Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (October 20) that in view of notifications from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in the Municipality of Pembina of the Province of Manitoba in Canada, and Stearns County and Benton County of the State of Minnesota, and Jay County of the State of Indiana in the United States (US), the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the above-mentioned areas with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong. 

A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, in the first six months of this year, while no poultry meat or eggs were imported into Hong Kong from Canada, Hong Kong imported about 24 190 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and about 20.2 million poultry eggs from the US. 
     
“The CFS has contacted the Canadian and American authorities over the issues and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation,” the spokesman said.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau announced today (October 20) appointments to the Museum Advisory Committee (MAC) and its three standing sub-committees, namely the Art Sub-committee (ASC), the History Sub-committee (HSC) and the Science Sub-committee (SSC), with the appointment of Professor Douglas So Cheung-tak as Chairperson of the MAC, Professor Desmond Hui Cheuk-kuen as Chairperson of the ASC, Professor Joshua Mok Ka-ho as Chairperson of the HSC and Professor Alexander Wai Ping-kong as Chairperson of the SSC.

All appointments are for a two-year term up to October 19, 2028.

The MAC and its three standing sub-committees, established on October 20, 2016, comprise members of different backgrounds with a great wealth of professional expertise and experience relevant to the work of  museums, including professionals, academics, museum experts, collectors, art promoters, entrepreneurs, marketing and public relations experts, and community leaders. The MAC and its three standing sub-committees advise the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) on strategies for development, promotion and management of the public museums. 

A spokesman for the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau thanked all the Chairpersons and members of the MAC and its standing sub-committees for their ardent support and invaluable contributions in the past years, including one outgoing MAC member (Dr Ng Tsz-yan), and four outgoing co-opted members (Professor Edwin Chan Ho-yin, Ms Sabrina Leung Heung-ying, Professor Tam Ka-chai and Professor Raymond Tong Kai-yu), and looked forward to receiving the valuable advice of the new MAC and its standing sub-committees on the development of the public museums. 
     
The membership list and terms of reference of the MAC are as follows:

Chairperson
Professor Douglas So Cheung-tak
 
Members
Professor Karen Chan Ka-yin
Mr Michael Chan Sze-wah
Ms Rowena Cheung Po-man
Ms Amanda Cheung Zee-yin
Mr Chiu Tsang-hei
Mr Stanley Choi Tak-shing
Professor Apple Chui Pui-yi*
Dr Crystal Fok Lo-ming
Ms Elizabeth Fung Hoi-yung
Mr Andy Hei Kao-chiang
Professor Desmond Hui Cheuk-kuen
Mr Christopher Kwok Kai-wang
Mr Edmund Lai Man-kit
Ms Tendy Lam Pui-tung
Mr Lam Shu-kam
Ms Josephine Lee Yuk-chi
Dr James Li Tsz-shu
Mr Warren Luk Hua
Ms Erica Ma Yun
Professor Joshua Mok Ka-ho
Ms Joyce Ng Sheung-ching
Dr Provides Ng Tsing-yin
Dr Chloe Suen Yin-wah
Mr James Tong Wai-pong
Professor Alexander Wai Ping-kong
Dr Jimmy Wong Kam-yiu
Ms Anna Yau Wai-yu
 
Official members
Principal Assistant Secretary (Culture)2, Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau
Assistant Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries (1)
Deputy Commissioner for Tourism, Tourism Commission
Principal Education Officer (Curriculum Development)1, Education Bureau
Assistant Director (Heritage and Museums), Leisure and Cultural Services Department
 
*Newly appointed member

Terms of Reference
 
To advise the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services on a wide range of subject matters concerning the public museums and related offices managed by the LCSD:
 

• positioning, image-building and branding;
• business development strategies including but not limited to acquisition and use of museum collections, organisation of exhibitions and education programmes, identification of research projects, sponsorship and partnership initiatives;
• marketing and publicity strategies on the promotion of the museums locally, in the Chinese Mainland and overseas;
• development of community engagement strategies to reach out to a wider community and stakeholders (e.g. local artists, collectors, local and overseas museums, cultural organisations, and educational institutions);
• measures to strengthen the operational efficiency and accountability of public museums; and
• any other matters as proposed by the LCSD.

