MIL Asia Pacific Publishing Engine

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     To raise public interest in planting and promote greening, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will organise a horticultural education exhibition entitled “Exploring the Amazing Bulbous Plants” this weekend (November 15 and 16) from 10am to 5pm at the Arcade and the Green Education and Resource Centre of Kowloon Park. The two-day event will also feature pot-planting activities, game stalls, workshops, talks and guided tours. All are welcome and admission is free.

     Bulbous plants generally refer to herbaceous plants with enlarged underground stems or roots that serve as storage organs. Packed with nutrients, water, and buds essential for growth, these specialised underground structures allow the plant to remain dormant during harsh conditions, such as cold winters, hot summers, or drought, and they quickly sprout and bloom when seasons return favourable. Therefore, bulbous plants are hailed as nature’s “master of energy storage”.

     Through the exhibition, members of the public can learn more about the classification, selection and pre-planting preparation, planting steps and practical tips, plant care and propagation methods of bulbous plants. Some beginner-friendly species that are easy to care for, have distinct blooming periods, and offer great visual appeal will also be introduced.

     In addition to exhibition panels, there will be hands-on workshops for creating scented sachets, bookmarks featuring compressed flowers, and plant rubbing art, alongside game stalls. Visitors can also enjoy the fun of pot planting under the guidance of horticulture instructors.

     Two talks in Cantonese, namely “Protected Plants in Hong Kong” and “How to plant Bulbous Plants”, will be held at the Green Education and Resource Centre in Kowloon Park from 12.15pm to 1pm on November 15 and 16 respectively. All are welcome to participate. While admission is free, tickets are required and available at the Centre on the event day on a first-come, first served basis.

     For enquiries, please call 2723 6053 or 2723 6767 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/green/gerc/activities/exhibitions.html.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (November 13) that Tiu Keng Leng Sports Centre will be temporarily closed from November 26 to December 17 to support the organisation of the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games. All facilities of the Sports Centre (including the service counter and SmartPLAY Self-service Stations) will be temporarily closed, while the carpark will open as usual.
 
     During the above period, members of the public may use similar facilities of the other sports centres in the same district.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

An owner was convicted and fined $78,300 in total, of which $72,300 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued, at the Sha Tin Magistrates’ Courts yesterday (November 12) for failing to comply with a removal order issued under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap. 123).

The case involved a metal frame attached to the external wall of an industrial building at Wo Heung Street, Sha Tin. As the unauthorised building works (UBWs) were carried out without prior approval and consent from the Buildings Department (BD), a removal order was served on the owner under section 24(1) of the BO. Failing to comply with the removal order, the owner was prosecuted by the BD.

A spokesman for the BD said today (November 13), “UBWs may lead to serious consequences. Owners must comply with removal orders without delay. The BD will continue to take enforcement action against owners who fail to comply with removal orders, including instigation of prosecution, to ensure building and public safety.”

Failure to comply with a removal order without reasonable excuse is a serious offence under the BO. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $200,000 and one year’s imprisonment, and a further fine of up to $20,000 for each day that the offence continues.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, continued to attend the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, on November 12 (Belém time). He spoke at the thematic discussion session in China Pavilion’s side event, and had bilateral meetings with other representatives.
 
     Mr Tse attended the China Pavilion’s side event themed “Promoting Green Innovation and Cooperation to Jointly Build the Green Silk Road”, which was guided by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) and co-hosted by the BRI International Green Development Coalition, the Foreign Environmental Cooperation Center of the MEE and the Secretariat of China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development. It aimed at establishing a pivotal platform for governments, financial and research institutions, non-governmental organisations and private sectors to foster international collaboration under the framework of the Green Silk Road. Discussions focused on promoting global green transition through key areas such as technological innovations, climate finance and market mechanisms.
 
     Speaking at the first thematic discussion session titled “Innovation in Climate Finance Mechanisms: Exploring New Models for South-South Cooperation”, Mr Tse said located in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Hong Kong serves as a “super connector” and acts as a bridge between Chinese Mainland and the world. Under the “one country, two systems” principle, Hong Kong adopts the common law system and is the third largest global finance centre and the leading centre for green and sustainable finance in Asia, attracting local and transnational funds to support mitigation and adaption actions to reduce the impacts of climate change.
 
