Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

On the morning of May 26, President Lai Ching-te met with a cross-party delegation from the German-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group. In remarks, President Lai thanked the German government and Bundestag for valuing and supporting Taiwan, empowering Taiwan to work with even more partners and contribute to global development. The president stated that he looks forward to Taiwan and Germany continuing to deepen partnerships in areas such as cybersecurity, the defense industry, disaster prevention and relief, and societal resilience. He expressed confidence that both sides can build on their experiences to strengthen democratic resilience, safeguard democratic values and the international order, and promote prosperity and development in both countries.
A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:
I am delighted to meet with German-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group Chairman Till Steffen and Bundestag Members Klaus-Peter Willsch and Rainer Kraft again today. I also want to warmly welcome Vice Chairs Markus Reichel and Mandy Eißing on their first visit to Taiwan. This is also the first time that the German-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group of the 21st Bundestag is visiting Taiwan, and having a cross-party delegation present makes it all the more meaningful. Today’s guests are all good friends who attach great importance to Taiwan. In particular, Chairman Steffen is already on his second visit since February of this year, while Bundestag Member Willsch served as chairman of the group for 15 years and attended my and Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao’s inauguration ceremony two years ago. I am deeply grateful to our guests for taking action to demonstrate firm support for a democratic Taiwan.
Taiwan and Germany both cherish the universal values of democracy, freedom, and respect for the rule of law. In the face of rapidly changing global dynamics, we understand that it is only through cooperation with democratic partners that we can uphold the rules-based international order. I would like to thank the German government and Bundestag for valuing and supporting Taiwan. In September two years ago, German naval vessels transited through the Taiwan Strait for the first time in 22 years, with Germany emphasizing that the Taiwan Strait constitutes international waters, and freedom of navigation must be protected. The German-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group has repeatedly voiced support for Taiwan’s international participation, empowering Taiwan to work with even more partners and contribute to global development.
In recent years, Taiwan and Germany have continued to deepen ties based on our shared democratic values, and have also expanded exchanges in areas such as the economy, trade, and technology. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s investment in a fab in Dresden, in particular, marks an important milestone in Taiwan-Germany industrial cooperation. Not only has this promoted industrial exchanges between Taiwan and Europe, but it has also further enhanced Taiwan and Germany’s contributions to global democratic supply chain resilience. With the support of our guests, I look forward to Taiwan and Germany deepening our partnerships in areas such as cybersecurity, the defense industry, disaster prevention and relief, and societal resilience. I am confident that we can build on our experiences to strengthen democratic resilience.
In closing, I would once again like to welcome our guests to Taiwan. I trust this visit will help us identify even more opportunities for cooperation. I look forward to Taiwan and Germany working together to safeguard democratic values and the international order, and promote prosperity and development in both our countries.
Chairman Steffen then delivered remarks, stating that the delegation members hail from different regions and political parties in Germany, fully demonstrating cross-party support for Taiwan. He pointed out that the constituencies represented by the delegation members have diverse ties with Taiwan, adding that the number of staff of the German Institute Taipei has increased, which underscores the growing closeness of exchanges between the two countries.
Chairman Steffen noted that both the German government and Bundestag have maintained their position on Taiwan. He stated that China sometimes expresses opinions regarding exchanges with Taiwan, as China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs did the previous day regarding this visit. In response, he expressed directly that exchanges between democracies are normal, and interference by third parties will not be accepted.
Speaking about President Lai’s recent visit to the Kingdom of Eswatini, Chairman Steffen stated that this is a normal exchange between countries that maintain diplomatic relations, and China’s attempts to interfere have drawn significant international attention. He emphasized that relations between Germany and Taiwan have withstood the test of time and will not change in any way. However, considering that the global landscape is continuously evolving, he said, the two countries should further strengthen bilateral exchanges and jointly address threats posed by authoritarian regimes.
Chairman Steffen said that Taiwan and Germany face similar challenges when it comes to expanding their global reach, industrial resilience, national defense, and civil defense. He emphasized that the two sides share many commonalities, providing great opportunities to learn from each other. He expressed hope that the two countries will launch new cooperative endeavors across a wide range of fields.
The delegation was accompanied to the Presidential Office by Director General of the German Institute Taipei Karsten Tietz.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Inter-departmental Task Force on Monitoring Fuel Supply announced today that the Government will provide a fuel subsidy of $0.5 per litre of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for taxis, public light buses and school private light buses, from May 31 until July 30.

