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Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) today (May 12) laid charges against a local coxswain and five Mainland fishermen deckhands suspected of engaging in fishing using snake cages on a local vessel in waters off Po Toi.

The AFCD recently noted that there was a fishing vessel engaging in illegal fishing using snake cages in the southeastern waters of Hong Kong and mounted a joint operation with the Police yesterday (May 11). During the joint operation, the Police intercepted a local vessel at around 10am suspected of engaging in fishing using snake cages. Some fishing gear, including snake cages and winches, was seized by the AFCD officers from the vessel. 

After an investigation, the six persons were charged with contravening the Fisheries Protection Ordinance (Cap. 171). They will appear at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (May 13).  

Only a vessel registered under the Ordinance can be used for fishing in Hong Kong waters and only the fishing methods listed on its Certificate of Registration of Local Fishing Vessel can be employed for fishing by the vessel. The conditions of the Certificate of Registration of Local Fishing Vessel regarding cage traps also stipulate that any collapsible cage traps should not be connected in any way to one another; or should not exceed 5 metres in any of its extended dimensions. Hence, it is unlawful to fish using snake cages. Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $100,000 and six months’ imprisonment upon conviction.

An AFCD spokesman stressed, “The Government is committed to combating illegal fishing activities in Hong Kong waters. The AFCD will continue to step up patrols and take stringent enforcement action.”

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     ​The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted an anti-illegal worker operation codenamed “Contribute” today (May 12). During the operation, ImmD officers raided two village houses in a housing estate in Tai Po District and a unit in an industrial building in Kwai Chung District. Five suspected illegal workers and one suspected employer were arrested. The arrested suspected illegal workers comprised five men, aged 33 to 45. They were found performing cementing, painting, plumbing and electrical duties. A man aged 30 was suspected of employing the illegal workers and was also arrested.

     ​An ImmD spokesman said, “Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years’ imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties.”

     The spokesman stressed that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years’ imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years’ imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.

     According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee’s identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker’s valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.

     Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) and/or forced labour victims. When any TIP and/or forced labour indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP and/or forced labour elements. Identified TIP and/or forced labour victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP and/or forced labour victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.

     For reporting illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 185 185, by fax at 2824 1166, email to anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit “Online Reporting of Immigration Offences” form at www.immd.gov.hk.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

