Attributable to Senior Sergeant Aimee Whitley, Hamilton City Area Response Manager:
Two people, including a gang member, have been arrested and a homemade firearm seized following an incident in Hillcrest, Hamilton.
Around 2pm yesterday, Police responded to Masters Avenue following a report of a disorder involving a firearm. No-one was injured.
A person believed to be in possession of a firearm left the scene in a vehicle.
Police swiftly responded, armed as a precaution, searching the Hillcrest area and locating the vehicle of interest further down Masters Avenue.
The vehicle was stopped and two people from the vehicle were arrested without incident.
A small home-made pistol, capable of firing .22 calibre rounds, was located and seized, along with 203 grams of cannabis also located in the vehicle.
A 30-year-old Waikato man is due to appear in the Hamilton District Court on Friday 1 November on charges of unlawfully possessing a firearm and unlawfully possessing ammunition.
A 23-year-old Waikato man is due to appear in the Hamilton District Court on Tuesday 5 November on a charge of possessing a cannabis plant.
Thanks to the detailed and prompt report made by a member of the public, Police were able to swiftly locate the vehicle of interest, taking one more firearm off the street.
Police work hard to hold offenders to account, especially those with the potential to cause serious harm in our communities, such as those unlawfully in the possession of firearms, or those who take it upon themselves to craft homemade firearms.
Homemade firearms have the potential to cause serious harm, not only to officers and the community but also to those using them.
If you witness any unlawful activity and it is happening now, please contact Police on 111 as soon as possible with as much information as possible, including descriptions of the offenders, their vehicles, and what direction they may have travelled in.
Information can also be reported to Police online or by calling 105.
Alternatively you can report any information anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Four property owners fined over $104,000 in total for failing to comply with fire safety directions Four property owners fined over $104,000 in total for failing to comply with fire safety directions ******************************************************************************************
Four property owners were convicted and fined over $104,000 in total at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts on October 17 for failing to comply with fire safety directions issued under the Fire Safety (Buildings) Ordinance (FS(B)O) (Cap. 572). The Buildings Department (BD) issued fire safety directions under section 5(2)(a)(ii) of the FS(B)O to the respective owners of four domestic flats in a 70-year-old composite building on Lockhart Road, Causeway Bay, requiring them to comply with the fire safety construction requirements by providing fire-rated doors at the unit entrances, which open directly to staircases. Failing to comply with the statutory directions, the four owners were prosecuted by the BD and were convicted by the court. Each of them was fined $26,120. “According to the FS(B)O, failing to comply with a statutory direction issued under the ordinance without reasonable excuse is a serious offence. The BD may instigate prosecution proceedings against the owner”, a spokesman for the BD said today (October 30). Pursuant to section 5(8) of the FS(B)O, any person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with a statutory direction, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine at level 4 ($25,000 at present) and to a further fine of $2,500 for each day of non-compliance. Upon conviction, an application may also be made to the court for a Fire Safety Compliance Order against the owner under section 6(1) of the FS(B)O directing the owner to comply with the requirements of the direction.
Ends/Wednesday, October 30, 2024Issued at HKT 11:00
Tianjin Airlines announced on Tuesday that a direct flight route will be available starting Nov. 15, connecting Guiyang, the capital city of southwest China’s Guizhou Province, with Singapore.
The new air service will operate with an Airbus A320 aircraft, offering four round-trip flights per week, with each flight lasting approximately four hours or more.
This will be the only direct flight from the mountainous province to Singapore, further expanding the international air routes available from China’s southwestern region.
The second “Smile of Cambodia” event was held in front of the famed Angkor Wat here in northwest Siem Reap province on Tuesday, aiming at promoting culture and the world heritage site to tourists.
Angkor Wat is a major ancient temple in the UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Park.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the two-day event, Phoeurng Sackona, minister of culture and fine arts, said the event was designed to promote culture and enhance tourism to attract international visitors to the Angkor.
“This event has not only promoted Cambodia’s arts, culture, tradition and custom, but also contributed to revitalizing the tourism sector, which is one of the key catalysts for the kingdom’s economic growth,” she said.
Sackona said the event was hosted by the APSARA National Authority (ANA), a government agency responsible for managing, safeguarding and preserving the Angkor Archaeological Park, in collaboration with the Khmer Artists Association.
According to the ANA, activities during the two-day event include exhibitions of local cuisine and souvenirs, entertainment programs, and cultural shows, among others.
The 401-square-km Angkor Archaeological Park, which is Cambodia’s most popular tourist destination, is home to 91 ancient temples, built from the ninth to the 13th centuries.
The ancient park attracted almost 700,000 international visitors during the January-September period of 2024, earning a gross revenue of 32.5 million U.S. dollars from ticket sales, according to the state-owned Angkor Enterprise.
Secretary for Environment & Ecology Tse Chin-wan today attended a seminar in Shenzhen, hosted by the Ministry of Ecology & Environment, on ecological and environmental protection in the Greater Bay Area.
The seminar was aimed deepening such protection, strengthening collaboration towards it matter among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau, and exploring measures to accelerate the building of “an international first-class beautiful bay area”.
Mr Tse highlighted four relevant areas of focus for Hong Kong: enhancing environmental governance to build a beautiful Hong Kong; promoting green and low-carbon transformation; green transportation development; and advocating for the establishment of a “Zero-waste City”.
Highlighting that the three places have in place effective co-ordination mechanisms to promote ecological and environmental protection, Mr Tse added that Hong Kong will continue to contribute to the development of picturesque landscapes and a beautiful bay area.
He elaborated that Hong Kong is looking forward to collaborating with Mainland cities in the bay area to jointly promote a circular economy, facilitate green transformation and explore opportunities for the development of green industries.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is a question by the Hon Martin Liao and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (October 30):
Question:
Regarding the second round of the Strive and Rise Programme (the Programme), will the Government inform this Council:
(1) given that the Strive and Rise Alumni Club (Alumni Club) under the Programme has organised a number of exchange tours to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and also offers local job tasting or internship programmes for Alumni Club members aged between 16 and 21, and it is reported that some Mainland multinational enterprises intend to hire mentee graduates of the Programme, whether the authorities will consider extending the job tasting or internship programmes of the Alumni Club to GBA, so that mentees may gain a deeper understanding of the development of GBA at an early stage and widen their horizons; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(2) as it is reported that some mentors in the first round of the Programme were unable to spare time and participate in the activities with their mentees due to their busy schedules, and remained unaware of the emotional issues among the mentees by the end of the first round of the Programme, whether the authorities will make appropriate adjustments to the mentorship mechanism in the second round of the Programme to accommodate mentees with special needs and arrange for the mentors to receive training first, so as to help the mentors identify and address the emotional needs of the mentees; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(3) as it is learnt that a number of interest classes offered to mentees under the basic training sessions of the Programme are very popular among the mentees, but the costs of the interest classes in sport, musical instruments, art, etc, are too high that it is difficult to meet mentees’ long-term learning needs despite a subsidy totalling $10,000 is provided to them in two phases under the Programme, whether the authorities will introduce measures and collaborate with schools and various sectors where practicable, so as to support mentees in continuing to develop their interests; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(4) as there are views that the Child Development Fund is similar to the Programme in nature and content, for example, both with the elements such as “personal development plan” and “mentorship”, whether the Government will consider reviewing their contents and make appropriate integration or project collaboration, so as to optimise resources; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
The second cohort of the Strive and Rise Programme (the Programme) was launched in October 2023, with a number of enhancement measures introduced with reference to the results from the impact assessment conducted by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University research team on the programme’s first cohort. The enhancement measures include increasing the number of mentees from 2 800 to 4 000 with the coverage expanded to Secondary 4 students, enriching the variety of group activities (such as organising more Mainland study and exchange tours), introducing mentorship groups, and establishing the Strive and Rise Alumni Club (the Alumni Club) for graduates.
The reply to the question raised by the Hon Martin Liao is as follows:
(1) Graduates of the first and second cohorts of the Programme will automatically become members of the Alumni Club established in November 2023. It organises different types of activities for the alumni, including exchange activities to the Mainland, with a view to broadening their social network and horizons, and sustaining the effectiveness of the programme. Also, the Alumni Club provides short-term five-day job tasting/internship opportunities for alumni aged 16 or above to assist them in identifying their talents and career aspirations. It will continue, in collaboration with supporting organisations, to line up Mainland study and exchange tours as well as various experiential activities, including visits to workplaces of different enterprises, to help alumni understand the development and prospects of different industries on the Mainland, widen their horizons and set goals for their future.
