MIL Asia Pacific Publishing Engine

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

(To watch the full media session with sign language interpretation, click here.)

The Government will give landlords of units at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po an annual rental subsidy of $150,000 for two years, with the cash being paid in instalments of $75,000 every six months.

Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing made the announcement at a media session this afternoon, stating that the measure is a sensible, practicable and effective solution.

“Many residents, actually, they wanted to have another option of a rental subsidy to be given to them, so that they can, from the private market, rent suitable accommodation which can fit into their daily routines, such as going to work, going to school, going to the doctor’s.

“Because many residents, they have lived in Tai Po for a long time, and they have their social network there, so if they stay in the transitional housings elsewhere in Hong Kong, they have this problem of social dislocation.

“And also we have surveyed the stock of our accommodation, public housing accommodation in Tai Po, and actually we do not have any more such units left. So, we think a sensible and practicable and effective solution is really to offer them this rental subsidy, which we think it is not an excessive demand. It is reasonable.”

The rental subsidy will also extend to landlords of units at Wang Chi House, the only block of Wang Fuk Court untouched by the fire. Mr Cheuk explained that this is because they are also affected due to residents not being allowed to return to the building yet. 

In addition, a one-off relocation subidy of $50,000 will be issued to both landlords and tenants to help them move to private accommodation. 

The subsidies will be disbursed from Monday in phases.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government today released the first Chinese Medicine Development Blueprint for Hong Kong, outlining the vision for Chinese medicine (CM) development in the city.

The blueprint envisions a future that inherits the wisdom of CM while leveraging the Mainland’s extensive experience and resources. By integrating CM into a comprehensive healthcare system, Hong Kong will serve as a bridgehead for the international expansion of CM.

The vision will be realised by short, medium and long-term goals and action plans across key areas, covering five key domains with numerous goals and actions proposed.

These domains embrace the CM profession, its services, and cultural inheritance, as well as the development of Chinese medicines, and the “Go Global” promotion of CM by leveraging Hong Kong’s service model.

Unveiling the blueprint at a press conference today, Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau emphasised the Government’s commitment to the development of CM and noted that the blueprint aligns with the nation’s CM development strategies.

Commissioner for Chinese Medicine Development Vincent Chung said at the press conference that as far as clinical practice guidelines are concerned, the priority is to define the best practices in terms of CM diagnosis and treatment.

“We are going to create Chinese medicine practice guidelines and also pathways, and that will of course, number one, define what the best practices are in terms of Chinese medicine diagnosis and treatment,” he said.

As for the clinical pathway, an issue of concern is defining the different professionals to deliver the best services for patients, using overseas healthcare systems as references.

“In Malaysia, in Australia, in Singapore they have Chinese medicine practitioners being regulated and they are regulated healthcare professionals. They can actually make references to our model in terms of service development, so they can actually make use of their Chinese medicine resources and professionals better in their health systems, if we call it that way, and actually export our services model,” Mr Chung said.

He added that the other key area is Chinese herbal medicine standards and the testing technology being developed at the Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute.

“These can actually help different countries and regions to advance their regulatory best practices and also to know how to apply this new technology in clarifying the quality of all these Chinese herbal medicines,” he said.

Prof Lo said that the Government will work closely with the CM sector to implement the blueprint’s recommendations in an orderly manner to provide comprehensive, quality CM services to the public.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Government released the first Chinese Medicine Development Blueprint of Hong Kong today (December 18), outlining the vision of Chinese medicine (CM) development in Hong Kong – inheriting the wisdom of CM, leveraging the motherland’s development experience and resources, and utilising CM to provide Hong Kong citizens with higher quality and more comprehensive healthcare services for better health outcomes, while establishing Hong Kong as a bridgehead for the global expansion of CM.

     The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, said, “CM is an integral part of Hong Kong’s healthcare system that has long been trusted and used by the citizens. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has been committed to promoting CM development over the years, and the Blueprint is the first policy document published by the Government specifically dedicated to the development of CM in Hong Kong. The formulation of the Blueprint aligns with national CM development overall strategies, and fully considers the institutional advantages of the ‘one country, two systems’ principle and the CM system, with a view to promoting Hong Kong’s better integration into the construction of the CM highlands in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and the overall national development of CM.

