Taiwan Textile Research Institute | CellNet Leukocyte Depletion Filter | Supercritical Fluid Process Technology

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Traditional blood filter manufacturing uses solvent-based hydrophilization, consuming large volumes of water, generating chemical wastewater, and emitting significant carbon. TTRI’s SCF Process replaces solvents with supercritical carbon dioxide, achieving hydrophilization through physical implantation under fully anhydrous, solvent-free conditions-a fundamental shift from chemical treatment. carbon dioxide is captured from the atmosphere and recycled in a closed loop with zero net emissions, eliminating all solvent use and wastewater generation. Per-unit cost drops by 57% and carbon emissions fall by over 80%. With global demand of approximately 120 million units per year, this technology creates substantial industrial value. Products are currently under quality verification at Taiwan Blood Donation Center.

Blaze flat owners to receive offers

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government stated today that the issuance of “Letters of Offer” to owners of units at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po is now under way.

The move comes after the Government unveiled its Wan Fuk Court Long-term Housing Arrangements plan on February 21, and announced supplementary arrangements for owners of units at Wang Chi House on April 28.

With the addition of Wang Chi House, the only block that was untouched by last November’s fire, all eight blocks of Wang Fuk Court are addressed by the plan.

The Housing Bureau has been working at full speed, with its engagement team reaching out to owners to explain the details of the plan and answer their enquiries.

It is also concurrently drafting legal documents necessary for the Government’s acquisition of the units. The Government’s Letters of Offer provide a range of options for owners.

Upon receipt of each signed “Letter of Acceptance”, the Government will assist owners in completing an “Agreement for Sale & Purchase” and a “Deed of Assignment”, taking into account the circumstances of each case.

For owners who opt for cash payment, the Government will expedite the disbursement of funds upon completion of the transaction. This will enable them to immediately make purchase arrangements in the private market or the secondary market for subsidised sale flats, or to participate in the “Special Sales Exercise” for Wang Fuk Court owners to acquire a new subsidised sale flat either with cash or under the “Flat-for-Flat” arrangement.

Wang Fuk Court Property Rights Acquisition, a company established by the Government and wholly owned through the Financial Secretary Incorporated for the purpose of acquiring ownership of Wang Fuk Court units, will distribute the Letters of Offer owners by mail.

Any owner who has not received a Letter of Offer by May 22 can call the plan’s enquiry hotline at 2129 8133.

Owners who accept an acquisition offer must complete and sign the Letter of Acceptance enclosed with the Letter of Offer sent to them. They must return it to Wang Fuk Court Property Rights Acquisition, using the enclosed return envelope, on or before August 31.

With regard to Wang Chi House, if on or before June 30 75% or more of the block’s owners sign Letters of Acceptance, confirming their intention to sell, the Government’s plan will be formally extended to Wang Chi House. Otherwise, it will not cover Wang Chi House.

Owners who do not sign by June 30, but later decide to sell, must sign a Letter of Acceptance on or before August 31.

To encourage owners to accept the acquisition offer at an early stage, flat selection priority under the Special Sales Exercise will be determined in batches according to the date on which owners’ Letters of Acceptance are received. The deadline to qualify for the first batch is June 30, while the deadline for the second batch is August 31. Priority within the same batch will be determined by a ballot.

Owners who have enquiries regarding the Letter of Offer or who require assistance can contact their designated engagement team member directly or call 2129 8133.

Government Carefully Assesses Nuclear Power to Strengthen Power Supply Stability and System Resilience in Response to Global Energy Developments and AI-Driven Electricity Demand

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Amid public concern over the government’s position on the license renewal and restart of nuclear power plants, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) stated that the government remains committed to maintaining a stable power supply, ensuring energy security, and achieving steady carbon reduction as the core focuses of energy transition in response to evolving global energy landscape, domestic economic development, and rising electricity demand driven by emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI). On this basis, the government will prudently address issues related to the license renewal and potential restart of nuclear power plants, grounded in safety, legal frameworks, and public communication.

The MOEA specifically noted that restarting nuclear power units involves a series of procedures, including professional inspections, technical evaluation, and safety reviews. Power generation may only resume after all required procedures have been completed and the necessary electricity license for power generation has been obtained; the submission of a restart plan alone does not authorize immediate operation. Taiwan Power Company (TPC) has signed a contract with the original equipment manufacturer, Westinghouse Electric Company, to carry out self-initiated safety inspections for the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant. A restart plan is scheduled to be submitted to the Nuclear Safety Commission (NSC) for review by the end of March. For the Kuosheng Nuclear Power Plant, TPC has sought technical support from the original equipment manufacturer, General Electric Company. Relevant safety inspection procedures will proceed only after the completion of outdoor dry storage facilities and the removal of spent fuel from the reactor core. The MOEA will supervise TPC in conducting all related procedures in compliance with international regulations and with the support of the original equipment manufacturers, while coordinating with the NSC in the review process.

In response to public concerns regarding the recent rapid growth in electricity demand driven by the AI and semiconductor industries, as well as issues related to power supply stability, the MOEA stated that, every year, the government conducts reviews of power supply and demand planning on a rolling basis, including various industrial development scenarios into the assessment process. In recent years, rapid advances in AI-related innovation have accelerated Taiwan’s economic growth and driven significant expansion in the semiconductor industry and AI supply chain, leading to a marked increase in long-term electricity demand. At the same time, rising geopolitical risks have added uncertainties to energy supply. In future reviews, the government will assess a range of energy mix scenarios to further strengthen power supply stability.

