MIL Asia Pacific Publishing Engine

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Executive John Lee and senior government officials will attend a flag-raising ceremony and a reception on July 1 to celebrate the 29th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Community leaders and members of uniformed groups will attend the ceremony, which will be held at Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai at 8am. No public viewing area will be set up.

The Police Band will perform at the ceremony and a choir from Belilios Public School and Queen’s College will sing the national anthem under the lead of singers Albert Lim and Vivian Yau. This will be followed by a fly-past and a sea parade by the disciplined services.

The reception, led by the Chief Executive, will be held afterwards at the Grand Hall on Level 3 of the Convention & Exhibition Centre.

Police will implement special traffic arrangements at Golden Bauhinia Square and in the nearby area during the celebrations.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Home Affairs Department’s Office of the Licensing Authority today released two guides to guesthouse licence applications.

The guides aim to help individuals to apply for licences to operate holiday camps in rural areas or home-stay lodgings in village houses.

The move aligns with an initiative announced in the Chief Executive’s 2025 Policy Address regarding the promotion of thematic tourism.

The two guides are an enhanced “Guide to Licence Applications for Guesthouse (Holiday Camp) Covering Building, Caravan & Tent Campsites” and the newly published “Guide to Licence Application for Guesthouse in Village House”.

The documents outline the building and fire safety requirements for holiday camps and village houses, and set out the prerequisites for operating of holiday camps and home-stay lodgings in rural areas.

With regard to holiday camps or village houses in remote areas which are not equipped with emergency vehicular access or street fire hydrants, the authority may, based on actual circumstances, permit applicants to adopt other fire safety measures such as installing wheeled-type dry powder fire extinguishers and self-contained smoke detectors.

For village houses built before 1961, which may not fully meet current prescribed construction standards, the authority may accept different proposals, based on their individual merits, in relation to structural safety, fire resistant construction, means of escape, lighting and ventilation, provided that these meet building safety requirements.

While prioritising building and fire safety, the authority will continue to remove barriers and lift restrictions to facilitate the operation of holiday camps and home-stay lodgings in rural areas, and will constantly review and enhance the licensing regime for guesthouses.

Source: Government of the Republic of Korea

(Unofficial Translation)

My fellow Koreans, distinguished Korean War veterans and bereaved families, members of the diplomatic corps of United Nations Sending States whose forces shed blood alongside us in defense of the Republic of Korea,

As we mark the 76th anniversary of the Korean War, I extend my deepest respect and gratitude, on behalf of the Korean people, to all of our honored veterans.

I also extend my heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved families, who have endured many long years of deep longing and sorrow.

We have gathered here today to honor the heroes who defended the Republic of Korea and protected its people during the Korean War – the most horrible tragedy in our nation’s history.

The peace and prosperity we enjoy today came at a cost. These were secured through the noble sacrifices and devotion of our heroes, who gave everything they had and fought on the battlefield when the fate of our homeland hung by a thread.

Because of the devastating war that broke out on this day seventy-six years ago, countless citizens lost their beloved family members and were forced to flee the homes and communities where they had lived their entire lives.

Peaceful daily life was brutally trampled on, and the Republic of Korea’s very survival hung in the balance.

Yet we never wavered in our resolve to defend our homeland. Regular soldiers were joined by students, who laid down their pens and took up rifles as volunteer troops. Ordinary citizens who had never fired a gun threw themselves into a hail of bullets, determined to safeguard this country and their families.

Remembering and honoring these heroes is one of the foremost responsibilities of our nation and community, as well as the solemn duty of all of us who now enjoy lives of freedom, prosperity and peace.

It is an unwavering principle of this government, founded on popular sovereignty, that those who dedicate themselves to their country and make extraordinary sacrifices for it must receive extraordinary compensation, as well as the honor and respect they deserve.

We will do our utmost to ensure that our war veterans’ sacrifices remain not just a source of personal pride but also bring them a life of greater dignity and stability.

Today, the government conferred awards on three members of the nonregular forces whose distinguished service during the Korean War was not fully recognized for far too long.

