Category: MIL-OSI

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), as representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSAR Government), announced today (August 7) that a tender of 1-year HONIA-indexed Floating Rate Notes (Notes) under the Infrastructure Bond Programme will be held on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, for settlement on Thursday, August 14, 2025.
 
A total of HK$1.5 billion 1-year HKD Notes will be tendered. The Notes will mature on August 14, 2026 and will carry interest indexed to the Hong Kong Dollar Overnight Index Average (HONIA), payable quarterly in arrear.
 
Tender is open only to Primary Dealers appointed under the Infrastructure Bond Programme. Anyone wishing to apply for the Notes on offer can do so through any of the Primary Dealers on the latest published list, which can be obtained from the Hong Kong Government Bonds website at www.hkgb.gov.hk. Each tender must be for an amount of HK$50,000 or integral multiples thereof. 

Tender results will be published on the HKMA’s website, the Hong Kong Government Bonds website, Bloomberg (GBHK ) and Refinitiv (IBPGSBPINDEX). The publication time is expected to be no later than 3pm on the tender day.
 
HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds Tender Information

Tender information of 1-year HONIA-indexed Floating Rate Notes:
 

Issue Number	:	01GH2608001
Stock Code	:	4295 (HKGB FRN 2608)
Tender Date and Time	:	Wednesday, August 13, 2025 9.30am to 10.30am
Issue and Settlement Date	:	Thursday, August 14, 2025
Amount on Offer	:	HK$1.5 billion
Issue Price	:	At par
Maturity	:	1 year
Maturity Date	:	Friday, August 14, 2026
Interest Rate	:	Indexed to the sum of the annualised compounded average of daily HONIA in each interest period and the highest accepted spread at tender, subject to a minimum of 0 per cent per interest period.  Details on calculation of interest rate are available at the Institutional Issuances Information Memorandum of the Infrastructure Bond Programme and Government Sustainable Bond Programme (Information Memorandum) published on the Hong Kong Government Bonds website.
Interest Period End Dates	:	November 14, 2025 February 16, 2026 May 14, 2026 August 14, 2026
Interest Payment Dates	:	November 18, 2025 February 23, 2026 May 18, 2026 August 18, 2026
Method of Tender	:	Competitive tender
Tender Amount	:	Each competitive tender must be for an amount of HK$50,000 or integral multiples thereof. Any tender applications for the Notes must be submitted through a Primary Dealer on the latest published list.
Other Details	:	Please see the Information Memorandum available on the Hong Kong Government Bonds website or approach Primary Dealers.
Expected commencement date of dealing on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited	:	Friday, August 15, 2025
Use of Proceeds	:	The Notes will be issued under the institutional part of the Infrastructure Bond Programme. Proceeds will be invested in infrastructure projects in accordance with the Infrastructure Bond Framework published on the Hong Kong Government Bonds website.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Social Welfare Department (SWD) stated today (August 7) that it noted further arrests made by the Police in recent days in connection with the fraud cases referred by the SWD involving Traffic Accident Victims Assistance (TAVA). The SWD will continue to fully assist the Police’s investigation to combat the crimes concerned and ensure the proper use of public resources.

The SWD has made multiple referrals to the Police since March 2024 on TAVA applications suspected of false medical certificate submissions. According to the records of the Police, up to June 25, 2025, a total of 353 persons were arrested. Upon thorough investigation, the Police have further arrested eight more persons suspected of committing fraud in recent days.

The SWD has enhanced the TAVA Scheme and implemented new measures since June 28, 2025, including (1) merging the Injury Grant and Interim Maintenance Grant of the TAVA Scheme into the Compassionate Grant (CG) which is up to a maximum of 60 days of sick leave; (2) requiring an applicant to obtain certification from a registered medical practitioner (including a registered Chinese medicine practitioner) to prove that his/her injury requires hospitalisation for no less than seven days or sick leave for at least seven days; and (3) setting a ceiling on the number of CG applications submitted by the same applicant to once within two years.

