Category: MIL-OSI

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HK to host international law institute

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The General Assembly of the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) has decided to establish the UNIDROIT Asia-Pacific Liaison Office in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

The office is expected to open at the Hong Kong Legal Hub in the second half of 2026, marking the first regional presence of UNIDROIT outside its seat in Rome in its 100-year history.

The Government noted that hosting UNIDROIT’s first overseas office in Hong Kong is a significant milestone for the city’s development as a legal hub, as it reflects the international community’s continued confidence in the Hong Kong SAR’s legal system and reinforces its position as a leading international legal hub.

Noting that the office at the Hong Kong Legal Hub will establish UNIDROIT’s permanent presence in the Asia-Pacific region, the Government said it could also contribute to facilitating co-ordination and creating synergies among the “three sisters of private international law”, namely UNIDROIT, the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH), and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).  

The Hong Kong Legal Hub has already housed the HCCH Regional Office for Asia ＆ the Pacific and the Department of Justice (DoJ) Project Office for Collaboration with UNCITRAL.

The DoJ submitted the proposal for the establishment of the office to the secretariat of UNIDROIT, with the support of the Central People’s Government. In May, the UNIDROIT Governing Council expressed support for the proposal and recommended it to the General Assembly, which accepted the recommendation at its 85th session, held on December 11.

China has been a member of UNIDROIT since 1986, and the Hong Kong SAR has participated in its work as part of the Chinese delegation. It is anticipated that the establishment of the office in 2026 will further strengthen the existing collaborative relationship between the DoJ and UNIDROIT.

UNIDROIT is an independent intergovernmental organisation with 65 member states. The institute’s aim is to study the needs and methods to modernise, harmonise and co-ordinate private and, in particular, commercial law among states and groups of states and to formulate uniform law instruments, principles and rules to achieve those objectives.

UNIDROIT is an independent intergovernmental organisation with 65 member states from five continents. It is aimed to study the needs and methods for modernising, harmonising and co-ordinating private and, in particular, commercial law among states and groups of states and to formulate uniform law instruments, principles and rules to achieve those objectives.

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Government launches public consultation on review of registered designs regime

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Government today (December 17) launched a three-month public consultation on the review of the registered designs regime of Hong Kong.
 
     Industrial design as a type of intellectual property broadly refers to the ornamental aspect of a product. It embodies a designer’s intellectual efforts and acumen for making a product appealing to customers. Legal protection of an industrial design can be obtained in Hong Kong by way of registration under the Registered Designs Ordinance (Cap. 522) (the Ordinance).
 
     A spokesman for the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau (CEDB) said, “Since the enactment of the Ordinance in 1997, design trends around the world have significantly evolved with technological innovation and advancement, opening up new possibilities and opportunities for growth of the creative and manufacturing industries. With technological innovation and integration of industries, designs that a business applies to products have become instrumental to the degree of its success.”
 
The spokesman stressed, “In driving towards new industrialisation, Hong Kong must continue to afford effective protection for designs which is crucial to not only incentivising sustainable innovation and creativity, but also enhancing the design capability of our advanced manufacturing sectors and emerging industries. As a matter of fact, there have been a number of reviews and reforms in different areas of designs laws in various jurisdictions over the years.”
 
     The spokesman added, “The Government is fully committed to upholding an effective and robust intellectual property protection regime. To ensure that our registered designs regime is up to date and remains competitive for meeting the changing needs of our industries, the Government considers it timely and necessary to conduct a comprehensive review of the regime. As announced in the 2025 Policy Address, the Government is now embarking on the next step of the review by launching a consultation on various issues pertinent to updating the regime.”
 
     The consultation document looks into a wide range of issues pertaining to the local registered designs regime, from the scope of and requirements for legal protection of designs, the procedures for design applications and registrations, to the possible alignment with international practices and standards. It has been uploaded onto the websites of the CEDB (www.cedb.gov.hk) and the Intellectual Property Department (IPD) (www.ipd.gov.hk). Members of the public may submit their views and relevant information by email (design_consultation@cedb.gov.hk), fax (2147 3065) or post (Division 3, Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, 23/F, West Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong) on or before March 16, 2026.
 
     The Government will also organise engagement sessions to collect views on the consultation. Details will be announced on the websites of the CEDB and IPD in due course.