The membership lists and terms of reference of the three standing sub-committees are attached in Annexes 1 to 3.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:
 
     Following a further report from a member of the public regarding a phishing email purportedly issued by the Registrar of the District Court, with a fraudulent summons attached, the Judiciary today (October 20) reiterated its call for the public to stay alert and contact the Police immediately if in doubt.
 
     Over the past two weeks, the Judiciary received multiple public enquiries about a number of suspicious emails sent from different domains. These emails falsely claimed to be from the Registrar of the District Court and included a fraudulent summons purportedly issued by the Judiciary, along with instructions for recipients to follow. The latest phishing email was sent from the email account “soongwing@netvigator.com”.
 
     The Judiciary stresses that these suspicious emails and summonses were not issued by the Judiciary. Members of the public are advised not to open them or follow any instructions or requests from them. The case has been reported to the Police.
 
     The Judiciary reiterates that a summons issued by the courts is served either by post or by hand. The Judiciary does not serve summonses by electronic means.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government today announced the launch of the “Co-prosper HK – Welfare Projects Matching Platform”, and invited social welfare organisations and social enterprises to submit proposals to it by November 29.

Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan proposes developing an institutionalised model of tripartite collaboration on poverty alleviation between the Government, the business sector, and the community.

Moreover, the Chief Executive proposed in the 2026 Policy Address that the Government spearhead the establishment of a platform to enable the matching of resources from the business sector with community social welfare projects.

To this end, the “Co-prosper HK – Welfare Projects Matching Platform”, set up by the Commission on Targeted Poverty Alleviation, sets out target groups and themes. It will enable matching between the business sector, as funders, and social welfare organisations and social enterprises as project proponents.

Both sides will jointly determine the collaboration model and specific arrangements. Funds will be disbursed directly by funders to proponents without being transferred through the platform.

Project proposals for the first round of matching must target subdivided unit households, single-parent households, all-elderly households, and/or carers as service recipients, and should meet at least one of the nine specified themes.

Proponents intending to submit project proposals must submit them via an online electronic form by 11.59pm on November 29.

Click here for more information.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Security Bureau said that inbound passenger flow at Huanggang Port began to build up from 2pm today.

About 9,401 passengers arrived in Hong Kong via Huanggang Port between 2pm and 4pm, representing an increase of 366% compared with the same period previously at the Huanggang Port/Lok Ma Chau Control Point. 

All clearance channels at the arrival hall on L4 have been opened. To further expedite passenger flow, the Immigration Department (ImmD) will implement crowd diversion and control measures on L4 and L2 with the Police depending on actual passenger flow.

If passenger flow continues to increase, the Police will make necessary arrangements for passengers who have completed immigration clearance to wait for public transport in designated queuing areas in a safe and orderly manner. The public may have to wait briefly in the queuing areas before boarding public transport to leave the port.

The Government reminded passengers to check the latest immigration information of various boundary control points, including Huanggang Port, on the “Easy Boundary” platform.

To cope with today’s inbound peak, the Transport Department has arranged about 120 franchised buses, 40 green minibuses and 130 cross-boundary coaches for service and standby support.

During peak hours, the service of franchised buses can be enhanced to every two to three minutes, while the frequency of green minibuses and cross-boundary coaches can be increased to every three to four minutes. Franchised bus operators have also operated individual special short-haul services to expedite the dispersal of inbound passengers and speed up bus turnaround.

Meanwhile, service ambassadors and staff of public transport operators were stationed at the L2 hall and the public transport interchange to assist passengers in choosing suitable transport modes according to their destinations and in boarding in an orderly manner. Police officers have also been deployed on-site to help maintain order.

The Security Bureau said it will continue to work with other relevant departments to monitor the situation at the port and the passenger flow in real time, flexibly deploy manpower and adopt corresponding contingency measures as necessary to ensure the smooth operation of various clearance arrangements and public transport services.

It urged the public to plan their journeys in advance, choose suitable boundary control points and avoid making their journeys during peak periods.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Rosanna Law congratulated Hong Kong, China athletes on winning one silver and two bronze medals in swimming and fencing at the 5th Asian Para Games.

Athletes had a great day in swimming events; Lau Chiu-yee won a silver medal in the Women’s 200m Freestyle S14, while Wong Hon-yin secured a bronze medal in the Men’s 200m Freestyle S14. Fencing athlete Yu Chui-yee also won a bronze medal in the Women’s Foil Individual Category A.

