Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
DoJ publishes first Panel List of Hong Kong Legal Services Providers Supporting “Go Global” to facilitate precise connections between Mainland enterprises and Hong Kong’s legal services sector
The Panel List covers international arbitration institutions, practising barristers and 60 local, international and registered foreign law firms of various sizes. All service providers on the Panel List have track records in the relevant professional fields of going global.
To facilitate precise connections with Mainland enterprises, the Panel List classifies legal services providers into 12 categories according to their practice areas: corporate structure and strategic governance; compliance and regulatory affairs; capital markets; banking and finance; taxation; intellectual property; data protection and cybersecurity; asset management and wealth succession; employment and cross-border human resources affairs; dispute resolution; real estate, infrastructure and energy; and industry-specific legal services. The service providers on the Panel List are also invited to submit their particulars to the GoGlobal Cross-sectoral Professional Services Platform established by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council to allow enterprises to consult on relevant information through the website and proceed with business matching.
The Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, said that the National 15th Five-Year Plan gives explicit support to Hong Kong in leveraging its professional strengths to assist enterprises in their going global endeavours. The release of the Panel List at the outset of the 15th Five-Year Plan is a timely and practical response. By capitalising on Hong Kong’s strengths as an international legal hub, it supports Mainland enterprises in improving risk management as they go global, enhancing their international competitiveness and making steady and sustainable progress in international markets.
Dr Cheung said, “The Panel List fully reflects the breadth of Hong Kong’s legal professional services. Hong Kong’s legal sector has strong professional capabilities to respond to different ‘going global’ models, stages of development, and industry demands for high-quality legal services, providing enterprises with comprehensive professional support across the full business cycle. In addition, the Panel List also highlights the depth of Hong Kong’s legal professional services by showcasing the specialised practice areas of each legal service provider. The Panel List is different from a simple directory. Apart from listing service providers’ names and contact information, it also sets out, with reference to their track records or case submissions to the DoJ, the service providers’ business and professional strengths. This will help the Hong Kong Professional Services GoGlobal Platform play the role of a ‘golden matchmaker’.”
The Chief Executive in his 2025 Policy Address tasked the Deputy Secretary for Justice to promote Hong Kong’s professional services in areas such as law, finance and accounting, to comprehensively support Mainland enterprises wishing to expand overseas. The Hong Kong Professional Services GoGlobal Platform established under the steer of Dr Cheung last year primarily supports Mainland enterprises in two ways: first, consolidating information on professional services in Hong Kong to facilitate precise connections; and second, helping the sector understand enterprises’ specific needs for professional services when going global to co-ordinate Hong Kong’s professional services sectors towards providing effective support to enterprises.
Dr Cheung further said that the inaugural edition of the “Collection of Success Stories: Hong Kong’s Professional Services Supporting Chinese Mainland Enterprises Going Global” (bilingual in Chinese and English) released by the DoJ last year has received a positive response from stakeholders of different sectors. The DoJ is currently preparing to release a second edition. Meanwhile, it will invite representatives from the professional services sector and enterprises going global to share their successful experiences and produce short videos, providing practical references for Mainland enterprises which are interested in learning more about Hong Kong’s legal and other professional services.
He expressed the hope that through the practical cases shared by both the professional services sectors and enterprises, the good story of “Go Global, Choose Hong Kong” will be told to continue promoting to enterprises and stakeholders on the Chinese Mainland and in other regions Hong Kong’s unique role as a world-class springboard, as well as the advantages of Hong Kong’s legal and other professional services.
Issued at HKT 18:55
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ITIB and UNIDO sign joint statement on collaboration to advance industrial development, innovation and digital transformation
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, met with the Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Dr Gerd Müller, at the Central Government Offices today (April 14), to exchange views on strengthening co-operation of both sides in industrial development, and to witness the signing of a joint statement on collaboration to advance industrial development, innovation and digital transformation by the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau and UNIDO. The Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Mr Li Yongsheng, also attended.
The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, and the Deputy to the Director General of UNIDO and the Managing Director of the Directorate of Technical Co-operation and Sustainable Industrial Development, Mr Zou Ciyong, signed the joint statement. Hong Kong has competitive advantages in digital transformation and AI innovation in industry and manufacturing. Both the HKSAR Government and UNIDO actively promote inclusive and sustainable industrial development. The signing of the joint statement by the two parties aims to establish a co-operative framework to strengthen collaboration, information sharing and exchange of best practices to advance industrial innovation, technology transfers and capacity development, including exploring the joint development of a centre of excellence on global advanced manufacturing and AI in Hong Kong.
