Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Financial Services & the Treasury Bureau, together with the Securities & Futures Commission (SFC), published the consultation conclusions today on the legislative proposals for establishing licensing regimes for virtual asset (VA) dealing and custodian service providers.

During the consultation, 101 and 93 submissions were received on the proposed licensing regimes for VA dealing service providers and VA custodian service providers, with the majority of respondents expressing support for expanding the regulatory scope to cover VA dealing and custodian services, following the introduction of the licensing regime for the VA trading platform in June 2023.

The respondents also indicated support for the overall direction of the proposed regulatory requirements and implementation arrangements, while suggesting enhancements and seeking clarification on certain aspects.

The proposed licensing regime for virtual asset dealing service providers will largely align with that for Type 1 (dealing in securities) regulated activity under the Securities & Futures Ordinance, as applicable to conventional securities dealing activities.

As for VA custodian service providers, the proposed licensing regime will focus on managing risks relating to safekeeping private keys of client VAs in Hong Kong to enhance client assets’ security.

Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui said: “The proposed establishment of licensing regimes for VA dealing and custodian service providers marks a significant step in enhancing our legal framework for digital assets.”

“The proposed licensing regimes strike a prudent balance among fostering market development, managing risks and protecting investors. They will realise our vision for building a trusted and sustainable digital asset ecosystem, with a view to establishing Hong Kong as a global hub for digital asset innovation,” he added.

SFC Chief Executive Officer Julia Leung supplemented: “The significant progress in our VA regulatory framework ensures Hong Kong remains at the global forefront of digital asset market developments by fostering a trusted, competitive and sustainable ecosystem.”

In response to the feedback received, the bureau and the SFC launched a further public consultation on establishing separate licensing regimes for virtual asset advisory and management service providers.

The revised regulatory approach will model itself on the regulatory framework applicable to the conventional securities market, and provide better clarity concerning the scope of activities regulated under different VA licensing regimes.

The further consultation on the legislative regulation proposal has been uploaded onto the bureau’s website.

Views can be submitted by email or by post to the Financial Services & the Treasury Bureau, 24/F, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar by January 23, 2026.

The legislative proposals for the licensing regimes will be finalised with a target for the bill to be introduced into the Legislative Council in 2026.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

President Lai presides over sixth meeting of Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee
On the afternoon of December 23, President Lai Ching-te presided over the sixth meeting of the Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee. President Lai stated that the spirit of Taiwan is a spirit of unity. In the face of major natural disasters and an ongoing ratcheting up of threats by China against Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific region, the president remarked that Taiwan will continue gathering together its forces – both central and local, public and private. He added that it will continue integrating systems, policies, and resources to ensure the government and society can work in close coordination. The aim, he stated, is to build up societal resilience more broadly and comprehensively. He also encouraged citizens to take an active part in civil defense work and help to strengthen Taiwan’s ability to respond with resilience to challenges.
The president emphasized that Taiwan intends to vigorously develop its defense industry and strengthen its national defense capabilities in order to demonstrate to the world that it is determined to defend itself and maintain the status quo. Achieving defense resilience, he said, involves more than just being militarily prepared, strengthening social systems, and improving infrastructure; more importantly, awareness must be raised throughout society. The president expressed hope that all citizens will work together to strengthen the ability to respond with resilience to challenges, so that Taiwan can play an indispensable role in the global democratic defense network.
A translation of President Lai’s opening statement follows:
Today, we are convening the sixth meeting of the Office of the President Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee. We have used a number of different formats to conduct these meetings since the committee was established.
These activities included tabletop exercises for central and local governments at the Office of the President, field exercises in Tainan City, and an international forum. This afternoon we carried out a resilience consensus building workshop.
I want to thank our three deputy conveners and all the advisors and committee members for their hard work. Moving forward, we will continue our efforts.
As I emphasized at the first committee meeting, the Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee is an action committee that should not be confined to fixed formats. We want to gather together our forces – both central and local, public and private – and bring them to bear at the grassroots level, laying down roots in neighborhoods. We need to enable people with all different kinds of expertise to engage with one another, so as to build up societal resilience more broadly and comprehensively.
We have therefore taken many steps to integrate systems, policies, and resources. Our intention is to ensure that the government and all sectors of society can work in close coordination. At the same time, we actively engage with our friends and allies to ensure that Taiwan can play an indispensable role in the global democratic defense network.
At today’s meeting our Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health and Welfare, and Ministry of Digital Affairs will report on the results of work done in the five key areas, including “civilian force training and utilization.” We have also invited Minister without Portfolio of the Executive Yuan Chi Lien-cheng (季連成) to speak on practical experience and improvement measures related to disaster relief work in Hualien.
In addition, at today’s resilience consensus building workshop, I invited our advisors and committee members to provide recommendations for improvements regarding the five key areas. I look forward to more thorough discussions as this meeting proceeds.
But before we begin, I want to share four points with the people of Taiwan.
First, Taiwan has met with several major natural disasters this year that have resulted in many casualties and damage to infrastructure. However, as we have all witnessed, our people have withstood the disasters with unwavering perseverance.
Rescue workers and troops showed up immediately. The central government responded without delay. Construction crews worked day and night to complete urgently needed repairs. Civil society groups raced to provide support. Many individuals – superheroes of disaster relief – came from around the country and from all walks of life to help. Such acts highlighted the spirit of unity and mutual help that is so characteristic of Taiwan, and truly demonstrated the power of whole-of-society defense resilience. What I want to say is that the spirit of Taiwan is a spirit of unity.
Second, last Friday’s indiscriminate attack in Taipei shocked Taiwanese society and resulted in severe injuries and deaths. The central and local governments as well as medical institutions all responded promptly to the incident.
I want to emphasize once more that protecting the people’s safety is the government’s fundamental responsibility. I hope that, with this incident in mind, the central and local governments can demonstrate Taiwan’s spirit of unity by jointly conducting a review, taking corrective actions, establishing systems, and continuing to improve incident response capabilities, so that we can quickly deal with crises and together protect the safety of our citizens.
Third, China continues to ratchet up its threats against Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific region in an attempt to change democratic Taiwan into “Taiwan, China.” This is a serious threat to our national sovereignty and national security. And beyond that, it is a blatant provocation directed at the community of free and democratic nations around the globe.
Last month I held a press conference right here, where I announced two national security action plans to safeguard democratic Taiwan and proposed an eight-year, NT$1.25 trillion special defense budget. Today, speaking via live broadcast, I want to assure my fellow citizens once again of the following: Taiwan intends to vigorously develop its defense industry and comprehensively strengthen its national defense capabilities in order to demonstrate to the world that it is determined to defend itself and maintain the status quo.
Fourth, we know that achieving defense resilience involves more than just being militarily prepared, strengthening social systems, and improving infrastructure; more importantly, awareness must be raised throughout society.
The more prepared we are, the safer we’ll be. That is why our government this year published “Taiwan’s National Public Safety Guide” and distributed it throughout the nation. We wanted citizens to have a booklet in hand that would provide guidelines on how to respond to all kinds of challenges, and would remind people what they need to do in advance to improve their emergency response preparedness. The guide also encourages readers to take an active part in civil defense work and help to strengthen Taiwan’s ability to respond with resilience to challenges.
Finally, I again want to thank you all for generously contributing your expertise and enthusiasm, as well as your time and effort, to this undertaking. In the effort to build up whole-of-society defense resilience, we have pooled our collective wisdom, built consensus, and promoted more concrete and more practical action plans.
Our achievements belong not just to the committee, but to all our nation’s citizens. Let’s continue to work hard together and further enhance our whole-of-society defense resilience.
Following his statement, President Lai heard a report on the results of work done in the five key areas in 2025 and a report on efforts to improve resilience with reference to disaster relief work following the Fata’an Creek barrier lake disaster. The president then exchanged views with the committee members regarding the reports and the results of the resilience consensus building workshop.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Health Bureau announced today that the “Cross-boundary Health Record” function in the eHealth mobile application (eHealth App) has been extended to all 6.3 million eHealth users in Hong Kong, with immediate effect.

Previously limited to eligible recipients of the Elderly Health Care Vouchers, the extension enables more citizens to securely use their electronic health records (eHRs) across the boundary at designated medical institutions outside Hong Kong.

Starting today, all eHealth users in Hong Kong may apply for their eHRs deposited in the eHealth system over the past three years through the “Cross-boundary Health Record” function in the eHealth App, before attending medical consultations at 20 designated medical institutions outside Hong Kong.

Upon application, users will instantly receive an Application QR Code and a Password QR Code via the app. When attending consultations at designated medical institutions, users may present these QR codes to healthcare professionals, to grant permission for them to access and browse relevant health records on a designated web browser.

To ensure data privacy and security of personal eHealth accounts, users will be notified via selected communication means, such as SMS or email, whenever a designated medical institution accesses their health records.

Moreover, users may apply for the service on behalf of family members using the “Caregiver” function in the eHealth App.

The bureau said that in response to the growing trend of Hong Kong citizens using healthcare services in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the Government has been maintaining close communication with relevant Mainland authorities and medical institutions in achieving convenient and secure usage of eHRs across the boundary through the eHealth system.

It noted that throughout the process, the overarching principles of ensuring due compliance of laws and regulations in Hong Kong and the Mainland have been strictly adhered, and that data security and patient privacy are fully safeguarded.

