Advice on slope safety accepted

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Civil Engineering & Development Department today welcomed the Office of the Ombudsman’s commendation on the department’s efforts in implementing the Landslip Prevention & Mitigation Programme and regulating slope safety. It also accepted the Ombudsman’s recommendations.

The department’s statement came after the Ombudsman issued a report on the direct investigation into the Government’s work on landslide prevention and mitigation and management of government slopes.

In a press release, the department highlighted the notable results of its ongoing prevention and mitigation efforts: the annual average number of incidents decreased by nearly one-third, from about 300 incidents (1989-2014) to approximately 214 incidents (2015-2024).

Responding to the Ombudsman’s concerns about higher landslide rates and repeated incidents on government slopes, the department clarified that these figures stem from the way slopes are categorised by potential impact, which reflects the Government’s risk-management approach.

Government-maintained, man-made slopes are diverse and carry varied risks. They are categorized mainly by the potential for loss of life in a landslide (“relatively high”, “medium” and “relatively low” potential impacts). To ensure public safety, the Government prioritises prevention works on slopes that pose a higher risk.

Government slopes categorized with medium or relatively low potential impact categories may not receive immediate priority due to their remote locations or lower risk to human life. As such, landslides may still occur on these slopes within acceptable risk-controlled parameters.

In contrast, private man-made slopes are more uniform in nature. Most are located near private residences, where a landslide would have a significant impact on residents. Consequently, they are typically categorised as having relatively high potential impact and receive a higher level of attention.

Between 2020 and 2024, the annual landslide incident rates for both government and private man-made slopes remained below 1%, which the department stressed is a very low level.

The department added that it will continue to strengthen its overall capability in responding to landslide risks with respect to preparedness, early warning, emergency response and recovery.

Dématérialisation de la chaine comptable et financière : un gain d’efficacité et de fluidité

Source: Gouvernement de la Nouvelle-Caledonie

Les membres du gouvernement Christopher Gygès et Petelo Sao, respectivement chargés du budget et de la transformation numérique de l’administration, ont participé à la signature de deux conventions de dématérialisation de la chaîne comptable et financière. L’une pour l’Institut de formation à l’administration publique (IFAP) et l’autre pour l’Agence rurale (AR). Ce projet s’inscrit dans une série de réformes visant à moderniser et à simplifier l’administration dans le cadre du Plan d’évolution de l’administration de la Nouvelle-Calédonie (PEA).

La dématérialisation : un des nombreux chantiers du PEA

Depuis plusieurs mois et afin de répondre aux objectifs du Plan d’évolution de l’administration (PEA), la direction du Budget et des affaires financières (DBAF), en étroite collaboration avec la direction du Numérique et de la modernisation (DINUM), ont lancé un chantier de dématérialisation de la chaîne comptable et financière des directions et établissements publics de la Nouvelle-Calédonie.

Cette évolution vise notamment à accroître l’efficience de l’exécution budgétaire en simplifiant les procédures et en favorisant la mutualisation des ressources humaines et techniques. Plus largement, elle constitue une étape clé vers une administration plus agile, réactive et mieux équipée pour satisfaire les exigences croissantes en matière de performance, de contrôle et de qualité de service.

« Concrètement, ce sont environ 100 000 feuilles de papiers envoyées par tous les établissements chaque année qui seront remplacées par des flux dématérialisés de fichiers transmis via un protocole sécurisé au comptable public, a indiqué Samuel Martinet, chef de projet à la DBAF. Cela représente une énorme économie de papier, une meilleure vitesse de traitement et d’archivage, avec derrière, de meilleurs contrôles et un meilleur délai de paiement ».

Ce projet est cofinancé par l’État via son programme de soutien à l’investissement (SAI) à hauteur de 42 millions de francs.

La Nouvelle-Calédonie se donne trois ans pour mettre en œuvre ce nouveau projet sur l’ensemble des institutions, des directions et des établissements publics.

Deux établissements pilotes : l’IFAP et l’Agence rurale

Fin novembre 2025, deux établissements pilotes ont entamé leur dématérialisation de la chaine comptable et financière : l’Institut de formation à l’administration publique (IFAP) et l’Agence rurale (AR).