It is expected that about 16,900 LPG (including LPG-hybrid) taxis, 3,440 LPG public light buses and 170 LPG school private light buses will benefit from the subsidy.

The Government said the two-month temporary measure aims to alleviate operating costs for local passenger transport commercial vehicles which primarily use LPG as fuel, thereby reducing the pressure for fare increases.

In practice, oil companies will offer a discount of $0.5 per litre of LPG at all 66 LPG filling stations across Hong Kong for all LPG taxis, public light buses and school private light buses. No registration or application is required.

To ensure proper use of public funds, the Government and oil companies have signed agreements which set out responsibilities and terms. These arrangements include the Government’s reimbursement to oil companies for the actual amount of subsidies provided; the requirement for oil companies to maintain complete and accurate books and records; the requirement to submit reports to the Government every week; and auditing arrangements. In addition, the Transport Department has steered oil companies in completing system enhancements and testing to ensure smooth implementation.

The Transport Department will also display posters at its licensing offices and LPG filling stations. Leaflets will be distributed at major taxi stands, public light bus stands and all dedicated LPG stations to inform frontline drivers of the subsidy details.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government announced today that, with the Chief Executive’s approval, it has appointed Sunny Chai as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the San Tin Technopole Company (STTC).

Mr Chai will serve as Chairman for a three-year term starting from July 1. The San Tin Technopole Company will be established before then as a non-statutory, limited company wholly owned by the Financial Secretary Incorporated. It will press ahead with developing 210 hectares of land for innovation and technology within the technopole.

Mr Chai has been serving as Chairman of the Board at Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC) since 2018. He will become the STTC’s first Chairman upon the expiry of his chairmanship at HKSTPC on June 30.

Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry Prof Sun Dong said Mr Chai is a seasoned industrialist with rich experience in public service.

“Under his sterling leadership, the HKSTPC has conducted planning studies for approximately 20 hectares of land within the San Tin Technopole.

“I am confident that under Dr Chai’s leadership, the San Tin Technopole will become a stronghold for the future development of emerging technology industries in Hong Kong and an important base for developing new quality productive forces.”

In terms of corporate structure, the STTC Board, appointed by the Government, will comprise a chairperson, official directors, and non-official directors that come from diverse backgrounds and sectors.

The Government will participate directly in the STTC’s major decisions through the official directors, who will include the Permanent Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry, the Permanent Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury (Treasury), and the Commissioner for Innovation & Technology.

The Innovation, Technology & Industry Bureau said it is striving to complete other preparatory tasks within the current year, with a view to enabling the STTC to start operating fully as soon as possible. 

Source: Government of the Republic of Korea

On behalf of the Korean people and myself, I sincerely welcome Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and the Japanese delegation to the Republic of Korea.

Four months after my visit to Nara, the Prime Minister’s hometown, in January, Prime Minister Takaichi has paid a visit to Andong, my hometown.

This marks the first time for Korean and Japanese leaders to have visited each other’s hometowns, a rare occurrence anywhere in the world.

The fact that such meaningful and historic exchanges took place in the span of just four months speaks to the depth and strength of the friendship and bonds that Korea and Japan now share.

Also highly significant is the growing scope of our shuttle diplomacy. The location of such visits had previously been limited to Seoul and Tokyo, but now they have expanded to include various regional cities such as Busan, Gyeongju, Nara and Andong.

Annual people-to-people exchanges between Korea and Japan have reached 13 million, and young people in both countries are actively visiting the regional cities of their neighboring country in search of their hidden charms.

Korean-Japanese relations are now widening beyond the capitals to reach every corner of our respective countries, opening new horizons for our partnership.

At today’s summit, building on the trust developed through our shuttle diplomacy to date, Prime Minister Takaichi and I had candid discussions on a broad range of issues as strategic partners in jointly responding to the rapidly changing international environment.

In particular, we agreed that close bilateral cooperation is needed more than ever amid the instability in supply chains and energy markets arising from the recent situation in the Middle East.

We also concurred that peace and stability in the Middle East should be promptly restored.

