MIL Asia Pacific Publishing Engine

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will present two classical music lecture series centred on symphonies from October to December. Hosted by seasoned music practitioner Jimmy Shiu, the first series, “Beethoven 1-9”, will delve into the nine symphonies composed by Beethoven from perspectives such as musical elements, compositional techniques and the contexts behind the works, exploring the enduring allure of these masterpieces. The second series, “Top 10 Romantic Symphonies”, will feature a selection of representative works of the Romantic period, tracing the development of the symphony while offering insights into the creative intentions of the composers. 

     Details of each lecture are as follows:

Classical Music Lecture Series 1: “Beethoven 1-9”
——————————————————————————–
Venue: Cultural Activities Hall, Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre
Time: 8pm

Lecture 1
Date: October 8 (Wednesday)
Content and compositions: …Inheriting the Past, “Symphony No. 1 in C” and “Symphony No. 2 in D”

Lecture 2
Date: October 15 (Wednesday)
Compositions: “Symphony No. 3 in E-flat, ‘Eroica'” and “Symphony No. 4 in B-flat”

Lecture 3
Date: October 22 (Wednesday)
Compositions: “Symphony No. 5 in C minor” and “Symphony No. 6 in F, ‘Pastoral'”

Lecture 4
Date: October 29 (Wednesday)
Compositions: “Symphony No. 7 in A” and “Symphony No. 8 in F”

Lecture 5
Date: November 5 (Wednesday)
Content and composition: “Symphony No. 9 in D minor, ‘Choral'”, Ushering in the Future… 

Classical Music Lecture Series 2: “Top 10 Romantic Symphonies”
——————————————————————————–
Venue: Recital Hall, Hong Kong City Hall
Time: 8pm

Lecture 1: Past and Future
Date: November 13 (Thursday)
Compositions: Schubert’s “Symphony No. 8 in B minor, ‘Unfinished'” and Berlioz’s “Symphonie fantastique”

Lecture 2: German Tradition
Date: November 20 (Thursday)
Compositions: Mendelssohn’s “Symphony No. 4 in A, ‘Italian'”, Schumann’s “Symphony No. 3 in E-flat, ‘Rhenish'” and Brahms’s “Symphony No. 1 in C minor”

Lecture 3: Two Giants
Date: November 27 (Thursday)
Compositions: Bruckner’s “Symphony No. 7 in E” and Mahler’s “Symphony No. 2 in C minor” 

Lecture 4: Slavonic Sound
Date: December 4 (Thursday)
Compositions: DvoÅ™ák’s “Symphony No. 8 in G” and Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 6 in B minor, ‘Pathétique'”

Lecture 5: Romance of the Twentieth Century
Date: December 11 (Thursday)
Compositions: Sibelius’s “Symphony No. 2 in D minor” and Rachmaninov’s “Symphony No. 2 in E minor”

     Shiu graduated from the Hong Kong Baptist College, where he majored in Composition. He then pursued further studies at the University of Sheffield, the United Kingdom, where he earned a double Master’s degree in Composition and Vocal Performance. He has been invited to give lectures and serve as master of ceremonies at concerts. Shiu has published several works related to music appreciation, composition of sacred music (original and arrangements), and recently served as the writer of Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra’s 50th anniversary publication.

     Each lecture will run for about one hour and 30 minutes and will be conducted in Cantonese. Tickets priced at $80 (for each lecture, with free seating) are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 3166 1288. For programme enquiries, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/programs_1903.html.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     To prepare for the onboarding of Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) scheme to the eMPF Platform, the Government published in the Gazette today (August 29) the following legal notices:
 
(i) the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes (Specification of Dates for Purposes of Section 19M(2)(a)) (Amendment) (No. 5) Notice 2025 (Mandatory Use (Amendment) (No. 5) Notice 2025); and
 
(ii) the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes (Appointment of Dates for Purposes of Section 19U(4)) (Amendment) (No. 5) Notice 2025, the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes (Appointment of Dates for Purposes of Section 19Y(3)) (Amendment) (No. 5) Notice 2025, and the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes (Appointment of Dates for Purposes of Section 19Z(4)) (Amendment) (No. 5) Notice 2025 (collectively Fee Control (Amendment) (No. 5) Notices 2025).
 
     The Mandatory Use (Amendment) (No. 5) Notice 2025 specifies October 3, 2025, as “material day” for the Sun Life Rainbow MPF Scheme administered by the Sun Life Trustee Company Limited (Sun Life), such that Sun Life is mandated to use the eMPF Platform to perform scheme administration functions in relation to this MPF scheme. On cost savings and fee-setting of MPF scheme to be charged by MPF trustee on scheme members, the Fee Control (Amendment) (No. 5) Notices 2025 appoint January 3, 2026, as “material day” for the constituent funds of the MPF scheme mentioned above, such that Sun Life is mandated to make corresponding reduction in its fees charged on scheme members in relation to the constituent funds of this MPF scheme.
 
     Relevant legal notices for the remaining MPF schemes will be published in the Gazette when the respective onboarding dates are ascertained having regard to the onboarding preparation status of the MPF trustees concerned.
 
     If scheme members/employers have any question regarding the detailed operation of the eMPF Platform, they may visit the Platform’s official website (empf.org.hk), or call the Platform’s customer service hotline (183 2622).
 
     The aforementioned legal notices will be tabled at the Legislative Council for negative vetting on September 10, 2025.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA thanks members of US Congress for condemning China’s unilateral activation of W121 flight route and urging ICAO to include Taiwan

Date：2025-08-26
Data Source：Department of International Organizations

August 26, 2025  
No. 300  

US Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), US Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Chairman of the House Select Committee on the CCP John Moolenaar (R-MI), and Ranking Member of the committee Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) sent a joint letter to Secretary General of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Juan Carlos Salazar on August 21. In the letter, they condemned China’s unilateral activation in July of the W121 flight route— which connects to the M503 flight route—stating that it “provokes regional instability in the Indo-Pacific and clearly demonstrates a disregard for international order and the potential dangerous civilian consequences of this decision.” They also called on ICAO to invite Taiwan to participate in the 42nd session of the ICAO Assembly and related technical meetings this year.
 
This follows strong US congressional backing of Taiwan in July, when Chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Jim Risch (R-ID), Chairman Moolenaar, and members of the House Select Committee on the CCP Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Carlos Gimenez (R-FL), and Neal Dunn (R-FL) spoke out against China’s unilateral activation of the W121 flight route. Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung extends sincere appreciation to the US Congress for reiterating staunch public support of Taiwan.
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) notes that Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) is the sole competent authority for the Taipei Flight Information Region (FIR), which is adjacent to such flight routes as M503 and W121. In line with ICAO standards, China should consult with Taiwan and jointly coordinate any route changes in advance. However, China has thus far refused to do so, underscoring its heavy-handed authoritarian nature and blatant disregard for international civil aviation standards and the safety of passengers. 
 
MOFA emphasizes that Taiwan is an important aviation hub in the Indo-Pacific and that the Taipei FIR, administered by Taiwan’s CAA, is responsible for the safety of over a million flights and tens of millions of passengers annually. Because aviation safety knows no borders, ICAO should promptly accept Taiwan’s full and unimpeded participation in all meetings, mechanisms, and activities. The 42nd session of the ICAO Assembly will soon take place at ICAO headquarters in Montreal, Canada. In 2013, Taiwan was invited to attend the ICAO Assembly. Given this precedent, MOFA urges ICAO to again invite a delegation from Taiwan to ensure that no one is left behind and that ICAO’s Safer Skies Initiative can be realized. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA extends heartfelt sympathies to diplomatic ally Marshall Islands following fire at Nitijela

Date：2025-08-26
Data Source：Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs

August 26, 2025  
No. 301  
 
A fire seriously damaged the Nitijela parliament building of the Republic of the Marshall Islands—a diplomatic ally of Taiwan in the Pacific—in the early hours of August 26. Total losses have yet to be determined. Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung promptly instructed the Embassy of the ROC (Taiwan) in the Marshall Islands to assess the situation and express concern and sympathies to the government of the Marshall Islands on behalf of the Taiwan government. The Marshall Islands thanked the government and people of Taiwan. 
 
According to initial information available to Taiwan’s embassy, no Taiwan or Marshall Islands nationals have been injured, killed, or trapped by the fire. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) will closely monitor developments and maintain contact with relevant agencies in the Marshall Islands to provide necessary assistance in a timely manner.
 
