Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, attended the Opening Plenary of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025 in Hainan today (March 27) and met with the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Dr Qu Dongyu.
In the morning, Mr Lee attended the Opening Plenary of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025. The theme of this year’s conference is “Asia in the Changing World: Towards a Shared Future”.
The Government of India, in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India, has finalised its borrowing programme for the first half (H1) of FY 2025-26.
Out of Gross Market borrowing of₹14.82 lakh crore budgeted for FY 2025-26,₹8.00 lakh crore (54.0%) is planned to be borrowed in H1through issuance of dated securities, including ₹10,000 crore of Sovereign Green Bonds (SGrBs).
The gross market borrowing of ₹8.00 lakh crore shall be completed through 26 weekly auctions.The market borrowing will be spread over 3, 5, 7, 10, 15, 30, 40 and 50 year securities. The share of borrowing(including SGrBs)under different maturities will be: 3-year (5.3%), 5-year (11.3%), 7-year (8.2%), 10-year (26.2%), 15-year (14.0%), 30-year (10.5%), 40-year (14.0%) and 50-year (10.5%).
The Government will carry out switching/buyback of securities to smoothen the redemption profile.
The Government will continue to reserve the right to exercise greenshoe option to retain an additional subscription of up to ₹2,000 crore against each of the securities indicated in the auction notifications.
Weekly borrowing through issuance of Treasury Bills in the first quarter (Q1) of FY 2025-26 is expected to be ₹19,000 crore for 13 weeks with issuance of ₹9,000 crore under 91 day T-bill, ₹5,000 crore under 182 day T-bill and ₹5,000 crore under 364-day T-bill.
To take care of temporary mismatches in Government accounts, the Reserve Bank of India has fixed the Ways and Mean Advances (WMA) limit for H1 of FY 2025-26 at ₹1.50 lakh crore.
More details may be seen in the detailed Press Releases available on the websites of the Finance Ministry and the Reserve Bank of India.
India’s bioeconomy has grown from $10 billion in 2014 to $165.7 billion in 2024, with a target of $300 billion by 2030.
The sector contributes 4.25% to GDP with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.9% over the past four years.
The government aims to make India a global bio-manufacturing hub driven by innovation, sustainability, and inclusive development.
BioE3 promotes regenerative biomanufacturing and supports a circular bioeconomy aligned with India’s net-zero goals.
The National Biopharma Mission, co-funded with the World Bank ($250 million), supports over 100 projects and 30 MSMEs.
India is among the top producers of vaccines globally and developed the world’s first DNA COVID-19 vaccine.
Ethanol blending increased from 1.53% in 2014 to 15% in 2024, with a target of 20% by 2025.
Introduction
India’s bioeconomy has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past decade, growing sixteen-fold from $10 billion in 2014 to an impressive $165.7 billion in 2024. This exceptional expansion reflects the nation’s focused efforts to position biotechnology as a cornerstone of sustainable economic growth and innovation. Contributing 4.25% to the national GDP, the sector has demonstrated a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.9% over the past four years, reinforcing India’s emergence as a rising global force in biotechnology. With an ambitious target of $300 billion by 2030, the bioeconomy is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping India’s future as a knowledge-driven, bio-enabled economy.
The bioeconomy is the use of renewable biological resources to produce food, energy and industrial goods, which supports sustainability and economic growth. Innovations like gene editing and bioprinting are driving progress, while integration across sectors strengthens long-term impact. By aligning biotechnology with digital tools and circular economy principles, the bioeconomy offers sustainable solutions to environmental challenges and promotes overall societal well-being.
India’s Vision for a Thriving Bioeconomy
India’s vision for the bioeconomy is rooted in innovation-led growth, sustainable development, and inclusive economic progress. The country aims to become a global hub for bio-manufacturing, backed by strong R&D infrastructure, cutting-edge technologies, and a skilled scientific workforce. The focus is on creating a resilient industrial ecosystem that promotes the development and commercialization of new biotech products, while unlocking opportunities in both urban and rural regions. With an ambitious target of achieving a $300 billion bioeconomy by 2030, India also seeks to lead globally in bio-pharma, including vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics. This strategy directly contributes to the broader goals of India@2047, emphasizing sustainability, economic self-reliance, and green growth.
