Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     ​Business receipts in value terms of almost all major service industries showed increases of varying magnitudes in the fourth quarter of 2025 when compared with the fourth quarter of 2024, according to the provisional figures of business receipts indices released today (March 12) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD).

     Comparing the fourth quarter of 2025 with the fourth quarter of 2024, double-digit increases were recorded in business receipts indices of the financing (except banking) (+34.7%), insurance (+31.9%), import/export trade (+20.1%) and banking (+16.0%) industries. On the other hand, the warehousing and storage industry recorded a decrease of 3.3% in business receipts index during the same period.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government today announced the make-up of the Board of Directors of the Hong Kong Artificial Intelligence Research & Development Institute, calling its formation a milestone in the development of artificial intelligence (AI) in the city.

The board comprises 14 members. Prof Harry Shum is Chairperson, with Hendrick Sin as Deputy Chairperson.

All non-official directors are being appointed for a term of two years from tomorrow to March 12, 2028.

Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry Prof Sun Dong welcomed the appointments.

Highlighting that the institute is wholly-owned by the Government, he said its objectives are to spearhead and support innovative AI research and development, as well as industrial applications of AI, in Hong Kong.

“The institute is an important initiative to expedite the development of AI in Hong Kong,” he stated. “It also serves as a key measure to align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan, drive key technology development, advance the ‘AI+’ initiative, and promote the deeper integration of technological innovation and industrial innovation.”

Prof Sun also emphasised that the board consists of experts with different backgrounds, as well as industry leaders.

“I am confident that the institute, under the leadership of Prof Shum and the board, will live up to expectations, achieve its vision and enhance Hong Kong’s status in the field of AI.”

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Justice Paul Lam and International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) Secretary-General Prof Ignacio Tirado today signed a memorandum to establish the UNIDROIT Liaison Office for the Asia-Pacific Region in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China.

The agreement, signed during a virtual ceremony, marks the first time in UNIDROIT’s 100-year history that the organisation has established a regional presence outside its headquarters in Rome.

Mr Lam noted that Hong Kong’s robust common law system and world-class legal infrastructure make the city an ideal location for UNIDROIT’s first regional presence. He added that signing the memorandum is a key step in establishing the liaison office, with preparatory work now proceeding at full speed.

The liaison office is expected to open in November, and the Department of Justice will co-organise the Asia-Pacific International Private Law Summit and the Centenary Regional Event with UNIDROIT during Hong Kong Legal Week 2026. Mr Lam said these events will further strengthen the collaborative relationship between the department and the international organisation.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Taiwan Sugar Corporation (TSC) held the “TSC 80th Anniversary Taiwan-UK Resonance Exchange Celebration” at the Suantou Sugar Factory Cultural Park at 10:00 AM on March 7. The ceremony was presided over by TSC Chairman Wu Ming-chang. Distinguished guests, including Ms. Anne Wright, Chairman of the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway (W&LLR) from the UK, were invited to join the festivities. Together, they witnessed the launch of the “Taiwan-UK Friendship Train,” marking a new chapter in the cultural exchange of sugar railways between the two nations. Through this event, TSC aims to deepen international railway cooperation and showcase Taiwan’s profound sugar industry history and cultural heritage to the world.

In his opening remarks, TSC Chairman Wu Ming-chang noted that the friendship between TSC and W&LLR has spanned over two decades, characterized by ongoing collaboration in railway preservation, cultural exhibitions, and tourism promotion. Their partnership began in 2005 when W&LLR acquired the TSC No. 175 locomotive for dynamic preservation in the UK. In 2018, the British steam locomotive “Dougal” was invited to Taiwan for exhibition, leading to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that established a sister railway relationship. Today, as both parties celebrate TSC’s 80th anniversary, this transnational cooperation has yielded fruitful results. It has successfully transformed sugar railways from mere transportation tools into a vital link connecting sugar industry history, culture, and international friendship.

TSC noted that one of the two major highlights of the event was the “Unveiling and Launch Ceremony of the Taiwan-UK Friendship Train.” The ceremony commenced with TSC Chairman Wu and W&LLR Chairman Anne Wright jointly unveiling the plaque. Following the unveiling, the No. 252 inspection railcar, which was meticulously restored by TSC’s team of technicians, slowly made its entrance. Accompanied by a Diema locomotive, the two trains sounded their whistles in unison and glided along the Suantou Sugar Factory tracks. The spectacle drew eager crowds to capture the moment, marking the peak of the day’s festivities. This ceremony not only symbolizes the revival of sugar railway history and cultural heritage but also demonstrates TSC’s outstanding achievements in the restoration, technical preservation, and revitalization of sugar railway cultural assets.