Based on this shared understanding, our two countries assessed the achievements of the Korea-Japan Supply Chain Partnership Arrangement concluded last March and resolved to further expanding our bilateral supply chain cooperation.

Prime Minister Takaichi also proposed that our two countries work closely together to deepen cooperation on resource supply chains with other Asian nations facing supply disruptions.

I welcomed the initiative and conveyed my commitment to actively participating in it. In addition, our two countries agreed to further strengthen cooperation in the sectors of LNG and crude oil, which are key energy sources.

Building on a memorandum of understanding concerning the optimization of LNG operations signed by Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS) and JERA in March, we agreed to expand bilateral LNG cooperation while further strengthening channels for information sharing and communication regarding crude oil supply and stockpiling.

Amid the rapidly changing international landscape we reaffirmed the importance of bilateral cooperation between our two countries, as well as trilateral cooperation among Korea, the United States and Japan, in the interest of regional peace and stability.

In this context, we viewed the recent Republic of Korea-Japan Security Policy Consultative Meeting – convened for the first time at the vice-ministerial level – as a highly significant development.

I also emphasized that, as countries in Northeast Asia are closely interconnected across various fronts, including the economy and security, it is essential for Korea, China and Japan to respect one another, cooperate and pursue shared interests in order to achieve genuine peace and stability in the region.

We also held in-depth discussions on the Korean Peninsula situation.

I outlined our government’s vision of building a peaceful Korean Peninsula where the two Koreas can coexist peacefully and grow together – one where there is no need to fight.

Our two sides noted how active communication and exchanges at all levels has enabled steady progress on the various substantive initiatives for cooperation discussed during our January summit. We agreed to further expand our forward-looking cooperation.

I emphasized that by leveraging each other’s respective strengths to bolster the foundation for mutually beneficial and strategic cooperation in artificial intelligence, the companies and people of both nations will be at the forefront of efforts to establish a “Global AI Universal Basic Society.”

Moreover, we held in-depth discussions on bilateral cooperation in such advanced technology fields as space exploration and biohealth.

Our two countries resolved to bolster cooperation on protecting the lives and safety of our citizens.

Importantly, the Memorandum of Cooperation on Police Cooperation for Joint Response to Transnational Scam Centers, signed between the police agencies of both countries, will serve as a solid foundation for protecting the citizens of both nations from criminal threats by significantly improving the speed and efficiency of investigations.

Furthermore, we concurred on the need to discuss cooperation on personal data protection to ensure the safety and rights of citizens in the AI era.

DNA analysis of the remains excavated from the Chosei Coal Mine in Japan will also begin soon.

We have agreed on the specific procedures and methods for DNA analysis through close working-level consultations between diplomatic authorities of the two countries.

This will be a small but meaningful first step for both countries in cooperating on historical issues, starting with humanitarian matters.

Going forward, the possibilities for Korea-Japan partnership are limitless.

I look forward to continuously developing new avenues for cooperation that can drive shared prosperity in both countries and deliver tangible benefits to the people of both nations.

Including today’s meeting, Prime Minister Takaichi and I have met in person four times over the past seven months.

This signifies that shuttle diplomacy – where the leaders of both nations meet and communicate whenever necessary without the constraints of formalities – has fully taken root.

Marking the 60th anniversary of normalized Korea-Japan relations, I look forward to further expanding future-oriented cooperation that tangibly benefits the people of both our nations.

Once again, I extend a sincere welcome to Prime Minister Takaichi to Korea. I look forward to meeting Prime Minister Takaichi again soon in another beautiful region of Japan to continue our candid communication.

Thank you.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

3D-printed metal implants modelled on human bones are offering patients customised treatment at a lower cost, helping to improve recovery outcomes.

At the Belt & Road Summit 2021, a Hong Kong medical technology company specialising in 3D-printed metal implants signed a co-operation agreement with the Kazakh Research Institute of Oncology & Radiology. The partnership introduced medical 3D printing technology to Kazakhstan, marking a milestone for Hong Kong’s medical innovation exports.

Chief Executive John Lee will lead a delegation to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in June. The 3D printing team believes the earlier agreement has laid a solid foundation for further collaboration. During the upcoming visit, the company’s CEO will join the delegation to sign a new co-operation agreement with Kazakhstan, aimed at introducing more advanced technologies and expanding business opportunities.

The company’s Chief Technology Officer Sun Hao-ran said the team is looking to broaden its scope of collaboration.

“In the future, we aim to handle more clinical cases and also seek the potential for local manufacturing and collaboration on more advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and other technologies.

“We can bring the standard of Hong Kong technologies and clinical services to all of Central Asia, not only Kazakhstan, but also Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries.”

The company maintains close collaboration with Hong Kong universities. Its team believes that partnerships between the medical and innovation sectors are vital to entering the Central Asian market, while expanding Hong Kong’s role in global healthcare.

Chief of Division of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Hong Kong Faculty of Dentistry Richard Su said such collaboration helps strengthen long-term ties.

“Through the company, we can establish more connections with local hospitals and even local universities. That will be beneficial in the long term, for Hong Kong universities’ research and also for patient care.”

The team also advises businesses seeking to expand overseas to introduce innovative technologies, gain a thorough understanding of local cultures and establish strong ties with stakeholders to build mutual trust.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​The Government today (May 26) gazetted four pieces of subsidiary legislation relating to the regulation of ride-hailing services.
 
The Road Traffic (Ride-hailing Service) Regulation sets out the details of the regulatory regime for ride-hailing services, including the validity period and renewal arrangement for ride-hailing service licences, ride-hailing vehicle permits (vehicle permits) and ride-hailing vehicle driving permits; the fees associated with the aforementioned licences and permits; and the obligations imposed on the holders of such licences and permits. The Road Traffic (Driving Licences) (Amendment) Regulation 2026 introduces a combined driving test for taxis and ride-hailing vehicles. The Road Traffic (Limit on Number of Ride-hailing Vehicle Permits) Notice specifies the limit on the number of vehicle permits that may be issued. The Road Traffic (Amendment) (Ride-hailing Service) Ordinance 2025 (Commencement) Notice prescribes the commencement dates of the various provisions of the Road Traffic (Amendment) (Ride-hailing Service) Ordinance 2025.

A spokesperson for the Transport and Logistics Bureau said, “With the support of different sectors of society, the Road Traffic (Amendment) (Ride-hailing Service) Bill 2025 introduced by the Government was passed by the Legislative Council (LegCo) last October, establishing a clear legal framework for the regulation of ride-hailing services and resolving a long-standing controversy. Following extensive consultation, gathering of operational data from the trade and balancing of various considerations, the Government has further established the regulatory details for ride-hailing services through various pieces of subsidiary legislation, with a view to implementing the regulatory regime.
 
     “With the busy traffic in Hong Kong and nearly 90 per cent of the public relying on the efficient public transportation system for their daily journeys, the Government needs to impose an overall control on the number of ride-hailing vehicles. Based on the data collected from the Transport Department’s (TD) survey on the demand for local personalised point-to-point transport services, and having holistically considered all relevant factors and views from various sectors of society, we propose setting the limit on vehicle permits at 10 000 at this stage. We believe this is a prudent, sound and appropriate approach that balances considerations regarding road resources and the public transport ecosystem, allowing the ride-hailing regulatory regime to be implemented smoothly. Following the introduction of the regulatory regime, changes may occur in both passenger demand for ride-hailing services and the operational conditions of ride-hailing vehicles. The Government will closely monitor market developments and the actual operations of the platforms, including licensed platforms’ operational data received by the TD, and conduct dynamic assessments to review and adjust as appropriate,” the spokesperson added. 
 
     “The Government’s objective in introducing a regulatory regime for ride-hailing services is to provide the public with more safe, legally compliant and diverse transport options, while ensuring the healthy and orderly development of the point-to-point transport service industry as a whole. This will foster a healthy competitive environment, with a view to bringing new vitality to the industry, attracting more new entrants and encouraging frontline drivers to upgrade and transform, thereby achieving a win-win situation for the public, ride-hailing services and taxis,” the spokesperson reiterated.
 
In May 2026, the Government consulted the Panel on Transport of the LegCo and the Transport Advisory Committee on the regulatory details for ride-hailing services respectively. Members expressed support for the Government’s proposals and offered views on regulatory matters.
 
