MIL Asia Pacific Publishing Engine

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Health Bureau announced today that as of December 23, out of the 79 patients admitted to the Hospital Authority’s (HA) hospitals following the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, 65 had already recovered and were discharged, while the remaining 14 are in stable condition.

All individuals injured in the fire and admitted to public hospitals will receive full fee waivers for all necessary healthcare services throughout the entire process of their treatment and rehabilitation, the bureau added.

Moreover, till December 31, all residents including foreign domestic helpers of the eight blocks at Wang Fuk Court are eligible for full medical fee waivers for a number of the HA’s services. As of December 23, the HA has provided such services to around 1,600 affected residents.

Separately, the bureau introduced a free family doctor service scheme and free Chinese medicine consultation services earlier this month, in order to support the residents’ primary healthcare needs. As of December 23, more than 300 private family doctors have participated, with 57 affected residents having been arranged to receive free consultations. Meanwhile, more than 360 Chinese medicine practitioners have participated, and 16 residents have been arranged to receive the services.

On December 23, free denture replacement services were also launched, with over 80 private dentists participating, covering 106 service points.

District Health Centres/District Health Centre Expresses across all 18 districts in Hong Kong have set up hotlines to provide personalised case management services for affected residents. The support includes pairing the residents with free medical consultation services, and co-ordinating arrangements for follow-up appointments with the HA. As of December 23, the hotlines have received over 176 enquiries.

Regarding mental health services, the bureau announced that from the time of the Tai Po blaze to December 23, the 18111 Mental Health Support Hotline has received over 8,300 calls, around 660 of which were related to the fire. The WhatsApp service has handled 420 messages, with about 50 of them concerning the fire.

The HA’s 24-hour Mental Health Direct hotline has received 89 calls related to the blaze, with 31 of them coming from affected citizens.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today expressed opposition to the unfounded comments by so-called “human rights experts” after the Hong Kong SAR court had convicted Lai Chee-ying, in strict accordance with the law and evidence, of offences of endangering national security.

In a statement, the Government said these “human rights experts” had entirely no respect for the court’s independent judgment of the case, refused to acknowledge the evidence set out in the reasons for verdict, and refused to understand the court’s considerations and the reasons for verdict. Instead, they wantonly launched attacks, slandered and attacked the Hong Kong SAR Government, with despicable political manipulations to demand the immediate release of Lai Chee-ying, overriding the rule of law with politics and confounding right and wrong.

Any suggestion that certain individuals or organisations should be immune from legal consequences for their illegal acts is no different from advocating a special privilege to break the law, and this totally runs contrary to the spirit of the rule of law, the Government stressed.

Moreover, it said the “experts” conflated the criminal acts in this case with freedom of speech and of the press, with the purpose of misleading the public and defaming Hong Kong, pointing out that the Lai Chee-ying case has nothing to do with freedom of speech and of the press at all, and remarked that the defendants, over the years, were using journalism as a guise to commit acts that brought harm to China and Hong Kong.

The Government further noted that the public trial of the Lai Chee-ying case revealed his hands-on control of Apple Daily’s editorial direction. Lai Chee-ying had repeatedly and personally colluded with foreign forces, begging for sanctions and hostile actions against the central authorities and the Hong Kong SAR Government. The court also clearly pointed out that Lai Chee-ying’s only intent, whether pre or post-Hong Kong National Security Law, was to seek the downfall of the Communist Party of China, even though the ultimate cost was the sacrifice of the interests of the people of the People’s Republic of China and the Hong Kong SAR.

Anyone who vilifies the rule of law and human rights situation in Hong Kong using this case is fact-twisting and has no integrity at all, the Government stated.

It urged the so-called “human rights experts” should understand the facts clearly and stop making any unfounded criticisms.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The General Assembly of the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) has decided to establish its Asia-Pacific Liaison Office in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

The office is expected to open in the second half of 2026, marking the first regional presence of UNIDROIT outside its seat in Rome in its 100-year history.

Secretary for Justice Paul Lam said UNIDROIT or its members could have decided to set up the office in any of the member states as there are numerous choices, but ultimately it decided to set up the office in Hong Kong which is a very significant vote of confidence in the city.

“The decision to set up the Asia-Pacific Liaison Office is a very important move to enhance the level of our co-operation, which is of critical importance in enhancing Hong Kong’s status as an international legal service centre.”

Hong Kong has already housed the Hague Conference on Private International Law Regional Office for Asia & the Pacific and the Department of Justice Project Office for Collaboration with United Nations Commission on International Trade Law.

Also, the International Organization for Mediation has its headquarters in the city.

Mr Lam believes that this will help solidify Hong Kong’s position as an international legal hub.

“If more and more international organisations are willing to do the same, by agreeing to have some sort of physical presence in Hong Kong, that would imply that more and more people are willing to cast their vote of confidence in Hong Kong.

