Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Over 400 young musicians and choristers who participated in the 2026 Hong Kong Youth Music Camp will perform a Chinese and Western music repertoire in two concerts to be held in July and August to showcase the achievements of their training at the camp.

     Presented by the Music Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the 2026 Hong Kong Youth Music Camp Concerts, entitled “Summer Resonance”, will be held at 3pm on July 26 at the Auditorium of Yuen Long Theatre and 3pm on August 2 at the Concert Hall of Hong Kong City Hall. The concerts are part of the International Arts Carnival (IAC) summer programmes.

     The first concert will be performed by the Children’s Choir, Junior Chinese Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra under the batons of Camp conductors Dr Tracy Wong, Dr Cui Yuanyuan and Jean-Philippe Vanbeselaere from Canada, the Chinese Mainland and France respectively. Programme highlights include Kallman’s depiction of love and joy “Won’t You Sing Along”, Lo Leung-fai’s vibrant “Youthful Energy” and Berlioz’s magnificent “Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14”.

     The Junior String Orchestra, Symphonic Band and Chinese Orchestra will perform an array of fascinating music pieces in the second concert, led by Camp conductors John Sit, Professor Nicholas Williams and Professor Chen Bing from Hong Kong, the United States and the Chinese Mainland respectively. Programme highlights include “Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor ‘Summer'” from Vivaldi’s masterpiece “The Four Seasons”, John Williams’ atmospheric “Symphonic Suite from Star Wars: The Force Awakens” and Zhao Jiping’s “Follow the Pagoda Tree to Trace the Roots of Our Ancestors”, a work filled with the longing for the homeland.

     The Hong Kong Youth Music Camp is one of the annual summer activities of the Music Office for young musicians to receive treasurable guidance from maestros, expanding their musical horizons.

     Tickets for the concerts priced at $80, $100 and $130 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme enquiries, please call 2796 7537 or 3842 7784 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/mo/activities/traineesevents/musicnconcert/2026hkymcc.html.

     For details of other IAC programmes, please visit www.hkiac.gov.hk.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Marine Department today announced the implementation of measures to encourage more yachts from the Greater Bay Area and around the world to visit Hong Kong.

The department said its three measures will streamline the vetting procedures and enhance the efficiency of port formalities. The ultimate aim is to help the city develop into a yachting hub in Asia.

The measures involve enhancing the Electronic Business System (eBS), relaxing berth requirements, and supporting masters of visiting yachts from the Chinese Mainland to obtain Hong Kong qualifications.

Launched today, the eBS allows the owner or master of a visiting yacht, without the need to engage a local agent, to set up a personal account and conduct one-stop submission of arrival information for preliminary vetting by Hong Kong authorities.

The owner or master can also complete port formalities for their vessel and settle fees via the system.

The department has also developed a Dynamic Yacht Monitoring System, which allows visiting yachts to navigate safely in Hong Kong waters and to anchor in designated areas, without having to reserve berths at privately operated yacht clubs or piers.

The five designated anchorage areas are located at Stanley Bay, Tai Tam Bay, Repulse Bay, Three Fathoms Cove in Sai Kung, and Tai O. Users must have equipped their yachts with an Automatic Identification System and a Very High Frequency radio.

Additionally, the department has authorised the relevant Mainland authority to conduct “Hong Kong Waters Local Knowledge Examinations” on the Mainland. It has also approved seven training institutions to offer recognised training courses.

The department added that as of mid-June the first batch of Mainland yacht masters had successfully passed the examination or received training.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department has iterated that it is committed to enhancing the management standards of country parks.

The department made the statement in response to an investigative report, released today by the Office of The Ombudsman, on the Government’s work on the management of countryside facilities.

It said it accepts the Ombudsman’s recommendations and will make every effort to implement them. It added that some of the measures have already been initiated or completed.

The specific measures include enhancing facility maintenance and inspections at country parks; improving the system for monitoring the performance of cleaning contractors; allocating additional resources, hiring contractors, and adopting new designs to improve the maintenance of facilities such as rain shelters; updating the contents of the country park visitor questionnaire and the “Enjoy Hiking” website; and providing GPX files for all trails on the website.