The Government will table the four pieces of subsidiary legislation mentioned above before the LegCo tomorrow (May 27) for negative vetting. Details of the regulatory regime and the various pieces of subsidiary legislation are set out in the LegCo brief issued by the Government today.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (May 26) released the fifth batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in May, which includes First Phase Gravidtrap Indexes covering 16 survey areas and Area Gravidtrap Indexes covering 10 survey areas. In response to the rise in gravidtrap indexes in recent months, the FEHD has stepped up mosquito prevention and control work across all districts in Hong Kong.

The Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene, Mr Donald Ng, visited Tai Wai in Sha Tin District this afternoon to inspect the enhanced mosquito prevention and control work in the area, including using drones to identify potential mosquito breeding grounds, conducting fogging operations by large ultra-low volume fogger to eradicate adult mosquitoes, and installing new mosquito traps. He also visited local schools and public housing estates, together with Legislative Council member Hon Chan Hak-kan and some local District Council members. While the First Phase Gravidtrap Index of Tai Wai in May had reached 46 per cent, the latest Area Gravidtrap Index has significantly dropped to 24.2 per cent following intensive mosquito control work. The FEHD will remain vigilant and continue to work closely with relevant government departments and stakeholders to sustain effective mosquito prevention and control work.

The fifth batch of gravidtrap indexes and density indexes for Aedes albopictus in May, covering 26 survey areas, is as follows:
 

District	Survey Area	May 2026
		First Phase Gravidtrap Index	First Phase Density Index
Central and Western	Sheung Wan and Sai Ying Pun	9.1%	2.2
Wan Chai	Happy Valley and Tai Hang	8.8%	1.0
Kwun Tong	Kowloon Bay	22.8%	1.2
Sham Shui Po	Cheung Sha Wan	19.2%	1.7
	Lai Chi Kok	9.1%	1.4
	Sham Shui Po and Shek Kip Mei	27.9%	1.3
Wong Tai Sin	Ngau Chi Wan and San Po Kong	3.7%	1.5
North	Sheung Shui	24.2%	1.3
Sai Kung	Sai Kung Town	19.2%	1.6
	Tseung Kwan O East	24.6%	1.1
	Tseung Kwan O North	26.2%	1.5
	Tseung Kwan O West	9.1%	2.2
Sha Tin	Ma On Shan	32.8%	1.4
Tuen Mun	So Kwun Wat	18.2%	1.3
Yuen Long	Hung Shui Kiu and Ping Shan	6.0%	1.0
	Yuen Long Town	17.2%	1.2

 

District	Survey Area	May 2026
		Area Gravidtrap Index	Area Density Index
Eastern	Shau Kei Wan and Sai Wan Ho	17.0%	1.6
Southern	Pok Fu Lam	15.2%	1.3
Islands	Tung Chung	4.0%	1.3
Kowloon City	Ho Man Tin	23.6%	1.2
Kwun Tong	Yau Tong and Cha Kwo Ling	16.2%	1.7
Wong Tai Sin	Wong Tai Sin West	18.1%	1.7
Sha Tin	Tai Wai	24.2%	1.7
Tai Po	Tai Po West	16.4%	1.0
Tsuen Wan	Ma Wan and Sham Tseng	26.2%	1.7
Tuen Mun	Tuen Mun South	15.5%	1.3

​With reference to the data from the past few years, the gravidtrap indexes start to rise from April or May every year. The indexes are higher from April to June. The actual timing and extent of the rise are affected by factors like weather conditions and rainfall. The average temperature and rainfall recorded in April this year were higher than those in the same period last year, creating favourable conditions for mosquito growth and breeding. As a result, the rise in gravidtrap indexes occurred earlier this year. With the increase in rainfall in May, the gravidtrap indexes are expected to rise further. The overall trend of gravidtrap indexes this year are similar to those of previous years.