President Lai addresses Copenhagen Democracy Summit 2026
On May 12, at the invitation of the Alliance of Democracies Foundation (AoD), President Lai Ching-te addressed the Copenhagen Democracy Summit 2026 via video.
In his remarks, President Lai said that no democracy can afford to stand on the sidelines in the face of expanding authoritarianism and underlined that only when democracies around the world stand together in unity can we build a more resilient line of defense for the free world. He thanked Taiwan’s democratic partners for speaking out with moral clarity, saying that each of these voices is a powerful deterrent to aggressors and that they form a sturdy shield in defense of shared values. He stated that Taiwan will continue enhancing its self-defense capabilities and working to maintain regional peace and stability. At the same time, he added, Taiwan will join other nations in strengthening whole-of-society defense resilience.
President Lai emphasized that Taiwan is a sovereign, independent nation; that the Taiwanese people have every right to engage with the international community, and they are more than capable of contributing to it. He further emphasized that no attempt to isolate Taiwan will alter its determination to participate in the international community. Rather, he noted, Taiwan will continue to be a force for good in the world and shine even brighter on the world stage.
A transcript of President Lai’s remarks follows:
First, I would like to thank Mr. Rasmussen once again for his kind invitation to represent the people of Taiwan at this year’s Copenhagen Democracy Summit, where friends who support the values of freedom, human rights, and democracy can stand together.
Today’s world stands at a critical inflection point in the tug-of-war between democracy and authoritarianism. In Europe, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific region, authoritarian regimes continue to consolidate. Through military intimidation, economic coercion, cyberattacks, and gray-zone operations, they are posing ever more serious challenges to global peace, stability, and democratic development.
Last month, I had planned to lead a delegation to visit Eswatini. However, we had to temporarily postpone the trip due to China’s coercive act of blocking normal flight routes. These actions let the global democratic community see, in no uncertain terms, that authoritarian regimes are seeking to impose their own rules upon the world. Further, it made clear that these regimes will not hesitate to break established international norms and use global aviation safety and order in civil aviation as leverage for political pressure.
These challenges remind us time and again: No democracy can afford to stand on the sidelines in the face of expanding authoritarianism. Only when democracies around the world stand together in unity, can we build a more resilient line of defense for the free world.
Holding a key position on the first island chain, Taiwan stands on the frontlines in the defense of democracy. And we are willing to share our experience in confronting authoritarian forces with the international community. On the issues of concern to this summit, whether it is strengthening defense resilience, safeguarding global free trade, or developing democracy-supporting technologies, Taiwan has the will and the ability to contribute even more to the world.
We will continue enhancing our self-defense capabilities and working to maintain regional peace and stability. At the same time, we will join other nations in strengthening whole-of-society defense resilience so that democracy, when tested, will become more than a belief. It will become a living force that can stabilize society and protect our way of life.
Taiwan’s world-leading semiconductor and AI industries have been built over decades through deep and enduring trust, forged in close cooperation with the US, Japan, Europe, and many other democratic partners. Going forward, Taiwan will continue to leverage its technological strengths and work with those partners to build trusted and more resilient democratic supply chains, which will contribute greatly to the security and prosperity of the global economy.
I have always believed that a stronger democratic Taiwan is what the people of Taiwan aspire to; and it is what the international community hopes for. So, I want to take this opportunity to express my deepest respect and gratitude to all the democratic partners who have chosen to stand with Taiwan, especially when under pressure.
I would like to thank the United States for helping us strengthen our defense capabilities as part of its unwavering commitment to security, and the EU and European nations for repeatedly reaffirming the importance of peace across the Taiwan Strait. I would also like to thank Japan, the Philippines, Australia, and our other Indo-Pacific partners for continuing to speak out with moral clarity in support of regional stability.
Every one of these voices is a powerful deterrent to aggressors, and they form a sturdy shield in defense of our shared values.
Democracy is one of the values that links Taiwan to the world, and it is Taiwan’s most precious asset. The people of Taiwan know very well that democracy is earned, not given. This year is the 30th anniversary of our first direct presidential election. Three decades ago, the people of Taiwan resolutely cast their votes, undaunted by the threat of missiles from China, and completed the first direct presidential election in our history. Ever since, we have continued to deepen democracy, advance transitional justice, and uphold human rights, the rule of law, and a diversity of values, making Taiwan an important beacon of democracy in Asia.
The people of Taiwan have never backed down in the face of mounting external challenges, and they will never bow to pressure. Taiwan is a sovereign, independent nation. The Taiwanese people have every right to engage with the international community, and they are more than capable of contributing to it. No attempt to isolate Taiwan will alter our determination to participate in the international community. Taiwan will continue to be a force for good in the world and shine even brighter on the world stage.
While we may encounter headwinds on the path of democracy, I believe that is precisely when democratic nations will grow stronger in solidarity. As long as we stand together, the light of freedom will never be extinguished. Let us defend democracy together. Let us ensure that the next generation can enjoy a world that is free and open; peaceful and prosperous. Thank you.
The host of the Copenhagen Democracy Summit, the AoD is an NGO founded in 2017 by Anders Fogh Rasmussen, former prime minister of Denmark and former North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) secretary general. The AoD held the inaugural Copenhagen Democracy Summit in 2018.
This year’s Copenhagen Democracy Summit, held on May 12 at the Royal Danish Playhouse, focused on the topics of strengthening defense resilience, safeguarding global free trade, developing democracy-supporting technologies, and bolstering support for frontline democratic nations. Attendees included Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, former Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, former US National Security Advisor John Bolton, and former Japanese Minister of Digital Affairs, Foreign Affairs, and Defense Kono Taro, along with academics, industry representatives, civil society organizations, and democracy advocates from the US, the United Kingdom, Canada, Denmark, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Sweden. 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

In view of the Mainland’s Labour Day Golden Week, the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) of the Home Affairs Department conducted an operation codenamed “Solar Flare” against suspected unlicensed hotels/guesthouses, as well as licensed hotels/guesthouses and club-houses suspected of being in breach of licensing conditions in Central and Western District and Yau Tsim Mong District from April 21 to May 5 to ensure the safety of customers as well as the general public.
           