Another highlight of the event was the “Blue Vintage Dining Car Special Exhibition.” The interior of the carriage was curated around the history of the Taiwan-UK sister railway exchange, featuring a photography exhibition and distinctive railway-themed decorations from both nations. A special Taiwan-UK themed afternoon tea was also arranged, allowing guests to experience the cultural charm of both regions through both sight and taste, while promoting tourism for the TSC Sugar Railway Parks. Following the ceremony, the guests toured the park to admire its historic sugar industry buildings, the extensive narrow-gauge railway system, and various unique locomotive models, bringing this successful railway exchange to a perfect conclusion.

TSC added that this event not only deepened the sister railway bond between TSC and the UK’s W&LLR but also strengthened the exchange of expertise and experience in railway cultural preservation. Looking ahead, TSC will continue to integrate its historical assets with tourism experiences and international cooperation. The goal is to promote sugar railway culture on the global stage while driving the growth of park tourism and regional development.

TSC News Contact Person:
Chang Mu-Jung
Public Relations, Department of Secretariat, TSC
Contact Number: 886-6-337-8819 / 886-920-636-951
Email:a63449@taisugar.com.tw

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Foreign Minister Lin further refutes Chinese Foreign Minister Wang’s erroneous remarks regarding Taiwan

Date：2026-03-10
Data Source：Department of Policy Planning

March 10, 2026  
No. 074  

Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung strongly condemns the false claims made at a press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People’s Congress by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that Taiwan affairs are China’s internal affairs and that Japan has no right to interfere in them. 
 
Minister Lin underlines that there is a high degree of consensus in the international community on maintaining peace and security across the Taiwan Strait, which is in the interests of all parties in the region. Taiwan and Japan share many key ideals and values. Together with other like-minded partners, they jointly strive to uphold regional and cross-strait stability, contributing to the preservation of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region.
 
Reiterating that the Republic of China (Taiwan) has always been an independent and sovereign country, Minister Lin states that Taiwan’s sovereignty belongs to the people of Taiwan. The People’s Republic of China has never governed Taiwan. The international community overwhelmingly recognizes that neither side is subordinate to the other. These objective facts reflect the status quo. Taiwanese society has reached a strong common understanding on these issues. No amount of rhetoric that distorts or disregards Taiwan’s sovereign status can change the reality that neither side of the Taiwan Strait is subordinate to the other.
 
Taiwan and Japan both uphold the values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. They are close friends and strong like-minded partners that enjoy long-standing public, private, and people-to-people ties. Based on these firm foundations, the two countries will continue to deepen cooperation in all spheres and promote comprehensive bilateral relations. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

March 8, 2026  
No. 070  

Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung firmly refutes erroneous remarks made by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at a press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People’s Congress, including false claims that China has sovereignty over Taiwan and that unification of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait is an inevitable historical process and an international trend.
 
Minister Lin reiterates that the Republic of China (Taiwan) has always been an independent and sovereign country. Neither it nor the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is subordinate to the other. Whether in terms of historical truths, objective reality, or international law, Taiwan’s sovereignty has never belonged to China. Only the 23 million people of Taiwan have the right to decide Taiwan’s future. These facts cannot be rewritten by China.
 
After the end of World War II, the Treaty of San Francisco was signed. As a legally binding treaty under international law, it replaced the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation, and other political instruments. In the mid-1980s Taiwan started a process of liberalization and democratization, culminating in the completion of its first direct presidential election in 1996. Since then, representatives of the executive and legislative branches of the ROC government have been elected by the people of Taiwan, making it the only legitimate authority to effectively govern and represent Taiwan externally. This also established the status quo of the ROC (Taiwan) and the PRC existing on an equal footing, with neither being subordinate to the other.
 
China has long misrepresented United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758, repeating the fallacy that it determines that Taiwan’s sovereignty belongs to the PRC and using it as a pretext to suppress Taiwan’s international participation, which is utterly absurd. In fact, resolution was never intended to decide Taiwan’s status, let alone give the Beijing authorities the power to limit Taiwan’s international participation.
 
