Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, continued her visit to Guangxi.

     This morning (December 29), Dr Choi met with representatives from the Department of Education of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and local institutions in Nanning. She learned about the latest developments in education in Guangxi and discussed ways to strengthen educational exchanges between Guangxi and Hong Kong.

     Dr Choi said that Guangxi is an important gateway for the country to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and has been actively expanding educational co-operation with ASEAN countries. The Education Bureau of Hong Kong is also committed to attracting more students from around the world, particularly from ASEAN and other Belt and Road countries/regions to pursue studies in Hong Kong. Through enhancing mutual exchanges of experience in talent attraction and promoting collaboration, it will foster higher-quality education development and contribute to the national goal of building a leading country in education in the near future.

     On the same day, Dr Choi visited Guangxi University, and toured its campus facilities to learn about the university’s development and its collaboration with Hong Kong institutions in technology.

     She then visited Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine where she met with its leadership to learn about its efforts in nurturing Chinese medicine professionals and promoting research in Chinese medicine. Dr Choi also met with Hong Kong students studying at the university to learn about their studies and daily lives, and shared with them the latest developments in Hong Kong.

     On December 27, Dr Choi arrived in Nanning and met with Vice Chairman of the People’s Government of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Ms Lu Xinning that evening to exchange views on education issues of mutual concern.

     On December 28, Dr Choi also met with Deputy Director-General of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Mr Song Haijun to discuss deepening collaboration in education between the two places. She also visited a patriotic education base in Nanning to learn how exhibitions and collections are used to promote patriotic education.

     Dr Choi will return to Hong Kong tomorrow (December 30).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Water Supplies Department (WSD) today (December 30) alerted members of the public to the following fraudulent WSD website addresses which asks recipients to pay water bills via a hyperlink provided.
 

• wsd.govi[.]qpon/hk
• wsd[.]giov[.]lat/hk
• wsd[.]pijhhsj[.]sbs

      
     The WSD stresses that the fraudulent websites have no connection with the WSD and the department has reported the cases to the Police. The spokesman said that members of the public who have registered for the WSD’s electronic services account and e-billing service must complete verification on the WSD website (www.wsd.gov.hk) before they can view their e-bills and obtain the Faster Payment System QR code on the bill for making payments.
      
     Members of the public should stay alert when receiving any unidentified emails or messages, and not visit any suspicious websites and disclose any personal information. Anyone who has provided his or her personal information to the websites concerned or other suspcious websites should contact the Police. For enquiries, please call the WSD’s customer services hotline at 2824 5000.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Government announced today (December 30) the membership list of the Hong Kong Council for Testing and Certification (HKCTC) in the new term for two years from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2027.
       
     Professor Wong Wing-tak has been reappointed as the Chairman of the HKCTC. Six new members, namely Dr Kwok Tai-wai, Mr Norman Lee Shu-leung, Dr Lee Tak-yiu, Mr Robert Lok Pak-keung, Mr Tian Limao and Professor Joan Zuo Zhong have been appointed. In addition, 10 incumbent members have been reappointed.
      
     The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, said, “Professor Wong has led the HKCTC with remarkable achievements over the past four years. We are confident that under his continued leadership and with the collective efforts of its members, the HKCTC will build upon its achievements, foster technological innovation in Hong Kong’s testing and certification industry, explore new opportunities and reach new heights.”
      
     Professor Sun also expressed gratitude to the six outgoing members, namely Dr Ann Leung, Mr Kenneth Leung Yuk-wai, Dr Wingco Lo Kam-wing, Dr Fanny Tang Wai-fan, Ms Gilly Wong Fung-han and Mr Wilson Wong Wing-wa for their strong support and active contribution to the work of the HKCTC.
      
     The membership list of the Council for the new term is as follows:
 
Chairman
———–
Professor Wong Wing-tak
 
Non-official members
————————
Ms Bess Choi Siu-fong
Mr Martin Fan
Dr Crystal Fok Lo-ming
Dr Gray Ho Koon-sing
Dr Emmie Ho Ngai-man
Ms Denise Hou Yuen-chi
Dr Kwok Tai-wai
Dr Lesly Lam Lik-shan
Ms Fiona Lee
Mr Norman Lee Shu-leung
Dr Lee Tak-yiu
Mr Robert Lok Pak-keung
Mr Robert Andrew Lui Chi-wang
Mr Joseph Poon Tim-leung
Mr Tian Limao
Professor Joan Zuo Zhong
 
Official members
——————-
Commissioner for Innovation and Technology or representative
Government Chemist or representative
Executive Director of Hong Kong Productivity Council or representative
Executive Director of Hong Kong Trade Development Council or representative
Executive Director of Vocational Training Council or representative
 
     The Hong Kong Council for Testing and Certification was established in September 2009 to advise the Government on the overall development strategy of the testing and certification sector.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA strongly condemns China for once again escalating tensions across Taiwan Strait and region through provocative, unilateral actions

