MIL Asia Pacific Publishing Engine

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

To commemorate the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, the Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence (MWRCD) is collaborating with the Guangdong Museum of Revolutionary History to launch the “Standing Together for Peacebuilding: Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the War of Resistance in Guangdong and Hong Kong” exhibition from tomorrow (August 29) to July 8, 2026. Admission is free. The exhibition shows the history of the people of Guangdong and Hong Kong, led by the Chinese Communist Party, and how they were closely united in resisting the enemy.

Addressing the opening ceremony today (August 28), the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, said that Guangdong and Hong Kong have shared the same roots and blood connections since ancient times. During the War of Resistance, the people of the two places fought side by side, crafting a moving chapter of patriotism. Hong Kong did not only function as a vital transit hub for wartime supplies from abroad, but also hosted the Hong Kong Independent Battalion of the Dongjiang Column, which conducted operations behind enemy lines, making significant contributions to the country. He also said that remembering history, honoring martyrs, cherishing peace, creating a great future, understanding the spirit of the War of Resistance, and better nurturing and inspiring the patriotic sentiment of the public are among the essential aims of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in promoting patriotic education.

Other officiating guests today included the Secretary General of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Wang Songmiao; the Director of the Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Cultural Relics cum Deputy Director of the Guangzhou Municipal Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau, Mr Liu Xiaoming; the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law; the Curator of the Guangdong Museum of Revolutionary History, Mr Yi Xibing; Legislative Council Member and the Chief Editor of the Hong Kong Chronicles Institute, Professor Lau Chi-pang; the Permanent Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ms Vivian Sum; member of the Working Group on Patriotic Education under the Constitution and Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee, Ms Melissa Kaye Pang; the Chairman of the History Sub-committee of the Museum Advisory Committee, Professor Joshua Mok; the President of the Society of Veterans of the Original Hong Kong Independent Battalion of the Dongjiang Column, Ms Lam Chun; and the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Manda Chan.

The exhibition comprises three parts, namely “The Fall of Guangdong and Hong Kong”, “The Fierce Resistance”, and “The Victory in the War of Resistance”, featuring some 40 items/sets of wartime relics. Important exhibits include a silver ring awarded to meritorious personnel of the Zhongshan People’s Anti-Japanese Volunteer Battalion in November 1944; the book “Understanding the Total War of Resistance” by writer Guo Moruo, one of Guangzhou’s representative anti-war cultural works; a cloth chest badge and binoculars used by the Dongjiang Column; a telegraph announcing Tsang Sang as Commander and Wang Zuoyao as Deputy Commander of the Dongjiang Column; and a commemorative badge for the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Independent Battalion of the Dongjiang Column. The exhibition also displays around 150 historical photos on the huge suffering of the people in Guangdong and Hong Kong under the aggression of Japanese militarism, their united resistance and eventual great victory in the War of Resistance. The exhibition presents the historical mission of unity of the people of Guangdong and Hong Kong in resisting the enemy, and commemorates martyrs and compatriots who sacrificed their lives in defending the country.

The MWRCD has set up a dedicated War of Resistance book corner with a book selection for visitors to acquire an in-depth understanding of the War of Resistance. There are also creative interactive games integrating education with entertainment for members of the public, especially youngsters, to actively learn from history, thereby fostering patriotism, promoting and passing on the values of patriotic education.

The MWRCD will launch a series of free activities. On September 3, the Victory Day of Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the museum will invite the Deputy President of the Society of Veterans of the Original Hong Kong Independent Battalion of the Dongjiang Column, Mr Lam Ming, to host a sharing session with local secondary students at 3pm to 4pm. There will also be a collaborative art creation activity, inviting members of the public to write greeting cards to express their feelings about the War of Resistance as well as respect for the martyrs and veterans. The anti-war movie “Life Goes On” will be screened.

     The exhibition is guided by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Guangzhou Municipal Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau (Guangzhou Municipal Cultural Heritage Administration), jointly presented by the Chinese Culture Promotion Office and the Guangdong Museum of Revolutionary History, jointly organised by the MWRCD and the Guangdong Museum of Revolutionary History, and supported by the Hong Kong Chronicle Institute. It is also one of the activities of the Chinese Culture Promotion Series. 

     For details of the exhibition and related activities, please visit the MWRCD website at hk.waranddefence.museum/en/web/mcd/standingtogetherforpeacebuilding.html.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     In connection with a murder case happened in Tin Shui Wai on August 25, Police further arrested a 29-year-old man for murder and a 27-year-old man for assisting offenders in Tsuen Wan yesterday (August 27).