Mr Lee welcomed Dr Müller’s delegation to visit Hong Kong. He said that the National 15th Five-Year Plan clearly supports Hong Kong to develop into an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre. Hong Kong enjoys the advantage of connecting the Mainland and the world under the “one country, two systems” principle and is accelerating its development into an international I&T centre. With the signing of the joint statement between the HKSAR Government and UNIDO, both sides will strengthen collaboration to jointly promote development including industrial innovation and technology transfers, and seize opportunities in the new round of the technological revolution to accelerate high-quality industrial development and transformation, and further leverage the city’s role as a “super connector” and a “super value-adder” to attract enterprises from the Chinese Mainland and overseas to expand businesses in Hong Kong, promote new industrialisation, and cultivate and strengthen new quality productive forces.
Professor Sun said that Hong Kong enjoys world-acclaimed academic and research excellence, a strong talent pool, free flow of information and capital, rule of law, and an international environment. Hong Kong looks forward to closer collaboration with UNIDO under the joint statement to share best practices on advanced manufacturing, AI applications and digital transformation; encourage multi-stakeholder dialogue on technology trends and experiences; as well as explore avenues of co-operation in innovation, knowledge transfer and skills development.
While in Hong Kong, Dr Müller’s delegation also attended the opening ceremony of the InnoEX, Hong Kong’s signature I&T exhibition held during the Business of I&T Week. The delegation also visited the Hong Kong Productivity Council.
Heritage Museum to stage exhibition on selected paintings and poems by Lingnan School of Painting master painter Chao Shao-an
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Heritage Museum to stage exhibition on selected paintings and poems by Lingnan School of Painting master painter Chao Shao-an
Professor Chao (1905-1998), a master painter of the Lingnan School of Painting, is best known for his bird-and-flower paintings, and dedicated his life to the study of nature. As a keen observer, he captured the myriad forms and graceful rhythms of flowers and plants in his nimble brushwork and brilliant composition, producing floral works that exemplify the style of the Lingnan School of Painting.
The exhibition focuses on Professor Chao’s floral paintings with poems, showcasing multiple layers of meaning in his works. In paintings “Bird on Winter Pine”, “Weeping Cicada in Chilly Wind”, “Plum Blossoms”, and “Orchid”, Professor Chao took pine trees, bamboo, plum blossoms, and orchids, and imbued them with noble virtues. By incorporating ancient poems into his portrayals of crab apple blossoms after the rain, magnolia flowers in winter and apricot blossoms blowing in the wind, Professor Chao fuses natural beauty and literary sentiment on sheets of paper. The exhibition offers visitors a chance to feel as if they are in the splendid world of the master’s ink art, and experience the poetic artistry embodied in the works.
Painting demonstration videos with rare footage of Professor Chao teaching and painting will be shown at the gallery. From demonstrating brushwork and composition skills to colour application, visitors can have a deeper understanding of the master’s creative process.
To tie in with the exhibition, the HKHM will organise activities and guided tours with free admission. At the Petals and Ink: Handmade Gift Card Workshop, participants can create their own unique handmade gift cards, write floral blessings, and share their heartfelt messages to friends and family. Moreover, a variety of engaging educational activities and guided tours will be held to enable visitors of all ages to step into the world of Lingnan blossoms, explore the charm of art, and extend their museum journey beyond the exhibition.
The exhibition is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) and organised by the HKHM. It is held at the Chao Shao-an Gallery, 1/F, the HKHM. Admission is free. For details of the exhibition and activities, please visit the website at hk.heritage.museum/en/exhibitions/csa_flower.html
The exhibition is also one of the activities in the Chinese Culture Promotion Series. The LCSD has long been promoting Chinese history and culture through organising an array of programmes and activities to enable the public to learn more about the broad and profound Chinese culture. For more information, please visit ccpo.gov.hk/enIssued at HKT 18:30
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DPO’s AI-focused Smart Hong Kong Pavilion showcases over 100 I&T solutions demonstrating city’s technological and innovative edge
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) are organising the fourth edition of the InnoEX at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre for four consecutive days starting yesterday (April 13). To demonstrate fruitful achievements in advancing the development of innovation and technology (I&T) and smart city successes in Hong Kong brought about by the concerted efforts of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and industry, the Digital Policy Office (DPO) has again set up a large-scale Smart Hong Kong Pavilion at the exhibition to showcase over 100 technology solutions that benefit both the public and businesses. Through interactive experiences and on-site demonstrations, the Pavilion fully illustrates the solid progress in advancing Hong Kong’s I&T and smart city development.
