MIL Asia Pacific Publishing Engine

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

The Bureau of Industrial Parks (BIP) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) held a press conference on April 20, 2026 to present the phased achievements and future plans of of BIP’s childcare policy initiatives within industrial parks. BIP stated that a total of seven educational and childcare facilities, comprising 21 classes nationwide, have been established to provide educational services for 416 children, continuously optimizing family-friendly childcare support within industrial parks. In addition, plans are underway to establish a public infant care center in the Nanzih Technology Industrial Parks, which is expected to provide capacity for 60 infants and toddlers aged 0 to 2. This initiative aims to gradually build a comprehensive childcare service system spanning from infancy to preschool age, helping enterprises center more attractive working environments while demonstrating the government’s commitment to the “National Childcare Policy for Ages 0-6.”
The BIP noted that the industrial parks under its jurisdiction represent a major hub for Taiwan’s manufacturing sector and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), hosting more than 13,000 companies with an annual production value reaching NT$10 trillion and generating over 730,000 employment opportunities. In response to ongoing labor shortages and increasing operational pressures faced by businesses, the BIP has partnered with the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Education to promote childcare facilities and supportive measures. Currently, two non-profit preschools and five workplace mutual-support childcare service centers receive operational subsidies from the Ministry of Education to ensure service quality and stable supply. In terms of fees, monthly tuition is capped at NT$2,000 for the first child, NT$1,000 for the second child, and free of charge for the third child and beyond. Extend daycare services and year-round operation without winter and summer effectively address the demand of double-income families. Furthermore, in2025, the BIP successfully secured NT$22.82 million funding to establish an approximately 736.6 square meter childcare facility in the Nanzih Park, which is expected to be completed and officially operational by 2027.
On the policy front, the government is also introducing several flexible childcare measures. Beginning in 2026, employees will be allowed to apply for unpaid parental leave on a daily basis, while family care leave will be calculated by the hour, thereby increasing flexibility for workers caring for their families. At the same time, through the “Enterprise Childcare 333” initiative, incentives for companies to establish childcare facilities and provide childcare subsidies will be extended. Employers may receive subsidies for up to NT$10,000 per employee annually, with the overall subsidy ceiling for each enterprise increased to NT$1 million, encouraging more businesses to invest in family-friendly workplace environments.
In addition, the BIP is incorporating childcare facility assessments into future industrial park development projects, including the planned industrial parks in Zhongpu, Shuishang, Xinshi, and Northern Kaohsiung, thereby strengthening childcare infrastructure from the planning stage onward. In addition, the BIP is incorporating childcare facility assessments into future through cross-ministerial collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the BIP seeks to progressively integrate infant care and preschool education resources, align with corporate participation and ESG development trends, and enhance the overall In addition, the Administration is incorporating childcare facility assessments into futureThrough cross-ministerial collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Administration seeks to progressively integrate infant care and preschool education resources, align with corporate participation and ESG development trends, and enhance the overall quality and talent attractiveness of Taiwan’s industrial environment.
The BIP emphasized that, as childcare capacity continues to expand and supporting systems are gradually put in place, industrial parks will continue advancing toward a development model that balances employment and family needs. Moving forward, the BIP will continue assessing the needs of individual industrial parks, dynamically adjusting childcare resource allocation, and working together with enterprises to create a more comprehensive childcare support environment, thereby strengthening workforce stability and the long-term foundation of industrial development.

Spokesman: Mr. Liu Chi-Chuan (Deputy Director General, BIP)
Contact Number: 886-7-3613349, 0911363680
Email: lcc12@bip.gov.tw

Contact Person: Hsu, Chung-Li (Director of Environment and Labor Affairs Section, BIP)
Contact Number: 886-7-3611212 #401
Email: iamidno @bip.gov.tw

Source: Government of Singapore

Higher risk of transboundary haze affecting Singapore

29 May 2026 – The Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) has forecast El Niño¹ conditions to develop in June to July 2026. A positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)² is also predicted to develop in the second half of the year. Both climate phenomena are expected to bring warmer and drier conditions to Singapore and the surrounding region from June to October 2026, and this will increase the risk of transboundary haze affecting Singapore and the region.

High likelihood of El Niño 

2. According to MSS, there is high chance of an El Niño event occurring this year (more than 80 per cent chance). This assessment is supported by the presence of key precursors, including warmer sub-surface ocean temperatures in the eastern tropical Pacific. El Niño’s influence on Singapore’s climate is expected to be felt once the event becomes established.

3. El Niño events tend to have the greatest influence on Singapore’s rainfall during the Southwest Monsoon season from June to September, increasing the chance of dry conditions. During the last strong El Niño event in 2015/2016, Singapore’s total rainfall from June to September 2015 was about 35 per cent below the long-term average. 