I would like to pay a heartfelt tribute to these war veterans who have finally received the honor they deserve, albeit belatedly, and offer my deepest condolences to their bereaved families. Please join me in giving them a round of applause.

Moreover, a revision to the Act on the Honorable Treatment of War Veterans and Establishment of Related Associations took effect on May 20, allowing surviving family members of war veterans to join veterans’ organizations.

We will continue to strengthen institutional support to ensure that a spirit of dedication to the nation does not fade away after one generation, but is proudly passed on to future generations.

We must also never forget the UN Korean War veterans.

The freedom and peace that the Republic of Korea enjoys today spring from the sacred devotion and sacrifice of the UN Korean War veterans who willingly gave their best years and their lives for a small country in the Far East that they had never even heard of before.

Our solidarity forged in blood in the trenches seventy-six years ago has evolved into the steadfast partnership we see today, through which we join forces to advance peace and prosperity worldwide.

Having transformed from a nation that received aid from the international community to an aid donor after overcoming the scars of war, the Republic of Korea bears a responsibility to repay the debt of gratitude we owe them.

The government will further expand its diplomatic outreach to honor veterans abroad, for instance, by inviting UN Korean War veterans to Korea. We will strive even more to ensure that the spirit of solidarity that blossomed in the trenches lives on among younger generations.

Fellow Koreans,

Seventy-six years ago, today, our heroes refused to surrender this land, even when the bullets rained down.

They willingly gave their lives, dreaming of a nation free from war. The peaceful days we now enjoy are the future that they so fiercely desired.

The government, founded on popular sovereignty, will steadfastly protect this great Republic of Korea, built by our heroes.

We will safeguard our people and territory through strong national defense capability. We will build a peaceful Korean Peninsula where there are neither fears of war nor any need for conflict.

I believe that this is the best way to repay the heroes who sacrificed their lives and youth to defend this country.

To mark the 76th anniversary of the Korean War, I once again extend my deepest respect and gratitude to our war veterans and fallen heroes.

Thank you.

Source: Government of the Republic of Korea

(Unofficial Translation)

Your Eminence Cardinal You Heung-sik,
distinguished Guests,
I am filled with profound reverence as I stand in this holy place, where the spirit and legacy of the Apostle Paul continue to inspire us.

I wish to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Your Eminence and to the officials of the Holy See for arranging this meaningful gathering and for your gracious hospitality.

Distinguished Guests,
today, our world is confronted by mounting conflict and profound uncertainty.

The sound of gunfire still echoes across Ukraine.
New violence continues to erupt in the Middle East.
The foundations of cooperation and coexistence are being tested, while division and confrontation cast long shadows across the international community.

The Korean Peninsula is not immune to these realities.
The South and the North, which once spoke together of peace and shared prosperity, have regressed to a time of separation and confrontation.

Channels of dialogue have been severed, and mistrust and tension persist.

Yet the people of the Republic of Korea have never wavered in their faith in peace and democracy.

Through countless trials and hardships, we have always found the strength to overcome them.

We reclaimed a nation that had been taken from us.
We rebuilt that nation from the ashes of war.
We nurtured democracy through periods of dictatorship and oppression.

And in moments of economic crisis and social turmoil, we illuminated darkness not with guns and knives, but with candlelight;
not with violence, but with peace;
not with cynicism, but with solidarity.

The Catholic Church in Korea has shared this journey.
Born as a voluntary community of lay believers and tempered through persecution, the Church has stood firmly alongside the Korean people, defending human dignity and advancing peace and solidarity through every trial our society has endured.

Distinguished Guests,
twenty-six years ago, on the fifteenth of June, the South and the North met face to face for the first time since division and adopted the ‘June 15th South-North Joint Declaration.’

It was a historic milestone that demonstrated to the world the potential of dialogue and cooperation over longstanding confrontation and hostility.

In its wake opened a new door of hope for peace on the Korean Peninsula.
Families were reunited.
Humanitarian assistance expanded.
Exchanges and visits followed.

Even now, I firmly believe that the embers of that hope are still alive.

Since taking office last year, the Government of the Republic of Korea has pursued preemptive measures to ease tensions.
We halted the scattering of leaflets and loudspeaker broadcasts directed toward the North.
We have made clear that we seek neither unification by absorption, nor unilateral competition between systems.

