MIL Asia Pacific Publishing Engine

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Committee on Education, Technology & Talents (CETT), chaired by Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki, today held the second engagement session with the Panel of Advisors to the CETT.

They exchanged views on strategies to enhance Hong Kong’s status as an international education hub during the session. The members supported the Government and local institutions in optimising campus facilities and accommodation.

They noted that such measures would leverage Hong Kong’s educational advantages and foster an inclusive learning environment to attract high-calibre non-local students.

Members also discussed ways to better promote the unique strengths of Hong Kong’s post-secondary and basic education.

Regarding Vocational and Professional Education and Training (VPET), the panel explored enhancing its attractiveness and social acceptance to strengthen VPET’s role in nurturing diverse talent and supporting the city’s socio-economic development.

The panel emphasised the importance of the Northern Metropolis University Town, suggesting that institutions deepen collaboration between industry, academic and research sectors. Members proposed introducing more branded programmes, research collaborations and exchanges to cultivate talent for the city’s economic growth, in line with the Northern Metropolis’ industry-driven and infrastructure-led development.

Mr Chan thanked members for their views, stating the Government will study them in detail. He added that the Government will maintain close co-operation with the panel to formulate strategies to establish Hong Kong as an international post-secondary education hub.

Secretary for Education Choi Yuk-lin, Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry Prof Sun Dong and Secretary for Labour & Welfare Chris Sun also attended the engagement session. 

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

On the morning of March 2, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation from the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA). In remarks, President Lai stated that as one of the world’s chipmaking hubs, Taiwan will continue to deepen cooperation within global supply chains and work with international partners to establish robust and trusted supply chain networks. The president stated that the cooperation and achievements of Taiwan and the United States in the semiconductor and high-tech sectors have long transcended mere industrial links; rather, they maintain a comprehensive strategic partnership dedicated to jointly safeguarding economic security, technological resilience, and democratic values. He expressed hope for bolstering bilateral cooperation in such areas as technical standards, talent cultivation, cybersecurity, and digital resilience so that together, Taiwan and the US can become the most trusted and resilient leaders of the AI era.
A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:
I warmly welcome the delegation from the SIA to Taiwan. I want to thank our esteemed guests for their longstanding regard and support for Taiwan-US semiconductor cooperation. In recent years, due to profound geopolitical shifts and the restructuring of global supply chains, the security and resilience of the semiconductor industry have become focal points of global concern. Taiwan and the US are like-minded democratic partners. Our cooperation and achievements in the semiconductor and high-tech sectors have long transcended mere industrial links. Indeed, we maintain a comprehensive strategic partnership dedicated to jointly safeguarding economic security, technological resilience, and democratic values.