Taiwan nationals in the Marshall Islands requiring emergency assistance should call the emergency hotline of Taiwan’s embassy at +692-455-0910 or the embassy office at +692-247-4141. They can also ask family or friends in Taiwan to call MOFA’s emergency hotline at 0800-085-095. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA donates US$350,000 to assist US with reconstruction efforts following flooding in central Texas

Date：2025-08-22
Data Source：Department of North American Affairs

August 22, 2025  No. 297  Catastrophic flooding affected the central region of the US state of Texas in July, resulting in over 100 casualties. Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung promptly instructed the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Houston to convey condolences and sympathies to the government of Texas on behalf of the government of Taiwan and to express the Taiwan government’s willingness to donate US$350,000 to assist with relief efforts.
 
On behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), TECO Houston donated the funds to OneStar Foundation—at the suggestion of the government of Texas—on August 21. This concrete action will support related disaster relief efforts. First Lady of Texas Cecilia Abbott made a special appearance at the donation ceremony. She expressed her appreciation and said that the people of Texas cherished their friendship with Taiwan.
 
The peoples of Taiwan and the United States share a deep bond. Taiwan and Texas established a sister-state relationship in 1988, and Texas is a major destination for Taiwanese investment in the United States. MOFA hopes that recovery efforts will proceed smoothly in the wake of the devastating floods in Texas, allowing those affected to return to normal life as soon as possible. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Foreign Minister Lin solemnly refutes Chinese Foreign Minister Wang’s false claims regarding World War II

Date：2025-08-16
Data Source：Department of Policy Planning

August 16, 2025  
No. 288  

Following the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on August 15, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi claimed that the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation, and other similar international documents had “clearly defined Japan’s responsibility for the war and required that Japan return all the territories it had stolen from China, including Taiwan.” He also remarked that this was “an indisputable outcome of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War and constitutes an important part of the post-war international order.” The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) categorically refutes this malicious distortion of historical facts that attempts to mislead the international community. 
 
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung states that after World War II, the San Francisco Peace Treaty—binding under international law—superseded the political statements made in the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation. He points out that the treaty did not cede Taiwan to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and that the PRC has never governed Taiwan. 
 
In contrast, he says, Taiwan began promoting political liberalization and democratization from the grassroots level on up in the mid-1980s and completed its first direct presidential election in 1996. He also notes that by that time, the central executive and legislative representatives of the Republic of China (ROC) government were all elected by the people of Taiwan. He stresses that the ROC government has been the sole legitimate government ever since, administering Taiwan effectively and representing Taiwan internationally. He adds that this established the cross-strait status quo in which the ROC (Taiwan) and the PRC exist as equals, with neither subordinate to the other. He mentions that the ROC (Taiwan) has experienced three changes of governing party—in 2000, 2008, and 2016—that have consolidated the democratic system and helped create a stronger sense of national identity, reflecting the Taiwanese people’s steadfast pursuit of and desire for freedom and democracy.
 
Minister Lin emphasizes that it is an objective fact that neither the ROC (Taiwan) nor the PRC is subordinate to the other and that the PRC has no right to represent Taiwan on the global stage. MOFA urges the Beijing authorities to act in a pragmatic and rational manner and recognize that cross-strait relations can only be improved on the basis of dignity and parity through dialogue with the democratically elected government representing the people of Taiwan. 
 
Taiwan sincerely hopes that democratic partners will unite in solidarity to jointly support the democratic umbrella, address the challenges posed by authoritarianism, and safeguard shared values and the rules-based international order. (E)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

In response to media enquiries about efforts to combat illegal smoking, the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the Department of Health today (August 28) gave the following response:
 
“Between August 25 and 30, TACO conducts an enforcement operation codenamed “Laserflame” to crack down on illegal smoking in statutory no smoking areas (NSAs) of public transport facilities throughout the territory. The operation aims to raise public awareness of relevant smoking ban regulations, including the 10 newly designated NSAs at public transport facilities (PTFs) effective from August 31, while intensifying efforts to combat illegal smoking. All enforcement actions strictly adhered to legal provisions and procedures.
 
TACO conducts enforcement actions according to the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance and coordinates manpower deployment. Stringent operational guidelines have been established and professional training has been provided to TACO officers. The reference benchmarks set by TACO for planning of enforcement actions aims to provide the teams a reference for manpower deployment and enforcement work priorities. They are not rigid targets of enforcement figures set for frontline officers. TACO emphasises that frontline officers take enforcement action only when they actually observe violations, but not rigidly pursuing a specified target.
 
TACO calls on the public to observe the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance and work together to maintain a smoke-free environment in PTFs. NSAs are marked with designated signs and layout plans, with clearly delineated demarcation lines according to the actual environment to remind citizens to comply with smoking bans. Any person who does a smoking act in NSAs or in public transport carriers will be liable for a fixed penalty of $1,500. Tobacco and Alcohol Control Inspectors will prosecute smoking offenders without prior warning.
 
As of 5pm today, officers from TACO conducted 203 inspections at PTFs and issued 39 FPNs for smoking offences during the “Laserflame” operation.
 
In addition to its law enforcement work, TACO actively promotes smoke-free environments through preventive smoking education and cessation services, including community outreach to raise public awareness of smoking’s hazards.
 
For the sake of the health of individuals, their families and others, the Government appeals to smokers to quit smoking as early as possible. Members of the public may call the DH’s Integrated Smoking Cessation Hotline on 1833 183, which is operated by registered nurses to provide professional counselling services on smoking cessation.”

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Hong Kong Environmental Database (HKED) (hked.epd.gov.hk), developed by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has once again been honored with awards, winning the “Best Smart Environment Award” and the “Grand Award” at the Hong Kong/Shanghai Co-operation Open Data Challenge (HSODC) 2025 yesterday (August 27), reaffirming the remarkable progress made by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government in applying innovative technologies to optimise the environmental impact assessment (EIA) processes.
 
     HSOSC 2025, jointly steered by the HKSAR Government’s Digital Policy Office (DPO) and the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Data, adopted the theme “Co-creating a Data Industry Platform for the Two Cities”. It encouraged participants to leverage open data resources from both Hong Kong and Shanghai to develop innovative solutions in four key areas: Smart Mobility, Smart Living, Smart Environment, and Smart Economy, thereby fostering deeper integration and synergy in the digital economies of the two cities. Following the first round of judging, 13 teams from Hong Kong advanced to the final judging held in Shanghai on August 26. They competed with local teams for the top-four finalists and the Grand Award.
 
     Conducting his visit to Hangzhou and Shanghai from August 24 to 28, the Director of Environmental Protection, Dr Samuel Chui, led representatives from the EPD to attend the award ceremony held in Shanghai yesterday to receive the awards.
 
     The HKSAR Government has taken a number of measures to optimise the EIA process, including the establishment of the HKED in 2022. The EPD has consolidated around 300 EIA reports handled since 1998. Through meticulous verification, data organisation, and format conversion, more than 200 high-value environmental data layers have been created, providing a robust foundation for local EIA studies. The HKED has also been benefitted from the HKSAR Government’s Common Spatial Data Infrastructure portal, which allows the integration of over 20 environment-related core decision-making layers. Supported by smart assessment tools, the HKED enables more efficient data analysis and audit, thereby enhancing the accuracy and credibility of EIA reports.
 
     Since its launch, the HKED has won several awards. Following the Best Environmental Innovation Award received at the Southeast Asia Forum International Conference last December, the HKED was also honoured with the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) 2025 “Corporate Initiative Award” in March this year.
 
     On his visit to Hangzhou and Shanghai, Dr Chui inspected the Artificial Intelligence ecological monitoring program in the Xixi National Wetland Park and visited the talent training base at the Huawei Global Training Center during the first stop in Hangzhou. 
 
     On August 25, Dr Chui proceeded to visit Shanghai, where he held discussions with the Level I Bureau Rank Official of the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment, Mr Bai Guoqiang, on co-operation between Hong Kong and Shanghai in environmental protection. Dr Chui also exchanged views on technical solutions for sewage and waste treatment with the Director of Shanghai Municipal Engineering Design Institute, Mr Zheng Zhimin, and visited the Laogang Ecological and Environmental Protection Base. In addition, Dr Chui met and exchanged views with the Director of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Shanghai, Mrs Laura Aron.