Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     A sick 73-year-old male person in custody at Stanley Prison died in a public hospital today (July 24).

     On July 22, the person in custody was sent to a public hospital for treatment due to physical discomfort and a suspected stroke. During hospitalisation, his condition deteriorated, and he was certified dead at 4.11pm today.

     The case has been reported to the Police. A death inquest will be held by the Coroner’s Court.

     The person in custody was sentenced to imprisonment for the offence of indecent assault in 2026.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, the National Development & Reform Commission (NDRC) and relevant central ministries today held the ninth Joint Conference on Advancing Hong Kong’s Full Participation in & Contribution to the Belt & Road Initiative in Beijing.

Secretary for Justice Paul Lam, in his capacity as chairperson of the Working Group on Belt & Road Development under the Steering Group on Integration into National Development, led a delegation to attend the conference.

NDRC Vice Chairman Zhou Haibing also attended the meeting, alongside representatives from the commission, the Hong Kong & Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and the Supreme People’s Court.

Other attendees included representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Commerce, the People’s Bank of China, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, the National Financial Regulatory Administration, the State Administration for Market Regulation, and the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR.

Addressing the conference, Mr Lam said the Hong Kong SAR Government has been taking forward Belt & Road co-operation to achieve deeper and more concrete outcomes, fully participating in and contributing to the initiative under the guidance of major national steps to support high-quality co-operation and integrate into national development.

He expressed gratitude to the central government for its staunch support for hosting the International Organization for Mediation headquarters in Hong Kong, emphasising that this will strengthen the city’s role as an international dispute resolution services centre as well as a hub for international mediation. 

He added that public consultation is underway on formulating Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan, which outlines directions to deepen participation in the initiative and enable the city to better leverage its unique advantages under “one country, two systems”.

Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau, who serves as the Hong Kong-side Convenor of the Joint Conference, highlighted the HKSAR Government’s commitment to promoting all-round, multifaceted cooperation under the initiative.

During the meeting, Mr Yau reported on relevant work progress, including forging additional free trade and investment agreements, advancing plans to establish a new Economic & Trade Office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and accelerating the work of the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global to help Mainland businesses expand overseas through Hong Kong’s platform.

Today’s session also covered work proposals submitted by the HKSAR Government for consideration by central ministries, alongside Hong Kong’s key priority areas for future participation in the initiative, while representatives from relevant Mainland ministries detailed their supportive measures and provided feedback on the proposals.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Local exposure to dietary lead and cadmium has a low health impact, according to a report released today by the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department’s Centre for Food Safety.

Findings in the fifth report released under the Second Hong Kong Total Diet Study state that local dietary exposure estimates for cadmium are below the tolerable monthly intake established by the Joint Food & Agriculture Organization / World Health Organization Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), while those for lead are also below the dietary exposure levels identified by JECFA.

Moreover, estimates of dietary exposure among the overall adult population to both metals are lower than those reported in the First Hong Kong Total Diet Study, which was conducted between 2010 and 2014.

Out of a total of 187 tested food items, covering 15 food groups, 125 were detected with cadmium, while lead was detected in 176. The three major food groups, namely “cereals and their products”, “vegetables and their products” and “fish, seafood and their products”, accounted for about 80% of the total dietary exposure to cadmium and about 50% of the total dietary exposure to lead.

Cadmium and lead, as metallic elements present ubiquitously in the environment, can be released through various natural processes or human activities, and subsequently enter the human food chain.

In addition to maintaining a balanced and varied diet, people are advised to wash vegetables and fruit thoroughly to remove dust and soil, remove outer leaves from leafy greens and peel the skin from root crops, in order to reduce levels of cadmium and lead.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

