Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
Result of the tenders of RMB Sovereign Bonds held on October 15, 2025: 
 

Tender Result
*******
Tender Date	:	October 15, 2025
Bonds available for Tender	:	2-year RMB Bonds
Issuer	:	The Ministry of Finance of the People’s Republic of China
Issue Number	:	BCMKFB25004 (Further Issuance)
Issue and Settlement Date	:	October 17, 2025
Maturity Date	:	February 21, 2027 (or the closest coupon payment date)
Coupon Rate	:	1.75 per cent
Application Amount	:	RMB 11,599 million
Issue Amount	:	RMB 4,000 million
Average Accepted Price	:	100.37
Lowest Accepted Price	:	100.33
Highest Accepted Price	:	100.47
Allocation Ratio (At Lowest Accepted Price)	:	Approximately 79.94 per cent

 

*******
Tender Date	:	October 15, 2025
Bonds available for Tender	:	3-year RMB Bonds
Issuer	:	The Ministry of Finance of the People’s Republic of China
Issue Number	:	BCMKFB25005 (Further Issuance)
Issue and Settlement Date	:	October 17, 2025
Maturity Date	:	February 21, 2028 (or the closest coupon payment date)
Coupon Rate	:	1.80 per cent
Application Amount	:	RMB 12,044 million
Issue Amount	:	RMB 4,000 million
Average Accepted Price	:	100.69
Lowest Accepted Price	:	100.66
Highest Accepted Price	:	100.93
Allocation Ratio (At Lowest Accepted Price)	:	Approximately 97.31 per cent

  

*******
Tender Date	:	October 15, 2025
Bonds available for Tender	:	5-year RMB Bonds
Issuer	:	The Ministry of Finance of the People’s Republic of China
Issue Number	:	BCMKFB25006 (Further Issuance)
Issue and Settlement Date	:	October 17, 2025
Maturity Date	:	February 21, 2030 (or the closest coupon payment date)
Coupon Rate	:	1.88 per cent
Application Amount	:	RMB 10,779 million
Issue Amount	:	RMB 3,000 million
Average Accepted Price	:	101.02
Lowest Accepted Price	:	100.76
Highest Accepted Price	:	101.60
Allocation Ratio (At Lowest Accepted Price)	:	Approximately 97.50 per cent

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     With a view to facilitating and encouraging civil servants in receiving influenza vaccinations, the Civil Service Bureau and the Department of Health continue to implement the Civil Service Eligible Persons (CSEPs) Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Pilot Scheme this year. For the first time, outreach vaccination services are being conducted at specified government offices on a pilot basis. About 110 CSEPs received influenza vaccines at the outreach station at the Central Government Offices (CGO) this morning (October 15).

     The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, and the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, spoke with civil servants receiving the influenza vaccines to listen to their views. The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, and the Secretary for Housing, Ms Winnie Ho, also received their vaccines at the outreach station. 

     Mrs Yeung said, “It is better to receive the influenza vaccine sooner rather than later. As civil servants frequently interact with the public, being vaccinated can better protect their health and the health of the members of the public they serve, reduce the risk of workplace and community transmission of influenza, and minimise the impact on the delivery of public services due to illnesses in the civil service. I encourage more civil service colleagues to receive their vaccinations early, and I am pleased with the good response from colleagues today. The outreach vaccination service is efficient and convenient, allowing colleagues to complete their vaccinations with only a brief absence from work.”

     The CSEPs Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Pilot Scheme in 2025/26 has commenced and is open to all CSEPs aged 6 months or above. Those who have made an appointment can receive free seasonal influenza vaccines at families clinics. For details, please visit www.csb.gov.hk/english/admin/benefits/66.html.

     In addition, this year’s pilot scheme provides vaccination services by appointment through the outreach stations, on a pilot basis, at specified government offices (the CGO, the Queensway Government Offices, the West Kowloon Government Offices, and the North Point Government Offices) on several dates between mid-October and November.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), in collaboration with the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited (Cyberport), announced today (October 15) the second cohort of the Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenA.I.) Sandbox. Building on the foundation of the first cohort, this coming cohort demonstrates a significant industry shift from experimenting with AI’s capability to enabling its secure and reliable implementation.
 