Pour ces établissements, la dématérialisation concerne :

  • les pièces comptables : bordereaux, titres de recettes, titres en annulation, mandats de dépenses et mandats d’annulation ;
  • les pièces justificatives : toutes les pièces, autre que les pièces comptables, nécessaires à l’exécution budgétaire et comptable et qui sont télétransmises par l’ordonnateur au comptable public ;
  • les pièces justifiant des versements effectués par les régisseurs de recettes.

Une évolution qui permettra, au quotidien, d’accélérer, de simplifier et de fluidifier le travail et les circuits de décision, ainsi que de réduire les délais de paiement, grâce à une administration sans papier. C’est aussi permettre aux services et aux établissements d’être plus efficaces, plus collaboratifs et de bénéficier de processus plus sécurisés.

« Ce projet a représenté un travail important pour les équipes, qui ont été bien accompagnées par les directions du gouvernement, a précisé Laure Virapin, directrice de l’Agence Rurale. L’Agence rurale traite environ 5 000 mandats par an avec des pièces jointes. Cette dématérialisation nous apportera beaucoup plus de confort et une plus grande fluidité ».

De nouveaux procédés qui facilitent également le travail de la CTC NC : « Historiquement, nous recevons toutes les liasses papier des comptables que nous traitons et stockons. Cette dématérialisation est donc un gain en termes de place, de charge et de temps de travail, mais aussi de risque physique pour le personnel qui manipule ces liasses. Pour les techniques de contrôle, la numérisation permettra de remonter et descendre plus facilement la piste d’audit et ainsi proposer des contrôles de meilleure qualité », a affirmé Florence Bonnafoux, présidente de la CTC NC.

Des conventions pour sécuriser les actes liés à la dématérialisation

Compte tenu notamment de l’utilisation de certains logiciels nécessaires à cette dématérialisation, une convention tripartite a été signée pour chaque établissement concerné entre :

  • l’établissement public (IFAP ou AR) ;
  • la Trésorerie des établissements publics de la Nouvelle-Calédonie (TREPUNC) ;
  • la Chambre territoriale des comptes de la Nouvelle-Calédonie (CTC NC).

Elle a pour objet de définir :

  • les modalités organisationnelles et techniques des échanges dématérialisés des différents documents de la chaîne comptable et financière ;
  • les normes techniques à respecter par tous les acteurs.

Des points essentiels afin de s’assurer de l’efficacité de la solution mais également de sécuriser les échanges et l’usage des bordereaux dématérialisés assortis d’une signature électronique. « Concernant la cycbersécurité, nous sommes alignés sur les protocoles nationaux de Bercy et sur les standards européens pour le système de signature électronique », a assuré Samuel Martinet.

Les prochaines étapes du projet

La prochaine étape du projet de dématérialisation consistera, en 2026, à étendre la dématérialisation à l’ensemble des établissements publics utilisant le Système unifié de reporting financier (SURFI).

Puis, en 2027,  l’ensemble des directions et services du gouvernement devraient eux aussi franchir le pas et ainsi ne plus utiliser de papier dans leurs opérations de gestion comptable. Une évolution majeure pour l’avenir de l’administration calédonienne, qui sera accompagnée par la DBAF et la DINUM.

Winter flu season approaches

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Department of Health’s Centre for Health Protection today announced that the summer influenza season has concluded. With the winter flu season approaching, the centre strongly urged the public to receive the seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV).

The centre’s Controller Edwin Tsui said the latest surveillance data shows that the percentage of respiratory specimens that tested positive for seasonal influenza viruses during the most recent week was 4.08%, while the flu admission rate in public hospitals was 0.23 cases per 10,000 population.

As both indicators have dropped below the baseline levels, the centre confirmed that the summer influenza season has ended.

Hong Kong entered the summer influenza season in September last year and it lasted about four months. The predominant virus circulating during this seasonal flu season was the influenza A (H3) virus strain.

Dr Tsui said that this summer flu season has ended, meaning there was no overlap between the summer and winter influenza seasons.

Furthermore, although there are some antigenic differences between the currently circulating influenza A (H3) virus strain and the virus strain contained in the vaccine, an SIV can still offer protection against the variant strain of subclade K, as well as the influenza A (H1) and influenza B strains included in the vaccine.