Miss Law noted that Hong Kong, China athletes delivered encouraging results on the first competition day following the opening of the Asian Para Games.

She praised Lau Chiu-yee and Wong Hon-yin for fighting hard in the pool and performing outstandingly, which is truly commendable.

She also commended Yu Chui-yee for her wealth of experience and strong determination and for achieving excellent results worthy of praise.

Miss Law hopes the athletes will continue to excel in the upcoming events, bringing triumph to Hong Kong.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to European Parliament recommendation reaffirming close Taiwan-EU partnership

Date：2026-10-09
Data Source：Department of European Affairs

October 9, 2026  
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) sincerely welcomes and appreciates a recommendation adopted by the European Parliament on October 7 on EU-China political relations. The document affirms the close cooperation between Taiwan and the European Union and opposes China’s use of coercion to restrict Taiwan’s international participation.
 
The text recognizes that Taiwan and the EU share democratic values as well as economic, trade, and technology ties. It supports peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and rejects China’s attempts to restrict Taiwan’s international participation through coercion. Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung warmly welcomes the recommendation and thanks the European Parliament for its support.
 
Taiwan’s vital role in the semiconductor industry and global supply chains, its position as a significant trading partner for the EU, and its status as a hub for innovation in high-tech sectors are underlined in the document. The text calls on the EU to deepen cooperation with Taiwan in fields such as semiconductors and cybersecurity and to launch, without delay, preparatory measures for negotiations on a bilateral investment agreement or a memorandum of understanding on critical supply chains. 
 
The recommendation reiterates that the EU has never endorsed the “one China principle,” opposes any unilateral attempts to change the status quo across the Taiwan Strait by force or coercion, and refutes China’s distortion of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758. 
 
The document highlights China’s attempt to exert pressure on the EU to block Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao’s participation in the European Conference of Ventotene for Freedom and Democracy in Italy this September. It also urges the EU to express strong disapproval of China’s transnational repression activities and cross-border application of Chinese law.
 
MOFA is sincerely grateful to the European Parliament for its long-standing support through concrete actions, its attention to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and its support for Taiwan’s international participation. Taiwan and the EU are like-minded, democratic partners. Taiwan will continue to strengthen cooperation with the EU and other like-minded partners in such areas as semiconductors, critical supply chains, economic security, and countering foreign information manipulation and interference so as to jointly safeguard peace, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and throughout the world.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA sincerely thanks Lombardy Regional Council for again passing Taiwan-friendly motion and supporting deeper ties

Date：2026-10-08
Data Source：Department of European Affairs

October 8, 2026  
No. 490  
 
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung warmly welcomes and expresses sincere gratitude for a motion passed on October 6 by the Lombardy Regional Council in northern Italy. The motion, overwhelmingly adopted by 33 votes to 3, advocates strengthening economic, industrial, scientific, and cultural relations with Taiwan. 
 
This follows another motion passed by the council last November, which called for Taiwan’s full participation in international institutions and organizations and supported campaigns and initiatives to end Taiwan’s diplomatic isolation. 
 
In addition to endorsing stronger cooperation between Lombardy and Taiwan in the fields of economics, industry, technology, and culture, the new motion seeks to achieve deeper exchanges among higher education institutions, research organizations, and industries. The council pledged to continue to prioritize relations with Taiwan and promote initiatives within the scope of its authority to advance the bilateral partnership.
 
The motion was spearheaded by Ivan Rota, Coordinator of the Lombardy-Taiwan Interparty Friendship Group, which was founded in May. Mr. Rota and seven of the other cross-party council members who cosigned the motion—Marcello Maria Ventura, Giulio Gallera, Giovanni Malanchini, Diego Invernici, Claudia Carzeri, Riccardo Pase, and Marisa Cesana—have all visited Taiwan within the last two years.
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs sincerely thanks the Lombardy Regional Council for its continued support through concrete actions. Building on the firm foundations of cooperation between Taiwan and Italy, MOFA will further deepen exchanges and collaboration with Lombardy in all spheres. MOFA also anticipates that the profound friendship shared by the two sides will translate into opportunities to expand engagement with other regions of Italy. (E)