Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     â€‹Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion at Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) Ms Loretta Lee attended the 2025 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area-Yangtze River Delta Economic and Trade Cooperation Exchange Conference (Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Industry Session) in Shanghai today (August 12), promoting Hong Kong’s business advantages and opportunities in the innovation and technology (I&T) industry to AI and robotics enterprises in the Yangtze River Delta. She encouraged these enterprises to fully leverage Hong Kong’s advantages as a “super connector” to complement the strengths of the Yangtze River Delta region.
 
     The conference was co-organised by the Department of Commerce of Guangdong Province, InvestHK, and the Macao Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute, attracting more than 200 representatives from industry enterprises, investment institutions, R&D institutions and business associations. Inspector at Level 2 of the Department of Commerce of Guangdong Province Mr Huang Xin; Ms Lee; and Director of the Macao Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute Mr Larry Leong, presented business opportunities in their respective regions at the conference, which is is one of the joint investment promotion activities conducted by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao this year, aiming to deepen economic and trade co-operation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Greater Bay Area). Assistant Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Ms Cathy Li also attended the event.
 
     Ms Lee explained to the enterprises the unique advantages Hong Kong possesses as the most international city in the Greater Bay Area. “Under the ‘one country, two systems’ principle, Hong Kong is backed by the country and connected to the world, serving as a global business hub. Hong Kong is not only the world’s freest economy, but also Asia’s leading international financial centre and the world’s largest offshore Renminbi centre. As a ‘super connector’, Hong Kong seamlessly connects Mainland China with international capital markets through mutual access mechanisms, providing financing channels for enterprises”, she said. Leveraging its strengths as an international financial centre and a hub for high-calibre global talent, Hong Kong offers world-class research and development (R&D) infrastructure, top-notch academic research, a diverse talent pool, strong Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government policies and funding programmes, and a vibrant local start-up ecosystem for the development of I&T. She added, “Hong Kong possesses the ideal conditions to attract investment and top talent from around the world, making it the best springboard for technology firms expanding overseas.”
 
     Addressing representatives from the AI and robotics industry at the event, Ms Lee provided an overview of Hong Kong’s I&T development. She introduced various aspects, including Hong Kong’s latest initiatives in AI development, such as the AI Supercomputing Centre already in operation at Cyberport and related funding policies; the InnoHK research clusters. and the city’s 15 research centres focusing on AI and robotics; the Hong Kong Generative AI Research and Development Center, which aims to establish open-source and self-training AI foundational models; and the HKSAR Government’s various funding policies for innovative technology companies in Hong Kong, as well as its policies for attracting I&T related talent.
 
     Ms Lee said, “As a crucial national technological powerhouse, Hong Kong has been actively committed to the development of the AI ecosystem. The HKSAR Government is steadily implementing the development of AI in Hong Kong from all perspectives, including strategy, R&D, infrastructure, industrial development, data flow, applications, and talent.” She also highlighted InvestHK’s free services for Mainland enterprises to set up operations in Hong Kong and expand their business globally, and promoted InvestHK’s flagship events for the second half of the year. She encouraged companies in the Yangtze River Delta to leverage Hong Kong’s advantages to expand into overseas markets.
 
     Mr Huang stated that the conference promoted precise connections between the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Yangtze River Delta region in multiple dimensions, including projects, markets, scenarios, and capital. He encouraged and invited enterprises from the Yangtze River Delta to seize the opportunity to personally experience and invest in the Greater Bay Area.
 
     Mr Leong also presented Macao’s business environment and the development of I&T at the conference. He added that Macao will continue to deepen co-operation with various Mainland cities, fully leveraging its role as a bridge between China and Portugal, and serving as a “precise connector” between China and Portugal. This will help I&T enterprises to fully leverage the Greater Bay Area’s policy dividends and Macao’s unique advantages to achieve greater development in high-tech fields such as AI.
 
     Representatives from the Canton Investment Development Commission and the Investment Promotion Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality made investment promotion presentations for their respective cites on site.
 
     The second half of the conference also invited 28 companies in the AI and robotics industries to present their projects at the business matching meeting, encouraging them to interact with representatives from the Greater Bay Area.
 
     To download event photos, please visit: www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/albums/72177720328276040.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (August 12) urged the public not to consume a kind of prepackaged coconut flavoured ice cream, which was found to contain coliform bacteria with its count exceeding the legal limit. The trade should stop using or selling the affected batch of the product immediately if they possess it.