From over 60 proposals, a total of 27 use cases from 20 banks and 14 technology partners have been selected (see Annex). All submissions were prioritised based on innovation, technical complexity and potential value to the industry.
 
A defining theme of this cohort is the proactive approach to AI governance, with use cases pioneering “AI vs AI” strategies, such as leveraging AI to conduct automated quality checks on AI-generated outputs, improving accuracy and consistency at a scalable level.
 
In response to the emerging risk of deepfake-related fraud, the Sandbox will also serve as a testing ground for advanced defence mechanisms. Several participants will conduct adversarial simulations, using AI to stress-test and fortify their systems against sophisticated digital fraud.
 
     Deputy Chief Executive of the HKMA Mr Arthur Yuen said, “The second cohort represents a major leap forward in making AI adoption safer and more robust. The diverse representation of banks in this cohort highlights the industry-wide consensus on AI’s transformative potential. The growth in collaboration between the banking, technology, and academic sectors is a testament to our commitment to fostering the local fintech ecosystem. I would also like to express my gratitude to Professor Chan (Note 1), Professor Yang (Note 2) and Professor Yiu (Note 3) for their valuable expert advice as members of the selection committee.”
 
Participants will gradually onboard to the designated platform by Cyberport’s Artificial Intelligence Supercomputing Centre later this year, with trials commencing in early 2026. Leveraging the GenA.I. Sandbox as the core, the HKMA will continue to share good practices and promote the responsible adoption of AI within the financial sector.

Note 1: Professor Chan Chun-kwong, Programme Director, MSc/PgD in Financial Technology, Faculty of Engineering; and Professor of Practice in Financial Technology, Department of Systems Engineering and Engineering Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Note 2: Professor Yang Hongxia, Executive Director of PolyU Academy for Artificial Intelligence; Associate Dean (Global Engagement) of Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences; Director of the University Research Facility in Big Data Analytics; and Professor, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Note 3: Professor Yiu Siu-ming, Master Programme Director and Professor, School of Computing and Data Science, The University of Hong Kong

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Lands Department announced today that it registered 22 lease modifications and three land exchanges in the Land Registry during the quarter ending September 2025, adding that four were technical changes involving no premium.

Of the land transactions, four are located on Hong Kong Island, 17 are in Kowloon and four are in the New Territories.

Another four lots were granted by private treaty during the period.

One was granted for office use in Sai Ying Pun, while another was granted to the Airport Authority for airport development in Chek Lap Kok.

The third lot was granted for the development of a non-profit-making school in Tin Shui Wai, and the remaining one was granted to the Urban Renewal Authority for residential development in Mong Kok.

The land transactions realised a total land premium of about $2.681 billion.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Vegetable Marketing Organization (VMO) announced today that it detected a ransomware attack on part of its computer systems on Monday.

Preliminary findings are that the incident involves the Cheung Sha Wan Vegetable Wholesale Market’s gate and accounting systems, which contain particulars of about 7,000 market users.

The VMO is conducting an investigation to assess whether any personal data has been leaked and it will promptly notify affected individuals as necessary.

The market is maintaining normal operations overall, with processes such as invoicing and payments being handled manually. The VMO has engaged an external contractor to expedite system restoration and assist with the investigation.

Upon discovery of the incident, the VMO immediately suspended the operation of its network systems and disconnected relevant computer servers from external connections to prevent further hacker intrusion.

The incident has been reported to the Police Force, the Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Centre, and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data.

The VMO said it will conduct a comprehensive review of the incident and strengthen its information and network protection measures to prevent recurrence of similar incidents.

Call 2710 0964 or 2710 0931 for enquiries.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

The Department of Industrial Technology (DOIT), Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) showcased 42 groundbreaking textile innovations at the 2025 Taipei Innovative Textile Application Show (TITAS) on October 14, in collaboration with six major research institutes-the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), the Taiwan Textile Research Institute (TTRI), the Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF), the Footwear & Recreation Technology Research Institute (FTR), the Plastics Industry Development Center (PIDC), and the Printing Technology Research Institute (PITRI). The exhibition highlighted Taiwan’s latest achievements in digital manufacturing, circular recycling, and product innovation, underscoring the nation’s strong technological capability and global competitiveness in the textile industry.