Global semiconductor competition is intensifying. As one of the world’s chipmaking hubs, Taiwan will uphold the principles of pragmatism, openness, and mutual trust and continue to deepen collaboration with the US and other democratic friends and allies. Together, we can build more resilient and diversified non-red supply chains and establish a new model for cooperation in the fields of AI and advanced semiconductors that is mutually beneficial, complementary, and co-prosperous.
We were delighted that Taiwan and the US successfully completed the sixth annual Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue  in January this year. The scope of issues covered was not only the most diverse and comprehensive to date; the two sides also signed the Joint Statement on the Pax Silica Declaration and Taiwan-US Economic Security Cooperation , together committing to three major strategic directions: enhancing economic security, building up an innovation-driven economy, and fostering a prosperous future.  This not only set a milestone in Taiwan-US economic and trade relations but also laid a more institutionalized and strategic foundation for comprehensive cooperation in the semiconductor and high-tech industries.
Taiwan is home to the world’s densest and most comprehensive semiconductor ecosystem. Building on this, the government is actively promoting the 10 new AI infrastructure initiatives, which will cultivate 500,000 professionals by 2040 and bolster R&D in three key technological fields: silicon photonics, quantum technology, and robotics . We believe that fostering robust technological capacity will do much to facilitate an even closer cooperative relationship between Taiwan and the US.
At the same time, Taiwan will continue to deepen cooperation within global supply chains. The government will assist Taiwanese enterprises in expanding investment and R&D in the US, Japan, Europe, and Southeast Asia. Furthermore, through cross-border investment, R&D collaboration, and talent exchange, we will ensure that core technologies and R&D centers remain rooted in Taiwan, and we will work with international partners to establish robust and trusted supply chain networks .
I would like to take this opportunity to commend the SIA in particular for its longstanding commitment to promoting international semiconductor cooperation and driving industrial innovation. The association has played a proactive role in Taiwan-US cooperation and has publicly expressed support for Taiwan and the US promptly addressing the issue of double taxation. I look forward to our continued dialogue bolstering Taiwan-US cooperation in such areas as technical standards, talent cultivation, cybersecurity, and digital resilience. Together, we can become the most trusted and resilient leaders of the AI era. I also look forward to today’s meeting helping to build an even more secure, innovative, and prosperous future for Taiwan-US semiconductor cooperation.
SIA President and CEO John Neuffer  then delivered remarks, first thanking President Lai for his warm welcome and steadfast support for the semiconductor industries in Taiwan and the US. Emphasizing the importance of strong bilateral economic and trade ties for the semiconductor industry, he congratulated President Lai and his team on the recently concluded Taiwan-United States Agreement on Reciprocal Trade and memorandum of understanding on investment . President Neuffer expressed hope for the swift implementation of both agreements, which will establish a more stable and predictable environment for the semiconductor industry.
President Neuffer also emphasized the importance of strengthening global semiconductor supply chains and welcomed Taiwan’s endorsement of the Pax Silica Declaration. In closing, President Neuffer expressed his optimism regarding continued Taiwan-US semiconductor cooperation and expressed appreciation for Taiwan’s commitment to expanding investment in semiconductor production capacity in the US. 

