Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA extends sympathies following severe flooding in central Texas

Date：2025-07-07
Data Source：Department of North American Affairs

July 7, 2025 
No. 231 

The central region of the US state of Texas was recently hit by catastrophic flooding, causing major devastation. More than 80 people are confirmed to have died, including dozens of children, while an unknown number of people remain missing. Flood warnings currently remain in place across certain parts of the region.
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) promptly instructed the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Houston to ascertain whether any Taiwanese nationals had been affected. It also instructed the office to convey condolences and sympathies to the government of Texas on behalf of the government of Taiwan and emphasize that Taiwan would be glad to offer assistance.
 
According to information currently available to TECO Houston, no Taiwanese nationals have been identified among the dead, injured, or stranded as a result of the flooding. MOFA and TECO Houston will closely follow developments, maintain contact with the relevant Texan agencies, and provide assistance if needed. (E)

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki began his visit to Hainan Province by meeting officials there and touring the Hainan Chronicles Museum along with the Wenchang Yaoguang Rocket Viewing Platform.

 

Mr Chan first met Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Hainan Provincial Committee Party Secretary and Chairman Li Rongcan in Haikou to exchange views on the latest developments in the two places, and discuss promoting and deepening the partnership between Hong Kong and Hainan Province.

 

Mr Chan said that there is a frequent flow of people, logistics and capital between the two places, and with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two governments in March this year, the exchanges between Hong Kong and Hainan Province will be closer in future.

 

He stressed that Hong Kong will fully leverage its unique advantage of being backed by the motherland and connected to the world under the “one country, two systems” principle, and will work with Hainan Province to achieve results attributable to the two places’ advantages, deepen economic, trade and cultural exchanges, and make greater contributions to the country’s high-quality development and high-level opening up.

 

Mr Chan then visited the Hainan Chronicles Museum to learn about the patriotic and revolutionary tradition education work there as well as the construction and development progress of the Hainan Special Economic Zone and Hainan as an international tourism island.

 

Afterwards, he departed for Wenchang to meet CPC Wenchang Municipal Committee Secretary Wang Peng.

 

Mr Chan introduced the latest situation of Hong Kong, and exchanged views with Mr Wang on further promoting exchanges between the two places and exploring more co-operation and development opportunities.

 

The Chief Secretary visited the Wenchang Yaoguang Rocket Viewing Platform to join a science exploration activity of the Hainan Aerospace Science & Research Study Tour under the Strive & Rise Programme.

 

While there, he engaged with the participants and encouraged them to grasp this valuable learning opportunity to learn and understand the country’s robust developments and significant achievements in the field of aerospace.

 

He also encouraged the participants to continue to work hard in the future to cultivate a sense of contributing to the country and serving the society, and become a new generation with a sense of social responsibility and contributions.

 

Mr Chan added that he believes the experience of joining the meaningful aerospace science and research study tour will boost the participants’ sense of patriotism and national pride.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Hong Kong cinema is taking centre stage at this year’s New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) with the “Hong Kong Panorama” series, a curated showcase of 10 dynamic films being presented with support from the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York (New York ETO).

     A star-studded award presentation was held prior to the North American premiere of “Last Song For You” this evening (July 14, New York time) at the esteemed Film at Lincoln Center. The film’s lead actor, Ekin Cheng, was honoured with the prestigious Star Asia Award, recognising his legendary contributions across film, television, and music, as well as his enduring impact on Hong Kong’s popular culture.

     Cheng’s co-star Natalie Hsu received the Screen International Rising Star Award, highlighting her breakout performances and her bright future on the global stage.

     The New York ETO hosted a special reception before the award presentation in honour of the visiting Hong Kong film talent participating in this year’s Festival. Among them are actors, directors, and creatives whose work is helping to shape the next chapter of Hong Kong cinema.

     Speaking at the reception, the Director of the New York ETO, Ms Maisie Ho, highlighted the lineup for this year’s Festival. “This year we’re proud to showcase 10 diverse Hong Kong films, from romantic comedies and crime thrillers to powerful action dramas. Over half of them are having their North American premieres right here at NYAFF – proof that Hong Kong cinema continues to innovate, inspire, and resonate across borders,” she said.