(2) One of the enhancement measures implemented in the second cohort of the Programme is the introduction of mentorship groups on top of the one-to-one mentor-mentee pairing, under which two to three pairs of mentors and mentees would form a mentorship group to participate in group activities and exchanges for better interaction, sharing and support. When matching mentors and mentees, consideration will be given to the latter’s career aspirations and hobbies/interests, as well as their gender, language and special needs (e.g. special educational needs (SENs)). The programme also provided different kinds of training for mentors, including basic and advanced training, and skills for interacting with mentees with SENs or from ethnic minority groups and their parents. If mentors encounter difficulties in offering guidance to mentees, they may contact the respective District Organisers which will arrange social workers to render support as appropriate.
(2) The enhanced Programme consists of a one-year intensive foundation programme and two years of activities in the Alumni Club. In the first year of the Programme, a start-up sum of $5,000 is awarded to student participants for implementing their personal development plans under the guidance of their mentors, whereas a scholarship of $5,000 is further awarded to student participants upon completion of the Programme for their own deployment by applying the financial planning skills acquired. Graduates will automatically become members of the Alumni Club and can continue to participate in its whole-person development activities covering six major aspects, namely Financial Education, Career and Life Planning, Leadership Development, Sports and Healthy Lifestyle, Arts and Cultural Expressions, and Social Networking and Civic Engagement, as well as job tasting/internship opportunities, with a view to broadening their social network and horizons while continuing to facilitate their development of talents and interests.
(4) In 2023, the Social Welfare Department completed a review of the Child Development Fund Programme (CDF Programme) to enhance its uniqueness and ensure effective use of resources in supporting underprivileged children. Relevant enhancement measures have been introduced to the projects launched in March 2024. For example, target participants have been changed from students of Primary 4 to Secondary 4 to students of Primary 3 to Primary 6, so that underprivileged children can benefit at an early developmental stage from the CDF Programme, including development of savings habits, good characters and positive values through the three components of Personal Development Plan, Mentorship, and Targeted Savings. The enhanced CDF Programme complements the Strive and Rise Programme which focuses on supporting Secondary 1 to 4 students from underprivileged families. The two programmes complement each other in catering to the needs of Primary and Secondary students from underprivileged families at their different developmental stages.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ9: Promoting digital nomadism LCQ9: Promoting digital nomadism ********************************
Following is a question by Dr the Hon Johnny Ng and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (October 30): Question: It has been reported that digital nomadism (i.e. working remotely online while living abroad) has become a lifestyle with growing popularity in recent years. Some studies have estimated that the population of digital nomads worldwide would increase to 1 billion by 2035. There are views that hiring digital nomads is conducive to business operation by reducing employers’ costs and expenses, while the presence of digital nomads in the host communities will also contribute to local economic growth. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council: (1) whether the Government will or has estimate(d) and assess(ed) the economic benefits that can be brought to Hong Kong by implementing digital nomad policies to attract talents to work and live in Hong Kong; (2) as there are views pointing out that digital nomads can help expand the talent pool to a worldwide scale, and it is learnt that at present, about 60 countries and places across the globe have already introduced digital nomad visas (e.g. the digital nomad visa launched by Thailand this year has a validity of five years, permitting a stay of up to 180 days per visit, while the digital nomad visa introduced by Japan this year allows holders to bring along with them their family members), whether the Government will, by drawing reference from the relevant practices, issue digital nomad visas to overseas and Mainland talents, or even roll out related preferential policies (including temporary resident visas, accommodation allowance, family-friendly measures and tax incentives, etc) in order to attract specific types of digital nomads (e.g. talents related to Web 3.0, quantum computation and artificial intelligence), thereby attracting more talents to come to Hong Kong; if so, of the details of the plan and the timetable; if not, the reasons for that; and (3) whether the Government will, in the long run, consider launching an e-Residency programme to offer digital citizenship to foreigners, so as to attract more talents and enterprises from abroad to settle in Hong Kong? Reply: President, In consultation with the Financial Secretary’s Office (including the Office of the Government Economist and the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises), the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau and the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau, I give the reply on behalf of the Government as follows: “Digital nomads” are essentially similar to visitors, who can live in one place but at the same time work remotely under an employment outside such place. “Digital nomads” will return to their places of origin or move to other places after a certain period of time. In the case of Hong Kong, the Government has implemented a series of enhanced talent admission measures since the end of 2022 to entice global talents of diverse backgrounds and professions to settle and pursue development in Hong Kong. Talents will alleviate the post-pandemic manpower shortage in Hong Kong, fill local job vacancies and enrich the local talent pool for promoting economic development. As the objective of the Government’s talents policy is to alleviate manpower shortage, we hope that admitted talents can make Hong Kong their home, inject impetus and contribute to the development of Hong Kong. “Digital nomads” are mobile. Although they will spend on various aspects in daily living during their stay in Hong Kong, they are no different from ordinary visitors. They do not fit well under the Government’s talent attraction policy. The Government has no plan to introduce “digital nomad” visa arrangement under the talent admission regime. At present, “digital nomad” visa arrangement is implemented in a small number of regions only. With limited statistics on relevant economic activities available, the Government is not able to estimate the potential economic benefits brought by adopting similar practice in Hong Kong. The “e-Residency programme” allows freelance workers to obtain some of the rights or facilitation granted to the citizens of the issuing place, or they may live and work in the issuing place. Such an arrangement involves complex issues such as taxation, civil rights and obligations, etc. It is currently implemented in a small number of regions only. The Government has difficulty in assessing its benefit and has no plan to implement such arrangement neither at present.
Ends/Wednesday, October 30, 2024Issued at HKT 11:05
Following is a question by the Hon Lilian Kwok and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (October 30): Question: There are views pointing out that domestic violence is of grave concern in the community. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council: (1) of the respective numbers of requests for assistance and reported cases in relation to domestic violence received by the Government in each month of the past five years, as well as the number of persons convicted; (2) as it is learnt that when handling domestic conflict reports, the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) will refer cases in need to the Social Welfare Department for follow-up actions once consent is sought from the parties concerned, and for persons who refuse to accept the referral service, HKPF will provide them with a “Family Support Service Information Card” so that they can seek assistance on their own, whether the Government has continuously followed up and provided support for those persons who refused the referral service; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; (3) of the waiting time for and the average number of sessions of psychological counselling and emotional support services provided by the Government to victims in domestic violence cases; (4) given that the Police currently classify domestic conflict reports into “Domestic Violence (Crime)”, “Domestic Violence (Miscellaneous)” and “Domestic Incidents” based on their degree of seriousness, whether the Government will regularly review and update the relevant classification criteria and guidelines; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and (5) of the Government’s education and publicity efforts on the prevention of domestic violence in the past three years (set out by item); whether it has assessed the effectiveness of such work? Reply: President, The reply to the Member’s question, in consultation with Security Bureau, is as follows: (1) In the past five years, the numbers of cases involving spouse/cohabitant battering and child protection received and handled by the Social Welfare Department (SWD) are tabulated below:
Case type Year
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Number of spouse/cohabitant battering cases 2 920 2 601 2 715 2 077 1 938
Number of child protection cases 1 006 940 1 367 1 439 1 457
The SWD does not have information on the monthly number of such cases. As at September 2024, the respective numbers of cases of domestic violence (including Domestic Violence (Crime) and Domestic Violence (Miscellaneous)) and Domestic Incidents handled by the Police are set out at Annex. As domestic violence cases involve various criminal offences and different ordinances, the Police do not maintain statistics on the relevant number of convictions. (2) When handling domestic conflict reports, once consent is sought from the parties concerned, the Police will refer cases in need to the SWD for follow-up actions, including arranging for the persons in need for admission to refuge centres or immediate intervention by outreaching social workers, etc by the SWD. Depending on the circumstances, the Police refers the victims and/or assailants to other appropriate follow-up services, such as joining hands with the SWD to assist them in contacting relevant social welfare organisations for counseling and other supports, with a view to strengthening protection for victims and preventing recurrence of domestic violence. For persons who refuse to accept referral services, the Police provides a “Family Support Service Information Card” jointly produced with the SWD, to facilitate the persons concerned to contact service agencies direct for assistance. If a case is assessed as high-risk, the Police will take the initiative to refer the case to the SWD to ensure that the case receives timely follow-up. Upon receiving the Police’s referral, the SWD will make crisis intervention and provide necessary support having regard to the circumstances and welfare needs of the case. (3) The SWD provides a wide range of preventive, supportive and specialised services to victims of domestic violence and families in need through different service units. These services include Integrated Family Service Centres/Integrated Services Centres, Family and Child Protective Services Units, Clinical Psychology Units, Family Support Networking Teams, Refuge Centres for Women, Family Crisis Support Centre, Multi-purpose Crisis Intervention and Support Centre, Victim Support Programme for Victims of Family Violence, residential child care services and child care centres. The emergency support services provided by these service units to the victims of domestic violence cases do not require waiting. The SWD does not have the information on the average times of service for each case. (4) The Police have clear professional guidelines for the classification and handling of cases. Irrespective of the classification of a case, police officers will handle and investigate cases with empathy, understanding, professionalism, fairness, and impartiality. The Police attach great importance to the problem of domestic violence. Through an inter-departmental and multi-disciplinary approach, the Police handle domestic violence cases with joint efforts, with a view to achieving the dual objectives of protecting the personal safety of the victims and their families as well as bringing the offenders to justice. The Police have formulated a set of policies and procedures for effective handling of domestic violence cases, ensuring that officers respond to all reports promptly and take appropriate enforcement actions, and ensure the immediate safety of victim and his/her children to prevent further harm. (5) The SWD has been launching the publicity campaign on “Strengthening Families and Combating Violence”, which include promotion through television, radio, various public transport network, online platforms and social media, to raise public awareness on the understanding of the problems of domestic violence and the prevention of domestic violence. The SWD also organises various mass events and diversified district-based public education programmes with a view to encouraging the persons in need to seek early assistance, preventing resorting to violence against family members and promoting the message of family harmony. In addition, the Police have also effectively utilised various channels, including seminars, workshops and online platforms to provide training to different sectors such as social welfare and education, in order to raise public awareness and prevent domestic violence cases. The Government would regularly review the effectiveness of the work and refine the promotion strategies at appropriate time.