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The independent committee probing the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po announced today that it will hold a first round of eight evidential hearings from March 19 to April 2.

The committee aims to clarify factual information through oral, written and other forms of evidence presented by witnesses. This will provide the basis for preparation of the committee’s report and recommendations.

Opening remarks from legal teams involved are expected to take a few days. The committee will then hear oral evidence from witnesses, including Wang Fuk Court residents.

A list of the exact witnesses who will be giving evidence at each hearing will be released  online in due course.

The public can pre-register for hearings that they wish to observe via the online system from 10am on March 5 to 10am on March 8.

The hearings will be conducted in Cantonese from 10am to 1pm and from 2.15pm to 4.30pm on March 19, 20, 24, 26, 30 and 31, and on April 1 and 2, at the Multi-purpose Hall, 3/F, City Gallery, 3 Edinburgh Place, Central. Simultaneous interpretation in Putonghua and English will be provided.

Some seats will be reserved for parties involved in the hearings, while a total of about 360 seats will be available for public observation in the main venue and two transmission areas. About half of the seats will be set aside for residents of Wang Fuk Court on a priority basis.

Successful registrants for the first round of hearings will receive a “Confirmation of Successful Registration”, by SMS and/or email, from the committee’s secretariat by March 17.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

On the morning of February 28, President Lai Ching-te attended the nation’s main memorial ceremony marking the 79th anniversary of the 228 Incident held in Kaohsiung, and on behalf of the nation, expressed deepest condolences and sympathy to all the victims and their families. Stating that the government will further implement transitional justice to prevent the recurrence of a historical tragedy like the 228 Incident, the president remarked that only by honestly facing history and pursuing the truth can we truly achieve social reconciliation and create a harmonious, public-spirited, and dignified nation. He said that only a democratic system where the people are sovereign can prevent the state apparatus from harming people again.
President Lai stated that as president, his greatest mission is to protect Taiwan. He said that he will promote unity among the ruling and opposition parties, and hopes that all citizens will jointly defend national sovereignty and uphold democracy to ensure our people’s right to determine their own future. The president expressed hope that through memorial ceremonies year after year, we can achieve mutual understanding across generations and unite in solidarity based on the truth to ensure that Taiwan’s democracy never reverses course.
A translation of the president’s remarks follows:
Today marks the 79th anniversary of the 228 Incident. The nation’s main memorial ceremony is specially being held in the plaza fronting the Kaohsiung Museum of History, a key site where army troops violently suppressed city residents that year. Together, we are commemorating the innocent victims of that dark era, and extending condolences to all their family members. Our hearts are forever as one, and we will always keep the victims in our hearts. 
Post-World War II, the 228 Incident is the most tragic event in Taiwan’s history. The incident was triggered on February 27, 1947, when armed agents from the National Government’s Monopoly Bureau conducting anti-smuggling operations hit and injured Ms. Lin Chiang-mai (林江邁), a cigarette vendor, with the butt of a gun. This aroused public anger and drew onlookers. When the anti-smuggling personnel fired warning shots into the crowd, they killed a civilian who stood up against the injustice. This public murder case involving government personnel sparked outrage among the citizens of Taipei. On the morning of the next day, February 28, four to five hundred people initiated a march and petition, storming the gates of the Provincial Executive Office, demanding that it severely punish the murderer. As a result, clashes between the police and civilians broke out, and students in Taipei began to boycott classes and march in the streets. In addition, Chen Yi (陳儀), who had been dispatched to Taiwan as chief executive and garrison commander, mishandled the situation, causing the unrest of February 28 to spread throughout Taiwan. Chen Yi later reported the situation to Nanjing leader Chiang Kai-shek. To maintain political stability, military reinforcements were urgently ordered to Taiwan, thus beginning large-scale violent suppression. In the early morning of May 20, 1949, martial law was also imposed, and remained in effect for 38 years. Under authoritarian rule, the 228 Incident became a longstanding taboo over the 40 years that followed it. Society was unable to know the truth, and the victims and their families continued to suffer injustice, living in the shadows. There was no discussion of overturning unjust verdicts – no one dared to even speak.
The 228 Incident was a tragic historical event where innocent people were persecuted by an alien regime; in itself, it was certainly not a democratic movement, nor was it related to colonial rule. However, the 228 Incident in combination with the White Terror of the martial law period did indeed drive the Taiwanese people’s democratic will for self-determination. It was not until 40 years later, in the 1980s, that the forces of democracy finally converged and achieved success, and civil society groups began to take action, including:
1. In March 1986, the Taiwan Association for Human Rights held a discussion on the 228 Incident, breaking the existing taboo. 2. On September 28, 1986, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was founded. Article 51 of the party’s action plan stipulates the goal of all party members pursuing the disclosure of the truth regarding the 228 Incident, and that February 28 be designated as Peace Day to eliminate prejudices based on provincial identity and promote social unity. This is also the origin of the government’s later establishment of the 228 Peace Memorial Day.
3. On February 15, 1987, in Tainan, hundreds of advocates for democracy including Mr. Cheng Nan-jung (鄭南榕), lawyer Stephen S.S. Lee (李勝雄), and Mr. Huang Chao-kai (黃昭凱) held the first march in all of Taiwan to overturn unjust verdicts related to the 228 Incident.
4. The year 1987 marked the 40th anniversary of the 228 Incident. The 228 Peace Day Promotion Association and the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan launched a movement to overturn unjust verdicts related to the 228 Incident, and called on the government and the public to face the scars of history and heal the wounds of the victims and their families.
5. On July 15, 1987, under the pressure of public opinion, the government finally lifted martial law after 38 years, the longest in the world at that time.
Thereafter, the 228 Incident was no longer taboo. The surviving victims and their families could open their hearts, talk about their inner suffering, and use their personal experiences to testify to that period of history.
In 2011 when she served as DPP chairperson, President Tsai Ing-wen published an article titled “A Letter for a Future 228.” In that article, she stated that there is no 228 Incident of the DPP, and there should be no 228 Incident of the Kuomintang. She wrote that there is only one 228 Incident in this world, and that is the 228 Incident of all of Taiwan; its historical truth should not change with the transfer of power between political parties. History clearly shows that since the party was founded, thanks to DPP predecessors’ links with civic groups and the general public, the party has accompanied the victims and their families through those stormy days. It also steadfastly promoted the complete re-election of the legislature and direct presidential elections, and the abolition of restrictions on political parties and the media as well as Article 100 of the Criminal Code, seeking 100 percent freedom of speech. Whether in opposition or in power, the pursuit of democracy and freedom and the protection of human rights have always been the DPP’s reason for being.
After martial law was lifted and political democracy was established, the government also began to take positive actions regarding the 228 Incident, including:
1. On March 9, 1983, authorities first published Mr. Yang Liang-kung (楊亮功)’s 228 investigation report of 1947. 
2. At the plenary session on February 27, 1990, the day before the anniversary of the 228 Incident, all members of the Legislative Yuan observed one minute of silence for the victims.
3. In 1992, the Executive Yuan released a research report on the 228 Incident, established a 228 Incident research group, and promoted the establishment of memorials including the 228 Peace Memorial Monument, 228 Peace Memorial Park, and the 228 Memorial Museum. On February 28, 2011, the National 228 Memorial Museum formally opened and began operations, marking a new milestone in the movement to overturn injustices related to the 228 Incident.
4. In 1995, the February 28 Incident Disposition and Compensation Act was promulgated, and the Executive Yuan established the Memorial Foundation of 228, which accepts applications for compensation and grants compensation funds regarding the 228 Incident.
5. In 1996, President Lee Teng-hui became the first president to publicly apologize for the 228 Incident. Subsequently, Presidents Chen Shui-bian, Ma Ying-jeou, Tsai Ing-wen, and I myself also apologized for the 228 Incident again on 228 Peace Memorial Day.
6. On December 5, 2017, the Legislative Yuan passed the third and final reading of the Act on Promoting Transitional Justice.
7. On March 15, 2018, the National Human Rights Museum was formally established, and on May 17 and 18 that same year, plaques were respectively unveiled at the Green Island White Terror Memorial Park and Jing-mei White Terror Memorial Park. The National Human Rights Museum was established to promote reflection on the history of human rights violations at the national level and further cultivate democracy and freedom.
8. On May 31, 2018, the Transitional Justice Commission was formally established to promote transitional justice work.
9. On September 9, 2023, President Tsai Ing-wen attended a joint ceremony for the redressing of state injustices and the presentation of certificates for restoration of reputation, personally presenting the certificates to political victims and their families from the White Terror and authoritarian rule period.
Last year, when I presided over the main 228 memorial ceremony for the first time, I announced three declarations:
First was that we will accelerate our work to make political archives available for public access and pursue the truth:
After taking office, I instructed the National Security Bureau (NSB) to manually re-inspect one by one approximately 1 million records at the bureau from the martial law period to determine which of those records qualify as political archives. After one year and four months of independent review, the NSB further identified and this month declassified over 50,000 political archives from the martial law period prior to 1992. Combined with the files the NSB began reviewing and transferring beginning in 2000, a total of more than 140,000 political archives have now been handed over to the National Development Council’s National Archives Administration, all fully accessible under the “no document withheld, no word redacted” principle, including documents directly or indirectly related to the murders at the Lin I-hsiung (林義雄) residence, which have all been fully declassified in this and previous reviews.