Government Initiatives and Key Programmes
BioE3 Policy (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, and Employment)
BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment) Policy marks a significant leap in India’s biotechnology sector. Approved by the Union Cabinet on 24th August 2024, the policy aims to transform India into a global biotech powerhouse by fostering high-performance biomanufacturing and addressing key pillars of the economy, environment, and employment.
It aligns with the vision of a cleaner, greener, and more prosperous future by promoting regenerative biomanufacturing and a shift from chemical-based industries to sustainable bio-based models. This supports a circular bioeconomy and aligns with the goal of net-zero carbon emissions. This approach supports environmental sustainability and contributes significantly to the ‘Make in India’ initiative by fostering the development of biobased products with minimal carbon footprints.
Strategic Sectors and Key Initiatives
The BioE3 Policy introduces key initiatives such as advanced biomanufacturing facilities, bio-foundry clusters, and bio-AI hubs to support bio-based product development and commercialization. These centers will bridge lab-to-market gaps and foster collaboration across startups, SMEs, and industry. With a strong focus on employment, the policy aims to generate jobs in tier-IIand tier-III cities by leveraging local biomass. It also emphasizes ethical biosafety and alignment with global regulatory standards to boost India’s global biotech competitiveness.
Key Features
Innovation-driven support for R&D and entrepreneurship
Establishment of Biomanufacturing & Bio-AI hubs and Biofoundry
Focus on regenerative bioeconomy models for green growth
Expansion of India’s skilled workforce
Alignment with ‘Net Zero’ carbon economy and ‘Lifestyle for Environment’ (LiFE) initiatives
National Biopharma Mission
The National Biopharma Mission (NBM)-Innovate in India (i3), is a government-approved initiative led by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and implemented by BIRAC. It aims to boost India’s capabilities in biopharmaceuticals, vaccines, biosimilars, medical devices, and diagnostics by fostering collaboration between industry and academia. With a budget of $250 million, co-funded 50% by the World Bank, the mission supports 101 projects, involving over 150 organisations and 30 MSMEs. It has helped set up 11 shared facilities for testing, validation, and manufacturing—benefiting start-ups and MSMEs. These include GCLP labs for vaccine testing, GLP labs for biosimilar analysis, and cGMP facilities for manufacturing. The mission has also generated over 1,000 jobs, including 304 scientists and researchers. Additionally, the Genome India Programme, which involves sequencing 10,000 genomes, is expected to shape future global healthcare strategies, both in treatment and prevention.
Key Achievements in India’s Pharma Sector:
India has emerged as a global hubfor affordable, high-quality medicines, ranking 3rdin pharmaceutical production by volume and 14th by value.
Developed the world’s first DNA vaccinefor COVID-19, showcasing innovation in global health.
Produces 65% of the world’s vaccines, significantly benefiting low- and middle-income countries.
The “Make in India”initiative is reducing dependency on imported Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) through strengthened domestic manufacturing.
Pharma industry has transitioned from a generic-focused model to developing biopharmaceuticals and biosimilars.
India is working on thefirst indigenous HPV vaccine to prevent cervical cancer in adolescent girls.
Every third tabletconsumed globally is manufactured in India, demonstrating global trust in Indian pharma.
Bio-agriculture
Agricultural biotechnology in India is advancing rapidly through innovations in genomics, transgenics, and gene editing under the Department of Biotechnology’s Agriculture Biotechnology programme.
Climate-Smart Crops: A drought-tolerant, high-yielding chickpea variety SAATVIK (NC 9) has been approved for cultivation.
Genome-Edited Rice: Loss-of-function mutations in yield-limiting genes have led to improved rice lines like DEP1-edited MTU-1010, showing higher yields.
Genotyping Arrays: India’s first 90K SNP arrays—IndRA for rice and IndCA for chickpea—enable DNA fingerprinting and variety identification.
Amaranth Resources: A genomic database, NIRS techniques, and a 64K SNP chip aid nutritional screening and development of anti-obesity amaranth varieties.
Biocontrol: A nano-formulation from Myrothecium verrucaria offers eco-friendly control of powdery mildew in tomato and grape.
Kisan-Kavach: An anti-pesticide protective suit enhances farmer safety from toxic exposure.
Biotech-KISAN is a scientist-farmer partnership programme launched to empower farmers, especially women and those in rural and tribal areas, through agricultural innovation and scientific interventions. It follows a hub-and-spoke model and is active across 115 Aspirational Districts in India.