In parallel with closely monitoring the implementation of the new measures, the SWD will continue to verify every TAVA application in a stringent manner. If fraudulence or other criminal elements are suspected, the SWD will refer the case to the Police for investigation to combat illegal behaviour.

It is a criminal offence to provide false information to obtain TAVA payments. Offenders may be prosecuted under the Theft Ordinance (Cap. 210) and be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a maximum of 14 years.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

    The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted an anti-illegal worker operation recently. During the operation, 14 persons were arrested, namely 12 suspected illegal workers and two employers.
 
    During follow-up investigations of overstayers in Hong Kong earlier, the ImmD investigators suspected that these overstayers were engaged in illegal work during their stay in Hong Kong. After an in-depth investigation and intelligence analysis, the ImmD conducted an enforcement operation yesterday (August 6), raiding a logistics warehouse located in Yuen Long District. Together with the previously arrested overstayers, a total of 12 suspected illegal workers and two employers were arrested. The arrested illegal workers comprised eight men and four women, aged 24 to 53. They were all suspected of engaging in various logistics tasks, including handling, packaging, and unloading goods at the logistics warehouse. Among them, three men were also suspected of being in possession of forged Hong Kong identity cards, while one woman was suspected of possessing an identity card related to another person. Two men, aged 46 and 50, were Hong Kong residents suspected of employing the illegal workers and were also arrested. During the operation, attendance records, payroll records, a laptop, and packaging tools of the illegal workers were also seized. The ImmD will lay charges against the arrested illegal workers while the cases involving the employers remain under investigation. The ImmD does not rule out the possibility of further arrests.

     An ImmD spokesman said, “Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years’ imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties.”
 
     The spokesman warned, “As stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land is prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years’ imprisonment. As stipulated in section 20(1)(a) of the Immigration Ordinance, the Chief Executive may make a deportation order against an immigrant, prohibiting the immigrant from being in Hong Kong at any time thereafter if the immigrant has been found guilty in Hong Kong of an offence punishable by imprisonment for not less than two years. Under the prevailing laws, it is an offence to use or possess a forged Hong Kong identity card or a Hong Kong identity card related to another person. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $100,000 and up to 10 years’ imprisonment.”
 
     The spokesman emphasised that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years’ imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years’ imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.
 
     According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee’s identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker’s valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman reminded all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.
 
      Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) victims. When any TIP indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP elements, such as threats and coercion in the recruitment phase and the nature of exploitation. Identified TIP victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Foreign Minister Lin hosts welcome luncheon for former UK Prime Minister Johnson

Date：2025-08-05
Data Source：Department of European Affairs

August 5, 2025No. 276Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung hosted a welcome luncheon for former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on August 5 and thanked him for staunchly supporting peace across the Indo-Pacific region and the Taiwan Strait. During the luncheon, they held an in-depth exchange of views on issues including geopolitical developments and Taiwan-UK economic and trade cooperation.Minister Lin expressed appreciation to former Prime Minister Johnson for having mentioned for the first time the importance of cross-strait peace and stability in a Group of Seven leaders’ communiqué in 2021. At the time, the United Kingdom was under his leadership and held the rotating presidency of the G7. Minister Lin noted that in the same year, the UK’s Integrated Review outlined the Indo-Pacific tilt policy, which underscored the interconnectedness of the Indo-Pacific and the transatlantic regions. He added that the United Kingdom had continued to take concrete action to protect peace and stability by transiting naval vessels through the Taiwan Strait, upholding freedom of navigation. Minister Lin said that he looked forward to Taiwan and the United Kingdom advancing cooperation in all domains and deepening their democratic partnership.  Former Prime Minister Johnson remarked that Taiwan stood on the front line of democracy and freedom against totalitarianism. He stated that at this critical moment, as the world was facing daunting challenges, Taiwan’s peace and stability were of utmost importance. He added that the world needed Taiwan to successfully preserve democracy and that the United Kingdom—also an island country—would support Taiwan and jointly safeguard shared values.During his tenure from 2019 to 2022, former Prime Minister Johnson closely followed developments in the Indo-Pacific. Moreover, he led the United Kingdom in emphasizing fundamental values such as freedom, democracy, and the rule of law at international events and in policymaking. This visit demonstrated his steadfast support for Taiwan as well as the friendly ties between Taiwan and the United Kingdom. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA sincerely thanks Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba for publicly expressing concern over heavy rainfall in Taiwan