This is an important step for the government in pursuing the truth. But to be candid, I must report that regrettably, it was found after a thorough investigation that the archives regarding the Lin family murders from that year are incomplete, and even the oral accounts are not entirely true or accurate. In particular, from investigative reports by the Transitional Justice Commission and the Control Yuan, we can see that many pieces of evidence were systematically destroyed at that time, and the NSB and intelligence units deliberately obstructed judicial investigations, resulting in missed opportunities to solve the case. Therefore, these files must be further analyzed and researched before they can be utilized. Despite the Lin family home being under strict surveillance at the time of the murders, intelligence records were, shockingly, systematically destroyed during the party-state period.
Who is able to destroy records? Who is able to make intelligence agencies block judicial investigations? Only the ruling government has that kind of power. This highlights how the authoritarian government at the time used state violence to harm the people and create social panic. Even though much evidence has already been destroyed, the intervention of the state apparatus and the concealment of evidence and facts are truths that cannot be wiped away, and I believe everyone clearly understands that.
In the future, the Ministry of Education should implement the national action plan for transitional justice education. As Chairman Yang Chen-long (楊振隆) of the Memorial Foundation of 228 has said, local historical memory should be incorporated into school curricula so that the younger generation can understand Taiwan’s history and love this land from an early age. The Ministry of Culture should also take even more initiative to hold cultural activities related to transitional justice. This would allow more people to understand the course of Taiwan’s democratic development so that every Taiwanese person can tell their own story, sing their own song, and love their own country.
Second was that the government will further implement transitional justice:
Thanks to Chairman Yang’s leadership, the Restoration of Victim’s Rights Infringed by Illegal Acts of the State During the Period of Authoritarian Rule Foundation further issued over 1,500 certificates of restoration of reputation last year, hoping that the government will make every effort to deliver belated justice and fairness to the victims and their families. As for the locations where human rights violations occurred during the period of authoritarian rule, we thank the Ministry of Culture for launching the review process, as we hope to preserve even more locations of significance to transitional justice. This includes the site of the Lin family murders, presently the Gikong Presbyterian Church, which has already been designated as a location of significance to transitional justice this year to be preserved and maintained.
For some time now, I have seen many people visiting the Gikong Presbyterian Church, and I hope that more generations of Taiwanese will visit all the historical sites across the country, reflect on and consider the damage authoritarian rule has done to human rights and freedom, and work together to deepen Taiwan’s democratic development. I greatly admire what Chairman Yang said in his speech, that the families of the victims must move beyond their sorrow, transform their grief into strength, and deepen Taiwan’s democracy to prevent such events from happening again.
Third was to prevent a recurrence of any historical tragedy similar to the 228 Incident:
The 228 Incident teaches us that democracy has never been a gift that falls from the sky – it is a responsibility that every generation of Taiwanese must protect and guard with their very lives. Only by honestly facing history and pursuing the truth can we truly achieve social reconciliation and create a harmonious, public-spirited, and dignified nation. Therefore, the 228 memorial ceremony, as Pastor Tien Yung-jen (田永人) just mentioned, is held every year to remind us that history serves as a mirror to ensure that it does not happen again. However, we also clearly understand that preventing history from repeating itself can only be achieved under a democratic system where the people are sovereign, thereby preventing the state apparatus from harming people again.
In recent years, China has attempted to annex Taiwan by any and all means. As president, my greatest mission is to protect Taiwan. I will promote unity among the ruling and opposition parties, and I hope that all citizens will jointly defend national sovereignty, uphold democracy, and ensure our people’s right to determine their own future. Although peace is priceless, one must have ideals regarding peace, and cannot harbor illusions. Only peace backed by strength is true peace. Peace negotiation that relinquishes sovereignty to advance unification is not true peace, and will suppress democracy, harm human rights, and cause no end of trouble.
In closing, it is my heartfelt hope that through memorial ceremonies held year after year, we can achieve mutual understanding across generations and unite in solidarity based on the truth to ensure that Taiwan’s democracy never reverses course. Thank you.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Land Registry logged 7,924 sale and purchase agreements received for registration for all building units in February, a rise of 3.8% compared with January 2026 and up 84% year on year.