The department said it agrees with the Ombudsman’s recommendations on strengthening public education and the dissemination of information. It is currently developing several publicity channels, including establishing a YouTube account for Hong Kong Country Parks and applying to open an official Xiaohongshu account.

It will continue to work with relevant government departments to strengthen the management of ecotourism hotspots during weekends, public holidays and the Mainland Golden Week holidays as necessary.

It will also explore co-operation with other organisations to deepen education and publicity with regard to the protection of country parks and hiking safety awareness.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

The Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI) under the Ministry of Economic Affairs announced today (June 23) that new inspection requirements covering nine product categories will take effect on July 1, 2026. The newly regulated products include electric vehicle charging equipment rated at 30 kW or below, power conversion systems rated at 20 kW or below, stationary lithium energy storage systems with a capacity of 20 kWh or below, lithium battery packs for energy storage with capacities ranging from 1 kWh to 20 kWh, seven types of rechargeable household appliances such as electric mosquito swatters, and plastic puzzle ground mats. In addition, energy efficiency requirements for automotive tires will be introduced, while inspection requirements for Portland cement and wooden board commodities will be revised to further enhance product safety and quality.

BSMI explained that electric vehicle charging equipment, power conversion systems, stationary lithium energy storage systems, and lithium battery packs for energy storage are increasingly being installed in residential and other environments. At the same time, advances in battery technology have led to the widespread use of rechargeable batteries in household appliances, including electric mosquito swatters. To ensure consumer safety, these products will be brought under mandatory inspection and tested in accordance with national standards harmonized with international standards.

The requirements cover key safety aspects such as insulation performance, thermal stability, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), and flame retardancy. To better protect children’s health and reduce exposure to hazardous substances such as phthalates and formamide, plastic puzzle ground mats will also be subject to mandatory inspection requirements. Beginning July 1, 2026, these products must comply with applicable inspection requirements and complete the required conformity assessment procedures before being placed on the market.

In line with global sustainability trends, BSMI is introducing additional energy efficiency requirements for automobile tyres, including rolling sound emission, wet grip braking performance, and rolling resistance coefficient, to enhance energy efficiency and driving comfort. Meanwhile, to promote the reuse of waste materials in cement production and advance circular economy objectives, a chloride ion testing requirement will be included in the inspection requirements for Portland cement to ensure that the introduction of alternative raw materials does not compromise cement quality and stability. Inspection standards and testing methods for wooden board commodities will be revised to improve inspection efficiency.

To safeguard consumer rights and product safety, BSMI will continue to collect and assess safety information on emerging products, require mandatory inspection for products with potential safety concerns, and regularly review and update these requirements. Manufacturers are urged to comply with applicable safety and labeling requirements. Consumers are advised to purchase products bearing the Commodity Inspection Mark and to ensure that relevant electrical equipment is evaluated and installed by qualified electrical contractors designated by the manufacturer.

Details of the newly announced inspection requirements are available on the BSMI website (https://www.bsmi.gov.tw/wSite/mp?mp=2) under News > Regulatory Updates > Announcements of Adoption. For further information, please visit the website or contact BSMI’s toll-free service line at 0800-007123.

Responsible Division: Inspection Administration Division
Contact Person: Mr. Cheng, Ching-Hong, Deputy Director
Tel. (O): +886-2343-1700#1211
Email: ch.cheng@bsmi.gov.tw

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government today launched a two-month public consultation on policy proposals relating to the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO), including a statutory seven-day cooling-off period on pre-paid consumer contracts for beauty and fitness services.

Explaining the proposals, it said issues such as improper selling tactics and risks stemming from pre-payment models are particularly concentrated in the beauty and fitness services industries. Consumers often enter into long contracts involving substantial pre-payments under the sway of aggressive commercial practices or persuasive sales tactics.

It added that there are limitations to the existing TDO in terms of investigatory work by Customs. 

A comprehensive review of the ordinance has therefore been conducted, with reference to various factors, including practices. Various policy proposals are included in the public consultation document.

