Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Assessment Committee supports nine applications under Pilot Innovation and Technology Accelerator Scheme The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, said, “The nine selected organisations possess extensive networks and resources in areas such as AI, robotics, biomedicine, new energy and new materials. They will provide value-added services including co-working space, research and development support, investment matching and market development to accelerate the growth of innovation and technology (I&T) companies in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to enhance the I&T ecosystem and develop Hong Kong into an international I&T centre.”
PITAS aims to attract professional I&T enterprise service providers with proven track records in and beyond Hong Kong to set up accelerator bases in Hong Kong and, through their business networks and expertise, support the development and needs of I&T enterprises in a more comprehensive and targeted manner. Under PITAS, the Government will provide funding support on a one‑to‑two matching basis between the Government and the service provider to cover the necessary expenditure for establishing and operating an I&T accelerator to a ceiling subsidy of $30 million. The project duration is up to three years. Issued at HKT 14:00
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Following is a question by the Hon Nixie Lam and a reply by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, in the Legislative Council today (October 14):
Question:
It has been reported that, over the years, unlawful organisations have operated illegal gambling activities through online platforms and used concealed channels, such as stooge accounts, to handle gambling funds. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) in the light of the distinctive nature of illegal online gambling, under which betting funds are transferred through online channels, of the measures the authorities have put in place to support financial institutions in introducing smart technology systems that can automatically detect and proactively intercept transactions relating to illegal betting, and issue risk alerts to members of the public in a timely manner;
(2) of the number of persons arrested in the past three years for money laundering activities involving the use of stooge accounts to handle money from illegal betting, and among such cases, the total number of those in which prosecutions were successful, with a breakdown by type of stooge account (e.g. bank accounts and electronic wallet accounts); and
(3) as it is learnt that criminal syndicates commonly disseminate information on illegal betting through social media, messaging applications and key opinion leaders, whether the authorities will, with reference to overseas experience, enact legislation requiring online platforms to discharge statutory duties to screen, remove and report information relating to illegal betting, and empowering law enforcement agencies to mandate platforms to remove unlawful content, ban offending accounts and block traffic, while at the same time formulating a penalty mechanism for platforms, with a view to combating the promotion of illegal gambling at source; if so, of the specific legislative approach and timetable; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
Illegal gambling is an indictable offence under the Gambling Ordinance (Cap. 148). Pursuant to the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance (Cap. 455) (OSCO), any person who knows or suspects that any property is connected with the proceeds of an indictable offence, including illegal gambling, is required to promptly file a suspicious transaction report (STR) with the Joint Financial Intelligence Unit (JFIU).
Having consulted the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau, the Security Bureau, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), my reply to the three parts of the question is as follows:
(1) Under the existing regulatory framework, various regulated entities (including banks and stored value facility (SVF) licensees regulated by the HKMA, as well as licensed corporations and licensed virtual asset trading platforms regulated by the SFC) must establish effective and appropriate anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) controls, covering customer due diligence, transaction monitoring, and suspicious transaction reporting.
Regarding transaction monitoring, regulated entities are required to establish ongoing monitoring and transaction monitoring systems that are commensurate with the nature, size and risk profile of their businesses to promptly identify transactions inconsistent with a client’s background or financial profile. Depending on the level of risk identified, regulated entities should adopt appropriate measures, such as conducting stricter customer due diligence, verifying client instructions, restricting or suspending transactions, and refusing to execute transactions. In addition, after filing STRs, regulated entities have to co-operate with law enforcement agencies on their follow-up actions as appropriate, including restricting or suspending the operation of relevant accounts, and restraining or freezing relevant assets, in accordance with the directions of law enforcement agencies or court orders.
The HKMA and the SFC have respectively issued detailed guidelines pursuant to the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (Cap. 615), setting out the AML/CFT controls that various regulated entities should implement to combat money laundering and terrorist financing (ML/TF) activities.
