Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

In line with the government’s intensive energy conservation policy launched in 2024, Taipower has been working closely with businesses to help them cut electricity use. To date, Taipower has hosted nearly 50 seminars for major electricity users and promoted advanced energy-saving measures to thousands of companies across Taiwan. Taipower’s energy-saving teams have also gone directly into communities, carrying out on-site visits to over 5,000 companies nationwide. These efforts are expected to yield savings of nearly 150 GWh of electricity. Taipower expressed hope that more businesses will embrace energy conservation and carbon reduction, improve energy efficiency, and contribute to a sustainable environment.

Taipower explained that to support Taiwanese companies in adopting energy-saving practices, it established three Energy Conservation Diagnostic Centers in northern, central, and southern Taiwan in 2019. These centers provide free energy-saving consultation services for large electricity users with contract capacities ranging from 100 to 800 kW. Since early 2024, Taipower’s energy-saving teams have visited over 5,000 companies across the country, helping them identify potential savings and providing tailored recommendations. If all suggested measures are fully implemented, nearly 150 GWh of electricity could be saved, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of over 36,000 households, while cutting around 71,000 metric tons of carbon emissions.

According to Taipower, companies can use its diagnostic services to receive customized energy-saving reports and then work with Energy Service Companies (ESCOs ) to replace old equipment and implement energy management solutions that reduce costs and boost efficiency. For example, after undergoing Taipower’s initial assessment, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital replaced its chilled water units, cooling towers, and indoor lighting, achieving annual savings of 2 GWh, a reduction rate of up to 70%. Likewise, Lung Hsing Refrigerating Works in Kaohsiung followed Taipower’s advice to replace outdated equipment, adopt an energy management system, and lower its contract capacity, resulting in annual electricity savings of 2.2 GWh.

In addition to equipment like chilled water units and cooling towers, transformers are also a key focus for businesses aiming to save electricity. Taipower reminds businesses to check the service life of their self-owned transformers. If a transformer has been in service for over 30 years, upgrading to a new high-efficiency model can improve power use and reduce electricity bills. For example, after receiving energy-saving guidance from Taipower, the Taiwan Electric Research & Testing Center, an accredited Taiwanese testing institution, replaced old transformers with high-efficiency ones, saving an estimated 140,000 kWh of electricity and cutting annual electricity expenses by approximately NT$700,000.

Alongside its work with businesses in energy conservation and carbon reduction, Taipower continues to lead by example internally through its own. Power plants across Taiwan are introducing automated modules to better manage electricity usage and are refining unit operating conditions to reduce heat rates. In its offices, Taipower is also fully aligning with the government’s intensive energy-saving initiative. Six facilities, including its headquarters, the Shulin Campus of the Taiwan Power Research Institute, the Linkou Training Center, and the Beinan, Hsinchu, and Taichung district offices, have been designated as demonstration sites for energy upgrades. For instance, the Beinan District Office has upgraded its central air conditioning system with ESCO support, which is expected to save nearly 1 GWh of electricity annually.

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 public concerns over the operating permits for the Taichung Power Plant’s generating units, Taipower held a press conference today (June 3) to clarify the situation. The Company stressed that the plant is operating in compliance with all relevant laws and regulations. Five power generating units have legally applied for permit extensions. However, the Taichung City Government has failed to process the applications for nine months, far exceeding the statutory review period, yet continues to accuse the plant of “operating without a permit,” despite itself being in breach of the law. Regarding the Legislative Yuan’s resolution for a “coal-free Taichung Power Plant by 2028,” Taipower reiterated that achieving coal-free power generation at Taichung is indeed its goal, but maintaining a stable power supply must remain the top priority. The plant’s current power generation already falls short of Taichung’s electricity demand. “We cannot achieve zero coal at the cost of zero power,” Taipower stated.

Taipower explained that five power generating units at the Taichung Power Plant currently have valid permits through the end of 2026, while the remaining five units have applied for permit extensions. Under Article 31 of the Stationary Pollution Source Installation, Operating and Fuel Use Permit Management Regulations Amended Clauses, local governments must complete a formal review within seven days of receiving an application, notify the applicant within another seven days to pay the review fee, and complete a substantive review within 35 days of payment, with a one-time extension of up to 30 days if necessary.