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LCSD to present Chinese dance appreciation lecture series in January next year

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will launch a Chinese dance appreciation series in January next year. Hosted by veteran choreographer Yan Xiaoqiang, the six-lecture series will introduce the historical background, aesthetic characteristics and physical culture of Chinese dance from various perspectives, guiding audiences to appreciate its rich diversity and experience its profound connection with traditional Chinese culture. 

     Details of each lecture are as follows:————————————————————————–
Date: January 12 (Monday)————————————————————————–
Date: January 15 (Thursday)————————————————————————–
Date: January 19 (Monday)————————————————————————–
Date: January 22 (Thursday)————————————————————————–
Date: January 26 (Monday)————————————————————————–
Date: January 29 (Thursday)

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Special traffic and transport arrangements for Christmas market at Stanley Plaza

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Special traffic and transport arrangements for Christmas market at Stanley Plaza 
* The section of Stanley New Street between Stanley Village Road and Stanley Market Road will be temporarily closed to all vehicular traffic from 11am to 9pm daily on the above dates (except for vehicles of local residents, the Police, emergency services and vehicles with permits).
 
* Pedestrian precincts will be implemented on Stanley Main Street and Stanley Market Road on the following dates and hours:
 

Location of pedestrian precinct* The services of Citybus Route Nos. 6X, 63, 65 and 260, and Hong Kong Island green minibus Route Nos. 40, 40X and 52 will be strengthened subject to passenger demand during the event.

     The TD anticipates that the traffic in the vicinity of Stanley and its approach roads will be busy during the holding of the above event. Members of the public should use public transport services as far as possible, or consider using the free shuttle bus services provided by the event organiser. Due to the limited number of parking spaces at Stanley Plaza, motorists who have not reserved parking spaces with the event organiser should avoid driving to the vicinity. Motorists should exercise tolerance and patience when traffic is congested and follow the instructions of the Police. Issued at HKT 11:00

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UNIDROIT’s Asia-Pacific Liaison Office to be established at Hong Kong Legal Hub

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

UNIDROIT’s Asia-Pacific Liaison Office to be established at Hong Kong Legal Hub      
     The proposal for the establishment of the Office was submitted by the Department of Justice (DoJ) of the HKSAR Government to the secretariat of UNIDROIT, with the staunch and unwavering support of the Central People’s Government. In May this year, the UNIDROIT Governing Council expressed support for the proposal and recommended it to the General Assembly for decision at its 85th session held on December 11. The decision by the General Assembly in accepting the recommendation has marked the first regional presence of UNIDROIT outside its seat in Rome in its 100 years of history.

     China has been a member of UNIDROIT since 1986. The HKSAR has participated in the work of UNIDROIT as part of the Chinese delegation. In recent years, the DoJ has been collaborating closely with UNIDROIT, including co-organising biennial Asia-Pacific International Private Law Summits in the HKSAR since 2022 and joint seminars in Rome in 2023 and 2025, as well as seconding legal professionals from both the private and public sectors in the HKSAR to the secretariat of UNIDROIT annually, pursuant to the Memoranda of Understanding signed between the DoJ and UNIDROIT in 2021 and 2022. It is anticipated that the establishment of the Office in 2026 will further strengthen the existing collaborative relationship between the DoJ and UNIDROIT in the years to come.
      
     Hosting UNIDROIT’s first overseas office in the HKSAR is a significant milestone for the city’s development as a legal hub, as it reflects the international community’s continued confidence in the HKSAR’s legal system and reinforces its position as a leading international legal hub. The Office will establish a stable physical presence of UNIDROIT in the Asia-Pacific region to more efficiently and effectively support its work in the region. It could also contribute to facilitating co-ordination and creating synergies among the “three sisters of private international law”, namely UNIDROIT, the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH), and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), at the Hong Kong Legal Hub, which has already housed the HCCH Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific and the DoJ Project Office for Collaboration with UNCITRAL. 
      
     UNIDROITIssued at HKT 11:00

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Public library opening hours for Christmas and New Year holidays

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Public library opening hours for Christmas and New Year holidays 
     On Christmas Day (December 25), Boxing Day (December 26) and New Year’s Day (January 1, 2026), all Hong Kong public libraries, mobile libraries and students’ study rooms will be closed.
 