The statutory cooling-off period on pre-paid consumer contracts for beauty and fitness services is intended to give consumers room to reconsider any pre-payment agreements. The proposed cooling-off period is seven calendar days, and the proposed refund period is 14 calendar days.

A regulatory threshold based on the contract amount would be established. Proposed thresholds for consideration include $3,000 and above, $8,000 and above or $15,000 and above.

The Government also proposes imposing a statutory two-year limit on contract durations, as well as other restrictions on pre-paid beauty and fitness contracts. Moreover, traders would be prohibited from entering into a contract with consumers any more than thre months in advance of the contract taking effect.

In addition, the Government proposes adding Section 13I of the TDO, which pertains to the offence of wrongly accepting payment, to Schedule 1 of the Organized & Serious Crimes Ordinance. This would empower Customs with additional investigatory and enforcement powers, including the power to seek restraint orders in court.

The Government will organise consultation sessions to brief the beauty and fitness industries on the policy proposals and to listen to their views and suggestions.

The trade and members of the public can submit views by email, by fax to 2869 4420, or by mail to the Commerce & Economic Development Bureau, 23/F, West Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

As of this morning, about 82.4% of Wang Fuk Court owners had submitted signed Letters of Acceptance confirming their intention to sell their titles to the Government.

The Government announced last Friday that its long-term housing arrangement plan has been extended to owners of units at Wang Chi House, Block H of the estate, and reported that acquisition work is progressing.

The Housing Bureau said today that a total of 1,635 signed Letters of Acceptance had been received from the owners of Wang Fuk Court’s eight buildings.

Breaking this down, 1,429 letters came from Blocks A to G, representing about 82.3% of the total number of flats in these seven buildings. A further 206 letters came from owners at Wang Chi House, representing about 83% of the ownership.

Tomorrow is the deadline for owners who wish to secure flat selection priority in the first batch under the planned Special Sales Exercise.

The bureau called on other owners to submit Letters of Acceptance before the deadline.

Owners can submit signed Letters of Acceptance using the return envelope enclosed with their Letter of Offer by post, by hand or by courier. For owners who opt to send the return by post, the postmark date will be taken as the submission date. Owners can also choose to submit their letters in person to the drop-off box at the Housing Authority Headquarters, or hand them over to their designated Engagement Team member.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Executive John Lee and senior government officials will attend a flag-raising ceremony and a reception on July 1 to celebrate the 29th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Community leaders and members of uniformed groups will attend the ceremony, which will be held at Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai at 8am. No public viewing area will be set up.

The Police Band will perform at the ceremony and a choir from Belilios Public School and Queen’s College will sing the national anthem under the lead of singers Albert Lim and Vivian Yau. This will be followed by a fly-past and a sea parade by the disciplined services.

The reception, led by the Chief Executive, will be held afterwards at the Grand Hall on Level 3 of the Convention & Exhibition Centre.

Police will implement special traffic arrangements at Golden Bauhinia Square and in the nearby area during the celebrations.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Home Affairs Department’s Office of the Licensing Authority today released two guides to guesthouse licence applications.

The guides aim to help individuals to apply for licences to operate holiday camps in rural areas or home-stay lodgings in village houses.

The move aligns with an initiative announced in the Chief Executive’s 2025 Policy Address regarding the promotion of thematic tourism.

The two guides are an enhanced “Guide to Licence Applications for Guesthouse (Holiday Camp) Covering Building, Caravan & Tent Campsites” and the newly published “Guide to Licence Application for Guesthouse in Village House”.

The documents outline the building and fire safety requirements for holiday camps and village houses, and set out the prerequisites for operating of holiday camps and home-stay lodgings in rural areas.

With regard to holiday camps or village houses in remote areas which are not equipped with emergency vehicular access or street fire hydrants, the authority may, based on actual circumstances, permit applicants to adopt other fire safety measures such as installing wheeled-type dry powder fire extinguishers and self-contained smoke detectors.

For village houses built before 1961, which may not fully meet current prescribed construction standards, the authority may accept different proposals, based on their individual merits, in relation to structural safety, fire resistant construction, means of escape, lighting and ventilation, provided that these meet building safety requirements.