The MOEA further noted a number of challenges faced during the promotion of renewable energy, including misinformation, stigmatization, irrational opposition, and increasingly stringent regulatory conditions. Nevertheless, Taiwan’s installed renewable energy capacity has steadily increased over the past decade, rising from 4.7 GW to 22.9 GW. Continued support from all sectors remains essential to strengthening the international competitiveness of domestic industries. Moving forward, the MOEA will uphold its commitment to providing accurate information on renewable energy, maintaining transparency, and enhancing public communication to address concerns, ensure steady development of green electricity, and reinforce the global competitiveness of Taiwan’s industries.

Finally, the MOEA emphasized that any restart of nuclear power plants through the license renewal process must strictly comply with nuclear safety regulations. The process involves comprehensive self-inspections and professional assessments conducted by TPC, as well as safety reviews by the NSC. Any decision regarding the restart of nuclear power plants must be handled prudently, based on three core principles: ensuring nuclear safety, establishing viable solutions for nuclear waste management, and achieving social consensus.

Spokesperson for Energy Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs:
Deputy Director General, Chung-Hsien Chen
Contact Phone Number: 02-2775-7700, 0919-998-339
Email Address: ctchen2@moeaea.gov.tw

Business Contact: Director, Fang-Ling Liao
Contact Phone Number: 02-2775-7710, 0912-089-923
Email Address: flliao@moeaea.gov.tw

Youth appointments to advisory body

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government today announced the appointments of Jennifer Ho and Pinky Lau to the Committee on the Promotion of Civic Education, selected through the Member Self-recommendation Scheme for Youth.

They will serve from tomorrow to March 31, 2028.

This non-statutory body advises the Government on the objectives and scope of civic education outside schools.

The Government aims to recruit young people who are eager to serve the community to join its advisory committees through the scheme to provide more opportunities for them to participate in policy discussions.

Correctional officers stop person in custody from attacking staff member

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​Correctional officers at Lo Wu Correctional Institution stopped a female person in custody from attacking a staff member today (May 13).

At 4.20pm today, a 36-year-old female person in custody suddenly became emotional and attacked a correctional officer inside the Day Orderly Officer’s office. Officers at the scene immediately stopped the assailant and applied oleoresin capsicum (OC) foam to subdue her after repeated warnings were ignored.

During the incident, the officer sustained injuries to her face and ear. After examination and treatment by the institution Medical Officer, she was referred to a public hospital for further treatment. The assailant sustained injuries to her face and neck. She did not need to be sent to a public hospital after examination and treatment by the institution Medical Officer.

The case has been reported to the Police for investigation.

The assailant was sentenced to undergo drug treatment at the institution for the offence of possession of a dangerous drug in February 2026.

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected ketamine worth about $4.3 million at airport

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected ketamine worth about $4.3 million at airport       
     Customs on May 7 inspected an air parcel, declared as a chessboard and arriving in Hong Kong from France, at HKIA. Upon inspection, Customs officers found the batch of suspected ketamine in the parcel. After follow-up investigations, Customs officers conducted a controlled delivery operation today (May 13) and arrested a 19-year-old man in Wong Tai Sin.
      
     The arrested man has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. The case will be brought up at the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (May 14).
      
     Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people, nor to release their personal data or home address to others for receiving parcels or goods.
      
     Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.
      
     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.
      
     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hkIssued at HKT 22:15

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RTHK signs Memorandum of Understanding with TDM

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

RTHK signs Memorandum of Understanding with TDM  
     Ms Kwan stated that RTHK hopes the memorandum will further deepen co-operation with TDM, deepen mutual understanding between audiences in Hong Kong and Macao, and strengthen public appreciation of history of the nation. She pointed out that RTHK has actively expanded its collaboration network, establishing partnerships over the past year with broadcasters in Malaysia, Vietnam, Guangdong, and Guangxi etc. Leveraging Hong Kong’s advantage of connecting the Mainland and the world, RTHK programmes have reached audiences across different regions. She reaffirmed RTHK’s commitment to telling the good stories of the country and promoting Chinese culture.
 
     During her visit, Ms Kwan also attended the 121st ABU Administrative Council Meeting, where she exchanged views with broadcasting professionals from various countries and regions. RTHK has been an active participant in the ABU, serving as a member of the Administrative Council for over 20 years. RTHK will host the ABU Robocon 2026 this August in Hong Kong, bringing together over 300 elite engineering students in teams from 15 Asia-Pacific countries and regions. As the largest university-level robotics competition in the Asia-Pacific region, the ABU Robocon serves as a premier platform for technical excellence and ingenuity. By hosting this international event in Hong Kong, RTHK aims to foster greater exchange and collaboration among young people in engineering, technology and innovation across the region.
Issued at HKT 22:30

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Speech by SITI at forum organised by Healthtech Finland and Finland Chamber of Commerce in Helsinki, Finland (English only)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is the speech by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at a forum organised by the Healthtech Finland and the Finland Chamber of Commerce in Helsinki, Finland on May 13 (Helsinki time):

Marko (Minister Counsellor, Trade and Business Promotion, Embassy of Finland, Beijing, Mr Marko Tiesmäki), Timo (Consul-General of Finland to Hong Kong, Mr Timo Kantola), Saara (CEO of Healthtech Finland, Ms Saara Hassinen), ladies and gentlemen,

LCQ21: Ensuring the safety of external chargers

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is a question by the Hon Elaine Chik and a written reply by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, in the Legislative Council today (May 13):

Question:

LCQ13: Measures to cope with rising fuel prices

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is a question by the Hon Adrian Ho and a written reply by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, in the Legislative Council today (May 13):

Question: