Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government today welcomed the passage, by the Legislative Council, of the Inland Revenue (Amendment) (Tax Concessions, Concessionary Deductions & Allowances) Bill 2026, which allows implementation of the concessionary tax measures proposed in the 2025 Policy Address and the 2026-27 Budget. 

The legislation will be published in the Government Gazette on May 22.

The measures include increasing the basic allowance, the married person’s allowance, the single parent allowance, the basic and additional child allowance, and the basic and additional allowance for dependent parents/grandparents, as well as raising the deduction ceiling for elderly residential care expenses and extending the claim period for additional child allowance for newborns starting from the year of assessment 2026-27. About 2.09 million taxpayers will benefit, reducing tax revenue by about $5.51 billion per year.

A one-off 100% reduction of salaries tax, tax under personal assessment and profits tax for the year of assessment 2025-26 will also be granted, subject to a ceiling of $3,000 per case. This is expected to benefit about 2.12 million taxpayers and 170,000 businesses, with about 24% of the former and 18% of the latter not needing to pay tax for the year of assessment 2025-26. Government revenue will be reduced by about $5.78 billion.

The one-off tax concessions, increased allowances and deduction ceilings will be reflected in taxpayers’ final tax payable for the year of assessment 2025-26 and tax payable for the year of assessment 2026-27.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) of Taiwan today (May 12) announced Taiwan’s results at the 2026 Edison Awards, marking another landmark year for the country at what is widely regarded as “the Oscars of Innovation.” In total, Taiwan received 16 awards this year, joining other winners including Dell, Medtronic, and Dow.

MOEA-affiliated research institutions took home three gold, six silver, and three bronze awards. Winners included the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), the Metal Industries Research & Development Centre (MIRDC), and the Taiwan Textile Research Institute (TTRI). The awarded technologies have been commercialized through partnerships with companies such as Mizuno and Sangtech Lab, helping accelerate industry transformation.

ITRI claimed three gold and two silver awards. Its LigamiX, co-developed with TTRI, earned a gold award for addressing long-standing limitations of conventional artificial ligaments, including poor biocompatibility, inflammation and rejection risks, and material degradation that can lead to breakage. Combining polymer-bioceramic composite fibers with a porous bionic textile structure, the technology delivers up to three times the strength of commercially available products while promoting bone regeneration and tissue adherence. Through collaboration with traditional textile manufacturers, ITRI transformed a textile material originally worth less than US$1 into an artificial ligament commanding a unit price of US$2,500.

Another gold winner, Prognosis Monitoring System (PMS), addresses the costly risks of sudden production line failures that lead to product loss and unplanned downtime. Using AI to continuously monitor equipment conditions and predict anomalies before failure, PMS significantly reduces unexpected shutdowns. In a single instance during semiconductor manufacturing, the system prevented an estimated loss of US$5 million. The technology has since expanded into industries including machine tools, energy, and petrochemicals.

Also earning gold, Sustainable Pavement Material Recycling introduces a first-of-its-kind asphalt-aggregate separation process that resolves the longstanding disposal burden of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP). Using a proprietary biological agent and a water-based heating process, the technology converts 100% of RAP into reusable paving material, generating approximately US$50 in value per ton of recycled material. At scale, the technology could help Taiwan reduce quarrying by approximately 4.85 million tons annually while cutting carbon emissions by 270,000 tons per year.

MIRDC took home two silver and two bronze awards. The silver award-winning ThermoMind Smart Energy-efficiency Combustion System tackles the longstanding inefficiencies of traditional furnaces, which have traditionally struggled with significant heat loss and a heavy reliance on manual adjustment. Targeting energy-intensive industrial furnace applications, ThermoMind delivers real-time combustion adjustment and waste heat recovery, helping industries reduce carbon emissions by over 110,000 metric tons to date.

Also earning silver, MagicABC addresses the shortage of Mandarin-speaking speech-language pathologists and the limitations of one-way training systems. Through an AI-powered Speech-Language Pathology Agent (SLP-Agent) and interactive lesson plans, MagicABC helps children with language delays practice verbal expression. The system has already been adopted by more than 10 medical and educational institutions, including Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital and Kaohsiung Municipal United Hospital.

TTRI claimed two Silver and one Bronze awards. The silver award-winning A Slice of Running Shoe disrupts traditional footwear assembly by integrating precision melt-blown automation to slash the conventional eight-step process down to just two. This leap in efficiency allows a shoe upper to be completed in a six minutes; furthermore, its mono-material construction ensures the product is both ultra-lightweight and fully recyclable, addressing critical goals in the circular economy.

Securing another Silver, the CellNet Leukocyte Reduction Filter, co-developed with Sangtech Lab, enhances transfusion safety by removing white blood cells from blood products. The manufacturing process replaces conventional solvents and heavy water usage with supercritical carbon dioxide fluid technology, enabling a cleaner, lower-carbon production of medical devices under entirely solvent-free and waterless conditions.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Inter-departmental Task Force on Monitoring Fuel Supply today announced that the Government will waive 50% of the toll for commercial vehicles using government tolled tunnels, and the Tsing Sha Control Area, from May 17 to July 16.

Commercial vehicles include buses, goods vehicles, light buses and taxis registered with the Transport Department. Private cars and motorcycles are not eligible for the waiver.

The two-month measure aims to alleviate operating costs for commercial vehicles, and to assist drivers and operators in coping with rising fuel prices, the task force explained.

The department said it has steered the toll service provider to adjust the HKeToll system. Commercial vehicle owners only need to pay the reduced amount, as displayed via the system. Payment methods and time limits remain unchanged.

Separately, taxi passengers are reminded that they must continue to pay statutory tolls in full during the waiver period. Placards will be displayed in taxi compartments regarding the tolls. 

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs(MOEA) announced on April 14 that the “2026 Auto Parts, EV, and Motorcycle Procurement Meeting” would be held in Hall 1 of the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center to help local suppliers secure overseas orders. The event attracted 92 international buyers from 37 countries, who held over 480 one-on-one meetings with 241 Taiwanese companies, generating US$280 million in business opportunities, while showcasing Taiwan’s strong competitiveness in global supply chains.

Leading buyers included major e-commerce platforms for U.S. auto parts, fuel system and engine management manufacturers, a Thai Tier 1 supplier, and a French off-road motorcycle brand. Buyers praised Taiwan’s consistent quality, flexible customization, and reliable delivery, with several indicating plans to expand sourcing. Amid shifting geopolitical patterns, Taiwan is increasingly seen as a key supply chain partner.

The event also featured a policy brief on sourcing in Taiwan, with a European distributor sharing market trends to help firms switch from passive order-taking to proactive market alignment.

The MOEA added that the “2026 Global Sourcing Day-Kaohsiung” on April 21 would further drive business opportunities with over 150 international buyers expected to participate. The government will continue to support firms through, “Taiwan Excellence Pavilions,” buyer matchmaking, and AI-driven digital marketing to expand global market opportunities.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

The world’s largest hardware trade fair, EISENWARENMESSE, successfully concluded on March 6, 2026 at Koelnmesse. The event featured nearly 2,500 exhibitors from over 50 countries. Taiwan stood out with its first-ever “Team Taiwan Flagship Pavilion,” which featured 263 companies from the hand tools and fastener sectors, making Taiwan the second-largest exhibitor. The pavilion showcased Taiwan’s strong supply chains and innovation, generating US$120 million in business opportunities.

In response to the restructuring of global supply chains and the impacts of U.S. tariff, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) has expanded support through special budget measures. These include enhanced subsidies for exhibitors, the establishment of Taiwan pavilions at major global trade shows, buyer-sourcing programs, AI-driven marketing, and one-stop services via Taiwan Trade and Investment Centers.

To boost order acquisition, integrated marketing activities were held during the fair, including buyer delegations, product launches, industry seminars, and networking events. These efforts facilitated strong engagement with buyers from Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East, which resulted in on-site deals and positive feedback from exhibitors.

Looking ahead, Taiwan will set up flagship pavilions at 10 major international trade shows across Europe, the U.S., and Japan, focusing on industries affected by U.S. tariffs, to enhance global visibility and expand market opportunities.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) today (May 12) laid charges against a local coxswain and five Mainland fishermen deckhands suspected of engaging in fishing using snake cages on a local vessel in waters off Po Toi.

The AFCD recently noted that there was a fishing vessel engaging in illegal fishing using snake cages in the southeastern waters of Hong Kong and mounted a joint operation with the Police yesterday (May 11). During the joint operation, the Police intercepted a local vessel at around 10am suspected of engaging in fishing using snake cages. Some fishing gear, including snake cages and winches, was seized by the AFCD officers from the vessel. 

After an investigation, the six persons were charged with contravening the Fisheries Protection Ordinance (Cap. 171). They will appear at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (May 13).  

Only a vessel registered under the Ordinance can be used for fishing in Hong Kong waters and only the fishing methods listed on its Certificate of Registration of Local Fishing Vessel can be employed for fishing by the vessel. The conditions of the Certificate of Registration of Local Fishing Vessel regarding cage traps also stipulate that any collapsible cage traps should not be connected in any way to one another; or should not exceed 5 metres in any of its extended dimensions. Hence, it is unlawful to fish using snake cages. Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $100,000 and six months’ imprisonment upon conviction.

An AFCD spokesman stressed, “The Government is committed to combating illegal fishing activities in Hong Kong waters. The AFCD will continue to step up patrols and take stringent enforcement action.”

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The “Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of the People’s Republic of China” explicitly supports Hong Kong in consolidating and enhancing its role as an international shipping centre and aviation hub. The Legislative Council (LegCo) fully supports the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in formulating Hong Kong’s first five-year plan to proactively align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan. Members have long attached great importance to and discussed the ways to enhance Hong Kong’s overall competitiveness in its dual-hub role. In this connection, LegCo Secretariat (the Secretariat) today (May 12) released a Policy Pulse on “Unrivalled connectivity where sea meets sky: Consolidating Hong Kong’s status as an international shipping centre and aviation hub” to provide a concise overview of the initiatives on consolidating this dual-hub role. It also summarises the relevant discussions in LegCo and suggestions by Members.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (May 12) that a sample of frozen confection was found to contain coliform bacteria and its count exceeding the legal limit. The CFS is following up on the incident. 

A spokesman for the CFS said, “The CFS collected the above-mentioned frozen confection sample from a licensed frozen confection factory in Tsim Sha Tsui for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained 240 coliform bacteria per gram, exceeding the legal limit.”

“The CFS has informed the frozen confection factory concerned of the irregularity and instructed it to stop selling and to dispose all the affected frozen confection immediately. The CFS has also provided health education on food safety and hygiene to the person-in-charge and staff of the frozen confection factory, who have also been requested to carry out thorough cleaning and disinfection of the premises,” the spokesman said.

Under the Frozen Confections Regulation (Cap. 132AC), frozen confection for sale should not contain more than 100 coliform bacteria per gram. The maximum penalty for offenders is a fine of $10,000 and three months’ imprisonment upon conviction. The fact that the coliform count exceeded the legal limit indicated that the hygienic conditions were unsatisfactory, but did not mean that consumption would lead to food poisoning.

The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, continued his visit to Stockholm, Sweden on May 12 (Stockholm time).
 
     In the morning, Professor Sun visited the Uppsala University and met with the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Anders Hagfeldt. The Uppsala University is one of the leading comprehensive research universities in Sweden, actively promoting global sustainable development and technological innovation in recent years. Professor Sun invited the University to participate in the establishment of Life and Health Technology Research Institute in Hong Kong.
 
     Professor Sun was then briefed on the Uppsala Innovation Centre and STUNS, as well as the development of various start-ups nurtured by the University, gaining an in-depth understanding of how the local innovation system promotes close industry-academia-research collaboration, and drives the transformation and commercialisation of research and development (R&D) outcomes. The participants also exchanged views on the future collaboration in R&D, application, and commercialisation of technologies. STUNS is a foundation focusing on promoting collaboration among universities, business and society in the Uppsala region.
 
     Professor Sun then departed for Helsinki, Finland for his visit. Upon arrival, he met with the Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Finland, Mr Chen Huixin, to introduce the latest progress of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in promoting innovation and technology (I&T) development, as well as the related work on fully propelling the development of the Northern Metropolis and accelerating the construction of the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone. He also elaborated on Hong Kong’s continuous efforts in actively integrating into the overall development of the country and serving the nation’s I&T development.
 
     Professor Sun will continue his visit to Finland on May 13 (Helsinki time).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region