Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Eastern Section of the East Coast Boardwalk in North Point will be open to the public from 6am tomorrow, marking the last kilometre to connect the 13km-long harbourfront on Hong Kong Island, from Kennedy Town to Shau Kei Wan.

Spanning some 2.2km underneath the Island Eastern Corridor, the East Coast Boardwalk is divided into the eastern and western sections, each with a length of 1.1km. The western section, which links the East Coast Park with the North Point Promenade, opened earlier this year. The eastern section, opening tomorrow, will further connect the North Point Promenade to Hoi Yu Street in Quarry Bay, realising the vision of “Seamless Boardwalk Linking Island West & East”.

The eastern section will offer a number of special features, including an experiential glass observatory deck; a pet-friendly area near Tin Chiu Street; multi-functional open spaces for hosting exhibitions, art and community activities; as well as a small plaza at the eastern end of the boardwalk near Quarry Bay.

Similar to the western section, the eastern section adopts the “Harbourfront Shared Space” approach and provides a pet-friendly venue for users.

It features a shared path for visitors to engage in activities such as strolling, jogging and cycling, while providing a dedicated walkway for pedestrians. At the same time, citizens and their leashed pets can enjoy the facilities together. A movable bascule bridge has also been installed near Man Hong Street to facilitate marine operations.

The Eastern Section has five access points and will be open 24 hours a day, except for the experiential glass observatory deck.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Amid the rapid restructuring of global supply chains, Taiwan’s industrial parks are increasingly becoming key hubs for advanced manufacturing and innovative R&D. The Bureau of Industrial Park (BIP) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) held the 2025 Investment Promotion Results Presentation on November 19, announcing that BIP had successfully facilitated 166 investment projects this year, with a total investment value reaching NT$174.5 billion. These achievements underscore Taiwan’s rising competitiveness in AI, semiconductors, and smart manufacturing, and highlight BIP’s proactive efforts to cultivate an attractive investment environment.
During the event, Deputy Director General Liu Chi-Chuan stated, “Industrial parks are not merely providers of land; they are partners in business growth. We will continue to enhance investment services and advance strategies centered on smart development, low-carbon transformation, and internationalization, making industrial parks the most trusted foundation for industry.”
Held under the theme “Shared Prosperity in Parks, Co-Creating Investment Value,” the event featured a ceremonial flag-planting to welcome the year’s leading investors. Participants included ASE Group, the global leader in semiconductor packaging and testing with annual investments exceeding NT$35 billion; Dynamic Computing Technology, a Foxconn Technology Group affiliate collaborating with NVIDIA to build a cutting-edge AI Factory supercomputing center; and Yung-Shine Electric, which invested NT$2.66 billion to expand its new plant and group headquarters-symbolizing continued investment expansion and successful entry into industrial parks.
The event also featured a testimonial from Ms. Li Shu-Xia, Senior Vice President of ASE Kaohsiung, who shared insights from the company’s investment experience. She noted that BIP’s one-stop service model and commitment to fostering a high-quality investment environment enable enterprises to operate with confidence. Looking ahead, ASE will continue to seize opportunities driven by rapid AI growth by further expanding advanced packaging and testing operations in the Nanzih Industrial Park. BIP, in turn, will remain a strong pillar of support for park enterprises, jointly ushering in a new chapter of industrial upgrading.
BIP emphasized that these accomplishments are the result of sustained cross-ministerial coordination and concerted efforts to remove investment barriers. By proactively integrating essential resources, such as land, power supply, and technical support, BIP has established a comprehensive support framework that enables enterprises to expand steadily within industrial parks while minimizing entry obstacles. Furthermore, BIP has systematically organized the core technologies and development directions of individual projects, allowing attendees to stay abreast of the latest industrial chain dynamics and clearly perceive the dual benefits of policy support and market momentum.
Looking forward, BIP will continue to focus on creating a more competitive investment environment and plans to release several new industrial park sites with strong development potential. These include Changpin, Chiayi Zhongpu, Tainan Sinshih, North Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung Software Park Phase II, and the expanded area of the Pingtung Technology Industrial Park. These new locations will provide diversified options for enterprises, meeting needs for industrial upgrading and factory expansion, and injecting fresh momentum into Taiwan’s industrial transformation.
Taiwan’s next phase of industrial development is being paved by these industrial parks. Investment promotion is not merely an accumulation of capital-it is a relay race of industrial value creation and national competitiveness. As more key enterprises establish operations in Taiwan, BIP continues to release favorable policies and land resources, sending a strong signal to domestic and international investors alike: Taiwan is ready to welcome the next wave of investment. Enterprises with land requirements are encouraged to contact the investment service hotline at 0800-020-018. BIP also sincerely invites industry leaders to continue expanding their investments in Taiwan.