     “Leveraging on the country’s robust capability in CM, Hong Kong also takes its advantages in its internationalised healthcare system, regulatory system, standard setting and clinical research, and more. The HKSAR Government will continue to work closely and actively with the CM sector to promote CM development, aiming to implement the recommendations as set out in the Blueprint in an orderly manner to provide comprehensive and quality CM services to the public. The Government will also leverage Hong Kong’s unique advantages of enjoying strong support from the motherland and being closely connected to the world, with a view to assisting the national drive for CM to go global.

     “This year marks a significant milestone for CM development in Hong Kong. The 7th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Conference on the Inheritance, Innovation, and Development of Traditional Chinese Medicine was held in Hong Kong on December 2, and The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong and the permanent premises of the Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute (GCMTI) also commenced services last Thursday (December 11), which received a positive public response. Building on the existing foundation of CM development, the release of the Blueprint today enables us to look to the future and formulate a comprehensive plan to further promote the comprehensive, high-quality and high-standard development of CM.”

     The Blueprint sets out short, medium and long-term goals and action plans across key areas, covering five key domains and proposing eight goals and 20 actions, with details as follows:

(1) CM Services

Goal 1: Enhancing Clinical Services Excellence
1. Defining the role of CM services within the healthcare system
2. Improving the quality and clinical effectiveness of CM services
3. Upgrading CM services through technological empowerment

Goal 2: Establishing an Interprofessional Service System
4. Deepening interprofessional collaboration mechanisms for CM services
5. Integrating into the healthcare system fully and fostering cross-institutional collaboration
6. Strengthening the role of CM in primary healthcare

(2) CM Profession

Goal 3: Leading CM Professional Development
7. Elevating the competence standard of the CM profession
8. Building a more comprehensive CM talent cultivation system
9. Empowering the sector to continuously advance CM professional development

(3) Chinese Medicines (CMs) Development

Goal 4: Enhancing CMs Quality and Standard
10. Strengthening quality management of CMs
11. Implementing good manufacturing practice (GMP) for proprietary CMs fully

Goal 5: Contributing to the Establishment of International Standard for CMs
12. Leveraging the GCMTI to establish standard for CMs
13. Deepening collaboration between the GCMTI and institutions in the Mainland and the GBA

Goal 6: Driving CM Innovation in Research and Industry
14. Promoting innovation of CMs and clinical trials
15. Empowering the industry to cultivate talent in CMs

(4) Cultural Inheritance

Goal 7: Promoting Culture of CM
16. Disseminating knowledge on the appropriate selection of CM for disease prevention and treatment
17. Fostering cross-sectoral collaboration to enhance cultural confidence in CM

(5) Go Global

Goal 8: Facilitating the “Go Global” of CM
18. Promoting Hong Kong’s CM service model and international co-operation globally
19. Facilitating the international application of CMs standard and testing technologies
20. Establishing an international hub for CM information exchange and innovation

     Professor Lo thanked the Chinese Medicine Development Committee, its Chinese Medicine Development Blueprint Subcommittee, CM sector and stakeholders from relevant sectors, for their valuable advice provided during the formulation of the Blueprint.

     The Chinese Medicine Unit of the Health Bureau (HHB) has been maintaining close liaison with local, Mainland and international stakeholders through various platforms and means, including engaging in nearly 400 activities, meetings and exchange sessions, to conduct stakeholder consultation for the formulation of the Blueprint.

     Full text and pamphlet of the Blueprint are available at the HHB’s thematic website (www.healthbureau.gov.hk/CMDevBlueprint).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     To support the eight universities funded by the University Grants Committee in attracting international top-notch researchers to Hong Kong and procuring facilities to conduct research projects in frontier technology fields, the Frontier Technology Research Support Scheme under the Innovation and Technology Fund was launched in September 2025. The Scheme aims to expand Hong Kong’s research capacities, promote the integrated development of education, technology and talent, and dovetail with the country’s strategic planning for frontier technologies.
      
     The Government will set up an Assessment Panel to consider applications received under the Scheme. The Innovation and Technology Commission today (December 18) announced that the Assessment Panel will be chaired by Dr Chung Shui-ming, with members from academia and representatives of the Government. The appointments will be for a term of two years starting from January 1, 2026. The membership of the Assessment Panel is as follows:
 
Chairman:
Dr Chung Shui-ming
 
Non-official Members:
Dr Joe Fang Zhou
Professor Paul Lam Kwan-sing
Professor Timothy Tong Wai-cheung
Professor Yang Guangzhong
 
Ex-officio Members:
Permanent Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry or his/her representative
Commissioner for Innovation and Technology or his/her representative

     The National 15th Five-Year Plan indicates clear support for Hong Kong’s development into an international innovation and technology centre and sets out key strategies to modernise the industrial system and accelerate the realisation of self-reliance on high-standard technology. The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, expressed hope that the Scheme can attract international top-notch talent to inject greater momentum into basic research in frontier technology fields, aligning with the National 15th Five-Year Plan and establishing Hong Kong as an international hub for high-calibre talent, enabling the city to better integrate into and serve the overall national development.
 