     In response to the rise of gravidtrap indexes in recent months, the FEHD has stepped up mosquito prevention and control work across all districts in Hong Kong, including inspecting construction sites, parks, public and private housing estates, and locations with higher mosquito infestations. Over the past two weeks, the FEHD has initiated 15 prosecutions against the management companies or responsible persons-in-charge of these venues following the discovery of mosquito breeding, and issued 42 statutory notices requiring the clearance of stagnant water or stagnant water containers. Furthermore, for survey areas which recorded indexes exceeding 10 per cent, in accordance with the mechanism implemented by the FEHD in response to the chikungunya fever (CF) situation (i.e. strengthening mosquito control work in areas with a gravidtrap index between 10 per cent and 20 per cent, instead of 20 per cent or above under the original mechanism), the FEHD is collaborating with relevant departments and stakeholders to identify locations with high mosquito infestations and carry out intensive and targeted mosquito control measures. The FEHD, the relevant departments and stakeholders will also organise exhibitions, distribute leaflets and posters, and notify residential estates that have subscribed to the gravidtrap Rapid Alert System, advising property management agents and residents to stay vigilant and work together in taking mosquito prevention and elimination measures.

Public participation is crucial to the effective control of mosquito problems. The FEHD appeals to members of the public to continue to work together in strengthening personal mosquito control measures, including:

• tidy up their premises and check for any accumulation of water inside the premises;
• remove all unnecessary water collections and eliminate the sources;
• check household items (those placed in outdoor and open areas in particular), such as refuse containers, vases, air conditioner drip trays, and laundry racks to prevent stagnant water;
• change water in flower vases and scrub their inner surfaces thoroughly, and remove water in saucers under potted plants at least once a week;
• properly cover all containers that hold water to prevent mosquitoes from accessing the water;
• properly dispose of articles that can contain water, such as disposable meal boxes and empty cans; and
• scrub drains and surface sewers with alkaline detergent at least once a week to remove any mosquito eggs.

Starting in August 2025, following the completion of the surveillance of individual survey areas, and once the latest gravidtrap index and the density index are available, the FEHD has been disseminating relevant information through press releases, its website and social media. It aims to allow members of the public to quickly grasp the mosquito infestation situation and strengthen mosquito control efforts, thereby reducing the risk of CF transmission.

Following recommendations from the World Health Organization and taking into account the local situation in Hong Kong, the FEHD sets up gravidtraps in districts where mosquito-borne diseases have been recorded in the past, as well as in densely populated places such as housing estates, hospitals and schools to monitor the breeding and distribution of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which can transmit CF and dengue fever. At present, the FEHD has set up gravidtraps in 62 survey areas of the community, with a surveillance period of two weeks. During the surveillance period, the FEHD will collect the gravidtraps once a week. After the first week of surveillance, the FEHD will immediately examine the glue boards inside the retrieved gravidtraps for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes to compile the Gravidtrap Index (First Phase) and Density Index (First Phase). At the end of the second week of surveillance, the FEHD will instantly check the glue boards for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes. Data from the two weeks of surveillance will be combined to obtain the Area Gravidtrap Index and the Area Density Index. The gravidtrap and density indexes for Aedes albopictus in different survey areas, as well as information on mosquito prevention and control measures, are available on the department’s webpage (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/pestcontrol/dengue_fever/Dengue_Fever_Gravidtrap_Index_Update.html#).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     With a view to safeguarding animal welfare, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) today (May 24) deployed staff to patrol locations where mercy release activities frequently occurred in the past, including Wun Yiu, Tai Po; Ng Tung River, Sheung Shui; Sai Kung Public Pier and Sai Wan Ho Ferry Pier. Educational leaflets were distributed to remind the public to think carefully before participating in mercy releases of animals.
 
     A spokesman for the AFCD said, “If members of the public release animals in an improper manner, such as releasing them into unsuitable habitats, it may adversely affect their survival.”
 
     Under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance (Cap. 169), it is an offence to cause unnecessary suffering to animals by releasing them in an improper manner. Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and imprisonment for three years upon conviction.
 
The AFCD will continue to conduct inspections at locations where animal release activities are likely to take place, take enforcement action when necessary, and carry out publicity and education work.
 
     In addition, the AFCD will launch a restocking exercise on National Fish Releasing Day on June 6 to release juvenile fish with the aim of enhancing local marine resources and improving marine ecology. The department will promote the environmental benefits to the public of science-based restocking, with a view to engaging public support for and participation in these science-based restocking exercises in lieu of improper animal release activities. The public may also consider other charitable activities, such as planting trees or participating in volunteer services with animal welfare groups and environmental organisations.