In recent years, Chinese military aircraft and ships have conducted exercises in the Taiwan Strait and around neighboring countries, seriously jeopardizing regional peace and stability. Yet, at the abovementioned press conference, Minister Wang attempted to shift the blame for recent cross-strait tensions onto Taiwan, ignoring China’s constant military provocations. China’s actions blatantly violate the principle of refraining from the threat or use of force set out in the UN Charter and have seriously disrupted global shipping, flights, and trade links. China is a troublemaker in the international community and a saboteur of peace across the Taiwan Strait.
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls on the Beijing authorities to respect the objective reality of the existence of the ROC (Taiwan), jointly uphold regional peace and stability, stop misleading the international community, and immediately cease its repeated and unwarranted provocations. Cross-strait relations will only be improved when China adopts a responsible attitude and engages in reasonable, rational, respectful, and equitable dialogue with the democratically elected government of Taiwan.
 
MOFA urges the international community to continue to support democratic Taiwan through concrete actions, jointly condemn China’s repeated attempts to unilaterally change the status quo through coercion and force, and denounce its intimidation and harassment of other countries. Taiwan, in unity with its democratic partners, will jointly uphold the democratic umbrella to collectively counter authoritarian aggression, defend universal values and the rules-based international order, and work together to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and security throughout the Indo-Pacific region. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

March 7, 2026  No. 068  At the invitation of the government of Tuvalu, a diplomatic ally of Taiwan, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung served as special presidential envoy in leading a delegation to Tuvalu in the South Pacific from March 4 to 5. The delegation was warmly received by the government and people of Tuvalu. After completing its itinerary, the group returned to Taiwan via Australia on the morning of March 7. The entire trip passed smoothly and successfully.During a visit to Taiwan in November 2025, Tuvaluan Prime Minister Feleti Teo joined President Lai Ching-te in witnessing the two governments sign the Taiwan-Tuvalu Kaitasi Treaty, the Agreement on Diversifying Fisheries Cooperation, and the Letter of Intent on Sports Exchange and Cooperation. Building upon this solid foundation of bilateral relations, President Lai appointed Minister Lin to visit Tuvalu as special envoy, highlighting his appreciation and regard for the friendship between Taiwan and Tuvalu.During his visit, Minister Lin met with Acting Governor General Afelee Pita, Prime Minister Teo, and Parliament Speaker Sir Iakoba Italeli, as well as cabinet ministers and other political figures and local leaders. He was also guest of honor at a state banquet hosted by Prime Minister Teo.Minister Lin also presided over a geological drilling ceremony at the site planned for Tuvalu’s new Parliament House. The structure is being constructed with support from Taiwan, demonstrating Taiwan’s emphasis on high-quality assistance projects.To mark the recent completion of the Taiwan-Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project—a program initiated in 2024 with financial investment from Taiwan and like-minded nations Australia and New Zealand—Minister Lin also used his visit to jointly preside over the completion and handover ceremony with the Tuvaluan side, showing Taiwan’s commitment to assisting Tuvalu in strengthening the country’s coastline and climate resilience through concrete action.In addition, Minister Lin witnessed the progress that Tuvalu has made in improving its external connectivity and digital resilience. In a first of its kind for Taiwan, it participated alongside the United States, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand in the planning and construction of Tuvalu’s Vaka submarine cable, resulting in the completion of the cable landing point in November 2024. This was part of the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project’s flagship initiative concerning trusted internet networks and digital governance program. Moving forward, Taiwan will continue to assist Tuvalu in building cybersecurity capacity and promote its RISK Management Initiative on International Undersea Cables throughout the region so as to develop a more resilient security network for international undersea cables.During his visit, Minister Lin also represented the Ministry of Finance in signing an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation between Taiwan and Tuvalu and conducted visits to inspect the results of bilateral cooperation in such areas as smart agriculture and smart medicine. It is hoped that both the signing and these achievements will spur more Taiwanese businesses to invest in Tuvalu going forward, as well as encourage Taiwan’s fisheries sector to capitalize on the Agreement on Diversifying Fisheries Cooperation signed last year, thereby deepening more diverse Taiwan-Tuvalu fisheries cooperation in line with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project.Since establishing diplomatic relations, Taiwan and Tuvalu have achieved remarkable results in a range of fields through long-term cooperation. Going forward, Taiwan will promote the further implementation of the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project in accordance with its concept of integrated diplomacy, promoting public-private partnerships and strengthening relations with diplomatic allies. (E)

Source: Government of Singapore

12 March 2026 – Eleven students have been awarded the NEA-Industry Scholarship this year, the highest number since the inception of the programme to attract and groom talent for the Environmental Services (ES) industry. Speaking during the event as Guest-of-Honour, Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment, Mr Janil Puthucheary, emphasised the industry’s indispensable role in providing essential services to Singapore, as well as the important role that NEA-Industry Scholars will play as they enter this industry.