To assist the industry in more promptly and accurately identifying and mitigating ML/TF risks, the HKMA and the SFC will continue to engage with the industry and promote the responsible use of technologies such as artificial intelligence. Specifically, the HKMA has organised various industry sharing sessions to encourage banks and SVF licensees to enhance their application of new and emerging financial technologies and assist them in applying artificial intelligence within their transaction monitoring systems, thereby enhancing their ability to detect illicit financial activities. Meanwhile, in November 2024, the SFC published the Report on the Adoption of Regtech for Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism to share practical use cases and good practices adopted by licensed corporations in key AML (Anti-Money Laundering) processes such as customer due diligence, transaction monitoring, and management information reporting. The aim is to encourage and assist the industry in adopting Regtech (including artificial intelligence) more widely in a responsible manner according to the nature, scale and risk profile of their businesses, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of AML efforts.
In respect of intelligence sharing, the HKMA and the SFC have maintained close co-operation with the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) and the industry to share intelligence in a timely manner, including the latest ML (Money Laundering) typologies and modus operandi, related fund flows, the use of stooge accounts, and red flag indicators of suspicious transactions, with a view to assisting regulated entities in promptly updating their transaction monitoring scenarios and risk-mitigating measures. In addition, the Fraud and Money Laundering Intelligence Taskforce, an intelligence-sharing platform comprising the HKPF, the HKMA, banks, and SVF licensees, has circulated multiple alerts to share emerging threats and the latest modus operandi regarding illegal gambling with the industry.
(2) Section 25 of the OSCO stipulates that a person commits an offence (i.e. ML) if they deal with any property that they know or have reasonable grounds to believe represents the proceeds of an indictable offense, including illegal gambling. Apart from using stooge accounts to launder money, selling or lending bank accounts to be used as stooge accounts may also constitute the aforementioned criminal offence. Over the past three years, statistics on the numbers of persons arrested, prosecuted and convicted for ML involving stooge accounts are set out in the Annex.
(3) As a matter of policy, the Government does not encourage gambling. To address the possible problems brought by gambling, the Government adopts a multi-pronged strategy including law enforcement against illegal gambling activities, public education on the harms of gambling addiction, provision of counselling and support services to people in need, and regulation over gambling activities through legislation. The HKPF has been closely monitoring the trend of illegal gambling crimes, conducting cyber patrols and gathering intelligence through different channels, and taking appropriate intelligence-led enforcement actions against these illegal activities. Besides, the HYAB established the Ping Wo Fund (PWF) in 2003 to finance both preventive and remedial measures to address gambling-related problems.
To address problems arising from illegal online gambling, the PWF has accorded priority to providing funding support for initiatives relating to the prevention of online gambling activities since 2020. The PWF has been disseminating anti-gambling messages to the public through various channels, and will continue to remind the public that participating in illegal gambling (such as betting with an illegal bookmaker) is an offence under the Gambling Ordinance, regardless of whether it takes place online or offline, such as placing bets with an illegal bookmaker through a simple tap on mobile phone. Upon conviction, an offender is liable to a maximum penalty of a $50,000 fine and imprisonment for nine months. Furthermore, under the Gambling Ordinance, no person shall, whether online or offline, knowingly promote or facilitate bookmaking or betting with a bookmaker. Upon conviction, an offender is liable to a maximum penalty of a $5 million fine and imprisonment for seven years. Through various publicity and education programmes, we will continue to enhance public awareness, particularly among young people, on the harms of gambling addiction and the legal consequences of participating in illegal gambling, with a view to further strengthening public awareness of anti-gambling.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ18: Support measures for carers
Carers of the ElderlyCarers of Persons with DisabilitiesNote: Counted from the regularisation of the schemes in October 2023. All cases receiving an allowance under the pilot schemes before regularisation were required to submit fresh applications after October 2023. This number includes relevant eligible applications.
