Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Executive John Lee today met Governor of Jiangxi Province Ye Jianchun at Government House to discuss strengthening Hong Kong’s co-operation with Jiangxi.

 

After welcoming Mr Ye and his delegation to Hong Kong, Mr Lee noted that Hong Kong and Jiangxi have been maintaining close economic and trade relations, and the co-operation activities held by Jiangxi since 2002 have been a significant platform for exchange and collaboration between the two places.

 

Hong Kong is Jiangxi’s largest source of external investment and an important trading partner, with the total value of imports and exports between the two places exceeding US$9.4 billion last year, Mr Lee highlighted.

 

He also emphasised that Hong Kong serves as a main capital market for Jiangxi enterprises listed outside of the Mainland.

     

Mr Lee said that this year marks the 60th anniversary of Dongjiang’s water supply to Hong Kong. Jiangxi, as the source of Dongjiang River, has been providing a vital water supply to the city over the past six decades.

 

He thanked Jiangxi Province for its long-standing efforts in ensuring the safety and cleanliness of the Dongjiang water source, which has been crucial to Hong Kong’s prosperity and development.

     

The Chief Executive noted that apart from being a key link in the Belt & Road Initiative and a Greater Bay Area core city, Hong Kong has the distinctive advantages of enjoying the motherland’s strong support and being closely connected to the world under the “one country, two systems” principle.

 

He added that Hong Kong will give full play to its roles as a “super connector” and a “super value-adder” to serve Jiangxi in expanding international markets.

 

Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang and Director of the Chief Executive’s Office Carol Yip also attended the meeting.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to Belgian Foreign Ministry’s 2025 policy statement and Foreign Minister Prévot expressing concern over cross-strait developments

Date：2025-03-30
Data Source：Department of European Affairs

March 30, 2025  

The Belgian Foreign Ministry in March submitted a 2025 policy statement to the Chamber of Representatives. The statement reaffirmed its support for the EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific policy report, issued by the European Union in 2021, and called for the maintenance of harmony and stability in the Indo-Pacific. Referring to China’s escalating threats toward Taiwan in recent years, it pointed out that China had expanded military drills around Taiwan and continued to deliberately undermine social stability in Taiwan. The statement also emphasized that an invasion of Taiwan by China would have significant political and economic consequences for Europe. It urged all related parties to uphold the status quo across the Taiwan Strait and avoid taking any provocative actions that could trigger a conflict.
 
Furthermore, in response to questions on the policy statement raised by the Chamber of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee on March 26, Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot expressed concern over China’s recent escalation of military activities around the Taiwan Strait. He emphasized that Belgium should remain highly vigilant to developments in the region and do its utmost to uphold the status quo across the Taiwan Strait.
 
The 2025 policy statement issued by the Belgian Foreign Ministry marked another statement of significant concern regarding the cross-strait situation following the Belgian coalition government’s inclusion of Taiwan-friendly content in its coalition agreement in February. In addition, on March 20 the Belgian Chamber of Representatives adopted, by an overwhelming majority, a resolution expressing concern regarding the growing threat of China to Taiwan. This underscores the high level of consensus and support shared by the Belgian administration and parliament for ensuring the status quo of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs highly welcomes their support and looks forward to deepening bilateral exchanges and cooperation with Belgium so as to jointly safeguard the rules-based international order and advance peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Taiwan’s government and civil society ready to join international efforts to assist Myanmar in postdisaster reconstruction

Date：2025-03-30
Data Source：Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs

March 30, 2025No. 084A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on March 28, causing significant casualties and vast property damage. In response, Taiwan’s government and nongovernmental organizations quickly mobilized needed resources. Through the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Myanmar, the Taiwan government expressed concern to the government of Myanmar and conveyed Taiwan’s readiness to assist in rescue operations.While Myanmar was formulating a coordinated response, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung instructed TECO in Myanmar to establish a single contact window (email: mmr@mofa.gov.tw; phone: +95-9-427355550) to ensure that Taiwan’s assistance efforts could proceed smoothly. It would be responsible for coordinating and tallying the forms of assistance that related Taiwan agencies and groups could provide and then contacting the Myanmar government, affected areas, and related institutions, as appropriate.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) stresses that the government of Taiwan is both able and willing to provide assistance. It also appreciates that Taiwanese NGOs have shown initiative and are working together to extend care and support to people in affected areas, highlighting Taiwan’s humanitarian concern. MOFA hopes that the concerted efforts by the Taiwan government and civil society can help speed up postdisaster reconstruction in Myanmar so that people there can rebuild their homes and resume a normal life. (E) 

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government today launched a public consultation on the proposed regulation of basketball betting activities.

