Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Land Registry today (September 2) released its statistics for August 2026.

Land registration

*   The number of sale and purchase agreements for all building units received for registration in August was 5 768 (-14.1 per cent compared with July 2026 and -10.7 per cent compared with August 2025)

*   The 12-month moving average for August was 7 718 (0.7 per cent below the 12-month moving average for July 2026 but 26.2 per cent above that for August 2025)

*   The total consideration for sale and purchase agreements of building units in August was $44.5 billion (-14.0 per cent compared with July 2026 and -6.8 per cent compared with August 2025)

*   Among the sale and purchase agreements, 4 019 were for residential units (-9.9 per cent compared with July 2026 and -24.0 per cent compared with August 2025)

*   The total consideration for sale and purchase agreements in respect of residential units was $36.2 billion (-13.6 per cent compared with July 2026 and -14.2 per cent compared with August 2025)

     Statistics on sales of residential units do not include sale and purchase agreements relating to sales of units under the Home Ownership Scheme, the Private Sector Participation Scheme, the Tenants Purchase Scheme, etc, unless the premium of the unit concerned has been paid after the sale restriction period.

     Figures on sale and purchase agreements received for the past 12 months, the year-on-year rate of change and breakdown figures on residential sales have also been released.

     As deeds may not be lodged with the Land Registry until up to 30 days after the transaction, these statistics generally relate to land transactions in the previous month.

Land search

*   The number of searches of land registers made by the public in August was 1 749 770 (+19.3 per cent compared with July 2026 and +350.1 per cent compared with August 2025)

     The statistics cover searches made at the counter, through the self-service terminals and via the Integrated Registration Information System Online Services.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Transport Department (TD) today (September 2) said that the next online auction of vehicle registration marks (VRMs) will be held from noon on September 17 (Thursday) to noon on September 21 (Monday) through the auction platform E-Auction (e-auction.td.gov.hk). Interested bidders can participate in the online auction only after they have successfully registered as E-Auction users.
 
A spokesman for the TD said, “A total of 220 Ordinary VRMs will be available at this online public auction. The list of VRMs (see Annex) has been uploaded to the E-Auction website. Applicants who have paid a $1,000 deposit to reserve an Ordinary VRM for auction should also register as an E-Auction user in advance in order to participate in the online bidding, including placing the first bid at the opening price of $1,000. Otherwise, the VRMs reserved by them may be bid on by other interested bidders at or above the opening price. Auctions for VRMs with ‘HK’ or ‘XX’ as a prefix, special VRMs and personalised VRMs will continue to be carried out through physical auctions by bidding paddles and their announcement arrangements remain unchanged.”
 
Members of the public participating in the online bidding should take note of the following important points:
 
(1) Bidders should register in advance as an E-Auction user by “iAM Smart+” equipped with the digital signing function; or by using a valid digital certificate and an email address upon completion of identity verification. Registered “iAM Smart” users should provide their Hong Kong identity card number, while non-Hong Kong residents who are not “iAM Smart” users should provide the number of their passport or other identification documents when registering as E-Auction users.
 
(2) Bidders are required to provide a digital signature to confirm the submission and amount of the bid by using “iAM Smart+” or a valid digital certificate at the time of the first bid of each online bidding session (including setting automatic bids before the auction begins) to comply with the requirements of the Electronic Transactions Ordinance.
 
(3) If a bid is made in respect of a VRM within the last 10 minutes before the end of the auction, the auction end time for that particular VRM will be automatically extended by another 10 minutes, up to a maximum of 24 hours.

(4) Successful bidders must follow the instructions in the notification email issued by the TD to log in to the E-Auction within 48 hours from the issuance of the email and complete the follow-up procedures, including:
 

• completing the Purchaser Information for the issuance of the Memorandum of Sale of Registration Mark (Memorandum of Sale); and
• making the auction payment online by credit card, Faster Payment System (FPS) or Payment by Phone Service (PPS). Cheque or cash payment is not accepted in the E-Auction.

(5) A VRM can only be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser. Relevant information on the Certificate of Incorporation must be provided by the successful bidder in the Purchaser Information of the Memorandum of Sale if the VRM purchased is to be registered under the name of a body corporate.
 
(6) Successful bidders will receive a notification email around seven working days after payment has been confirmed and can download the Memorandum of Sale from the E-Auction. The purchaser must apply for the VRM to be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser within 12 months from the date of issue of the Memorandum of Sale. If the purchaser fails to do so within the 12-month period, in accordance with the statutory provision, the allocation of the VRM will be cancelled and a new allocation will be arranged by the TD without prior notice to the purchaser.
 
The TD has informed all applicants who have reserved Ordinary VRMs for this round of auction of the E-Auction arrangements in detail by post. Members of the public may refer to the E-Auction website or watch the tutorial videos for more information. Please call the E-Auction hotline (3583 3980) or email (e-auction-enquiry@td.gov.hk) for enquiries. 

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

To celebrate the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the “2026 National Day Fireworks Display” will light up the night sky over Victoria Harbour at 8pm on October 1.

The 23-minute spectacle will feature over 30,000 pyrotechnic shells being released across eight distinct segments.

