Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Hong Kong Heritage Museum (HKHM) and the Bruce Lee Foundation (the Foundation) will work together again to present Camp Bruce Lee Hong Kong 2026. A rich variety of activities will be arranged for 100 primary school students, including martial arts practice, an exhibition tour, a puppet theatre, and an art workshop to learn about the martial arts philosophy of the legendary martial arts superstar Bruce Lee. The camp, free of charge, will be held from July 21 to 23. Students aged 9 to 12, studying in Primary Four to Primary Six in Hong Kong are welcome to apply. The application period will end on June 26.
 
​     As the only venue in Asia exclusively authorised by the Foundation, the HKHM is organising Camp Bruce Lee for the fourth consecutive year since 2023. The theme of the Camp this year adopts a core focus on Bruce Lee’s most famous philosophy of “water”. Through four water forms – wave, river, rain and pond, the Camp leads students to grow with confidence, resilience, kindness and gratitude, and incorporate the wisdom of martial arts philosophy into daily life.
 
     The Camp offers students a wide range of exciting activities, including a Wing Chun class at the HKHM to build physical and mental strength; an interactive and story-driven tour of the “A Man Beyond the Ordinary: Bruce Lee” exhibition to discover the legendary life of Bruce Lee; an ink painting workshop to explore the fluidity of water and embark on an unexpected journey of artistic discovery; and a puppet performance that brings the story of Bruce Lee to life to celebrate compassion and community care. Moreover, Ms Shannon Lee, daughter of Bruce Lee and the Chairperson of the Foundation, will make a special video appearance to share how her father’s martial arts journey can inspire personal growth.
 
     For details of the activities and application, please visit the website at hk.heritage.museum/en/activities/camp_brucelee.html.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is a question by the Hon Kenneth Lau and a reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (June 10):

     The Government launched the Driving on Lantau Island Scheme in 2016 to allow members of the public to drive private cars via the closed roads on Lantau Island to recreational spots such as Ngong Ping, Tai O, Cheung Sha and Mui Wo on weekdays. The second phase of the Scheme was launched in 2022, with the daily quota increased from 25 to 50. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is a question by the Hon Adrian Ho and a written reply by the Acting Secretary for Health, Dr Cecilia Fan, in the Legislative Council today (June 10):
 
Question:
 
In the 2025 Policy Address, the Chief Executive proposed raising public awareness of weight management, and an interdepartmental Weight Management Working Group was established in October last year. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) given that the Department of Health (DH) published the “Towards 2025: Strategy and Action Plan to Prevent and Control Non-communicable Diseases in Hong Kong” in 2018 and proposed nine “TARGETS BY 2025”, including halting the rise in obesity and reducing the prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adolescents and adults, to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases in Hong Kong, of the progress made by the Government in achieving these nine targets;
 
(2) “Raise Awareness” is one of the themes of the Action Plan on Weight Management launched by the Government in March this year, there are views pointing out that, while the body mass index (BMI) is used in the “Weight Management Compass” of DH for assessing whether body weight is normal, BMI cannot tell the problems of excessive body fat and insufficient muscle mass, whether the Government will consider encouraging adoption of additional indicators for assessment, such as the Body Roundness Index for assessing the accumulation of visceral fat, the Basal Metabolic Rate indicating the energy required to maintain basic physiological functions, etc, with a view to enhancing public understanding of weight-related issues;
 
(3) given that calorie management is also considered a key approach to addressing the problem of obesity, whether the Government will plan to educate the public in performing scientific calculations based on their lifestyles and everyday needs, so that they are enabled to learn to make use of data, such as macronutrients (i.e. substances which maintain body functions and serve as the primary source of energy for the body), to formulate personalised plans for calorie intake and exercises, thereby reducing the reliance of people seeking to lose weight on weight-loss drugs;
 
(4) given that excessive intake of saturated fats and trans fats will increase the risk of coronary heart disease, whether the Government will implement other measures, apart from organising health talks and roving exhibitions, to enhance public understanding of the nutrition information on food labels and enable them to make better use of such information, so as to facilitate them in making the most appropriate dietary choices; and
 