As of January 4, over 1.91 million doses of the influenza vaccine were administered under various SIV programmes in the year 2025-26, representing an increase of approximately 4.4% compared with the same period in the previous flu vaccination season.

Regarding schools, vaccination rates among schoolchildren in different age groups are two to 10 percentage points higher compared to the same period last year.

Dr Tsui noted that the SIV coverage rate for children aged six months to under two years is only about 22%. Although this represents an approximate five percentage point increase compared to the same period last year, it is still much lower than that of other age groups.

Through the Primary Healthcare Commission, the centre has urged family doctors to assist in encouraging parents to arrange for their children to receive an SIV.

Seat belt essential from Jan 25

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government today reminded members of the public that, starting from January 25, all seated passengers on public transport and in commercial vehicles must wear seat belts.

In addition, drivers of all vehicles must not place more than two mobile telecommunications devices (MTDs) in front of themselves during driving.

Under new rules, all passenger seats on public and private buses, all rear passenger seats on private light buses and goods vehicles, and all driver seats and passenger seats on special purpose vehicles must be equipped with seat belts if the vehicles are first registered on or after January 25.

Drivers and passengers occupying seats of these types of vehicles, whether newly registered or not, will be required to wear seat belts if they are provided.

Going forward, offending vehicle owners, drivers or passengers will all be liable to a maximum fine of $5,000 and imprisonment for up to three months.

The Government said that around 3,500 franchised buses are now equipped with seat belts, representing about 60% of the entire fleet in Hong Kong.

As for the MTD requirement, from January 25 drivers must have more than two devices – whether mobile phones, tablet computers or laptop computers – in front of them as they drive.

The diagonal length of individual screens must not exceed 19 cm, and MTDs must not obstruct a driver’s view of the road or of any device fitted for viewing roads.

Offenders will be liable to a maximum fine of $2,000.

Call 2804 2600 for details.

2025 – a hot and stormy year

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) said today that 2025 is the city’s sixth warmest year on record, while globally it is expected to rank as the second or third warmest, according to a preliminary assessment from the World Meteorological Organization.

All 12 months last year were warmer than usual in the city, with the monthly mean temperature in October setting a new record, the HKO said.

The annual mean maximum temperature of 27.1 degrees Celsius and the annual mean minimum temperature of 22.4 degrees Celsius were the fifth highest and sixth highest respectively since records began in 1884.

The lowest temperature recorded at the HKO last year was 10.6 degrees Celsius on January 27. There was a total of six cold days, 9.2 days less than the normal for the 1991-2020 period.

It was also the first time that no cold weather warning was in force in November or December since the Cold Weather Warning System began operation in 1999.

In the first half of 2025, the accumulated rainfall was 444.4mm – the fifth lowest amount on record for the period. However, from July to September, periods of heavy rain brought the total rainfall for the year to 2,558.7mm, about 5% more than the 1991-2020 normal of 2,431.2mm.

The concentrated rainfall in the July to September span contributed more than 80% of the total annual rainfall. Sixteen Red Rainstorm Warning Signals and five Black Rainstorm Warning Signals were issued, the highest annual numbers on record.

The HKO issued 14 tropical cyclone warning signals in 2025, more than double the annual long-term average of six. It was the highest annual number since 1946.

The Hurricane Signal No. 10 was issued twice in 2025 – during Typhoon Wipha in July and Super Typhoon Ragasa in September – tying the previous record in 1964, the HKO  added.

MOFA strongly condemns false narrative regarding Taiwan published by Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA strongly condemns false narrative regarding Taiwan published by Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

Date:2026-01-07
Data Source:Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs

January 7, 2026 No. 009In a statement on current developments concerning the “Taiwan issue” published on December 31, the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said that Taiwan was an inalienable part of China’s territory; that Cambodia considered issues related to Taiwan an internal affair of the People’s Republic of China (PRC); and that it supported China’s effort to achieve “national reunification” while opposing any form of “Taiwan independence.” Such false and absurd claims gravely contradict reality.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of the Republic of China (Taiwan) deeply regrets the Cambodian government’s submission to China’s authoritarian actions at the end of 2025, when China conducted military exercises around Taiwan, and strongly condemns Cambodia for disseminating absurd remarks that denigrate Taiwan’s sovereignty.MOFA reiterates that neither the ROC (Taiwan) nor the PRC is subordinate to the other; that the Chinese Communist Party has never governed Taiwan; and that no country has the right or power to deny the objective fact of Taiwan’s existence. MOFA calls on Cambodia to stop disregarding reality, blindly following China, and endorsing intentionally aggressive rhetoric or deeds that undermine regional peace and stability.MOFA emphasizes that Taiwan is willing to cooperate with all nations that support freedom, democracy, and human rights. Taiwan will work with such nations to constrain the expansion of authoritarianism, safeguard peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and maintain freedom and stability throughout the Indo-Pacific region. (E)

MOFA welcomes statement by Global Affairs Canada expressing concern over China’s large-scale military exercises around Taiwan

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA welcomes statement by Global Affairs Canada expressing concern over China’s large-scale military exercises around Taiwan

Date:2026-01-02
Data Source:Department of North American Affairs

January 2, 2026  
No. 005  

In a statement posted on its official X account—Foreign Policy CAN—on January 2, Global Affairs Canada expressed the country’s concern over China’s recent large-scale military exercises around Taiwan. Adding to the concerns expressed in recent days by the United States, Japan, the European Union, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, and other countries, the statement by Canada once again demonstrates the democratic community’s clear position in support of maintaining the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung expresses sincere appreciation for Canada’s statement.
 
Entitled “Statement on China’s decision to undertake large-scale military drills around Taiwan,” Global Affairs Canada’s statement said that Canada opposed any unilateral attempts to change the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. It added that the Taiwan Strait was indispensable to the security and prosperity of the international community and that it was in the interest of all parties to maintain the peaceful and accessible nature of this waterway.
 
Minister Lin appreciates and thanks the Canadian government for conveying concern over China’s military actions, which have heightened cross-strait tensions. The expression of concern showcases Canada’s firm stance on maintaining the cross-strait status quo and demonstrates that upholding peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is the international consensus and a key interest for all concerned. The United Nations Charter clearly prohibits the threat or use of force in the settlement of disputes. This principle applies equally to the waters of the Taiwan Strait and those along the first island chain. 
 
Taiwan will continue to work with Canada and other like-minded countries to safeguard the rules-based international order and jointly advance global and regional peace, stability, and prosperity. (E)

The year’s weather 2025 – a stormy 2025

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The year’s weather 2025 – a stormy 2025 
     Sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific were near normal from January through October 2025, then lingered between below normal and near normal in November and December 2025.
 
     In Hong Kong, with all 12 months warmer than usual, including the record-breaking monthly mean temperature in October, 2025 was the sixth warmest year on record, with the annual mean temperature reaching 24.3 degrees, 0.8 degrees above the 1991-2020 normal (Note 1). The annual mean maximum temperature of 27.1 degrees and the annual mean minimum temperature of 22.4 degrees were respectively one of the fifth highest and one of the sixth highest since records began in 1884. There were 53 very hot days (Note 2) and 54 hot nights (Note 3) in Hong Kong in 2025, both ranking the third highest on record. There were also four extremely hot days (Note 4), ranking one of the fifth highest on record.
 
     The lowest temperature recorded at the Observatory in the year was 10.6 degrees on January 27. The number of cold days (Note 5) in the year was six days, 9.2 days less than the 1991-2020 normal. Moreover, this was also the first time that no Cold Weather Warning was in force in November and December in a year since the Cold Weather Warning System commenced operation in 1999.
  
     While the accumulated rainfall recorded in the first half of the year was only 444.4 millimetres, the fifth lowest on record for the same period, with outbreaks of heavy rain during July to September, the annual total rainfall in 2025 was 2 558.7 millimetres, about 5 per cent above the 1991-2020 normal of 2 431.2 millimetres. The rainfall was concentrated during July to September, and the total rainfall during these three months contributed more than 80 per cent of the annual rainfall. There were 16 Red Rainstorm Warnings and five Black Rainstorm Warnings, breaking the respective highest annual numbers on record. The number of days with thunderstorms reported in Hong Kong was 37 days in 2025, 5.3 days less than the 1991-2020 normal.
 
