Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about a fatal work accident that happened at a construction site in Stanley this afternoon (May 4), in which a male worker was struck by a falling object while he was working inside a lift shaft. He was certified dead later in hospital. The LD is saddened by the death of the worker and expresses its deepest sympathy to his family.

The LD’s spokesman said, “We commenced an immediate on-site investigation as soon as we were notified of the accident and issued suspension notices to the contractors concerned, suspending the lift works at the site. The contractors cannot resume the work process until the LD is satisfied that suitable measures to abate the relevant risks have been taken.”

The spokesman added, “We will complete the investigation as soon as possible to identify the cause of the accident, ascertain the liability of the duty holders and recommend improvement measures. We will take actions pursuant to the law if there is any violation of the work safety legislation.”
      
To prevent workers being struck by falling objects while working inside a lift shaft, the LD reminds employers to plan and coordinate works inside the lift shaft well to avoid incompatible activities being conducted at the same time; and ensure the lift works are conducted under the immediate supervision of a qualified person who is competent by virtue of his/her substantial training and practical experience in relation to the relevant works. 

The general duty provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance require employers to provide safe working environments, plant and systems of work for their employees. Those who contravene the relevant provisions are liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for two years.

In regard to today’s accident, the LD will issue a Work Safety Alert through its mobile application “OSH 2.0”, website and email, giving a brief account of the accident concerned to duty holders, workers’ unions, professional bodies of safety practitioners and others, and reminding the industry of the importance of following safety precautionary measures to prevent a recurrence of similar accidents.

The LD will also remind the employer concerned of the liability for employees’ compensation under the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance, assist family members of the deceased to claim employees’ compensation and closely follow up on the case. For those with financial difficulties, the LD will assist them to apply for appropriate emergency funds. Subject to the needs and wishes of family members of the deceased, the LD will also liaise with the Social Welfare Department for financial or other assistance.

For the sake of securing the safety and health of employees at work, the LD appeals to employers to provide plant and systems of work that are safe and without risks to health. Employees should co-operate with their employers, adopt all safety measures and use personal protective equipment provided properly to avoid endangering their own work safety and that of other workers.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

April 30, 2026  No. 168  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) strongly condemns and protests Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s inappropriate distortion of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 2758 during a recent meeting with President of the 80th session of the UNGA Annalena Baerbock. He falsely claimed that the resolution had resolved the issue of representation for all of China—including Taiwan—and that it had been universally accepted within the UN system.
MOFA reiterates that UNGA Resolution 2758 merely addressed the issue of China’s representation in the United Nations and that it made no mention of Taiwan throughout its entire text. The resolution did not determine that Taiwan was part of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), and it certainly did not authorize the PRC to represent Taiwan in the UN system. Thus, the resolution has no bearing on Taiwan and cannot serve as a basis for precluding Taiwan’s participation in the UN system or other multilateral mechanisms. Only the democratically elected government of Taiwan has the right to represent Taiwan in the UN system and other international organizations and multilateral mechanisms.
 
MOFA notes that following World War II, the Treaty of San Francisco—which has the force of international law—replaced political declarations such as the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation. The treaty did not grant sovereignty over Taiwan to the PRC, and the PRC has never governed Taiwan. Therefore, Taiwan is by no means part of the PRC.
 
Moreover, in the mid-1980s, Taiwan began a bottom-up transition toward political liberalization and democratization, culminating in its first direct presidential election in 1996. Since then, the representatives of the executive and legislative branches of the Republic of China (Taiwan) government have all been democratically elected by the people of Taiwan, making the ROC (Taiwan) government the sole lawful government that effectively governs and represents Taiwan internationally. This has also established the objective fact that the ROC (Taiwan) and the PRC exist as equals and the status quo that neither is subordinate to the other. Further, the ROC (Taiwan) has experienced three changes of governing party—in 2000, 2008, and 2016. The continued consolidation of Taiwan’s democratic system and sense of identity reflects the Taiwan people’s staunch belief in and unwavering commitment to the pursuit of freedom and democracy. 
 
MOFA urges the international community to continue taking concrete action to counter China’s misrepresentation of UNGA Resolution 2758 and jointly refute China’s efforts to claim that the issue of Taiwan is an internal matter by improperly linking the resolution to the so-called “one China principle,” thereby attempting to change the objective cross-strait status quo and establish a legal basis for the potential future use of force against Taiwan.
 
MOFA also calls on the UN system to strictly abide by the principle of neutrality and refrain from acquiescing to China’s unreasonable suppression of Taiwan’s legitimate right to seek participation and acceding to inappropriate statements on behalf of all UN member states.
 
