Category: MIL-OSI

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Integrated Diplomacy: The Third Chapter in City-to-City Exchange

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-Cher and his delegation came to Sydney, working actively to promote Tainan’s specialty products and build distribution channels. These efforts not only bring warmth to overseas Taiwanese and ease homesickness, but also allow Australian consumers—through pop-up events and the opening of Taiwan Pavilion at the Fine Food Australia 2025—to experience the dedication and stories behind each product, creating meaningful brand connections.
Mayor Huang also joined a dinner with Taiwanese community in Sydney, where he shared about Tainan’s municipal development and unique agricultural products, determined to conquer the world with Taiwan’s cuisine.
   

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Integrated Diplomacy: The First Chapter in City-to-City Exchange

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Taichung City Mayor Lu Shiow-Yen led a delegation to Sydney to study municipal and cultural facilities and promote city-to-city exchanges. The delegation met with the President and Deputy President of the New South Wales Legislative Council, as well as the Chair of the Friends of Taiwan Group, allowing Taiwan’s strengths to be recognized and its needs and international concerns to gain attention.
Mayor Lu also gathered with Taiwanese expatriates in Australia to share Taichung’s recent developments and achievements, filled with hope for the future.
   

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Integrated Diplomacy: The Second Chapter in City-to-City Exchange

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Acting Mayor of Hsinchu City, Chiu Chen-Yuan, and his delegation visited Sydney. During the trip, they not only signed a MOU with the Taiwanese Hakka Association of the World and the City of Ryde, but also reunited with Fairfield City and Federal MP—Hsinchu’s sister city of 31 years.
The delegation also visited science and innovation parks, Western Sydney University, and waste management institutions and facilities, strengthening municipal exchanges and showcasing Taiwan’s strong capabilities in IT and AI. Acting Mayor Chiu also met with the Taiwanese community in Sydney, impressing the audience with his five-minute presentation on Hsinchu’s “three highs and one low” in city governance.
   

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New vehicle licensing regulation set

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Transport Department today announced that a new vehicle registration and licensing regime will take effect on December 22 to strengthen regulations on prolonged unlicensed vehicles.

 

Under the new regime, unlicensed vehicles will remain registered under the name of owners, who will continue to be held responsible for their vehicles.

 

A new offence will also be introduced to heighten deterrence against improper abandoning of vehicles to address the problem at the source.

 

From December 22, the department will issue a notice to registered owners of vehicles unlicensed for two years or more.

 

Vehicle owners must, within three months of the date of notice, renew the licence, or cancel the registration of such vehicles with the department after scrapping them or permanently shipping them out of Hong Kong.

 

Failing to take action upon expiry of the three-month notice period will constitute an offence, the department said.

 

The maximum penalty for the first conviction will be a fine of $10,000 and imprisonment for three months. For each subsequent conviction, the maximum penalty will be a $25,000 fine and six months’ imprisonment.

 

Individual vehicle owners who have a genuine difficulty in taking the required actions within the three-month notice period or have reasonable grounds for not licensing their vehicles may apply for an exemption. The eligibility criteria and guidelines for exemption will be announced later.

 

In general, exemptions may be granted for vehicles pending spare parts for maintenance and examination before licence renewal; vehicles manufactured for 30 years or more, properly stored as a private collection and not used on roads; or vehicles properly stored by a car dealer and consigned for sale.

 

The department reminded vehicle owners that, even when a vehicle remains unlicensed or is granted an exemption, it will remain registered under their name and they have to continue to bear all legal liabilities associated with it.

 

Since December last year, the department has started issuing SMS messages or emails to registered owners whose vehicle licences will expire in one month, have just expired or have expired for two years via the e-contact means they provided in their licensing applications, to remind them that they must renew their vehicle licence or properly handle their vehicles in time.

 

Vehicle owners may also make use of the e-Licensing Portal to check the vehicle licence expiry date, handle licensing matters and take proper action on their unlicensed vehicles.

 

For enquiries, call 2804 2600.

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Labour Dept to hold job fairs

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

From tomorrow, the Labour Department will hold job fairs under the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme (ESLS), providing job vacancies of waiter, waitress, junior cook and more, for local job seekers.

 

Over 25 organisations will participate in the job fairs this week, offering over 800 job vacancies. The job fairs, where admission is free, will be held from 10am to 1pm or from 2.30pm to 5.30pm at designated job centres.

 

The department also announced that from tomorrow, if an employer applies to import waiters, waitresses or junior cooks under the ESLS, the employer will be required to join a job fair once a week during the four-week local recruitment period at job centres assigned by the department, and conduct job interviews on the spot. If an employer fails to join the arranged job fairs, the department will reject its application for labour importation under the ESLS.