     Ms Ho added that four of these films are marking directorial debuts. They are: Jill Leung’s “Last Song For You”; Jack Lai’s “Possession Street”; Trevor Choi’s “Smashing Frank”; and “Valley of the Shadow of Death” by Jeffrey Lam and Antonio Tam. 

      “Three films, ‘Last Song For You’, ‘Papa’ and ‘Possession Street’, were made possible with support from the Hong Kong Film Development Fund. It’s this mix of rising talent and strong institutional backing that keeps our film industry vibrant, evolving, and ready for the world stage,” she added.

     Ms Ho went on to extend warm congratulations to the honourees. She praised Cheng for his 37-year career and for helping shape the cultural DNA of Hong Kong entertainment, and lauded Hsu as a gifted and dynamic artist representing the bold future of Hong Kong cinema.

     To further honour Cheng’s legacy, the NYAFF held a special retrospective screening of his iconic film “Young and Dangerous”, celebrating the blockbuster’s 30th anniversary and its enduring impact on a generation of filmmakers and audiences.

     In addition to Cheng and Hsu, a stellar delegation of Hong Kong filmmakers are attending this year’s NYAFF. They include actor George Au actress Hedwig Tam, directors Oliver Chan, Trevor Choi, Jack Lai, Jeffrey Lam, Jill Leung, Antonio Tam, Adam Wong, and composer Chan Kwong-wing – all showcasing the creative talent propelling Hong Kong cinema into the future.

     Adding to this year’s celebration, acclaimed Chinese-American actress Lisa Lu was presented with both the Trailblazer Award and the Star Asia Lifetime Achievement Award, honouring her groundbreaking career and indelible contributions to cinema across the United States, and Greater China including Hong Kong.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat: 

     The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting tomorrow (July 16) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, the Second Reading debate on the Gas Safety (Amendment) Bill 2025 will resume. If the Bill is supported by Members and receives its Second Reading, it will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council. After the committee of the whole Council has completed consideration of the Bill and its report is adopted by the Council, the Bill will be set down for the Third Reading.
 
     The Second Reading debates on the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 and the Supplementary Medical Professions (Amendment) Bill 2025 will also resume. If the Bills are supported by Members and receive their Second Reading, they will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council. After the committee of the whole Council has completed consideration of the Bills and their reports are adopted by the Council, the Bills will be set down for the Third Reading.
 
     Meanwhile, the Registration of Same-sex Partnerships Bill will be introduced into the Council for the First Reading and the Second Reading. The Second Reading debate on the Bill will be adjourned.
 
     On Member’s Bill, the Hong Kong Baptist University (Amendment) Bill 2025 will be introduced into the Council for the First Reading and the Second Reading. The Second Reading debate on the Bill will be adjourned.
 
     On Members’ motions, Mr Chan Hak-kan will move a motion on reviewing the priorities for public works to ensure enhanced speed and efficiency of key projects. The motion is set out in Appendix 1. Dr Lo Wai-kwok, Mr Gary Zhang, Mr Adrian Ho, Mr Tony Tse and Mr Dennis Leung will move separate amendments to Mr Chan Hak-kan’s motion.
 
     Mr Frankie Yick will also move a motion on building an elderly-friendly living environment. The motion is set out in Appendix 2. Mr Tang Ka-piu, Mr Stanley Li and Mr Tommy Cheung will move separate amendments to Mr Frankie Yick’s motion.
 
     During the meeting, Mr Chan Kin-por and Mr Steven Ho will present the “Independent Commission Against Corruption, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China Annual Report 2024 and Reports of ICAC Advisory Committees” and the “ICAC Complaints Committee Annual Report 2024” respectively, and address the Council.
 
     Members will also ask the Government 22 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies.
 