Table 2: Number of ineligible cases and reasons for ineligibility under the two carer allowance schemes
Reason for ineligibilityCarers of the ElderlyCarers of Persons with DisabilitiesNote 1: Counted from the regularisation of the schemes in October 2023.
Note 2: Under the Allowance Scheme for Carers of the Elderly, at the time of application the elderly person being cared for must have been assessed under the Social Welfare Department (SWD)’s Standardised Care Need Assessment Mechanism for Elderly Services (SCNAMES) and recommended as suitable for community care services and/or residential care services, and must still be waitlisted on the Central Waiting List (CWL) for subsidised long-term care services (that is, residential care services and/or community care services). Under the Allowance Scheme for Carers of Persons with Disabilities, at the time of application the person with disabilities being cared for must be waitlisted for any specified rehabilitation services of the SWD, the boarding placement of special schools under the Education Bureau (EDB), or the infirmary service under the Hospital Authority (HA).Issued at HKT 15:40
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Following is a question by the Hon Lee Chun-keung and a written reply by the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, in the Legislative Council today (October 14):
Question:
In the 2026 Policy Address (Policy Address), the Chief Executive proposes to deepen patriotic education for young people by making good use of the Mainland’s resources to deliver multi-faceted and content-rich exchange and internship activities as well as designating annual themes, which will enable young people to witness first-hand the country’s development and achievements, deepening their understanding of the nation’s history and culture as well as its enduring bond and kinship with Hong Kong. There are concerns over the implementation details and long-term effectiveness of the relevant programmes. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the detailed plans and timetables for implementation of the proposal in the Policy Address to list the Yan’an Revolutionary Memorial Hall in Shaanxi Province as the second patriotic education base for the youth of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in the Mainland and to designate annual themes, such as the country’s aerospace achievements and the supply of Dongjiang water to Hong Kong for exchange and internship activities;
(2) of the specific criteria and strategy to enhance the quality of youth exchange and study tours to the Mainland and prevent the itineraries from becoming merely a formality; for example, whether it will introduce high-quality thematic project learning and immersive experiences into youth exchange tours and establish quantifiable indicators for performance assessment to ensure that the exchange activities can truly deepen young people’s recognition of the nation’s history, development and achievements; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(3) while national education and the Values Education Curriculum Framework have now been formally implemented in all primary and secondary schools across the territory, whether the Government will, together with the Working Group on Patriotic Education, make use of new media platforms, such as short videos and interactive games or partner with youth hostels and local clansmen associations to establish dedicated promotional networks for tertiary students who have graduated or left school, or for young people who are in employment or not in education, so as to prevent a gap in national education; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
Having consulted the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau and the Education Bureau (EDB), the reply in response to the questions raised by the Hon Lee Chun-keung is as follows:
(1) The 2026 Policy Address stipulates that the Government will deepen patriotic education for young people by making good use of the Mainland’s resources to deliver multi faceted and content rich exchange and internship activities as well as designating annual themes, such as the country’s aerospace achievements and the supply of Dongjiang water to Hong Kong. This will enable young people to witness first hand the country’s development and achievements, deepening their understanding of the nation’s history and culture as well as its enduring bond and kinship with Hong Kong, thereby strengthening young people’s sense of national identity, national pride and cultural confidence.
This year marks the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Long March. Yan’an is a sacred place of the Chinese revolution and the cradle of New China. With the support of the Central Government, the HKSAR Government will list the Yan’an Revolutionary Memorial Hall in Shaanxi Province as the second patriotic education base for the youth of the HKSAR in the Mainland, and encourage students and young people to visit the place for study. The HKSAR Government is now liaising with the relevant Mainland authorities on the timing and other arrangements for the establishment of this base.
