Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is a question by the Hon Gary Zhang and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (July 30):
Question:
Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency supports industry in participating in Ani-Com & Games Hong Kong and hosting International Comic Artist Conference (with photos)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency supports industry in participating in Ani-Com & Games Hong Kong and hosting International Comic Artist Conference Issued at HKT 11:27
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LCQ8: Promoting development of new industrialisation
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ8: Promoting development of new industrialisation
(1) as the 2022 Policy Address envisaged subsidising the setting up of more smart production lines in Hong Kong under NIFS with the target of increasing the cumulative number of smart production lines by four times from about 30 back then to over 130 in five years, of the current progress in achieving the target; whether the authorities will consider raising the target number of smart production lines in the light of the progress in achieving the target;
(2) of the specific details of the streamlined procedures under the enhancement measure; whether it has estimated the extent to which the processing time for applications will be shortened after the introduction of the enhancement measure compared with that before the enhancement, and of the number of manufacturers as well as small and medium enterprises which are expected to benefit from the enhancement measure; and
(3) how the authorities will leverage and strengthen the advantages and solid foundations of traditional industries (such as the textiles and garment industry), and support their upgrading and transformation through the integration of innovation and technology, so as to promote the development of new quality productive forces and new industrialisation according to local conditions?
President,
(2) The latest enhancement measure for the NIFS aims to speed up the approval process of applications seeking funding support of no more than $2.8 million by streamlining the relevant documentation requirement and assessment procedures. Depending on the number of applications received, the ITC will increase the frequency of the Committee meetings as appropriate, and to submit the applications to the Committee for consideration and approval by circulation if needed.
(3) New quality productive forces has to be developed according to actual circumstances and local conditions, which facilitate the upgrading and transformation of traditional industries with competitive advantages with the use of innovation and technology (I&T), while simultaneously improve the development ecosystem for new industrialisation.
We are committed to promoting the upgrading and transformation of the traditional manufacturing industry with the use of I&T through a series of policies and measures. These include enhancing the NIFS to support more manufacturers in transforming to smart production, as well as launching the two-year “Pilot Manufacturing and Production Line Upgrade Support Scheme” this year to provide funds to local manufacturers on a matching basis, encouraging them to adopt smart production technologies and upgrade their production lines. Furthermore, we will commence a study within this year on the medium to long-term development of new industrialisation in Hong Kong to explore the upgrading and transformation of the traditional manufacturing sector with the use of I&T and accelerate the development of new industrialisation.Issued at HKT 11:10
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Foreign Minister Lin hosts welcome luncheon for cross-party parliamentary delegation from Ireland
Source: Republic of China Taiwan
Foreign Minister Lin hosts welcome luncheon for cross-party parliamentary delegation from Ireland
Date：2025-07-23
Data Source：Department of European Affairs
July 23, 2025
No. 254
On July 22, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung hosted a welcome luncheon for a delegation from Ireland led by Deputy Speaker John McGuinness of the Dáil Éireann (House of Representatives), who also chairs the Ireland-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Association. Minister Lin sincerely thanked members of the Irish parliament for taking concrete action to show their staunch support of Taiwan.
In his remarks, Minister Lin said that relations between Taiwan and Europe had flourished in recent years and that Europe had become Taiwan’s largest source of foreign investment. He also pointed out that Ireland, as an important member of the European Union, shared with Taiwan the fundamental values of democracy, freedom, and the rule of law. Noting that Taiwan was indispensable to global semiconductor supply chains and that Ireland was a European high-tech hub, he said that the two countries could improve their competitiveness and economic growth by combining their respective technological strengths. He asserted that transatlantic and Indo-Pacific security and prosperity were closely connected. Furthermore, Minister Lin stated that, in the face of changing international trade dynamics as well as the restructuring of global supply chains, Taiwan and Ireland could strengthen cooperation in various areas and promote value-added diplomacy grounded in a values-based friendship.
In his remarks, Deputy Speaker McGuinness emphasized that Taiwan and Ireland were a great deal alike, as both countries were island nations as well as major trading countries. He added that Ireland played a key role in the European Union and shared with Taiwan the goals of creating prosperity and bolstering national development. In addressing a rapidly evolving global situation, the two sides could make use of opportunities for deeper bilateral collaboration in technology, economics, trade, education, artificial intelligence, and other fields. Deputy Speaker McGuinness also expressed hope that the two nations would jointly uphold democratic values, safeguard their free and democratic way of life, further mutual understanding, and create opportunities for cooperation that would foster mutually beneficial growth.
Ireland is a European powerhouse in technology and innovative industries and, like Taiwan, is an export-oriented economy. The industrial structures of the two countries are highly complementary. Building on the existing foundation of friendship, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to promote bilateral exchanges and cooperation in economics, trade, technology, and other spheres. (E)
MOFA response to AUKMIN joint statement stressing importance of cross-strait peace and stability
Source: Republic of China Taiwan
MOFA response to AUKMIN joint statement stressing importance of cross-strait peace and stability
July 26, 2025 Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles met with United Kingdom Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs David Lammy and Secretary of State for Defence John Healey for the Australia-UK Ministerial Consultations (AUKMIN) on July 25 in Sydney, Australia.