4. El Niño events also bring warmer temperatures to Singapore. Impact to temperatures is the highest during the period the El Niño event weakens, which is typically in March to May the year following the start of the event. During the decay of the last strong El Niño event in 2016, average temperatures in March – May were 29.2 degrees Celsius or 1.0 degree Celsius above the long-term average for that period (Singapore’s second warmest March – May on record). 2016 remains one of Singapore hottest years on record, tied with 2019 and 2024.

5. At this juncture, there is considerable uncertainty in the predicted strength of the El Niño. The strength of the El Niño event is more likely to be moderate when it starts, with the potential to become strong during the latter part of the Southwest Monsoon season (August to September). 

Potential Positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)

6. Besides El Niño, the IOD is another climate phenomenon that can influence the weather around the tropical Indian Ocean. Most numerical models from global climate centres predict that a positive IOD may develop in July to August 2026. Singapore and our surrounding regions tend to experience drier conditions as sea surface temperatures in the eastern Indian Ocean are cooler, resulting in less cloud formation. Singapore’s driest year on record occurred in 1997 when both El Niño and positive IOD events occurred. 

Risk of Transboundary Haze

7. The Southwest Monsoon period between June and September is the usual dry season for the surrounding region. As drier and warmer conditions are conducive to the development of peatland and vegetation fires, the hotspot and smoke haze situation in the surrounding region could escalate from June 2026, particularly in fire-prone areas. If fires develop in close proximity and prevailing south-easterly to south-westerly winds blow smoke haze from the fires towards Singapore, there is a risk of transboundary haze affecting Singapore. With an expected El Niño and potential positive IOD, the dry season this year could be more intense and prolonged compared to recent years , and extend into October.

8. MSS will continue to closely monitor the development of El Niño and IOD as well as the regional weather and haze situation and provide updates when necessary. Updates on haze and the El Niño are available on the MSS website at https://www.weather.gov.sg/warning-haze-information/ and https://www.weather.gov.sg/climate-el-la/. 

Haze Preparedness

9. The 28 government agencies under the Haze Task Force (HTF), chaired by the National Environment Agency (NEA), are ready to roll out their respective action plans should the air quality be impacted by transboundary haze. Members of the public should refer to the 1-hour PM2.5 concentration as an indicator of current air quality, and the 1-hour PM2.5 associated personal guide when planning outdoor or strenuous activities over the next few hours. The 1-hour PM2.5 concentration level can be volatile and fluctuate throughout the day based on weather conditions, particularly during periods of transboundary haze. For planning of next day activities, members of the public are advised to refer to the 24-hour PSI and accompanying health advisories. In addition, it is also advised that air purifiers at home be checked to ensure that they are in proper working condition. More details can be found in NEA’s advisories which are available on the NEA website, myENV app, and the haze microsite. When a haze episode is imminent, NEA will provide haze forecasts through the aforementioned sites. Follow NEA’s Facebook and X (@NEAsg) for the latest updates.

10. With warmer temperatures typically associated with El Niño conditions in Singapore, members of the public may also refer to the MSS heat stress webpage at https://www.weather.gov.sg/heat-stress and the myENV app for the latest information on heat stress conditions.

¹_{El Niño is a naturally occurring climate pattern associated with changes in both the ocean and atmosphere in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, including an abnormal warming of the surface waters in the eastern equatorial Pacific. Typically lasting nine to 12 months and occurring every three to five years, it produces widespread and at times severe changes in the global climate.}

²_{The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is similar to the El Niño but occurs in the equatorial Indian Ocean and of shorter duration, typically ending by December-January. The IOD varies between three phases – positive, negative and neutral.}

– End –

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

President of the Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong Wingco Lo will accompany Chief Executive John Lee on an upcoming delegation to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The visit will evaluate local business conditions, investment policies and industrial support to facilitate the entry of Hong Kong enterprises into the Central Asian market.

Highlighting the importance of the region, Mr Lo noted that Central Asian countries are key members of the Belt & Road Initiative and represent fast-growing economies.

“We want to have a strong connection with Central Asia in the future,” he said. “We want to identify business opportunities by visiting local enterprises and infrastructure projects. We can better understand the latest developments in areas such as innovation, technology, manufacturing, green development and trade. This will help our Hong Kong businesses access and explore more opportunities there.”

While Mr Lo acknowledged that Hong Kong’s current trade volume with Central Asia remains lower than that of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Middle East, both regarded as leading emerging markets, he emphasised that the region’s accelerating opening-up process gives it significant market potential and strategic importance.