State-wise Impact:
Chhattisgarh (Bastar region): Income rose by 40–50% through improved bio-fortified rice; 2173 farmers benefitted.
West Bengal:37,552 farmers (including 28,756 women) trained with 14 scientific farming practices; 14 FPOs and 134 FIGs formed.
Madhya Pradesh:67,630 farmers benefitted via technology adoption across 8 Aspirational Districts.
Jharkhand (Deoghar):69–100% increase in cocoon and compost production; 2100 families covered.
Meghalaya & Sikkim:18–20% yield increase in maize, turmeric, tomato; pest reduction by 50%.
Bioenergy
India’s bioenergy sector is playing a transformative role in strengthening the country’s bioeconomy. Ethanol blending has seen a significant rise—from 1.53% in 2014 to 15% in 2024, with a target of 20% blending by 2025. This shift has not only reduced crude oil imports by 173 lakh metric tons but also saved Rs. 99,014 crores in foreign exchange and cut 519 lakh metric tons of CO₂ emissions.
The economic ripple effect is substantial, with Rs. 1,45,930 crores disbursed to distillers and Rs. 87,558 crores to farmers, reinforcing rural incomes and agro-industry linkages. Fuel diversification is gaining momentum through the launch of E100 fuel at over 400 outlets and the availability of E20 fuel at over 15,600 retail stations.
Bioenergy is a form of renewable energy that is derived from recently living organic materials known as biomass, which can be used to produce transportation fuels, heat, electricity, and products.
Supportive policies have encouraged the use of varied feedstocks, including maize, damaged rice, and sugarcane byproducts, backed by structured incentives. Second-generation ethanol refineries are converting agricultural residues like Parali and bamboo into fuel, strengthening the circular economy and reducing pollution. These developments highlight how bioenergy contributes to energy security, sustainability, and rural development—key pillars of India’s expanding bioeconomy.
Boosting Biotech Innovation Through BIRAC Initiatives
The Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), established by the Department of Biotechnology in 2012, plays a pivotal role in nurturing India’s biotech startup ecosystem. With 95 bio-incubation centres set up nationwide, BIRAC supports startups through funding, infrastructure, and mentorship.
Key schemes include:
Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG): Up to ₹50 lakh for 18 months to support early-stage startups; nearly 1,000 innovators supported.
SEED Fund: ₹30 lakh equity support for proof-of-concept stage startups.
LEAP Fund: ₹100 lakh equity support for commercialisation-ready innovations.
जनCARE – Amrit Grand Challenge: Supported 89 digital health tech innovations in AI, ML, telemedicine, and blockchain, with a focus on tier-II, tier-III cities and rural areas.
Towards a Bio-Enabled Future
India’s bioeconomy stands at a defining moment, with its integrated approach to innovation, sustainability, and inclusive development setting a global benchmark. Through robust policy frameworks, cutting-edge research, and a strong emphasis on collaboration across sectors, the nation is well on track to redefine its industrial and environmental landscape. The convergence of bio-manufacturing, bio-agriculture, and bioenergy not only strengthens national resilience but also signals India’s strategic intent to lead in the emerging global bioeconomy. As India moves forward, this cohesive and future-oriented vision lays the foundation for a more sustainable, self-reliant, and bio-enabled economy, firmly aligned with the aspirations of India@2047.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, chaired the 18th meeting of the Youth Development Commission (YDC) today (March 27).
At the meeting, members were briefed by government representatives on the latest implementation progress of the Youth Development Blueprint since its release in December 2022. Members were pleased to note that bureaux and departments have been promoting youth development work at full steam in accordance with the guiding principles as stated in the Blueprint. Apart from implementing some 160 specific actions set out in the Blueprint and nearly 60 measures that were introduced in 2023, various policy bureaux have also introduced over 30 youth-related new measures in the past year in response to the latest social situation and needs of young people. This ensures that the Blueprint is progressing with the times and can continue to respond to the changing needs of young people.
At the meeting, the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) also reported on the latest developments of the Youth Link, which was established in September 2023. Members appreciated that the HYAB would continue to organise or provide a variety of activities for Youth Link members, covering youth dialogue sessions, exchange visits to the Mainland, participation in international affairs, volunteer services, special visits, etc, offering them opportunities to develop diverse talents and contribute to the community, and at the same time strengthening their communication and mutual trust with the Government. The Youth Link currently has over 18 000 youth members, effectively linking up participants of various government youth development programmes.