     With the relative humidity well below normal in the first half of the year and in November, the annual mean relative humidity of 73 per cent in 2025 was 5 per cent below the normal of 78 per cent and on par with 1963 as one of the lowest on record since 1947. The low humidity in 2025 is mainly attributed to the drier-than-usual northeast monsoon over southern China from January to April and in November. The stronger-than-normal and more westward extending subtropical ridge in May and June, which suppressed the precipitation in Hong Kong, also contributed to the relatively drier weather in these two months.
 
     A total of 35 tropical cyclones occurred over the western North Pacific and the South China Sea in 2025, more than the long-term (1961-2020) average of about 30. There were 14 tropical cyclones reaching typhoon intensity (Note 6) or above during the year, similar to the long-term average of about 15, and five of them reached super typhoon intensity (with maximum 10-minute wind speed of 185 kilometres/h or above near the centre). In Hong Kong, 14 tropical cyclones necessitated the issuance of tropical cyclone warning signals, more than double the long-term average of about six in a year, the highest annual number since 1946. The Hurricane Signal No. 10 was issued twice in the year during the passages of Typhoon Wipha in July and Super Typhoon Ragasa in September, tying the previous record in 1964. The No. 8 Gale or Storm Signal was issued during the passage of Severe Tropical Storm Tapah in September
     The record-breaking number of tropical cyclones affecting Hong Kong in the year is mainly attributed to higher-than-normal sea surface temperature over the western North Pacific and the more westward extending subtropical ridge during the summer and autumn, which favoured the tropical cyclones over the western North Pacific and the South China Sea moving towards the northern part of the South China Sea, increasing the chance that they would affect the coast of southern China, including Hong Kong.
 
     Detailed description of the weather for individual months is available on the Monthly Weather Summary webpage: 
www.weather.gov.hk/en/wxinfo/pastwx/mws/mws.htm 
     A detailed version of the year’s weather for 2025 with some significant weather events in Hong Kong is available at: 
www.weather.gov.hk/en/wxinfo/pastwx/ywx.htm 
Note 1: Climatological normals for the reference period of 1961-1990, 1971-2000, 1981-2010 and 1991-2020 are available at:
www.weather.gov.hk/en/cis/normal.htmNote 2: “Very hot day” refers to the condition with the daily maximum temperature equal to or higher than 33.0 degrees.
Note 3: “Hot night” refers to the condition with the daily minimum temperature equal to or higher than 28.0 degrees.
Note 4: “Extremely hot day” refers to the condition with the daily maximum temperature equal to or higher than 35.0 degrees.
Note 5: “Cold day” refers to the condition with the daily minimum temperature equal to or lower than 12.0 degrees.
Note 6: Information on the classification of Tropical Cyclones is available at:
www.weather.gov.hk/en/informtc/class.htmIssued at HKT 15:30

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Government posts notices for creation of rights of temporary occupation of land for construction of Northern Link Main Line

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Government posts notices for creation of rights of temporary occupation of land for construction of Northern Link Main Line      
     Three private lots will be temporarily occupied until January 11, 2030, starting from the expiry of a three-month period from the date of affixing the notices (i.e. April 9, 2026). The Government will closely liaise with the relevant land owners and affected parties, and properly handle their compensation matters.
      
     The Government executed the Part 1 Project Agreement of the NOL Project (comprising both the NOL Main Line and the NOL Spur Line) with the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) in July 2025 to commence works on the NOL Main Line that are more ready and time-critical. The Government also required the MTRCL to carry out the detailed planning and design of the NOL Spur Line including relevant statutory procedures in parallel. The NOL Main Line will become the public transportation backbone for multiple new development areas in the Northern Metropolis and connect the existing Tuen Ma Line and East Rail Line, forming a railway loop linking the New Territories and the Kowloon urban area. This will substantially enhance the coverage and resilience of the railway network and also unleash the development potential of the Northern Metropolis. The NOL Spur Line, as a cross-boundary bifurcation of the NOL Project, would connect the metro networks of Hong Kong and Shenzhen, offering both local commuting functions within Hong Kong as well as cross-boundary railway services.
Issued at HKT 12:08

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