     Mr Tse said in 2024 alone, the volume of green and sustainable bonds issued in Hong Kong reached about 45 per cent of the regional total and ranked first in the Asian market for seven consecutive years. To encourage the development of green finance, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government launched the Green and Sustainable Finance Grant Scheme to provide funding support for eligible bond issuers and loan borrowers to cover part of their expenses on bond issuance and external review services. The Scheme has been extended to 2027 with the scope of subsidies expanded to cover transition bonds and loans to encourage regional decarbonisation.
 
     He added that in September 2025, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding with various carbon exchanges markets in the Greater Bay Area, strengthening the collaboration of carbon market development in the region. The Hong Kong Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance was also launched in May 2024, driving cross-border investments and facilitating green finance flows.
 
     Mr Tse said, “the HKSAR Government and the MEE will sign a cooperation agreement on jointly setting up a Belt and Road Green Development Cooperation Platform in Hong Kong. The platform will connect international environmental co-operation networks and facilitate technology exchanges and transfers of solutions among Belt and Road countries.”
 
     After attending the China Pavilion’s side event, Mr Tse had a bilateral meeting with the head of the Malaysian delegation, the Deputy Secretary General (Environmental Sustainability) of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, Datuk Nor Yahati binti Awang, at the Malaysia Pavilion. They exchanged experience and views on carbon reduction strategies and low carbon green transition. Mr Tse also met with the Acting Group CEO of the Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation, Mr Saiful Adib Bin Abdul Munaff, and the Secretary General of ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, Mr Gino Van Begin, respectively. They exchanged experience and views on various topics, including addressing climate change, sustainable development and strengthening city-to-city collaborations.
 
     Mr Tse will leave today (November 13, Belém time) and arrive at Hong Kong on November 15.

Source:

To Shalveen Chand

Editor Samoa Observer newspaper

12th November 2025.

Re- SAMOA GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: STRENGTHENING SAMOA’S HEALTH SYSTEM BEYOND SHORT-TERM SUPPLY CHALLENGES

From: Hon. Vaaaoao Alofipo -Minister of Health

The Samoa Observer editorial 11 November 2025 titled “Building hospitals when the medicine cabinet is empty” raises legitimate public concern about the availability of medicines and supplies across our health facilities.

As Minister of Health, I wish to assure the people of Samoa that while the challenges highlighted are real, the overall picture is far more complex and actively being addressed through coordinated national reforms, not neglect.

Understanding the Global and Regional Context

The shortage of medical supplies is not unique to Samoa. Across the Pacific, small island nations have faced major disruptions in global shipping, rising freight costs, and pharmaceutical manufacturing delays since the COVID-19 pandemic. Samoa’s medical supply chain relies on international procurement cycles coordinated through global suppliers — primarily from New Zealand, Australia, and Asia — which are still recovering from post-pandemic bottlenecks.

In 2025, global shortages affected several essential medicines, laboratory reagents, and diagnostic consumables. These disruptions were beyond our borders but directly impacted our local stock levels. The Ministry acted swiftly by activating emergency procurement measures, reallocating supplies to priority hospitals, and engaging new supplier networks to ensure critical services remained operational.

Investment in Health Infrastructure is an Investment in Service Delivery

The suggestion that Samoa is “building hospitals when the medicine cabinet is empty” misrepresents the purpose and timing of current government investments. Infrastructure development — such as the new district hospitals, renovation of local health centers, and the forthcoming biomedical warehouse — is part of a 10-year strategy to strengthen Samoa’s health system from the ground up.

Modern hospitals are not merely buildings; they are designed with upgraded pharmacy storage, cold-chain capacity, diagnostic labs, and digital tracking systems that directly address the very shortages raised. Without this investment, our health services would remain constrained by outdated infrastructure that cannot support reliable inventory and logistics management.

Tackling the Root Causes of Medicine Shortages

In 2024, Cabinet approved reforms to modernize the National Pharmaceutical Supply Chain under the Health Sector Resilience Program. This includes:

• A digital inventory system linking the National Health Service and Ministry of Health for real-time stock visibility.

• Establishment of a Pharmaceutical Procurement Committee to streamline tender processes and reduce procurement delays.