Ends/Wednesday, October 30, 2024Issued at HKT 11:08
Locals and visitors to Torquay will be safer, better connected and informed thanks to mobile connectivity and resilience upgrades through the Albanese Government’sPeri-Urban Mobile Program(PUMP). Torquay will share in $40.9 million awarded nationally under PUMP Round 2 which will co-fund 47 projects in natural-disaster prone communities. The Albanese Government has awarded funding to Amplitel to address longstanding mobile coverage and reception issues in the area. The project will upgrade an existing Amplitel site to provide new and improved 4G and 5G coverage from TPG that will have back-up power supply of at least 12 hours. This will allow services to operate for longer in the event of a mains power outage caused by a natural disaster. The project is one of 16 successful projects in Victoria under Round 2 of PUMP. In total, Victorian projects will receive $15.7 million in Commonwealth funding, and $14.6 million in co-contributions from the telco industry. The 16 projects will deliver more than 800 square kilometres of 4G and 5G new improved coverage, to more than 35,000 homes and businesses. The peri-urban fringe is where the bush meets the suburbs, creating natural disaster risks for those living and working there. These areas have been historically underserved because of the high cost of deploying infrastructure, difficult terrain, planning challenges and lower population densities. Natural disasters across Australia have highlighted the need for more reliable mobile services during emergencies, which the Albanese Government is committed to delivering. The PUMP Round 2 projects were recommended by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts following a competitive, merit-based process. The PUMP complements other Albanese Government initiatives to improve telecommunications services across Australia, through the $1.1 billionBetter Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia. For more information, visit: infrastructure.gov.au/pump Quotes attributable to Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP: “The Albanese Government understands how vital telecommunication services are for keeping communities safe, connected and informed during disruptions and natural disasters. “Access to telecommunications coverage during a natural disaster can be the difference between life and death. “This is why we are investing up to $100 million through our Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia to improve the resilience of networks against natural disasters.
“The PUMP projects are part of this commitment. Better connectivity will allow communities, like those around Torquay, to better prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural disasters. “The Albanese Government is pleased to support this project, which will help ensure locals and visitors to Torquay can stay in touch and receive information when they need it most.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Corangamite, Ms Libby Coker MP: “It’s fantastic to have the Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP here to announce this project for Torquay. It reflects the Albanese Government’s whole-hearted commitment to improving the resilience of mobile networks across our region. “While no network is ever 100 per cent disaster-proof, our Government is determined to do what we can to boost the resilience of our telecommunications networks when local communities need them most. “Living on the Surf Coast, I know just how important good mobile coverage can be for keeping locals and visitors safe, especially during the peak summer months – I look forward to seeing the connectivity boost this project will deliver for Torquay – it’s a great outcome for our region.”
The U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Royal Malaysian Armed Forces commenced Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Malaysia 2024, Oct. 29. This marks the beginning of eight days of maritime engagements designed to enhance interoperability and strengthen security ties between the two nations.
“This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training exercise series, which is a testament to the strength and longevity of the U.S.-Malaysia partnership,” said Capt. John Baggett, deputy commodore, Destroyer Squadron 7 and U.S. head of delegation for the opening ceremony. “Over the past three decades, we’ve built a strong foundation of trust and cooperation that has benefited both of our nations. Exercises like this underscore the excellent partnership between our militaries and emphasizes our respect for one another.”
CARAT Malaysia 2024 builds on 67 years of close collaboration between the U.S. and Malaysia. It highlights our continued dedication to peace, stability and security in the region. Additionally, CARAT Malaysia serves as a symbol of the U.S. commitment to key Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) partners to reinforce ASEAN Centrality, supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific.
During the exercise, participants will engage in specialized training across a wide range of disciplines including medicine, legal operations, aviation, and force protection. Naval vessels and maritime surveillance aircraft, and specialized teams (including diving and explosive ordnance disposal units) will conduct high-intensity drills focusing on anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, anti-air warfare, and maritime domain awareness.
This year, Marine Rotational Force – Southeast Asia (MRF-SEA) personnel will engage in training events and expert exchanges with Royal Malaysian army and naval forces, focusing on amphibious operations planning, medical treatment in maritime environments, legal discussions, and security and cyber operations best practices.
These events aim to enhance the collective interoperability and proficiency between U.S. and Malaysian forces while cultivating strong relationships as partners.
“CARAT serves as a vital platform for our armed forces to engage in cooperative operations. It emphasizes our shared dedication to promoting stability and addressing shared challenges in our maritime domain,” said Royal Malaysian Navy First Admiral Hj Muhammad Rohdi bin Ariffin, assistant chief of staff, Joint Force Headquarters and Malaysian head of delegation for the opening ceremony. “We are privileged to host our friends from the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. This exercise showcases the strength of our partnership and the spirit of collaboration… Together we can overcome challenges and ensure a stable future for all.”
Participating U.S. assets include the Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey (DDG 105) and a P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft, staff and personnel from Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet, Commander, Task Force (CTF) 72, 73, 75, and 76, Command, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7, and MRF-SEA personnel from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
Royal Malaysian Navy participating assets include the Kedah-class offshore patrol vessel KD Terengganu (F 174), the Keris-class littoral mission ship KD Rencong (KD 114), a Eurocopter AS 550 Fennec helicopter, an F/A-18D Hornet multi-role fighter, and two Agusta Westland AW139 helicopters.
As the U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed DESRON in Southeast Asia, DESRON 7 serves as the primary tactical and operational commander of littoral combat ships rotationally deployed to Singapore. DESRON 7 also functions as the CTF-76 Sea Combat Commander and builds partnerships through training exercises and military-to-military engagements as the executing agent of Commander, Task Group CARAT.
U.S. 7th Fleet is the Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
Defense Contract Management Agency International’s Pacific Command continues to reinforce the growing defense cooperation between Japan and the United States.
Navy Cmdr. Thomas Miyano, DCMA Japan’s commander, recently participated in Japan’s Ministry of Defense Industry Day alongside the U.S. Air Force’s 374th Contract Squadron. The event, which focused on supply chain resilience, co-sustainment of military assets, and co-production of missile systems, served as a continuation of efforts initiated by the U.S.-Japan Defense Industrial Cooperation, Acquisition, and Sustainment, or DICAS, forum from earlier this year.