The show will open with “Praise Our Motherland”, honouring national strength, before transitioning to “You are the Sunshine of my Life” – a segment filled with themes of hope, warmth and optimism.

Highlights to watch for include “Dreams in the Starry Galaxy”, which promises a breathtaking interstellar panorama celebrating the courage of Hong Kong’s dream-chasers.

That will be followed by “Love at Home”, featuring vibrant red hearts and yellow stars to convey love, care and blessings for family, friends and the community.

Other thematic segments include “Moments of Hong Kong”, “Aspiration”, and “Love of my Life”.

The display will culminate in a massive red and gold grand finale titled “Celebration to our Prosperous Nation”, wishing continued prosperity for the country and a bright future for Hong Kong.

The show is co-ordinated by the Culture, Sports & Tourism Bureau.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Land Registry logged 5,768 sale and purchase agreements received for registration for all building units in August, a decrease of 14.1% compared with July and down 10.7% year on year.

The total consideration for building unit sale and purchase agreements in August dropped 14% from the previous month to $44.5 billion, representing a 6.8% year-on-year decrease.

A total of 4,019 agreements were for residential units, down 9.9% from the previous month and down 24% from a year ago.

The total consideration for residential units was $36.2 billion, a decrease of 13.6% compared with the previous month and a drop of 14.2% year on year.

There were 1,749,770 land register searches last month.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Notice of website maintenance

Date：2026-08-25
Data Source：Public Diplomacy Coordination Council

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs website (https://en.mofa.gov.tw), its subdomains, and the Minister’s Mailbox (https://eyes.mofa.gov.tw/en) may experience intermittent connection issues due to routine maintenance on Saturday, August 29, from 9:00 to 16:00 (Taipei time). We apologize for any inconvenience.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA welcomes visit by permanent representatives to WTO of Haiti and Belize

Date：2026-08-31
Data Source：Department of International Cooperation and Economic Affairs

August 31, 2026  
No. 403  

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) extends its warmest welcome to Ambassador Madsen Chérubin, Permanent Representative of Haiti to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva, and Ambassador Harold Young, Permanent Representative of Belize to the United Nations and other organizations in Geneva. They are visiting Taiwan from August 31 to September 4. 
 
Permanent Representative Chérubin is a veteran diplomat who has previously served as special adviser to the prime minister, ambassador to Brazil, and minister counselor at the Embassy of Haiti in the Dominican Republic. Permanent Representative Young has a background in academia and formerly held faculty positions at universities in Belize and the United States. Since assuming their posts at the WTO, they have rendered Taiwan significant assistance and strong support. 

During their trip, the permanent representatives will call at the Judicial Yuan, the Ministry of Finance, the Office of Trade Negotiations under the Executive Yuan, and the International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF). They will also attend a luncheon hosted by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Chen Ming-chi and visit leading technology companies. This will give them the opportunity to witness Taiwan’s current development in the fields of trade, the economy, technology, and democracy.
 
Amid the rapidly changing international geopolitical and economic landscape, Haiti and Belize have been staunch diplomatic allies to Taiwan. MOFA looks forward to further deepening cooperation with these two countries, thereby advancing a shared vision of mutual prosperity. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

August 27, 2026  
No. 064  
 
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung was joined by colleagues on August 26 as he presided over the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Zhongyuan Pudu prayer ceremony on the eve of this annual festival.
 
The ceremony was attended for the first time by embassies and missions of 12 diplomatic allies and 12 friendly nations. Their presence at this traditional Taiwanese folk activity did much to promote cultural exchange and deepen friendship.
 
In addition to partaking in the traditional rituals of the ceremony, the guests from Saint Lucia, the Marshall Islands, Paraguay, Belize, Eswatini, the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, South Korea, the Philippines, Canada, and other participating nations brought offerings that were presented alongside the flowers, fruits, vegetables, meats, and fish on display.
 
Among these guests, the representatives of Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines brought some of their nations’ most popular snack foods, while those from the United States and Canada offered beer and maple syrup, respectively. The gifts added an international touch to proceedings, symbolizing unity and shared prosperity.
 
In addition, Minister Lin specially prepared brightly colored bags of a well-known local snack printed with auspicious messages designed to invoke good fortune, peace, and prosperity. He presented these to ambassadors and representatives attending the event to convey his best wishes for their success and well-being.
 
Thanks to the invitations extended to foreign diplomats, this year’s observances not only helped uphold a traditional Taiwanese folk custom but also communicated that Taiwan cherishes its friendships with diplomatic allies and like-minded nations, as well as its hope that the international community will continue to advance understanding and jointly safeguard world peace through exchanges and cooperation. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

August 26, 2026  
No. 400  From August 27 to September 3, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung will lead a delegation to the Republic of Palau, a diplomatic ally of Taiwan, to attend events related to the 55th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders’ meeting. 