Spokesman: Mr. Liu Chi-Chuan (Deputy Director General, BIP)
Contact Number: 886-7-3613349, 0911363680
Email: lcc12@bip.gov.tw

Contact Person: Wu, Shu-Fang (Acting Director of Investment Services Div., BIP)
Contact Number: 886-7-361-1212 ext. 302
Email: wusf@bip.gov.tw

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

　　The Transport Department today (December 28) reminded members of the public that the 69th round of computer ballot registration for submitting applications for Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles (the scheme) will be open from 10am tomorrow (December 29) to 11.59pm on January 1, 2026, and the ballot result will be announced on January 2.
 
　　Eligible applicants for the scheme can register for computer balloting through the designated website (www.hzmbqfs.gov.hk). Successful balloting applicants are required to submit applications for the scheme within the designated application period.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Hong Kong Customs detected a drug trafficking case involving an incoming passenger at Hong Kong International Airport today (December 28) and seized about 12 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $2.5 million. 100 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes were also seized from the carry-on baggage of the passenger.

     A male passenger, aged 31, arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, today. During Customs clearance, Customs officers found a total of about 12kg of suspected cannabis buds in 20 vacuum-sealed plastic bags in his check-in suitcase and 100 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarette inside his carry-on baggage. The man was subsequently arrested.

     The arrested man has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug, one count of possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and one count of failing to declare them to Customs officers. The case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (December 29).

     Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.

     Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

     Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Major Sports Events Committee:

​The Major Sports Events Committee (MSEC) has awarded “M” Mark status to the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open 2026 to be held from January 4 to 11, 2026 at the Victoria Park Centre Court.

The Chairman of the MSEC, Mr Wilfred Ng, said today (December 29), “As the first ‘M’ Mark event in 2026, the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open 2026 will attract visitors from around the world, along with local fans, to gather in Hong Kong to witness world-class tennis players compete at the highest level, heralding the start of the new year of major sports event in Hong Kong.”
 
The “M” Mark System aims to encourage and help local National Sports Associations and private or non-government organisations to organise more major international sports events and nurture them into sustainable undertakings. Sports events meeting the assessment criteria will be considered for “M” Mark status by the MSEC. Funding support will also be provided to some events. The “M” Mark System aims to promote the development of major sports events, cultivate a sustainable sporting culture, enhance Hong Kong’s image as a centre for major international sports events and bring tangible economic benefits to the community.

For details of “M” Mark events, please visit www.mevents.org.hk.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Department of Health (DH) today (December 29) reminded the public that three amendments relating to smoking offences under the Tobacco Control Legislation (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 (the Amendment Ordinance) will take effect on Thursday (January 1, 2026):
 

• extension of statutory No Smoking Areas (NSAs) to public places that lie within three metres outside the entrances/exits exclusively used for child care centres, residential care homes, schools, hospitals and specified clinics or health centres;
• prohibition of smoking while queuing (including queuing to board a public transport carrier at a designated boarding location, staying in the delineated area for a designated boarding location, while queuing to enter specified premises (see Annex), or while queuing within specified premises); and
• increase of the fixed penalty for smoking offences from $1,500 to $3,000.

 
     The Tobacco and Alcohol Control Inspectors of the DH will prosecute any person who does a smoking act in NSAs without prior warning. Offenders will be liable to a fixed penalty of $3,000.
      
     The Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) has prepared FAQs, pamphlets and other resources to help the public comply with the new law. Members of the public may visit the TACO website for more detailed information. To ensure smooth implementation of the new measures, TACO has enhanced publicity and education efforts over the past few months, such as Announcements in the Public Interest on TV and radio; advertisements on public transport areas at bus stops and at MTR stations; enhanced social media promotion; and the production of guidelines to educate the public. For visitors, TACO has stepped up anti-smoking promotions at all boundary control points, major tourist attractions and bus stops, including distributing leaflets in major tourist spots in collaboration with district councillors and has created an infographic “Visitors’ Guide” to enhance visitors’ understanding of the new measures. TACO is also promoting to visitors through Chinese Mainland social media.
      
     TACO has also issued implementation guidelines and enhanced interdepartmental co-ordination mechanisms for the new offences under the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance to ensure smoother enforcement. Briefings have been held for venue managers to explain the details of the amendment and their enforcement. Beyond enforcement, TACO continues to promote smoking prevention and cessation services, including conducting smoke-free publicity and education in the community to raise public awareness of smoking hazards.
      
     The new phase of tobacco control measures will be implemented in phases. Among them, the increased penalties for illicit cigarettes and the prohibition on provision of smoking products to persons under the age of 18 have already taken effect upon the gazettal of the Amendment Ordinance (September 19, 2025). The provision prohibiting the possession of alternative smoking product (ASP) substances (e.g. e-cigarette liquids/cartridges/ and heat sticks) in public places will take effect on April 30, 2026, i.e. four years after the implementation of the ban on the importation and sale of ASPs. TACO will continue to strengthen publicity, education, etc, in the future to ensure the effective implementation of the relevant tobacco control measures.
      
     For the health of individuals, families and the community, the Government urges smokers to quit smoking as soon as possible. Members of the public may call the Department of Health Integrated Smoking Cessation Hotline at 1833 183. The hotline is answered by registered nurses who provide professional counselling and referral to a wide range of free smoking cessation services.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region