Date：2025-12-29
Data Source：Department of Policy Planning

December 29, 2025No. 545Issuing what it called a stern warning against “Taiwan independence separatist forces” and “external interference forces,” China’s People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command used this as a pretext to announce on December 29 the launch of the Justice Mission 2025 joint military exercise, which will be conducted around Taiwan from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on December 30.Such actions once again challenge the rules-based international order and will unilaterally inflict grave damage to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and the region. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) strongly condemns the exercise and calls on China to immediately halt its groundless and provocative military activities.Recently, through a series of military exercises and confrontational actions by its aircraft and vessels, China has carried out a range of threatening activities and practiced gray-zone strategies in the waters and airspace of the Indo-Pacific region. This behavior fully demonstrates that China not only has no interest in maintaining global and regional peace and stability but also will continue to challenge the international order and disrupt the regional status quo time and again.Maintaining Taiwan Strait peace and stability is an international consensus and a key interest of many parties, yet China insists on using military exercises and other means to threaten Taiwan and neighboring countries—particularly those along the first island chain. This defies the principle of refraining from the threat or use of force set out in the UN Charter and violates international norms. In addition to severely harming peace, stability, and security throughout the Indo-Pacific, China’s continuing attempts to unilaterally undermine the status quo across the Taiwan Strait and the region will have a grave impact on global shipping and trade. MOFA calls on China to uphold its responsibilities as a great power and put an immediate halt to its bullying.As a responsible member of the international community and the Indo-Pacific region, Taiwan will continue to work with like-minded nations to jointly safeguard global and regional peace, stability, and prosperous development. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs provides satellite broadcast information for the 2025–2026 Taipei 101 New Year’s Eve Fireworks worldwide

Date：2025-12-26
Data Source：Department of International Information Services

December 26, 2025  
No. 078  

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) is providing satellite broadcast information for the 2025–2026 Taipei 101 New Year’s Eve Fireworks event, enabling television networks and online media around the world to download and broadcast the event  starting at 11:55 p.m. on December 31 (Taipei time). The satellite information has been forwarded to local media through Taiwan’s overseas missions worldwide and has also been made available to international media correspondents based in Taiwan.
 
This year marks the first time that the Taipei 101 New Year’s Eve fireworks display has been designed in tandem with original music compositions. In collaboration with the Taipei Music Center, music has been integrated into the firework design, enhancing the overall narrative and visual experience of the show with synchronized sound and light. The entire display comprises five main segments and as the music progresses, fireworks unfold gradually, showcasing diverse color variations and rhythmic transitions in a performance that merges music with visual art.
 
Highlights from the display will be edited and uploaded to the publicly available Ministry of Foreign Affairs Trending Taiwan YouTube channel. (Trending Taiwan YouTube channel website: www.youtube.com/trendingtaiwan).
 
Over the years, the Taipei 101 New Year’s Eve fireworks show has made a strong international impression and has become one of the world’s most instantly recognizable New Year celebrations, receiving extensive coverage from global media. The event has continued to innovate by combining music and multimedia, showcasing Taiwan’s urban vitality and cultural creativity, and presenting a vivid and diverse image of Taiwan to the world. (E)
 

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Foreign Minister Lin meets with delegation from Japanese House of Councillors

Date：2025-12-23
Data Source：TAIWAN-JAPAN RELATIONS ASSOCIATION

December 23, 2025No. 542Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung on December 22 met with a delegation from the Japanese House of Councillors’ Taiwan friendship group (TY Group) led by Councillor Hirofumi Takinami. They exchanged views on such issues as promoting Taiwan-Japan cooperation in third countries, disaster prevention, and economic and trade cooperation.In his remarks, Minister Lin began by welcoming Mr. Takinami and thanking him for once again leading members of the friendship group to Taiwan. Noting that Taiwan and Japan were both situated at key positions along the first island chain and faced pressure from China, Minister Lin said that the two countries maintained not only close security ties but also a staunch economic and trade partnership. He remarked that Taiwan and Japan shared complementary industrial frameworks and said that he hoped they would collaborate to jointly support national development in third countries. In addition, he observed that Taiwan and Japan both faced challenges posed by natural disasters and said that the two countries could deepen collaboration in disaster prevention so as to improve societal resilience.Moving on to discuss Taiwan’s involvement in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, Minister Lin pointed out that Taiwan had met the standards required for accession to the agreement. He said that he hoped Japan would continue to demonstrate leadership and assist in initiating Taiwan’s accession negotiations as soon as possible so as to jointly create regional prosperity.During his remarks, Mr. Takinami shared his experience of serving as the head of the household registration issues task force at the Japan-ROC Diet Members’ Consultative Council, explaining that he had encouraged Japan’s Ministry of Justice to amend regulations to allow Taiwan to be listed as an option on Japanese household registration documents. He added that he was pleased to see growing support for Taiwan throughout the House of Councillors. Members of the delegation also exchanged views with Minister Lin on sports, cycling, and local exchanges between Taiwan and Japan.The TY Group is one of several Taiwan-friendly bodies in the House of Councillors. It sends regular annual delegations to Taiwan and works to advance its members’ understanding of the latest political and economic developments in Taiwan. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