We will continue efforts to prevent accidental military clashes and restore channels of trust.
We are determined to move beyond the current state of armistice toward a sustainable peace regime.

Distinguished Guests,
for decades, the international community has hoped for lasting peace and reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula.
And the Republic of Korea, too, has worked steadily to live up to those hopes and that invaluable support.

In this regard, I wish to express my deepest gratitude, together with the Korean people, to the Holy See for its unwavering support and continued attention to the whole process.

At a time when conflict and uncertainty weigh heavily upon humanity, the Republic of Korea now wishes to convey a message of hope.

We possess the strength lit up by democracy.
We possess the dignity of a vibrant culture.
And we possess the promise of a future shaped by science, technology, and innovation.
With these strengths, we will contribute to building a world that is more peaceful and more free – a world in which everyone can live with dignity.

Together with all who share this vision, we will strive to transcend borders and ideologies, race and culture.
Where there is conflict, we will seek reconciliation, where there is distrust, we will foster trust, and where there is division, we will build solidarity.
And we will fulfill our shared responsibility to leave peace as a common inheritance to all humanity.

The book of Isaiah, Chapter 2, Verse 4, tells us:
“They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.”
I ask you to pray together that these precious words may be fulfilled throughout our land.

I sincerely hope that we can create a virtuous cycle in which peace on the Korean Peninsula leads to peace in the world, and the solidarity of the world, in turn, helps secure peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Next year, Seoul will host the World Youth Day.
I am confident that it will be a meaningful opportunity for young people from every corner of the globe to deepen bonds of friendship and embrace the values of peace and solidarity beyond the boundaries of nation, language, and culture.

I look forward to welcoming young people from around the world to Seoul – those who will walk across the constraints of front lines, barbed wire, and borders.
I assure you that the Government of the Republic of Korea, for its part, will spare no effort to render our wholehearted support.

“Take courage! I have overcome the world.”
Two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ spoke these words to disciples who were trembling in fear.
I trust that these same words may inspire younger generations with comfort, courage, and hope.

May the prayers we offer together today plant blessed seeds of hope in our hearts, and bear fruit of peace and solidarity throughout the world.

I pray that the grace of God be with all of you.

Thank you for your kind attention.

Source: Government of the Republic of Korea

On behalf of the Korean people, I extend my sincere gratitude to President Sergio Mattarella and the people of Italy for the warm welcome extended to me and my delegation.

It is deeply meaningful and a great honor to visit Italy on a state visit as President of the Republic of Korea – the first such visit in twenty-six years.

Built on 142 years of enduring mutual trust, the horizons of cooperation between our two countries continue to broaden.

Italy is ROK’s fourth-largest trading partner within the European Union, while the ROK is Italy’s fourth-largest trading partner in Asia. We have already become very important trading partners to each other.

Moreover, cooperation between our two countries is expanding beyond trade and investment to include advanced industries and science and technology sectors such as renewable energy, biohealth and digital technology, as well as the artificial intelligence, defense and space industries.

Above all, our bilateral relations rest on the solid foundation of people-to-people exchanges. The Korean people’s affection for Italy is truly exceptional, as demonstrated by the fact that approximately 1 million Koreans visit Italy each year.

An increasing number of young Italians are visiting Korea, drawn by K-pop and K-beauty.

Reflecting our shared commitment to advancing our cooperation in an even more dynamic way, President Mattarella and I agreed today to elevate our bilateral relationship to a Special Strategic Partnership.

Building on the trust and bonds we have forged over the years and our shared values, our two countries will open a new chapter of cooperation aimed at achieving shared prosperity.

Allow me to share the key outcomes of our meeting and this visit to Italy.

First, our two countries will further develop trade and investment cooperation in a mutually beneficial manner and work together to ensure that businesses from both countries can operate in a stable environment.

The ROK–Italy Business Roundtable, which will be held tomorrow in Rome, will bring together approximately thirty companies from our two countries.

I believe this will provide a valuable opportunity for companies from both countries to explore new avenues for growth in a wide range of fields, including semiconductors, AI, the defense industry, aerospace, energy and biohealth.