(5) given that saturated fats and trans fats are commonly found in food products, and that the effective interventions recommended by the World Health Organization include, among others, eliminating industrial trans fats through the development of legislation to ban their use in the food chain and reducing sugar consumption through effective taxation on sugar-sweetened beverages, whether the Government will consider encouraging manufacturers to develop food products with low fat and low sugar contents by way of enacting legislation or taxation, apart from providing relevant guidelines to the industry and implementing incentive measures, with a view to achieving a fully healthy local food retail market?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
The Government has been highly concerned about the toll of obesity on personal health and the whole society, and prioritised its control under the “Towards 2025: Strategy and Action Plan to Prevent and Control Non-communicable Diseases in Hong Kong” (2018 SAP) published in 2018. The 2025 Policy Address further announced that the HKSAR Government would draw on national and World Health Organization (WHO) strategic frameworks to strengthen public awareness and action on weight management. In accordance with the relevant policy directions, the Department of Health (DH) established an interdepartmental Weight Management Working Group in October 2025 and formulated Hong Kong’s inaugural Action Plan on Weight Management.

In response to the Hon Adrian Ho’s question, the reply after consultation with the Environment and Ecology Bureau and the DH is as follows:

(1) The 2018 SAP focuses on major non-communicable diseases (NCDs) (i.e. cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes mellitus) and common behavioural risk factors (i.e. unhealthy diet, insufficient physical activity, smoking and alcohol harm). It recommends taking forward relevant work with reference to nine targets (Note 1). The Steering Committee on Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases examined in October 2025 the progress of the nine targets. The Steering Committee considered that through the collaborative efforts of various parties, the risk of premature mortality from four major NCDs in Hong Kong has declined continuously, with a reduction of over 25 per cent when compared to 15 years ago, achieving the target as set. The smoking prevalence rate in Hong Kong has reduced significantly from 23.3 per cent in 1982 to a historical low of 8.5 per cent in 2025.
 
However, obesity is a global issue. According to the WHO, over the past three decades the global adult obesity rate has more than doubled. Hong Kong is no exception. Other risk factors for developing NCDs like obesity and insufficient physical activity are still common in Hong Kong. As such, the Chief Executive announced in his 2024 and 2025 Policy Addresses respectively that the Government would devise health promotion strategies by adopting a life-course framework and formulate the Action Plan on Weight Management, with a view to raising public health awareness and practices through strengthening health education and promotion, cultivating a supportive environment in the community and strengthening health service delivery, etc.

The latest data on the specific quantitative indicators of the nine targets are tabulated as follows:
 