     The first round of applications has ended on November 25, 2025. The Innovation and Technology Commission expects that the application results will be announced in the first quarter of 2026. For enquiries, please contact the Secretariat of the Scheme (Tel.: 3543 5904; e‑mail: ftrss@itc.gov.hk).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at the Launch Ceremony of Aircraft Engineering Training Centre today (December 18):

Honourable Consul General of France (Consul General of France in Hong Kong, Ms Christile Drulhe), Mr Daniel Derichebourg (Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Elior Group SA), Mrs Vivian Cheung (Chief Executive Officer of the Airport Authority Hong Kong and Chairman of the Hong Kong International Aviation Academy), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good morning. It is a memorable moment for us to be here for the launch ceremony of the Aircraft Engineering Training Centre. The presence today and the speech by Mr Derichebourg speaks for Hong Kong’s internationalisation. Today marks a major step forward in Hong Kong’s determination to rise as Asia’s first aircraft recycling and parts-trading centre.
 
     We will do so, I’m delighted to say, in partnership with Elior Group SA. Elior is a leading European aeronautic services company with international expertise in aircraft engineering, dismantling, high-value parts management, and more. Together, we have what we need to build a flourishing regional service supply chain, one that captures the full aviation life cycle.      
     This role is supported by an internationally recognised legal system, a simple tax regime, and a favourable business environment, making Hong Kong an ideal two-way investment centre – for Chinese Mainland companies expanding globally and for international firms accessing the fast-growing markets of our country and the larger Asian region.
      
     Our vital aviation industry embodies these compelling advantages. As a global aviation hub with a world-class airport and an extensive air-services network, Hong Kong has achieved remarkable success, particularly in air cargo – Hong Kong International Airport has been ranked the world’s number one air cargo volume airport 14 times since 2010. We are strengthening our position through airport infrastructure developments, like the Three-runway System, and by enhancing professional services such as aircraft leasing.      
     In achieving that goal, we will drive the development of related industries as well, including trade, insurance, finance, leasing and more, creating new job opportunities and long-term economic benefits for Hong Kong.
     And in securing the supply stability of aircraft parts for maintenance, we will ensure the long-term growth of the aviation industry in Hong Kong, our country and beyond.
      
     Realising these ambitions demands a steady supply of skilled aircraft maintenance mechanics and engineers. We entrust that to the Hong Kong International Aviation Academy, in collaboration with Elior.
      
     A world-leading civil aviation training institution, the Academy has trained nearly 400,000 trainees from Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and overseas since its establishment in 2016.
      
     As for Elior, it now has a team of expert professionals here in Hong Kong, involved in setting up the Aircraft Engineering Training Centre, which will offer programmes in aircraft engineering, maintenance and airworthiness management.
      
     The first course will be launched in the first quarter of next year, with more courses planned for later in the year. These specialised programmes will meet international benchmarks and industry needs.
      
     With Elior’s expertise and the Academy’s commitment to expanding aviation talent, I am confident that the Training Centre we inaugurate today will inspire a world-class talent pool, propelling Hong Kong’s emergence as Asia’s aircraft recycling and parts-trading centre.      
     I am grateful to Elior for its commitment to creating a mutually rewarding future with us here in Hong Kong, and throughout Asia. My thanks also go to the Academy and all the industry partners involved, for your contributions in turning this far-reaching vision into boundless reality.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source:

[PRESS RELEASE 18 December 2025 Apia, SAMOA] – The latest round of funding from the Small Grants Programme (SGP) – funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) – will now benefit 57 communities whose project proposals have been successful.

These new projects will be funded by the Government of Australia through the Samoa CARES programme, which is implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), and technical support from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF).

A grant award ceremony and inception workshop was held on November 17, 2025 to help build these communities’ capacities in implementing their approved workplans and financial reporting.

One of the successful recipients, the village of Faletagaloa Safune in Savai‘i, welcomed the approval of their project saying it will contribute to environmental sustainability through the use of renewable solar energy. The project will also address critical lighting needs in areas of the village that are not currently connected to the main electricity grid, thereby enhancing community safety and overall wellbeing.