During his trip, Minister Lin will attend the 30th Taiwan/ROC-Forum Countries Dialogue, hosted by the PIF Secretariat, and the Pacific Prosperity Exhibit, hosted by Palau. Together with representatives of Palau, other diplomatic allies, and like-minded countries and partners in the Pacific, Minister Lin will witness the achievements of Taiwan’s cooperation with nations in the Pacific region over recent years in such areas as digital resilience, renewable energy, infrastructure, climate change adaptation, smart health care, and social empowerment.

Minister Lin will also engage in exchanges with representatives of Pacific allies and partners on the sidelines of the PIF to exchange views on such issues as strengthening Taiwan’s relations with their countries and jointly safeguarding peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.

In addition, Minister Lin will meet with Palau President Surangel S. Whipps, Jr. and Vice President Raynold B. Oilouch and visit Belau National Hospital and other initiatives promoted by Taiwan and Palau under the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project, thereby gaining a deeper understanding of their implementation and future directions.

To showcase the spirit of integrated diplomacy, Taiwan’s delegation has also invited representatives from the Asia Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce, the Entrepreneur Club, and Taiwan’s energy, technology, food, construction, and organic agriculture industries to take part in the Pacific Prosperity Exhibit and related exchanges and activities. The joint efforts of the public and private sectors, coupled with Taiwan’s strengths in digital technology, smart health care, energy transition, sustainable development, and other spheres, will help further advance technological exchanges, industrial cooperation, and investment opportunities.

To achieve President Lai Ching-te’s policy vision of transforming Taiwan into an economy on which the sun never sets, the government has prioritized the Five Trusted Industry Sectors to execute the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project and its eight flagship programs, integrating resources from government agencies, industries, and civil society. Through integrated diplomacy, it has been linking Taiwan’s advantages in technology, industry, talent, and cooperation development to the needs of allies and like-minded countries with the aim to change the nature of cooperation from bilateral exchanges to regional partnerships.

This policy direction is closely aligned with sustainable development, resilience building, regional cooperation, and other important goals of Palau and the PIF. Taiwan will continue to leverage its experience in national development and industrial transformation to produce substantive outcomes through its mutually beneficial relations with allies and other partners, enabling these achievements to further resonate with these countries and generate a virtuous cycle.

Taiwan has long supported the PIF’s 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and will continue to partake in the Pacific Resilience Facility and other initiatives that are essential to regional shared interests. Over the years, Taiwan has shared experiences with PIF member states through scholarships, professional training courses, public governance, technological cooperation, and other means to jointly increase regional development and resilience. These efforts reflect Taiwan’s long-term commitment to serve as a Pacific development partner.

The government of Taiwan will continue to uphold the spirit of the Pacific Way and respect PIF decisions and the autonomous choices by individual member states. As a development partner, Taiwan will keep building on the existing foundation of trust and cooperation to work with the PIF and its member states through the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project and integrated diplomacy to promote peace, stability, prosperity, and sustainable development in the Pacific and Indo-Pacific regions and safeguard the rules-based international order. (E) 

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Taiwan donates a further US$2 million to enhance fisheries capacity of Pacific small island developing states

Date：2026-08-25
Data Source：Department of International Organizations

August 25, 2026  
No. 397  

On August 21, Taiwan and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) completed an exchange of official letters on Taiwan’s donation of US$2 million for the second phase of the Chinese Taipei Trust Fund (CTTF), which is to be dispersed over a five-year period. 

The funding will assist small island developing states in enhancing their fisheries capacity through financial, scientific, and technological support. The allocation will further strengthen Taiwan’s participation in regional fisheries organizations and help Taiwan fulfill its obligations as a member of the international distant-water fishing community.

Taiwan is a founding member of the WCPFC. It launched the first phase of the CTTF in 2016 with an initial donation of US$2 million that was spread over five years. This helped Taiwan realize the spirit of the WCPFC Convention and demonstrates its commitment to assisting island nations in building up their domestic fishery industries. 

The CTTF has enabled Tuvalu, the Marshall Islands, Palau, and other nations, as well as related intergovernmental international organizations, to promote 30 fisheries capacity development plans. It has effectively bolstered the fisheries capacity of small island developing states in the WCPFC and demonstrated Taiwan’s role as an important contributor to and leading partner in global ocean governance.
 
Through the CTTF, Taiwan will further deepen cooperation with small island developing states, assisting them in strengthening implementation of WCPFC conservation and management measures, as well as their ability to manage tuna stocks. Taiwan and its partners will jointly enhance the long-term conservation and protection of Western and Central Pacific fishery resources and ensure mutual well-being. The initiative is a concrete example of Taiwan prioritizing the prosperity of its allies. 
 
Taiwan will continue to work with regional partners to guide Western and Central Pacific fisheries toward a sustainable and inclusive future that embodies shared success. It will use the CTTF as a platform to highlight the fact that Taiwan can help and lead. 
 
As an important Western and Central Pacific fisheries management organization, the WCPFC is committed to the conservation and management of tuna and other highly migratory fish stocks to ensure the sustainable use of regional fisheries resources. 
 
Since joining the WCPFC in 2004, Taiwan, by the name of Chinese Taipei, has actively participated in WCPFC meetings and conservation and management initiatives, thereby safeguarding its fisheries rights and fulfilling its international obligations. (E)