“The gross domestic product growth each year is over 6% or 7%,” he observed. “It is a very important logistics hub in Central Asia, especially with the direct railway from China to Europe, which must pass through the region. Furthermore, the local markets are on the rise. They have huge populations, which provides an advantage for our retail sectors. They also have low-cost labour and a sufficient, young workforce, which will help our manufacturers to settle there.”

Regarding the composition of the delegation, Mr Lo noted that the inclusion of Mainland enterprises enables a collaborative strategy for overseas expansion. By leveraging the existing local networks of Mainland firms to accelerate market entry, and utilising Hong Kong’s high-value supply chain management and professional services to support their international growth, both sides can achieve a win-win outcome.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Federation of Hong Kong Industries Chairman Antony Lam, who will be part of a Chief Executive-led delegation visiting Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan early next month, believes the trip will offer a good start to exploring the Central Asian market. 

Mr Lam said it provides an opportunity to learn more about the region’s economic development, as Hong Kong companies are relatively unfamiliar with Central Asian countries.

He also highlighted that Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are executing massive industrial upgrades and both boast enormous market potential. “This is a great opportunity for Hong Kong companies to participate in the development and the growth of Central Asian countries,” he said.

Mr Lam added that the Central Asian market is crucial for Hong Kong’s plan to become a commodities trading hub as both Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have substantial natural resources, such as minerals. The Federation of Hong Kong Industries has also established a Commodities Council dedicated to developing related trading activities.

Mr Lam hopes the federation can serve as a bridge to open up trade channels between Hong Kong and Central Asia. It has been seeking to establish partnerships with local companies, and many of its members have already invested in both Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in areas such as 3D printing technology for medical applications.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (May 28) that two samples of bottled mineral water were found to contain trace amount of Enterococci. The CFS is following up on the incident.

A spokesman for the CFS said, “Under its routine Food Surveillance Programme, the CFS collected bottled mineral water samples at retail level for microbiological testing, including tests for Escherichia coli, Coliform bacteria, Enterococci, Spore-forming sulphite-reducing anaerobes and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The test results showed that two samples of the individual batches of bottled mineral water below contained Enterococci at a level of one Colony Forming Unit in 250 millilitres, while all other tested parameters (Escherichia coli, coliform bacteria, Spore-forming sulphite-reducing anaerobes and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) were satisfactory (i.e. not detected).

According to the Microbiological Guidelines for Food, Enterococci shall not be tested presence in bottled natural mineral water. As a precautionary measure, the CFS has informed the retailers/distributors concerned to stop sales and remove from shelves the affected batches of the products below. The distributors concerned have also initiated voluntary recalls of the affected batches of the products concerned. Members of the public may call the respective hotlines below during office hours for enquiries about the recalls.

Product details are as follows:

Product name: Still Scottish Mountain Water
Brand: Marks & Spencer
Volume: 750ml
Best-before date: December 2026
Distributor: ALF Retail Hong Kong Limited
Hotline: 3656 2253

Product name: LOTTE ICIS Natural Mineral Water 8.0
Brand: Lotte
Volume: 2 litres
Best-before date: September 22, 2027
Distributor: Goldtop Century Ltd
Hotline: 2632 7373

Since January 2026, the CFS has collected 50 samples of bottled drinking water for testing. Apart from the two unsatisfactory samples mentioned above, all other samples passed the tests.

“Enterococci are a group of bacteria commonly found in the gastrointestinal tracts of humans and animals, generally posing a low risk to healthy individuals. However, certain strains may cause infections in immunocompromised individuals. Members of the public should stop consuming the affected batches of the natural mineral water. Anyone who feels unwell after consuming the products, such as experiencing symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or fever etc, should seek medical treatment,” a spokesman for the CFS said.

The CFS had alert the trade, and will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. An investigation is ongoing.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Police today (May 28) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Lantau South.

A man surnamed Chan, aged 51, went missing after he was last seen on Lantau Trail – Section 8 in Lantau South Country Park yesterday (May 27) morning. His family made a report to Police today.

He is about 1.7 metres tall, around 70 kilograms in weight and of medium build. He has a round face with yellow complexion and short black curly hair. He was last seen wearing a pair of glasses, white long-sleeved shirt, beige trousers, black shoes and carrying a black backpack.

Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of Kowloon West on 3661 8039 or 9020 6543 or email to rmpu-kw@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) and the Senior Citizen Home Safety Association (SCHSA) held a joint press conference today (May 28) to speak on the very hot weather and the latest developments of El Niño, and to advise the public to prepare for the very hot weather in summer.