     Moreover, system maintenance work will be carried out from 00.30am on December 25 to 7am on December 27, and from 0.30am to 11.59pm on January 1, 2026, during which the following services will be suspended:
* library mobile app services, Internet and telephone renewal services;
* other online library services, including the library catalogue, borrowers’ record enquiries, reservation of library materials and computer facilities, and electronic resources;
* self-service library stations; and
* the function of real-time loan record update of smart book drops and smart book returns (readers may still return library materials to the smart book return facilities, and the loan record will be updated within two working days).
 
     Details can be obtained from notices posted at all public libraries and the library website at www.hkpl.gov.hk/en/library-notices/library-notices-list.htmlIssued at HKT 11:25

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Fatal traffic accident in Lok Ma Chau

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident in Lok Ma Chau today (December 17), in which a 94-year-old man died.

At 4.06am, a private car driven by a 32-year-old man was traveling along Tam Kon Chau Road towards Yuen Long. When approaching Mai Po, it reportedly knocked down a 94-year-old male pedestrian.

Sustaining serious multiple body injuries, the man was rushed to Prince of Wales Hospital in unconscious state and was certified dead at 7.37am.

The private car driver was arrested for dangerous driving causing death and is being detained for enquiries.

Investigation by the Special Investigation Team one of Traffic, New Territories North is underway.

Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 3858.

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LD launches Guidance Notes on Prevention of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Workplaces

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

LD launches Guidance Notes on Prevention of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Workplaces     ​
     To enhance duty holders’ awareness of CO poisoning prevention, the LD has analysed CO poisoning cases in various workplaces in recent years and collated common causes of the accidents and preventive measures for formulating the Guidance Notes on Prevention of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Workplaces. The guidance notes are comprehensive, covering the sources and hazards of CO at work, preventive measures, as well as safe systems of work including risk assessment, CO monitoring and measurement, emergency procedures, training and more.Issued at HKT 12:00

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Govt launches Budget consultation

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government today began a public consultation for the 2026-27 Budget.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan said Hong Kong’s economy has demonstrated strong resilience and is making steady progress in 2025, despite external challenges.

“The Government’s efforts to reinforce and enhance Hong Kong’s status and competitiveness as an international financial centre, along with its comprehensive policies to drive economic and innovation and technology (I&T) development, are beginning to bear fruit,” he said.

“These developments are creating favourable conditions for Hong Kong’s continued advancement.”

Noting that 2026 marks the first year of the National 15th Five-Year Plan, he said: “Key issues for the upcoming Budget will include how Hong Kong can further broaden and deepen its economic development, accelerate the nurturing and application of I&T, expedite the upgrading of industry structures, and better integrate into, and contribute to, national development.”

“They also include creating more high-quality job opportunities and ensuring that the benefits of economic progress and diversification are widely shared across the community.”

Mr Chan stressed that the Government will gather views from different sectors, engage with the public, and draw on collective wisdom in preparing the new Budget.

“We welcome all members of the community to actively share their views so that we can work together to build a better and more vibrant Hong Kong.”

Citizens can share their views via the Budget website, by email, by phone at 2810 3768, by fax at 2147 5770, or by post to the Budget Consultation Support Team on 24/F, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong.

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MOFA response to China’s recent attempts at military intimidation in the Taiwan Strait and across region

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to China’s recent attempts at military intimidation in the Taiwan Strait and across region

December 10, 2025The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) condemns recent malicious moves by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to engage in various forms of military intimidation near several neighboring countries and in the Taiwan Strait. Such regrettable actions have heightened regional tensions. 
 
MOFA states that maintaining freedom, security, peace, and stability across the strait and in the Indo-Pacific region is a widely accepted international consensus. Furthermore, China’s unilateral military provocations and suppressive actions threaten Taiwan’s democracy and freedom and the regional status quo of peace and stability. They also destabilize the overall situation in the Indo-Pacific.
 
MOFA calls on China to act in accordance with its status as a major power and fulfill its responsibilities, promptly halt unwarranted military provocations, and respect nations in the region as well as the international order. 
 
As a responsible member of the international community and the Indo-Pacific, Taiwan is committed to firmly safeguarding the cross-strait status quo and bolstering its self-defense capabilities and resilience so as to maintain its security as well as peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Furthermore, Taiwan will work with democracies in the region to jointly preserve peace, stability, and prosperity. Meanwhile, in the face of external threats and challenges, the government will continue to collaborate with like-minded countries to uphold democracy. Working with the people, the government is determined to protect Taiwan’s democracy, freedom, and security.