During the first two days of the Pavilion’s opening, officials including the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, and the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, visited the Pavilion. They were briefed by the Acting Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Daniel Cheung, on how the DPO has been taking the lead in steering a wider adoption of AI across government departments to deliver more convenient and efficient public services for citizens and businesses. The DPO has been working closely with the local I&T sector to actively promote the development of innovative solutions, with a view to shaping Hong Kong into a major global AI hub.
Themed “AI+ Hong Kong”, this year’s Smart Hong Kong Pavilion highlights how AI is being applied across different domains in Hong Kong. It showcases I&T solutions contributed by over 20 government departments and public organisations, as well as outstanding award-winning projects by the local I&T sector and students from the Hong Kong ICT Awards, the Maker in China SME Innovation and Entrepreneurship Global Contest – Hong Kong Chapter and the Open Data Hackathon, to recognise local I&T excellence, encourage various sectors to develop innovative solutions, and promote Hong Kong’s I&T achievements to visitors and experts from Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and overseas.
Following are highlights of the eight zones of the Smart Hong Kong Pavilion:
“AI+ Public Services”: The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department’s AI Surveillance System for Monitoring of Illegal Feeding that detects illegal feeding to enhance enforcement efficiency, and the Drainage Services Department (DSD)’s biosensing platform, Remedix, that rapidly detects antibiotic pollution in wastewater.
“AI+ Medical Innovations”: The Department of Health’s AI dental diagnosis project that automatically generates dental charts to enhance diagnosis efficiency, and CHIMP, a wearable electrocardiogram chest patch that monitors patient data in real time to ensure safety.
“AI+ Everyday Experience”: The upgraded “iAM Smart” platform that provides one-stop personalised digital services, and the Transport Department (TD)’s AI smart glasses that assist visually impaired persons in identifying obstacles.
“AI+ Robotics Innovation”: The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department’s Autonomous Cleaning Robot that reduces the physical exertion of cleaning workers; the Housing Authority (HA)’s Construction Robot that uses AI to plan construction paths, enhancing construction safety; and the Water Supplies Department’s Smart Inspection Robot Dog that automatically patrols and monitors waterworks facilities.
“AI+ Mobility Revolution”: The TD’s smart bridge inspection system that comprehensively scans bridge structures to enhance road safety, and the Airport Authority’s Hong Kong Air Import SmartCollect that digitalises the cargo collection journey to enhance efficiency.
“AI+ Safety and Security”: The Civil Engineering and Development Department’s AI-empowered Landslip Warning System that predicts landslide risks in real time and optimises the issuance of warnings, and the Hong Kong Fire Services Department (HKFSD)’s Internet of Things Fire Detection System Pilot Scheme that immediately transmits fire alarm signals to expedite rescue operations.
“AI+ Infrastructure Development”: The Development Bureau’s SmartEye Co-supervision Platform that offers round-the-clock and remote monitoring of construction sites; the DSD’s Flood MoXAIC that delivers real-time flood forecasts to support flood prevention and management; and the HA’s AI-enabled pile foundation design that generates accurate plans and accelerates decision-making.
“AI+ Low-altitude Economy”: The HKFSD’s Unmanned Aircraft System Auto-pilot for Early Detection of Vegetation/Vessel Fire & Immersion that analyses videos with AI to immediately issue alerts for vegetation fires and drowning incidents, and the Hong Kong Police Force’s Pilot Scheme for Operational Deployment of Drones that supports patrols to enhance community safety.
The annual I&T mega event, InnoEX, brings together leading I&T exhibitors from Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and around the world to jointly promote I&T advancements and applications, and explore global collaboration opportunities. Themed “Innovate • Automate • Elevate”, this year’s InnoEX showcases cutting-edge technology solutions in five key areas, namely AI+, robotics, the low-altitude economy, property technology and retail technology. Interested parties from the trade can register free of charge at the HKTDC’s website (www.hktdc.com/event/innoex/en).
Go global providers list released
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Department of Justice (DoJ) today published, for the first time, the Panel List of Hong Kong Legal Services Providers Supporting “Go Global”, comprising more than 70 legal services providers in Hong Kong.