The Acting Assistant Director of the HKO, Mr Choy Chun-wing, said, “Hong Kong’s weather has been persistently very hot over the past couple of days. Temperatures over many places rose to around 35 degrees this afternoon. Under the influence of an anticyclone aloft, it is expected that high temperatures will continue tomorrow (May 29) with extremely hot weather during the day. The maximum temperature in urban areas will rise to 35 degrees, while temperatures in the New Territories could reach 36 to 37 degrees. Members of the public should take adequate protective measures against the heat.” 

He further explained, “Since high temperatures may trigger convective development, there will be a few showers with isolated squally thunderstorms later tomorrow. A trough of low pressure is expected to bring showers and thunderstorms to the coast of southern China later tomorrow and on Saturday (May 30). There will still be a few showers on Sunday (May 31). Members of the public should beware of the change in weather. Under the influence of an easterly airstream and showers, high temperatures weather will be alleviated over the weekend.”
​
Mr Choy further elaborated on the latest developments of El Niño, explaining that the sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific are expected to continue rising and that an El Niño event will develop during summer and autumn. The event is forecast to persist at least until the end of this year or early next year, reaching moderate intensity or above, or potentially stronger, and the probability of a strong El Niño event is gradually rising. A stronger El Niño event typically increases the likelihood of above normal temperatures over different regions of the world. Therefore, under the combined effect of climate warming and a stronger El Niño, Hong Kong is expected to be hotter than normal this year and next year, with a significantly higher annual mean temperature. There will be a high chance of reaching the warmest top 10 on record this year. For this summer, the HKO expects that the mean temperature will be above normal. Members of the public are advised to prepare for the very hot weather in summer. Those who are more vulnerable to heat stroke should pay special attention to prevent discomfort caused by the heat.

The Chief Executive Officer of the SCHSA, Ms Maura Wong, said, “The elderly are more prone to heat exhaustion and heat stroke during the height of summer. In 2024, the Association conducted a telephone survey, which found that, on average, nearly one in four elderly persons had felt unwell due to the heat, experiencing symptoms such as dizziness and breathing difficulties. Last summer alone, the Association handled more than 7 700 emergency assistance cases requiring hospitalisation. The Association urges the elderly to take precautions against the heat during the height of summer, and carers should also take a more proactive role in looking after the elderly by providing timely care and support.”

For more information on protection against the heat, please visit the following websites:
 

• The HKO on precautions of the Very Hot Weather Warning (www.hko.gov.hk/en/wservice/warning/coldhot.htm); 
• The Department of Health “Beware of Heat Stroke” (www.chp.gov.hk/en/static/90064.html); 
• The Labour Department “Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work”(www.labour.gov.hk/eng/news/prevention_of_heat_stroke_at_work.htm); and
• The Home Affairs Department on temporary heat shelters (www.had.gov.hk/en/public_services/emergency_services/emergency.htm).

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Director General David Cheng-Wei Wu, together with all colleagues of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Sydney, warmly welcomed President Yi-Chen Lan of Fu Jen Catholic University and his large delegation to the TAASA 2026 Annual Meeting, where President Lan shared his experiences in university governance over the past two years and his vision for the future.
In his welcoming remarks, DG Wu described President Lan as “a pride of Sydney,” praising his successful leadership of Fu Jen Catholic University, which he said has become Taiwan’s equivalent of Australia’s prestigious Group of Eight universities. DG Wu also expressed special appreciation to TAASA President The Hon. Chris Rath MLC, Shadow Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, for attending the meeting during the parliamentary sitting period. He further thanked Mr Rath for supporting the bipartisan motion in the NSW Parliament opposing China’s distortion of UN Resolution 2758, making the NSW Parliament the first state parliament in the world to take such a position.
DG Wu also highlighted Taiwan’s indispensable role in global supply chains and noted that Taiwan is now Australia’s fourth-largest diesel import source, underscoring the importance of closer Taiwan–Australia cooperation. He added that TAASA continues to serve as an important platform for strengthening bilateral exchanges.
Hon. Chris Rath reflected on his two visits to Taiwan and emphasized the importance of cooperation between Taiwan and Australia as democratic partners. He praised Taiwan’s achievements in technology and healthcare, and stressed that Taiwan should be allowed to participate meaningfully in the WHO to contribute to the international community. He also welcomed the Fu Jen delegation and expressed hope for stronger Taiwan–Australia and Taiwan–NSW cooperation.
As keynote speaker, President Lan introduced Fu Jen Catholic University’s “GRACE” governance strategy, outlining the university’s holistic development in international education, outreach, research, and interdisciplinary collaboration. He reaffirmed Fu Jen’s commitment to becoming a leading university in Taiwan and globally through stronger international partnerships and cross-disciplinary engagement.
Special thanks were extended to TAASA members, Taiwanese-Australian academics, and President Lan and his delegation for their participation. We look forward to TAASA’s next inspiring event.