MOFA emphasizes that Taiwan, as a force for good in the international community, is capable of actively contributing to the UN system’s varied initiatives, including the Sustainable Development Goals and international peace and security. Only by including Taiwan can the United Nations truly realize the principle of universality and the goal of leaving no one behind. (E)

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The 15-day arrangements for residents at seven blocks of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po to return to their units in batches concluded today.

Among the 1,736 households of the seven blocks, a total of 6,265 residents from 1,674 households have returned to their units.

The Government said the process was generally smooth and completed in an orderly manner.

Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing expressed his gratitude for the understanding and co-operation of the residents.

He noted that the vast majority of the residents returned to their units within the 15-day period, while only fewer than 10 households required other arrangements. About 50 households decided not to return to their units.

“There were safety hazards at different parts in the seven blocks after the fire. Arranging safe and orderly access for over 1,670 households was highly challenging.

“To ensure the safety of residents and working staff, meticulous planning was required, including removing unsafe scaffolding, strengthening building structures, installing window safety nets on damaged windows, clearing piles of rubble and debris from common areas, accompanying residents up to the units, providing emotional support, managing crowds, and deploying a large number of interdepartmental supporting staff.”

Mr Cheuk expressed heartfelt appreciation to all staff involved in the arrangements, who worked as one team and displayed commitment and empathy in supporting the residents. Specifically, the staff attentively escorted the residents and assisted in transporting their belongings on their way down. 

Their dedication helped ensure that the arrangements proceeded smoothly, Mr Cheuk added.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Inland Revenue Department today issued about 2.77 million tax returns for individuals for the year of assessment 2025-26.

Taxpayers should file their tax returns by June 4. For sole proprietors, a three-month period is allowed and the filing deadline is August 4. Those filing through eTAX will be granted a one-month extension.

Moreover, starting from today, electronic tax filing services will be further extended to cover the filing of tax returns for claiming exemption of salaries income and relief from double taxation, and by taxpayers running sole proprietorship businesses with a gross income exceeding $2 million.

At a press conference this afternoon, Commissioner of Inland Revenue Benjamin Chan outlined the concessionary tax measures proposed in the latest Policy Address and Budget, including reductions of salaries tax, tax under personal assessment and profits tax; increases in allowances; an increase in the deduction ceiling for elderly residential care expenses; and an extension of the claim period for additional child allowance for newborns.

Mr Chan also noted that the first phase of mandatory electronic filing of profits tax returns came into effect on April 1. The “relevant entities” of multinational enterprise groups subject to the global minimum tax regime are required to file their profits tax returns electronically from the year of assessment 2025-26 onwards. He said the Inland Revenue Department will launch a new function under the Business Tax Portal in the fourth quarter to enable those entities to file top-up tax returns, as well as to view and download the electronic notices of top-up tax assessments.

Separately, on revenue collection, the department collected $458.3 billion for 2025-26, an increase of 22% from the previous year.

The revenue collection for 2026-27 is estimated at $455.1 billion, representing a 0.7% year-on-year decrease.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Department of Justice today launched Mediation Week 2026 under the theme “Mediate First: An Attempt of Mediation Harvests Abundant Harmony”, beginning with a school mediation seminar.

The five-day programme, aims to promote mediation as an amicable way to resolve conflicts and foster a more harmonious community. Seminars throughout the week will cover disputes related to schools, sports, the elderly and neighbourhoods.

Addressing the kick-off event, Secretary for Justice Paul Lam said young people are the future and that the Government is committed to embedding a mediation culture within schools.

Mr Lam noted that this year’s Mediation Week aims to promote the values of diversified solutions and harmonious relationships, and he encouraged students to use mediation skills to achieve win-win solutions in a peaceful and rational manner.

The opening seminar, titled “Capital of Mediation: You are the Future”, featured a session where peer-trained students demonstrated how mediation builds communication skills and empowers them to address disputes collaboratively.

A second session highlighted winners of the Mediation Essay Competition 2026. This year, the competition expanded for the first time to include students from across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

Regarding an earlier announcement of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) cases, the spokesperson for North District Hospital (NDH) made the following update today (May 2):
 
Following a contact tracing investigation, one more patient, a 75-year-old male patient in the convalescent and rehabilitation mixed ward of NDH, was found to be VRE carrier, while not having signs of infection. The patient is currently being treated in isolation and is in stable condition.  
 
The hospital will continue the contact tracing investigation of close contacts of the patients in accordance with the prevailing guidelines. The following enhanced infection control measures have already been adopted in the ward concerned:
 

1. Isolation of VRE cases and application of stringent contact precautions;
2. Enhanced environmental cleaning and disinfection; and
3. Enhanced hand hygiene for staff and patients.