Target	Indicator	Baseline and latest data
(1) A 25 per cent relative reduction in risk of premature mortality from cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, or chronic respiratory diseases	Unconditional probability of dying between ages of 30 and 70 from four NCDs (cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes or chronic respiratory diseases)	Baseline (2010): 0.099 Latest (2024): 0.073
(2) At least a 10 per cent relative reduction in the prevalence of binge drinking and harmful use of alcohol (harmful drinking/alcohol dependence) among adults and in the prevalence of drinking among youth	Age-standardised prevalence of binge drinking at least monthly among adults (aged 18+ years)	Baseline (Population Health Survey (PHS) 2014/15): 2.4 per cent Latest (Health Behaviour Survey (HBS) 2023): 2.9 per cent
	Prevalence of ever drinking, 12-month drinking and 30-day drinking among young people	Baseline (2011/12): 56.0 per cent (Ever), 41.0 per cent (12-month), 18.4 per cent (30-day) Latest (2023/24): 40.4 per cent (Ever), 27.9 per cent (12-month), 14.3 per cent (30-day)
(3) A 10 per cent relative reduction in the prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adolescents and adults	Prevalence of insufficiently physically active adolescents	Baseline (2015/16): 93.5 per cent (Overall) Latest (2024/25): 93.6 per cent (Overall)
	Age-standardised prevalence of insufficiently physically active persons aged 18+ years	Baseline (PHS 2014/15): 12.4 per cent Latest (HBS 2023): 13.8 per cent
(4) A 30 per cent relative reduction in mean population daily intake of salt/sodium	Age-standardised mean intake of salt (sodium chloride) per day among persons aged 18-84 years	Baseline (PHS 2014/15): 8.8g Latest (PHS 2020-22): 8.5g
(5) A 30 per cent relative reduction in the prevalence of current tobacco use in persons aged 15+ years	Crude prevalence of daily cigarette smoking among persons aged 15+ years	Baseline (2010): 11.1 per cent Latest (2025): 8.5 per cent
(6) Contain the prevalence of raised blood pressure	Age-standardised (and crude) prevalence of raised blood pressure among persons aged 18-84 years	Baseline (PHS 2014/15): 17.8 per cent Latest (PHS 2020-22): 15.0 per cent
(7) Halt the rise in diabetes and obesity	Age-standardised (and crude) prevalence of raised blood glucose/diabetes among persons aged 18-84 years	Baseline (PHS 2014/15): 3.9 per cent Latest (PHS 2020-22): 4.6 per cent
	Detection rate of overweight and obesity in primary and secondary students (based on local definition)	Baseline (2010/11): 20.3 per cent (Overall) Latest (2024/25): 17.5 per cent (Overall)
	Age-standardised (and crude) prevalence of overweight and obesity in persons aged 18-84 years (based on local classification)	Baseline (PHS 2014/15): 47.0 per cent Latest (PHS 2020-22): 51.3 per cent
(8) Prevent heart attacks and strokes through drug therapy and counselling	No quantifiable indicators	Not applicable
(9) Improve availability of affordable basic technologies and essential medicines to treat major NCDs	No quantifiable indicators	Not applicable

 
The DH is currently conducting the PHS 2025/26. Upon completion of the survey by the end of 2026, the DH will then make use of the data to review the targets and effectiveness of the 2018 SAP.

(2) & (3) The DH announced the Action Plan in March this year. The Action Plan will be implemented progressively, with each year focusing on a distinct theme, including “Raise Awareness”, “Positive Changes” and “Maintenance”, comprehensively driving weight management. The first year focuses on “Raise Awareness”. As such, the DH launched the Weight Management Compass, using Body Mass Index (BMI) (Note 2) as a screening indicator and reminds members of the public to measure their waist circumference to identify central obesity.
 
Commonly used indicators for the assessment of obesity and central obesity include BMI, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, along with other assessment means including Body Roundness Index (BRI) (Note 3). Among these, BMI is the most widely used and it requires only height and weight for calculation. Statistics show that an increase in BMI is significantly associated with the risk of non-communicable diseases; the higher the value, the greater the risk. For example, the WHO and international expert organisations have established reference values for Asian adults for BMI and waist circumference respectively. Adults with a BMI between 23 and less than 25 are considered overweight, while those with a BMI of 25 or above are considered obese. For waist circumference, central obesity is defined as 90cm or above for male and 80cm or above for female. As for the relatively new BRI, the WHO has not yet established BRI-based reference values for Asians. Moreover, its calculation is relatively complex, which may make it difficult for the general public to easily understand or employ it.

Given their practicality, ease of use and effectiveness in empowering citizens to manage their weight independently, and that the WHO has established clear cut-off reference values, the DH will use BMI together with waist circumference as the main entry points to support citizens in understanding their weight condition and raising their awareness of weight management. Members of the public and healthcare personnel only need a weight measuring equipment and a measuring tape, followed by relatively easy calculations, to make a preliminary and scientific assessment on the risk of obesity and take appropriate actions. 