The EDB has been arranging for students to visit the Mainland for learning through the Mainland Exchange Programmes for Primary and Secondary School Students (MEPs) and the Senior Secondary Citizenship and Social Development (CS) Mainland Study Tours. The Yan’an Revolutionary Memorial Hall in Shaanxi has been incorporated into the routes of the MEPs and CS Mainland Study Tours, with a view to enabling students to learn, through visits, about the journey of the Red Army under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in the Long March, its establishment of a foothold in Yan’an, and the history of Yan’an once serving as the seat of the CPC Central Committee. In addition, other relevant visiting spots, such as Zhuhai Aerospace Land in Guangdong, the source of Dongjiang water at Sanbai Mountain in Jiangxi, and the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders, have also been incorporated into the routes of the MEPs and CS Mainland Study Tours. The EDB will continue to review and optimise the arrangements for Mainland exchange activities for students, maintain close communication and liaison with relevant Mainland units, and disseminate successful experiences for enhancing the effectiveness of the study tours.
At present, the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) provides funding for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to organise youth exchange projects in the Mainland through the HYAB Funding Scheme for Youth Exchange in the Mainland (FSYEM). The FSYEM aims to enhance young people’s understanding of the country’s culture, history, way of life and latest developments, and strengthening exchanges with their Mainland peers. Applications for the 2027-28 FSYEM will open in mid-November this year. The HYAB will actively encourage NGOs to arrange for youth participants to visit the patriotic education bases for Hong Kong and Macao youth in their exchange projects, and relevant applications will be given priority consideration. Furthermore, to deepen patriotic education for young people, the HYAB will designate annual themes for 2027-28, which include: (i) the 30th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the Motherland; (ii) the 100th anniversary of the founding of Chinese People’s Liberation Army; (iii) the country’s aerospace achievements; and (iv) supply of Dongjiang water to Hong Kong.
(2) The EDB has been collecting views from different stakeholders, taking various factors into consideration, and maintaining close exchanges with relevant Mainland authorities to adjust and optimise the arrangements for Mainland exchange activities for students in each school year. Like a “walking classroom”, the exchange programmes enable students to gain first-hand understanding of national affairs and the latest development of our country. Apart from emphasising close connection with curriculum elements, the EDB has also enriched relevant visiting spots and learning objectives in response to the latest national developments and major historical events. For instance, inclusion of the Museum of the War of the Chinese People’s Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in Beijing and the Yan’an Revolutionary Memorial Hall in Shaanxi, both being patriotic education bases for Hong Kong and Macao youth, and designated itineraries for the theme of the 80th Anniversary of victory in the War of Resistance. The cross-province route in Jiangxi and Guangdong, on the theme of “Remembering the Source When Drinking Water”, combines the history of the Long March and revolutionary deeds, allowing students to appreciate, through thematic project-based learning and immersive experience, the profound affection of our country towards Hong Kong. The EDB will continue to gauge the learning effectiveness of Mainland exchange activities for students through participant questionnaires, school visits, inspections, collection of student works (including photos, video clips and student reflections), and interviews with teachers and students, using quantifiable performance indicators. The EDB also regularly organises experience-sharing sessions to promote professional exchanges among teachers, and showcase the outcomes of students’ experiential learning through diversified means, such as the CS Mainland Study Tour Project Learning Report Award Scheme.
The HYAB provides young people with Mainland exchange opportunities outside of those that complement the school curriculum, allowing them to choose exchange activities with different themes based on their interests and gain more in-depth experience of the latest developments in various aspects in the Mainland. Funded exchange projects under the FSYEM should feature specific themes, such as understanding the National 15th Five-Year Plan, the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the Belt and Road initiative, as well as national history, economy, science, culture, etc. In the past two years, the HYAB has also strongly encouraged funded NGOs to organise exchange projects centered on themes such as the 80th Anniversary of victory in the War of Resistance, the 60th Anniversary of Dongjiang Water Supply to Hong Kong, the 90th Anniversary of the victory of the Long March, and the 160th Anniversary of Dr Sun Yat-sen’s birthday. Through thematic exchanges and immersive experiences, these projects enable young people to gain a deeper understanding of the country’s historical development and achievements, thereby further enhancing their sense of national identity and patriotism. Upon completion of the exchange projects, participants are invited to fill in evaluation questionnaires, from which the HYAB can gauge their feedback and monitor project effectiveness and quality. Representatives of the HYAB and the Youth Development Commission also attend local activities (such as sharing sessions) organised by the funded NGOs to gather participants’ views on the projects and monitor their effectiveness and quality.
