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Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Education Bureau (EDB) announced today (November 20) that the Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions/Sectors (SSSDP) will subsidise a total of 2 131 places in 32 sub-degree programmes of six post-secondary institutions for the cohort to be admitted in the 2026/27 academic year.
 
     These 32 designated sub-degree programmes fall under seven disciplines that have been identified as having keen manpower demand, namely architecture and engineering, computer science, creative industries, health care, sports and recreation, testing and certification, and tourism and hospitality. The programmes and number of subsidised places (see Annex) are determined by the EDB in consultation with relevant policy bureaux and departments.
 
     The annual subsidy amounts for the 2026/27 academic year will be at $40,730 for laboratory-based programmes and $23,390 for non-laboratory-based programmes. The subsidy amounts are applicable to both new and continuing eligible students. The subsidy is tenable for the normal duration of the programmes concerned. Subsidised students will pay a tuition fee with the subsidy applied. Students in need may still apply for student financial assistance from the Student Finance Office of the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency in respect of the actual amount of tuition fee payable.

     The SSSDP aims to subsidise students to pursue designated full-time locally accredited self-financing undergraduate and sub-degree programmes in selected disciplines with a view to nurturing talent for industries with keen human resource demand. The designated undergraduate programmes in the 2026/27 academic year, including the number of subsidised places and the subsidy amounts concerned, were announced on September 9.
 
     Students may apply directly to the relevant institutions for admission to the designated sub-degree programmes under the SSSDP. Details of the SSSDP are available on the EDB website (www.cspe.edu.hk/sssdp).

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Education Bureau today announced that it will subsidise 2,131 places on 32 sub-degree programmes at six post-secondary institutions in the cohort to be admitted in the 2026-27 academic year under the Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions/Sectors.

The 32 designated sub-degree programmes fall under seven disciplines identified as having keen demand for manpower. These are architecture and engineering; computer science; creative industries; healthcare; sports and recreation; testing and certification; and tourism and hospitality.

In the 2026-27 academic year, the annual subsidy amount for laboratory-based programmes will be $40,730, while that for non-laboratory-based programmes will be  $23,390.

The adjusted subsidy amounts are applicable to eligible new and continuing students.

For admission to the designated programmes, students can apply directly to the institutions.

The designated undergraduate programmes under the scheme for the 2026-27 academic year, including the number of subsidised places and the subsidy amounts, were announced on September 9.

Click here for details.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Financial Secretary Paul Chan, Secretary for Justice Paul Lam, and Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung visited government offices in Wan Chai today to call on civil servants to vote in the Legislative Council Election on December 7.

Mr Chan said that the election comes at critical juncture where the Government is fully committed to boosting the economy and driving development, and that it therefore important for the community to stay united and harness a stronger and broader force to propel Hong Kong forward.

He remarked that constructive interaction between the executive and the legislature will enable the city to achieve faster and better development, and that every vote cast is vital to building a better Hong Kong.

The Financial Secretary called on all residents, including civil servants, to actively participate in the upcoming election and to elect capable, aspiring and visionary candidates to work hand in hand with the Government to promote the city’s development.

For his part, Mr Lam said that every vote is crucial for determining the future direction of the city’s governance, its economic development, and the well-being of its people. He urged civil servants to also remind their family members and friends to vote in order to create a better Hong Kong.

Following a visit by Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki to departmental staff last week, departmental secretaries have visited various government departments to appeal to civil servants to vote in the election.

Mrs Yeung stated that the message for civil servants to vote has been clearly conveyed throughout a month of promotion and departmental visits.

She added that the feedback she has received from colleagues indicates that they fully recognise the importance of voting for the future and development of Hong Kong. 

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The CPC Central Committee Hong Kong & Macao Work Office and the State Council Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office have invited two members of the central authorities’ publicity delegation to speak at a seminar in Hong Kong about the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee.