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“Heritage Fiesta cum Roving Exhibition 2025” to launch in October

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

“Heritage Fiesta cum Roving Exhibition 2025” to launch in October A spokesman for the CHO said today (September 9), “The Tung Wah Coffin Home and the University Hall of the University of Hong Kong (with its exterior being a declared monument), which is now a student residence, are usually not open to the public. This rare chance to visit should not be missed. To complement the event, the University Hall will also host open days on October 4 and 5. The Western District Community Centre (Main Building of Old Tsan Yuk Maternity Hospital), which was supported by the Antiquities Advisory Board to be declared a monument in March this year, will participate in the Heritage Fiesta for the first time. The courtroom of the Former Fanling Magistracy (currently the HKFYG Leadership Institute) has been featured in a number of movies.”

The Heritage Fiesta will be held from October 1 to November 30. The public can join free guided tours at these 10 historic buildings or visit those participating historic buildings open to the public during designated opening hours to embark on a cinematic heritage journey to explore and appreciate the value and significance of local built heritage. 
     
Dates and venues of the roving exhibition are as follows:
 

October 1 – November 30  Tuen Mun Public Library
  Tung Chung Public Library
 Stanley Public Library
  Sha Tin Public Library
Fanling Public Library
 Lai Chi Kok Public LibraryEvent booklets are available for free at the aforementioned historic buildings and exhibition venues, as well as the following distribution points: venues of the 14 revitalisation projects under Batch I to V of the Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme (www.heritage.gov.hk/en/revitalisation-scheme/index.htmlIssued at HKT 12:30

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Hong Kong leaps in talent ranking

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The International Institute for Management Development today published its World Talent Ranking 2025, with Hong Kong’s ranking leaping markedly to fourth globally from ninth last year, marking the highest-ever ranking and ranking first in Asia.

 

For the second consecutive year, Hong Kong improved across all three ranked talent competitiveness factors. Its ranking rose by eight places to 20th in “appeal”, and by one place for both “readiness” and “investment and development” to third and 12th respectively.

 

Among the indicators, Hong Kong continued to top the ranking in the percentage of graduates in sciences. The city rose to third in the availability of finance skills, and ranked fifth in the remuneration of management as well as effectiveness of management education.

 

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government pointed out that Hong Kong ranking first in Asia is clear evidence that its policies and measures in education, innovation and technology, and talent admission have found the right direction and are getting results.

 

Given that the talent attraction measures are effective, the Hong Kong SAR Government emphasised that it will continue to target the manpower demand of Hong Kong’s strategic positioning of “eight centres” and refine the measures in a timely manner, enhance training of relevant local talent, and at the same time further enhance the diversity of the talent pool and effectiveness of the talent attraction measures to strengthen the talent support for Hong Kong’s future development.

 

As of the end of August, more than 520,000 applications had been received under various talent admission schemes, with more than 350,000 applications approved. Additionally, more than 230,000 people of talent arrived in Hong Kong through various talent admission schemes over the same period.

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Handle unlicensed vehicles properly in timely manner to avoid prosecutions following new vehicle licensing regulation taking effect on December 22

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Transport Department (TD) today (September 9) said that the new vehicle registration and licensing regime will take effect on December 22 to strengthen regulations on prolonged unlicensed vehicles. Under the new regime, unlicensed vehicles will remain registered under the name of owners, who will continue to be held responsible for their vehicles. A new offence will also be introduced to heighten deterrence against improper abandoning of vehicles for addressing the problem at the source.

     A spokesman for the TD said, “Starting from December 22, we will issue a notice to registered owners of vehicles unlicensed for two years or more. Vehicle owners must, within three months of the date of notice, renew the licence, or cancel the registration of such vehicles with the TD after scrapping them or permanently shipping them out of Hong Kong. They should handle their vehicles properly and in a timely manner to avoid contravening the law.”

     Failing to take action upon expiry of the three-month notice period will constitute an offence. The maximum penalty for the first conviction will be a fine of $10,000 and imprisonment for three months. For each subsequent conviction, the maximum penalty will be a $25,000 fine and six months’ imprisonment. Unless the fine is paid, the TD may, subject to the court’s order, (1) refuse to issue or renew the driving licence of a convicted vehicle owner; (2) take no action on any application for transfer of ownership of the subject vehicle; and (3) refuse to issue a vehicle licence to the subject vehicle or any other vehicles under the convicted owner’s name.

     Individual vehicle owners who have a genuine difficulty in taking the required actions within the three-month notice period or have reasonable grounds for not licensing their vehicles may apply for an exemption from the TD. In general, exemptions may be granted under the following three scenarios: (1) vehicles pending spare parts for maintenance and examination before licence renewal; (2) vehicles manufactured for 30 years or more, properly stored as a private collection and not used on roads; or (3) vehicles properly stored by a car dealer and consigned for sale. Vehicle owners may provide other reasonable grounds for the TD’s consideration of granting an exemption based on individual cases. The eligibility criteria and guidelines for exemption will be announced later.

