Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Highways Department today signed an investigation, design and construction consultancy agreement with the AtkinsRealis – AECOM Joint Venture for the Hong Kong section of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Rail Link.

 

The joint venture’s professional team comprises the Shanghai Municipal Engineering Design Institute (Group) Company from the Mainland, local financial consultant KPMG Advisory (Hong Kong), and professional members spanning various other disciplines.

 

The department said it will work with the joint venture to take forward investigation and design work for the project at full steam.

 

It aims to have the project ready for tendering in 2027, and to achieve completion of construction works in 2034.

 

This will be followed by integrated testing and commissioning to realise the common goal of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Government and Shenzhen’s municipal government of commissioning the rail link in 2035.

 

The 18.1-km link runs underground from Hung Shui Kiu to Qianhai, with the Hong Kong section taking up 7.3 km and the Shenzhen section running about 10.8 km long.

 

It will comprise five stations – three in Hong Kong, at Hung Shui Kiu, Ha Tsuen and Lau Fau Shan; and two in Shenzhen, at Shenzhen Bay Port and Qianhaiwan.

 

Hong Kong and Shenzhen have agreed to co-locate immigration and customs facilities in Shenzhen, while the depot will be at Ha Tsuen.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Today (June 30) marks the fifth anniversary of the promulgation and implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law. Thirty-three senior civil servants of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government who are participating in a national studies programme organised by the Civil Service College (CSC) and Peking University in Beijing attended a thematic seminar to gain an in-depth understanding of the constitutional responsibility of the HKSAR to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, and that civil servants must fulfil their role as guardians of national security. The seminar was delivered by Deputy Director of the Hong Kong Basic Law Committee and the Macao Basic Law Committee of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and Deputy Director of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, Mr Zhang Yong. 

     The participants gained a lot from taking the opportunity to raise questions to Mr Zhang and attending the seminar which deepened their awareness of safeguarding national security proactively. 

     The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, said the Government had been stepping up efforts on all fronts to cultivate a sense of national identity, awareness of national security and patriotism among civil servants at all levels. In particular, the national studies programmes for middle and senior-level civil servants enable civil servants to gain an accurate understanding of the constitutional order of the HKSAR, national security and the latest policy objectives of the country through lectures in Mainland institutions and site visits.

     Since the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law and the enactment of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, the CSC has incorporated training on safeguarding national security into a series of programmes, including induction training for new recruits, Mainland programmes for middle and senior-level officers, thematic talks and e-learning. In addition to enhancing civil servants’ understanding of national security legal provisions, the CSC’s programmes also enable civil servants to understand the concept of a holistic approach to national security, to grasp the national security situation as well as the risks and challenges facing the country, and to raise civil servants’ awareness of safeguarding national security of their own accord and fulfilling their responsibility in national security.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

To promote low-carbon industrial transformation and corporate integrity governance simultaneously, the Bureau of Industrial Parks (BIP) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) has held four “Green Energy Transparency, Integrity in Action” seminars across the Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung-Pingtung branches. The first session was held on May 22 at the Taichung Branch, focusing on the challenges and opportunities of SMEs in energy transformation. The seminar was hosted by Ji Shih-Tsung, Director of the Taichung Branch, and gathered representatives from government, industry, and academia to explore how to implement transparency and integrity in the process of green energy development and work together to establish a corporate model that combines integrity and sustainability.
In his opening remarks, Ji Shih-Tsung, director of the Taichung Branch, stated that promoting integrity and green energy development in tandem has been a key objective of the BIP. By integrating the forces of industry, government, and academia through the practical sharing platform, BIP could not only assist companies in strengthening their ESG concepts, but also guide the park towards a green development path with greater international competitiveness.
The Bureau of Industrial Parks pointed out that enterprises in the parks are increasingly focused on carbon fees, green electricity procurement, and carbon neutrality models. In response to this trend, the seminar spotlighted how SMEs can effectively implement low-carbon transformation while ensuring transparency and integrity in corporate governance. Through diverse case studies and expert insights, the event offered participants actionable strategies for achieving sustainable development.
The seminar invited many heavyweight speakers and benchmark companies in the green energy industry to participate in the event, including Transparency International Chinese Taipei (TICT), which has long been deeply involved in promoting corporate integrity, as well as Sunny Founder and TCC Green Energy Corporation, which have outstanding performance in the field of solar energy and renewable energy. These corporate representatives shared their achievements in green power trading, integrity governance, and corporate social responsibility practices, covering practical experience from development process transparency to supply chain ESG management. Through experience exchange, participants were able to gain a deeper understanding of how green power introduction and ethical management reinforce one another to create a win-win development model for businesses and society.
The topics discussed at the seminar also align closely with Taiwan’s recent sustainable policies. As global supply chains impose stricter requirements on environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) standards, companies are placing greater emphasis on the integrity and transparency of their suppliers when making decisions on green electricity procurement and energy usage. The ability of green energy companies to disclose openly sustainability data has now become a crucial factor in corporate partnerships and procurement strategies.
In addition, TICT delivered an in-depth analysis of monitoring mechanisms in the green energy sector, helping attending companies better understand current regulations and potential risks while enhancing their institutional resilience. This cross-sector collaboration and knowledge sharing also contribute to the industry’s deeper grasp of sustainable governance practices.
Looking ahead, the Bureau of Industrial Parks stated that BIP would continue to uphold principles of integrity and efficiency, actively building cross-disciplinary exchange platforms. By doing so, it seeks to support enterprises in parks in meeting the challenges of international sustainability and equip them for a stable and successful transition.

Spokesman: Mr. Liu Chi-Chuan (Deputy Director General, BIP)
Contact Number: 886-7-3613349, 0911363680
Email: lcc12@bip.gov.tw

Contact Person: Hsu, Chen-Hsiung (Government Ethics Office, BIP)
Contact Number: 886-7-3611212 ext. 631
Email: logan521018@bip.gov.tw

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Marine Department today announced a new requirement in applications for local certificates of competency (CoC), or their revalidation, whereby a medical fitness certificate issued by a recognised medical practitioner must be submitted.

 

To enhance marine safety, the department has revised the eligibility criteria for local CoCs. Introducing a medical fitness certificate requirement will ensure certificate holders are physically fit to operate vessels.

 

The new requirement involves two categories of people. Category I covers all applicants for initial issuance or revalidation of any grade of local CoC. Category II only covers coxswains and engine operators in charge of passenger vessels and “high-risk vessels” carrying substances such as gases, noxious liquid substances or oil.

 

All applicants for issuance or revalidation of local CoCs must submit a medical fitness certificate issued by a registered medical practitioner recognised by the department together with their application form.

 

Once issued, the local certificates will remain valid until the holder reaches the age of 65. Holders of local certificates who wish to revalidate their CoCs after reaching 65 will have to pass a medical assessment every three years.

 

After reaching the age of 71, a holder must pass a medical assessment every year to revalidate the CoC.

 

Considering the higher marine safety risks involved, all coxswains and engine operators of high-risk vessels need to undergo a medical assessment every five years to ensure they are physically fit to operate the relevant vessels.

 

Operators of high-risk vessels must submit a copy of their medical fitness certificate to the Marine Department for record after obtaining the certificate. This requirement will be implemented with the addition of a new licensing condition to the Operating Licences of high-risk vessels.

 

The department conducted extensive consultations with the industry regarding the new arrangements, and received support from stakeholders including the Legislative Council Economic Development Panel, the Local Vessels Advisory Committee, trade associations, trade unions and fishermen’s associations.

 

Click here for details concerning the latest requirements for local CoCs.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region