Taipower further clarified that the permits for Units 6, 7, and 10 expired on December 31 last year. In accordance with the law, Taipower applied for extensions on September 4. The Taichung City Government issued a payment notice on September 23, Taipower paid on September 27, and the Environmental Protection Bureau conducted the on-site inspection on October 22. However, the review has since stalled for nine months. For Units 2 and 3, the city government illegally revoked the permits in 2020, a decision the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA ) overturned. The EPA instructed the review process to resume from where it left off, but the city government has yet to complete it, a delay now exceeding five years, which is a clear violation of the regulations.

Taipower also noted that under Article 30, Paragraph 3 of the Air Pollution Control Act, if a permit extension application is pending due to incomplete review by, the unit may legally continue operating under the original permit terms after the permit expires. Taipower is therefore operating lawfully while working hard to ensure stable power supply., and the city government’s “unlicensed operation” accusation is misleading. Taichung City’s electricity consumption has surpassed the output of the Taichung Power Plant since 2019 and was the highest among Taiwan’s six special municipalities in 2024. This leaves a power shortfall of several billion kilowatt-hours that must be met by other counties and cities.

On the Legislative Yuan’s 2028 coal-free resolution, Taipower emphasized that eliminating coal from Taichung’s generation must not come at the expense of supply security. Phasing out about 5 GW of power generation capacity early could not be offset by simply restarting Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant along, as proposed in the referendum. It would require restarting all six power generating units at the Chinshan, Kuosheng, and Maanshan Nuclear Power Plants in New Taipei City and Pingtung County. Any restart of nuclear power plants would still need to resolve critical issues such as nuclear safety and spent fuel disposal. Taipower is pressing ahead with its plan to replace coal at Taichung with new gas-fired units. The New Unit 1 is scheduled to come online by year-end, two coal-fired units will be decommissioned next year, and the plant is on track to reach coal-free operation by 2034.

Taipower reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring stable power supply while gradually reducing coal consumption, making Taichung Power Plant the largest single contributor to local stationary-source pollution reduction in Taichung City. In 2024, the plant’s coal consumption hit a historic low, down more than 6 million metric tons compared with its 2014 peak under the KMT administration. Over the past eight years, air pollutant emissions have fallen by nearly 80%. According to Taiwan Emission Data System (TEDS) statistics, without Taipower’s reductions, Taichung City’s total air pollutant emissions would have risen rather than fallen.

Regarding coal-fired Units 3 and 4 at Hsinta Power Plant, Taipower reiterated that both are active but are scheduled for decommissioning by the end of this year and next year, respectively. As part of its new unit replacement plan, Taipower proactively committed during the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process to limit their use in the run-up to decommissioning. Since 2024, the units have not operated during the first and fourth quarters and have been designated as backup units since this year, to be dispatched only when the percent operating reserve margin falls below 8%. Currently, Taipower is also complying with Kaohsiung City Government’s tighter restrictions, limiting each unit’s use to no more than 720 operating hours per year. Activation is fully supervised by the city government and environmental authorities. In response to a formal notice, neither unit has been activated since May 23.

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

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

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

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Today (May 17), Unit 2 of Taipower’s Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant reached the end of its 40-year operating license. The unit began a gradual power reduction in the afternoon and was disconnected from the grid and safely shut down by evening. Taipower explained that Unit 2 of Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant, with an installed capacity of 951,000 kW (or 0.951 GW), accounting for about 3% of Taiwan’s total power generation, has now completed its licensed operating life. In response to the gradual decommissioning of nuclear units in recent years, as well as the retirement or downsizing of aging coal-fired units, Taipower has proactively implemented renovation and expansion projects since 2017 at its Datan, Taichung, and Hsinta power plants. These projects focus on building low-carbon, low-emission gas-fired combined-cycle units. Coupled with the accelerated deployment of renewable energy in recent years, and supported by pumped-storage hydropower, battery storage, and demand-side management, Taipower’s diversified power dispatch strategy has kept electricity supply stable while significantly reducing air pollution and carbon emissions. This year, four large gas-fired units with a combined capacity of nearly 5 GW from the Datan, Hsinta, and Taichung power plants will come online, along with approximately 3.5 GW of wind and photovoltaic power. Together, these additions will ensure a reliable and sufficient power supply for the public.

Taipower added that Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant Unit 2 began commercial operation on May 18, 1985, and generated a cumulative total of approximately 274,160 GWh of electricity over its 40-year service period. In line with its license expiry, the unit began load reduction at 1:00 p.m. today, was disconnected from the grid at about 10:00 p.m., and reached safe shutdown status by midnight. Next, the reactor’s spent fuel will be removed and transferred to the spent fuel pool. Taipower will continue with the development of dry storage facilities and advance site selection and construction of final disposal sites for nuclear waste. The Company calls for public understanding and support for these critical backend nuclear waste management processes.