On the afternoon of July 23, President Lai Ching-te presided over the eighth meeting of the National Climate Change Committee. In his opening statement, President Lai said that in the face of climate change, the government has proposed three core strategies: increasing social action, bolstering energy stability, and protecting the vitality of our land. The president said that these strategies aim to help maintain food self-sufficiency, increase energy autonomy, and strengthen disaster prevention and public health. He expressed hope that the long-term task of climate governance can bring policies into local communities and daily life so that Taiwan may develop sustainably.
A translation of President Lai’s opening statement follows:
Today is the eighth meeting of the National Climate Change Committee and the inaugural meeting of its third-term committee.
First, I would like to thank all the deputy conveners, advisors, and committee members from the previous terms of the committee for their expert suggestions. Through our joint efforts, we have gradually deepened our carbon reduction strategies and advanced climate adaptation work. Through cross-committee cooperation, we have also incorporated climate risks into health policies and national security planning, thereby strengthening our extreme heat response, disaster preparedness, and energy resilience.
I look forward to the third-term committee building on this foundation to further integrate climate governance into national spatial planning, the energy and industry sectors, and the daily life of every individual.
Last month, Western Europe experienced its hottest June on record, and the global average temperature for the month was the second-highest in history. In July, the World Meteorological Organization noted that El Niño has already formed and is expected to strengthen between July and September, significantly increasing the likelihood of worldwide extreme weather events such as heatwaves, droughts, and heavy rainfall.
These developments repeatedly remind us that climate risks are becoming more frequent and complex, and that they directly impact our daily lives.
Taiwan is an island nation where mountains, rivers, and maritime environments are closely interconnected and population and industries are highly concentrated. Maintaining food self-sufficiency, increasing energy autonomy, and strengthening disaster prevention and public health are important national capacities to respond to climate change and international circumstances.
Over the past few years, heavy rainstorms could simultaneously trigger mountain landslides and urban flooding. The increasing number of hot days not only raises the demand for water and electricity, but also brings agricultural losses and health risks. Ocean warming and rising sea levels are also threatening the safety of fisheries and coastal settlements.
To address these compound challenges that involve homeland security, food supplies, and the livelihoods and well-being of our people, the government must integrate expertise from all sectors, proactively manage risks, be well-prepared, and implement policies. Therefore, today I want to propose three core strategies:
First, increase social action.
Climate governance requires the collective participation of the entire society. The government will provide clear information, timely warnings, and concrete action guidelines so that the public can understand climate risks, be prepared to respond, and have the ability to participate in climate adaptation efforts.
For example, the urban forest planning we proposed at the seventh committee meeting is a climate action in which the entire public can participate. Currently, the Executive Yuan has established a national-level Urban Forest Promotion Committee and initiated local forums. A total of 50 local forums will be held to gather opinions from various county and city governments and groups. A national-level urban forest plan is expected to be proposed by the end of the year.
I request that the administrative team ensure that there are channels for participation in the plan by all levels of government, as well as schools, communities, enterprises, and citizens. We must work together in the planning and maintenance of urban forests to make them an important foundation for enhancing urban resilience.
Second, bolster energy stability.
Taiwan is heavily reliant on imported energy. In the face of international energy price fluctuations and extreme climate risks, we must not only continue expanding domestic low-carbon energy generation, but also strengthen power grid resilience and energy storage and dispatch capabilities to ensure a stable power supply and support people’s livelihoods and industrial growth.
Through the concerted efforts of all sectors, we have already installed 508 offshore wind turbines as of this month, with a total installed capacity reaching 4.9GW, which ranks fifth in the world. Last year, the power generated by offshore wind facilities also exceeded 10 billion kilowatt-hours for the first time.
Next, we not only need to promote the stable development of offshore wind power, but also improve industrial supply chains and talent cultivation, as well as conduct environmental assessments to ensure that the energy transition process can strike a balance among power supply stability, environmental sustainability, and local development.
Third, protect the vitality of our land.
Forests, farmland, rivers, wetlands, coasts, and maritime areas are Taiwan’s precious natural resources; they also serve as natural barriers to conserve water resources, regulate flooding, and stabilize food production.
The government will continue to strengthen scientific monitoring and nature restoration, and incorporate the long-term risks of extreme weather into agricultural production and national spatial planning.
Our actions are also in step with those of the international community. From the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework to global adaptation goals, Taiwan will continue to align with international standards, build more comprehensive climate governance capabilities, and leverage healthy ecological environments to strengthen national land resilience and ensure intergenerational security.
These three core strategies will be further outlined in today’s three reports, focusing on broad public engagement, spatial adaptation, and energy transition – all aiming to boost societal momentum, land vitality, and energy stability.
First, the Ministry of Environment will present a report on environmental education for all in order to co-create a sustainable future of mutual prosperity. The goal of this initiative is to deepen public risk awareness and turn low-carbon, sustainable living into an everyday practice for the whole population.
The second report, presented jointly by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ocean Affairs Council, focuses on building resilient agricultural production and sustainable ecosystems in the face of climate change, outlining how food production and national land resilience can be enhanced through ecological conservation and scientific governance.
The third report, presented by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, details a mid- to long-term development plan for Taiwan’s offshore wind power. Its goal is to establish a predictable energy development path and steadily advance green energy infrastructure, power grid integration, and industrial supply chains.
Climate governance is a long-term endeavor that requires deep and lasting roots. Only when society is dynamic can policies be integrated into local communities and daily life. Only when the energy supply is stable can it support people’s livelihoods, industry, and national development. Only when the land is thriving can it withstand climate change so that Taiwan may develop sustainably.
Next, I invite all advisors and committee members to share their valuable insights from the perspectives of long-term national development and public safety. Let us work together and continue to enhance Taiwan’s capacity to address climate change.
Following his statement, President Lai heard the abovementioned reports from Minister of Environment Peng Chi-ming (彭啓明), Minister of Agriculture Chen Junne-jih (陳駿季), and Vice Minister of Economic Affairs Lai Chien-hsin (賴建信). Afterward, the president exchanged views with the committee members regarding the content of the reports.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government announced today that Deputy Director-General of Civil Aviation Clara Wong will take up the post of Director-General of Civil Aviation on August 10.

