Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

President Lai meets British-Taiwanese All-Party Parliamentary Group delegation  
On the afternoon of March 31, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation from the British-Taiwanese All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG). In remarks, President Lai expressed gratitude to the UK Parliament for its pivotal role in focusing attention on peace in the Taiwan Strait and raising support for Taiwan’s international participation. The president also thanked the UK government for its past deployment of an aircraft carrier to the Indo-Pacific for freedom of navigation operations, saying that these concrete actions help jointly safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the wider region. He expressed hope that, moving forward, Taiwan will further deepen economic and trade exchanges with the UK and promote industrial cooperation so that we can jointly open a new chapter of prosperity and development for the Indo-Pacific economy.
A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:
I warmly welcome the British-Taiwanese APPG delegation to Taiwan. Last year, Co-chair Lord Rogan came to attend the Formosa Club Annual Conference. It is a great pleasure to see him again today. This visit fully demonstrates the UK Parliament’s staunch support for Taiwan. In recent years, Taiwan-UK relations have grown even closer. The UK Parliament has always played a pivotal role in focusing UK government attention on peace in the Taiwan Strait and raising support for Taiwan’s international participation. I would like to sincerely thank our friends in the Houses of Parliament for their strong support of Taiwan through such concrete actions as public debates, written parliamentary questions, and joint letters.
The current international situation is rapidly evolving. Peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are not only vital to regional security but are also closely intertwined with global supply chain resilience and world prosperity. I would also like to thank the UK Parliament and government for openly opposing on multiple occasions any unilateral change to the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, and for emphasizing that the security of the Indo-Pacific and transatlantic regions is closely intertwined. As a responsible member of the international community, Taiwan will fulfill its responsibilities in maintaining regional security. I hope that, moving forward, the UK government will continue to place focus on peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. I also wish to express my sincere gratitude to the UK government for its past deployment of an aircraft carrier to the Indo-Pacific for freedom of navigation operations. These concrete actions help jointly safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the wider region. 
Beyond security issues, there is much potential for cooperation between Taiwan and the UK in such areas as technological innovation, economic resilience, and the green energy transition. In 2023, Taiwan and the UK signed the Enhanced Trade Partnership (ETP) arrangement, marking Taiwan’s first institutionalized bilateral economic and trade framework with a European country. Last year, under the ETP framework, we further signed three pillar arrangements under the ETP covering investment, digital trade, and energy and net zero.
In closing, I would like to reiterate my gratitude for your unwavering support of Taiwan, and may the friendship between Taiwan and the UK continue to deepen. We sincerely look forward to working together with you all to ensure that the development of Taiwan-UK relations continues to reach new milestones. Moving forward, Taiwan will further deepen economic and trade exchanges with the UK and promote industrial cooperation. We also hope that the UK will continue to support Taiwan’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership so that we can jointly open a new chapter of prosperity and development for the Indo-Pacific economy.
Co-chair Lord Rogan then delivered remarks, saying that they are very pleased and honored to visit Taiwan. He mentioned that he is an old visitor to Taiwan, having first come here in 1972 as a businessman and many years afterwards, and that he first came here as a parliamentarian in 2005. He noted that the changes he has seen in Taiwan’s society and economy from those periods were enormous and left him with a deep impression. In recent years, he mentioned, he has come to Taiwan to attend the Formosa Club Annual Conference and President Lai’s inauguration, adding that with each visit he is amazed at Taiwan’s progress and prosperity.
Co-chair Lord Rogan said that as a businessman, he has watched with envy the way that Taiwan has moved its economy from basic textiles to now high-quality jobs, high technology, and not least, its semiconductor industry, which, he noted, produces 60% of the world’s chips and 95% of the advanced chips. For Taiwan, a country that has limited natural resources, he emphasized, this is an amazing achievement. He further noted that Taiwan’s natural resources are, in fact, its people.
Co-chair Lord Rogan said that for most of his colleagues, who have never been here before, a visit like this shows them the success and the pleasure of coming to Taiwan. He said that by meeting President Lai and various ministers, officials, and business leaders, it gives them more insight and knowledge of the success of Taiwan and the problems that it may face. He said that they will be leaving Taiwan with a great impression and much pleasure. He mentioned that this visit allows his colleagues who are first visiting Taiwan to speak with authority when they speak in Parliament, since they have actually seen the situation on the ground in Taiwan.
Co-chair Lord Rogan emphasized that their visit demonstrates the support Taiwan has in the British government to the government and people of Taiwan. He explained that representatives from all parts of the UK have shown support for Taiwan – in both Houses of Parliament, the Commons and the Lords, and that the support extends into the five parties and the four countries that make up the UK – Wales, Northern Ireland, England, and Scotland. He said that the visit also shows to the outside world and Taiwan’s neighbors the support it has from the UK.
Co-chair Lord Rogan expressed his appreciation that Taiwan is a liberal democracy in a part of the world where there are others that are not democracies. He then expressed his agreement with President Lai’s remarks about the Taiwan Strait and how important it is at the current time to have the strait open for international trade, adding that this has never been more relevant than today with the current turbulent international situation. In closing, Co-chair Lord Rogan gave his assurance that in London they are striving day after day to promote Taiwan’s involvement in international relations and international groups, underscoring that they will continue to do so.
The delegation also included Lord Davies of Gower, Member of Parliament Layla Moran, Lord Randall of Uxbridge, Lord Tope, Lord Dodds of Duncairn, Member of Parliament Leigh Ingham, Member of Parliament Graeme Downie, Member of Parliament Dan Aldridge, and was accompanied to the Presidential Office by British Office Taipei Director of Regional Security Matt Nottingham. 