Since July last year, the bureau has gradually rolled out the “Cross-boundary Health Record” function at a total of 20 medical institutions, namely the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital and all medical institutions under the Elderly Health Care Voucher Greater Bay Area Pilot Scheme. As of November this year, more than 7,800 elderly people have used the function, submitting over 9,400 applications.

Call 3467 6300 for enquiries.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Innovation & Technology Commission today launched three further enhancement measures to the Technology Talent Admission Scheme, with a view to expediting the admission of innovation and technology (I&T) talent from around the world by eligible companies.

The measures aim to facilitate relevant companies’ technology-related research and development (R&D) activities in Hong Kong, thereby enlarging the I&T talent pool here and contributing to Hong Kong’s I&T development.      

The first of the three enhancement measures involves streamlining application procedures to allow technology companies and eligible talent to submit applications for quotas and visas/entry permits in parallel.

Second, lifting the requirement of engaging in R&D in 14 designated technology areas to better address ever-changing I&T development.

Third, launching a new dedicated application channel for the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation & Technology Park to provide one-stop assistance to its tenants and incubatees in application and subsequent follow-up action.

Launched in June 2018, the admission scheme provides a fast-track arrangement for admitting overseas and Mainland technology talent. Successful companies will be given quotas for bringing in such people for undertaking R&D work.

For enquiries, call 3543 5970 or send an email.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​Hongkong Post announced today (December 23) that, as advised by the postal administration of Angola, mail delivery services previously affected by administrative measures implemented by the local government in connection with the hosting of the 7th African Union–European Union Summit, have returned to normal.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​The Digital Policy Office (DPO) announced today (December 23) that the “iAM Smart” one-stop personalised digital services platform has already accumulated over 4 million registered users.  

A spokesman for the DPO thanked members of the public and various sectors for their continuous support for “iAM Smart”. With the simplified registration workflow and user-centric design, “iAM Smart”, which has now recorded a daily usage of over 180 000, provides access to more than 1 300 online services from government, public and private organisations, as well as government e-Forms, achieving the goal of a “single portal for online government services”. At present, members of the public can use different online services to manage daily affairs in a secure and convenient way anytime, anywhere via “iAM Smart”, such as SmartPLAY, eTAX, eMPF, application for an International Driving Permit, application for working family allowance, and checking bills for electricity, water and gas.

Meanwhile, the Mini-program Platform of “iAM Smart” was launched. The DPO is actively driving the integration of government mobile applications into the Mini-program Platform among bureaux/departments so that the public can access these services without the need to install various mobile applications of different government departments.

The “Personal Assistant” page of “iAM Smart” has also introduced more practical functions. Users can present their “iAM Smart” Personal Code, which is displayed in the form of a QR code for admission to premises or visitor registration, without the need to disclose excessive personal data by utilising an identity card. The DPO will continue to promote and encourage government departments and industry stakeholders to adopt the Personal Code, with a view to bringing more convenience and benefits to the public and the business sectors. The “Personal Assistant” page also allows users to check the “to-do” items and the application status of various services, as well as view and pay the bills of the Water Supplies Department and Hongkong Post in one go.

     Moreover, the DPO has been in discussions with more financial institutions to assist them in adopting the newly rolled out “Step-up Authentication” function to strengthen user verification in certain key processes, thereby further enhancing the security level. The DPO further plans to provide an “AI Assistant” by end-2026 to answer enquiries and offer personalised services for “iAM Smart” users, further enhancing the user experience of government services.

The “iAM Smart” app supports iOS and Android operating systems, and mobile phones with biometric authentication activated. Members of the public can download and use the latest version of the app for free from the Apple App Store, Huawei AppGallery, and Google Play, or by visiting the “iAM Smart” thematic website (www.iamsmart.gov.hk/en/download.html).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMoA) today (December 23) unveils three new exhibitions based on its three major donations, showcasing the footprints of art master Wu Guanzhong around the world, intriguing figures from the Chih Lo Lou Collection of Chinese paintings and calligraphy, and folding fans from the Jingguanlou Collection, respectively. An educational art bus from the HKMoA will promote Wu’s art to schools and engage with communities.
 
“Wu Guanzhong Art Sponsorship Thematic Exhibition Series: Wu Guanzhong: Encountering Landscapes” exhibition
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     Wu (1919-2010) was a master of the Chinese and international art scene, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in 20th-century art. He travelled around the world for sketching, leaving his footprints in over 20 countries across Asia, Africa, Europe and America. The exhibition features precious sketches, ink and oil paintings by Wu, including “City Night” and “The Night of Oslo”, which illustrate the dazzling nightscapes of metropolises, with almost half of the artworks being exhibited at the HKMoA for the first time after their donation to the museum, such as “A Foreign Landscape (II)”. Wu was particularly fond of Hong Kong, believing that the city’s fusion of East and West resonates deeply with his artistic pursuits. The exhibition also showcases “Victoria Harbour”, a unique piece Wu created in the rain at the HKMoA in 2002, the only sketch he ever publicly painted, as well as “Bird Street”, which he created in 1990, depicting the beauty of old streets in Hong Kong.
 