According to the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s (HKJC) latest assessment, the turnover of illegal basketball betting reached $70 billion to $90 billion in 2024. To combat illegal betting activities in an effective manner, the Government announced in the 2025-26 Budget that it will explore regulating basketball betting activities.

The Government proposes establishing a regulatory regime for basketball betting by modelling on the existing regime for football betting.

Through amending the Betting Duty Ordinance, the Secretary for Home & Youth Affairs will be granted the power to issue a licence for basketball betting to the HKJC and impose licensing conditions to minimise the negative impact of gambling on the public, especially on young people.

As for the major licensing conditions, it is proposed that a fixed duration shall be set on the licensing period, and that the Government shall impose restrictions on the number of bet types and classes of competitions.

In an effort to promote a betting-free and healthy environment for the sport in the city, other licensing conditions state that the licensed operator shall not accept bets on basketball matches involving Hong Kong teams and/or matches that take place in Hong Kong.

Additionally, the licensed operator should not accept bets from juveniles and it must not accept credit betting.

On top of that, the licensed operator shall display notices reminding the public of the seriousness of the problems caused by excessive gambling, and provide information on the services available for those with a gambling disorder.

The consultation document is available on the Home & Youth Affairs Bureau website.

Views can be sent by email, faxed to 2591 6002 or posted to 13/F, West Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong by May 2, 2025.

Furthermore, following a consultation with the Betting & Lotteries Commission, the Government has decided to renew the licence for football betting of the HKJC Football Betting for five years from July 18, 2025. The existing conditions will remain largely the same.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to statements by US White House and Department of State concerning China’s military exercises around Taiwan

Date：2025-04-02
Data Source：Department of North American Affairs

April 2, 2025The United States Department of State released a statement on April 1 in which it pointed out that China was once again escalating tensions through aggressive military activities and rhetoric targeting Taiwan, and thereby jeopardizing regional security and global prosperity. The statement added that in the face of China’s intimidation tactics and destabilizing behavior, the long-standing US commitment to Taiwan and other allies and partners remained unchanged. It also reiterated US support for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and opposition to the use of force or coercion to unilaterally alter the status quo.Moreover, in responding to media questions on April 1, the White House press secretary said that US President Donald Trump emphasized the importance of maintaining peace across the Taiwan Strait, encouraged peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues, and reiterated US opposition to any unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force or coercion.Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung thanks the White House and State Department for reiterating US support of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and its opposition to the use of force or coercion to change the status quo; for clearly pointing out China’s threat to Taiwan and regional security; and for noting that China’s behavior undermines the status quo. With China frequently conducting military activities and gray-zone harassment around Taiwan, the international community understands clearly that China is the troublemaker in the Taiwan Strait and globally and that it is China that is attempting to challenge the status quo. As a responsible member of the international community, Taiwan will continue to work with the United States and other allied nations to jointly ensure peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and across the Taiwan Strait, safeguard a free and open Indo-Pacific region, and defend the rules-based international order. Taiwan also calls on all countries to jointly monitor China’s gray-zone coercion of Taiwan—including military intimidation and lawfare—as well as its actions that unilaterally escalate regional tensions.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to statement by European External Action Service Spokesperson on China’s April 1 large-scale military drills surrounding Taiwan

Date：2025-04-02
Data Source：Department of European Affairs

April 2, 2025On April 1, the spokesperson of the European External Action Service (EEAS) released a statement regarding China’s large-scale military drills targeting Taiwan. The statement pointed out that the drills are increasing cross-strait tensions and reiterated that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are of strategic importance for regional and global security and prosperity. The European Union (EU) has a direct interest in the preservation of the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and opposes any unilateral actions that change the status quo by force or coercion. The EU calls on all parties to exercise restraint and avoid any actions that may further escalate tensions, which should be resolved through cross-strait dialogue.This is the third time the EEAS has expressed timely concern over China’s unilateral actions increasing cross-strait tensions. The previous two times were responses to China’s Joint Sword military exercises last year. The White Paper for European Defence – Readiness 2030 released this March by the European Union points out that China has been rapidly expanding its military capabilities and intensifying its political, economic, military, and cyber and cognitive measures to coerce Taiwan. It emphasizes that the shifting Taiwan status quo could have profound economic and strategic consequences for Europe. Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung affirms and welcomes the EU’s continued demonstration of staunch support for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait through concrete action. MOFA also stresses that Taiwan, as a key country in the Indo-Pacific region and a responsible member of the international community, will continue to strengthen cooperation with the EU and other allies to safeguard freedom and openness in the Indo-Pacific region, uphold the rules-based international order, and together protect regional and global peace, stability, and prosperity. 