(3) In 2024, the Government established the Working Group on Patriotic Education (the Working Group) under the Constitution and Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration. The Working Group is responsible for co-ordinating the work of government departments and NGOs in taking forward patriotic education in Hong Kong. Four sub-groups of the Working Group focus on school education, community engagement, cultural and historical promotion, and media publicity. The Working Group has been emphasising on conducting patriotic education through a soft and heart-moving, as well as innovative and diversified approach for comprehensive patriotic education in various aspects for all walks of life. The Working Group will continue its work under this approach, including to further adopt new media platforms, to take forward patriotic education in Hong Kong.
For recent graduates, working youth and out-of-school youth, the HYAB has been working closely with the Committee on the Promotion of Civic Education to promote civic and national education (including patriotic education) to general public outside schools and within the community through different channels and diverse means. These efforts include disseminating information via the Committee’s website and social media pages; organising the Basic Law Quiz Competition and Basic Law Seminars, etc; and sponsoring eligible organisations (including various youth organisations and district clansmen associations) to host activities in promoting national and patriotic education under the Community Participation Scheme. Also, through the Youth Hostel Scheme, the HYAB and the operating organisations provide various activities on national education to the youth tenants, such as visits and guided tours to the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison Exhibition Center, the National Security Exhibition Gallery and Xuelong 2; sharing sessions on the spirit of the “two sessions”; and exchange tours to the Mainland, in order to deepen their understanding of the country. In terms of the adaption of new media, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of victory in the War of Resistance, the Information Services Department (ISD), in collaboration with Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), have produced a 5-episode mini-drama titled “Victory in War of Resistance” and have the series available on the official websites and social media platforms of the ISD and RTHK, to enhance public awareness of the War of Resistance on the Chinese Mainland and in Hong Kong, to allow citizens to remember history, honour martyrs, and cherish and safeguard peace.
Financial Secretary Paul Chan today concluded his visit to Nanjing by meeting the leadership of Jiangsu Province and touring advanced manufacturing and pharmaceutical enterprises.
Mr Chan began the day with a breakfast meeting with member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee and Executive Vice Governor of Jiangsu Province Zhang Wenbing to discuss deepening economic and trade co-operation, strengthening collaboration in innovation and technology (I&T), and supporting enterprises in their international expansion.
Mr Chan noted that the visit strengthened ties with the Jiangsu Provincial Government, universities, I&T institutions and enterprises, adding that Hong Kong will actively follow up on various co-operation projects to deliver more concrete results in Jiangsu-Hong Kong collaboration.
The delegation then visited a Jiangsu-based energy and energy-saving equipment enterprise to learn about its technology research and development (R&D), commercialisation of its research outcomes and its business development. They also toured a pharmaceutical company to examine its drug R&D, production methods and global marketing operations.
During the visits, Mr Chan emphasised that I&T remains a key area of co-operation between Jiangsu and Hong Kong. He highlighted that both regions have ample scope for collaboration in technology R&D, the commercialisation of research outcomes and international market expansion.
He added that both regions can further promote two-way investment and talent exchanges to foster deeper industrial integration.
Turning to innovative drugs, Mr Chan explained that enterprises can leverage Hong Kong’s strengths in drug R&D and its reformed drug approval regime to accelerate market expansion.
The Financial Secretary encouraged both businesses to utilise Hong Kong’s internationally connected capital markets, experience in meeting the highest international standards, high-quality professional services, and strengths as an international financial and talent hub to scale up in overseas markets.