The publicity delegation members are President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Hou Jianguo, and Deputy Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Financial & Economic Affairs and Deputy Director of the CPC Office of the Central Leading Group for Rural Affairs Zhu Weidong.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will host the seminar at the Central Government Offices on the morning of November 25 in order to promote the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session to people from various sectors of the community.

It said the “Recommendations of the CPC Central Committee for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for Economic & Social Development, adopted at the Fourth Plenary Session, provide a top-level strategic blueprint for the country’s development over the next five years and are of great significance to Hong Kong. It added that all citizens of Hong Kong should earnestly study and implement the session’s spirit.

The seminar will run from 9.30am to noon on November 25. Media will be invited to cover the event. In addition to a live broadcast on Radio Television Hong Kong TV 32, it will be streamed simultaneously on the RTHK website, the Information Services Department’s website, the news.gov.hk Facebook page, and the Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Bureau’s Facebook page.

The full version of the seminar will also be uploaded to the Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Bureau website.

The Hong Kong SAR Government said the seminar offers an invaluable opportunity for delegation members to speak in Hong Kong about the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session. It added that the public should grasp the opportunity to watch the seminar, study how to implement the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session, and grasp how the Recommendations for the 15th Five-Year Plan will lay a more solid foundation for the country’s realisation of socialist modernisation.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

President Lai attends opening of Google’s AI Infrastructure Engineering Center in Taiwan
On the morning of November 20, President Lai Ching-te attended a launch ceremony for Google’s AI Infrastructure Engineering Center in Taiwan. In remarks, President Lai affirmed that the center’s launch carries great significance for deepening cooperation between Taiwan and the United States, cultivating AI talent, and bolstering supply chain resilience. The president stated that facing the global AI wave, the government will continue to leverage Taiwan’s advantages by promoting the 10 new AI infrastructure initiatives. Taiwan’s goal, he said, is to create an output value over NT$15 trillion, 500,000 AI jobs, and establish three international-level AI laboratories by 2040, striving to make Taiwan an AI island.
A transcript of President Lai’s remarks follows:
I am delighted to join you all today to witness the official opening of Google’s AI infrastructure R&D center. On behalf of the government and people of Taiwan, I would like to express my sincere congratulations and gratitude to Google.
In recent years, Google opened two hardware R&D offices in Banqiao. And with its new AI infrastructure R&D center, the company is steadily building its confidence and commitment to long-term investment in Taiwan. This also allows the world to see that Taiwan is not only a vital part of the global technological supply chain, but also a key hub for building secure and trustworthy AI.
Taiwan has been able to become a crucial partner for Google because of two key factors:
First, Taiwan has an open democratic system. In indicators such as global bribery risk, investment environment risk, and corruption perceptions, Taiwan ranks among the top performers in Asia, making us a trustworthy partner for international enterprises.
Second, Taiwan holds a crucial strategic position in the Indo-Pacific. We also have a world-class semiconductor industry cluster, high-level R&D talent, and a sound system for intellectual property rights.
These factors make Taiwan an optimal base for developing integrated AI software and hardware.
Facing the global AI wave, our government will continue to leverage Taiwan’s advantages by promoting the 10 new AI infrastructure initiatives. This will help Taiwan build a full AI ecosystem across digital foundations, critical technologies, and smart applications.
Our goal is to create an output value over NT$15 trillion, 500,000 AI jobs, and establish three international-level AI laboratories by 2040, transforming Taiwan into a key node for global AI innovation.
We aim to make Taiwan one of the world’s top five computing centers, help all sectors adopt AI tools, and promote the application of AI across a range of fields, striving to make Taiwan an AI island.
Considering this national strategy, the opening of Google’s AI infrastructure R&D center today is highly significant. Going forward, this center will help cultivate Taiwan’s core AI talent, enabling Taiwanese engineers and researchers to innovate alongside the world, developing next-generation AI solutions together.
The center will also help cooperation between Google and Taiwanese industry grow even closer, enhancing the technical capabilities of Taiwan’s industries and cementing Taiwan’s leading position in the global AI supply chain.
I am confident that this center will help foster Taiwan-US industrial exchanges and bolster Taiwan’s economy. It will also give US industry a trustworthy R&D and supply base in Asia as AI competition ramps up globally, bolstering the security and resilience of critical technologies and supply chains.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Google for its efforts over the past few years helping Taiwan enhance network security and prevent cybersecurity threats, and working with our government to combat fraud and disinformation.
Moving ahead, Taiwan will continue to work with Google and like-minded partners around the world, striving to ensure that AI technology benefits all, while factoring in cybersecurity, privacy, and social trust.
Our government will also continue to build a stable, friendly, and innovative environment, promoting more diverse cross-domain collaboration, allowing enterprises to invest with confidence and global talent to apply their skills with peace of mind.
We want Taiwan to be more than a participant, but a leader in innovation and a key base for global AI development. Let’s work together to ensure that the world, by choosing Taiwan, embraces a new era of AI that is more trustworthy and more resilient.
To close, I wish Google’s AI infrastructure R&D center a successful launch, and everyone here good health and success in their endeavors. Thank you.
Following his remarks, President Lai took part in the launch ceremony with other distinguished guests in attendance for the event, including American Institute in Taiwan Taipei Office Director Raymond Greene.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Education Bureau said today that the performance of Primary 3, Primary 6 and Secondary 3 students participating in the three major subjects under the 2025 Territory-wide System Assessment (TSA) – namely Chinese Language, English Language, and Mathematics – remained generally steady.

