were received from 433 secondary schools. The eight universities funded by the University Grants Committee (UGC) subsequently arranged interviews for the nominees.

Firm offers were made to 325 successful nominees prior to the release of this year’s Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Examination results. Among these, 319 have accepted the offers are set to begin their chosen undergraduate studies in various disciplines in September.

Starting with the 2025-26 school year, each of the eight UGC-funded universities will be invited to nominate SNDAS students who demonstrate exceptional proficiency in arts, sports and/or community service for scholarships above and beyond the firm offers granted.

With no means testing in play, each awardee will be granted a scholarship of $10,000 per year throughout their four-year academic pursuit under the Home Affairs Bureau’s Multi-talent Development Scholarship.

The scheme’s sixth round will open to Secondary 6 students, who are gearing up for the next HKDSE Examination and preparing to start their undergraduate studies in September 2027. Details will be announced in due course.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA welcomes public comments from Philippine Secretary of National Defense Teodoro on deepening Taiwan-Philippines cooperation

Date：2026-06-01
Data Source：Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs

June 1, 2026  No. 246  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) sincerely welcomes and highly commends comments made by Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro while he attended the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on May 30.

Secretary Teodoro said that in the face of China’s continued expansion of military influence and coercive actions in the region, and in addition to his country’s current efforts to strengthen security relations with the United States, the Philippines was seeking exchanges and cooperation with such defense partners as Japan, Vietnam, and Taiwan so as to jointly respond to regional challenges.

MOFA emphasizes that Taiwan and the Philippines continue to strengthen their substantive partnership under the integrated diplomacy and three-chain strategy advanced by President Lai Ching-te and MOFA. This has included bolstering both nations’ supply chain resilience through the promotion of the Taiwan-Philippines Economic Corridor. Taiwan has also been pleased to see the Philippines launch supply chain cooperation with the United States under the Pax Silica initiative. It looks forward to developing a comprehensive partnership with the Philippines in economic, security, technological, and people-to-people exchanges, and aspires to work with the Philippines and like-minded nations to enhance democracy, peace, and prosperity throughout the Indo-Pacific. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to Japanese statements on Chinese interference in President Lai’s planned visit to Eswatini

April 23, 2026  Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung affirms and welcomes the statements by Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara and members of the National Diet on Chinese interference in President Lai Ching-te’s planned visit to Eswatini, a diplomatic ally of Taiwan. 

Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara stated on April 23 in response to media questions that Japan would continue to monitor the situation regarding Taiwan. He also emphasized that ensuring flight safety was a major issue in the common interest of the international community and that relevant countries should maintain transparency in their operations. 
 
In addition, members of Japan’s National Diet from both the ruling and opposition parties immediately and publicly condemned China for engaging in unreasonable suppression and intimidation. 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs solemnly reiterates that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is a sovereign, independent, and democratic nation. Neither it nor the People’s Republic of China is subordinate to the other. No attempt to infringe upon Taiwan’s sovereign status can change this internationally recognized objective status quo or hinder Taiwan’s diplomatic interaction with other countries. China should immediately cease all actions and statements that undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and the region. 

As a responsible member of the international community, Taiwan has always upheld relevant international norms and will continue to deepen cooperation with its allies and friendly nations such as Japan so as to jointly counter the challenge posed by authoritarianism to regional security and peace.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     ​The 8th Singapore-Hong Kong Permanent Secretaries Exchange Programme, attended by the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Ms Shirley Lam, together with six Permanent Secretaries of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, successfully concluded today (July 8). The Permanent Secretaries who also attended included the Permanent Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr Patrick Li; the Permanent Secretary for Development (Planning and Lands), Ms Doris Ho; the Permanent Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Mr Kevin Choi; the Permanent Secretary for Education, Ms May Chan; the Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Ms Angela Lee; and the Permanent Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Vic Yau.

      This morning, the delegation met with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry of Singapore, Mr Gan Kim Yong, and the Coordinating Minister for Public Services of Singapore, Mr Chan Chun Sing, respectively. They exchanged views on issues of mutual interest, such as on development projects of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Northern Metropolis, which present further cooperation opportunities between Hong Kong and Singapore.

​Upon arrival in Singapore the day before yesterday (July 6), Ms Lam had a meeting with the Head of Civil Service of Singapore, Mr Chan Heng Kee, to exchange views on civil service management. The Permanent Secretaries of the delegation also had separate meetings with several Permanent Secretaries of Singapore to discuss respective policy areas such as youth development, land planning, innovation and technology, education, trade and transport.

Yesterday (July 7), the delegation had a roundtable discussion with a number of Permanent Secretaries of Singapore to share their latest policies and experience on three key topics, namely AI, citizen engagement and urban planning. Ms Lam said that Hong Kong and Singapore share many similarities, and that the roundtable discussion provided an important platform for civil service leaders of both sides to engage in in-depth and candid exchanges on the common challenges and opportunities, draw reference from each other and explore new areas for collaboration.

While in Singapore, the delegation also visited Punggol for on-site inspections of the Punggol Digital District and One Punggol. They toured the Dawson Estate, a public housing project, and the Gardens by the Bay.