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) held another briefing today (February 26) on the draft selection mechanism for the Phase 3 Zonal Development of Offshore Wind Power, presenting the revised framework to stakeholders. The draft outlines the review focus and scoring principles for various performance capability criteria.

Under the revised proposal, the incentive mechanism will consolidate three elements, including early completion and grid connection, local industrial and economic benefits, and energy resilience. Projects are eligible to receive up to five years of extended power sales period as an incentive. In addition, the purchase price for surplus green electricity will be set at NTD 2.29 per kWh, based on Taipower’s average avoided cost.

The current round also introduces a capacity expansion mechanism, allowing selected wind farms to expand their allocated capacity by up to 50% of the originally awarded capacity, depending on their evaluation ranking.

The MOEA stated that the revised draft incorporates feedback received during the previous briefing. The objective is to further clarify the content of the draft selection mechanism so that developers can better evaluate the framework and prepare for the selection process. Stakeholders are invited to submit written comments to the Ministry by March 5, and the MOEA aims to formally announce the mechanism in the first quarter of 2026.

For the Round 3 of Zonal Development selection, developers will be evaluated based on their performance capabilities. The scoring criteria include developer track record (35 points), financial capability (30 points), and project execution capability (35 points). Within the project execution capability category, the assessment covers project implementation readiness (15 points), ESG planning (15 points), including local industrial and economic benefits, environmental sustainability, and corporate social responsibility, and energy resilience (5 points). The Energy Administration (EA) under the MOEA emphasized that developers must provide comprehensive explanations and planning regarding their track record, financial capability, and project execution capability, stressing that participation in the selection process goes beyond a purely paper-based evaluation.

The EA stated that, in addition to assessing developers’ domestic and international track records, the evaluation criteria will also cover developers’ past contract performance records. Scoring will consider the progress made in obtaining key approvals and documentation, such as the preparatory permit for the electricity enterprise establishment and underwater cultural heritage survey documents for the wind farm project.

Moreover, local industrial and economic benefits (10 points) and energy resilience (5 points) will be evaluated based on the wind farm capacity and the corresponding investment amounts. Taking a 500 MW wind farm as an example, a project may receive 5 points under the local industrial and economic benefits category if the committed amount reaches NTD 20 billion, and the full 10 points if it reaches NTD 30 billion. For the energy resilience category, 2 points may be awarded if the committed amount reaches NTD 1.6 billion, and the full 5 points if it reaches NTD 2.5 billion.