     Investigation revealed that the arrestees were in suspected connection with a murder case happened in Tin Shui Wai on August 25, in which a 51-year-old local man died.

     The 27-year-old man has been laid a holding charge with one count of assisting offenders. The case will be mentioned at Fanling Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (August 29) morning. The 29-year-old man is being detained for further enquiries.

     Concerning the aforementioned case, Police arrested another ten men and three women, aged 25 to 65. Police laid holding charges against a 62-year-old man and a 62-year-old woman jointly with one count of assisting offenders. The case was mentioned at Fanling Magistrates’ Courts today (August 28). In addition, three men, aged between 33 and 48, have been laid jointly a holding charge with one count of conspiracy to murder. A 25-year-old woman and a 65-year-old man have been laid a holding charge each with one count of assisting offenders. The case will be mentioned at Fanling Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (August 29) morning. The remaining six arrestees have been released on bail and are required to report back to Police in mid-September.

     Active investigation by the Regional Crime Unit of New Territories North is underway.

     Anyone who witnessed the case or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 3362.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said today (August 28) that, in response to the nuisance caused by dripping air conditioners in summer, it has adopted a new enforcement approach this year to proactively tackle multiple dripping air conditioner locations across Hong Kong.

The FEHD pointed out that tackling the issue of dripping air conditioners currently faces multiple challenges. These include public unawareness of dripping air conditioners on their premises, the vast number of air conditioners across Hong Kong, a surge in complaints due to frequent usage in summer, which mostly occurs in the early morning or evening, the lack of communal drainage pipes in some buildings and improper connection of air conditioner pipes, which increases the likelihood of dripping, and the technical difficulties in tracing the source of dripping, which often originates from upper floors or is obscured from view. 

To enhance efficiency, the FEHD adopted a new operational strategy this year. In addition to sustaining the effort in handling dripping air conditioner complaints as usual, FEHD officers proactively conducted “door-to-door” inspections and took enforcement action at about 300 key follow-up locations across districts. Furthermore, 30 dripping blackspots causing significant nuisance to the public, including bus stops and minibus stops, were targeted for intensified patrols.

By leveraging innovative technology, the FEHD and the Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre (LSCM) under the Innovation and Technology Commission have jointly developed the Dripping Air Conditioner Investigation System, which has achieved remarkable results while being used in all districts. Equipped with infrared night-vision recording, the system helps identify the source of dripping in low-light conditions. It resolved previous difficulties in investigations, significantly shortened the time required for investigation and evidence collection, and enabled preliminary assessments to be made without entering the premises. Furthermore, it enabled effective deployment of manpower for special operations in the early morning or evening, changing the previous allocation of 70 per cent of manpower for daytime investigations and 30 per cent for nighttime investigations to 30 per cent for daytime investigations and 70 per cent for nighttime investigations.

In collaboration with various sectors to carry out publicity and education, the FEHD distributed leaflets and souvenirs and held publicity events in various districts of Hong Kong with members of the local community, including District Councillors. The FEHD also promoted knowledge of proper air conditioner maintenance through radio and social media. In parallel, the FEHD’s Scheme of Participation by Property Management Agents in Tackling Dripping Air-conditioners, which invites property management agents of private housing estates to assist in investigating dripping air conditioner complaints, has also made progress, with over 280 private housing estates participating and handling an average of over 4 000 cases annually. The FEHD is collaborating with the Property Management Services Authority to encourage more property management companies to join the scheme.

As of August 24, the FEHD has handled approximately 5 200 dripping air conditioners, marking a 25 per cent increase over the same period last year and a threefold surge compared to the same period in 2023. Among the 30 dripping blackspots (involving 14 districts, over 160 buildings, and approximately 7 000 air conditioners) that seriously impacted public queuing for transport, the FEHD has handled cases involving approximately 1 000 air conditioners and significantly improved environmental hygiene.

The FEHD will continue to adopt a multipronged approach to address the dripping problem of air conditioners and calls on all sectors to work together. Among them, property management companies should repair and maintain building drainage systems regularly, remind residents to check and repair their air conditioners, and citizens should also check their air conditioners regularly and take immediate action if water drips to prevent causing nuisance. 

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Sydney (TECO) partnered for the first time with the Local Community Services Association (LCSA) to host an opening ceremony for 20 delegates from Taiwan Fund for Children and Families (TFCF）
Director General David Cheng-Wei Wu welcomed the TFCF delegation to their “home in Sydney” and commended the organization’s long-standing dedication to supporting disadvantaged children and families. He highlighted TECO’s role not only in official representation, trade, and consular services, but also in promoting cultural exchange and encouraging the Taiwanese community to give back locally. Over the past year, Taiwanese community has actively raised funds for various Australian charities, demonstrating compassion that transcends borders
LCSA CEO Can Yasmut thanked TECO for co-hosting the event and praised the Taiwanese community’s charitable contributions, expressing confidence that the TFCF team would gain valuable insights into NSW’s child protection and family support systems. TFCF Director of Social Work, Linda Tsai, expressed gratitude for the hospitality and looked forward to applying the lessons learned during the 10-day program to enhance social service models in Taiwan
Last year alone, Sydney’s Taiwanese community organized five major charity events benefiting local NGOs such as Mary’s House Services, The Smith Family, Ronald McDonald House Charities, and Women’s Community Shelters—showcasing Taiwan’s warmth, generosity, and love beyond its technological strengths.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Food & Environmental Hygiene Department says it has adopted a new enforcement approach to tackling the problem of dripping air conditioners at multiple locations across Hong Kong this year.

 

At a media briefing today, Assistant Director (Operations) of the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department Wan Chi-shun said the department has proactively conducted “door-to-door” inspections and taken enforcement action at about 300 locations.

 

Furthermore, 30 “dripping blackspots”, including bus stops, have been targeted for intensified patrols.

 

The department explained that it has adopted the “Dripping Air Conditioner Investigation System”. Equipped with infrared night-vision recording, the system helps identify the source of dripping in low-light conditions.

 

As dripping mostly occurs in the evening or early morning, the system has resolved previous difficulties in investigations, significantly shortened the time required for investigations and evidence collection, and enabled preliminary assessments to be made without entering premises.

 

The system has also enabled effective deployment of manpower for special operations in the evening or early morning. The previous allocation of 70% of manpower for daytime investigations and 30% for night-time investigations has been changed to 30% for daytime investigations and 70% for night-time investigations.

 

As of August 24, the department had handled approximately 5,200 cases of dripping air conditioners, marking a 25% increase over the same period last year and a threefold surge compared to the same period in 2023.

 

Among the 30 dripping blackspots – involving 14 districts, over 160 buildings, and approximately 7,000 air conditioners – the department has handled cases involving approximately 1,000 air conditioners.

 

The department urged property management companies to repair and maintain building drainage systems regularly, and to remind residents to check and repair their air conditioners. It said members of the public should check their air conditioners regularly and take immediate action if water drips.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The annual adjustment to consultation co-payment fees for screening and treatment under the Chronic Disease Co-care Pilot Scheme (CDCC Pilot Scheme) will take effect from September 1, the Health Bureau announced today.

Family doctors can determine consultation co-payment fees for screening, subject to a cap of $120.

As regards treatment, 874 of the 971 participating service points will keep their existing co-payment fees unchanged. Eight service points will lower their co-payment fees, and 89 service points will increase their fees, with increments ranging from $20 to $300.

Following the adjustment, 617 service points will charge the Government-recommended consultation co-payment fees at $150 or below. The median co-payment remains at $150. Overall, the rate of increase is 3.1% in the coming year.

Separately, the Health Bureau announced that the CDCC Pilot Scheme will be expanded in phases to cover suitable patients currently attending Hospital Authority General Out-patient Clinics (GOPCs), as well as participants in the General Outpatient Clinic Public-Private Partnership (GOPC PPP) Programme which is scheduled to conclude in 2028.

The bureau will send invitations to join the CDCC Pilot Scheme, by post, to suitable GOPC patients and existing GOPC PPP Programme participants, starting from next month and early next year respectively.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Inter-departmental Counter Terrorism Unit (ICTU) conducted a large-scale counter-terrorism (CT) exercise at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal today.

 

The exercise simulated a scenario in which terrorists attempted to launch an attack upon arriving in Hong Kong via a cruise ship, staging a knife attack and shooting in the terminal lobby. Their accomplices subsequently took a passenger ship hostage, leading to a gunfight with Police onboard.

 

The Emergency Monitoring & Support Centre was activated during the exercise, overseen by Chief Executive John Lee, Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki and Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung.

 

Mr Lee said that the global terrorism situation remains complex.

 

“As an international city, Hong Kong continues to enjoy overall safety and stability, but the threats posed by international and homegrown terrorism must not be neglected.

 

“Different policy bureaus and departments of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government must strengthen their co-ordination and response capabilities to address various forms of terrorist attacks.

 

“During this large-scale CT exercise, each department performed its respective duties, fully demonstrating its professional competence in responding to terrorist incidents. The relevant departments will consolidate the experience gained to further strengthen the overall CT work of the Hong Kong SAR Government.” 