Dans le cadre de la Journée nationale de la résilience, le gouvernement de la Nouvelle-Calédonie met en place le Village de la résilience, le samedi 17 octobre au Centre d’intervention et de soutien spécialisé Sud (CISS Sud) à partir de 9 heures.
The Financial Services & the Treasury Bureau today welcomed the inaugural issuance of insurance-linked securities (ILS) in the form of a “sidecar” by the PICC Property & Casualty Company (PICC P&C) in Hong Kong.
With a size of US$12 million, equivalent to about HK$94 million, the “sidecar” issuance provides quota share reinsurance protection for offshore windfarm property insurance businesses on the Chinese Mainland.
Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui said: “We welcome PICC P&C’s issuance of Hong Kong’s first ‘sidecar’. This demonstrates Hong Kong’s combined strengths in reinsurance and capital markets.”
“The issuance marks significant progress gained for Hong Kong’s insurance industry and capital markets in risk transfer and the use of alternative capital under the support of our country. It will further enhance the market’s capacity to manage catastrophe and other specialty risks, and consolidate Hong Kong’s position as an international risk management centre,” Mr Hui added.
The financial services chief pointed out that Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan has proposed fully leveraging Hong Kong’s competitive edge in the international insurance, reinsurance, and capital markets, to advance the synergised development of traditional insurance and non-traditional risk management tools.
“This will enable us to unleash the synergy effect of multilayered risk transfer and pooling mechanisms through ILS and other tools, thus consolidating our strategic role as a regional and global catastrophe and specialty risk management hub,” he said.
Ultimately, the proposal aims to support the National 15th Five-Year Plan which identifies the enhancement of the catastrophe risk protection framework and risk-pooling mechanisms as a key task.
“ILS and captive insurance, which we have long been promoting, can provide enterprises ‘going global’ with diversified means of spreading and managing risks,” Mr Hui added.
“We expect this combination of financial policy measures will allow enterprises to leverage Hong Kong as a safe haven for ‘going global’ with greater ease of mind.”
MOFA announces it will resume accepting visa applications from Moroccan nationals
Date：2026-10-12
Data Source：Department of West Asian and African Affairs
October 12, 2026
No. 499
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) announces that it will start accepting visa applications from Moroccan nationals again on October 12. The measure is in recognition of the Moroccan government’s decision to resume processing visa confirmation letter (VCL) applications from Taiwan nationals on September 21. Effective today, Moroccan nationals may submit visa applications at Taiwan’s overseas missions in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Previously, the Moroccan government had made a sudden announcement on July 23 that it would temporarily stop accepting requests for VCLs from Taiwan nationals. Based on the principle of reciprocity, MOFA subsequently announced on July 30 that it would cease accepting visa applications from Moroccan nationals. (E)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has produced a short film entitled “The Album of a Nation” to celebrate this year’s National Day.
With 2026 marking the 30th anniversary of Taiwan’s first direct presidential election, MOFA has turned to AI for the first time to help recount the story of Taiwan’s democratic development. Combining archive material and an interview, the production portrays a journey in which adversity is overcome to achieve freedom, diversity, and glory.
“This is our family album. Its pages tell the story of Taiwan’s journey to the present day.” After opening with this voice-over, the film leads the audience through Taiwan’s history from the perspective of Mr. Chang Yung-cheng, a military veteran.
In the 1970s, Taiwan withdrew from the United Nations, resulting in a wave of upheavals in Taiwan’s diplomatic relations. Taiwan’s isolation from the international community sparked public anger. Mr. Chang, who was young at the time, chose to serve and defend Taiwan at one of its most difficult moments.
Following the lifting of martial law, Taiwan experienced such social movements as the Wild Lily student protests, setting Taiwan firmly on the path toward democratization. A series of constitutional amendments in the 1990s established a system of direct presidential elections, the first of which was held in 1996.