A spokesman for the OLA said, “During the operation, the OLA carried out surprise inspections on 226 premises based on intelligence received, of which eight premises were suspected of operating unlicensed hotels/guesthouses, while two licensed guesthouses and two licensed club-houses were suspected of being in breach of licensing conditions.”

In view of the recent emergence of new forms of short-term accommodation services in the community, the OLA has also stepped up its inspection efforts since March 2026. In particular, surprise inspections were carried out on 11 Internet Computer Services Centres (commonly known as cyber cafes). Some of the cyber cafes were found to be suspected of providing overnight accommodation services. Evidence of suspected unlicensed guesthouse operations was collected, and the OLA will initiate prosecution against the relevant cases.
      
The spokesman stressed, “Operating unlicensed hotels/guesthouses is a criminal offence, and such an offence leads to a criminal record upon conviction. According to the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance, an offender is liable to three years’ imprisonment and a maximum fine of $500,000. A fine of $20,000 for each day can also be imposed during which the offence continues. A six-month closure order may also be issued for a hotel/guesthouse involved in a repeated offence. Moreover, a licensed hotel/guesthouse which contravenes any licensing conditions (e.g. carrying out alteration and addition works without seeking prior approval) is liable to a maximum fine of $100,000 and two years’ imprisonment. A fine of $10,000 for each day can also be imposed during which the offence continues.”

To enhance deterrence against unlicensed hotels and guesthouses, the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance was amended in 2020 to empower the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Authority to apply to the court, upon the second conviction within 16 months of operating an unlicensed hotel/guesthouse or the new strict liability offence in respect of the same premises, to issue a closure order to close the premises for six months. As at May 5, the OLA has applied for five closure orders under the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance from the court, of which three closure orders have been issued by the court.   

Apart from conducting special operations during festive seasons, the OLA also steps up efforts to combat unlicensed guesthouses via online platforms. The OLA has strengthened its intelligence collection by forming a dedicated team to browse webpages, mobile applications, social media, discussion forums, etc, to search for information and intelligence on suspected unlicensed guesthouses. The OLA’s law enforcement officers will initiate follow-up investigations when information on unlicensed guesthouses advertised via online platforms is found. The OLA also conducts publicity work on Internet search engines outside Hong Kong to enable tourists’ access to the information provided by the OLA in the course of planning their trips to Hong Kong.
      
Tourists and members of the public can make use of the search functions on the OLA’s website (www.hadla.gov.hk) to check whether the hotel/guesthouse concerned is licensed or not. Any suspected unlicensed hotel/guesthouse should be reported to the OLA by the hotline (Tel: 2881 7498), by email (hadlaenq@had.gov.hk), by fax (2504 5805), or through the mobile application “Hong Kong Licensed Hotels and Guesthouses”. 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

​Today (May 12) marks the annual International Nurses Day. Public hospitals of the Hospital Authority (HA) have recently organised various celebration activities to recognise and pay tribute to nursing colleagues for their unwavering dedication to safeguarding the public health. The HA also encourages colleagues to uphold and carry forward the spirit of Nightingale to provide high-quality and holistic care through professionalism and compassion.

The International Council of Nurses has designated May 12 as International Nurses Day every year, a day when nursing organisations around the world come together to discuss the future direction of the nursing profession. The HA has always placed great importance on the development of nursing profession. In addition to continually refining career pathways for the nursing staff, the HA also provides nursing colleagues with diverse training opportunities. The HA also attaches great importance to the well-being of nurses, and is committed to creating a supportive environment for their professional development.