 

About 500 personnel took part in the exercise. In addition to the Security Bureau and the six ICTU member departments, namely the Police Force, the Immigration Department, the Customs & Excise Department, the Correctional Services Department, the Fire Services Department and the Government Flying Service, staff from the Marine Department, the Government Laboratory, the Hospital Authority and the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal also actively participated and assisted in co-ordinating the exercise.

 

The ICTU attaches great importance to public engagement. For the first time, the exercise was broadcast live on television and online, enabling the public to observe in real time and further enhance their counter-terrorism awareness.

 

Nearly 200 volunteers from various community and youth organisations across different sectors and age groups were invited to participate in the exercise.

 

To strengthen CT preparedness, the CE’s 2024 Policy Address announced the establishment of the Three-tier Prevention Framework.

 

Mr Lee directed at the first Chief Executive Counter-terrorism Steering Group meeting that relevant bureaus and departments should conduct a large-scale interdepartmental CT exercise.

 

Under the co-ordination of the Three-tier Prevention Framework, relevant bureaus and departments will continue to strengthen their CT preparedness in various areas, including enhancing intelligence exchange, expanding community intelligence networks, preventing radicalisation, enhancing public education and organising diverse CT exercises.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:

The Judiciary today (August 28) called on the public to stay vigilant against a phishing email sent from the email account “jeremypoonshiuchor107@gmail.com”. The email falsely claims that it was issued by the Chief Judge of the High Court. The Judiciary has reported the case to the Police.

Members of the public are reminded to stay alert to suspicious emails and refrain from opening them. Anyone who has provided personal information to the email sender is advised to contact the Police immediately.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the Fintech Forum 2025: Envisioning the Future of Banking today (August 28):

(Director-General of the Economic Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Xu Weigang), Mary (Chairperson of the Hong Kong Association of Banks, Ms Mary Huen), 孫總 (Chairman of the Chinese Banking Association of Hong Kong, Mr Sun Yu), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good afternoon. It is a great pleasure to speak to you, today, at this luncheon. I know most of you have already had a full and rewarding morning, and are no doubt looking forward to a fortifying lunch. With that in mind, I will keep my remarks brief and focused.

I understand that Eddie (Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), Mr Eddie Yue) shared his perspectives on fintech regulation this morning, including the progress of a number of regulatory initiatives. Allow me to take a step back, outlining the Government’s overarching vision for advancing financial innovation in Hong Kong.

Pro-innovation approach

First, the Hong Kong SAR Government is pro-innovation and pro-tech.

We all recognise that technologies are disrupting and reshaping the landscape of finance.  From blockchain to artificial intelligence, these innovations allow financial transactions and settlements to be delivered faster, cheaper and more transparently. Yet, as with all transformative technologies, they also come with risks, presenting challenges to investor protection, cybersecurity, even financial security. Around the world, governments and financial regulators face the same fundamental question: to what extent, and at what pace, should we embrace innovative technologies?

For Hong Kong, the answer is clear. As a leading international financial centre, embracing new technologies is not an option. It is a necessity. To stay ahead of the curve, we must be proactive.

Our regulators play a facilitating role in driving financial innovation. A good example is the “regulatory sandboxes” implemented by our financial regulators. They allow innovators to test new technologies in a controlled setting, receiving timely regulatory feedback and refining their solutions before wider adoption. Through sandboxes, regulators and innovators collaborate, even working together to create new solutions.

Consider Project Ensemble. It enables industry participants to work with regulators, exploring tokenised asset use, assessing interoperability across platforms and helping define common industry standards. And it involves not only local parties but also overseas partners for cross-border use cases. As technologies evolve, so too must our platforms for experimentation. Over the past year, for example, the HKMA has introduced a sandbox for generative AI applications, as well as an incubator for distributed ledger technology.

These initiatives send a clear message to the market: that we welcome disruptive innovation, while ensuring that risks are identified and managed responsibly. This enables their adoption at scale, and with confidence.

Regulators and market enablers

That brings me to my second point: the role of our financial regulators.

In Hong Kong, regulators are entrusted with a dual mandate. They are not only supervisors who ensure regulatory compliance, but also enablers helping to shape the future of finance. This dual role is a defining feature of our regulatory philosophy.

Take the SFC (Securities and Futures Commission) for example. More than a regulator, it has been instrumental in driving a series of reforms to our stock market – going back to 2018. In fintech, the SFC is the regulator of digital-asset trading platforms. But it also works to expand digital-asset products for trading and listing.

As for the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, which leads Project Ensemble, it has issued two batches of tokenised green bonds worth HK$6.8 billion over the past two years, making Hong Kong one of the first governments in the world to issue such bonds. I’m pleased to note that preparations for a third batch are already under way.