Notably, we will sign on this occasion the MOU on Promotion and Cooperation in the Fields of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Micro-Enterprises and the MOU for the Enhancement of Cooperation in the Field of the Social and Solidarity Economy. These MOUs will serve as an important foundation for identifying practical ways to support SMEs and small business owners and for fostering vibrant social and solidarity economy ecosystems in both countries.

In January, during Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s visit to Korea, I shared my views on the potential implications of Italy’s newly introduced super-depreciation scheme for Korean companies.

Thanks to the prompt action taken by the Italian government and parliament, the unfavorable conditions affecting our companies have recently been addressed. I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude.

I believe that this stands as a powerful testament to the profound trust between our two governments and our unwavering commitment to shared prosperity.

For its part, the Korean government is committed to ensuring a smooth and stable business environment for Italian companies operating in Korea.

Second, we will further expand forward-looking cooperation between our two countries in advanced industries and science and technology.

The ROK and Italy are supporting joint research projects in eight fields, including AI, advanced biotechnology, space, maritime and aviation technologies, and semiconductors and displays, from 2026 to 2028.

In particular, building on the cooperation MOU concluded last year, our two countries’ space agencies are strengthening their strategic coordination through joint satellite orbit and position tracking as well as cooperation in responding to potential risks.

The MOU on Cooperation in Advanced Science and Technology and ICT (Information and Communication Technology), to be adopted on this occasion, will serve as an institutional foundation for further advancing our two countries’ partnership in national strategic technology sectors, including AI, quantum industries, sixth generation mobile communications and advanced biotechnology.

Third, drawing on our time-honored cultural heritage and creativity, we will further broaden cultural cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between our two countries.

Italy has been a steadfast partner in cultural exchanges, helping introduce the artistic excellence and cinematic quality of Korean films to European and international audiences through the Venice International Film Festival and the Florence Korea Film Fest.

Through the Agreement on Film Coproduction that our two countries have agreed to conclude, our two nations will be able to generate greater synergy from our respective cultural strengths, creating new opportunities for the revitalization of our cultural industries.

Also on the occasion of this visit, Korean-language audio guide services will be launched for the first time at the Roman Forum – a historic site that vividly illuminates the origins and history of Roman civilization.

From the Colosseum and the ruins of Pompeii to the Roman Forum, I hope that the Korean people will be able to experience Italy’s time-honored history and culture more easily and vividly.

The National Museum of Korea and the Uffizi Galleries are scheduled to sign an MOU during my June 13 visit to Florence.

I am confident that this will serve as an important opportunity to further enhance cultural exchanges between both our peoples.

Moreover, special attention and support will be extended to facilitate smooth exchanges between students from both nations and promote the study of each other’s languages.

Fourth, as responsible members of the international community, we will pool our wisdom and strengthen our joint responses to geopolitical challenges.

The supply chain disruptions caused by the recent situation in the Middle East have underscored the critical need of close cooperation among partner countries.

Korea and Italy will continue to engage in close communication and cooperation to enhance energy security and supply chain stability.

The MOU on Development Cooperation, to be signed on this occasion, will enable our two countries to jointly support economic growth in Africa and the Indo-Pacific while further solidifying our strategic partnership.

Moreover, our two countries will jointly respond to the climate crisis – a shared challenge for humanity – through a great transition to renewable energy, while actively contributing to the efforts of the international community.

Finally, our two countries will maintain close communication for the sake of regional peace and stability, including on the Korean Peninsula.

I outlined to President Mattarella my vision for peaceful coexistence and shared growth on the Korean Peninsula.

The President expressed high regard for our government’s commitment to dialogue and cooperation and pledge d to work together for peace and stability on the Peninsula.

Based on our shared value of respect for international law and multilateral cooperation, we will continue to broaden the horizons of our cooperation on the international stage, including at the United Nations.

To ensure the faithful implementation and effective follow-up of all these achievements and cooperative measures, our two countries will adopt the ROK-Italy Strategic Action Plan 2026–2030.

We will continue to strengthen our communication and cooperation so that this visit can open a new path to shared prosperity and yield tangible changes in the lives of Korean and Italian citizens.