Additional criteria include environmental sustainability (3 points) and corporate social responsibility (2 points), which will be evaluated based on principles such as the adoption of recyclable blades, compliance with fisheries liaison guidelines, and the planning of social responsibility measures by developers and their supply chains. In essence, the mechanism emphasizes quality over quantity and aims to encourage capable teams with strong execution capabilities.

The EA further noted that, under the newly introduced incentive mechanism in this round, the items of early completion and grid connection, local industrial and economic benefits, and energy resilience will be combined for calculation. Wind farm projects may receive up to five years of extended power sales period as an incentive.

Another newly introduced capacity expansion mechanism will grant selected wind farms eligibility to expand their capacity based on their evaluation ranking. The expanded capacity may reach up to 50% of the originally allocated capacity, and such expansion must be completed and connected to the grid by the end of 2031.

Lastly, the EA stated that the total capacity of 3.6 GW allocated in this round will, in principle, be distributed based on existing available sea areas. The MOEA also expressed appreciation for the constructive suggestions provided by stakeholders regarding offshore wind development policies and the selection mechanism. Taking these inputs into account, the MOEA has refined and optimized the proposed mechanism.

The selection mechanism is expected to be formally announced in the first quarter of 2026, with the goal of completing the capacity allocation process by the end of 2026. Through stable and predictable policy planning, the government aims to create a favorable environment for green power development, attract continued international investment in Taiwan, and ensure the timely achievement of renewable energy policy targets.

Spokesperson for Energy Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs: Deputy Director General, Chung-Hsien Chen
Phone Number: 02-2775-7770, 0919-998-339
Email: ctchen2@moeaea.gov.tw

Business Contact: Director, Ju-Ming Cheng
Contact Phone Number: 02-2775-7778, 0952-279-720
Email Address: jmcheng@moeaea.gov.tw

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by the Hon Kenneth Fok and a reply by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, in the Legislative Council today (April 1):
 
Question:
 
     The Ecological Environment Code of the People’s Republic of China recently adopted by the National People’s Congress proposes to promote green and low-carbon development, including establishing and improving the incentive mechanism for green consumption and government green procurement system as well as guiding green travel. In addition, while the HKSAR (Hong Kong Adminstrative Region) Government published the Updated Version of the Hong Kong Roadmap on Popularisation of Electric Vehicles in February 2026, the proportion of electric private cars is currently projected to remain below 50 per cent by 2030. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) whether it has compiled statistics on the current share of green and low-carbon industries in Hong Kong’s gross economic volume; of the specific measures put in place by the Government to promote the development of such industries and increase their share;
 
(2) of the measures put in place to further improve the Government’s green procurement system, including updating the approval standards for the construction of imported electric vehicles and other new energy vehicles; and
 
(3) given that the Government has decided not to extend the first registration tax concession arrangement for electric private cars (including the “One-for-One Replacement” Scheme), whether the authorities have assessed its impact on green travel for the public and the development of green and low-carbon industries; whether the authorities will review the relevant policies in a timely manner from the perspective of encouraging green consumption; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     The Resolution of the Communist Party of China Central Committee on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese Modernization of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in 2024 proposed to accelerate the comprehensive green transition of economic and social development. According to the definition provided by the National Development and Reform Commission, green and low-carbon industries refer to industries that utilise advanced technologies and energy to reduce the consumption of traditional fossil fuels and negative impacts on the natural environment during the production process. As of 2025, the value of the national green and low-carbon industries reached RMB 11 trillion, with over 2 million related enterprises in such industries as new energy, electric vehicles (EVs), energy conservation and environmental protection, lithium batteries, and photovoltaic products, etc.
 