     The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk). Members of the public can watch or listen to the meeting via the “Webcast” system on the LegCo Website. To observe the proceedings of the meeting at the LegCo Complex, members of the public may call 3919 3399 during office hours to reserve seats.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Vice Minister of Economic Affairs Chien-Hsin Lai visited Taipower’s Datan Power Plant and CPC Corporation’s Datan Gas Distribution Station today (May 6) to receive briefings from both Taipower and CPC Corporation (hereinafter CPC). Vice Minister Lai expressed concern over the progress of the new power generating units at the Datan Power Plant and the gas supply testing linked to CPC’s Third LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) Terminal. He stressed that all risk control measures must be rigorously implemented during testing to keep this critical infrastructure operating smoothly. He also thanked on-site staff for their dedication in safeguarding Taiwan’s electricity supply.

Taipower emphasized that the Datan Power Plant is a key power source for northern Taiwan. To meet rising electricity demand, Taipower began building new gas-fired combined-cycle units in 2017, adding three units with a total installed capacity of 3.16 GW. Units 8 and 9 were connected to the grid last year, and Unit 7 is on track to come online before the summer peak, helping deliver stable, low-carbon electricity.

Currently, natural gas for the Datan Power Plant is supplied through CPC’s Taichung LNG Terminal. To strengthen supply resilience, CPC has successfully completed the initial gas supply phase from its Third LNG Terminal, establishing a dual-source gas supply system for the Datan Power Plant. This ensures robust backup for the new generating units, enabling full-capacity operation and significantly enhancing the grid’s overall power supply capability.

Taipower added that with the operating license for Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant Unit 2 set to expire this year, the Company proactively planned for replacement capacity and launched its large-scale gas-fired unit construction plan years ago to meet electricity demand. In addition to Datan Unit 7, Hsinta New Units 1 and 2 and Taichung New Unit 1 will also come online this year, providing a combined installed capacity of 4.8 GW, far exceeding the 0.95 GW of Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant Unit 2.

Looking ahead, Taipower cooperates with the government to conduct annual reviews of national power supply and demand, fully factoring in all unit retirements and projected future growth in electricity demand. The Company prioritizes expanding renewable energy while adding new gas-fired power capacity to ensure stable supply. From 2024 to 2033, Taipower plans a net increase of 17.86 GW in installed capacity from large-scale units, exceeding the projected demand growth of 11.51 GW, to ensure sufficient electricity for the public.

Spokesperson: Vice President Chih-Meng Tsai
Tel: (02 )2366-6271/0958-749-333
Email: u910707@taipower.com.tw

Contact Person: Director of the Power Dispatch Department Fang-Cheng Chou
Tel: (02 )2366-6600/0952-810-417
Email: u027007@taipower.com.tw

Contact Person: Director of the Power Development Department Ke-Hung Hu
Tel: (02 )2366-6850/0919-272-789
Email: u064321@taipower.com.tw

Contact Person: Director of the Power Generation Department Yu-Hua Sun
Tel: (02 )2366-6500/0928-158-862
Email: u217063@taipower.com.tw

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Taipower officially launched its 2025 Environmental Month today (April 30). Following earlier conservation efforts such as relocating bat habitats at the Taixi Wind Farm and creating bird habitats at the Yong’an Wetlands by Hsinta Power Plant, Taipower has now completed an aquatic ecological corridor at its Dajia River Power Plant. Aligning with global trends in biological conservation, Taipower has embraced the principles of OECM (Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures) by extending conservation efforts beyond legally designated protected areas. Guided by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Taipower proactively launched an OECM demonstration project in the Ma’an Dam area of the Dajia River. The results of this conservation effort, along with future planning, have been verified by an impartial third-party organization as meeting international standards.

The Taipower 2025 Environmental Month Launch Event, held today at its headquarters under the theme Coexisting with Nature, Moving Forward with Taipower, was attended and supported by Taipower Chairman Wen-Sheng Tseng, President Yao-Ting Wang, Deputy Executive Director of the Executive Yuan’s Office of Energy and Carbon Reduction Tze-Luen Lin, Secretary General of the Ministry of Economic Affairs Ming-Chih Chuang, Director-General of the Department of State-owned Enterprise Affairs Wen-Chung Hu, Professor Kwang-Tsao Shao of National Taiwan Ocean University, Emeritus Professor Ching-Hsien Tseng of National Tsing Hua University, and Professor Lee-Shing Fang of National Sun Yat-sen University. A special guest, Professor Nobuyuki Yagi from the University of Tokyo, former UN biodiversity policy expert and a key architect of Japan’s OECM framework, attended to witness Taipower’s ecological conservation work at the Dajia River Power Plant meeting global benchmarks.

