Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     In support of the National Event on the Environment Day 2026 – initiated by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) and jointly organised by Guangdong Province, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), and the Macao SAR – and to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Environmental Protection Department (EPD), the Environment and Ecology Bureau (EEB) and the EPD will launch the Beautiful Hong Kong Green Fest in June. Centred on four main themes, namely “Beautiful Hong Kong”, “Public Participation”, “Waste Reduction and Recycling”, and “Green Technology”, the campaign features a series of diverse experiential and hands-on activities to deepen public understanding of environmental protection and to jointly build a beautiful Hong Kong.

“Beautiful Hong Kong”

     In collaboration with the EPD, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) will offer free admission to Hong Kong Wetland Park on June 5, along with free public guided tours. In addition, green facility guided tours will be held from June 2 to 7, guiding members of the public to tour the waste-to-energy facility T·PARK to understand its operation, the kNOw Carbon House to deepen their knowledge of carbon neutrality, and the Long Valley Nature Park for on-site visit to closely explore Hong Kong’s precious natural ecology.

     Meanwhile, the EPD will organise ecological guided tours in June to showcase Hong Kong’s efforts in marine ecological protection. The tours will visit Mirs Bay, which was previously selected as an “Outstanding Example of Beautiful Bays”, allowing participants to appreciate the scenery of the beautiful bay, characterised by “clear water and clean beaches, thriving marine life, and harmonious coexistence between humans and the sea”.

     To enhance students’ understanding of environmental protection, the EPD will partner with Ocean Park to launch on-site and school outreach activities. Through interactive games and close-range observation of the characteristics of giant pandas and marine life, these activities will provide students with opportunities for self-directed learning and exploration of nature.

“Public Participation”

     The EPD and the AFCD will mobilise the community for city-wide participation by organising coastal and wilderness clean-up activities on June 6 and 7. On June 6, the EPD will participate in China’s joint eco-environmental volunteer service campaign in coastal provinces (regions and municipalities), where Hong Kong will carry out coastal clean-up actions in synchronisation with various provinces and cities on the Mainland. On the following day (June 7), the AFCD will hold clean-up activities in country parks and Hong Kong Geopark. By participating in these coastal and wilderness clean-ups, the public can experience the connection between environmental pollution and daily life, thereby promoting waste reduction at source and marine conservation. At the same time, the EPD will collaborate with primary and secondary schools, organisations, tertiary institutions, uniform groups, and non-governmental organisations to organise environmental-related activities to raise awareness of environmental protection across all sectors of society.

“Waste Reduction and Recycling”

     The EPD will roll out a series of publicity and educational activities for Recycling Day, including community engagement activities, co-operative partner promotions, and a creative short film competition, with a view to encouraging public participation in waste reduction at source and waste separation and recycling, and to embedding a green living culture into the community. Members of the public who recycle at the community recycling network GREEN@COMMUNITY during the period from June 5 to 7 will earn double GREEN$ points to encourage them to continue practising green living.

“Green Technology”

     The EPD will set up a limited-offer roadshow showcasing various environmental monitoring technology products at GREEN@COMMUNITY Recycling Stations, enabling the public to understand how the Government utilises innovative technology to enhance the effectiveness of environmental management, and to experience the practical application of technology firsthand.

     An EPD spokesperson said, “The SAR Government calls on members of the public to actively participate in the various activities of the Beautiful Hong Kong Green Fest. We hope that these activities will raise public and community awareness of environmental protection, contributing to the building of a Beautiful China and a Beautiful Hong Kong. We express our gratitude to public and private organisations, tertiary institutions, and non-governmental organisations for their active support and promotion of environmental protection work.”

     Apart from the aforementioned activities, the EPD will arrange to broadcast promotional videos of the documentary series “Beautiful Hong Kong” through various platforms and host green seminars during the festival. For event details and booking arrangements, please visit the webpage www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/news_events/events/hk_green_fest_2026.html.

     The United Nations designated June 5 as World Environment Day in 1972, aiming to raise public awareness of environmental protection and calling on governments worldwide to address environmental problems. In recent years, authorities including the MEE and the Central Office of Spiritual Civilization Construction have joined local governments regularly to organise the National Event on the Environment Day, which has become an important platform to showcase achievements in promoting the development of a Beautiful China across the country and to mobilise people from all walks of life to participate in the promotion of ecological civilisation. Under the guidance of the MEE, the National Event on the Environment Day 2026 will be jointly organised by Guangdong Province, the Hong Kong SAR, and the Macao SAR under the theme “Comprehensive Green Transition and Jointly Build a Beautiful China” to actively integrate into the National 15th Five-Year Plan.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, departed from Geneva for Zurich, Switzerland, yesterday (May 20, Zurich time) and held a roundtable meeting with local multinational pharmaceutical and healthcare companies. The meeting introduced participants to the measures put forward by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government to develop Hong Kong into an international health and medical innovation hub, enhance the drug evaluation and registration mechanism, and foster clinical trial development.