“Having regard to its status and function as an international legal service centre, that naturally will enhance Hong Kong’s reputation in this respect, it will attract more people to come here to participate in different types of activities.

“It is just sort of a snowball effect. Hopefully it can enhance Hong Kong’s reputation. It can attract more people to come to Hong Kong to use our legal service.

“I think in the long run, this is a very significant development and I am very confident that this would help to reinforce Hong Kong’s position as a genuine international legal service and dispute resolution services centre.”

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Fire Services Department started a two-day citywide special fire safety inspection and enforcement operation yesterday on commercial buildings with a high fire risk to ensure public safety. 

In regulating the fire safety of licensed premises such as restaurants, the department specified relevant fire safety requirements to licence applicants and conducted inspections to ensure the premises complied with fire safety standards.

Inadequate management of buildings and individual premises may give rise to potential fire hazards, such as smoke stop doors being wedged open, means of escape obstructed or locked, the depositing of combustible articles in the means of escape, or fire service installation or equipment (FSIs) not in efficient working order.

Anticipating a significant increase in the number of people visiting commercial buildings with a higher number of licensed premises, the department targeted 132 such commercial buildings in its special fire safety inspection and enforcement operation.

A total of 376 fire hazard abatement notices were issued for various fire hazards, and 53 prosecutions were initiated.

Among the buildings, 57 were suspected of lacking annual inspections for FSIs which the department has followed up in a serious manner.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Donations received by the Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po stand at about $3.8 billion and together with the $300 million in startup capital from the Government, bring the total to about $4.1 billion to assist residents in rebuilding their homes and providing long-term and sustained support.

Regarding accommodation support, as of this morning, 490 residents are staying in hotel rooms through the co-ordination of the Home & Youth Affairs Bureau, and 551 residents are staying in youth hostels/camps. Another 3,590 residents are living in transitional housing units provided by the Housing Bureau, the Housing Society or Po Tin Interim Housing in Tuen Mun.

On the Government’s online platform for donated supplies, about 2,000 registrations have been received. Over 51,000 donated items have been distributed.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Health Bureau said it received the report from the Medical Council of Hong Kong on improving its complaint handling mechanism today.

Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau said that healthcare professions uphold professional autonomy premised on the trust of members of the public.

He pointed out that as the statutory regulatory body of the medical profession, the council is empowered under the Medical Registration Ordinance to handle registration and disciplinary matters of medical practitioners, and bears the main responsibility to uphold the professional standard and ethical conduct of doctors.

Members of the council must actively discharge their duties and fulfil their mission of ensuring justice, maintaining professionalism and protecting the public, with a view to maintaining public trust in the medical profession.

Prof Lo noted that the bureau is examining the council’s report in detail and will request the council to provide clarifications and further information regarding its content, including the council’s monitoring mechanism over the progress of the Preliminary Investigation Committee and Inquiry Panel in handling complaints, as well as their respective roles in monitoring case progress.

He added that if the council raises any comment on the performance of its secretary in providing administrative support, the Department of Health will conduct an investigation based on the content of the council’s report, including whether to commence disciplinary proceedings against individual staff members. The Government will announce the next phase of work at an appropriate juncture.

The bureau will introduce amendments to the ordinance in response to the recommendations of the report and based on the operational need of the council, targeting to introduce an amendment bill into the Legislative Council in the first half of next year.

The bureau will begin consultation work with the sector and stakeholders next month on amending the ordinance and enhancing the council’s complaint handling mechanism and will meet with stakeholders such as professional organisations and patient groups to listen to their views.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

The building was not just a key landmark in that era; its architectural integrity allowed the main structure to survive the Taipei Air Raid of May 1945, despite serious damage to its front left side. After repairs, the building continued to serve as the seat of political power in Taiwan. In 1946, to celebrate the 60th birthday of then-President Chiang Kai-shek, it underwent an extensive renovation and was renamed Chieh Shou Hall (“Chieh Shou” means “Long live Chiang Kai­-shek” in Mandarin).
The Office of the Governor-General was built in a late-Renaissance style that was influenced by the English architect Norman Shaw and is sometimes referred to as “the Tatsuno specifications.” The facade consists of many classical elements, including colonnades, gables, arched windows, oeil-de-boeuf windows, brackets, Roman columns, and compound columns.
The Republic of China was founded on the principles of democracy and freedom. After trials and challenges, these values ultimately took root and have flourished in Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu. Today, the 23 million people of the country serve as the navigators of this “Ark of Democracy,” collectively guiding the nation forward with stability and purpose.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Financial Services & the Treasury Bureau, together with the Securities & Futures Commission (SFC), published the consultation conclusions today on the legislative proposals for establishing licensing regimes for virtual asset (VA) dealing and custodian service providers.