Reviewing its 2024 environmental performance, Taipower reported major progress: compared to its 2016 baseline, air pollutant emission intensity from thermal power units (covering the total particulate matter (PM), sulfur oxides (SOx), and nitrogen oxides (NOx) per kilowatt-hour generated) have dropped by nearly 70%. Carbon emission intensity (greenhouse gas emissions per kilowatt-hour) have decreased by 11%.

In terms of ecological conservation, Taipower emphasized that hydroelectric plants have strong connections to local ecosystems and cultural heritage. The Dajia River Basin hosts a rich diversity of species, including the Plumbeous Water Redstart, Formosan Reeve’s muntjac, and the Taiwan leaf-nosed bat, along with a diverse riverine ecosystem. The OECM demonstration zone covers the upstream and downstream stretches of the Ma’an Dam, home to 17 fish species and critical habitats for native species such as the Taiwan torrent carp, Taiwan shovel-jaw carp, and river loach. To balance power generation with ecological conservation, Taipower constructed a fishway at Ma’an Dam as early as 1998 to assist fish migration, and further upgraded it in 2016 by lowering the entrance threshold and riverbed drop, enabling smaller or leaping fish species to swim upstream more successfully.

Taipower further explained that, to better evaluate the fishway’s effectiveness, the Company began deploying underwater monitoring cameras in 2023 to record fish movement within the passage. Last year, the Company also developed an AI-based Species Recognition System. By combining expert tagging with an expanding image database, Taipower now monitors fishway usage more accurately and in real time.

Taipower noted that the Dajia River Power Plant has carried out sustained conservation efforts for more than a decade. The OECM project was guided by experts and further verified by PwC Taiwan (one of Taiwan’s Big Four Accounting Firms), confirming that the upstream and downstream sections of the Ma’an Dam align with IUCN’s OECM guidelines. A verification certificate was presented today and received by President Yao-Ting Wang on behalf of Taipower . Taipower also stated that as Taiwan officially announces its OECM standards and certification system, the Company will strive to support the process and is confident that it will become one of the first companies in Taiwan to earn government OECM certification.

Glossary:
OECM (Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures ):
Specific geographical areas outside of legally designated protected areas where diverse governance and management approaches deliver measurable biodiversity and ecosystem conservation outcomes.

Spokesperson: Vice President Chih-Meng Tsai
Tel: (02 )2366-6271/0958-749-333
Email: u910707@taipower.com.tw

Contact Person: Director of the Environmental Protection Department Cheng-Hung Wu
Tel: (02 )2366-7200/0927-291-156
Email: u015279@taipower.com.tw

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

In response to the global net-zero trend and to help Taiwan’s export-oriented companies meet their renewable energy (RE) targets and secure a place in international supply chains, Taipower is launching its first-ever RE30 electricity product. Designed to meet supplement companies’ green energy needs, RE30 bridges the gap to ensure that 30% of a user’s electricity consumption comes from renewable sources, together with the green power they already purchased independently. Taipower announced that it will supply 500 GWh of green power from its self-built renewable energy sites, plus around 1,660 GWh of standard grid power. Sales will run from June 1 to December 31, with delivery starting on July 1. Interested customers can apply through their local Taipower office.

Taipower stated that RE30 is available to high-voltage and above users who are already wheeling green power from private power providers. Each account can purchase between 1 GWh and 100 GWh per year (including 0.3-30 GWh of green power). The wheeling contract period is fixed at one year, and applications must be made in 0.1 GWh increments within the eligible range. Power delivery starts on the first day of the month following approval and continues for 12 months.
Regarding pricing, Taipower explained that the green portion of RE30 is priced at NT$6.3 per kWh (excluding VAT and wheeling fees), referencing last year’s average market price for small-scale green power transactions. To encourage early participation and carbon reduction, an early-bird rate of NT$6.1 per kWh is available for green power delivered by the end of 2025, reverting to NT$6.3 from January 1, 2026. The standard grid power portion of RE30 will be billed at the regular electricity rate.