• A strategic buffer stock policy ensuring at least three months of essential medicines in reserve.

• Enhanced regional procurement cooperation with the Pacific Community (SPC) and WHO for bulk purchasing and cost efficiency.

These measures are already reducing stock-outs and will ensure better forecasting and accountability moving forward.

Supporting Frontline Workers and Patient Care

We acknowledge the frustration experienced by patients and health staff when supplies are delayed. The Ministry has reinforced communication lines between hospitals, health centers, and pharmacies to ensure that temporary shortages are reported and mitigated early. We have also prioritized training for pharmacy and logistics officers, improved customs clearance processes for urgent shipments, and established an emergency medical fund for rapid replenishment of life-saving drugs.

Partnerships and Accountability

Health is everyone’s responsibility — government, suppliers, professionals, and the public. The Ministry continues to work closely with our development partners including the WHO, UNDP, and donor governments to secure reliable supply lines and technical support. The ongoing independent audit of the health supply chain — requested by Cabinet — will also ensure transparency and accountability in how resources are managed.

Moving Forward

The government’s health investments are not cosmetic projects. They are a deliberate and forward-looking strategy to secure Samoa’s health system for the next generation. We are building facilities that will house better-equipped pharmacies, laboratories, and staff who can deliver high-quality care — with the assurance that medicine shortages will become the exception, not the rule.

To the people of Samoa: your government hears your concerns, acknowledges the difficulties, and is acting decisively. The journey to health resilience is not without setbacks, but the foundation we are laying today will ensure that no Samoan is left without access to essential healthcare tomorrow.

Ma le faaaloalo tele

Vaaaoao Alofipo

Minister of Health

November 13, 2025

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

November 12, 2025 
No. 464 

At a regular press conference on November 12, a spokesperson of China’s Taiwan Affairs Office stated that Taiwan could only participate in next year’s APEC activities as a regional economy under the so-called “one China principle.” China will serve as the host economy for APEC in 2026.
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) emphasizes that this statement is a serious departure from the facts concerning Taiwan’s APEC involvement, not only exposing China’s malicious intention to suppress and undermine Taiwan’s equal participation in APEC but also disrupting harmony within the organization.
 
Taiwan formally became a full member economy of APEC in 1991 under the name Chinese Taipei through the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) of accession with that year’s host economy, the Republic of Korea. The text of the MOU, which did not refer to any “one China principle,” made clear that Taiwan would participate in APEC meetings and activities with other member economies on an equal basis.
 
It is also understood that in the MOU signed in relation to China’s accession to the organization, APEC only took note of China’s so-called “one China principle” and its position that there is a distinction between sovereign states and regional economies. APEC did not express agreement with or acceptance of such a stance.
 
Furthermore, all APEC member economies, including China, unanimously supported the inclusion of the following text in joint ministerial statements issued following APEC Ministerial Meetings this year and in 2024: “We attach great importance to APEC’s continued cooperation in the spirit of multilateralism, on the basis of consensus with all members participating on an equal footing in all its events, including Leaders’ Week, in accordance with the Guidelines for Hosting APEC Meetings and Relevant APEC Conventions.”
 
During last year’s APEC Economic Leaders’ Week, China’s APEC senior official sent a letter to all APEC member economies extending explicit assurances that “participants meeting APEC delegates requirements and conducting APEC cooperation and responsibilities will be facilitated smooth and safe participation in APEC meetings, including entry and exit facilitation.”
 
MOFA reiterates that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is a sovereign and independent state, that neither the ROC (Taiwan) nor the People’s Republic of China is subordinate to the other, and that the PRC has never ruled Taiwan. These are internationally accepted, objective facts and the status quo. China has no right to comment on or interfere in the sovereign actions of other nations. Its use of the so-called “one China principle” to undermine Taiwan’s participation and status is a grave violation of the core principle of APEC member economies participating on an equal basis.
 
MOFA firmly demands that China carry out its duties as APEC host economy satisfactorily; fulfill its commitments properly in accordance with APEC guidelines, standards, and practices; and guarantee Taiwanese participants equal, dignified, and safe involvement in next year’s APEC meetings and activities. Taiwan will not accept any political maneuvers aimed at undermining or excluding its participation and will work with like-minded partners to oppose such moves. (E)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region