The bureau said it had received the latest TSA report from the Hong Kong Examinations & Assessment Authority (HKEAA) and that the results are similar to those of previous assessments.

The bureau said it was pleased to note that schools generally agree that the TSA report provides useful insights into the ability and performance of students and helps schools to devise suitable curriculum plans teaching strategies.

At a later date, the HKEAA will directly provide primary and secondary schools with school-level data from the TSA.

With a view to supporting schools in making effective use of assessment data and information to enhance learning and teaching, the bureau will hold thematic seminars on “Promoting Assessment for Learning” in December with reference to the 2025 TSA report.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

In response to recent public attention on energy transition issues, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) stated that Taiwan launched the Second Energy Transition Policy in 2024. Through strategies such as “replacing coal with natural gas, promoting diversified green energy, introducing energy storage, and strengthening power grid resilience and deep energy saving,” the government aims to ensure a stable power supply while reducing carbon emissions and air pollution. The MOEA will continue to advance energy transition steadily through ongoing public communication.

The MOEA noted that Taiwan’s energy policy is consistent with international trends, continuously reducing dependence on coal and developing renewable energy. In 2024, coal-fired power generation accounted for 39%, lower than natural gas at 42%, while renewable energy reached 12%. Going forward, natural gas will serve as a bridging energy to replace high-carbon coal-fired power generation. The transition will be driven by diverse green energy and deep energy saving, supplemented by technological energy storage and enhanced grid resilience, progressing toward the 2030 power mix target of “50% natural gas, 30% renewable energy, and 20% coal.”

The MOEA emphasized that developing renewable energy is not only an international trend, but also a key factor in enhancing industrial competitiveness worldwide. During COP28, the European Union and the United States launched a joint initiative to triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030, to which 133 countries have responded, showing that renewable energy has become the mainstream of global net-zero transition. In addition, regarding advanced nuclear technologies such as Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), the government will continue to monitor international developments. If technologies become safer, nuclear waste issues are resolved, and a broad domestic consensus is reached, the government will not exclude any options that contribute to achieving the net-zero emissions goal.

While promoting the energy transition, the MOEA stressed that stable power supply remains at the core of policy implementation. In 2022, Taiwan Power Company (Taipower) launched a 10-year, NT$564.5 billion “Construction Plan for Enhancing Power Grid Resilience,” focusing on three major pillars: promoting distributed power grid projects, enhancing and fortifying power grid engineering, and enhancing system defense capabilities. The plan promotes the upgrade of the existing grid system and the reinforcement of the extra-high voltage grid to gradually achieve grid decentralization, improve equipment stability, and enhance the national grid’s capability to respond to unexpected incidents. In addition, Taipower is also implementing a Distribution System Upgrade Plan, continuously replacing substation and distribution line equipment and strengthening system resilience. Following these comprehensive improvements, nationwide power outage incidents have significantly decreased in recent years. In 2024, the number of distribution-related outage incidents dropped by more than 13,000 compared with 2012, a 65% reduction, demonstrating substantial progress in power supply stability.