December 21, 2025Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung led a Taiwan-Palau coprosperity economic and trade delegation to the Republic of Palau from December 18 to 21. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs invited representatives from Taiwan’s tourism, electronics, healthcare, and green energy industries to join the delegation so that they could investigate opportunities for collaboration in Palau.During the visit, Minister Lin called on Palau President Surangel Whipps, Jr.; Minister of State Gustav Aitaro; and other senior officials. Minister Lin also witnessed the signing of an MOU by the president of a Taiwanese enterprise and the governor of Melekeok State on investment cooperation to launch Palau’s premier golf course, forming a concrete example of bilateral collaboration on advancing coprosperity.In recent years, Palau has actively promoted the blue economy and green tourism, which aligns closely with Taiwan’s philosophy on sustainable development. The two countries founded the Taiwan-Palau Coprosperity Project based on the mutual trust and exchanges accumulated over the past year. In January of this year, Minister Lin, in his capacity as President Lai Ching-te’s special envoy, led an industry delegation to attend President Whipps’s inauguration, demonstrating the importance Taiwan attached to its diplomatic alliance with Palau and its resolve to deepen bilateral economic and trade cooperation. This May, President Whipps led a delegation to Taiwan to tour eco-friendly golf courses, green energy parks, and medical institutions, as well as to attend the launching ceremony of a zero-emissions vessel. His visit highlighted the strong emphasis Palau places on tourism, sustainable development, and healthcare.The delegation led by Minister Lin was highly regarded by the Palauan government. In addition to a welcome banquet hosted by President Whipps and the First Lady, the members received a warm reception from Cabinet officials, traditional leaders, members of the Senate and House of Delegates, and other dignitaries during this fact-finding mission.As Palau will host the Pacific Islands Forum next year, Taiwan will leverage this significant multilateral event to promote cooperation with like-minded nations and showcase to the international community the concrete results of coprosperity and mutual benefit shared by Taiwan and its Pacific allies.Minister Lin’s delegation successfully facilitated tangible investments by Taiwanese enterprises in Palau, serving as an exemplary model of public-private partnership. Minister Lin stated that MOFA would continue to encourage Taiwan’s private sector investment in diplomatic allies through the Co-prosperity Project. He also asserted that Taiwan would continue assisting Palau in developing its smart healthcare, sports talent, clean energy, and sustainable tourism, taking them to the next level. He lauded these efforts for showcasing Taiwan’s active contributions to the Pacific region and ensuring that Taiwan’s experience would be realized in Palau and seen by the world. (E)

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The legal departments of Guangdong Province, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macao Special Administrative Region today officially launched the Greater Bay Area (GBA) Arbitrator Panel and the Greater Bay Area Mediator Panel 2025.

According to the Department of Justice (DoJ), these panels, comprising 143 arbitrators and 233 mediators, will strengthen professional collaboration and dispute resolution expertise in the GBA.

The DoJ stated that these panels will maximise regional resource advantages and align the arbitration and mediation regulatory frameworks across the three jurisdictions while establishing unified GBA standards.

Ultimately, the DoJ intends for the panels to strengthen the region’s multifaceted dispute resolution mechanism.

The panels were jointly established by the Hong Kong SAR Government’s DoJ, the Guangdong Province’s Department of Justice, and the Macao SAR Government’s Office of the Secretary for Administration & Justice.

They were endorsed at the GBA Legal Departments Joint Conference.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Hong Kong continues to rank within the top 20 in “Operational Efficiency” and in the second quintile in “Regulatory Framework” and “Public Services”, according to the World Bank Group’s Business Ready 2025 Report.

This year’s report expanded its scope from 50 to more than 100 economies, assessing each business environment across three primary pillars and ten specific topics.

In response to the report, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government said that the assessment results for areas such as “International Trade”, “Financial Services” and “Dispute Resolution” differ from the highly positive evaluations and rankings awarded to Hong Kong by many other international organisations.

The Government also noted that the report’s assessment methodology may lead to comparisons that are both outdated and unfair.

Using the “Operational Efficiency” pillar as an example, Hong Kong’s assessment relied on data collected shortly after the pandemic in 2023, whereas data for other economies was gathered in 2024.

Given that this year’s report is still in its pilot phase, the Government noted potential issues with methodology and data comparability. The Government said it will remain in contact with the World Bank Group to clarify Hong Kong’s business environment and relevant policy measures.

The Government added that it will offer constructive feedback to refine future reports.