In addition, the DH all along promotes healthy eating principles. For healthy individuals in general, daily energy requirements vary from person to person, primarily depending on age, gender and activity level. When energy intake exceeds expenditure, the excess calories are stored as fat, leading to weight gain. To effectively control weight over the long term, the keys are a balanced diet, increased physical activity, reduced sedentary time, maintaining a balance between food intake and physical activity, as well as regular weight monitoring. In view of the importance of a balanced diet, the DH recommends preventing overweight/obesity by maintaining a balance between calorie intake and expenditure. Measures include reducing the consumption of high-fat and high-sugar foods; increasing the intake of vegetables, fruits and whole grains; choosing lean meats and low-fat dairy products; adopting low-fat cooking methods; and limiting high-fat sauces and sugary beverages, together with regular physical activity, to control weight.

In accordance with the Action Plan, the DH will continue to build a supportive environment through cross-sectoral and whole-of-society collaboration, actively promoting to citizens on and helping them make healthy dietary choices. The Action Plan is widely publicised via multimedia channels including TV, radio, newspapers, social media, NCD publications, as well as through local professional bodies, collaborating partners and Working Group member platforms, with a view to enhances citizens’ awareness of weight management and healthy eating.

(4) The Nutrition Labelling Scheme in Hong Kong aims at assisting consumers to make informed food choices, encouraging food manufacturers to supply food in compliance with nutrition standard and regulating misleading or deceptive labels and claims.
 
The Centre for Food Safety has been promoting nutrition labels through a variety of channels, including websites, publications, pamphlets, posters and social media, with a view to enhancing public understanding from various perspectives, such that consumers could make good use of the information on the nutrition labels to make informed food choices.

(5) The Government amended the Harmful Substances in Food Regulations (Cap. 132AF) in 2021. The amendments include strengthening the regulation of industrially-produced trans fats. Specifically, partially hydrogenated oils (PHO) (the primary source of industrially produced trans fatty acids) are designated as prohibited substances in food.The import of any edible oils and fats containing PHO is banned, and the sale of any food containing PHO is also prohibited. The above requirements have been in effect since December 1, 2023. In addition, the Government has all along been making reference to the measures taken by different regions in promoting healthy eating, and has noted that different local and overseas stakeholders have different views on the effectiveness of introducing tax measures to achieve the goal of reducing public’s sugar intake from food.
 
Note 1: Nine targets to be achieved by 2025 include (1) A 25 per cent relative reduction in risk of premature mortality from cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, or chronic respiratory diseases; (2) At least a 10 per cent relative reduction in the prevalence of binge drinking and harmful use of alcohol (harmful drinking/alcohol dependence) among adults and in the prevalence of drinking among youth; (3) A 10 per cent relative reduction in the prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adolescents and adults; (4) A 30 per cent relative reduction in mean population daily intake of salt/sodium; (5) A 30 per cent relative reduction in the prevalence of current tobacco use in persons aged 15+ years; (6) Contain the prevalence of raised blood pressure; (7) Halt the rise in diabetes and obesity; (8) Prevent heart attacks and strokes through drug therapy and counselling; and (9) Improve availability of affordable basic technologies and essential medicines to treat major NCDs.
 
Note 2: The formula for calculating BMI is: BMI = weight (kg) ÷ [height (m) × height (m)]
 
Note 3: The BRI assesses body roundness through waist circumference and height, thereby predicting visceral fat accumulation and the associated cardiovascular and metabolic health risks. The standard formula for calculating BRI is: BRI = 364.2 − 365.5 × √[1 − (waist circumference (cm) / 2π)² / (0.5 × height (cm))²]

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Transport Department (TD) today (June 10) said that the next online auction of vehicle registration marks (VRMs) will be held from noon on June 25 (Thursday) to noon on June 29 (Monday) through the auction platform E-Auction (e-auction.td.gov.hk). Interested bidders can participate in the online auction only after they have successfully registered as E-Auction users.
 
     A spokesman for the TD said, “A total of 220 Ordinary VRMs will be available at this online public auction. The list of VRMs (see Annex) has been uploaded to the E-Auction website. Applicants who have paid a $1,000 deposit to reserve an Ordinary VRM for auction should also register as an E-Auction user in advance in order to participate in the online bidding, including placing the first bid at the opening price of $1,000. Otherwise, the VRMs reserved by them may be bid on by other interested bidders at or above the opening price. Auctions for VRMs with ‘HK’ or ‘XX’ as a prefix, special VRMs and personalised VRMs will continue to be carried out through physical auctions by bidding paddles and their announcement arrangements remain unchanged.”
 