Details of the product are as follows:

Product name: Original Coconut Gelato
Brand: Make Meanings
Place of origin: Hong Kong
Net volume: 70ml
Best-before date: January 21, 2026
Manufacturer: Pay & Pay Ice Cream International Company Limited
Distributor: Cheung Wo Food Supply Company Limited 

A spokesman for the CFS said, “The CFS collected the above-mentioned sample from a vending machine in Tseung Kwan O for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained 140 coliform bacteria per gram, exceeding the legal limit.”

Under the Frozen Confections Regulation (Cap. 132AC), frozen confection for sale should not contain more than 100 coliform bacteria per gram. The maximum penalty for offenders is a fine of $10,000 and three months’ imprisonment upon conviction. The fact that the coliform count exceeded the legal limit indicated that the hygienic conditions were unsatisfactory, but did not mean that consumption would lead to food poisoning.

     “The CFS has informed the manufacturer and the operator of the vending machine concerned of the irregularity and instructed it to stop selling the affected ice-cream product immediately. The CFS has also immediately sent staff to the frozen confection factory concerned to conduct an investigation and took samples for testing. Health education on food safety and hygiene was provided to the person-in-charge and staff of the frozen confection factory concerned. They have also been requested to carry out thorough cleaning and disinfection of the premises,” the spokesman said.

For the sake of prudence, the CFS has instructed the above-mentioned manufacturer to stop sales, remove from shelves the affected batch of the product and to initiate a recall. Members of the public may call the hotline at 5548 9226 during office hours for enquiries about the recall.

The spokesman advised members of the public to stop consuming the affected product and seek medical treatment if they feel unwell after consuming the product concerned.

​The CFS has alerted the trade to the incident, and will continue to follow up and take appropriate action. An investigation is ongoing.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     A man who went missing in Hung Hom has been located.
 
     Yin Zihong, aged 51, went missing after he was last seen at MTR Hung Hom Station on August 9 night. His family then made a report to Police.
     The man was located on Butterfly Valley Road this afternoon (August 12). He sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

A local man was sentenced to 250 days’ imprisonment at the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts today (August 12) for dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes and obstructing Customs officers in the exercise of power, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO) and the Customs and Excise Service Ordinance.  

Customs intercepted a 38-year-old man who was pulling a pallet of cargo with a pallet truck for inspection at the Chung Ying Street Checkpoint in Sha Tau Kok on May 12. During customs clearance, the man failed to obey the lawful order of the Customs officers, and a total of 280 200 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes were seized from 24 styrofoam boxes of the consignment. The man was thus arrested. The estimated market value of the batch of duty-not-paid cigarettes was about $1.4 million, and the duty potential was about $926,000.   

Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences.  

Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, tobacco products are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.  

Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002). 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Police laid a holding charge against a 52-year-old woman with two counts of murder today (August 12).

     The woman was arrested yesterday (August 11) in suspected connection with a murder case happened in Sham Shui Po on the same day afternoon, in which an 85-year-old woman and a 47-year-old man died.

     The case will be mentioned at West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (August 13) morning.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA thanks Philippine President Marcos for conveying concern over regional peace and stability

Date：2025-08-07
Data Source：Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs

August 7, 2025 
No.280 

During a recent interview with an Indian media outlet, President of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. reiterated the responsibility of the Philippines regarding regional peace, stability, security, and humanitarian issues. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs sincerely appreciates these sentiments.
 
In the interview, President Marcos stated that if there was a confrontation across the Taiwan Strait, it would be impossible for the Philippines to stay on the sidelines given its geographic proximity to Taiwan. He stressed that the Philippines had a responsibility to defend its territory and its sovereignty. He also expressed strong concern for the safety of the large number of Philippine nationals living and working in Taiwan.
 
As President Marcos has repeatedly emphasized, peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are a priority, while regional peace, security, and stability are relevant to all nations. MOFA extends deep appreciation and respect to President Marcos for once again stressing the importance of regional peace and showing a deep regard for humanitarian values.
 
MOFA will continue to remain in close contact and coordinate with the government of the Philippines to ensure the safety and welfare of Philippine nationals in Taiwan. It will also strive to strengthen the partnership between the two countries in such areas as security, bilateral and multilateral cooperation, and ensuring the welfare of the overseas Taiwanese community. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

irector General David Cheng-Wei Wu welcomed the National Dong Hwa University dream team led by President Dr. Hui-Mi Hsu, and shared NDHU’s vision for development along with TECO Sydney’s onsite observations.
Located in eastern Taiwan’s pristine natural environment, NDHU is not only a key hub for Indigenous studies, but also ranks in the global 201–260 band for Art and Design in the QS World University Rankings. In the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings for UN Sustainable Development Goals, it consistently ranks among the top three universities in Taiwan. Among its 10,000+ students, 13.7% come from 57 countries.
We look forward to working closely with NDHU to promote internationalization in higher education in Taiwan, and to bring the world into Taiwan.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Department of Health today said it is investigating an incident involving a private doctor administering COVID-19 vaccines that exceeded the recommended use-by date to seven residents of a residential care home for persons with disabilities (RCHD).

