Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     A month has passed since the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has received condolences and support from various provinces and cities on the Chinese Mainland and from international counterparts. The HKSAR Government expresses its gratitude to the provincial and municipal governments of the Chinese Mainland, foreign governments, diplomatic missions, international organisations, consulates-general, honorary consulates, and officially recognised bodies in Hong Kong for their condolences and support for those affected by the fire through various channels, and thanks all sectors of Hong Kong society for their enthusiastic commitment to relief efforts and generous donations.
      
     The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, said, “On behalf of the HKSAR Government and all citizens of Hong Kong, I extend our heartfelt gratitude for the condolences, care, and assistance from our country and around the world. Fire shows no mercy, but the love of people abounds.This care, transcending geographical boundaries, reflects the spirit of solidarity and mutual support. We will continue to face challenges with resilience and love, transforming sorrow into strength and assisting those affected in returning to normal life as soon as possible.”
      
     Mr Lee also expressed his gratitude to all sectors of Hong Kong society for their generous donations and active participation in relief efforts, covering areas such as accommodation, medical care, mental health, finance, and transport. These contributions have provided essential resources and support for post-disaster reconstruction and social recovery.  
      
     Following the fire, numerous charitable organisations and funds swiftly allocated donations to assist residents. The Government also established the Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, which has so far received approximately $3.8 billion in donations. Together with the start-up capital of $300 million from the Government, the total fund has now reached around $4.1 billion. This fund provides various emergency financial support to various groups of people affected by the fire, including all residents, families of the deceased, hospitalised casualties, students, domestic helpers, workers, flat owners, and tenants.
      
     Furthermore, many members of the public and organisations proactively donated supplies to address the immediate needs of the affected residents. In response, the Government and the information technology sector collaboratively established an online platform for donations of supplies. After assessing the actual needs of the residents, relevant government bureaux and departments and service organisations promptly distributed supplies, including food, beverages, clothing, personal care items, bedding, and electrical appliances, to support the residents’ daily lives.
      
     The HKSAR Government will continue to unite the strengths of all sectors, leading the community in its recovery and reforms with steadfast determination andaction, to jointly build a safer and better Hong Kong.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government today announced the Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po has launched 11 projects with a total commitment of about $1.2 billion, providing emergency financial support to various groups of people affected by the fire at the estate.

The relief will go to residents, the families of deceased victims, hospitalised casualties, students, foreign domestic helpers, workers, flat owners and tenants.

As of this morning, 494 residents are staying in hotel rooms through the co-ordination of the Home & Youth Affairs Bureau, and 549 residents are staying in youth hostels/camps. Another 3,591 residents are living in transitional housing units provided by the Housing Bureau, the Housing Society or Po Tin Interim Housing in Tuen Mun.

The Government will continue to send out information through the “Support Services for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po” website and various other channels.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Executive John Lee, speaking on behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and all citizens of Hong Kong, extended the city’s heartfelt gratitude for the condolences, care and assistance received by the city from the Chinese Mainland and around the world since the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po a month ago.

 

Mr Lee said: “Fire shows no mercy, but the love of people abounds. This care, transcending geographical boundaries, reflects the spirit of solidarity and mutual support.

 

“We will continue to face challenges with resilience and love, transforming sorrow into strength and assisting those affected in returning to normal life as soon as possible.”

 

Mr Lee also expressed his gratitude to all sectors of Hong Kong society for their generous donations and active participation in relief efforts in areas including accommodation, medical care, mental health, finance and transport. These contributions have provided essential resources and support for post-disaster reconstruction and social recovery, he added.

 

In the wake of the fire, numerous charitable organisations and funds swiftly allocated donations to assist residents. The Government also established the Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po in order to provide emergency financial support to people affected by the fire, including all residents, families of deceased victims, hospitalised casualties, students, domestic helpers, workers, flat owners and tenants.

 

Donations received by the support fund stand at about $3.8 billion, bringing its total capital to about $4.1 billion when added to the $300 million in startup funding from the Government,

 

In addition, many members of the public and organisations donated supplies to address the immediate needs of affected residents. In response, the Government and the information technology sector collaborated to establish an online platform for such donations.

 

After assessing residents’ actual needs, various government bureaus and departments, working in partnership with service organisations, promptly distributed food, beverages, clothing, personal care items, bedding, and electrical appliances to residents.

 

The Hong Kong SAR Government expressed its gratitude to provincial and municipal governments on the Chinese Mainland, foreign governments, diplomatic missions, international organisations, consulates-general, honorary consulates, and other officially recognised bodies in Hong Kong for their condolences and support for those affected by the fire.