     Members of the public participating in the online bidding should take note of the following important points:
 
(1) Bidders should register in advance as an E-Auction user by “iAM Smart+” equipped with the digital signing function; or by using a valid digital certificate and an email address upon completion of identity verification. Registered “iAM Smart” users should provide their Hong Kong identity card number, while non-Hong Kong residents who are not “iAM Smart” users should provide the number of their passport or other identification documents when registering as E-Auction users.
 
(2) Bidders are required to provide a digital signature to confirm the submission and amount of the bid by using “iAM Smart+” or a valid digital certificate at the time of the first bid of each online bidding session (including setting automatic bids before the auction begins) to comply with the requirements of the Electronic Transactions Ordinance.
 
(3) If a bid is made in respect of a VRM within the last 10 minutes before the end of the auction, the auction end time for that particular VRM will be automatically extended by another 10 minutes, up to a maximum of 24 hours.
 
(4) Successful bidders must follow the instructions in the notification email issued by the TD to log in to the E-Auction within 48 hours from the issuance of email and complete the follow-up procedures, including:
 

• completing the Purchaser Information for the issuance of the Memorandum of Sale of Registration Mark (Memorandum of Sale); and
• making the auction payment online by credit card, Faster Payment System (FPS) or Payment by Phone Service (PPS). Cheque or cash payment is not accepted in the E-Auction.

(5) A VRM can only be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser. Relevant information on the Certificate of Incorporation must be provided by the successful bidder in the Purchaser Information of the Memorandum of Sale if the VRM purchased is to be registered under the name of a body corporate.
 
(6) Successful bidders will receive a notification email around seven working days after payment has been confirmed and can download the Memorandum of Sale from the E-Auction. The purchaser must apply for the VRM to be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser within 12 months from the date of issue of the Memorandum of Sale. If the purchaser fails to do so within the 12-month period, in accordance with the statutory provision, the allocation of the VRM will be cancelled and a new allocation will be arranged by the TD without prior notice to the purchaser.
 
     The TD has informed all applicants who have reserved Ordinary VRMs for this round of auction of the E-Auction arrangements in detail by post. Members of the public may refer to the E-Auction website or watch the tutorial videos for more information. Please call the E-Auction hotline (3583 3980) or email (e-auction-enquiry@td.gov.hk) for enquiries. 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by Professor the Hon Chan Wing-kwong and a reply by the Acting Secretary for Health, Dr Cecilia Fan, in the Legislative Council today (June 10):

Question:

     The provision under the Tobacco Control Legislation (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 (the Amendment Ordinance) prohibiting the possession of specified alternative smoking products (ASPs), such as e-cigarette capsules and heat sticks, in public places took effect on April 30 this year. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the respective numbers of (i) complaints or referrals received, (ii) inspections conducted and ASPs seized in the operations, (iii) fixed penalty notices issued, and (iv) prosecutions instituted by the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office of the Department of Health for offences related to the possession of ASPs since the Amendment Ordinance came into effect;

(2) whether any non-local visitors have been prosecuted or issued with fixed penalty notices for contravening the Amendment Ordinance; if so, of the details; and

(3) whether the authorities have assessed the effectiveness of the Amendment Ordinance in preventing members of the public from smoking and encouraging them to quit smoking; if so, of the details; if not, whether they will conduct relevant surveys?