Director-General Chao-Chung Kuo of DoIT stated that although Taiwan commands more than 70% of the global functional fabric market, the industry must continue advancing toward digitalization, decarbonization, and high-value transformation to maintain its edge. The showcased innovations align with the government’s net-zero, AI, and sustainability policies, while addressing trade challenges and strengthening Taiwan’s position in global markets through technological breakthroughs and international collaboration.

Among the highlights was “A Slice of Shoe,” Taiwan’s first 3D one-piece formed shoe developed by the Taiwan Textile Research Institute (TTRI). Utilizing a proprietary melt-blown fiber forming process, the technology enables a shoe upper to be produced in just six minutes, reducing production time by more than 80% compared with traditional eight-step processes. Despite weighing less than 50 grams, the upper can withstand 5 kilograms of tensile strength and seamlessly bond with the sole, saving about 35% of assembly time.

The shoe’s mono-material design allows for easier recycling, while automated manufacturing significantly reduces both energy consumption and labor demand. The innovation has already been adopted by Japan’s leading sports brand Mizuno and received the 2025 iF Design Award. Future applications will expand to bicycle saddles and sports protective gear, demonstrating Taiwan’s leadership in intelligent footwear manufacturing and green innovation.

The DoIT Pavilion centered on three core themes-digitalization, low-carbon solutions, and value-added innovation-featuring several key technologies that are reshaping the future of Taiwan’s textile industry:

AI-enhanced Multispectral Imaging for Textile Recycling:

Developed by TTRI, this system can accurately identify blended fabrics within one second, with an error margin of plus or minus15%. It overcomes more than 70% of the challenges in textile waste sorting, reducing the conventional 1-2 hour process to just seconds. Each kilogram of textile recycled with this technology helps reduce 5.09-9.13 kilograms of Carbon Dioxide emissions, advancing the goals of circular sustainability.

Nonwoven Recycled Products:

Developed by the Plastics Industry Development Center (PIDC), this low-shear physical recycling process transforms 100% of waste edge trims and offcuts-totaling 30,000 to 40,000 tons annually-into reusable products. Carbon emissions are reduced by more than 60%, with applications across furniture and lifestyle goods, generating an estimated NT$400-500 million in market value.

Auxetic Response Stress-relieving Protective Geary:

Developed by the Footwear & Recreation Technology Research Institute (FTIS), this innovation uses supercritical physical foaming combined with an expanded lattice structure to reduce joint pressure by 40% and improve footwear comfort, with an estimated market potential exceeding NT$200 million.

The DOIT Pavilion brought together technologies spanning fibers, fabrics, machinery, digital AI systems, testing, and end-product applications, showcasing Taiwan’s integrated R&D strength and innovation ecosystem.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Director of Fire Services, Mr Andy Yeung, led a delegation to Beijing yesterday (October 14) for a two-day visit. 

Upon arrival, the delegation first attended the 21st China International Fire Protection Equipment Technology Conference and Exposition organised by the China Fire Protection Association. They toured the exhibition, which showcased the latest rescue technologies, vehicles and equipment, and learned about developments in the emergency rescue industry from around the world.

On the sidelines of the exposition, Mr Yeung and the President of the China Academy of Building Research (CABR), Mr Fan Jinlong, witnessed the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Hong Kong Fire Services Department (FSD) and the Institute of Building Fire Research under the CABR. Both sides will deepen collaboration in areas such as the development and application of building fire safety standards, as well as the benchmarking and transformation of fire-testing technologies. Regular exchanges and trainings will also be strengthened with a view to jointly promoting the development of firefighting professions.

In addition, the delegation visited the Ministry of Emergency Management today (October 15) and met with its Vice Minister Mr Xu Jiaai. During the meeting, Mr Yeung outlined the work of Hong Kong’s fire and ambulance services, and the FSD’s future development plans. Mr Yeung expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Emergency Management for its continuous support to the FSD in areas such as regional and international emergency rescue co-operation, as well as professional exchanges and personnel trainings. 