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

Contact Person: Director of Nuclear Power Generation Department, Chih-Pao Lin
Tel: (02 )2366-7040/0921-210-506
Email: u808941@taipower.com.tw

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

Contact Person: Director of Nuclear Backend Management Department, Ying-Chen Liao
Tel: (02 )2365-7210 Ext. 2200/0953-685-053
Email: u880803@taipower.com.tw

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

The prestigious Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards (AREA), recognized as a gold standard for corporate sustainability in Asia, held its award ceremony yesterday (June 27) in Bangkok, Thailand. This year, Taipower was honored with two major awards, the Green Leadership Award and the Investment in People Award, for its efforts in marine ecological conservation and talent cultivation. This marks the eighth consecutive year since 2018 that Taipower has earned international recognition. Taipower noted that while ensuring a stable power supply remains its core mission, it is equally committed to environmental sustainability and talent cultivation, fulfilling its corporate social responsibility and giving back to society through concrete action.

Enterprise Asia has long championed Asian entrepreneurship and, since 2011, has hosted the Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards, a highly competitive benchmark for sustainability benchmark in the region. To date, over 900 organizations from 19 countries have been recognized. Now in its 15th year, the 2025 award ceremony in Bangkok presented honors across eight major categories, including Green Leadership, Investment in People, Social Empowerment, and Circular Economy Leadership.

Taipower stated that, to balance stable power supply with environmental sustainability, it published its Environmental White Paper in 2019, outlining six strategic pillars for sustainability and launching the Power Facility Ecological Integration Program. In marine conservation, Taipower has worked closely with local governments, academic experts, and environmental groups to continuously promote a wide range of eco-friendly initiatives, such as fish fry releases, beach cleanups, and ecological monitoring, while also actively promoting marine education and awareness. These sustained efforts have earned Taipower the Green Leadership Award for four consecutive years.

Taipower explained that because power plants require a stable water source for cooling, many are located along coastlines, making marine ecosystem protection a priority. Since 2002, Taipower has organized annual fish fry release programs and partnered with research institutions to build a fish fry genetic database that contributes valuable data to Taiwan’s marine research. Moreover, Taipower has also hosted nationwide beach cleanups for 31 consecutive years, mobilizing nearly 6,000 participants each year to clean the ocean and adopting 13 kilometers of coastline for long-term maintenance. At the intake area of the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant, Taipower has installed a coral reef ecological monitoring station and a livestream platform to track seawater temperatures and coral reef in real time, while continuing to invest in coral reef restoration.

In addition to its long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship, Taipower has invested in training skilled professionals to uphold its mission of a stable power supply. The Company previously received the Investment in People Award in 2019 for integrating VR technology into high-altitude operations training, in 2022 for its structured athlete system, and in 2024 for its Dalin model training center and its certification system for power plant O&M (Operation & Maintenance ) talent. This year, Taipower once again stood out among more than 70 companies, earning the award for the fourth time thanks to its robust recruitment and training programs.

On the talent recruitment front, Taipower not only attracts power industry professionals through its rigorous examination system but also recuits young talent through various channels such as internships and industry-academic partnerships. For training, Taipower operates four training centers across the country and uses a one-on-one mentorship system to rapidly and thoroughly develop employees’ technical skills. In recent years, it has further integrated digital technology into technical training, using virtual reality (VR ) simulations to replicate various power operation scenarios, greatly enhancing hands-on training outcomes for trainees.

Spokesperson: Vice President Chih-Meng Tsai
Tel: (02 )2366-6271/0958-749-333
Email: u910707@taipower.com.tw
Business Contact: Director of the Project Planning Department Chiu-Ying Kuo
Tel: (02 )2366-6440/0978-105-282
Email: u004770@taipower.com.tw

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Taipower held its 2025 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting today (June 27), briefing shareholders on its mission to ensure stable power supply for Taiwan while helping the government mitigate the impact of global developments on households and industries in recent years. Taipower noted that despite financial challenges, it sought a total of NT$300 billion in government budget subsidies over the past year, but none were approved by the legislature. To maintain the sustainable operation of Taiwan’s electricity supply, secure the nation’s power needs, and support economic development, Taipower will continue to seek government funding while doing its utmost to improve its own financial operations. Compared with the same period last year, losses from January to May this year have already narrowed by nearly NT$32 billion, a decline of over 50%.