Miyano discussed DCMA’s role in supporting the Japan Self-Defense Force and the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet with Japan’s Minister of Defense Minoru Kihara and Parliamentary Vice Minister of Defense Hiroshi Miyake.
“This event provided an invaluable opportunity to showcase DCMA’s contributions to maintaining the readiness and resiliency of both U.S. and Japanese forces,” Miyano said. “The DCMA Pacific team is committed to providing value throughout the acquisition lifecycle, and it was an honor to convey that dedication to our Indo-Pacific partners.”
Industry Day bolstered the ongoing agenda discussed during the 2+2 meeting, a key bilateral defense dialogue between Japan and the U.S. to promote greater defense cooperation. The event followed the launch of the DICAS Forum in June, spearheaded by U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Dr. William LaPlante and his Japanese counterpart, Masaki Fukasawa, commissioner of the Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics Agency.
LaPlante and Fukasawa, who served as DICAS co-chairs, signed the Terms of Reference to restructure the former Systems and Technology Forum into the DICAS framework. The agreement, announced earlier this year, marked a commitment by both countries to advance co-development, co-production, and co-sustainment of defense systems, including missile systems and U.S. Navy and Air Force assets stationed in the Indo-Pacific.
“When you’re talking about acquisition, there’s really three legs to the stool,” LaPlante said earlier this year. “One leg is acquisition, which is the contract. The second is the requirement, and this is about … getting what the department needs right for the warfighter, and the third is having money in the right year.”
Defense officials and industry leaders from both nations explored how to strengthen joint capabilities and streamline cooperation between U.S. and Japanese defense contractors. Industry Day also provided an opportunity to discuss the progress of key initiatives under DICAS, such as co-production of missile systems and co-sustainment of U.S. military ships and aircraft.
“We discussed how our collaboration can further support the co-sustainment of forward-deployed U.S. Navy ships and how we can streamline the joint production of defense equipment,” Miyano said. “It’s clear that both nations are committed to working together to overcome challenges and strengthen the region’s security.”
With the DICAS framework serving as a critical foundation for these collaborative efforts, both the U.S. and Japan are set to continue deepening their defense ties.
“By enhancing co-sustainment and co-production efforts, our two nations are laying the groundwork for a more integrated and capable defense infrastructure, poised to meet the evolving challenges of this area,” Miyano said.
Despite their broad potential, nature-based solutions are often overlooked in city cooling strategies. Key barriers include a lack of supportive policies, financial constraints, and limited institutional capacity.
Addressing these challenges requires a multi-pronged approach that maximizes NbS benefits and integrates them into broader heat action plans. This must involve reducing waste heat (e.g., from transport and buildings), addressing cooling needs efficiently, and ensuring equitable access to thermal comfort. Key considerations for incorporating NbS into urban cooling strategies include:
Integrated planning: A systems approach ensures NbS are complemented by other solutions to maximize their benefits.
Equity: Cooling solutions must be distributed fairly, with heat equity embedded in planning to prevent future injustices.
Community participation: Involve women and vulnerable groups in designing and implementing cooling programs that deliver real benefits.
Local solutions: NbS should be tailored to local climates, needs, and traditional approaches (e.g., architecture).
Studies suggest that 30% of cities should be dedicated to green or blue spaces. Achieving this requires enabling strategies like raising awareness, building institutional capacity, and securing financing. It also involves assessing current natural assets and identifying vulnerable communities. Partnerships with the private sector can help provide technical expertise and funding. In developing countries, protecting existing green spaces from development is the most effective way to maintain cooling.
Creating a cooling-friendly urban form requires time and sustained effort. In the near term, practical, no-regret actions to build resilience to heat stress through NbS include:
Establishing champions and authorities to protect and enhance green and blue spaces
Conducting baseline assessments of green and blue spaces and identifying vulnerable communities
Investing in green and blue infrastructure, especially in public areas
Tree planting is perhaps the simplest and most effective action to reduce urban heat—provided the right trees are planted in the right places as part of a coordinated city-wide greening effort. Steps taken today will help future generations benefit from NbS for cooling.
Source: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
In the past 2 years, an ACIAR-supported value chain project in the Philippines has seen the country’s first smallholder vegetable farmers certified through the Philippines Good Agricultural Practices (PhilGAP) program.
Although PhilGAP was first launched in 2006 by the Department of Agriculture, there have been few market or other incentives to drive uptake of certification. The program aims to ensure the safety and quality of agricultural products, environmental protection, and the health, safety and welfare of farm workers.
But with 43 vegetable growers now certified in the Eastern Visayas and Northern Mindanao regions, and more in progress, it has breathed new life into the PhilGAP program.
The efforts of the VSU team in particular have been recognised, when they were awarded the prestigious Presidential Lingkod Bayan (Public Service) Award in September by the Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Research assistants test soil samples at the Philippine Root Crop and Research Training Center at the Visayas State University in Leyte, Philippines. Photo Veejay Villafranca/ACIAR
Students from Visayas State University work on their experimental crops at a farm in Cabintan Livelihood Community Association (CALCOA) in Brgy Cabintan, Ormoc City. Photo Veejay Villafranca/ACIAR
Students from Visayas State University work on their experimental crops at a farm in Cabintan Livelihood Community Association (CALCOA) in Brgy Cabintan, Ormoc City. Photo Veejay Villafranca/ACIAR
Leader of the project Professor Gordon Rogers said the project’s primary focus was on demonstrating how smallholder farmers could complete the certification process and how they would benefit from a more consumer-focused approach to production.
Professor Rogers said the research team developed a stepped process which has been the key to help farmers progress towards certification as they were able. There were 36 farms certified by the end of the project in June 2024, and more than 50 other farms had begun the process. By the end of August 2024, the number of certified farms had grown to 43.
‘We divided the process into 4 steps. The first and second steps involve the sort of things that farmers can do easily and cheaply, and which actually have the greatest benefit in terms of improving the food quality and safety, and farm productivity,’ said Professor Rogers.
Benefits for farmers undertaking certification have included reduced farm inputs, improved health with safer farming practices, improvements in the quality and safety of their produce and increased prices for certified produce.
Mr Alvin Morales, one of the farmers who has received PhilGAP training, said, ‘The ACIAR project was really a big help to us and taught us many things. Before, we did not care so much about the proper way or methods of applying farm inputs, fertilisers, and pesticides, and how these impact people’s health and the environment.
‘The PhilGAP program taught us to better understand our crops, the environment, the soil, and their inter-relationship. We were taught the more detailed and scientific-based approach to farming.
Mr Alvin Morales PhilGAP program participant
‘It is high time that more farmers adopt good agricultural practices that will not harm the environment and produce healthier and safer food for people.
Mr Alvin Morales inspecting tomatoes growing in a greenhouse at Cabintan, Leyte as part of the PhilGAP program. Photo: ACIAR
Rodelina’s Fresh Vegetable stand selling PhilGAP certified vegetables at the Baybay markets, Leyte. Photo: ACIAR
Rodel Morales inspecting a carrot crop growing in a greenhouse at Cabintan, Leyte as part of the PhilGAP program. Photo: ACIAR
ACIAR project staff and farmers in BayBay, Leyte showing PhilGAP-certified yard-long beans and chillies. Photo: ACIAR
Professor Rogers said the cost of certification ranged from about 30,000 to 300,000 pesos (A$800 to $8000). This depended largely on the materials used for construction of a storage shed and toilet required for certification. However, most farmers found the costs were recovered in less than 2 years, and in less than 6 months in some instances.
The project helped farmers adopt a customer-focused approach and identify higher-value niche markets, including food service providers for the healthcare sector and modern food retailers.
‘We also did consumer studies as part of our research and found that when consumers know GAP-certified produce is guaranteed safe to eat, they’re willing to pay a premium,’ added Professor Rogers.
Professor Zenaida Gonzaga at VSU, was the Philippine project leader, coordinating much of the field research and training for farmers related to the project, as well as PhilGAP training more broadly.
She said 221 farmers received PhilGAP training, and more than 350 farm extension workers have been trained to promote GAP practices. These extension officers would be key to continuing the moment the ACIAR-supported project has generated into the future.
Professor Gonzaga highlighted Baybay City Government in Leyte province as being particularly proactive in supporting the project, providing funding for the purchase of materials needed for chemical sheds. It was also the first local government body to pass an ordinance requiring its agricultural extension officers to promote the program with growers.
‘Implementation of PhilGAP requires intervention like this at a policy level. Little by little we have increased the number of farms being certified and the support from local government.