     In consultation with the Census and Statistics Department and the Transport Department (TD), our reply to the question raised by the Hon Kenneth Fok is as follows:
 
(1) Being a city, the HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) does not have the green and low-carbon industries such as energy-saving mining, desert pollution control, wind power equipment manufacturing, nuclear power plant facility construction, or EV production that are available in the Chinese Mainland. Therefore, there are no statistical data directly corresponding to the Chinese Mainland’s green and low-carbon industries. The annual economic contribution of the local environmental industries relevant to the green and low-carbon industries from 2021 to 2024 amounted to more than $10 billion, accounting for approximately 0.4 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product. The Government will monitor the development of the relevant industries and conduct studies as and when appropriate.
 
     The measures that the Government has taken to promote and enhance the development of green and low-carbon industries are as follows:
 
(a) Emerging Industries such as New Energy: The Strategy of Hydrogen Development in Hong Kong published in 2024 provides top-level planning for hydrogen energy development. It aims to create a favorable environment for local hydrogen development in a steady and orderly manner, fostering new quality productive forces and maintaining international competitiveness. Furthermore, the Government is leading a local enterprise, a major global supplier of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), to develop its business in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) to build an influential SAF value chain.
 
(b) Research and Innovation: The Government has injected a total of $400 million into the Green Tech Fund to support local green technology development, transforming research and development projects with application potential into commercially valuable technologies or products for local production.
 
(c) Building a Green Manufacturing and Services Ecosystem: The Government allocated an additional $100 million to launch a new round of Cleaner Production Partnership Programme in May 2025 to support Hong Kong-owned factories to adopt new cleaner production technologies and utilise green technologies to transform and upgrade traditional industries.
 
(d) Promoting Low-carbon Transportation: The Government has set the target to cease the new registration of fuel-propelled private cars in 2035 or earlier, and is committed to achieving zero vehicular emissions before 2050. Since 2011, we have been encouraging the industry to test and promote the use of various new energy transportation technologies through the New Energy Transport Fund.
 
(e) Building Green Transportation Infrastructure: The Government promulgated the Updated Version of the Hong Kong Roadmap on Popularisation of Electric Vehicles in February this year. We will leverage market forces to build a public charging network with fast chargers as the backbone. By the end of 2035, about 10 000 fast chargers will be installed, and about 270 000 to 300 000 parking spaces with charging facilities will be able to support around 800 000 EVs. Furthermore, to promote the internationalisation of charging standards, the National Energy Administration and the Environment and Ecology Bureau have established a joint working group to launch a pilot scheme for the next-generation EV charging technology, ChaoJi, facilitating the “bringing in and going global” of the country’s innovative charging technologies.
 
(f) Developing a Circular Economy: The Government leverages market forces to develop environmental infrastructure. For instance, Hong Kong’s first large-scale EV battery recycling facility at the EcoPark is under construction, and is expected to commence operations in the first half of 2026. This facility will facilitate the development of the EV battery recycling industry and strengthen Hong Kong’s role in the green value chain in the GBA. With Government’s assistance, two local companies are expected to set up production lines in the Tuen Mun EcoPark by mid-2026 to upcycle local waste into core raw materials for electricity-free cooling products and acoustic metamaterial products.
 
(g) Promotion of Energy-efficient Products: To encourage the public to select energy-efficient appliances, the Government implements the Mandatory Energy Efficiency Labelling Scheme under the Energy Efficiency (Labelling of Products) Ordinance, requiring prescribed products supplied in Hong Kong to bear energy labels to inform consumers of the products’ energy efficiency performance.
 
(2) The Government has all along been practising green procurement to implement the concept of environmental protection. The Government’s Stores and Procurement Regulations require bureaux and departments to take environmental factors into consideration when drawing up tender specifications, thereby promoting green procurement while ensuring the prudent use of public funds.
 
     The Government is also accelerating the conversion of its fleet to EVs. In February 2024, we updated the environmental requirements of private cars. Except where operational requirements preclude the use of EVs, all new or replacement private cars procured must be EVs. Senior government officials are also leading by example by procuring EVs when replacing their official cars. As the market of electric van-type light goods vehicles (LGVs) is becoming more mature, we will review the Government’s Circular Memorandum “Green Procurement in the Government” to explore the feasibility of making electric van-type LGVs a mandatory requirement in future procurement. We will also regularly review with the Government Logistics Department whether to incorporate more vehicle types in the mandatory procurement requirement.
 