While prioritising building and fire safety, the authority will continue to remove barriers and lift restrictions to facilitate the operation of holiday camps and home-stay lodgings in rural areas, and will constantly review and enhance the licensing regime for guesthouses.

Source: Government of the Republic of Korea

(Unofficial Translation)

My fellow Koreans, distinguished Korean War veterans and bereaved families, members of the diplomatic corps of United Nations Sending States whose forces shed blood alongside us in defense of the Republic of Korea,

As we mark the 76th anniversary of the Korean War, I extend my deepest respect and gratitude, on behalf of the Korean people, to all of our honored veterans.

I also extend my heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved families, who have endured many long years of deep longing and sorrow.

We have gathered here today to honor the heroes who defended the Republic of Korea and protected its people during the Korean War – the most horrible tragedy in our nation’s history.

The peace and prosperity we enjoy today came at a cost. These were secured through the noble sacrifices and devotion of our heroes, who gave everything they had and fought on the battlefield when the fate of our homeland hung by a thread.

Because of the devastating war that broke out on this day seventy-six years ago, countless citizens lost their beloved family members and were forced to flee the homes and communities where they had lived their entire lives.

Peaceful daily life was brutally trampled on, and the Republic of Korea’s very survival hung in the balance.

Yet we never wavered in our resolve to defend our homeland. Regular soldiers were joined by students, who laid down their pens and took up rifles as volunteer troops. Ordinary citizens who had never fired a gun threw themselves into a hail of bullets, determined to safeguard this country and their families.

Remembering and honoring these heroes is one of the foremost responsibilities of our nation and community, as well as the solemn duty of all of us who now enjoy lives of freedom, prosperity and peace.

It is an unwavering principle of this government, founded on popular sovereignty, that those who dedicate themselves to their country and make extraordinary sacrifices for it must receive extraordinary compensation, as well as the honor and respect they deserve.

We will do our utmost to ensure that our war veterans’ sacrifices remain not just a source of personal pride but also bring them a life of greater dignity and stability.

Today, the government conferred awards on three members of the nonregular forces whose distinguished service during the Korean War was not fully recognized for far too long.

I would like to pay a heartfelt tribute to these war veterans who have finally received the honor they deserve, albeit belatedly, and offer my deepest condolences to their bereaved families. Please join me in giving them a round of applause.

Moreover, a revision to the Act on the Honorable Treatment of War Veterans and Establishment of Related Associations took effect on May 20, allowing surviving family members of war veterans to join veterans’ organizations.

We will continue to strengthen institutional support to ensure that a spirit of dedication to the nation does not fade away after one generation, but is proudly passed on to future generations.

We must also never forget the UN Korean War veterans.

The freedom and peace that the Republic of Korea enjoys today spring from the sacred devotion and sacrifice of the UN Korean War veterans who willingly gave their best years and their lives for a small country in the Far East that they had never even heard of before.

Our solidarity forged in blood in the trenches seventy-six years ago has evolved into the steadfast partnership we see today, through which we join forces to advance peace and prosperity worldwide.

Having transformed from a nation that received aid from the international community to an aid donor after overcoming the scars of war, the Republic of Korea bears a responsibility to repay the debt of gratitude we owe them.

The government will further expand its diplomatic outreach to honor veterans abroad, for instance, by inviting UN Korean War veterans to Korea. We will strive even more to ensure that the spirit of solidarity that blossomed in the trenches lives on among younger generations.

Fellow Koreans,

Seventy-six years ago, today, our heroes refused to surrender this land, even when the bullets rained down.

They willingly gave their lives, dreaming of a nation free from war. The peaceful days we now enjoy are the future that they so fiercely desired.

The government, founded on popular sovereignty, will steadfastly protect this great Republic of Korea, built by our heroes.

We will safeguard our people and territory through strong national defense capability. We will build a peaceful Korean Peninsula where there are neither fears of war nor any need for conflict.

I believe that this is the best way to repay the heroes who sacrificed their lives and youth to defend this country.

To mark the 76th anniversary of the Korean War, I once again extend my deepest respect and gratitude to our war veterans and fallen heroes.

Thank you.