     Inspired by Wu’s ink painting “The Window’s Eye”, Hong Kong artist Flyingpig (Wong Wing-shan) created an immersive installation called “Light Entry”. The work combines moving images with paintings to capture thousands of windows across public estates lighting up one by one at night, illustrating the humanistic sentiment behind the urban landscape.
 
     To allow the public to appreciate the works of this art master, the HKMoA also launches the “Wu Guanzhong Art Sponsorship Education Series: Art Journey with Wu Guanzhong: Mobile Museum” educational art bus, which aims to visit over 140 local primary and secondary schools, as well as stations in transportation hubs, cultural venues and recreational spaces in various districts in the coming two years, promoting Wu’s artistic vision and aesthetic principles through multimedia installations and interactive games.
 
“Mini-figures in Paintings” exhibition
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The exhibition invites audiences to appreciate the Chih Lo Lou Collection of Chinese paintings and calligraphy from different perspectives, focusing on the diminutive and scantily outlined figures in Chinese landscape paintings. These fishermen, scholars, or travellers may seem insignificant, yet they are where the soul of the works lies. The exhibition explores their identities, stories, and cultural significance and incorporates animated elements to bring these figures to life. Highlight exhibits include Zha Shibiao’s “The Fisherman” and Gong Xian’s “Returning from Fishing”.
 
“Fantastic Breeze: Selected Fans from the Jingguanlou Collection” exhibition
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     A selection of over 150 folding fans from the Jingguanlou Collection is featured in the exhibition in two phases, complemented by Chinese paintings from the museum collection, leading visitors to appreciate the cultivated elegance of the Chinese literati. Highlights of the first phase include masterpieces by Northern and Southern School painters such as Ren Yi, Zhang Daqian, Pu Ru, Zhu Qizhan, Chao Shao-an, and more. The folding fan is an unparalleled art form that integrates poetry, calligraphy, painting, sealing, and carving, embodying graphic artistry and craftsmanship all in one fan. Through thoughtfully designed display methods, the exhibition overcomes challenges in displaying folding fans and highlights their dual-sided aesthetics with an exploration of their structural composition, offering fresh perspectives for audiences in appreciating this art form.
 
     The admission to the three exhibitions is free. For details of the exhibitions and the mobile educational art bus, please visit the website at hk.art.museum.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Fifty-four convictions were recorded in November 2025 for breaches of legislation enforced by the Environmental Protection Department.
 
     Four of the convictions were under the Air Pollution Control Ordinance, nine were under the Noise Control Ordinance, 32 were under the Public Cleansing and Prevention of Nuisances Regulation, two were under the Product Eco-responsibility Ordinance, six were under the Waste Disposal Ordinance and one was under the Water Pollution Control Ordinance.
 
     A company was convicted for two breaches of the Noise Control Ordinance and was fined $15,000 for each case, which was the heaviest fine in November.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Air Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA) today (December 23) released the Preliminary Report and Public Notice PLR-2025-05 on a serious incident involving an Airbus A350-1041 passenger aircraft operated by Cathay Pacific Airways Limited (registration mark B-LXO) on November 26, 2025. The aircraft was arriving in Hong Kong from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. While attempting landing on the Centre Runway of Hong Kong International Airport, the crew decided to initiate a go-around to position for another landing due to operational reasons. During the go-around, the bottom of the tail fuselage was damaged after contact with the runway. The aircraft eventually returned for a normal landing on the Centre Runway.

     A spokesperson for the AAIA said that the Preliminary Report has been published to provide factual information established in the investigation’s early-evidence collection phase to both the aviation industry and general public in a timely manner, and should be regarded as tentative. The full report is available for download from the AAIA webpage (www.tlb.gov.hk/aaia/eng/investigation_reports/index.html).

     “The investigation team is conducting a detailed analysis of the data and information collected in order to determine the circumstances and causes of this occurrence with a view to preventing a recurrence in conjunction with identifying areas for further investigation or lines of inquiry to follow up,” the spokesperson said.

     The AAIA, an independent investigation authority formed under the Transport and Logistics Bureau, is responsible for the investigation of civil aircraft accidents and incidents in accordance with the Hong Kong Civil Aviation (Investigation of Accidents) Regulations (Cap. 448B) and with reference to the International Civil Aviation Organization’s standards.