The FSD will continue to strengthen exchanges and collaboration with the country’s emergency departments, and proactively explore more opportunities for exchanges with global counterparts to jointly promote the high-quality development of the national and worldwide emergency response professions.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Lands Department (LandsD) announced today (October 15) that it registered 22 lease modifications and three land exchanges in the Land Registry during the quarter ending September 2025, of which four were modifications of a technical nature involving nil premium.

     Among these 25 land transactions, four are located on Hong Kong Island, 17 are in Kowloon and four are in the New Territories. The transactions exclude Small House cases.

A further four lots were granted by private treaty during the period. One was granted for office use in Sai Ying Pun; one was granted to the Airport Authority Hong Kong for airport development in Chek Lap Kok; one was granted for the development of a non-profit-making school in Tin Shui Wai; and the other one was granted to the Urban Renewal Authority for residential development in Mong Kok.

There were no lot extensions registered during the quarter.

The above land transactions realised a total land premium of about $2,680.686 million.

Transaction records of the lease modifications, land exchanges, private treaty grants and lot extensions, including those registered recently, are uploaded to the LandsD website (www.landsd.gov.hk/en/land-disposal-transaction/land-transaction.html) on a monthly basis. Details of the transactions may be obtained by searching the registered documents in the Land Registry.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Outreach vaccination services under the Civil Service Eligible Persons (CSEPs) Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Pilot Scheme are being provided at various government offices, with about 110 CSEPs being vaccinated at an outreach station at the Central Government Offices (CGO) this morning.

Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung and Director of Health Dr Ronald Lam spoke with civil servants receiving the influenza vaccines to listen to their views. Secretary for Justice Paul Lam and Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho also received vaccines at the outreach station.

Mrs Yeung said it was better to receive the vaccine sooner rather than later.

She highlighted that as civil servants frequently interact with members of the public, being vaccinated can better protect employees own health and that of those they serve, reduce the risk of workplace and community transmission of influenza, and minimise impacts on the delivery of public services due to illnesses in the civil service.

“I encourage more civil service colleagues to receive their vaccinations early, and I am pleased with the good response from colleagues today,” she added. “The outreach vaccination service is efficient and convenient, allowing colleagues to complete their vaccinations with only a brief absence from work.”

The pilot scheme is open to all CSEPs aged six months or above. Those who have made an appointment can receive free seasonal influenza vaccines at family clinics.

This year’s scheme provides vaccination services by appointment through the outreach stations, on a pilot basis, at specified government offices on various dates between now and November. The offices involved are the CGO, the Queensway Government Offices, the West Kowloon Government Offices and the North Point Government Offices.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government today said that consent has been given to resume the socketed steel H-pile works of the proposed MTR Corporation (MTRCL) Oyster Bay Station project on Lantau Island.

Since the upheaving readings recorded on July 15 at five monitoring checkpoints installed on a section of the MTRCL’s Tung Chung Line ballasted railway tracks near Siu Ho Wan Depot had exceeded the preset trigger level of 20mm for works suspension, the socketed steel H-pile works were suspended that same day.

The situation occurred under the preset mechanism that aims to monitor the potential impact of construction works in the vicinity of railways under operation. Once the exceedance of the preset trigger level is observed, works will be suspended and mitigation measures will be explored to ensure railway safety.

The registered building professional of the Oyster Bay Station project had submitted to the Buildings Department an incident report. After review, the department agreed to the mitigation measures and the amendment plans as they can effectively minimise the potential risk of the upheaval and settlement of the tracks beyond the preset threshold upon the resumption of works. It also accepted the enhanced monitoring measures taken by the MTRCL.

Meanwhile, the Electrical & Mechanical Services Department has reviewed the monitoring data and assessment report submitted by the MTRCL in relation to the safe operation of the railway and confirmed that the condition of the railway and the corporation’s monitoring measures meet the operational safety requirements.

Additionally, the MTRCL has confirmed that the resumption of works will not affect the structural safety of the railway facilities and the railway’s safe operation.

Staff of the two departments inspected the railway tracks on October 8 and confirmed again that the maintenance works completed and the reconditioned ballast track after the July incident had had no impact on the structural safety of the railway facilities and operational safety.

The two departments and the MTRCL will closely monitor the situation.