Taipower emphasized that RE30 will play a timely role in boosting the green power market. Monthly usage will be calculated case by case: priority is given to green power wheeled from private providers, and any shortfall needed to reach 30% is topped up with RE30. For example, if a business signs up for 1 GWh (or 1,000,000 kWh) of RE30 for a year (including 0.3 GWh or 300,000 kWh of green power) to meet its monthly electricity demand, and consumes 100,000 kWh in a given month while sourcing 10,000 kWh of green power privately, Taipower will supply the remaining 20,000 kWh through RE30 to ensure the 30% renewable energy target is met.

Taipower added that RE30 uses a “grid power combined with green power” model. The green portion comes from Taipower’s own renewable facilities, and Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) are issued based on the actual green power supplied to help businesses reduce carbon emissions. Taipower plans to gradually expand its annual green power supply, aiming to reach 3,000 GWh by 2027, enough to help industries achieve RE30 targets for up to 10,000 GWh of total electricity consumption.

Spokesperson: Vice President Chih-Meng Tsai
Tel: (02)2366-6271/0958-749-333
Email: u910707@taipower.com.tw

Contact Person: Director of the Business Department Mei-Lien Huang
Tel: (02)2366-6650/0922-696-383
Email: u030573@taipower.com.tw

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

In response to global trends such as the growth of renewable energy and the pursuit of net-zero emissions, the development and strengthening of smart grid resilience has become a priority for power utilities worldwide. Taipower, together with the Taiwan Smart Grid Industry Association (TSGIA), the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research (TIER), and Moxa, is co-hosting the three-day Asia-Pacific Power Summit 2025, which opened today (May 26) at Taipower’s headquarters. The event brings together representatives from major international utilities for discussions and exchanges. The Summit gathers power companies from across the Asia-Pacific region, including Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and Australia, alongside industry leaders, system integrators, and technical experts. By sharing international technologies and hands-on experiences, the Summit aims to accelerate grid modernization and drive the smart transformation of the energy sector.

This year’s Summit, themed Enhancing Smart Grid Resilience, features senior executives from eight power companies, including Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), Kansai Electric Power Company, Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), Indonesia’s PLN, and Australia’s Endeavour Energy, as well as leading research institutions such as the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and the Salt River Project (SRP) from the United States. Representing Taipower, Vice President Chin-Chung Wu delivered a keynote speech outlining the Company’s comprehensive strategy to strengthen power supply stability and enhance grid resilience while expanding renewable energy integration.

Vice President Chin-Chung Wu highlighted that from 2022 to 2024, Taipower ranked second globally in the Smart Grid Index (SGI), a prominent benchmark for smart grid development based in Singapore, demonstrating Taipower’s strong technical capabilities. In recent years, Taipower has continued to integrate and apply information and communications technology (ICT) across its power grid operations. Through smart dispatch and generation, grid management, distributed energy storage, demand response load management, and ICT infrastructure, Taipower has optimized supply-demand balancing, improved monitoring and automation, bolstering system resilience, and ensured stable power supply and high power quality.

To further exchange practical experience, Taipower also held a three-way technical session with TEPCO and Japanese ICT company NESIC, sharing how the Geospatial Outage Management System (GeoOMS) is used during natural disasters to quickly assess damage and expedite power restoration. Additionally, Taipower met with KEPCO to discuss best practices for grid stability and reliability. Taipower emphasized that it will continue to deepen its cooperation with international utilities on smart grid applications, working together to build more resilent, smarter grids, and to achieve the shared goals of stable power supply, optimal energy utilization, and net-zero emissions.

Spokesperson: Vice President Chih-Meng Tsai
Tel: (02 )2366-6271/0958-749-333
Email: u910707@taipower.com.tw

Contact Person: Director of the Power Dispatch Department Fang-Cheng Chou
Tel: (02 )2366-6600/0952-810-417
Email: u027007@taipower.com.tw