Together, the Government and regulators lead by example, demonstrating Hong Kong’s commitment to driving innovation in the financial sector.

Playing to our strengths

The third point I wish to emphasise is the importance of playing to our strengths.

Hong Kong is Asia’s leading international financial centre. We are home to 70 of the world’s top 100 banks and six of its top 10 insurers. And they are supported by a dynamic network of asset managers and professional service providers. Our regulatory standards align with the highest international benchmarks, and we contribute to global standard setting via international bodies such as the IOSCO (International Organization of Securities Commissions).

This combination of global connectivity, deep liquidity and world-class expertise makes Hong Kong an ideal environment for fintech development. For start-ups and innovators, launching here is effectively an international seal of approval: if a solution works in our sophisticated, well-regulated, globally connected market, it is far more likely to succeed elsewhere.

And it all comes together thanks to our “one country, two systems” framework, enabling Hong Kong to provide unparalleled connectivity between the Chinese Mainland and the rest of the world. That singular advantage also allows Hong Kong to be a natural testing ground for new technologies looking to expand into this region.

The “Connect Schemes” perfectly illustrate innovative cross-border financial collaboration. Starting with equities and now including bonds, ETFs and derivatives, they allow international investors to participate in Mainland markets, and Mainland investors to access global opportunities, through a closed-loop system – an innovation only Hong Kong can deliver.

And I believe there is plenty of room for Hong Kong to serve as a two-way platform for fintech solutions as well.

On digital assets

Let me now turn to digital assets, where Hong Kong has emerged as a pioneer.

Over the past few years, we have been building regulatory regimes that encourage tech innovation with suitable guardrails. From the two policy statements on digital assets released over the past couple of years, to the enactment of the Stablecoin Ordinance, and our recent consultation on over-the-counter dealing and custodian service, our trajectory has been clear and consistent.

A few points are worth reiterating. First, we follow the “same activity, same risk, same regulation” principle, ensuring a transparent, fair and risk-based regime that adapts to innovation while protecting investors, consumers and financial security.

Second, we believe digital assets should serve the real economy. This is evident in the regulation of stablecoins, where licences will be granted only to applicants who can demonstrate real-world use cases with a convincing and sustainable business model.

Third, building a vibrant ecosystem. Over the years, we have put in a holistic and forward looking strategy for digital assets. It goes well beyond regulation to broadening product offerings, modernising infrastructure, advancing cross-boundary use and nurturing talent – all aimed at enabling the sustainable and responsible development of our digital-asset sector.

Looking ahead

Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to share two more points about fintech development down the road.

First, artificial intelligence. When combined with blockchain and other emerging technologies, AI holds immense potential to transform financial services. Streamlining compliance, enhancing customer service, improving credit scoring and risk management are just a few examples of AI’s promise. We believe there is substantial potential for AI to go further, to make financial services more efficient, inclusive and accessible.

A survey conducted by the HKMA’s Academy of Finance last year revealed that 75 per cent of Hong Kong’s financial institutions are already using or planning to use generative AI in their operations. This is a compelling indicator of how quickly the technology is being adopted here.

The Government has prioritised AI as a core industry under a broader “AI+” strategy, which seeks to embed AI across every sector of the economy. We are working to attract enterprises and talent, and we encourage cross-sector collaboration between AI and the financial services industry.

As with any new technology, we also recognise the challenges AI may pose to financial services and the economy in general. That’s why, last October, we issued a policy statement on the responsible application of AI in financial markets. It sets out a “dual track” approach: promoting adoption while addressing risks such as cybersecurity, data privacy and intellectual property protection. We are also carefully assessing its impact in areas such as job displacement.

My second point is that our fintech solutions must look beyond Hong Kong’s borders.

Hong Kong is already home to more than 1 100 fintech companies, ranging from digital banks to regtech providers. Many of these firms are expanding into Southeast Asia and across the Global South, where demand for innovative financial solutions is accelerating.

The Government actively supports this process. For example, the Hong Kong Investment Corporation partners with fintech companies to support their overseas ventures. And an increasing number of Mainland fintech firms are using Hong Kong to showcase and export their technologies to the world.

By helping them expand globally, we strengthen our own fintech sector, while contributing to financial inclusion and the region’s economic development.

Concluding remarks

Ladies and gentlemen, innovation inevitably carries risks, but those risks must not deter us from the progress it presents. As the Chinese saying goes: 無�風光在險峰, or as translated: perilous peaks offer the best scenery.

Let us work together to ensure that Hong Kong continues to shine as a global beacon of financial innovation and the wide-ranging prosperity it promises.

Thank you.