None of the affected people reported feeling ill, the department noted.

It explained that while reviewing the vaccine orders and vaccination records, it found that the doctor concerned, who participates in the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme, visited Hong Chi Fanling Integrative Rehabilitation Complex, an RCHD in Fanling, on May 22 to provide vaccination services.

During the visit, he administered Spikevax JN.1 COVID-19 vaccines that were beyond the recommended use-by date to seven residents.

The department is highly concerned about the incident and has taken immediate action to follow up on the health conditions of the people affected.

The relevant COVID-19 vaccines have not exceeded their expiry dates. Taking into account the affected people’s history of COVID-19 vaccination and infection, the department advised that there is no need for them to be revaccinated.

Furthermore, the department has inspected the RCHD to check the storage of vaccines and vaccination procedures. Staff are requested to follow the requirements of regular checking of the vaccines and timely disposal of expired vaccines in accordance with the guidelines of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme.

The doctor’s vaccination service under the Vaccination Schemes has been suspended.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Department of Health’s Centre for Health Protection announced that one new imported case of chikungunya fever (CF) had been recorded as of 5pm today.

 

The case involves a 31-year-old man with good past health, living in Kwai Tsing District. The patient travelled to Foshan in Guangdong between August 1 and 3, and could not confirm whether he had been bitten by mosquitoes during his stay.

 

The man experienced a fever, rash and joint pain on August 8. He travelled to Shenzhen on August 9 and attended a hospital there the next day. He was not admitted and returned to Hong Kong the same day.

 

He went to Yan Chai Hospital’s accident and emergency department yesterday and was admitted for treatment in a mosquito-free environment. He tested positive for the CF virus and is now in a stable condition.

 

The patient has no travel collaterals. His household contacts are currently asymptomatic and under medical surveillance.

The centre has reported the case to Guangdong’s health authorities.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau led a delegation to Singapore to commence their visit today. He met Chinese Ambassador to Singapore Cao Zhongming and engaged in discussions with the Consortium for Clinical Research & Innovation, Singapore (CRIS).

 

During the meeting with Mr Cao, Prof Lo introduced him to the latest healthcare developments in Hong Kong.

 

Prof Lo said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is pressing ahead with the healthcare reform and incorporating the concept of co-ordinated development of healthcare services, healthcare protection and drugs into the reform framework to tie in with the national healthcare reform direction.

 

“On healthcare services, we are committed to advancing the primary healthcare development, as well as reforming the governance and structure of the Hospital Authority to enhance the quality and efficiency of public healthcare services.

 

“On drugs, we have put forward the vision of moving towards primary evaluation through reforming the approval and registration mechanism for drugs and medical devices.

 

“To this end, we have implemented the ‘1+’ mechanism for approval of new drugs and enhanced the arrangements for introduction and procurement of drugs and medical devices for public healthcare.”

 

As for healthcare protection, he noted that the Public Healthcare Fees & Charges Reform jointly announced by the Health Bureau and the Hospital Authority in March this year will not only restructure the subsidisation levels for various services in a precise manner but also enhance healthcare protection, thereby providing Hong Kong citizens with a larger, more stable, thicker and denser public healthcare safety net.

 

The delegation then met the CRIS. Prof Lo said that the Chief Executive announced relevant strategies to develop Hong Kong into an international health and medical innovation hub in his 2023 and 2024 Policy Addresses.

 

“The Hong Kong SAR Government will leverage the advantages of the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science & Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, and jointly establish a one-stop clinical trial collaboration platform through the synergistic collaboration between the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute located in the Hong Kong Park and the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trials Center located in the Shenzhen Park.

 

“Furthermore, the Hong Kong SAR Government will establish the Real-World Study & Application Centre by the end of this year to provide real-world data support for the approval of drugs and medical devices.”

 

He added that the Hong Kong SAR Government will also establish the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation by the end of 2026 and implement ‘primary evaluation’ for new drug registration in phases beginning next year.