The MOEA noted that, in response to the increasing share of natural gas in the future power mix, the government has established natural gas safety stock requirement, planning to gradually increase the current 11-day reserve to more than 14 days by 2027. Meanwhile, import stability will be ensured through diversified supply sources and medium-and-long-term contracts. Together with the development of renewable energy and energy storage, these measures aim to enhance system resilience and flexibility under extreme weather or unexpected events, thereby reducing energy supply risks.

Developing the green energy industry is a key foundation of Taiwan’s path toward net-zero emissions. In response to recent illegal interference in the industry, the MOEA and the Ministry of Justice has jointly established the “Liaison Platform for Combating Crimes against Green Energy Industry Development.” The platform has been operating effectively, all sectors are encouraged to report any relevant information immediately to facilitate investigation, so to jointly safeguard a healthy development environment for the green energy industry. Looking ahead, the government will continue to promote “stable power supply, carbon and pollution reduction, and energy security,” and work closely with all sectors of society to build a safe, sustainable, and resilient energy future.

Spokesperson for Energy Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs: Deputy Director General, Chih-Wei Wu
Contact Phone Number: 02-2775-7750, 0922-339-410
Email Address: cwwu@moeaea.gov.tw

Business Contact: Director, Fang-Ling Liao
Contact Phone Number: 02-2775-7710, 0912-089-923
Email Address: flliao@moeaea.gov.tw

Source: Government of Singapore

JOINT NEWS RELEASE BETWEEN NCCS, NEA, MSE AND MTI  

Singapore, 20 November 2025 – Singapore and Bhutan have launched an application call for carbon credit projects under their Implementation Agreement on carbon credits cooperation.  This is Singapore’s third call for project applications after similar agreements with Ghana and Peru.

2               Authorised projects will unlock additional carbon mitigation in Bhutan and advance both countries’ climate ambitions through targeted financing. These projects will promote sustainable development and benefit local communities through job creation, clean water access, improved energy security, and reduced environmental pollution

3               Authorised projects can generate carbon credits aligned with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. Under Singapore’s International Carbon Credit (ICC) Framework, these credits will be eligible for use by Singapore-based carbon tax-liable companies to offset up to 5% of their taxable emissions.

4               From 1 December 2025, interested parties may submit applications for their carbon credit projects in Bhutan to be authorised. Applications submitted will be reviewed by the Singapore and Bhutan governments.

Application and Authorisation Process

5               The application and authorisation process comprises three stages, each corresponding to a different stage of implementation for the carbon credit project (See Annex A). The first two stages require applicants to submit details on the design and implementation plan for the carbon credit project in the lead-up to project authorisation. The final stage is for corresponding adjustments to be applied to the carbon credits generated from the authorised project, in accordance with Article 6, Paragraph 2 of the Paris Agreement. Detailed steps on the application process can be found at Singapore’s Carbon Markets Cooperation website, at www.carbonmarkets-cooperation.gov.sg.

6               Singapore and Bhutan will assess applications against each country’s respective requirements. For Singapore, these projects must meet Singapore’s eligibility criteria for ICCs. The eligibility criteria, and the list of eligible carbon crediting programmes and methodologies under the Singapore-Bhutan Implementation Agreement, are at Annex B, and on the Carbon Markets Cooperation website.

 

Annex A: Flowchart of Application and Authorisation Process

Annex B: Singapore’s Eligibility Criteria and the Eligibility List under the Singapore-Bhutan Implementation Agreement

Annex C: Information on the Singapore-Bhutan Implementation Agreement

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