However, in the days running up to the vote, Taiwan was tested by the Third Taiwan Strait Crisis. At that time, Mr. Chang was serving as a company commander at Gaodeng in Matsu. Even while posted on the front line, where tensions were high, he never forgot to urge his family to defend Taiwan by taking democratic action and casting their ballots.
The film interweaves the story of Taiwan’s national development and Mr. Chang’s life experiences, demonstrating that Taiwan never gave up hope but instead developed a stronger and more resilient sense of collective will in the face of adversity.
The film goes on to highlight Taiwan’s confident presence on the international stage in recent years, including President Lai Ching-te’s interactions with the heads of state of Taiwan’s allies, Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao’s speech at the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China summit, and Taiwan’s first hosting of the Taiwan Smart Medical and HealthTech Expo during the World Health Assembly. These examples demonstrate that as a force for good, Taiwan has bravely and confidently strengthened its links with global democratic partners.
The film concludes with a retrospective look at critical moments in Taiwan’s history through a cross-generational lens. Highlights include Yang Chuan-kuang, the “Iron Man of Asia,” winning Taiwan’s first Olympic medal in 1960; the lifting of martial law in 1987; the 1999 Jiji earthquake; Taiwan becoming the first Asian nation to legalize same-sex marriage in 2019; Taiwan’s role as a positive force during the COVID-19 pandemic; and the vital part that Taiwan continues to play in 2026 through the global AI industry and semiconductor supply chains.
The people of Taiwan have persistently marched forward amid crises and challenges. Marked by both suffering and glory, the pages of history have forged Taiwan’s national identity and nurtured the unique spirit of Team Taiwan. Going forward, Taiwan will continue to contribute to the world in such areas as technology, democracy, and economics.
The five-minute National Day video has been released in 13 languages, including Chinese, English, Spanish, Japanese, Thai, and Vietnamese, and launched on MOFA’s website and social media platforms. People in Taiwan and overseas are encouraged to view, repost, and share the video and join MOFA in wishing a happy birthday to Taiwan—a nation that continues to be passionately safeguarded by its people. (E)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the Ministry of the Interior (MOI), and the National Fire Agency (NFA) have jointly established the World Alliance for Disaster Management (WADM). Following a comprehensive assessment, it was launched to proactively expand Taiwan’s international participation and leverage Taiwan’s long-standing expertise and practical experience in disaster prevention and response.
The WADM comprises 13 member states, 17 observers, and 11 partners. Moving forward, it will bolster cross-border cooperation on disaster prevention and response through joint training, joint exercises, joint operations, and information sharing, advancing integrated diplomacy and President Lai Ching-te’s directive to transform the NFA Training Center in Zhushan Township, Nantou County, into a major disaster prevention training base in the Indo-Pacific.
The WADM founding ceremony was held on September 19 in Taipei, and the inaugural assembly will take place from September 19 to 21. A total of 91 guests from 21 countries are attending. Palau Vice President Raynold Oilouch and Eswatini Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla are personally leading delegations to participate, fully demonstrating the importance that they attach to the establishment of the WADM and their staunch support for Taiwan.
The WADM founding ceremony and the opening ceremonies of the Resilient Taiwan for Sustainable Democracy International Forum and the International Disaster Education and Action (IDEA) Forum were held as a joint event on the morning of September 19.
President Lai presided over the event, accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung and Minister of the Interior Liu Shyh-fang. In his remarks, President Lai affirmed that the establishment of the WADM represented a major breakthrough for Taiwan after over half a century of efforts to take part in international organizations. He expressed hope that the WADM would harness Taiwan’s strengths in disaster prevention and response and technological applications to deepen international cooperation, making Taiwan a key cross-border hub for disaster prevention and response coordination.