 
The hospital will continue applying the enhanced infection control measures and closely monitor the situation of the ward concerned. 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 – 4

     The Government announced today (May 4) that Mr John Tse Chun-chung will take up the appointment as Director of Information Services on May 5, 2026, following an open-cum-in-service recruitment exercise.

     Commenting on the appointment of Mr Tse, the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, said, “Mr Tse has extensive experience in public administration, is highly skilled in handling media and public relations, and possesses outstanding leadership and management capabilities. I am confident that under his leadership, the Information Services Department will strive to promote public understanding of government policies and positions, and tell the world about the good stories of Hong Kong.”

     Mr Tse joined the Government in 1999 and served in various positions both at frontline department and policy bureau. He was seconded to the Chief Executive’s Office under civil service appointment terms to serve as the Communications Secretary in August 2022, and has been serving as Information Co-ordinator since June 2024. In February 2026, the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau conducted a selection process, including an open-cum-in-service recruitment exercise, for the post of Director of Information Services. Following the selection process, Mr Tse has been identified as the most suitable candidate. The Government appointed Mr Tse as the Director of Information Services under the civil service appointment terms, effective on May 5.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Gewandhausorchester Leipzig from Germany, with a history of over 280 years, will return to Hong Kong after a seven-year hiatus, presenting two concerts at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre in June. This also marks the Hong Kong debut of world-class conductor and Grammy Award winner Andris Nelsons – he will lead the orchestra in symphonic masterpieces by Schumann and Shostakovich, and be joined by International Chopin Piano Competition winner Yulianna Avdeeva to perform piano concertos by Beethoven and Rachmaninov, opening the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD)’s “Great Music 2026”.

This musical extravaganza, bringing together top-tier musicians and timeless classics, has received an overwhelming response from music lovers. Tickets for the second concert (June 3) are already sold out, while over 80 per cent of tickets for the first concert (June 2) have also been snapped up. Those who are interested are reminded to buy tickets as early as possible.
 
As the final stop of the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig’s Asia tour this year, the first concert (June 2) in Hong Kong will feature two masterpieces that received their world premieres by the orchestra in the first half of the 19th century: Beethoven’s “Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat, Op. 73, ‘Emperor'”, first performed under then-music director Schulz in 1811; and Schumann’s “Symphony No. 1 in B-flat, Op. 38, ‘Spring'”, conducted by Mendelssohn at its 1841 premiere. Under the baton of Nelsons, current music director of the orchestra, this concert not only honours the orchestra’s glorious chapters in classical music tradition but also allows audiences to experience the legendary “Leipzig sound” passed down through centuries. The second concert (June 3) will present two 20th-century classics: Rachmaninov’s “Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18” and Shostakovich’s “Symphony No. 10 in E minor, Op. 93”. Avdeeva will be the soloist for the piano concertos of both concerts, weaving her extraordinary artistry into the orchestral tapestry and engaging in a profound dialogue with the works.
 
The Gewandhausorchester Leipzig is the world’s oldest civic symphony orchestra. Its origins date back to 1743, when it was founded by a group of 16 musical philanthropists, comprising noblemen and burghers alike. It earned its name after moving into the upper hall of the Gewandhaus (a textile merchants’ trading house). The orchestra is revered for its highly individual, warm, dark sound palette that clearly distinguishes it from other elite orchestras. Over the years, it has made a significant contribution to the development of the symphonic musical tradition, including performing all of Beethoven’s symphonies during the composer’s lifetime. The orchestra also presented the world’s first complete Bruckner symphonic cycle, as well as the first Shostakovich cycle, during the 1970s.
 
Nelsons is currently Gewandhauskapellmeister (music director and conductor) of the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig and music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and has established a pioneering alliance between the two institutions. His complete recordings of the symphonies and concertos of Shostakovich and the opera “Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District” have garnered four Grammy Awards for “Best Orchestral Performance” and “Best Engineered Album, Classical”. He also completed a Bruckner symphonic cycle and a Beethoven cycle with the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra respectively.
 
Avdeeva is the First Prize Winner of the 16th International Chopin Piano Competition in 2010. Her performance was praised by The Telegraph (United Kingdom) newspaper as “spontaneous and volatile” and “full of depth and colour”. She has collaborated with numerous orchestras, such as the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, the Seattle Symphony Orchestra and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. She has recently appeared at the “Chopin and his Europe” Festival in Warsaw and the Shostakovich Festival in Leipzig, and has given solo recitals at Vienna’s Musikverein Wien, the Berliner Philharmonie and more.
 
“Gewandhausorchester Leipzig” concerts will be staged at 8pm on June 2 and 3 (Tuesday and Wednesday) at the Concert Hall of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Tickets for the first concert priced at $450, $650, $850, $1,000, $1,300 and $1,600 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. Discount schemes are available for the programmes under “Great Music 2026”. All tickets for the second concert have been sold out. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/programs_1947.html.
 