The list aims to facilitate precise connections of Mainland enterprises with Hong Kong’s legal professional services for expanding overseas, and encourage the Mainland enterprises to use Hong Kong as their preferred springboard of going global.
The panel list covers international arbitration institutions, practising barristers and 60 local, international and registered foreign law firms of various sizes. All service providers have track records in the relevant professional fields of going global.
Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan noted that the National 15th Five-Year Plan gives explicit support to Hong Kong in leveraging its professional strengths to assist enterprises in their going global endeavours. The release of the panel list at the outset of the 15th Five-Year Plan is a timely and practical response.
“By capitalising on Hong Kong’s strengths as an international legal hub, it supports Mainland enterprises in improving risk management as they go global, enhancing their international competitiveness and making steady and sustainable progress in international markets.”
Mr Cheung added that the panel list fully reflects the breadth of Hong Kong’s legal professional services as the city’s legal sector has strong professional capabilities to respond to different going global models, stages of development, and industry demands for high-quality legal services, providing enterprises with comprehensive professional support across the full business cycle.
The panel list also highlights the depth of Hong Kong’s legal professional services by showcasing the specialised practice areas of each legal service provider.
Apart from listing service providers’ names and contact information, it also sets out, with reference to their track records or case submissions to the DoJ, the service providers’ business and professional strengths.
Mr Cheung said this will help the Hong Kong Professional Services GoGlobal Platform play the role of a “golden matchmaker”.
In addition, the DoJ released the inaugural edition of the Collection of Success Stories: Hong Kong’s Professional Services Supporting Chinese Mainland Enterprises Going Global (bilingual in Chinese and English) last year.
Mr Cheung noted that the DoJ has received a positive response from stakeholders of different sectors and is currently preparing to release a second edition.
Meanwhile, it will invite representatives from the professional services sector and enterprises going global to share their successful experiences and produce short videos, providing practical references for Mainland enterprises which are interested in learning more about Hong Kong’s legal and other professional services.
HK, UNIDO sign joint statement
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
Chief Executive John Lee today met United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Director General Gerd Muller at the Central Government Officers, during which they exchanged views on strengthening co-operation in industrial development and witnessed the signing of a joint statement on collaboration.
Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Li Yongsheng, also attended the meeting.
The joint statement was signed by Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry Prof Sun Dong, and Deputy to the Director General of UNIDO and Managing Director of the Directorate of Technical Co-operation & Sustainable Industrial Development Zou Ciyong.
It aims to establish a co-operative framework to strengthen collaboration, information sharing and exchange of best practices to advance industrial innovation, technology transfers and capacity development, including the exploration of the joint development of a centre of excellence on global advanced manufacturing and artificial intelligence (AI) in Hong Kong.
At the meeting, the Chief Executive welcomed Mr Muller’s delegation to visit Hong Kong, noting that the National 15th Five-Year Plan clearly supports Hong Kong to develop into an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre. Hong Kong enjoys the advantage of connecting the Mainland and the world under the “one country, two systems” principle, and is accelerating its development into an international I&T centre.
Mr Lee added that with the signing of the joint statement, the Hong Kong SAR Government and UNIDO will strengthen collaboration to jointly promote development including industrial innovation and technology transfers.
He also remarked that both sides will also seize opportunities in the new round of the technological revolution to accelerate high-quality industrial development and transformation, and further leverage the city’s role as a “super connector” and a “super value-adder” to attract enterprises from the Chinese Mainland and overseas to expand businesses in Hong Kong, promote new industrialisation, and cultivate and strengthen new quality productive forces.
Prof Sun supplemented Hong Kong looks forward to a closer collaboration with UNIDO under the joint statement to share best practices on advanced manufacturing, AI applications and digital transformation; encourage multi-stakeholder dialogue on technology trends and experiences; as well as explore avenues of co-operation in innovation, knowledge transfer and skills development.
Capital works fund transfer approved
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
To support the Northern Metropolis and other infrastructure projects, the Chief Executive in Council has, in accordance with the Exchange Fund Ordinance, approved the transfer of $150 billion from the Exchange Fund to the Government’s Capital Works Reserve Fund (CWRF).
The transfer will be made through a designated account under The Financial Secretary Incorporated, with $75 billion per annum being credited to CWRF’s account in each of 2026-27 and 2027-28.
The Government will implement the relevant arrangement after the passage of the Appropriation Bill 2026 by the Legislative Council.