Minister Lin and Minister Liu jointly hosted a welcome dinner on September 18 for the foreign delegations attending the event. Minister Lin said that disasters knew no borders and that, in the face of climate change and other common compound challenges, countries could only improve disaster resilience and response capabilities by working together. He stated that Taiwan had decades of practical experience in disaster prevention and management and that it continued to learn from experience, adapt, and refine its capabilities. He noted that while Taiwan was steadily bolstering resilience against disasters and risks, it was also sharing its expertise with global partners through international exchanges and cooperation.
Minister Lin added that he had been directly involved in disaster response and emergency coordination. He mentioned that he had witnessed firsthand the enhancement of Taiwan’s disaster response capabilities and appreciated the importance of relevant agencies building close ties with global partners through exchanges and mutual support. He pointed out that the establishment of the WADM exemplified Taiwan’s policies of integrated diplomacy and value-added diplomacy. He emphasized that Taiwan would capitalize on its advantages in artificial intelligence, satellite applications, unmanned vehicles, communications technology, and smart manufacturing to collaborate with international partners and jointly elevate global disaster management capabilities.
Minister Liu highlighted Taiwan’s extensive experience in disaster resilience and emergency response, noting that Taiwan was located in the heart of the Asia-Pacific, where extreme weather and compound disasters frequently occur. She said that Taiwan had long faced threats posed by such disasters as typhoons, earthquakes, torrential rain, and landslides and that it was committed to increasing its warning, response, and recovery capabilities. She also observed that Taiwan conducted unscripted and semi-announced drills every September 21, which is National Disaster Prevention Day. This year, search and rescue and medical teams from 11 countries had traveled to Taiwan to participate in the drills and engage in exchanges. Minister Liu added that, moving forward, Taiwan would continue to strengthen international collaboration, share expertise, conduct joint training, and assist global partners to enhance comprehensive resilience against disaster and climate risks. Minister Lin and Minister Liu both thanked the participating countries for supporting the establishment of the WADM and working to jointly boost disaster resilience.
In addition, Vice President Oilouch and Deputy Prime Minister Dladla delivered remarks. Vice President Oilouch stated that Taiwan and Palau had coordinated closely across domains during the Pacific Islands Forum, firmly supporting each other and fully demonstrating the solid and cordial ties between the two countries. He also sincerely thanked Taiwan for extending a helping hand to Palau in times of need.
Vice President Oilouch explained that given the potential impacts of extreme weather, Palau was proactively planning response measures and was honored to be a founding member of the WADM. He anticipated that the alliance would provide resources and support for future global disaster management and expressed confidence that it would help Palau respond to severe droughts by facilitating professional cooperation and sharing best practices.
Deputy Prime Minister Dladla proposed three guiding principles for the WADM’s future work in her speech—namely inclusive disaster preparedness, people-centered technological development, and solidarity through concrete action. She underscored that the establishment of the WADM opened a new chapter in global disaster risk collaboration, pointing out that no country could face the challenges alone and that every country could contribute to global disaster management cooperation. She added that Taiwan had proven through experience that steadfast leadership, robust systems, advanced technology, thorough preparedness, and rigorous coordination could reduce the loss of life and property.
During the delegations’ stay in Taiwan, they will visit the NFA Training Center to deepen their understanding of Taiwan’s strong capabilities in disaster preparedness, disaster response, and professional training. The center is the largest compound disaster training base in Asia and the third-largest worldwide. Under the WADM framework, it will provide disaster prevention training and assistance to member nations as it steadily develops into a major disaster training hub in the Asia-Pacific.
The WADM is the first intergovernmental organization initiated and established by Taiwan. It is also the third intergovernmental organization headquartered in Taiwan—following the founding of the Food and Fertilizer Technology Center for the Asian and Pacific Region in 1970 and the World Vegetable Center in 1971—highlighting its significance.
Taiwan will continue to uphold the spirit of Taiwan can help and Taiwan can lead, leveraging its strengths in disaster prevention and response and working hand in hand with the international community to jointly elevate global disaster resilience and ensure that no one is left behind. (E)