The 2025 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting was chaired by Taipower Chairman Wen-Sheng Tseng, with President Yao-Ting Wang delivering the 2024 Business Report. During the meeting, shareholders were also briefed on last year’s corporate bond issuance, financial statements, and the approval of its deficit compensation proposal. Additionally, the biennial board member election was conducted during the meeting.

Taipower explained that the Russia-Ukraine war led to surging fuel prices globally. While other countries substantially raised electricity rates, further fueling inflation, Taipower instead chose to absorb nearly NT$600 billion in electricity costs for households and industries over the past three years to protect livelihoods and cushion inflationary pressures, resulting in significant financial losses. In 2023, Taipower recorded total revenue of NT$871.4 billion and expenditures of NT$912.5 billion, with a pre-tax net loss of NT$41.1 billion. After factoring in tax credits, the net loss remained NT$41.1 billion. As of the end of last year, cumulative losses stood at NT$422.9 billion.

Taipower stressed that a stable financial footing is crucial to protecting the public’s right to reliable power and supporting social and industrial development. In April this year, the Electricity Price Review Committee decided, in light of global trade tariffs and political-economic conditions, to freeze electricity prices, meaning Taipower continues to bear external cost pressures on behalf of households and businesses. To maintain financial soundness, Taipower has, over the past year, repeatedly sought a total of NT$300 billion in government funding to cover the costs it has absorbed to stabilize power prices, essentially subsidizing electricity for the entire nation, but these proposals have not been approved by the legislature. Taipower hopes for greater understanding and support from all sectors of society.

In addition to pursuing government subsidies, Taipower is also working to improve its own finances. For electricity price subsidies for schools and social welfare organizations, Taipower has, in accordance with the Electricity Act and the March 2024 resolution of the Electricity Price Review Committee, maintained preferential electricity rates but will reduce its direct subsidies starting this year. Relevant funding will now revert to the respective competent authorities for budgeting, which is expected to increase Taipower’s annual revenue by nearly NT$4 billion. As for subsidized electricity for offshore islands, Taipower has absorbed losses exceeding NT$100 billion to date. Moving forward, Taipower will handle related matters through the national budgeting process under the Offshore Islands Development Act and will actively seek government budget allocations to cover them.

Furthermore, Taipower has adopted four key strategies to boost revenue and reduce expenses to strengthen its financial foundation: On the power generation and procurement side, it has refined its fuel procurement strategies. On the electricity retailing side, it has expanded green power resale and low-carbon power sales. In transmission and distribution, it has reduced expenditures by adjusting line installation fees and optimizing ancillary services. Furthermore, Taipower is investing in asset revitalization to expand revenue sources, making every effort to reduce losses. From January to May this year, Taipower recorded a loss of NT$28.5 billion, nearly NT$32 billion less than the same period last year, marking a reduction of more than 50%.

Spokesperson: Vice President Chih-Meng Tsai
Tel: (02 )2366-6271/0958-749-333
Email: u910707@taipower.com.tw
Contact Person: Chief Secretary of Board Secretariat Shou-Fu Cheng
Tel: (02 )2366-6210/0900-781-357
Email: u026726@taipower.com.tw

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

The 27th Economic and Technical Cooperation Conference between Taiwan and Eswatini was held on July 2, 2025, achieving positive results in terms of enhancing bilateral ties in various areas.

During the meeting, which was co-chaired by Minister of Economic Affairs Jyh-Huei Kuo and Eswatini Minister of Economic Planning and Development Thambo Gina, the two sides discussed a range of topics, such as cooperation on business digitalization, science parks, human capital development, tourism and digital transformation.

Since the launch of the Taiwan-Eswatini Economic Cooperation Agreement in 2018, bilateral trade between the two sides has grown steadily. In 2024, two-way trade reached US$8.19 million, marking an increase of 8% compared with 2017. During that period, Eswatini’s exports to Taiwan have risen by more than 29%.

Taiwan continues to actively assist in various initiatives aimed at fostering Eswatini’s further economic growth and development, while Eswatini consistently voices support for Taiwan’s greater participation in the international community. The two sides will continue engaging in bilateral cooperation to create an even more sustainable economic and trade partnership.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Police reclassified a death on arrival case happened in Yuen Long yesterday (July 14) as murder.