The Exchange Fund Ordinance sets out the mechanism that empowers the Financial Secretary (FS) to make transfers from the Exchange Fund, with the principal condition that the FS is satisfied that any transfer will not adversely affect the Exchange Fund’s main function of maintaining the stability of the Hong Kong dollar’s exchange value, and the stability and integrity of the city’s monetary and financial systems.
The Exchange Fund achieved a record breaking performance last year, delivering investment income of $330 billion. As at the end of 2025, the total value of assets under the Exchange Fund exceeded $4.1 trillion, enough to maintain monetary and financial stability.
As such, on the premise that the Exchange Fund’s main functions will not be compromised, the FS proposed, in the 2026-27 Budget, transferring $150 billion from the Exchange Fund to the CWRF over two years.
The Government emphasised that the transfer is an exceptional arrangement and not a recurring measure.
It added that the funds will be used for infrastructure projects that require long-term investment, with a view to accelerating and increasing development capacity, rather than as part of the Government’s operating expenditure.
InnoEX opens
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry Prof Sun Dong today officiated at the opening ceremony of the fourth InnoEX at the Convention & Exhibition Centre. This year’s event features more than 550 exhibitors and delegations from 21 countries and regions, alongside 17 Mainland provinces and cities.
In his opening address, Prof Sun noted that this year’s InnoEX fully embodies the “T-E-C-H” elements: Thriving Participation, Elevation, Connection & Collaboration and Hong Kong.
He emphasised that InnoEX has evolved beyond an annual showcase of the city’s innovation and technology (I&T) strengths. It now serves as a premier international platform that connects startups with investors, research institutions and industry, while helping local enterprises bridge with global markets.
Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization Gerd Müller was the Guest of Honour at the opening ceremony.
The four-day InnoEX is being held from April 13 to 16 under the theme “Innovate • Automate • Elevate”.
The exhibition focuses on five core I&T sectors: AI+, robotics, low-altitude economy, property technology and retail technology. This year’s event has seen a marked increase in both exhibitor numbers and international reach, with new participants arriving from countries including Austria, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, the Philippines and the United States.
Mainland participation is equally robust with 18 pavilions on display. While Liaoning, Chongqing and Shanghai have sent larger delegations than in previous years, Xi’an and Inner Mongolia are making their debuts at the event.
A major highlight this year is the “RoboPark” zone, featuring over 100 robots from more than 50 technology companies across Hong Kong, the Mainland and overseas. The zone focuses on three application themes – Commercial & Industrial, Health & Living and Entertainment & Social – and includes around 40 interactive demonstrations and thematic seminars.
In addition, the Digital Policy Office (DPO) has set up the “Smart Hong Kong Pavilion” under the theme “AI+ Hong Kong”. The pavilion showcases over 100 Government-developed I&T solutions designed to benefit the public and businesses, alongside award-winning projects from local industry and students, highlighting the city’s progress in smart city development.
Prof Sun toured the Smart Hong Kong Pavilion as well as various international and Mainland pavilions. He expressed his gratitude to the exhibitors for choosing InnoEX as a platform to explore business opportunities and drive global I&T collaboration.
President Lai to lead delegation on visit to Kingdom of Eswatini
Source: Republic of China Taiwan
On the morning of April 13, the Office of the President held a press conference to announce that President Lai Ching-te will lead a delegation from April 22 to 26 on a visit to the Kingdom of Eswatini, a diplomatic ally of Taiwan, and will return on April 27. On this trip, President Lai hopes to achieve the three core objectives of shared prosperity in security, prosperity in economy, and prosperity in digital technology. While joining in the celebration of the deep-rooted friendship between Taiwan and Eswatini, the president also looks forward to further deepening bilateral cooperation and advancing side by side toward a prosperous future, creating lasting well-being and sincere friendships for the peoples of both nations.
At the press conference, Presidential Office Spokesperson Karen Kuo (郭雅慧) stated that this year marks the 58th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Taiwan and Eswatini. It also coincides with the 40th anniversary of His Majesty King Mswati III’s accession to the throne. A series of celebrations will be held from April 24 to 26 in Eswatini to commemorate this anniversary, as well as His Majesty’s 58th birthday.