 

It added that it will continue to unite different sectors and to lead the community with steadfast determination in its recovery and reforms, in order to build a safer and better Hong Kong.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

​“Yau Ma Tei Police Station: A Cinematic Journey”, an exhibition presented by the Cultural & Creative Industries Development Agency, will open to the public at the Old Yau Ma Tei Police Station from January 2.

The Old Yau Ma Tei Police Station, situated at 627 Canton Road, is a Grade-2 historic building built in British Edwardian architectural style.

The agency has revitalised the ground floor of the building. The exhibition showcases Hong Kong’s classic police and crime film culture with a view to promoting local film culture and film tourism.

Tickets are available online from 10am tomorrow for visits from January 2 to 31. Tickets can be booked for admission up to 30 days in advance. A maximum of four tickets is allowed per transaction and no tickets will be sold onsite.

Each session lasts for 25 minutes and the number of visitors for each session is capped at 20.

The standard ticket price is $30, while concessionary tickets for students, the elderly, Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients and people with disabilities are priced at $10 each. Admission is free for children aged six or below.

The exhibition will be open daily, with extended hours of 9am to 10pm, from January 2 to 11. From January 12, normal opening hours will be in operation.

Tying in with the exhibition, the Yau Ma Tei Dining & Shopping Festival will be held from January 1 to February 22. In addition to general discounts and offers, attendees of the show can also enjoy exclusive offers when they present proof of their visit.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

The Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Cynthia Chiang led a delegation of 31 Taiwanese companies to participate in the “Rebuild Ukraine 2025” in Warsaw, Poland from November 13 to 14, aiming to help businesses grasp reconstruction opportunities, while strengthening industrial cooperation with Poland.

This year’s “Taiwan Pavilion” showcased the machinery, ICT, and energy industries, while highlighting innovative medical equipment and drones. It was the only national pavilion from Asia, with a scale three times larger than last year’s. The opening ceremony was jointly convened by Deputy Minister Chiang, Representative Liu Yung-Chien, Mayor of Lviv Andriy Sadovyi, and Deputy Mayor of Vinnytsia Andrii Skalskyi, marking a key milestone in Taiwan-Ukraine reconstruction collaboration.

Deputy Minister Chiang emphasized Taiwan’s strengths in smart manufacturing and ICT, noting its complete industrial clusters, reliable flexibility, customization capabilities, and consistent quality-advantages that enable Taiwan to provide the equipment and technologies essential for Ukraine’s reconstruction.

The pavilion attracted buyers from Ukraine, Poland, Germany, and the Czech Republic. Exhibiting companies expressed strong interest in joining reconstruction efforts and thanked the government for enhancing visibility through the national pavilion.

To further promote bilateral interaction, the MOEA hosted “Taiwan Night” on November 12, which drew nearly 200 representatives from Taiwan, Poland, and Ukraine. Deputy Minister Chiang noted that this delegation, with over 100 members, was Taiwan’s largest economic and trade mission to Poland. The participation of three Polish Deputy Ministers underscored the importance that Poland places on cooperation with Taiwan.

Overall, the exhibition and related events enhanced industrial ties between Taiwan and Europe, while supporting the practical application of Taiwanese products in Ukraine’s reconstruction, thereby helping to secure future business opportunities.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