At 5.42pm yesterday, Police received a report from a staff member of a residential care home on Long Wo Road that a man had collapsed

Police officers sped to the scene and found the 54-year-old man lying unconsciously on the ground. Sustaining no superficial injury, he was rushed to Pok Oi Hospital and was certified dead at 6.35pm.

Initial investigation revealed that the deceased allegedly had a dispute with a 50-year-old man, who assaulted him with fists and kicks. Police arrested the 50-year-old man for murder at scene. He is being detained for further enquiries.

Post-mortem examinations will be conducted later to ascertain the cause of death of the deceased.

Active investigations by the District Crime Squad of Yuen Long are under way.

Anyone who witnessed the case or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 4640.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the reception in celebration of 2025 Bastille Day today (July 14):

Consul General Christile Drulhe (Consul General of France in Hong Kong and Macau), Deputy Commissioner Li Yongsheng (Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, 

Bon soir. Good evening. 

It’s a great pleasure to be here with you, tonight, in honour of Bastille Day, a day of surpassing joy throughout France, and one that resonates far beyond its borders, including right here in Hong Kong. 

Tonight is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the strong and deepening ties between France and Hong Kong. They are thriving, and in so many promising ways.

France remains one of Hong Kong’s most important trading partners in the European Union, with our bilateral trade in goods reaching around EUR9 billion last year. And Hong Kong, I must say, is a passionate admirer of French products. French elegance is quite literally everywhere in this city, especially when you count the handbags carried and the fashion worn by men and women in this city.

And of course, our enduring love for Bordeaux and Burgundy wines, champagnes and, increasingly, fine French liquors and spirits, continues to flourish, as the Consul General rightly mentioned earlier.

We are also seeing a growing interest from French companies and professionals in the opportunities here in Hong Kong. Last year, around 350 French companies operated here, spanning a wide range of industries. French technologies and expertise have long contributed to Hong Kong’s development in such areas as smart mobility, energy efficiency, construction engineering and waste management. 

I believe more are on the way. Notably, a global leader in aeronautical services from France will establish facilities in Hong Kong for aircraft dismantling, parts recycling, and manpower training. This investment aligns with our vision of becoming a regional hub for aircraft parts processing and trading. The company also has plans to set up ancillary operations in Zhuhai. It shows how we are joining hands to bring French industrial excellence into the Greater Bay Area. 

In the innovation and technology sector, France ranks among the top three international sources of start-up founders in Hong Kong. It not only reflects French entrepreneurial spirit, but also the vast potential of our tech co-operation.

And I’m pleased to note that in the first half of this year alone, over 74 000 French visitors came to Hong Kong, a 9 per cent year-on-year increase. We hope many more will follow.

Looking ahead, I am confident that the relationship between Hong Kong and France will continue to grow from strength to strength, especially in the broader context of the ever-deepening China-France relationship.

Last year, our country became the largest Asian investor in France, and Hong Kong continues to be a vital conduit for Mainland investments into Europe, and as a springboard for Mainland companies expanding into the continent. At the same time, we remain the gateway of choice for French and European enterprises seeking opportunities in China and across Asia.

That role is more important than ever today. In a world beset with uncertainty – geopolitical risks, tariff chaos, and the rise of protectionism and unilateralism – we stand to support and benefit from stronger co-operation between China and France, and between Asia and Europe.

Hong Kong stands as a steadfast “super connector”, a reassuring beacon of free and open trade, a champion of cross-border investment, and an international city of stability, diversity and opportunity.

This is evident in our financial markets. Last year, the Hong Kong stock market recorded an 18 per cent gain, and has grown by another 20 per cent so far this year. This year, we raised around EUR14 billion through IPOs so far, putting us the leading IPO market in the world. International investors, including European ones, are playing key roles as cornerstone participants. And since last September, waves of capital from the US and Europe flowed into our markets, as global investors recognised that they might have under-weighted their allocations to the Greater China region, particularly in the technology and green energy sectors. 

In short, the world, and its capital, has turned to Hong Kong as a safe, welcoming and reliable haven.

More and more, the international community are rediscovering the strengths of Hong Kong’s “one country, two systems” framework. A cornerstone of it is our unwavering commitment to the rule of law, underpinned by the common law system and a judiciary exercising powers independently. Over the past few years, the restoration of stability as well as law and order has not only safeguarded the rights and freedoms of our people, but also reinforced Hong Kong’s appeal as a safe and world-class business destination.