Professor Lo and his delegation held a roundtable meeting in Zurich with multinational pharmaceutical and healthcare companies to highlight the measures put forward by the HKSAR Government to develop Hong Kong into an international health and medical innovation hub. These measures include the implementation of “primary evaluation” for new drugs, the establishment of the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute and its Real-World Study and Application Centre, and the upcoming establishment of the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation within this year.

Professor Lo encouraged pharmaceutical companies in Switzerland to leverage the “1+” drug approval mechanism to introduce newly developed drugs into the HKSAR to meet local healthcare needs, and take advantage of the measure of using Hong Kong-registered drugs and medical devices used in Hong Kong public hospitals in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) to benefit patients in GBA Mainland cities. He also called on Swiss pharmaceutical companies to conduct clinical trials in Hong Kong to leverage the unparalleled advantages of the HKSAR to promote the translation and clinical application of advanced biomedical technologies.

The delegation paid a courtesy call on the Chinese Consul General in Zurich and for the Principality of Liechtenstein, Ms Chen Yun, this morning (May 21, Zurich time). Professor Lo introduced to her the latest healthcare developments of Hong Kong.

Professor Lo said, “Under the current complex international political environment, it is all the more important for Hong Kong to ensure the stability and sustainability of its healthcare system. The Health Bureau (HHB) will proactively align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan by leveraging the unique advantages and important role of the HKSAR, as well as deepening reform of the healthcare system and continuously promoting the co-ordinated reform of healthcare services, drugs and healthcare protection. This will thereby resonate in tandem with the nation’s medical reform, with a view to ensuring the sustainability of the healthcare system and safeguarding the health of our citizens.

“At the same time, the HKSAR Government will continue to strive to enhance the quality, efficiency and sustainability of Hong Kong’s healthcare system, as well as develop Hong Kong into an international health and medical innovation hub, enhance clinical trial capabilities and facilitate the translation of innovative biomedical research results into clinical applications, thereby fostering new quality productive forces in biomedical technology. The HHB will definitely seize the opportunities to develop Hong Kong into an international health and medical innovation hub and move at full speed to align with the policies of the National 15th Five-Year Plan. The goal is to build a ‘Healthy Hong Kong’ while better integrating into and serving national development through leveraging our distinctive advantages and important role of having strong support from the motherland and close connection with the world.”

Members of the delegation include the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam; the Controller of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health, Dr Edwin Tsui; and Deputy Secretary for Health Ms Elaine Mak. They will return to Hong Kong tomorrow morning (May 22, Hong Kong time).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

The spokesperson for Kwong Wah Hospital made the following announcement today (May 21):

A 40-year-old male patient in the surgical ward was confirmed on May 19 to be carrying Candida auris. In accordance with prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital commenced a contact tracing investigation, which identified two additional male patients (aged 76 and 83) in the same ward as carriers of Candida auris.
 
The three patients are now being treated in isolation. One patient has infection symptoms and is currently receiving treatment. His condition is serious due to underlying illnesses. The other two patients show no signs of infection and are in stable condition.
 
The hospital will continue the contact tracing investigation of close contacts of the patients in accordance with the prevailing guidelines. A series of enhanced infection control measures have already been adopted to prevent the spread of Candida auris:
 

1. thorough cleaning and disinfection of the wards, including the environment and medical equipment;
2. enhanced medical surveillance of the patients and screening procedures for patients and environment in the wards; and
3. applied stringent contact precautions and enhanced hand hygiene of staff.