“We extend our profound gratitude to the Government of Australia, GEF, UNDP, and the SGP National Steering Committee for their leadership, commitment, and careful consideration in reviewing and approving our proposal. We look forward to the successful implementation of this project in partnership with all stakeholders,” said Tologataua Sioeli Alofaifo, Faletagaloa village and project representative.

A total of 113 applications were received during the Call for Proposals, reflecting widespread interest once again in the SGP mechanism.

“What has always stood out to the Australian High Commission is the way that the SGP (Small Grants Programme) projects innovatively combine elements of environmental protection with resilience building, economic opportunities, and social inclusion efforts – leading to holistic sustainable development outcomes,” said Claire McGeechan, Deputy High Commissioner,

Australia.

.

The selection of successful projects came after an intensive screening and approval process that was based on the technical assessment and recommendations from the SGP Technical Advisory Group and signed off by the National Steering Committee (NSC).

“I offer my warmest congratulations to the Community-Based Organizations that have been successful with their project proposals. Your success reflects your commitment, leadership, and your strong understanding of the needs of your communities and environment. These projects show that meaningful solutions to climate change and environmental challenges are best led by communities themselves,” said Paolo Dalla Stella, UNDP Officer-In-Charge.

END.

December 18, 2025

Source:

PRESS RELEASE December 17, 2025] – The United States Embassy in Samoa hosted a ceremony today to formally mark the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the United States and the Government of Samoa for the construction of a new Saina-Toamua School. The event was attended by U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Daniel J. Tarapacki and Samoa’s Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Education and Culture, Aeau Christopher Hazelman, who both delivered remarks highlighting the urgent need for this initiative.

With more than 600 students currently enrolled, Saina-Toamua Primary School faces significant challenges due to deteriorating facilities. Since May 2024, the U.S. Embassy has worked closely with the Ministry of Education and Culture and the school’s leadership to address these concerns and ensure the safety and well-being of students.

Through funding provided by the U.S. Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster, and Civic Aid program, the United States will support the construction of a new school complex featuring 16 classrooms, a library, a computer lab, a science lab, a principal’s office, a staff room, and separate toilet facilities for students and staff. The project also includes the safe demolition of the existing school, ensuring the new facility meets the highest standards and will serve the community for years to come. The total project cost is estimated at approximately 1.9 million USD.

“This investment reflects our shared belief in the power of education to transform lives and communities,” said Chargé d’Affaires Daniel J. Tarapacki. “By working together, the United States and Samoa are demonstrating our mutual commitment to the future of education and to the well-being of the people of Samoa.”

This project stands as a testament to the enduring friendship between the United States and Samoa, underscoring the values and strong ties that unite both nations. By supporting the Saina-Toamua community, the two countries are not only building a new school; but also strengthening their partnership for the future.

The United States extends its sincere gratitude to the Government of Samoa, the Ministry of Education and Culture, the school principal, and the entire community for their collaboration and trust. The new Saina-Toamua Primary School is expected to become a place of hope, learning, and opportunity for all.

End Release.

US Embassy Apia, Samoa

December 18, 2025

Source:

[PRESS RELEASE] – Samoa has validated its Multi-Hazard Early Warning for All (MHEW4All) Roadmap on Wednesday 11th December, 2025; developed through collaboration among government agencies and partners. The roadmap supports the Early Warning for All (EW4All) special initiative of the UN Secretary General, which aims to spearhead action to ensure every person on Earth is protected by early warning systems by 2027.

The validation process brought together representatives from the government including the Disaster Advisory Committee members, sector ministries and NGOS. The validation ensured that the roadmap reflects national priorities; confirms that it gives Samoa a clear plan to strengthen an early warning system that focuses on protecting people.

The collaboration and verification also reconfirm that the roadmap outlines what actions to take and how to use resources effectively to make the system stronger.

Samoa’s Multi-Hazard Early Warning for All Roadmap (2026–2036) is a plan that guides the country in improving its early warning systems for disasters and emergencies.

It helps the government and communities, from national to village level, know what actions to take and where to invest money so warnings are faster, clearer, and more effective. MHEW4All Roadmap helps Samoa make disaster preparedness an essential part of long-term development.

It means building resilience not just through technology and systems, but in everyday life, so that all people are safer, better protected, and more able to recover when disasters happen.

The Roadmap aligns well with national strategies and global frameworks such as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and Samoa’s own Pathway for Development.

ENDS

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Samoa

December 18, 2025