During the consultation, 101 and 93 submissions were received on the proposed licensing regimes for VA dealing service providers and VA custodian service providers, with the majority of respondents expressing support for expanding the regulatory scope to cover VA dealing and custodian services, following the introduction of the licensing regime for the VA trading platform in June 2023.

The respondents also indicated support for the overall direction of the proposed regulatory requirements and implementation arrangements, while suggesting enhancements and seeking clarification on certain aspects.

The proposed licensing regime for virtual asset dealing service providers will largely align with that for Type 1 (dealing in securities) regulated activity under the Securities & Futures Ordinance, as applicable to conventional securities dealing activities.

As for VA custodian service providers, the proposed licensing regime will focus on managing risks relating to safekeeping private keys of client VAs in Hong Kong to enhance client assets’ security.

Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui said: “The proposed establishment of licensing regimes for VA dealing and custodian service providers marks a significant step in enhancing our legal framework for digital assets.”

“The proposed licensing regimes strike a prudent balance among fostering market development, managing risks and protecting investors. They will realise our vision for building a trusted and sustainable digital asset ecosystem, with a view to establishing Hong Kong as a global hub for digital asset innovation,” he added.

SFC Chief Executive Officer Julia Leung supplemented: “The significant progress in our VA regulatory framework ensures Hong Kong remains at the global forefront of digital asset market developments by fostering a trusted, competitive and sustainable ecosystem.”

In response to the feedback received, the bureau and the SFC launched a further public consultation on establishing separate licensing regimes for virtual asset advisory and management service providers.

The revised regulatory approach will model itself on the regulatory framework applicable to the conventional securities market, and provide better clarity concerning the scope of activities regulated under different VA licensing regimes.

The further consultation on the legislative regulation proposal has been uploaded onto the bureau’s website.

Views can be submitted by email or by post to the Financial Services & the Treasury Bureau, 24/F, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar by January 23, 2026.

The legislative proposals for the licensing regimes will be finalised with a target for the bill to be introduced into the Legislative Council in 2026.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