Mr Chan said, “Over the past two years, the Government has been implementing and actively updating the Blueprint measures on an ongoing basis. This clearly demonstrates the Government’s commitment and determination to promoting long-term youth development. I extend my gratitude to all members for their active participation in the implementation and promotion of the Blueprint, as well as their collaboration with bureaux and departments to transform the vision of the Blueprint into reality – creating a fostering environment where our young people can flourish and unleash their full potential.”
Towards the development of India’s reusable launch vehicle technology, ISRO is developing a winged body Orbital Re-entry Vehicle (ORV), which will be launched into orbit using an ascent vehicle and subsequently re-enter into the earth’s atmosphere for an autonomous approach & landing on a runway. Three Autonomous runway landing experiments on a Reusable Launch Vehicle- Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD) have been successfully completed thereby validating the robustness of onboard autonomous navigation, guidance and control system.
ISRO is also designing and developing the critical technologies required for demonstrating booster stage recovery in Vertical Take-off and Vertical Landing (VTVL) mode, which will enable in recovery and reusing of the spent booster stages multiple times.
Government of India (GoI) has approved the development of a partially reusable Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV). NGLV vehicle has been configured as a three-stage launch vehicle with a recoverable & reusable first stage.
The Government of India has announced reforms, in June, 2020, in the space sector towards enabling the private players to provide end to end services and Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation centre (IN-SPACe), will enable and regulate space activities for private sector. Further, the Department is finalizing the missions towards achieving the Indian landing on moon by 2040. It is envisaged that sufficient opportunities would be present for private sector and academic participation in various activities including lunar mining exploration.
AI is increasingly becoming an important tool that can be used in satellites and mission operations. It may be noted that thrust is given to AI based initiatives within the department. A recent example is the Autonomous sensor-based actuator system for capture, rigidization and retraction enabling sequence-based docking. For this purpose, approach profiles and relative position estimation using pattern matching is adopted. Further applications are in advanced stages of implementation in the Centre towards achieving Autonomous Mission Management, high volume on-board/Ground data processing & analysis and advanced space exploration.
The foundational principles for the responsible uses of outer space are enshrined in the Outer Space treaties. Several guidelines for space debris mitigation have been recommended by the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IDAC) and the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN-COPUOS). The Department of Space contributes substantially to shaping the pertinent guidelines and recommendations for sustainable use of space as an active member of various international agencies dealing with safety and sustainability of outer space activities. The Indian Space Policy also mandates adhering to internationally accepted space debris mitigation requirements and emphasizes Space Situational Awareness capacity building.
This information was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO and Department of Space, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
​The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (March 27) announced that the winter influenza season, which started in early January 2025, has come to an end. The relatively low number of severe and death cases this season is believed to be the result of the concerted and comprehensive efforts of various stakeholders in the community and the public to increase the seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) rate. On the other hand, the CHP anticipates the activity of other respiratory infectious diseases, including COVID-19, to become more active as Hong Kong enters spring and summer. Members of the public are reminded to remain vigilant, and high risk groups should receive COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible to minimise the risk of serious complications and death after infection.
Influenza season is over
___________________
“The CHP has been closely monitoring the local seasonal influenza activity through a series of indicators. Since the start of the winter influenza season in early January this year, the seasonal influenza activity in Hong Kong has continued to increase and remained at the highest level from late January to early February and then gradually declined. According to surveillance data as of March 22, the percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for seasonal influenza viruses was 2.3 per cent, and the public hospital admission rate related to influenza was 0.12 per 10 000 population. Both dropped below the baseline levels. The weekly number of influenza-like illness outbreaks in schools and institutions also dropped from more than 20 in January to February to an average of 12 in the last two weeks. As various indicators suggest that the influenza virus is at a low activity level, the CHP assesses that the influenza season is over,” the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui said.
He noted that the current influenza season lasted for about 11 weeks, about the same length as in the past. Since only one influenza virus strain, i.e. influenza A (H1), predominated during the period, the influenza season was not prolonged due to a shift in virus strains.