‘We now have support to promote certified produce through Baybayania Agriventures, which is a federation of farmers supported by Baybay’s government.’
Professor Zenaida Gonzaga and Maricel Adelantar inspect new onion varieties at Visayas State University, which the project team identified as a new crop for the region under the PhilGAP program. Photo: ACIAR
At a higher level, the Regional Development Council for Eastern Visayas – Region VIII – has now also passed a resolution requiring all 6 provinces within the region to implement the PhilGAP program as part of their research extension services.
GAP practices are also gaining momentum at ground level, with farmers who have received training keen to share what they have learned with others. This includes pest identification and safe work practices on farm, through to the transport and marketing of produce.
‘We’ve found that the project, and the PhilGAP training, have elevated technical farming practices,’ said Professor Gonzaga. ‘It has also significantly reshaped the values and attitudes of farmers who are stepping up to share their knowledge around working safely and producing better quality, safer produce.’
ACIAR Project: ‘Developing vegetable value chains to meet evolving market expectations in the Philippines’ (HORT/2016/188)
Source: Australia Government Statements – Agriculture
30 October 2024
Who does this notice affect?
All clients anticipating the receipt of biosecurity directions from the department.
Information
Detail:
The department’s Agriculture Import Management System (AIMS) system is currently experiencing an unplanned service disruption. As a result, some clients anticipating the receipt of biosecurity directions from the department may experience delays.
The findings of a federal review into the country’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted more needs to be done by all levels of governments to acknowledge the human cost of the pandemic response and ultimately restore public trust, says Australia’s Human Rights Commissioner, Lorraine Finlay.
The COVID-19 Response Inquiry Report outlines nine guiding recommendations and 26 actions for change to improve Australia’s preparedness and response systems to manage future public health emergencies. The Federal Government has already moved to implement one recommendation, announcing a new Australian Centre for Disease Control.
“The Inquiry is a good first step in helping to improve Australia’s response to any future pandemic, but much more needs to be done to rebuild trust,” said Commissioner Finlay.
“While the review concludes that Australians should be proud overall of what we achieved during the pandemic, with rates of infection, hospitalisation and death among the world’s lowest in the first 18 months, we need to recognise that there was a substantial – and ongoing – human cost.
“The Report highlights the lack of transparency, fairness, compassion and proportionality in aspects of the response. This contributed to the suffering of many people; including those separated from loved ones – either by state border closures, being stranded overseas, or being unable to comfort elderly parents confined to aged care homes – and continuing impacts such as children still struggling to re-engage at school following lengthy lockdowns.
“If we only talk about Australia’s ‘successful’ response to the pandemic, we diminish the personal toll that it took on so many Australians.”
The Australian Human Rights Commission is currently developing a human rights emergency response framework that will put rights and freedoms at the heart of all future emergency and disaster responses.
To understand the impacts of the pandemic response on individual Australians, the Commission opened the ‘Your Story’ portal, which received more than 2300 submissions from people who shared how they were affected by COVID-19 measures. More than 3000 Australians were also surveyed as part of the project, with its findings to be released in early 2025.
“These voices need to be heard if we want to ensure that future responses are not only ‘successful’ in terms of public health and economic outcomes, but also in terms of fairness and compassion,” Commissioner Finlay said.
“The number one lesson should be that response measures do not operate in a vacuum. The full human impact needs to be understood. We need to put human rights at the heart of all future emergency responses in Australia to ensure that this never happens again.”
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
SFST’s speech at Green Tech Summit 2024 (English only) (with photo) SFST’s speech at Green Tech Summit 2024 (English only) (with photo) *******************************************************************
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, at the Green Tech Summit 2024 today (October 30): Dr Hua Jindong (Vice-chairperson of the International Sustainability Standards Board), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, It is a profound honour to join you at the Green Tech Summit 2024. I extend my sincere gratitude to the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and GoImpact for hosting this important event. Today, we gather to explore how green finance, technology, and innovation converge to create a sustainable future. A call to action for our planet Our planet is currently facing unprecedented challenges due to climate change. These challenges encompass environmental, economic, and social dimensions, demanding our immediate attention. The statistics deserve attention: Global climate finance flows reached approximately US$1.3 trillion in 2021 and 2022. However, to meet our climate goals, we must significantly increase annual investments to around US$9 trillion by 2030 and US$10 trillion by 2050. This gap signals an immense demand for green finance and innovation – one that we must address with urgency and creativity. At this Summit, we aim to showcase Hong Kong’s leadership in the green transition through five key strategies, and they altogether will significantly promote green transformation: the growth of green capital, recognition of sustainability standards, empowerment in carbon trading, encouragement of green financing, and nurturing green technology. Each of these strategies plays a critical role in shaping a sustainable future for our city and beyond. Growth of green capital Hong Kong is uniquely positioned to lead the green transition. As Asia’s premier international financial centre, we have the infrastructure, expertise, and regulatory framework to channel international capital toward sustainable initiatives. As of June, over 230 ESG (environmental, social and governance) funds have been authorised by the Securities and Futures Commission, with assets under management exceeding HK$1.3 trillion. This represents a year-on-year increase of 19 per cent in the number of ESG funds and an 8 per cent increase in assets under management. The Hong Kong SAR Government has been proactive in issuing government green bonds totalling HK$220 billion since 2019. These bonds have funded numerous local green projects and set benchmarks for potential issuers. In 2023 alone, the total green and sustainable debt issued in Hong Kong surpassed US$50 billion, with approximately US$30 billion being green and sustainable bonds – 37 per cent of the total market. This year, we expanded our Government Green Bond Programme to include sustainable projects and hence the programme is, renamed Government Sustainable Bond Programme, reinforcing our commitment to a greener future. Recognition of sustainability standards Sustainability reporting is vital to our green finance ecosystem. In March, we published a vision statement outlining our approach to developing a comprehensive ecosystem for sustainability disclosure in Hong Kong. In the Chief Executive’s Policy Address, it was announced that our roadmap for adopting the International Financial Reporting Standards – Sustainability Disclosure Standards (ISSB Standards) will be published within this year. Our aim is to position Hong Kong among the first jurisdictions to adopt the global standard, enhancing our credibility as a green finance hub. To support our green transition, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) published the Hong Kong Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance in May. This taxonomy raises awareness about green finance and promotes a common understanding of green activities. It aligns with the taxonomies of the Mainland and the European Union, currently encompassing 12 economic activities across four sectors. The HKMA is advancing to the next phase of developing the Hong Kong Taxonomy, which will broaden its scope to include more sectors and activities crucial for our sustainable future. Empowerment in carbon trading We advocate for innovative approaches to enable decarbonisation and allocate green funding. A noteworthy initiative is the Core Climate platform, launched by the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited in October 2022. This international carbon marketplace facilitates effective and transparent trading of carbon credits and supports transition towards net zero. Core Climate is currently the only carbon marketplace that offers settlement in both Hong Kong dollar and Renminbi for international voluntary carbon credits. This platform enables participants to source, hold, trade, and retire voluntary carbon credits, ensuring robust and credible quality verified against international standards. Since its launch, the number of registered participants has tripled, reaching approximately 80 by the end of last year. Encouragement to green financing To encourage even more green financing activities, we launched the Green and Sustainable Finance Grant Scheme back in 2021. This initiative provides funding support for eligible bond issuers and loan borrowers, covering expenses related to bond issuance and external review services. We have extended this scheme by three years, running until 2027, and expanded its scope to include transition bonds and loans. As of early October, we have granted approximately HK$280 million to support 470 green and sustainable debt instruments issued in Hong Kong, involving a total underlying debt issuance of over HK$1 trillion. This financial backing is crucial in incentivising industries to utilise Hong Kong’s transition financing platform for decarbonisation. Nurturing green technology A key focus of our green transition is our commitment to promoting green fintech. Integrating fintech with green finance is essential for accelerating our transformation. We are actively working to expand the green fintech ecosystem in Hong Kong, positioning our city as a green fintech hub. In June, we launched the Green and Sustainable Fintech Proof-of-Concept Funding Support Scheme. This initiative provides early-stage funding to technology companies and research institutes engaged in green fintech activities. Collaborating with local enterprises allows these innovators to co-develop projects that address challenges for the industry. This scheme is not solely about financial support. It facilitates the completion of commercialisation and the proof-of-concept stages, paving the way for wider adoption of green and sustainable fintech solutions. Innovative fintech solutions will enhance our ability to mobilise capital for green projects and increase transparency in fund flows. Against the backdrop of digitisation and global warming, fintech plays a crucial role in driving innovation in the financial industry and catalysing the low-carbon transformation of economic activities. The application of new technology can also help mitigate climate risk by forecasting environmental changes, improving supply chain efficiency, and identifying opportunities for innovation in low-carbon solutions. This year, we launched the Prototype Hong Kong Green Fintech Map. Developed with various stakeholders, this tool provides a comprehensive overview of green fintech companies in Hong Kong and the services they offer. This map symbolises the integration of green finance and fintech, fostering the development of a robust green fintech ecosystem and accelerating the transition toward a green economy. Finally, I want to emphasise the importance of nurturing talent for sustainable development. The future of green finance relies on the skills and knowledge of our workforce. To support the development of a green finance talent pool, we launched a three-year Pilot Green and Sustainable Finance Capacity Building Support Scheme. This initiative encourages practitioners, professionals, and students to participate in relevant training programmes. As of mid-September, we have approved over 4 100 reimbursement applications, amounting to approximately HK$23.3 million. This investment in human capital is essential for equipping our workforce with the skills needed to navigate and thrive in the evolving landscape of green finance. Closing remarks In conclusion, the path to a sustainable future is not just a challenge; it is an opportunity for innovation and growth. Green fintech will play a pivotal role in this transition, enabling us to mobilise capital, enhance transparency, and support the development of sustainable solutions. As we approach COP29 (29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) next month, let us intensify our efforts to forge a new chapter in sustainability. By collaborating across sectors and embracing innovative solutions, we can pave the way for impactful changes that resonate with green finance and technology. Together, we can turn our commitments into actionable strategies, ensuring a resilient and sustainable world for generations to come. Thank you for your attention, and I look forward to seeing you in the next Summit here.