President Lai presides over sixth meeting of Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee
On the afternoon of December 23, President Lai Ching-te presided over the sixth meeting of the Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee. President Lai stated that the spirit of Taiwan is a spirit of unity. In the face of major natural disasters and an ongoing ratcheting up of threats by China against Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific region, the president remarked that Taiwan will continue gathering together its forces – both central and local, public and private. He added that it will continue integrating systems, policies, and resources to ensure the government and society can work in close coordination. The aim, he stated, is to build up societal resilience more broadly and comprehensively. He also encouraged citizens to take an active part in civil defense work and help to strengthen Taiwan’s ability to respond with resilience to challenges.
The president emphasized that Taiwan intends to vigorously develop its defense industry and strengthen its national defense capabilities in order to demonstrate to the world that it is determined to defend itself and maintain the status quo. Achieving defense resilience, he said, involves more than just being militarily prepared, strengthening social systems, and improving infrastructure; more importantly, awareness must be raised throughout society. The president expressed hope that all citizens will work together to strengthen the ability to respond with resilience to challenges, so that Taiwan can play an indispensable role in the global democratic defense network.
A translation of President Lai’s opening statement follows:
Today, we are convening the sixth meeting of the Office of the President Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee. We have used a number of different formats to conduct these meetings since the committee was established.
These activities included tabletop exercises for central and local governments at the Office of the President, field exercises in Tainan City, and an international forum. This afternoon we carried out a resilience consensus building workshop.
I want to thank our three deputy conveners and all the advisors and committee members for their hard work. Moving forward, we will continue our efforts.
As I emphasized at the first committee meeting, the Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee is an action committee that should not be confined to fixed formats. We want to gather together our forces – both central and local, public and private – and bring them to bear at the grassroots level, laying down roots in neighborhoods. We need to enable people with all different kinds of expertise to engage with one another, so as to build up societal resilience more broadly and comprehensively.
We have therefore taken many steps to integrate systems, policies, and resources. Our intention is to ensure that the government and all sectors of society can work in close coordination. At the same time, we actively engage with our friends and allies to ensure that Taiwan can play an indispensable role in the global democratic defense network.
At today’s meeting our Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health and Welfare, and Ministry of Digital Affairs will report on the results of work done in the five key areas, including “civilian force training and utilization.” We have also invited Minister without Portfolio of the Executive Yuan Chi Lien-cheng (季連成) to speak on practical experience and improvement measures related to disaster relief work in Hualien.
In addition, at today’s resilience consensus building workshop, I invited our advisors and committee members to provide recommendations for improvements regarding the five key areas. I look forward to more thorough discussions as this meeting proceeds.
But before we begin, I want to share four points with the people of Taiwan.
First, Taiwan has met with several major natural disasters this year that have resulted in many casualties and damage to infrastructure. However, as we have all witnessed, our people have withstood the disasters with unwavering perseverance.
Rescue workers and troops showed up immediately. The central government responded without delay. Construction crews worked day and night to complete urgently needed repairs. Civil society groups raced to provide support. Many individuals – superheroes of disaster relief – came from around the country and from all walks of life to help. Such acts highlighted the spirit of unity and mutual help that is so characteristic of Taiwan, and truly demonstrated the power of whole-of-society defense resilience. What I want to say is that the spirit of Taiwan is a spirit of unity.
Second, last Friday’s indiscriminate attack in Taipei shocked Taiwanese society and resulted in severe injuries and deaths. The central and local governments as well as medical institutions all responded promptly to the incident.
I want to emphasize once more that protecting the people’s safety is the government’s fundamental responsibility. I hope that, with this incident in mind, the central and local governments can demonstrate Taiwan’s spirit of unity by jointly conducting a review, taking corrective actions, establishing systems, and continuing to improve incident response capabilities, so that we can quickly deal with crises and together protect the safety of our citizens.
Third, China continues to ratchet up its threats against Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific region in an attempt to change democratic Taiwan into “Taiwan, China.” This is a serious threat to our national sovereignty and national security. And beyond that, it is a blatant provocation directed at the community of free and democratic nations around the globe.
Last month I held a press conference right here, where I announced two national security action plans to safeguard democratic Taiwan and proposed an eight-year, NT$1.25 trillion special defense budget. Today, speaking via live broadcast, I want to assure my fellow citizens once again of the following: Taiwan intends to vigorously develop its defense industry and comprehensively strengthen its national defense capabilities in order to demonstrate to the world that it is determined to defend itself and maintain the status quo.
Fourth, we know that achieving defense resilience involves more than just being militarily prepared, strengthening social systems, and improving infrastructure; more importantly, awareness must be raised throughout society.
The more prepared we are, the safer we’ll be. That is why our government this year published “Taiwan’s National Public Safety Guide” and distributed it throughout the nation. We wanted citizens to have a booklet in hand that would provide guidelines on how to respond to all kinds of challenges, and would remind people what they need to do in advance to improve their emergency response preparedness. The guide also encourages readers to take an active part in civil defense work and help to strengthen Taiwan’s ability to respond with resilience to challenges.
Finally, I again want to thank you all for generously contributing your expertise and enthusiasm, as well as your time and effort, to this undertaking. In the effort to build up whole-of-society defense resilience, we have pooled our collective wisdom, built consensus, and promoted more concrete and more practical action plans.
Our achievements belong not just to the committee, but to all our nation’s citizens. Let’s continue to work hard together and further enhance our whole-of-society defense resilience.
Following his statement, President Lai heard a report on the results of work done in the five key areas in 2025 and a report on efforts to improve resilience with reference to disaster relief work following the Fata’an Creek barrier lake disaster. The president then exchanged views with the committee members regarding the reports and the results of the resilience consensus building workshop.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Health Bureau announced today that the “Cross-boundary Health Record” function in the eHealth mobile application (eHealth App) has been extended to all 6.3 million eHealth users in Hong Kong, with immediate effect.

Previously limited to eligible recipients of the Elderly Health Care Vouchers, the extension enables more citizens to securely use their electronic health records (eHRs) across the boundary at designated medical institutions outside Hong Kong.

Starting today, all eHealth users in Hong Kong may apply for their eHRs deposited in the eHealth system over the past three years through the “Cross-boundary Health Record” function in the eHealth App, before attending medical consultations at 20 designated medical institutions outside Hong Kong.

Upon application, users will instantly receive an Application QR Code and a Password QR Code via the app. When attending consultations at designated medical institutions, users may present these QR codes to healthcare professionals, to grant permission for them to access and browse relevant health records on a designated web browser.

To ensure data privacy and security of personal eHealth accounts, users will be notified via selected communication means, such as SMS or email, whenever a designated medical institution accesses their health records.

Moreover, users may apply for the service on behalf of family members using the “Caregiver” function in the eHealth App.

The bureau said that in response to the growing trend of Hong Kong citizens using healthcare services in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the Government has been maintaining close communication with relevant Mainland authorities and medical institutions in achieving convenient and secure usage of eHRs across the boundary through the eHealth system.

It noted that throughout the process, the overarching principles of ensuring due compliance of laws and regulations in Hong Kong and the Mainland have been strictly adhered, and that data security and patient privacy are fully safeguarded.

Since July last year, the bureau has gradually rolled out the “Cross-boundary Health Record” function at a total of 20 medical institutions, namely the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital and all medical institutions under the Elderly Health Care Voucher Greater Bay Area Pilot Scheme. As of November this year, more than 7,800 elderly people have used the function, submitting over 9,400 applications.

Call 3467 6300 for enquiries.