     Regarding the updating of standards for the construction of imported EVs and new energy vehicles, the TD has been regularly reviewing and amending existing legislation and guidelines having regard to the standards in different countries and regions to keep pace with the latest development in the automotive market, including issuing and updating the “Vehicle Construction Approval Requirements for Electric Vehicles”. This guideline incorporated national standard and other international safety standards for EVs and electric motorcycles, as well as guidance notes and specifications for electric vehicle technology and safety requirements. The guideline also accepts type approval applications for EVs equipped with battery-swapping technology. The TD will continue to maintain close communication with the trade, update the technical guidelines and streamline the approval process as and when appropriate.
 
(3) The Government has been encouraging the public to use public transportation and green commute methods, such as walking, to reduce carbon emissions. If it is necessary to buy a private car, an EV should be chosen. In recent years, the technology of electric private cars has matured, and the market has already been driving the green transformation of private cars. The popularisation of EVs has become an irreversible trend. It is estimated that by 2030, the number of electric private cars in Hong Kong could surpass 290 000, with over 45 per cent of private cars being EVs. By 2035, the number is projected to approach 500 000.
 
     Thank you, President.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following the direction of earlier proposals, the Buildings Department (BD) announced today (April 1) the re-launch of the Reporting Scheme for Unauthorised Building Works (UBWs) in New Territories Exempted Houses (NTEHs). The reporting period will last for one year from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027.
 
“In view of the history and unique circumstances of the NTEHs (commonly known as village houses), the Government launched a one-off administrative reporting scheme in 2012 as a special arrangement. Under the scheme, owners could report to the BD about UBWs that were erected before June 28, 2011, posed lower risks or constituted less serious contravention of the law. The reporting period ended in December 2012. The Development Bureau (DEVB) put forward proposals to amend the Buildings Ordinance in December 2024, which included rationalising the policy for handling UBWs. The DEVB also pointed out that in response to the views of villagers and Legislative Council members that the reporting period was too short, the Government prepared to re-launch the Reporting Scheme to allow owners who at that time did not report their UBWs to do so,” a spokesman for the BD said. 
 
Relevant stakeholders and Legislative Council members generally considered the above proposals practical and feasible, and they welcomed the proposals. The DEVB and the BD have also consulted Heung Yee Kuk on the relevant implementation arrangements.
 
The re-launched Reporting Scheme will maintain the original criteria, including:
 
(1) The types of UBWs that can be reported and their erection dates are the same as the original Reporting Scheme, meaning that only UBWs erected before June 28, 2011, posed lower risks or constituted less serious contravention of the law and were not the First Round Targets (Note) are eligible. Examples include signboards projecting from the external walls of village houses; enclosed rooftop structures with a coverage of not more than 50 per cent of the roofed-over area of the main building.
 
(2) Same as the original Reporting Scheme, owners are required to conduct safety inspections on the reported UBWs every five years.
 
“The BD will not require the immediate removal of the reported UBWs unless their structures become obviously dangerous. Regarding UBWs in village houses, the BD is prioritising the handling of First Round Targets. If any relevant UBWs remain not reported after the application deadline of March 31, 2027, the BD will, after dealing with the First Round Targets, take priority enforcement action against the non-reported UBWs. The BD will formulate enforcement strategy for the reported UBWs at a later stage in accordance with the risks and the actual situation,” the spokesman added.

To enhance the efficiency of processing applications, reports must be submitted via the electronic platform on the BD’s website by technically competent persons or registered professional engineers appointed by owners. In accordance with the user-pays principle, an administrative fee of $600 is payable for each application. Upon successful reports, owners must also pay the relevant administrative fee when conducting safety inspections of the reported UBWs every five years.
 
Details of the re-launched Reporting Scheme are available on the BD’s website at https://www.bd.gov.hk/en/safety-inspection/ubw/UBW-in-new-territories-exempted-houses/index_relaunch_reporting_scheme.html; Villagers who wish to report can call 2626 1616 for enquiry. The BD will also use different channels such as distributing leaflets and posters to Rural Committees to enable villagers to know more about the re-launch of the Reporting Scheme.
 