Ends/Wednesday, October 30, 2024Issued at HKT 11:29
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ21: Illegal carriage of passengers for reward by van-type light goods vehicles and cross-boundary private cars LCQ21: Illegal carriage of passengers for reward by van-type light goods vehicles and cross-boundary private cars ******************************************************************************************
Following is a question by the Hon Andrew Lam and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Lam Sai-hung, in the Legislative Council today (October 30): Question: The Government released in July this year the preliminary findings on the study on combating illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward and regulation of online hire car hailing platforms. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council: (1) whether the aforesaid study has covered any study on the operation mode of illegal carriage of passengers for reward by van-type light goods vehicles (vans) and cross-boundary private cars (PCs); if so, of the preliminary findings, and whether any conclusion has been drawn on the factors affecting the regulation of online hailed cars; if not, the reasons for not including such study; (2) of the number of prosecutions and convictions involving illegal carriage of passengers for reward by vans in the past three years, and the penalty imposed in each of the convicted cases; (3) of the number of prosecutions and convictions involving illegal carriage of passengers for reward by cross-boundary PCs in the past three years, and the penalty imposed in each of the convicted cases; whether any unlawful employment was involved in such cases; if so, of the number; and (4) of the number of cross-boundary PCs in Hong Kong that may legally carry passengers for hire or reward; whether there are any measures to combat illegal carriage of passengers for reward by cross-boundary PCs? Reply: President, Having consulted the Transport Department (TD), the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) and the Immigration Department, our reply to various parts of the question raised by the Hon Andrew Lam is as follows: (1) The Government strives to enhance personalised point-to-point transport services. As reported to the Panel on Transport of the Legislative Council in July this year, the Government is proactively conducting a study with a view to formulating legislative proposals on the regulation of online hailed car platforms and improving the legislation to combat illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward. The TD is studying and examining the overall demand and supply of local personalised point-to-point transport services, including conducting surveys on passenger demand and changes (which cover various types of online hailed cars); as well as considering relevant information including the current operation modes and regulatory arrangement in respect of the provision of personalised point-to-point transport services in Hong Kong and other places. After taking into account findings of the study in a holistic manner and listening to the views of stakeholders, the Government will formulate legislative proposals on the regulation of the types and number of vehicle for providing compliant services through online hailed car platforms, as well as the licensing requirements for the vehicles and drivers, etc. in 2025. (2) and (3) The numbers of convicted cases involving illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward by light goods vehicles and cross-boundary private cars in the past three years (from mid-2021 to mid-2024) were 23 and four respectively. Subject to the circumstances of individual cases, the penalties imposed by the courts included fines and disqualifying the drivers involved from driving temporarily, as well as suspension of vehicle licences and impoundment of vehicles involved following the statutory periods specified under the law. The Government does not maintain other information requested in the question. (4) As at September 2024, there were 524 cross-boundary hire cars holding regular quotas for cross-boundary hire cars, closed road permits (CRP) and private service (limousine) (cross-boundary service) hire car permits. The HKPF will continue to combat the offences of illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward by cross-boundary private cars. Upon the public’s provision of information to report illegal activities , the HKPF will follow up and investigate in a serious manner, and take enforcement actions against relevant activities if there is sufficient evidence. To enhance the deterrent effect, the Government increased the penalties for illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward by motor vehicles in December 2023. These include increasing the maximum fine and term of imprisonment, as well as lengthening the period of suspension of vehicle licences and impoundment of vehicles. On the other hand, for cases of illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward by cross-boundary private cars, the TD will revoke the CRP of the subject vehicle on the ground of breaching CRP conditions. Moreover, the TD has strengthened its publicity efforts since the second quarter of this year through displaying posters and notices at various land boundary control points and the airport, as well as sending e-mails and distributing leaflets, etc, to remind CRP holders and relevant operators not to engage in illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward, and remind them of the consequences and penalties of engaging in such illegal activities.
Ends/Wednesday, October 30, 2024Issued at HKT 11:30
Members and F-16 Fighting Falcons assigned to the 148th Fighter Wing, Minnesota Air National Guard deployed to the 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan from July to October 2024. While deployed, the Minnesota Air National Guard members were known as the 179th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron.
“The 148th Fighter Wing provided a dynamic force employment package to the 18th Wing to provide combat air power adding an additional deterrence factor to the area of operations,” said 179th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron Commander, Lt. Col. Matt Zimniewicz.
Having the 148th and other rotationally deployed fighters from across the globe highlights the importance of our strategic location in the Indo-Pacific. Not only does it provide a valuable opportunity for fourth and fifth generation fighters to integrate and train, but their presence also serves as a powerful deterrent to potential adversaries in the region, said Col. David Deptula, 18th Operations Group, Kadena Air Base, Japan.
During their time at Kadena Air Base, Airmen integrated themselves working alongside their 18th Wing counterparts, performing all the same job-specific skills as they would at home station, along with experiencing some unique aspects while deployed.
“The deployment tempo is a little different than at home station. The crews worked two shifts: to support fighter presence in the Pacific, ensure the pilots continue their training, provide ready aircraft and pilots for Alert, respond to higher headquarters taskings as needed, and participate in large-scale flying exercises,” said Zimniewicz.
In addition to integrating with the 18th Wing, 179th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron flew with other deployed units; the 199th Fighter Squadron attached to the 154th Wing, Hawaii Air National Guard and the 27th Fighter Generation Squadron out of Langley Air Force Base, Va., integrating as wingmen and flying alongside the F-22 Raptor to enhance interoperability between platforms and units.
“We are a combined force, so you get different experiences flying with the F-22 Raptor and local F-15 Eagles from the 18th Wing,” Zimniewicz said.
1st Lieutenant Keegan Flaherty, a 148th aircraft maintenance officer explained, “most of our members operated under the structure of the 179th Fighter Generation Squadron. This incorporated specialists like crew chiefs, weapons, avionics, electric and environmental, tool crib, and supply to ensure day-to-day flying and maintenance operations run safe, smooth, and efficient.”
During this deployment there were maintenance organization from the 148th that integrated with their 18th Wing counterparts. “The 148th Aerospace Ground Equipment (AGE) crew delivered equipment to the flightline in a timely manner, as well as lending a hand to their 18th Wing active-duty counterparts fixing mission-critical equipment,” Flaherty said. “Our munitions systems specialists were integrated with the 18th Munitions Squadron providing support delivering chaff or flare, missiles, 20MM rounds, and training bombs and munitions.”
There is a lot about balance and having really good communication to remain mission ready, said Flaherty.