The total consideration for building unit sale and purchase agreements in February increased 8.6% from the previous month to $62.1 billion. This figure represented a 119.7% year-on-year increase.

A total of 6,669 agreements were for residential units, an increase of 17.6% from the previous month and a rise of 108.4% from a year ago.

The total consideration for residential units was $57.6 billion, up 17% compared with the previous month and a rise of 150.3% year on year.

There were 315,629 land register searches last month.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Innovation, Technology & Industry Bureau today announced that the Sandy Ridge Data Facility Cluster site, with a total area of over 110,000 sq m, has been awarded to Hong Kong Range Intelligent Computing Technology Company for developing into an advanced data facility cluster for data centres and related industries on a 50-year land grant at a premium of $581 million.

The bureau said the parent companies of the successful tenderer are Hong Kong Range Intelligent Computing Technology Development Company and Sengro Fusion Technology Hong Kong, with the ultimate holding company being Range Intelligent Computing Technology Group Company (the Group).

At a media session this afternoon, Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry Prof Sun Dong said the Group has extensive experience in developing high-tier data centres and has developed and operated high-tier data centres facilities and large-scale dataport projects in multiple cities on the Mainland.

The site is located at Lot No. 953 in Demarcation District No. 89 at Sandy Ridge, North District, New Territories.

The bureau pointed out that a two-envelope approach was adopted in the tender assessment to enable a comprehensive evaluation of both non-premium and premium proposals with a view to selecting the proposal that best unleashes the site’s potential.

In the tender evaluation, a weighting of 70% was allocated to the non-premium proposal, and 30% to the premium proposal. The tender must comply with the requirements on both non-premium and premium aspects as specified in the tender documents.

The bureau said one tender was received. The Tender Assessment Panel assessed the tender in accordance with the criteria set out in the tender documents and confirmed the successful tenderer met the requirements in both the non-premium and the premium proposals.

The premium proposal of the tender is $581 million and the successful tenderer expects to commence operations within 42 months, with an estimated cumulative investment of $23.8 billion from the development to the operation in the first three years.

Other key aspects of the cluster to be developed by the successful tenderer include having 88% of the floor area among the 250,000 sq m-total gross floor area dedicated to high-tier data centre use.

In addition, the site is estimated to generate an economic output of about $4.6 billion and create around 180 skilled positions in the first three years of operation.

The site will also significantly expand Hong Kong’s digital and computing power infrastructure, with an expected provision of 180,000 peta-floating point operations per second computing power by 2032, equivalent to 36 times the current computing power in the city.

The enhanced computing power will accelerate the development of the artificial intelligence (AI) industry, promote scientific breakthroughs, and drive the widespread application of AI technology in industry and society.

Prof Sun made it clear that the Government will closely monitor the project’s progress according to the service deed to ensure that the tender commitments are delivered as scheduled and with the required quality.

Meanwhile, the bureau noted that the cluster will provide crucial support for the development of AI in Hong Kong with essential elements such as data and computing power, deepening Hong Kong’s leading advantage in regional digital infrastructure and cross-boundary data flow, promoting the development of the digital economy and smart city as well as making an active contribution to the country’s high-quality development and the “AI+” initiative.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Hong Kong Talent Engage’s (HKTE) Global Talent Summit Week will be held in mid-March, including the International Talent Forum and the CareerConnect Expo, to further highlight Hong Kong’s role and advantages as an international talent hub and the country’s gateway for talent.

Secretary for Labour & Welfare Chris Sun stated that at a pivotal moment of rapid transformation in the global talent ecosystem, the event aims to explore forward-looking perspectives on talent development, policies and opportunities, while aligning with the country’s development, thereby building Hong Kong into an international hub for high-calibre talent.

The key activities, the International Talent Forum and the CareerConnect Expo, will be held on March 18 and 19.

The forum, under the theme “Connecting Global Minds”, will bring together top leaders from government, business and academia from Hong Kong and abroad to discuss future trends and strategies in the manpower landscape. The opening day of the forum will feature a keynote speech by Prof Christopher A Pissarides, the 2010 Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences.

The two-day expo will feature thematic zones and bring together about 70 large enterprises, education and technology institutions, and government departments, enabling participants with the latest industry insights and diversified support services.

This year’s event connects international, Chinese Mainland and local partners to co-organise a week-long series of nine satellite events on talent and human resources, including regional conferences, recruitment fairs and corporate award ceremonies.

During the period, HKTE will sign a collaboration agreement with Junior Chamber International to deepen international promotional co-operation and tell good stories of Hong Kong.

Participation in the forum will be by invitation only. HKTE will arrange live broadcasting.

The expo will be held from 10am to 5.30pm at the Convention & Exhibition Centre, with free admission. Participants can pre-register online.