Reply:

President,

     In consultation with the Department of Health (DH), the reply to the question raised by Professor the Hon Chan Wing-kwong is as follows: 

     The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has all along advanced tobacco control efforts in a science-based, public opinion-oriented, multipronged and progressive manner. As early as 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) invited Parties to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to adopt regulatory measures to ban or restrict the manufacture, import, distribution, display, sale, and use of e-cigarettes. The Government’s strategy towards alternative smoking products (ASPs), including e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and herbal cigarettes, is to nip the problem in the bud and prevent ASPs from gaining a foothold in Hong Kong, while fundamentally combating the use of ASPs for drug consumption. To this end, the Government introduced the Smoking (Public Health) (Amendment) Ordinance 2021, which was passed by the Legislative Council (LegCo) in 2021. One of the measures was to prohibit the import, manufacture, promotion, sale and possession of ASPs for commercial purposes starting from April 30, 2022. To further strengthen the control on ASPs, the Government introduced the Tobacco Control Legislation (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 (Amendment Ordinance) and was passed by the LegCo in 2025. The Amendment Ordinance includes a ban on possession of specified ASPs such as e-cigarette capsules and heat sticks in public places. Building on the four-year-old comprehensive ban on the import and sale of ASPs, this prohibition on possession in public places prevents the local circulation of ASPs, which are long banned from import and sale, and also stops the new generation from falling into an addiction.

     As the number of smokers of conventional cigarettes declines, the tobacco industry has packaged nicotine addiction products as ASPs, and is promoting them to young people and non-smokers in an attempt to expand its market in order to sustain its profits. These products are deliberately designed to be stylish, compact, and even toy-like, complemented by bright colors and tech-oriented packaging, in order to lower the guard of young people and lure them into trying ASPs or even switching to conventional cigarettes. In reality, this is a “sugar coating”. When the coating is peeled away, we discover its true nature – “poison”. The WHO has clearly stated that there is insufficient evidence to show that heated tobacco products are less harmful than conventional cigarettes, while e-cigarettes release many toxic substances that can cause cancer or damage the nervous and respiratory systems. Even more concerning is that ASPs are highly concealable. They are small in size, produce no naked flame when used, and can be easily tucked away in a pocket after use, making them hardly noticeable to others. This makes them an ideal vehicle for criminals to distribute drugs, and etomidate is the most compelling example. The use of ASPs does not help reduce the use of traditional cigarettes. Instead, it increases the likelihood that users will use multiple tobacco products simultaneously. Nevertheless, when promoting these aptly named “sugar-coated poison”, the tobacco industry markets them with selling points such as “harm reduction” and even “smoking cessation aid”. Hence we must crack down on these products across the multiple fronts from source of supply, to distribution and sale.

     Since the possession ban of ASPs in public places took effect on April 30, 2026, the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the DH has conducted over 4 000 inspections as of May 31. During the same period, 40 related complaints and referrals were received and 51 fixed penalty notices (FPNs) were issued for the said possession offence. None of these cases involved aggravating factors requiring prosecution. Among those who received FPNs, one person did not register with a Hong Kong identity card. Since whether an offender is a tourist and the purpose of his/her visit to Hong Kong are not factors for consideration during enforcement, the TACO does not keep records of the number of tourists among the offenders. Separately, the TACO seized a total of 69 ASPs during the operation, of which e-cigarettes accounted for 52 per cent, with the remainder being heat sticks. Moving forward, the TACO will continue to strengthen inspections using a risk-based strategy, with a view to cracking down on related illegal acts.

     Through the implementation of a comprehensive tobacco control strategy, we have achieved tangible results. According to the Thematic Household Survey (THS) on the pattern of smoking conducted by the Census and Statistics Department from July to October 2025, Hong Kong’s smoking prevalence dropped to 8.5 per cent in 2025, hitting a historic low. As regards ASPs, following the implementation of the import ban in 2022, among others, the proportion of persons aged 15 and above who used e-cigarettes daily dropped from 0.2 per cent in 2023 to 0.1 per cent in 2025, with the actual number falling from 11 600 to 7 900. The same proportion for heated tobacco products dropped from 0.1 per cent in 2023 to a level beyond accurate estimation. These figures were recorded prior to the implementation of the possession ban of ASPs, as well as other tobacco control measures under the Amendment Ordinance including the expansion of statutory no-smoking areas, reflecting the deepening of a smoke-free culture in society. 