Summing up the three-day Exchange Programme, Ms Lam expressed her gratitude to the Singapore Government for its meticulous arrangement, which enabled the civil services from both sides to engage in in-depth and frank discussions across various policy areas and to gain inspiration from one another. Following the 7th Exchange Programme hosted by the HKSAR Government in 2023, this delegation visit to Singapore underscores the solid collaborative relationship between the civil services of both places and marks a key milestone in their shared pursuit of excellence in public service. She noted that amid today’s ever-changing geopolitical environment, it is particularly important for the two governments to continue deepening their co-operation. She said she looks forward to sustaining this positive spirit of collaboration with Singapore through the Exchange Programme and across various policy domains and occasions, thereby propelling both places to new heights of development.

The delegation of Permanent Secretaries of the HKSAR Government departed for Singapore on July 6, and completed the itinerary before departing for Hong Kong this afternoon.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     A spokesperson of Environmental Protection Department (EPD) made the following announcement today (July 8) regarding an incident of suspected leakage of leachate from landfill.

     At around 2.30pm today, the EPD found that there was suspected leakage of leachate at one of the stormwater outfalls at the West New Territories (WENT) Landfill. The stormwater outfall connects to Tai Shui Hang next to the landfill. Based on current assessments, most of the leachate has been intercepted by a silt curtain regularly installed at the stormwater outfall, so the amount of leachate leaked to Tai Shui Hang has been limited.

     The EPD has collected water samples at the location concerned for testing. Preliminary investigation revealed that the dissolved oxygen and the pH levels in the water samples are normal, with no signs that there is a significant impact on the water quality and ecology in Tai Shui Hang and the Deep Bay. The EPD will conduct more testing and follow up on the matter.

     The contractor of the EPD’s WENT Landfill has taken a series of follow-up measures, including:

• Arranging tankers to remove leachate from the stormwater outfall and Tai Shui Hang;
• Arranging a diversion upstream of the stormwater outfall to intercept the water source from entering the outfall; and
• Arranging additional measures, including placing sandbags and adding extra silt curtains, to further intercept the suspected leakage of leachate.

     The EPD will continue to closely monitor the situation and strive to remove the leachate to prevent continuous leakage to Tai Shui Hang. The EPD will also work with the landfill contractor to investigate the cause of the incident so as to take further measures to tackle the problem at source.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (July 8) announced that the monthly gravidtrap index for Aedes albopictus mosquitoes in June dropped to 9.8 per cent, at Level 2, indicating that the distribution of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes in the survey areas was fairly extensive. The FEHD and relevant government departments have stepped up mosquito prevention and control actions.

     In June, among the 62 survey areas, the area gravidtrap indexes (AGI) in two areas exceeded 20 per cent. The gravidtraps were mostly located in the vicinity of private residential areas, public housing estates, schools, hospitals/clinics, recreational and sports facilities and public places. The FEHD has collaborated with relevant government departments to take immediate actions to strengthen mosquito prevention and control work in the areas concerned. In June this year, the FEHD conducted over 69 000 inspections, initiated 30 prosecutions following the discovery of mosquito breeding, and issued 135 statutory notices requiring the clearance of stagnant water or stagnant water containers.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Police reclassified a fighting in a public place case happened in Aberdeen on July 7 as murder.

At 10.31pm on July 7, Police received a report that two women were fighting at a public light bus stop near Wah Chui House, Wah Fu (II) Estate.

Police officers sped to the scene and found a 53-year-old woman lying on the ground. Sustaining head injuries, she was rushed to Queen Mary Hospital in unconscious state and was certified dead at 11.22pm on the same day.

Initial investigation revealed that the deceased had a dispute with a 50-year-old woman and that they pushed each other, during which the deceased was suspected to have been pushed to the ground. After investigation, Police arrested the 50-year-old woman for murder in Aberdeen on the same day. She is being detained for further enquiries.

Post-mortem examination will be conducted later to ascertain the cause of death of the deceased.

Active investigation by the District Crime Squad of Western District is underway. Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3660 6659.
 

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Environmental Protection Department announced today an incident of suspected leachate leakage at the West New Territories (WENT) Landfill.

Department staff discovered the suspected leakage at around 2.30pm today at one of the landfill’s stormwater outfalls, which connects to the adjacent Tai Shui Hang.

According to current assessments, most of the leachate has been intercepted by a silt curtain regularly installed at the outfall, significantly limiting the amount of fluid entering Tai Shui Hang.

Water samples have been collected at the site for testing. Preliminary investigations revealed that the dissolved oxygen and the pH levels in the samples are normal, indicating no significant impact on the water quality or ecology in Tai Shui Hang and Deep Bay.

While the department conducts further testing and follow-up work, the WENT Landfill contractor has implemented a series of containment measures.

These actions include deploying tankers to clear leachate from the stormwater outfall and Tai Shui Hang, diverting the upstream flow to prevent water from entering the affected outfall and installing sandbags and extra silt curtains to enhance interception.

The department will continue to closely monitor the situation and clear the remaining leachate to prevent further discharge into Tai Shui Hang. It is also working with the contractor to investigate the cause of the incident and implement long-term preventative measures.