Owners who had successfully participated in the Reporting Scheme in 2012 are not required to submit reports again. However, they must continue to comply with the requirements of the original Reporting Scheme, including conducting safety inspections of the reported UBWs every five years, submitting safety certificates and paying administrative fees to the BD.

Note: The First Round Targets refer to UBWs with higher potential risks and more serious nature, such as village houses of four storeys or more, and enclosed rooftop structures covering more than 50 per cent of the roofed-over area.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is a question by the Hon Maggie Chan and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, in the Legislative Council today (April 1):

Question:     
(1) whether the Government has currently conducted a systematic assessment of the main causes of the high prevalence of myopia among primary and secondary school students, and whether it will formulate corresponding policies and guidelines to improve the optical health of primary and secondary school students (particularly regarding the problem of the high prevalence of myopia); if so, of the details and the timetable; if not, the reasons for that;     
(1) and (3) The Government attaches great importance to the visual health of children and adolescents. Among others, the DH provides free vision screening service to children and adolescents in Hong Kong at different life stages of their development through the Maternal and Child Health Centres (MCHCs) and Student Health Service Centres (SHSCs) to identify students with vision problems early and provide them with timely advice and intervention. The services of the MCHCs of the DH include free Pre-School Vision Screening for pre-school children aged four to five, which seeks to facilitate the early identification of children with problems such as amblyopia, squint, significant refractive errors for referral to ophthalmologists or optometrists as necessary, and to undergo further visual assessment and treatment with a view to protecting their vision and visual development. As regards primary and secondary school students, the DH provides free annual health assessment services which cover visual screening.     
(a) Nearly half of them (46.8 per cent) were already wearing glasses, with the proportions for secondary and primary school students being 64.4 per cent and 34.9 per cent respectively;     
(2) Government departments have all along been providing health education for students and parents through various means, including reducing screen time and encouraging more physical activities, to protect students’ vision.     
     The Chief Executive’s 2025 Policy Address announced that the DH would update the relevant guidelines to mitigate the impact of social media on the health of children and adolescents. The Advisory Group on Health Effects of Screen and Social Media Use for Children and Adolescents was established in October 2025, with representatives from the DH, the EDB, the Social Welfare Department, as well as scholars and representatives of non-governmental organisations. The interdepartmental expert Advisory Group is currently reviewing the latest medical and scientific evidence, as well as the relevant development and experiences in other countries and regions while consolidating expert opinions, with the aim of issuing updated health recommendations on the use of screen and social media by children and adolescents within 2026.
     
     Apart from reducing screen time, the DH recommends students to spend at least two hours outdoors each day to prevent or delay the onset of myopia, taking into account considerable number of studies had pointed out that spending time doing outdoor activities can prevent the onset of and delay the progression of myopia in children, and such effect is positively correlated to time spending outdoors. 
     
     In addition to doing more outdoor activities, the Government also encourages children and adolescents to establish regular and healthy lifestyle, and educates them to avoid excessive immersion in electronic devices through different subjects. In this regard, the EDB endeavours to support schools in adopting a life-wide learning approach through curriculum guides, learning and teaching resources and teacher training programmes to help schools provide diversified student activities, thereby fostering students’ balanced development in their daily lives. Primary Humanities already includes the learning content on proper and healthy use of electronic devices, helping students understand the need to protect eyes, and pay attention to the posture and duration when using the devices. At the Junior Primary level, the Primary Science curriculum also incorporates learning elements such as healthy lifestyles and eye protection. It teaches students to engage in regular exercise and avoid the prolonged use of electronic devices, encouraging them to develop healthy living habits. Furthermore, the EDB revised the Physical Education (PE) Key Learning Area Curriculum Guide (Primary 1 – Secondary 6) (Curriculum Guide) as early as 2017 to incorporate the recommendation of the World Health Organization (WHO) on physical activity for children and adolescents aged five to 17 as the development direction of the PE curriculum, and in 2020, adopted the WHO’s updated guideline of “accumulating at least an average of 60 minutes daily of moderate-to vigorous-intensity physical activities across the week”, reminding students to engage in physical activity regularly to promote physical and mental well-being. Thus, the EDB launched the “Active Students, Active People” Campaign (the ASAP Campaign) and “MVPA60 Award Scheme” several years ago to support schools in promoting students’ physical fitness and health. Since the launch of the ASAP Campaign, student participation has exceeded 420 000.
     