     The survey results also show that smoking prevalence among young people remained at extremely low levels, indicating that the new generation no longer accepts smoking behaviour. Adolescence is a critical window for preventing smoking addiction from taking hold. Research indicates that reducing young people’s exposure to e-cigarettes in social settings can help reduce their likelihood of trying e-cigarettes and weaken the misconception that the use of e-cigarettes is normal behaviour. The possession ban is a crucial step toward denormalising ASPs. We will continue to conduct THS every two years and the impact of the possession ban and the new phase of tobacco control measures on smoking behaviour will then be reflected in the next round of THS in 2027.

     In addition to legislation, the “10 measures for tobacco control” announced by the Government also include the strengthening of smoking cessation services as well as publicity and education. The DH has been subventing a number of non-governmental organisations to provide free smoking cessation services, and educates the public on the harm caused by tobacco, so as to ensure the message reaches all segments of society. During the Quit in June campaign, the DH distributes free one-week smoking cessation drug trial packs and Chinese medicine ear points patches through more than 300 community pharmacies, smoking cessation clinics, District Health Centres (DHCs) / DHC Expresses, DH clinics, and designated Chinese medicine clinics. This year, an AI-assisted smoking cessation counselling service was also launched. Following the campaign each year, the number of calls to the smoking cessation hotline has significantly increased, indicating an uptick in smokers’ intentions to quit. The Government will continue to monitor the implementation and effectiveness of various tobacco control measures, making timely policy adjustments as we move towards the goal of a smoke-free Hong Kong.

     Thank you, President.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

On the afternoon of June 9 local time (noon of the same day Taipei time), Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao visited Belau National Hospital and Belau National Museum in the Republic of Palau. In remarks, Vice President Hsiao stated that public health is a very important job and life-and-death matter, and it is also an important area and a priority for President Lai Ching-te. She affirmed the achievements of the long-term medical cooperation between Taiwan and Palau, and thanked Taiwan’s medical teams for their continuous dedication to medical services in Palau. The vice president noted that the two sides have engaged in close exchanges and cooperation in areas such as public health, culture, education, and infrastructure, demonstrating a mutual commitment to advancing people’s well-being and deepening the Taiwan-Palau partnership.
The vice president first arrived at Belau National Hospital, where she received a briefing from Shin Kong Hospital on its medical programs. In her subsequent remarks , she thanked Palauan Vice President Raynold Oilouch for his hospitality. Noting that Vice President Oilouch also serves as health minister, she acknowledged his added responsibility of taking care of the public health of the people of Palau, describing it as a very important job and life-and-death matter. She expressed that Taiwan is honored to have the opportunity to partner with and contribute to the health and well-being of the people of Palau.
Vice President Hsiao expressed that the government is especially thankful to the professionals from Taiwanese hospitals and the private doctors who come to Palau every few months to contribute their medical expertise. She noted that Shin Kong Hospital, a very good private hospital in Taiwan, has taken the lead in partnering with Palau, adding that there are also other hospitals and medical professionals from Taiwan working with Palau in various ways.
Vice President Hsiao pointed out that during this trip, she has witnessed many areas of cooperation, including infrastructure, agriculture, aquaculture, culture, and education.  She said that she is thankful for the opportunity to see firsthand our cooperation in public health. She highlighted that Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Lin Ching-yi (林靜儀),  who was present, is a doctor by profession and serves not only as Taiwan’s Palau expert, but also as a health expert for Taiwan. The vice president also noted that Deputy Minister Lin was her colleague in Taiwan’s legislature many years ago, and said that she has been very helpful in Taiwan-Palau exchanges and cooperation on finding the best pathway to support the broader bilateral relationship. Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also always providing support, she said, offering assistance with all Palau-related affairs beyond just public health.
Vice President Hsiao emphasized that public health is indeed an important area and a priority for President Lai’s administration. As the first medical doctor-turned-president in Taiwan’s history, President Lai has placed great emphasis on public health since taking office. This is part of his professional expertise, she said, noting that he also chairs the Healthy Taiwan Promotion Committee.
Recalling the time when President Lai served as vice president, Vice President Hsiao mentioned that during his visits to countries such as Paraguay and Honduras, he always focused on public health projects, demonstrating that this is an administrative priority for him. In closing, Vice President Hsiao thanked Palau for this partnership, which gives Taiwan an opportunity to contribute as a force for good in the world and demonstrate our eagerness to contribute to public health and global health.
Following the hospital visit, the vice president and her delegation proceeded to Belau National Museum. Guided by Museum Director Olympia E. Morei-Remengesau, they toured a bai (men’s meeting house), an exhibition on the monumental earthworks of Babeldaob, a special exhibition on Taiwan’s indigenous peoples, and history galleries featuring artifacts from the Spanish, German, and Japanese colonial periods, as well as the United States trust territory era.
Vice President Hsiao also signed the guestbook at the special exhibition on Taiwan’s indigenous peoples, writing“Proud to share Austronesian cultures between Taiwan & Palau”in English, and in Chinese, expressing hope for everlasting friendship and mutual prosperity and development between the two nations.
Also in attendance at the activities were Palauan Minister of Human Resources, Culture, Tourism and Development Ngiraibelas Tmetuchl and Ambassador-designate to Taiwan Gaafar J. Uherbelau. 