President Lai meets Japanese House of Representatives Member and former Minister for Foreign Affairs Kono Taro
On the morning of December 26, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by Member of the Japanese House of Representatives and former Minister for Foreign Affairs Kono Taro. In remarks, President Lai thanked Japan for its longstanding, strong support of Taiwan, and for repeatedly reaffirming at international venues the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. The president stated that Taiwan will continue to strengthen its self-defense capabilities, and expressed hope that the delegation members can help further promote the signing of an economic partnership agreement (EPA) and support Taiwan’s bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) so that Taiwan and Japan can lead global industrial development together.
A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:
First, I would like to welcome Representative Kono back to Taiwan for his first visit in 11 years. To gather here with members of the House of Councillors and House of Representatives as the year draws to a close brings me a particular sense of warmth. I want to extend special gratitude to all the delegation members for their longstanding support of Taiwan. I also thank the Japanese government and Diet for repeatedly reaffirming at international venues the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, which are essential elements of global security and prosperity.
Taiwan is well aware that peace cannot be left up to hope for good faith by the aggressors, and that strength is what can guarantee peace. To demonstrate our determination to protect our nation, Taiwan’s defense spending, as it is defined by NATO, will exceed 3 percent of GDP next year, and is expected to reach 5 percent of GDP by 2030. We also plan to invest NT$1.25 trillion in a special defense budget over the next eight years to construct the T-Dome and comprehensively enhance our defense resilience.
With the signing of the Taiwan-Japan Digital Trade Agreement earlier this month, we will both continue to expand exchanges in digital trade and AI, helping our industries extend their reach and increasing competitiveness. I am confident that as Taiwan serves as a global hub for the AI and semiconductor industries, collaborating with Japan, with its advantages in materials, equipment, and precision manufacturing, will certainly be a win-win scenario that benefits the whole world. I ask that the delegation members lend their voices to help promote the signing of an EPA between Taiwan and Japan and support Taiwan’s bid to join the CPTPP. By joining forces, Taiwan and Japan can lead global industrial development together.
I also want to express gratitude for Japan’s friendship toward Taiwan. This year, as Taiwan faced earthquakes and typhoons, various sectors across Japan not only offered heartfelt condolences and assistance, but the Japanese government also provided water-level observation equipment to help Taiwan enhance its disaster prevention capabilities. This bond of standing together through thick and thin is the most precious asset of the Taiwan-Japan relationship.
With the new year just a few days away, I want to thank you all for your longstanding efforts to foster the Taiwan-Japan friendship. I also ask that you convey my most sincere greetings to our friends in the Diet. I wish you all a happy new year, and may the friendship between Taiwan and Japan be everlasting.
Representative Kono then delivered remarks, expressing his great pleasure in visiting Taiwan again after 11 years. He noted that he made frequent visits to Taiwanese factories during the 1980s and 1990s, and that he still holds fond memories of the delicious longans he enjoyed in Taiwan during that time. He also mentioned that at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Taiwan’s pavilion – themed “TECH WORLD” – was very popular, and showcased Taiwan’s technological prowess.
Regarding Taiwan-Japan tourism and exchanges, Representative Kono pointed out that in 2024, the number of Taiwanese visitors to Japan exceeded 6 million. By the end of November this year, he said, that figure had already surpassed last year’s total, equivalent to one in every four people in Taiwan visiting Japan. Meanwhile, he noted, the number of Japanese visitors to Taiwan had only exceeded 1 million by the end of October this year, suggesting significant room for further growth. In terms of investment cooperation, Representative Kono stated that following the smooth operation of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s Japan plant, Taiwan’s investment in Japan reached a record high of over US$5 billion last year. He expressed confidence that investment in Japan by Taiwanese enterprises will continue to grow in the future.
Representative Kono stated that with the signing of the Taiwan-Japan Digital Trade Agreement, cooperation in emerging fields such as the digital economy and AI will deepen further. He also expressed his gratitude to Taiwan for lifting import restrictions on food products from five Japanese prefectures, including Fukushima. He mentioned that during this visit, he personally experienced receiving an alert from Taiwan’s earthquake early warning system. He emphasized that the people of Japan remain deeply grateful for Taiwan’s generous assistance following the March 2011 earthquake, and noted that Taiwan and Japan have established excellent cooperation mechanisms in disaster prevention and response.
Representative Kono noted that the International Horticultural Expo 2027 will be held in Yokohama, and he encouraged relevant groups from Taiwan to participate. Looking ahead, he expressed hope that Taiwan-Japan ties will continue to deepen across all areas, including the economy, trade, and reciprocal visits, to forge an even closer partnership.
The delegation also included House of Representatives Members Tanaka Kazunori, Inoue Shinji, and Makishima Karen, and House of Councillors Members Asao Keiichiro and Fujikawa Masahito. The delegation was accompanied to the Presidential Office by Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Taipei Office Chief Representative Katayama Kazuyuki.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

The world’s second-largest automotive aftermarket exhibition, AAPEX, and North America’s largest customized auto show, SEMA, opened simultaneously on November 4, 2025. Taiwan fielded 270 exhibitors, ranking second among participating countries. To support Taiwanese companies in expanding their presence in the U.S. market, Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Chin-Tsang Ho attended both events and visited each Taiwanese booth to offer encouragement.

The United States is one of Taiwan’s key economic partners, with long-standing cooperation in the semiconductor, green energy, and ICT sectors. As the automotive industry progresses toward electrification and smart technologies, Taiwan and the U.S. hold strong potential for deeper collaboration on EVs and in the aftermarket sector. Taiwan will continue to promote smart manufacturing and green transformation to strengthen bilateral industrial links.

Deputy Minister Ho emphasized that Taiwan’s auto parts industry offers high-quality manufacturing and innovative R&D capabilities, enabling customized, small-batch, and high-value products. With the growth of the EV market, Taiwanese firms can further integrate ICT advantages to enhance product value and remain reliable global partners.

To boost international competitiveness, the MOEA has increased grants for R&D and transformation, while selecting AAPEX and SEMA as key platforms for annual promotion. This year, the Taiwan Pavilion and the debut Taiwan Excellence Pavilion showcased solutions in smart mobility and automotive electronics, receiving strong recognition. The MOEA has also enhanced Taiwan’s industrial exposure internationally through targeted advertisements and will continue supporting SMEs in global market expansion through trade exhibitions, matchmaking events, and digital marketing.