Date：2025-08-05
Data Source：TAIWAN-JAPAN RELATIONS ASSOCIATION

August 5, 2025 
No. 273 

On August 5, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba posted a message on social media platform X expressing concern over losses caused by torrential rainfall in central and southern Taiwan. He stated that whenever natural disaster occurred, Taiwan and Japan always showed concern and offered support to each other. He also expressed hope that all those affected would be able to resume their normal lives as soon as possible. 
 
Both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan immediately extended appreciation to the Japanese government for the message of concern. 
 
The message followed one posted on July 12 on X by Prime Minister Ishiba, in which he expressed sympathy over losses caused by Typhoon Danas. This highlighted the profound and sincere friendship between Taiwan and Japan. The government and all sectors of society in Taiwan will continue to put their all into rescue and reconstruction work and help those affected rebuild and return to normal life.
 
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung again thanks the Japanese government for its warm sentiments and assistance. He expresses his hope that in the future Taiwan and Japan will continue to engage in extensive cooperation in related areas so as to develop an even closer, friendlier, and more robust bilateral partnership and jointly respond to challenges. (E) 

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA to host the Ketagalan Forum: 2025 Indo-Pacific Security Dialogue; event will focus on regional security, whole-of-society defense resilience, and economic resilience

Date：2025-08-01
Data Source：Department of Policy Planning

August 1, 2025  
No. 269  

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of the ROC (Taiwan) and the Prospect Foundation will convene the Ketagalan Forum: 2025 Indo-Pacific Security Dialogue at the Grand Hyatt Taipei on August 5. This will be the ninth edition of the forum, and MOFA anticipates that the forum will once again serve as a platform for fostering dialogue and cooperation among relevant stakeholders, while drawing greater international attention to pressing security issues in the Indo-Pacific region.
 
Keynote speeches will be delivered by  The Rt. Hon Boris Johnson, Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and Hon. François de Rugy, Former President of the French National Assembly. The forum will bring together 12 prominent political leaders, scholars, and experts from 10 countries, including the United States, Japan, and like-minded countries in Europe and the Indo-Pacific region. They will engage their Taiwanese counterparts in discussions on Indo-Pacific security dynamics; gray-zone tactics and countermeasures; and the impact of economic, technological, and industrial diplomacy on global politics.
 
Updates on relevant information will be available on the Ketagalan Forum website (ketagalanforum.tw). Proceedings will be livestreamed on the Ketagalan Forum channel, which can be reached via a link on the website. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Foreign Minister Lin meets with Belizean delegation led by Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade CEO Mai

Date：2025-07-29
Data Source：Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs

July 29, 2025No. 264 Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung met with a delegation from Belize led by Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Amalia Mai on the morning of July 28. The group included Director General of the Directorate General for Foreign Trade Andy Sutherland, Executive Director of the Belize Trade and Investment Development Service Ishmael Quiroz, and Director of the Belize Bureau of Standards Samantha Banner. The delegation was in Taiwan to attend the second meeting of the Administrative Commission of the Taiwan-Belize Economic Cooperation Agreement (ECA) and a trade and investment opportunities seminar. Minister Lin welcomed the group and exchanged views with them on the Taiwan-Belize ECA and other matters concerning bilateral trade and economic exchanges.Minister Lin began his remarks by congratulating Belize on successfully completing general elections in March, which he said demonstrated the country’s achievements in democratic development and showed that there was a high degree of public approval for Prime Minister John Briceño’s policies. Minister Lin added that the government of Taiwan was actively making efforts to facilitate imports of Belizean white shrimp into the Taiwanese market and expressed hope that economic and trade exchanges would further deepen the bilateral partnership. The two sides also exchanged opinions on collaboration to promote scholarship programs, the Taiwan Global Pathfinders Initiative, the development of talent in the Belizean tourism industry, and other issues. Minister Lin further invited Belize to send representatives to take part in the Taipei International Travel Fair in November.In her remarks, CEO Mai expressed appreciation for the generous hospitality extended by the government of Taiwan. She underlined that diplomatic relations between Taiwan and Belize were rooted in the shared values of democracy and human rights. Looking ahead, she said the two countries would continue to work together to develop opportunities for cooperation in economics and trade. CEO Mai thanked Taiwan for its long-standing provision of scholarships, adding that Taiwan had become a top choice for Belizean students pursuing overseas studies. She said this reflected that the program was deeply appreciated by the Belizean people and had helped advance Belize’s national development.After the meeting, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Chen Ming-chi hosted a luncheon for the delegation. Other Taiwanese attendees included representatives from the International Trade Administration of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Customs Administration of the Ministry of Finance, and the Importers and Exporters Association of Taipei. They exchanged views with the delegation on further strengthening economic and trade exchanges and other aspects of the bilateral partnership.Taiwan and Belize have maintained robust diplomatic relations since the establishment of official ties in 1989. The governments of the two countries continue to work closely together on infrastructure, public health, medical care, education, culture, women’s empowerment, and other areas. The results of cooperation are widely welcomed and appreciated by the government and people of Belize. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Foreign Minister Lin meets with Eswatini delegation led by Public Service Minister Maseko and Education and Training Minister Nxumalo

Date：2025-07-29
Data Source：Department of West Asian and African Affairs

July 29, 2025  
No. 262  

Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung met with a delegation from the Kingdom of Eswatini led by Minister of Public Service Mabulala Maseko and Minister of Education and Training Owen Nxumalo on the morning of July 29. The two sides had an in-depth discussion on bilateral cooperation, civil service exchanges, vocational training, education, and other issues.
 
Minister Lin welcomed the visit of the delegation led by the ministers, which underscored the close exchanges and interactions between Taiwan and Eswatini, as well as their profound and staunch diplomatic ties. Minister Lin traveled to Eswatini as special presidential envoy at the end of April and attended the birthday celebration of King Mswati III. Moreover, through integrated diplomacy and under the framework of the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project, Taiwan is actively promoting a number of initiatives in Eswatini regarding the economy, trade, vocational training, and other domains. These development programs aim to enhance the well-being of the people of both countries and advance mutual benefit and coprosperity.
 
Minister Maseko and Minister Nxumalo thanked the Taiwan government for its warm hospitality. They stated that their visits during this trip to the Ministry of Education (MOE), the Ministry of Civil Service, the Civil Service Development Institute, and other government agencies had facilitated their understanding of Taiwan’s talent cultivation policies and the operations of its government agencies. They emphasized that Taiwan was an important partner of Eswatini and that both nations shared the same values and ideals. They also said that they looked forward to expanding areas of bilateral cooperation in the future to further mutual benefit and coprosperity. 
 
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs François Chihchung Wu hosted a luncheon for the delegation on July 29. Attendees included MOE Chief Secretary Lin Po-chiao, Directorate-General of Personnel Administration Chief Secretary Chou Wei-ting, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Department of West Asian and African Affairs Director General Yen Chia-liang. The guests exchanged views with the delegation.
 
Eswatini is an important diplomatic ally of Taiwan in Africa. MOFA will maintain close cooperation with the Eswatini government to promote a variety of initiatives under the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project and steadily deepen and consolidate the already rock-solid diplomatic relations between the two countries. MOFA will also continue to showcase Taiwan’s concrete contributions to the international community and help Taiwan’s allies boost national development to achieve the goals of shared success and common prosperity. (E)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

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

Emerging markets across the Asia-Pacific region are seeking capital and innovative insights to design and implement strategic solutions that will drive low-carbon, resilient and inclusive economic growth that creates jobs. The convening of the second edition of the Climate Business Forum: Asia Pacific 2025 (the Forum), to be held in Hong Kong on September 9, provides an ideal platform for action-oriented discussions that support their ambitions.