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

On the afternoon of June 8 local time (afternoon of the same day Taipei time), Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao visited a farm operated by the Taiwan Technical Mission in the Republic of Palau. In remarks, Vice President Hsiao stated that the technical mission has long been dedicated to collaboration in agriculture, aquaculture, education, and information technology, helping to promote the development of Palau’s industries and deepen the two countries’ friendship. She said that by continuing to leverage professional technical cooperation, both sides can help to address development needs in Palau and work together to promote sustainable development.
Upon her arrival, the vice president first listened to a briefing on operations by Benjamin Tsai (蔡明哲), leader of the technical mission. In her remarks afterward, she noted that this visit was specifically arranged in order to learn more about the concrete achievements of the technical mission’s cooperative projects, while further deepening the cooperative relations and friendship between Taiwan and Palau across various fields. She also took the opportunity to extend her appreciation and encouragement to all team members working hard on the frontlines to contribute to Taiwan’s diplomacy. The vice president pointed out that Palau is geographically closest to Taiwan among the latter’s diplomatic allies and has always been highly supportive of Taiwan. In recent years, cooperation between the two sides has continued to expand, with further collaboration not only in agriculture, aquaculture, and education, but also in the field of information technology.
The vice president mentioned that earlier during her itinerary, Palauan President Surangel S. Whipps, Jr. shared several future policy goals with Taiwan, including plans to expand the milkfish aquaculture industry. Suitable locations have already been identified, and the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in the Republic of Palau and the Taiwan Technical Mission will subsequently conduct professional assessments to support Palau with the project’s development.
The vice president noted that throughout various stops on her trip, she observed that Palau places great focus on the utilization of marine resources, as well as how to balance conservation with the economic needs of Palauan residents. She expressed her belief that the technologies introduced by the technical mission will bring immense benefits to the related issues being discussed in Palauan society and to the process of further development in the future.
The vice president said that she was highly impressed by the beautiful produce on display at the technical mission. Palau relies heavily on imports for many of its dietary and daily necessities, and imported products are not only more expensive, but also increase carbon emissions. She emphasized that the technical mission’s professional assistance is of great significance in promoting the further development of local industries across various fields. In closing, Vice President Hsiao once again thanked the members of the technical mission for their dedication and hard work.
Following her remarks, the vice president viewed some of the technical mission’s cultivated crops, including dragon fruit, guava, pineapple, and taro, learning about the relevant breeding and promotion efforts. She also commended the team members for their long-term dedication to technical cooperation in agriculture and their efforts assisting our diplomatic ally in its development.
Also in attendance at the event was Palauan Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and the Environment Steven Victor.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region