I extend my sincere gratitude once again to President Mattarella and the Italian people for their warm hospitality.

I look forward to opening new horizons together for the Republic of Korea and Italy.

Grazie di cuore! (Thank you.)

Source: Government of the Republic of Korea

It is deeply meaningful that my first visit to Europe as President begins here in Brussels, the heart of the European Union.

Following my inauguration last year, President António Costa of the European Council and President Ursula von der Leyen of the European Commission graciously invited me to visit the European Union.

I am pleased to have accepted their invitation, and I extend my sincere gratitude for the warm welcome they have shown to me and my delegation.

Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1963, the Republic of Korea and the European Union have built a close and enduring partnership.

Together, we have established a strong institutional framework across the political, economic, and security domains through such agreements as the Framework Agreement, the Free Trade Agreement, and the Framework Agreement on the Participation of the ROK in EU Crisis Management Operations. Over the years, we have also deepened our mutual trust as strategic partners.

More recently, our cooperation has expanded into new areas, including security and defense, digital and advanced technologies, and climate action.

At today’s summit, we reaffirmed our shared commitment to further strengthening our partnership and held substantive discussions on practical ways to advance our cooperation. Allow me to share the key outcomes of our meeting.

First, to deepen our security and defense cooperation, we agreed to launch negotiations on the Security of Information Agreement.

As the international environment grows increasingly uncertain, the security of Europe and the Indo-Pacific has become more closely interconnected than ever before.

I look forward to the swift conclusion of this agreement, which will enable us to securely share classified information and to actively pursue industrial and research cooperation.

Second, we signed the Digital Trade Agreement to further strengthen our economic partnership.

The European Union is Korea’s third-largest trading partner, after China and the United States, and our largest source of foreign investment.

This agreement will help create a stable and predictable environment for data-driven business and promote the continued growth of digital trade between us.

Paperless trade, electronic authentication, and digital signatures will streamline transactions and administrative procedures, enhancing the convenience and benefits enjoyed by the people of both sides.

Third, we concluded the Agreement on the Transfer of Passenger Name Record (PNR) Data for the Prevention, Detection, Investigation and Prosecution of Terrorist Offences and Serious Crime, further strengthening our ability to protect the safety and security of our citizens.

In recent years, we have seen a rise in the smuggling of dangerous goods, including narcotics and firearms, by international travelers.

To address this challenge, it is essential that customs authorities have timely access to airline passenger data so that high-risk travelers can be identified and inspected in advance.

This agreement establishes the legal basis for our customs authorities to obtain PNR data from EU-registered airlines.

We expect it to significantly enhance bilateral cooperation in combating transnational crime, including terrorism and drug trafficking.

Fourth, we agreed to continue expanding mutually beneficial cooperation in the industries and technologies that will shape our future.

We will strengthen cooperation on carbon neutrality and the energy transition, while expanding joint research and exchanges in areas such as artificial intelligence and quantum technologies.

I am confident that these efforts will further enhance the innovative capacity and global competitiveness of future industries in both Korea and the European Union.

Finally, we agreed to work closely together to promote peace, stability, and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and around the world.

During today’s discussions, I called on the European Union to continue providing steadfast support and to play a constructive role in addressing the North Korean nuclear issue and advancing lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula. We agreed to work together toward these shared objectives.

We also exchanged views on recent developments in the Middle East and agreed on the urgent need to restore peace and stability in the region, ensure the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and safeguard freedom of navigation.

In addition, we reaffirmed our commitment to supporting efforts to restore peace in Ukraine and contribute to its reconstruction.

Today’s meeting was particularly meaningful because it enabled us to identify practical ways to protect our shared interests amid a rapidly changing international landscape and to deliver tangible outcomes that will benefit the people of Korea and the European Union.

I hope to welcome President Costa and President von der Leyen to Korea in the near future, and I look forward to meeting them again on that occasion.

On behalf of the people of the Republic of Korea, thank you once again for your warm hospitality.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (June 28) that due to inclement weather, the red flag has been hoisted at Hap Mun Bay Beach in Sai Kung District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at the beach.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region