Two pre-concert talks (to be conducted in Cantonese) will be held at 6.45pm on June 2 and 3 respectively at Level 4 Foyer, Auditoria Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. The first talk entitled “From the Classical Period to the Romantic Period” will be hosted by music practitioner Jimmy Shiu, while the second talk entitled “Echoes of Russia – The Sound of Leipzig” will be hosted by music critic Savio Lau. Admission is free, with limited seats available on a first-come, first-served basis.
 
The “Great Music 2026”, presented by the LCSD, will bring a world-renowned orchestra and musicians to Hong Kong from June to December, offering music lovers a stellar line-up of performances. For more details, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/groups_1946.html.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is the speech by the Permanent Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Mr Kevin Choi, at the opening ceremony of the Asia-Pacific Regional International Astronomical Union (IAU) Meeting 2026 today (May 4):

Distinguished guests, esteemed scientists and astronomers, ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning. It is a distinct honour to join you today for the opening ceremony of the Asia-Pacific Regional International Astronomical Union Meeting. To our friends who have travelled from across the region and around the globe, a very warm welcome to Hong Kong. And to local scientists and astronomers, I am sure that you are as thrilled as I am to join this star-studded conference here.

When people speak of Hong Kong, they often envision our iconic skyline, our bustling Victoria Harbour, and our status as a premier hub for finance and trade. But today, I have to invite you to look beyond our skyscrapers – all the way to the stars. Hong Kong is not just a spectator in the cosmos. We are determined, well equipped and well positioned to carving out a unique niche in space technology.

Our nation China has set a visionary strategic direction, and it is accelerating the journey towards becoming a global aerospace powerhouse. Under the unique “one country, two systems” principle, Hong Kong stands as the only city in the world that seamlessly integrates the “China advantage” with a distinct “global advantage”. In fact, the National 15th Five-Year Plan shows unwavering support for Hong Kong’s development into an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre. This makes us the ideal host for this prestigious IAU gathering, among other prominent international scientific conferences.

Our confidence to be the international I&T centre, alongside aerospace developer, is rooted in a bedrock of world-class excellence. Hong Kong is home to five universities ranked among the world’s top 100, creating an open and vibrant research ecosystem. The Government is steadfast in its commitment to supporting our scientists in participating in national space mission projects, leveraging our strengths in basic research to solve the mysteries of the universe.

In terms of concrete investment, our Innovation and Technology Support Programme supported by the Innovation and Technology Commission, has launched the Special Call on Aerospace Technology, allocating over $100 million to support six flagship R&D (research and development) projects. This includes pioneering work led by our hosts today, the University of Hong Kong (HKU). We will continue to work hand-in-hand with the academic sector to foster a sustainable and thriving aerospace research environment.

We are also proud of the Hong Kong Space Robotics and Energy Centre (HKSREC), established under the InnoHK research clusters. In collaboration with local universities including HKU and other esteemed partners, the HKSREC is currently developing a multifunctional lunar surface operation robot. This is not a mere academic exercise; this technology will be directly applied to the Chang’e-8 (嫦娥八號) lunar exploration programme, enabling scientific exploration, instrument deployment, and collaborative operations in the moon’s challenging environment. Imagine Hong Kong is now on the moon’s surface. 

Building on this momentum, I am also pleased to share that the newly established SEAM@InnoHK – our third InnoHK research cluster focusing on sustainable development, energy, advanced manufacturing and materials – has admitted eight cutting-edge R&D laboratories. Among them there is the Centre for Space Manufacturing Technology, which will further strengthen Hong Kong’s role in advancing aerospace innovation and contribute to the long-term vision of sustainable space exploration, which is one of the key topics of this conference too.

Equally exciting is the participation of an HKU research team in the country’s Tianwen-3 (天問三號) planetary mission. The Short-Wavelength Infrared Spectrometer, developed right here at HKU, has been officially selected as a payload for the mission. This instrument will be vital for forecasting Martian dust storms and searching for biosignatures. These achievements underscore the Hong Kong Government’s strategic initiative to cultivate a local aerospace industry by leveraging our special, unique geographical and institutional advantages.

Ladies and gentlemen, Hong Kong may be small in landmass, but our scientific ambition is boundless. With robust government backing, world-class talent, and deep cross-boundary synergy, we are not just witnessing the nation’s and the world’s space journey – we are helping to engineer its future.

Lastly, may I wish the IAU Asia-Pacific Meeting every success and hope you all have a rewarding exchange of ideas over these few days.

Thank you very much.