“As in the past, severe or death cases related to seasonal influenza continued to affect primarily the elderly and children. Compared to the 2018/19 influenza season prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, which was also dominated by influenza A (H1), the 488 severe cases involving adults recorded this season was about 20 per cent lower than the 2018/19 influenza season, when 601 cases were recorded. For children, 10 cases of severe influenza-associated complications were recorded this season (without deaths), which was nearly 60 per cent lower than 24 cases (including one death) recorded in the 2018/19 influenza season. We believe that this is the result of the general public’s willingness to receive the seasonal flu vaccine,” Dr Tsui said.
With the concerted efforts of all sectors of the community (including the medical sector, schools, parents and residential care homes), as of March 23 this year, a total of about 2.07 million doses of vaccine were administered under various SIV programmes in the year 2024/25, representing an increase of about 12.2 per cent over the same period of the last influenza vaccination season and exceeding the total number of doses (about 1.87 million doses) administered last season, which is a record high. The coverage rates exceeded 50 per cent in most age groups, ranging from 51.3 per cent to 73.8 per cent. The coverage rates increased in all relevant age groups compared with the same period last season. The Hospital Authority (HA) also actively dovetails with the Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Programme of the Government in providing free influenza vaccination to eligible persons under the programme at its general and specialist out-patient clinics. As of March 23 this year, the HA has administered a total of about 580 000 doses of vaccine to the above-mentioned persons, representing an increase of about 18.4 per cent compared with the previous influenza vaccination season. In addition, to better protect patients, staff and their families, approximately 60 500 HA staff have received seasonal influenza vaccines. This number also increased by 11.8 per cent compared with the previous season.
The number of schools participating in the SIV School Outreach Programme has also increased significantly this year. About 1 020 kindergartens/child care centres (97 per cent), about 640 primary schools (98 per cent) and about 490 secondary schools (98 per cent) have completed or will conduct SIV school outreach activities, which is higher than the participation rates in year 2023/24 (80 per cent of kindergartens/child care centres, 95 per cent of primary schools and 70 per cent of secondary schools).
“On March 21, 2025, the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases (SCVPD) under the CHP issued recommendations on the seasonal influenza vaccines to be used and the priority groups for receiving vaccination for the upcoming 2025/26 influenza season in Hong Kong, after reviewing the scientific evidence, local data, the latest World Health Organization recommendations and overseas practices. The Government is proactively planning for the 2025/26 SIV Programmes, including liaising with vaccine suppliers on the availability of vaccines for the upcoming season in preparation for vaccine procurement, planning for the provision of nasal live-attenuated influenza vaccines to all schools, and allowing all schools to choose between injectable inactivated influenza vaccine and nasal live-attenuated influenza vaccine at the same or different outreach vaccination activities, in order to provide further facilitation and encourage all schools to participate in the SIV School Outreach Programme in the coming season,” Dr Tsui added.
Regarding the 2025/26 SIV Programmes, the Government will also explore the feasibility of procuring some influenza vaccines for participating private doctors participating in the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme and is obtaining information from suppliers about the market supply situation. An announcement will be made at an appropriate time.
“The SIV coverage rates for children aged 6 months to under 2 years and people aged between 50 and 64 remained relatively low at about 26.8 per cent and 25.3 per cent respectively. Although slightly higher than that of the same period last season, it was still lower than that of other age groups. Targeting these two age groups with relatively lower vaccination rates, the Government will strengthen targeted publicity in the coming season and enhance collaboration with family doctors to encourage their clients in the community to receive seasonal influenza vaccines to safeguard the health of the public,” Dr Tsui added.
Prevention of other respiratory infectious diseases
________________________________________
Although the winter influenza season is over, members of the public should not overlook the presence of those respiratory pathogens that will become more active in spring and summer, including rhinovirus/enterovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, human metapneumovirus and summer influenza season.
Furthermore, there has been a recent increase in the activity of COVID-19 in the local community. In the past three weeks, the load of SARS-CoV-2 virus from sewage surveillance, the percentage of specimens tested positive and the average consultation rate of COVID-19 cases in general out-patient clinics have continued to rise from low levels. As of March 22, the viral load per capita of SARS-CoV-2 virus was around 260 000 copy/litre, which was significantly higher than the previous week ending March 15, when it was 85 000 copy/litre.