The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

President Lai meets Canadian Conservative Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs Michael Chong  
On the afternoon of May 20, President Lai Ching-te met with Michael Chong (莊文浩), conservative shadow minister for foreign affairs and vice-chair of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development of the House of Commons of Canada. In remarks, President Lai thanked Canada for backing Taiwan’s international participation and expressed his utmost respect for Vice-Chair Chong’s staunch defense of democracy and human rights. The president said that Taiwan and Canada have in recent years deepened cooperation in such areas as trade and the economy, technology, health, and security, and expressed hope of continuing to institutionalize bilateral cooperation. He also expressed hope that Taiwan can work with democratic partners to resist authoritarian expansion, so as to create a more democratic and prosperous future.
A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:
I would like to extend a very warm welcome to Vice-Chair Chong, who is visiting us once again. I remember vividly meeting with the vice chair three years ago, when he brought us a precious gift – the House of Commons report entitled Canada and Taiwan: A Strong Relationship in Turbulent Times. The report emphasizes that “the PRC has a ‘one China principle’ that is markedly different from Canada’s ‘one China policy’” and maintains that “the future of Taiwan must only be the decision of the people of Taiwan.”
Furthermore, Vice-Chair Chong introduced a motion in the House of Commons declaring China’s actions against the Uyghurs to be genocide. For this, he was sanctioned by the Chinese government, thus becoming a victim of transnational repression and foreign interference. Over the years, he has been a staunch defender of democracy and human rights and remains undaunted by authoritarian coercion. For this, I would like to express my utmost respect. At the same time, thanks to Vice-Chair Chong’s firm support, Taiwan-Canada relations have grown closer over the past three years. I would like to thank Canada’s House of Commons for unanimously passing a motion two years ago backing Taiwan’s international participation and rejecting China’s distortion of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758.
Last year, Canadian lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties spoke in the House and stood by our delegation at an international press conference to emphasize that Taiwan’s participation in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) would bring important contributions to global aviation safety.
Moreover, over the past three years, Taiwan and Canada have signed numerous agreements and MOUs to advance bilateral investment, technological innovation, and health cooperation, and to combat illegal maritime activities. These efforts have laid an even stronger foundation for bilateral exchanges and collaboration.
In particular, Taiwan and Canada have complementary economic and industrial structures. I hope that by combining Taiwan’s semiconductor manufacturing and Canada’s innovative AI technologies, we can continue to institutionalize bilateral economic, trade, and technological cooperation and create business opportunities that benefit the people of both countries. I also look forward to Canada’s support for Taiwan’s bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), so that we can jointly contribute to regional prosperity and development.
In closing, I once again thank Vice-Chair Chong for taking time out of his busy schedule to visit Taiwan and for not bowing to external pressure. This demonstrates his staunch support and that Taiwan and Canada are showing the world that the democratic alliance is determined to work together to resist authoritarian expansion. Global democracy is stronger when we stand together. Let us work hand in hand to create a more democratic and prosperous future.
Vice-Chair Chong then delivered remarks, saying it is good to see President Lai after three years. He then congratulated President Lai on the second anniversary of his inauguration. He pointed out that there is a bipartisan consensus in Canada on support for Taiwan. He said that the purpose of his trip is twofold: First, to show solidarity with Taiwan, which, like Ukraine, is a democracy on the front lines of threats from authoritarian states; and second, to assert Canadian sovereignty. He elaborated on the second purpose, saying that China’s ambassador to Canada recently said that Canadian MPs should no longer travel to Taiwan, which is a long-standing practice of MPs regardless of party. He emphasized that he is in Taipei to say that Canadian MPs do not take direction from a foreign government as to where they travel internationally.
Vice-Chair Chong stated that solidarity with Taiwan is also the long-standing position of Canada, and that any cross-strait discussions must be done by both parties in a voluntary, non-coercive way, through dialogue and discussion and not through threats and violence. He also stated that they support Taiwan’s aspirations to participate in international fora and in international events taking place around the globe, which is why they have long called for Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Assembly and why they also support Taiwan’s participation in other international fora, such as those being hosted by ICAO.
Vice-Chair Chong stated that they are opposed to the weaponization of those organizations by Beijing. He noted that they in Canada have been subjected to misuse of organizations such as INTERPOL, which is why they always have to be on guard to ensure that these international fora and these international organizations are not used against free societies and democracies. He expressed their belief that in order to maintain peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region, Canada and Taiwan must continue the dialogue, the visits, and the deepening and broadening of ties, which is what the two sides have done in recent decades.
The delegation was accompanied to the Presidential Office by Canadian Trade Office in Taipei Executive Director Marie-Louise Hannan. 

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Overall consumer prices rose 1.7% year on year in April, same as that in March, the Census & Statistics Department announced today.

Netting out the effects of the Government’s one-off relief measures, the underlying inflation rate was 1.6% in April, also the same as that in March.

Compared with April 2025, year-on-year increases in prices were recorded in the following categories: electricity, gas and water; miscellaneous services; transport; miscellaneous goods; alcoholic drinks and tobacco; housing; meals out and takeaway food; and basic food. 

Meanwhile, year-on-year decreases were logged for durable goods as well as clothing and footwear.  

The Government said despite prices of fuel-related components accelerating further, price pressures on other components were in check, thus keeping overall inflation moderate.

Looking ahead, the Government said elevated international oil prices will likely continue to gradually feed through to relevant components in consumer prices in the near term, with the final impacts hinging on the evolving situation in the Middle East.