This is reflected in our rising position in various international competitiveness rankings and positive feedback we continue to receive from foreign businesses operating here.

Ladies and gentlemen, as the Consul General noted earlier, there is so much more that Hong Kong and France can do together – in technology, housing, education, arts and culture, and in celebrating the many pleasures of life. I look forward to more exchanges and deeper collaboration between our two communities.

And that should include a visit by the Champions League winners, or better yet, Les Bleus, to our world-class Kai Tak Stadium. 

Let us continue to build lasting bonds between Hong Kong and France, France and Hong Kong.

Merci beaucoup. Thank you very much.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Leading a delegation, the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, commenced her visit to Beijing today (July 14). In addition to leading a delegation and attending the inauguration ceremony of the Hong Kong-Macao Youth Internship Programme at Palace Museum, Miss Mak called on the All-China Women’s Federation (ACWF) and the All-China Youth Federation (ACYF), to introduce family, women and youth development work in Hong Kong, with a view to deepening exchanges and collaboration with the Mainland on the related areas.
 
Miss Mak met with the Vice-President of the ACWF, Ms Lin Yi, to exchange views on promoting the healthy development of women and families on the Mainland and in Hong Kong. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action at the United Nations’ Fourth World Conference on Women. On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the World Conference on Women, the country will host the Global Summit of Women again in Beijing in the second half of the year, to discuss plans for advancing global women’s career development with the international community. Miss Mak said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) will participate in the summit. The exchange session today allowed the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) to gain a better understanding of the country’s work on women’s issues, draw on the experiences of women’s organisations on the Mainland, and promote women’s development in Hong Kong.
 
Miss Mak then called on the Vice President of ACYF, Mr Hu Baijing. She thanked the ACYF for its staunch support for the youth development work of the HKSAR Government, nurturing future leaders who are characterised by patriotism with affection for the country and Hong Kong. With the support of the Central Government, the ACYF implemented various measures to benefit young people in Hong Kong, including providing numerous internship opportunities for Hong Kong youth every year through the youth federations in various Mainland provinces and cities. The ACYF also provided assistance and support to Hong Kong non-governmental organisations in organising internship projects on the Mainland, and enriching Hong Kong youth’s knowledge of the nation through visits and exchanges in different parts of the country. Miss Mak said that the HKSAR Government will continue to communicate and co-operate with the ACYF to deliver its best efforts on Hong Kong youth matters.
 
In the afternoon, Miss Mak officiated at the inauguration ceremony of the Hong Kong-Macao Youth Internship Programme at Palace Museum at the said museum. The HYAB Thematic Youth Internship Programmes to the Mainland organises a total of six internship programmes to provide Hong Kong youth with diverse, unique and in-depth thematic internship opportunities, including the Hong Kong-Macao Youth Internship Programme at Palace Museum co-organised with the Palace Museum in Beijing.
 
Miss Mak expressed gratitude to the Palace Museum for its support to the youth development work of the HKSAR Government over the years. Speaking at the ceremony, she said that this year’s internship programme is of special significance as the Palace Museum celebrates its 100th anniversary. The programme enables Hong Kong youth to acquire professional knowledge in various fields including the conservation of cultural properties, exhibition planning as well as publicity and promotions, providing them with a platform for Chinese cultural exchanges. During the meeting with the interns, Miss Mak encouraged them to humbly learn from the instructors and apply their knowledge in the future to help Hong Kong further establish itself as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchanges.
 
The delegation to Beijing includes the Permanent Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Ms Shirley Lam; the Director of Home Affairs, Ms Priscilla To; and the Deputy Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs (Home Affairs), Mr Paul Wong. Miss Mak and the delegation will continue their visit to Beijing tomorrow (July 15).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​An incoming male passenger was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment with a fine at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts today (July 14) for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, as well as for importing alternative smoking products, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO) and the Import and Export Ordinance (IEO).

Customs officers intercepted the incoming male passenger, aged 22, at Hong Kong International Airport on March 14. About 16 800 duty-not-paid cigarettes and about 8 200 alternative smoking products, with an estimated market value of about $94,000 and a duty potential of about $56,000 in total, were seized from his personal baggage. He was subsequently arrested.

Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences.

Under the DCO, tobacco products are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.

Under the IEO, any person who imports an alternative smoking product into Hong Kong commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).