“The people and the F-16s of the Minnesota Air National Guard provide added readiness and deterrence capabilities to the region,” said Flaherty. “Operating out of the strategic hub of Kadena Air Base, we are proud to play a role in the many missions being conducted out of the aptly named “Keystone of the Pacific.”
Halfway through the three-month deployment, a smaller subset of 148th personnel and aircraft participated alongside 28 nations during India’s largest multinational exercise, Tarang Shakti 2024. “Tarang Shakti is an opportunity to combine cultures and perspectives while building security and interoperability, with our participating and observing partners. The spirit of collaboration and embracing diversity is key to not only better executing flying maneuvers, but also to broaden people’s minds,” said Indian Air Marshal AP Singh, Indian Air Force Air Staff vice chief.
For 179th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron pilots like Maj. Christopher Zeigler, the training, partnership, cultural events and problem solving provided by Tarang Shakti-24, enhanced operations for multinational partners supporting a common resolve to sustain and a free and open Indo-Pacific.
“We worked with a lot of different nations here,” said Zeigler. “The exercise was a great opportunity for us to run large force exercise events with the Indian Air Force. We enjoyed working with everyone and building relationships. We don’t get to do this very often with other countries, so I think it was a really beneficial experience for our unit. Building these partnerships and flying with different airframes like this, it puts us in a better position to support shared missions throughout the Indo-Pacific.”
While at Kadena, the 148th, in coordination with allies and partners, projected decisive airpower to assist in ensuring regional stability.
“Having the 148th and other rotationally deployed fighters from across the globe highlights the importance of our strategic location in the Indo-Pacific. Not only does it provide a valuable opportunity for fourth and fifth generation fighters to integrate and train, but their presence also serves as a powerful deterrent to potential adversaries in the region.” Said Col. David Deptula, Commander of the 18th Operations Groups.
Domestic and family violence (DFV) has received increasing attention in recent years. It is most commonly associated with intimate partner violence between current and former partners, followed by abuse perpetrated against children by their parents and carers.
But what about sibling violence?
International estimates suggest that sibling violence (also known as sibling-to-sibling violence) is one of the most common forms of DFV globally. Yet in Australia and internationally, there is very little conversation or research about it. This means our understanding of when, why and how it occurs remains underdeveloped, and this in turn affects the development of effective policy and practice.
To improve understandings of sibling violence in Australia, we analysed data collected as part of a national study of 16–20-year-olds’ use and experiences of DFV in the home. Of the 5,021 young people we surveyed, 4,340 said they had siblings.
What is sibling violence?
One of the biggest barriers to better understanding sibling violence is differentiating between sibling rivalry and conflict, and abuse. Research suggests abuse is often minimised by family members and clinicians, even when the behaviours are described as “extreme” and persistent.
For our study, guided by the literature, we defined sibling violence as involving serious and high-harm behaviours. This includes:
threats to kill
threats to hurt someone close to the young person
non-fatal strangulation or sexual abuse
persistent and frequent forms of other abusive behaviour (for example, verbal, emotional physical, property damage and threats to harm/hurt a sibling).
Overall, 303 young people in the sample self-reported they had been subjected to or used sibling violence by the time they were 18. Within this, 58% said they had used sibling violence, 60% said they had been subjected to it, while 18% said they experienced both victimisation and perpetration.
Sibling violence is multifaceted
The most common form of sibling violence reported by young people was verbal abuse. Of our respondents, 72% reported experiencing verbal abuse from a sibling, while 74% reported using verbal abuse against a sibling. Physical violence was the next most common form of sibling violence reported, with 64% reporting experiencing physical abuse from a sibling, and 73% reporting using physical abuse against a sibling.
Although less common, a significant proportion of young people also reported experiences of:
threats to kill (victimisation: 26%; perpetration: 9%)
sexual abuse (victimisation: 13%; perpetration: 2%).
Almost all young people who had experienced sibling violence reported experiencing multiple and overlapping forms of abuse. Indeed, our study finds that sibling violence is rarely experienced as an isolated act of abuse. Rather, it is often experienced as part of a broader patterns of behaviours encompassing physical, sexual and non-physical abuse.
More than half young people who had experienced sibling violence also experienced violence from another family member. Shutterstock
Sibling violence is gendered
The findings from our study highlight that like other forms of DFV, sibling violence is gendered.
A significantly larger proportion of cis female (47%) and trans/non-binary young people (50%) reported they had been subjected to sibling violence, compared to cis males (25%).
Meanwhile, a larger proportion of cis males (59%) said they had used sibling violence compared to cis female (35%) and trans/non-binary young people (32%).
Sibling violence often co-occurs with other forms of DFV within families
Over 90% of young people in our study reported they had experienced DFV between other family members, such as intimate partner violence between their parents.
Also, over half of the young people who had been subjected to sibling violence reported they had experienced other forms of maltreatment by another family member, most frequently by their mothers and fathers.
Sibling violence has significant impacts on young people
Young people in our study reported that sibling violence and other forms of DFV had significant impacts on them. It affected their social, emotional and physical wellbeing, and education achievements.
Relationships between siblings have important developmental implications for young people’s understandings of familial relationships. The strength of sibling relationships has been linked to longer-term health and social wellbeing outcomes. While our siblings can sometimes feel like our greatest enemies, they can also be our strongest supports in life.
An emerging body of research has also found that young people who use sibling violence are at higher risk of perpetrating abusive behaviours against their intimate partner(s) and family members later in life.
Sibling violence can have significant impacts, including trauma, anxiety and poor mental health, eating disorders, and the misuse of alcohol and drugs on those who experience it.
What is needed?
Our study builds new understandings of sibling violence in Australia. It highlights the importance of early interventions for young people who experience DFV during childhood. This includes ensuring effective responses for young people who use violence against their siblings.
Without effective early intervention, we are missing opportunities to address the negative consequences of such experiences, including an increased risk of future perpetration of intimate partner violence.
To facilitate improved identification and early intervention, frontline screening for DFV among individuals and families must include sibling violence.
Given the substantial overlap of intimate partner violence, other forms of child maltreatment, child-to-parent abuse and sibling violence, we need holistic interventions that address the support needs of all family members.
These responses must extend to supporting children and families’ recovery from DFV and seek to break the cycle of inter-generational violence in the home.
Hayley Boxall currently receives research funding from the Queensland Law Reform Commission, Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety and the ACT Justice and Community Safety Directorate.
Kate has received funding for family violence-related research from the Australian Research Council, Australian Institute of Criminology, Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety, the Victorian, Queensland and ACT governments, the Commonwealth Department of Social Services and the Victorian Women’s Trust. This piece is written by Kate Fitz-Gibbon in her role at Monash University and is wholly independent of Kate Fitz-Gibbon’s role as Chair of Respect Victoria.
Silke Meyer currently receives research funding from Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety, the Queensland Mental Health Commission, and the Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services (Qld).
The inspector of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has released her long-awaited report on the failure of the commission to investigate the Robodebt scandal.
The report finds the commissioner of the NACC committed “officer misconduct”. He failed to fully remove himself from the decision not to investigate the scandal.
In response, the NACC has agreed to appoint an “independent eminent person” to reconsider its decision not to investigate the Robodebt scandal.
It’s an embarrassing moment for the Commonwealth’s newly created anti-corruption watchdog.
But it’s also an opportunity for the NACC to do what the public expects of it: act decisively to protect public trust in government.
How did we get here?
The NACC was created in 2022 after a federal election campaign that often focused on transparency and integrity in government.
Earlier this year, the commission announced it would not be looking into the Robodebt scandal.
This was despite the Royal Commission into Robodebt referring six people to the commission for further investigation.
The commission is monitored by an inspector, independent of the commission and the government. After receiving hundreds of complaints, Inspector Gail Furness launched an investigation into why the NACC didn’t look into Robodebt.
The issue was the first big test for the oversight body.
The inspector is legally limited as to what it can look at, but its finding of “officer misconduct” offers a broader opportunity for NACC to change course.
Robodebt was a clear breach of the public trust, with thousands of Australians feeling betrayed by the way the Morrison government acted. NACC now has a second chance to look into the scandal.
Unique anti-corruption tradition
NACC’s decision not to investigate was a departure from a long history of anti-corruption oversight in Australia.
It has its roots in corruption scandals in the late 1980s in Queensland, Western Australia and New South Wales.
These scandals involved the vast misuse of public power and resources by powerful executive branch officials. The response was far-reaching.