(4) The Government is committed to enhancing public healthcare services to provide a safety net for the public. As of December 31, 2025, of the 348 doctors listed on Specialist Register of the Medical Council of Hong Kong and registered as ophthalmologists in Hong Kong, 110 (31.6 per cent) were providing services in the HA on a full time or part time basis. To address the public’s ongoing demand for ophthalmic services, the Government will continue to strengthen the overall ophthalmology services in the HA, increase healthcare manpower and enhance professional training.     
     The Government has been committed to promoting prevention-oriented primary healthcare services in accordance with the recommendations of the Primary Healthcare Blueprint, including the active promotion of the Life Course Preventive Care Plan by the PHC Commission. Based on the core principles of prevention-oriented and whole-person care, a personalised preventive care plan will be formulated to address the health needs of citizens (including children) across different life stages with reference to the latest evidence. Family doctors and primary healthcare professionals will collaborate to provide health advice and education on healthy lifestyles tailored to individual factors such as age, sex, and family history, for instance, making recommendations on daily screen time based on children’s age groups. Moreover, the District Health Centres will also provide health assessments and conduct health promotion activities, and play the role of a primary healthcare resource hub in the district by connecting different healthcare professions in the community to co-ordinate and make referrals for citizens in need (including children). The PHC Commission is studying to further extend eye health education and screening services through multidisciplinary collaboration (including allied health professionals such as nurses and optometrists) via family doctors.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

The Hospital Authority (HA) spokesperson today (April 1) announced that a total of 18 family medicine clinics (FMCs) will provide public holiday FMC services during the Easter and Ching Ming Festival holiday period (April 3 to 7) (see Annex). Patients may book an appointment either through the telephone appointment system, the eHealth mobile app or the “Book FMC” function of the HA Go mobile app.
 
The spokesperson reminded members of the public to stay vigilant about personal and environmental hygiene during the public holidays to avoid spreading diseases. Members of the public who develop respiratory symptoms should wear a mask and seek medical advice promptly. The spokesperson emphasised that non-emergency patients should avoid using accident and emergency (A&E) services and seek treatment at FMCs, private doctors or 24-hour outpatient services at private hospitals to reduce pressure on public hospital A&Es. The Health Bureau has collated information on private healthcare facilities, covering 13 private hospitals, more than 49 clinics, and 208 non-profit organisations and private Chinese medicine clinics, which will be in operation during the the Easter and Ching Ming Festival holidays across 18 districts in the city. The information (including addresses, phone numbers and operation hours) of the relevant healthcare facilities can be accessed by members of the public via the eHealth website and the “Doctor Search” function of the eHealth mobile app.
 
Meanwhile, the spokesperson appealed to eligible members of the public, especially high-risk groups, to get vaccinated early for seasonal influenza and COVID-19 to reduce the chance of infection for themselves and their family members, as well as to reduce critical cases and deaths.
 
Moreover, Chinese Medicine Clinics and Training and Research Centres (CMCTRs) located in the 18 districts will arrange special sessions to provide the government-subsidised Chinese medicine (CM) out-patient services from April 3 to 7 (see Annex). Meanwhile, the CM out-patient services will also be enhanced before and after the public holidays (April 2, April 8 and 9). Patients may make an appointment either by telephone during service hours or through the “18 CM Clinics” mobile application (applicable to patients who have registered for 18 CMCTRs’ services). Please refer to the latest information on CM services on the HA CMK website (cmk.ha.org.hk/services/notice/during-the-easter-public-holidays-2026).