Spokesperson Kuo stated that earlier this year, King Mswati III sent a personally signed letter cordially inviting President Lai to attend these historic celebrations, and noted that the king had traveled to Taiwan in 2024 to attend the inauguration of the 16th-term president and vice president. In a positive response to the king’s warm invitation and to demonstrate the importance Taiwan places on its ties with Eswatini, President Lai scheduled this visit from April 22 to 27 to further strengthen our nations’ close partnership and, based on our existing firm foundations, inject new momentum into future bilateral cooperation.
The spokesperson indicated that the theme of this visit is “Celebrating Together, Prospering Together,” symbolizing the two nations standing side by side in celebration at a key historical juncture and highlighting the continued deepening of cooperation on the path to prosperity to create greater well-being for both peoples.
Spokesperson Kuo then elaborated on the three core objectives set by the president for this trip:
The first objective is shared prosperity in security. In recent years, Taiwan and Eswatini have achieved concrete, fruitful results in fields such as agriculture, public health, education, women’s empowerment, and renewable energy. Moving forward, the two nations will collaborate on the construction of a strategic oil reserve facility to further enhance Eswatini’s energy security and promote sustainable national development.
Second is shared prosperity in economy. Located in Africa, Eswatini is a key diplomatic ally with a stable investment environment and talented workforce. It is also an important member of the Southern African Customs Union and the African Continental Free Trade Area. Taiwan is promoting projects in Eswatini such as the Taiwan Industrial Innovation Park (TIIP), which will help Taiwanese businesses expand their global presence and connect with African markets while simultaneously creating more local employment opportunities and fostering a firm and mutually beneficial strategic partnership, further promoting national prosperity and development.
The president’s third objective is shared prosperity in digital technology. As a vital node in the global technology supply chain with world-leading capabilities in semiconductors and information and communications technology, Taiwan will assist Eswatini in implementing smart medicine and telemedicine systems. These efforts aim to overcome geographical limitations, narrow the digital divide, and safeguard health in our allied nation.
The spokesperson mentioned that the delegation will include Secretary-General to the President Pan Men-an (潘孟安) and Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). The group is scheduled to depart on Wednesday, April 22. During the visit, President Lai will meet with King Mswati III to engage in a comprehensive exchange of views on key bilateral cooperation projects and international issues, highlighting Taiwan’s commitment and determination to engage with the world and its spirit of working hand in hand with its allies toward mutual prosperity and development.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Francois Chihchung Wu (吳志中) subsequently provided further details on the itinerary, which is divided into three main components: official meetings, bilateral cooperation, and celebratory activities.
In terms of bilateral cooperation, President Lai will hear briefings on the TIIP and strategic oil reserve project, witness the signing of letters of intent by Taiwanese investors, inspect the smart medicine outpatient services provided by the Taiwan Medical Mission, and attend an exhibition showcasing the results of the microfinance revolving fund for women’s entrepreneurship.
As for celebratory activities, the president will attend the dual celebrations of the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III’s accession to the throne and his 58th birthday, as well as a state banquet, the opening ceremony of the International Convention Centre, and a garden party.
Deputy Minister Wu added that President Lai will also host a banquet for the expatriate community in Eswatini and Southern Africa. He emphasized that head-of-state diplomacy and the deepening of friendships between senior officials on both sides are top diplomatic priorities. As this is President Lai’s first visit to Eswatini since taking office, and given the historical significance of the 40th anniversary celebrations, the trip is of profound importance. He stated that all meetings and site visits are currently being meticulously planned and coordinated, and that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to work closely with relevant agencies and the government of Eswatini to ensure that all arrangements for the trip are well-planned and that its objectives are successfully accomplished.
HK-Viet Nam legal pact signed
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung and Deputy Prosecutor General of the Supreme People’s Procuracy of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam Tran Hai Quan signed a bilateral agreement on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters (MLA) today on behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Viet Nam respectively.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr Tang said Hong Kong has been sparing no effort in strengthening its international law enforcement capabilities by expanding its network of bilateral arrangements with foreign jurisdictions concerning mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.
He pointed out that the signing of the agreement on MLA today represents an important step forward in legal co-operation between Hong Kong and Viet Nam.
Under the Basic Law, the Hong Kong SAR Government may, with the authorisation of the Central People’s Government, make appropriate arrangements with foreign states for reciprocal juridical assistance.
The MLA agreement contains the essential features and safeguards of international agreements of this type.
The assistance covered by the agreement includes identifying and locating persons, serving documents, taking evidence, executing requests for search and seizure, providing information, confiscating proceeds of crime, and more.