However, the price pressures from other fronts generally stay contained, which should help rein in potential upward pressure on overall inflation.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) announced today (May 19) the official opening of the AI Robotics Innovation & Development Center (ARIDC) at the Industrial Technology Research Institute’s (ITRI) Liuja Campus. Jointly established by the MOEA, the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), and the National Development Council (NDC), the center focuses on integrating and validating critical smart robotics technologies. It will actively target four major application sectors: healthcare, logistics, food services, and disaster response, aiming to become a pivotal hub connecting international startups with domestic industries and research institutions to expand Taiwan’s robotics ecosystem. By linking the NSTC’s National Intelligent Robotics Research Center in Shalun and the intelligent robotics industry cluster in Liuying, the new facility will form Tainan’s “AI Industry Golden Triangle,” boosting competitiveness and helping Taiwanese suppliers secure a vital position in the global robotics supply chain.

Ho Chin-tsang, Political Deputy Minister of the MOEA, stated that following the Executive Yuan’s approval of the Intelligent Robotics Industry Promotion Program under the New Ten Major AI Constructions initiative, the Department of Industrial Technology (DoIT) allocated NT$3 billion over four years to support ITRI in building this national-level center.

The facility is designed around three strategic pillars. First, it targets four vertical sectors-healthcare, logistics, food services, and disaster response-providing developers with system integration, AI perception, critical module development, and site validation capabilities. This will strengthen core software-hardware systems and simulation platforms for service robots, shortening the path from lab to market.

Second, the center engages industry partners from the early stages of technology and business development, accelerating commercialization.

Third, by integrating key technologies and linking the Liuja and Shalun campuses, it assists companies with customized site validation and optimization to accelerate product launches, enabling Taiwanese firms to transition from component suppliers to comprehensive solution providers.

The center leverages ITRI’s deep R&D capabilities, positioning demonstration sandboxes and startup incubation as core missions. It offers robust validation and testing environments to help startups and small and medium-sized enterprises commercialize technologies. It also serves as an accelerator, providing dedicated incubation spaces and high-end GPU computing power capable of executing multiple complex simulations, including Universal Scene Description (USD) frameworks, real-time ray-tracing rendering, and intricate digital twin physics modeling. In business operations, the accelerator provides team formation, commercial strategy development, market positioning, and connections with corporate investors and National Development Fund (NDF) venture capital resources, helping local startups scale into mid- to large-sized enterprises.

The MOEA has long invested scientific resources to drive technological R&D and industrial transformation in southern Taiwan. Through ITRI’s Southern Region Campus, the ministry established a laser R&D base and established the Southern Taiwan Innovation Park, helping more than 400 local companies upgrade their technology and develop compound semiconductor capabilities over the past three years. Building on this foundation, the new center focuses on AI and smart robotics to create an innovation ecosystem collaboration. By connecting Tainan’s Shalun facility and the Liuying cluster into the “AI Industry Golden Triangle,” it will integrate components, AI models, and complete system services. This will foster collaboration among industry, academia, and research, accelerate mass production, strengthen the localization of R&D takes root in southern Taiwan for balanced regional development, and continuously promote high-quality “Made in Taiwan” smart robotics solutions to strengthen Taiwan’s role in the global AI supply chain.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki yesterday led a delegation to visit Bildungscampus Heilbronn in Germany to gather insights for developing the Northern Metropolis University Town.

The delegation included members of the Working Group on Planning & Construction of the University Town and presidents of member institutions of the Alliance of Universities of Applied Sciences.

Bildungscampus Heilbronn is an integrated university town in southern Germany that brings together academic institutions, applied research centres and industrial networks. It serves over 8,500 students, researchers, industry experts and entrepreneurs.

The delegation toured campus facilities and visited Campus Founders, a start-up and co-innovation hub, to learn about its experience in fostering an entrepreneurial ecosystem through start-up incubation, networking and interdisciplinary collaboration.

The delegation also exchanged views with a local government representative and staff from member institutions, including the Heilbronn University of Applied Sciences, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich and the Technical University of Munich. Discussion topics included institutional positioning, development strategies, management experience, collaboration models and government involvement in campus development.

Mr Chan said the campus successfully aligns academic research with regional economic development, offering practical insights for the planning, development and positioning of Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis University Town.

He pointed out that universities of applied sciences play a key role in the campus’s ecosystem by promoting industry-education integration and cultivating applied talent. This balance of curriculum design, cutting-edge research and practical applications provides an invaluable international reference for Hong Kong. 

The Chief Secretary departed for Hong Kong today after concluding his visit to Germany.