Following the meeting, a joint statement was released underscoring the importance of cross-strait peace and stability, opposing unilateral changes to the cross-strait status quo, and expressing concern at China’s recent military exercises. The two sides also offered support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations and reiterated that they would continue to strengthen relations with Taiwan in the areas of the economy, trade, science, technology, and culture. Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung welcomes and affirms this statement.
The United Kingdom and Australia are among Taiwan’s like-minded partners and share the universal values of democracy, freedom, and the rule of law. The joint statement confirms that maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and in the Indo-Pacific region is a global consensus. Taiwan is an indispensable member of the international community and will continue to work with like-minded democracies to defend the rules-based international order and strengthen democracy, peace, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
MOFA response to EU leaders expressing concern over Taiwan Strait situation at the 25th EU-China summit
Source: Republic of China Taiwan
MOFA response to EU leaders expressing concern over Taiwan Strait situation at the 25th EU-China summit
July 25, 2025
On July 24, European Council President António Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign and Security Policy Kaja Kallas attended the 25th EU-China summit in Beijing. There they met first with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and later with Premier Li Qiang.
In a press release issued following the summit, the European Union reaffirmed its consistent commitment to its “one China policy,” expressed concerns about increased tensions across the Taiwan Strait, and pointed out that heightened instability in the East and South China Seas threatened regional and global prosperity and security. In addition, the press release stressed that the European Union opposed any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion and insisted that disputes be resolved through peaceful means in accordance with international law.
In recent years, the European Union has consistently paid attention to and showed support for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. For instance, on three occasions since May last year, the European External Action Service (EEAS) expressed concern over China’s large-scale military drills targeting Taiwan and stated that the European Union had a direct interest in the preservation of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. In addition, the White Paper for European Defence—Readiness 2030, released this March by the European Union, expressed concern over China’s expanded coercion of Taiwan and emphasized that cross-strait peace and stability were of profound importance to Europe.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) welcomes and appreciates the fact that the European Union continues to take the opportunity during high-level talks with China to directly express the importance it attaches to cross-strait peace and stability, as well as its opposition to unilateral attempts to alter the status quo by force or coercion. In the future, MOFA will continue to work with the European Union and other like-minded partners so as to jointly advance peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and defend the rules-based international order.
MOFA response to joint statement following Japan-EU summit stressing importance of peace and stability across Taiwan Strait
Source: Republic of China Taiwan
MOFA response to joint statement following Japan-EU summit stressing importance of peace and stability across Taiwan Strait
July 24, 2025
On July 23, Prime Minister of Japan Shigeru Ishiba, President of the European Council António Costa, and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen met in Tokyo for the 30th Japan-European Union Summit. In a joint statement released following the meeting, the two sides underscored the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as indispensable to security and prosperity in the international community and called for the peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues. They also reiterated their opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung welcomes the statement, which marked the fourth consecutive summit since the 27th Japan-EU Summit in May 2021 during which the two sides had issued a joint statement that highlighted the significance of cross-strait peace and stability. Minister Lin also expresses appreciation to Japan for continuously voicing concern over Taiwan Strait issues during international gatherings with other like-minded countries, including the US-Japan leaders’ summit in February, the meeting between Prime Minister Ishiba and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in April, and Japan’s summit meetings with Latvia and Guatemala in May and with Finland in June. The concerns repeatedly expressed in these meetings demonstrated once again that ensuring cross-strait peace and stability has become a matter of international consensus and interest.
At a time when the expansion of authoritarianism poses a threat to regional peace and stability and challenges the rules-based global democratic order, Taiwan, as an important nation in the Indo-Pacific region and a responsible member of the international community, will uphold the ideals of integrated diplomacy. It will continue to strengthen cooperation with Japan, the European Union, and other like-minded partners so as to defend shared democratic values and jointly advance freedom, openness, peace, and prosperity throughout the Indo-Pacific region and around the globe.
Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected cannabis buds worth about $1.2 million (with photo)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Hong Kong Customs on July 23 seized about 5.8 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $1.2 million at Kwai Chung.
Through risk assessment, Customs on July 23 inspected two air parcels, declared as ginseng tea, arrived in Hong Kong from the United States, at a warehouse of a logistics company in Kwai Chung. Upon inspection, Customs officers found that both parcels had suspected cannabis buds concealed inside. The batch of dangerous drugs were packed in vacuum bags and were camouflaged as ginseng tea.
After a follow-up investigation, Customs officers today (July 29) conducted a controlled delivery operation in Tseung Kwan O and arrested a 28-year-old male.
An investigation is ongoing.
Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people, nor to release their personal data or home address to others for receiving parcels or goods.
Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.
Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking 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/en).
Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected illicit cigarettes worth about $260 million in second phase of “Cutflow” operation (with photo)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Hong Kong Customs, in collaboration with Singapore Customs, mounted the second phase of a joint operation codenamed “Cutflow” to combat illicit cigarette smuggling activities between mid-May and July this year, and dismantled a transnational illicit cigarette smuggling syndicate. During the operation, Hong Kong Customs seized a total of about 58 million suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $260 million and a duty potential of about $192 million, and arrested five men.
Through intelligence exchanges with Singapore Customs, as well as risk assessment and intelligence analysis, Hong Kong Customs seized the batch of suspected illicit cigarettes in 13 seaborne containers from Singapore and arrested five male drivers, aged between 62 and 71.
Investigations into the related cases are ongoing. Customs will continue to trace the source and the flow of the illicit cigarettes. The likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.
The outcomes of the operation fully demonstrate Customs’ notable enforcement effectiveness on combating cross-boundary illicit cigarette activities at source through international co-operation. Customs will continue to maintain close liaisons and strengthen intelligence exchanges with Mainland and overseas law enforcement agencies to vigorously combat cross-boundary illicit cigarette activities.
Customs stresses that smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years upon conviction. Moreover, under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.
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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).
Government delegation attends Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Clinical Trial Collaboration meeting in Shenzhen (with photos)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government delegation met with a delegation led by Deputy Director of the Public Hygiene and Health Commission of Shenzhen Municipality Ms Zhou Liping at the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) Clinical Trial Collaboration meeting held in Shenzhen today (July 29), continuing to promote cross-border medical collaboration between the two places.
The Clinical Trial Collaboration meeting provides strategic guidance on promoting clinical trial collaboration between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, co-ordinating joint research efforts, supporting the launch of international multi-centre clinical trials, and addressing the challenges encountered during implementation. During the meeting, representatives from both Hong Kong and Shenzhen had in-depth exchanges and discussions on the Implementation Plan for Collaborative Advancement of International Clinical Trials in the GBA, with the goal of further strengthening co-ordination and driving execution of the initiatives.
The executive bodies of the Clinical Trial Collaboration – representatives from the GBA International Clinical Trial Institute (GBAICTI) in the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone and the GBA International Clinical Trials Center (BAY TRIAL) in the Shenzhen Park – also gave a progress report on key initiatives to advance clinical trial collaboration. This included the latest developments and proposed services of the GBA Clinical Trial Collaboration Platform, which will be jointly established by the end of this year. The key areas include project evaluation, trial design consultation, and subject recruitment planning for multi-centre clinical trials, provided by a joint Shenzhen-Hong Kong advisory team; introduction of artificial intelligence technologies to assist with matching of clinical trial institutions and researchers, as well as offering consultation services; establishment of a co-ordinated ethics review mechanism between the two places to enhance approval efficiency; promotion of talent exchange, collaboration, and professional training; building of a research talent pool to facilitate talent mobility and regional collaboration; and as a pilot, the development of clinical databases and biobanks based on diseases in which Shenzhen and Hong Kong have advantages. In addition, the Shenzhen and Hong Kong sides also discussed further integrating the measure of using Hong Kong-registered drugs and medical devices used in Hong Kong public hospitals in the GBA with real-world studies in an effective manner, exploring the use of real-world data to support drug registration and approval in the Mainland at the meeting.
The Clinical Trial Collaboration meeting today marks a critical step forward in enhancing co-ordinated development of clinical research and promoting biomedicine innovative application within the GBA, creating a good start for the Clinical Trial Collaboration. The simultaneous launch of the GBAICTI and the BAY TRIAL last year marked the beginning of a new chapter in cross-border collaboration under the “one zone, two parks” model by the “one institute, one center” framework, showcasing the joint commitment and concerted efforts of both places to promote medical innovation. The Clinical Trial Collaboration meeting aims to create a more efficient co-ordination mechanism, overseeing Shenzhen-Hong Kong clinical research collaboration at the strategic level.
Representatives from the GBAICTI and the BAY TRIAL signed a Memorandum of Understanding after the meeting to further strengthen collaboration between Shenzhen and Hong Kong in the field of clinical research. Shortly after, the two parties also signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding with representatives from Immuno Cure BioTech, based in the Hong Kong Science Park, and Shenzhen Branch of the Hong Kong Science Park in Futian District, for the first ever cross-border clinical trial project. Together, they will jointly promote the cross-border multi-centre Phase II clinical trial of ICVAX, a therapeutic nucleic acid vaccine for HIV co-developed by Immuno Cure and the AIDS Institute of the University of Hong Kong.
The HKSAR Government delegation was led by the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, with members comprising Deputy Secretary for Health Ms Elaine Mak; the Deputising Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority, Dr Simon Tang; the GBAICTI Chief Executive Officer, Professor Bernard Cheung; and representatives from the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau, the LKS Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong and the Faculty of Medicine of the Chinese University of Hong Kong.