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA strongly condemns China for unilateral provocations and repeated attempts to escalate cross-strait and regional tensions

Date：2025-04-01
Data Source：Department of Policy Planning

April 1, 2025
No. 086

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command launched joint military drills around Taiwan on April 1, under the pretext of serving as “a stern warning to and powerful deterrent against separatist forces agitating for Taiwan independence.” This marked a renewed challenge to the rules-based international order and a serious unilateral attempt to jeopardize peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and the region. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) strongly denounces China and urges it to immediately halt unwarranted military provocations.
 
China has recently conducted military intimidation and maritime gray-zone operations near New Zealand and Australia, in the South China Sea, and near the Republic of Korea, Japan, the Philippines, and Taiwan. Its relentless actions aimed at challenging the international order and undermining the regional status quo demonstrate incontrovertibly that China is a destabilizing force in the region and beyond.
 
Maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is a matter of international consensus and serves the interests of all parties. However, China intractably continues to conduct military drills to intimidate Taiwan and neighboring countries, unilaterally seeking to alter the cross-strait and regional status quo. Such actions seriously undermine peace, stability, and security in the Indo-Pacific and do not serve to improve its international image. MOFA calls on China to stop such behavior and return to norms. 
 
As a responsible member of the global community, Taiwan will work in concert with like-minded nations to jointly safeguard global and regional peace, stability, prosperity, and development. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to false claims regarding Taiwan in joint statement between PRC and Bangladesh

Date：2025-03-31
Data Source：Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs

March 31, 2025Chief Adviser of the interim government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh Muhammad Yunus met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping during a visit to Beijing from March 27 to 29. The two sides issued a joint statement on March 28 that made spurious claims in referring to the so-called “one China principle” and to Taiwan being an inalienable part of China’s territory. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) solemnly refutes these claims. MOFA reiterates that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is an independent and sovereign country; that neither the ROC (Taiwan) nor the People’s Republic of China is subordinate to the other; and that no claim seeking to distort Taiwan’s sovereign status can alter the internationally recognized status quo across the Taiwan Strait. The government of Taiwan will staunchly safeguard national sovereignty and dignity and work with friendly and like-minded countries to protect the values of freedom and democracy and ensure regional peace, stability, and development. MOFA calls on Bangladesh to adopt an open and pragmatic stance; strengthen economic and trade cooperation and substantive relations across all domains with Taiwan; and proactively contribute to democracy, peace, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to reaffirmation of importance of cross-strait peace at meeting of US, Japan defense ministers

Date：2025-03-31
Data Source：TAIWAN-JAPAN RELATIONS ASSOCIATION

March 31, 2025 

Japan’s Minister of Defense Gen Nakatani met with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on March 30 in Tokyo. During the meeting, they expressed concern over China’s military activities around Taiwan and reiterated opposition to China’s attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force or coercion in the East and South China Seas. Underscoring the importance of maintaining cross-strait peace and stability, the two sides stressed that they would bolster cooperation with regional partners Australia, the Republic of Korea, and the Philippines to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific. 
 
This was the first meeting of the defense chiefs of the United States and Japan since Secretary Hegseth took office. Coming on the heels of the February Japan-US summit, the meeting saw the two countries reiterate the importance they attached to cross-strait issues, highlighting the high degree of consensus in the global democratic camp for cross-strait peace. It was also further evidence that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are indispensable to the promotion of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
 
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung affirms and welcomes the continued expression of staunch support for cross-strait peace and stability by Japan and the United States at important international venues, as well as the two sides’ concern for China’s challenge to the global order. Minister Lin also stresses that Taiwan will abide by the spirit of integrated diplomacy and continue to cooperate closely with like-minded countries to uphold democracy and universal values, develop democratic non-red supply chains, and promote peace, stability, and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait and in the Indo-Pacific region. 

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Two Country Parks Hiking & Planting Day events will be held in April and May.

Jointly organised by the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department and Friends of the Country Parks, the events will take place on April 27 at Pak Sha Wan Peninsula, Ma On Shan Country Park and May 4 at Wong Nai Tun Irrigation Reservoir, Tai Lam Country Park.

People can enrol at the designated registration point on-site from 9am to 10.30am on the event day. Pre-registration is not required.

Seedlings and planting tools will be provided.

Click here for details.