Fifth NEA–Industry Scholarship Edition

2.        The fifth NEA-Industry Scholarship Programme saw 78 applications from students from Polytechnics [1] Upon graduation, the 11 scholarship recipients will take on roles such as Data Science Analyst Assistants, Management Trainees, Mechatronics Engineering Assistants, and Supervisors. Sponsoring organisations include BNL Group, Cimelia Resource Recovery Pte Ltd, Hong Ye Group Pte Ltd, LS 2 Services Pte Ltd, Re Sustainability Cleantech Pte Ltd, and RS Facilities Services Pte Ltd. 

3.          Amongst the recipients is Miss Balaji Elakkiya (20), a Year 2 student pursuing a Diploma in Electrical and Electronics Engineering in Singapore Polytechnic. [2]

• Passionate about environmental sustainability, she discovered her calling in ES after witnessing Singapore’s food waste challenges and the impact of litter during beach clean-up activities. 
• Driven to act, she programmed an Intelligent Bin for an Internet of Things (IoT) school project, using smart sensors to detect bin fill level and alert collection teams when emptying was needed. The project taught her how data drives decision-making and operational planning. 
• After graduation, she will join BNL Group as a Management Trainee, where Elakkiya looks forward to continuing her passion to protect the environment and the community, while ensuring clean, safe and liveable living spaces. 

4.             Another scholar is Ms Chong Rui En, Roxanne (20), a Year 3 student studying a Diploma in Mechatronics with Temasek Polytechnic. 

• Roxanne combines her strong engineering expertise with hands-on environmental sustainability experience. During an internship, she worked on a project to recycle lithium-ion batteries, and was involved in the research process, lab experimentation, computer aided design (CAD) modelling and flow simulations of the battery recycling processes. 
• The experience showed her that circular economy concepts and engineering can be deeply interrelated and reinforced her interest in the ES Industry. 
• In her future career with LS 2 Services as a Mechatronics Engineering Assistant, Roxanne hopes to be able to explore how technology could be applied to improve traditionally labour-intensive processes in the cleaning sector, and to contribute meaningfully to sustainable solutions and enhance workplace safety and efficiency.  

5.            Ms Michelle Yeo, Director of RS Facilities Services shared, “We view the programme as a strategic pathway to nurture future-ready leaders. By integrating academic learning with real-world experience, it strengthens business capabilities, elevates professionalism, and raises industry standards. There is an increasing demand for driven talents who bring fresh perspectives, innovation, and leadership to operations and management. RS Facilities Services has supported the programme for the three earlier editions, and we are happy to welcome Scholars such as Rafli who will infuse our operations with fresh ideas and rejuvenate existing work processes.” 

6.           Scholars at RS Facilities Services will gain hands-on exposure across operations, sustainability initiatives, smart cleaning technologies, data-driven optimisation, and business development. Through structured mentorship and project ownership, scholars with RS Facilities Services will develop practical expertise while contributing meaningfully to innovation, productivity, and enhance service excellence across the company’s portfolio. 

7.            The NEA-Industry Scholarship attracts young talent to the ES industry and continues to garner strong industry support. [3] Since the programme’s inception in February 2020, NEA has supported 36 students through the scholarship. As the industry navigates technology adoption, robotics, and higher service standards, companies find an increasing need for young talents who can inject fresh ideas and ensure the provision of essential services that uphold Singapore’s cleanliness and environmental sustainability. The collective effort of all stakeholders remains key to upholding high standards of public cleanliness and safeguarding the environment for tomorrow.

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Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (March 11) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Ikast-Brande Municipality in Denmark, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the area with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 450 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and about 210 000 poultry eggs from Denmark last year.

     “The CFS has contacted the Danish authority over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreak. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation,” the spokesman said.