     The spokesman reminded vehicle owners that, even when a vehicle remains unlicensed or is granted an exemption, it will remain registered under their name and they have to continue to bear all legal liabilities associated with it. Since December 2024 the TD has started issuing SMS messages or emails to registered owners whose vehicle licences will expire in one month, have just expired or have expired for two years via the e-contact means they provided in their licensing applications, to remind them that they must renew their vehicle licence or properly handle their vehicles in time.

     The TD has also stepped up publicity and public education to remind vehicle owners to take action early for vehicles unlicensed for two years or more. Vehicle owners may make use of the e-Licensing Portal to check the vehicle licence expiry date, handle licensing matters and take proper action on their unlicensed vehicles. Members of the public may refer to the TD’s website for details, or call the hotline at 2804 2600 for enquiries.

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Speech by SITI at 2nd GTI Forum on Digital Intelligence · Hong Kong (English only)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is the speech by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at the 2nd GTI Forum on Digital Intelligence · Hong Kong today (September 9):

尊敬的李主任 (CPC Committee Member and Vice Chairman of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, Mr Li Zhen)、Chairman Gao (Chairman of GTI, Mr Gao Tongqing), Chairman Ehrlich (Chairman of GTI, Mr Craig Ehrlich), Mr Li (Executive Vice President of China Mobile, Mr Li Huidi), Professor Chao (Vice President (Research and Innovation) of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Professor Christopher Chao), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,    
     Thanks to GTI, who have chosen Hong Kong to host the forum for two consecutive years. This reflects not only GTI’s recognition of Hong Kong’s crucial role as a “super-connector” and “super value-adder”, but also the confidence that you have placed in Hong Kong as a promising, global hub of I&T. 

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Hong Kong leaps to fourth place and ranks first in Asia in World Talent Ranking 2025

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The International Institute for Management Development (IMD) published the World Talent Ranking 2025 today (September 9). Hong Kong’s ranking leapt markedly to fourth globally from ninth last year, marking the highest-ever ranking and ranking first in Asia.

     For the second consecutive year, Hong Kong improved across all three ranked talent competitiveness factors. Hong Kong’s ranking rose by eight places to 20th in “Appeal”, and by one place for both “Readiness” and “Investment and Development” to third and 12th respectively. Among the indicators, Hong Kong continued to top the ranking in the percentage of graduates in sciences. The city rose to third in the availability of finance skills, and ranked fifth in the remuneration of management as well as effectiveness of management education.

A Government spokesman said, “Hong Kong ranking first in Asia in the IMD’s World Talent Ranking is clear evidence that the policies and measures of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government in education, innovation and technology (I&T), and talent admission have found the right direction and are getting results. Hong Kong’s post-secondary education is highly internationalised and diversified. The city boasts five of the world’s top 100 universities with outstanding research talent, making it an international hub for exchanges and collaboration among high-calibre talent. The Government strives to establish the “Study in Hong Kong” brand and stays committed to investing in education. Its unwavering support for institutions’ continuous innovation and optimisation helps give full play to the strengths of first-class universities, and ties in with the institutions’ capacity expansion and quality enhancement. The Government has also introduced a series of specific policies and measures such as scholarship programmes to attract quality talent from around the world and nurture local talent, with a view to consolidating Hong Kong’s position as an international post-secondary education hub, and aligning with the national strategy of becoming a leading country in education.”

The HKSAR Government fully understands the vital role of talent in technology and other developments, and announced in the 2024 Policy Address the establishment of the Committee on Education, Technology and Talents, led by the Chief Secretary for Administration, to co-ordinate and drive the integrated development of education, technology and talent, and to formulate policies to attract and cultivate talent, foster the development of technologies, as well as to promote Hong Kong as an international hub for high-calibre talent. In The World Intellectual Property Organization’s Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025 top 100 innovation clusters published on September 1, the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou cluster came first globally for the first time, which reflects the high international recognition of the I&T capacity of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, reflecting that it is an ideal place for global I&T talent from around the world to develop and grow their careers.

The spokesman said, “The talent attraction measures of the current-term Government are effective. We will continue to target the manpower demand of Hong Kong’s strategic positioning of “eight centres” and refine the measures in a timely manner, enhance training of relevant local talent, and at the same time further enhance the diversity of the talent pool and effectiveness of the talent attraction measures to strengthen the talent support for the future development of Hong Kong. As at end-August this year, over 520 000 applications were received under various talent admission schemes, with over 350 000 applications approved. Over 230 000 people of talent arrived in Hong Kong through various talent admission schemes over the same period. We welcome the continued arrival of outside quality talent and their family members to boost Hong Kong’s labour force, effectively enhance our population structure, replenish the manpower shortfall and inject continuous impetus to Hong Kong’s economic growth.”