“The public should maintain good personal, hand and environmental hygiene. Furthermore, high-risk persons should receive COVID-19 booster doses at appropriate times to lower the risks of serious illness and death. Genetic analysis has shown that the most predominant circulating strains in Hong Kong are still JN.1 and its descendant lineages, and the vaccines currently used in Hong Kong can effectively prevent the related variant,” Dr Tsui said.
“Scientific data shows that timely booster doses of COVID-19 vaccine for high-risk persons help lower the risk of severe illness and death. Members of the public who have not received the initial dose of the COVID-19 vaccine (including infants and children) should get vaccinated as soon as possible. Those at high risk (particularly the elderly and persons with underlying comorbidities) should receive a booster dose as soon as possible for effective prevention against COVID-19,” he added.
Dr Tsui reminded members of the public that anyone with symptoms of a respiratory infection, even if the symptoms are mild, should wear a surgical mask and seek medical advice promptly to lower the risk of spreading the disease to high-risk persons.
UIDAI & IIIT-H launch biometric challenge to test age invariance in fingerprint algorithms UIDAI’s benchmarking challenge aims to improve fingerprint authentication for children
Biometric challenge offers ₹7.7 lakh prize and tech collaboration opportunities
Posted On: 27 MAR 2025 7:21PM by PIB Delhi
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), in collaboration with IIIT-Hyderabad has launched a large-scale competition to test age invariance in biometric algorithms.
The first phase of the Biometric SDK Benchmarking challenge focuses on fingerprint authentication, testing 1:1 matching algorithms for children aged 5-10 years, with updates after 5-10 years. UIDAI ensures that participant submissions are evaluated securely, with anonymized datasets and no sharing of data with participants.
Global Participation Encouraged:
Researchers and developers globally are invited to enhance their biometric models using UIDAI’s unique, field-collected dataset for improving accuracy in real-world conditions.
The challenge runs from March 25, 2025, to May 25, 2025, with registration details available on the UIDAI website and https://biochallenge.uidai.gov.in/
The challenge offers prizes worth ₹ 7.7 lakhs (USD 9,000) and the opportunity to collaborate with UIDAI in advancing biometric technologies.
Following the fingerprint challenge, UIDAI will also launch SDK benchmarking competitions for iris and face authentication.
Aadhaar is serving as a key pillar of good governance and digital inclusion in India and Aadhaar number holders are carrying out nearly 90 million authentication transactions daily for availing various services and benefits.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Department of Health (DH) today (March 27) is investigating a case of illegal sale of slimming products containing undeclared controlled drug ingredients on the Internet and urged the public not to buy or consume the products concerned (see photo).
Acting upon intelligence, the DH purchased on a social media platform some slimming products, reportedly obtained from overseas, for analysis. The laboratory test results revealed that the samples of some products contained frusemide, metformin and thyroxine. All of them are Part 1 poisons under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap. 138) (PPO).
The packages of the products concerned have Thai, Chinese and English characters, and are suspected to be unregistered pharmaceutical products. The DH will continue to follow up and investigate the case.
Frusemide is used for the treatment of heart diseases and its side effects include low blood pressure and electrolyte imbalance. Metformin is used for the treatment of diabetes mellitus and its side effects include nausea and diarrhoea. Thyroxine is used for the treatment of hypothyroidism and its side effects include arrhythmia and hypertension. Medicines containing these ingredients should be used under a doctor’s directions and be supplied on the premises of an Authorized Seller of Poisons (i.e. pharmacy) under the supervision of a registered pharmacist upon a doctor’s prescription.
According to the PPO, all pharmaceutical products must be registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong before they can be sold in the market. Illegal sale or possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products or Part 1 poisons are criminal offences. The maximum penalty for each offence upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and two years’ imprisonment.
The DH strongly urged members of the public not to buy or consume products of doubtful composition or from unknown sources. All registered pharmaceutical products should carry a Hong Kong registration number on the package in the format of “HK-XXXXX”. The safety, quality and efficacy of unregistered pharmaceutical products are not guaranteed.
People who have purchased the products concerned should stop consuming them immediately and consult healthcare professionals if in doubt or if they feel unwell after consumption. They may submit the products to the Drug Office of the DH at Room 1804-06, 18/F, Wing On Kowloon Centre, 345 Nathan Road, Kowloon, during office hours for disposal.
Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi has stressed upon the Five Pillars of Transformation encompassing technology absorption, structural changes, human resource development and increasing cohesion between the three services. Delivering the valedictory address of the Higher Defence Management Course (HDMC-20) at the College of Defence Management (CDM), Secunderabad, Gen Dwivedi gave a holistic roadmap of the Indian Army to become a future ready combat force.
The COAS highlighted the Army’s commitment to becoming a technologically advanced, adaptive and self-reliant force capable of addressing complex future challenges. He stressed upon the need to move from process driven approach to outcome driven approach to transition from measure of performance to measure of effectiveness. The COAS underscored the alignment of the Army’s transformative goals and deliberated upon the three phases of Era of Transition, Era of Consolidation and Era of Control.
Gen Dwivedi emphasised that Armed forces must be mobile, agile and technoligically competent; capable for contributing in all spheres of national security towards achieving vision viksit bharat by 2047 through Atmanirbharta, and remain a key pillar of national power and a preferred security partner in the region.
The event marked the successful completion of the flagship Higher Defence Management Course by 167 officers from the Indian Armed Forces, including 14 officers from friendly foreign nations. HDMC is a premier program designed to equip senior military officers with strategic foresight, management expertise, and decision-making acumen crucial for higher defence management and policymaking roles.
The COAS addressed the Future Strategic Leaders on multitude of significant issues from transformation of the armed forces to role and responsibilities towards nation building. He exhorted the graduating officers to be imaginative and develop the attitude and adaptability to channelise their ability and imbibe the principles of Truth, Trust and Transparency to deal with future challenges. As a mark of recognition, the COAS felicitated meritorious officers for their outstanding performance, acknowledging their exemplary contributions and academic excellence.
The valedictory ceremony was graced by senior military officials, faculty members and distinguished guests, underscoring the significance of the occasion. The graduating officers are now poised to take on critical command and staff roles and carry forward the invaluable knowledge and strategic insights gained at CDM, reinforcing their commitment to national security and higher defence management.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The third session of the 14th National People’s Congress and the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) (“two sessions”) were successfully held in March this year. The Chief Executive’s Policy Unit (CEPU) and the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies (CAHKMS) today (March 27) co-organised a seminar titled “The Spirit of ‘Two Sessions’ and Hong Kong’s Integration into National Development in the New Era”. The event facilitated in-depth exchanges and interactive discussions on the key takeaways of this year’s “two sessions” and their implications for Hong Kong’s future development.
The President of the CAHKMS, Dr Deng Zhonghua, delivered the opening address, while Vice Chairman of the China Center for International Economic Exchanges Dr Wang Yiming and Deputy Director of the CPPCC Economic Affairs Committee Dr Yin Yanlin served as keynote speakers. The Head of the CEPU, Dr Stephen Wong, gave the closing remarks. Nearly 120 representatives from various sectors attended the seminar, including members of local think tanks, research institutes of universities, professional organisations, chambers of commerce, CEPU Expert Group, as well as vice presidents, council members and advisors of the CAHKMS. During the Q&A session, participants actively engaged with the speakers, and they had in-depth and lively exchanges and discussions.
Dr Wong said, “I am very grateful to the CAHKMS, especially President Deng Zhonghua, for facilitating this collaboration between the CEPU and the Association, allowing us to collectively study the spirit of the ‘two sessions’ from a research and think-tank perspective. I also extend my sincere gratitude to Dr Wang Yiming and Dr Yin Yanlin for their insightful presentations on macroeconomics and industrial development respectively.”
“This year marks the conclusion of the national 14th Five-Year Plan and the commencement of preparation for the 15th Five-Year Plan. The CEPU will continue to strengthen our research efforts, incorporating the spirit of the ‘two sessions’ into our work to support the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government in leveraging the institutional advantages of ‘one country, two systems’, enhancing Hong Kong’s role as a bridge connecting domestic and global markets, and uniting society to further deepen reforms comprehensively,” he added.
Established in December 2022, the CEPU serves as an in-house research unit of the HKSAR Government, tasked with enhancing the Government’s capabilities in research and advocacy on long-term and strategic issues, thereby providing the Chief Executive with multifaceted perspectives and basis for research. The CAHKMS, established in December 2013, is a national civil academic organisation under the administration of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. It aims to organise and co-ordinate research on the theory and practice of “one country, two systems”, strengthen academic exchanges and co-operation among Hong Kong, Macao, and the Mainland in relevant fields, and perform the functions as a civil think tank.