She will succeed Victor Liu, who is retiring.

Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung highlighted that Miss Wong has extensive professional knowledge and experience in civil aviation, and expressed confidence that she will lead the department in rising to challenges ahead.

Noting that Mr Liu has served the civil service with dedication throughout the past 36 years, Mrs Yeung commended his commitment to sustaining and enhancing Hong Kong’s status as an international aviation hub.

“In particular, he has made exemplary contributions in leading the Civil Aviation Department to foster the return to normality of the local aviation industry after the COVID-19 pandemic, support the development of home-developed aircraft, and implement the Three-Runway System Project.”

Mrs Yeung wished Mr Liu a happy retirement.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Six pieces of subsidiary legislation relating to the operation of the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area and Related Extended Areas, collectively known as the Hong Kong Port Area, were published today in the Government Gazette.

The six pieces of legislation are designed to support the operational needs of the Hong Kong Port Area after the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area Ordinance is commissioned on July 31.

The redeveloped Huanggang Port in Shenzhen is implementing a “colocation arrangement”, meaning that Hong Kong and Mainland immigration and customs clearance will occur in the same building, on the Shenzhen side, rather than at two separate checkpoints. The designated Hong Kong Port Area is part of this combined facility, which is being positioned as the most important 24-hour passenger land boundary control point between Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

The new regulations grant entry and exit permissions for cross-boundary drivers, passengers and other travellers.

With regard to law enforcement, the subsidiary legislation will allow detention quarters to be set up at the Hong Kong Port Area, allowing the Immigration Department to carry out routine immigration control and law enforcement duties.

Additionally, with the Hong Kong Port Area designated as a specified control point, people carrying a large quantity of currency or cash-equivalents with a total value more than $120,000 will have to make a declaration to Hong Kong Customs.

On the traffic and transport management fronts, the “permitted area” for New Territories taxis will be expanded to all roads within the Hong Kong Port Area.

The subsidiary legislation also exempts Mainland mobile network operators approved by the Mainland authorities from the requirement to provide public mobile radiocommunications services in the Hong Kong Port Area.

The Government stressed that the subsidiary legislation will enable various departments to discharge their duties in the Hong Kong Port Area in accordance with the law and to facilitate preparatory work for the official opening of the Huanggang Port to the public.

This work includes a series of system tests, trials and drills due to be conducted jointly with the Mainland authorities, to ensure that all operational and clearance arrangements are sound and comprehensive.

The Government will table the subsidiary legislation in the Legislative Council for negative vetting.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government announced today that a new round of the Common Recruitment Examination (CRE) is tentatively scheduled for October 3.

The CRE application will open tomorrow and close at 11.59pm on August 7, with application details set to be uploaded to the Civil Service Bureau’s webpage tomorrow.

The next round of recruitment exercises for civil service posts will begin in September, covering the positions of Administrative Officer (AO), Executive Officer II (EOII), Assistant Information Officer (General) (AIO(G)), Assistant Trade Officer II (ATOII), Management Services Officer II (MSOII) and Transport Officer II (TOII).

The Civil Service Bureau advises anyone planning to apply for degree- or professional-level civil service posts in the near future to participate in this round of examination, as valid CRE results are required in advance.

The pool of eligible candidates for civil service jobs requiring an undergraduate degree has been expanded to include students in their third year of undergraduate studies under a four-year curriculum.

In line with the expanded eligibility, degree holders or professional qualification holders meeting the entry requirements of the posts, and university students graduating in the 2026–27 or 2027–28 academic year, may apply for the examination.

Candidates applying for these vacancies who have not yet passed the Basic Law and National Security Law Test (BLNST) (Degree/Professional Grades) must apply separately for the test and obtain a passing result before December 5 to be considered for appointment.

For the convenience of those located outside Hong Kong, the CRE and the paper-based BLNST (Degree/Professional Grades) are tentatively scheduled to be held on December 5 in Beijing, Shanghai, London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver and Sydney.

Call the Civil Service Examinations Unit at 2537 6429 or email it for enquiries.