In Queensland, explosive allegations of police and government involvement in gambling and corruption led to the creation of an inquiry led by Tony Fitzgerald.
This inquiry made a number of wide-ranging recommendations, including the creation of a commission. It would eventually would become today’s Crime and Corruption Commission.
In NSW, high-ranking ministers and police were caught embezzling funds and misusing public influence.
Public outrage led to the creation of Australia’s first anti-corruption commission, the powerful Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).
In parliament, the NSW premier explained that ICAC was established “independent of the Executive Government and responsible only to Parliament”.
He went on to argue that its role was not to prosecute crime, but instead to enforce the public trust and dispel a “cloud of suspicion” that hung over the NSW government.
In WA in the 1980s, allegations emerged that executive branch officials were using their control of public resources to enrich themselves and preserve their own power.
In response, a royal commission in the early 1990s made a number of recommendations, including the creation of an anti-corruption commission. The commission would be an “independent parliamentary agency” responsible to parliament in carrying out its oversight duties.
Since then, all ten Australian jurisdictions have adopted anti-corruption commissions. Many of these commissions are described as officers of parliament intended to investigate breaches of the public trust.
In all states and territories, excluding Victoria and (recently) South Australia, “breaches of the public trust” or “dishonest or improper” conduct can be investigated by these agencies. Anti-corruption agencies have therefore emerged as important guardians of public trust in government.
Anti-corruption amnesia
However, we seem to have forgotten this tradition in recent years.
In South Australia, a 2021 law strippedthe state’s intergrity body of the power to investigate “maladministration” and “misconduct” in public administration and confined its scope to criminal activity.
In Victoria, then-Premier Daniel Andrews downplayed the significant breaches of public trust found by Victoria’s anti-corruption agency as being merely “educational”.
Most recently, the NACC’s refusal to review the Robodebt scandal also suggests it is unaware of the traditional purpose of Australian anti-corruption oversight.
The Robodebt scandal rivals the scandals of the 1980s in its threat to public trust.
One submission to the Royal Commission report put it clearly:
I feel utterly betrayed by the government for this […] myself, and everyone else who turned up to every meeting they had to, jumped through every hoop and tried to do the right thing, were treated like criminals and cheats, when all the while it was the department’s scheme that was illegal.
The NACC now has the opportunity to change course and broadly inquire into the Robodebt scandal.
This includes more than just an inquiry into the referrals from the Robodebt Royal Commission. It can also look into the way that a scandal of this magnitude happened and how we can prevent it in the future.
Failing to ask these questions endangers what the WA Royal Commission 30 years ago described as the “trust principle”. It said:
institutions of government and the officials and agencies of government exist for the public, to serve the interests of the public.
The NACC has been given a second chance to serve the public through properly investigating Robodebt.
If it chooses to take it, it will signal that the commission understands it plays a key role in preserving one of the most valuable commodities in Australian democracy: trust in government.
William Partlett is the Stephen Charles Fellow at The Centre for Public Integrity.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ18: Eligibility criteria for Guangdong Scheme and Fujian Scheme LCQ18: Eligibility criteria for Guangdong Scheme and Fujian Scheme ******************************************************************
Following is a question by the Hon Holden Chow and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (October 30): Question: Currently, applicants for the Old Age Allowance (OAA) under the Guangdong Scheme and the Fujian Scheme (the Schemes) must reach the age of 70 or above and must have resided in Hong Kong continuously for at least one year immediately before the date of application (the requirement of continuous residence in Hong Kong). However, some members of the public have relayed that they had moved to Guangdong Province before they turned 70, and are still ineligible to receive the OAA even though they now reach the age of 70 because they fail to meet the requirement of residing in Hong Kong continuously for at least one year immediately before the date of application, and are even required to return to Hong Kong and reside for one year in order to meet the eligibility criteria. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council: (1) of the respective numbers of applications for OAA under the Schemes received, approved and rejected by the Government in each of the past five years; among the approved applications, the number of cases for which the authorities exercised discretionary power and granted OAA (set out in a table); (2) of the criteria for exercising discretionary power for the cases mentioned in (1), and whether the criteria include special circumstances of the persons concerned (such as chronic disease patients receiving treatment in Guangdong Province); if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and (3) whether it will consider making special arrangements for people who are currently aged 70 but have previously moved to Guangdong or Fujian, so that as long as they meet all other requirements except the requirement of continuous residence in Hong Kong, the Government will, by discretion, grant the OAA to them? Reply: President, The Social Security Allowance (SSA) Scheme (including the Old Age Allowance (OAA), Old Age Living Allowance (OALA), Disability Allowance, Guangdong Scheme and Fujian Scheme) is a non-contributory social security scheme. Applicants must have resided in Hong Kong continuously for at least one year immediately before the date of application, while enjoying a limit of 90 days of absence from Hong Kong within that year. This one-year continuous residence (OYCR) requirement ensures that applicants have close connections with Hong Kong, and that persons who have lived outside Hong Kong for a long time cannot immediately benefit from non-contributory cash allowances upon their return to Hong Kong, thereby concentrating resources on supporting persons in need and the elderly. I reply to the three parts of the question raised by the Member as follows: (1) and (2) In the past five financial years (2019-20 to 2023-24), the numbers of OAA applications received, approved and rejected by the Social Welfare Department (SWD) are tabulated below:
Note: The processing of some of the applications may be completed in the subsequent financial year. Where an applicant has been absent from Hong Kong in the one year immediately before the date of application for receiving medical treatments outside Hong Kong due to illnesses or for taking up paid work outside Hong Kong, the SWD may consider exercising discretion to disregard the absences exceeding the 90-day limit subject to sufficient reasons and documentary proofs. In the past five financial years (2019-20 to 2023-24), the numbers of cases in which the absences of the OAA applicants were disregarded for the aforementioned reasons are tabulated below:
2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24
Receiving medical treatments outside Hong Kong due to illnesses 7 0 0 0 3
Taking up paid work outside Hong Kong 39 1 0 0 17
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and in tandem with an enhancement measure of the SSA Scheme, the SWD implemented a special arrangement from January 2020 to August 2023 to disregard the absences from Hong Kong of applicants and beneficiaries of the various social security schemes (including the SSA Scheme). The SWD does not maintain a record of the number of OAA applications that benefited from the relevant special arrangement. (3) As mentioned above, the OYCR requirement ensures that SSA applicants have close connections with Hong Kong, with a view to reasonably allocating finite public resources. Since September 2023, the Government has suitably relaxed the absence limit of the OYCR requirement from 56 days to 90 days, increasing it by more than half. This can practically accommodate the applicants’ need for leaving Hong Kong temporarily before the application (such as visits to family and travel outside Hong Kong). The Government currently has no plan to further relax the OYCR requirement. With an ageing population, the number of beneficiaries and the expenditure of the SSA Scheme will continue to rise. The Government should take into account the long-term financial sustainability when considering various enhancement measures.
Ends/Wednesday, October 30, 2024Issued at HKT 11:35
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ7: Pilot Rehabilitation Programme for Employees Injured at Work LCQ7: Pilot Rehabilitation Programme for Employees Injured at Work ******************************************************************
Following is a question by Dr the Hon David Lam and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (October 30): Question: The Pilot Rehabilitation Programme for Employees Injured at Work (the Pilot Programme) was launched in September 2022, and its industry coverage has also been expanded from the construction industry to the catering and hotel industry and the transportation and logistics industry from May this year onwards. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council: (1) of the total number of reported work injury cases in the construction industry in Hong Kong since September 2022 and, among them, the number of cases which are eligible for the Pilot Programme; (2) of the average waiting time of injured employees from the time of injury to commencement of rehabilitation treatment under the Pilot Programme; (3) as it is learnt that some injured employees who are eligible for the Pilot Programme have refused to participate in the Programme, whether the Government has gained an understanding of the reasons for their refusal; (4) of the types of work injury involved in the cases participating in the Pilot Programme, with a breakdown by the extent of injury; (5) among the injured employees who have participated in the Pilot Programme and recovered (i.e. reached maximum medical improvement), of the number of those who have returned to work and, among them, the percentage of those who are able to return to their original positions (especially employees in the construction industry who are able to re-enter the industry); (6) among the injured employees who have participated in the Pilot Programme and recovered but are unable to return to work, of the number of those who have completed the procedures of medical assessment of injury (i.e. assessment of permanent incapacity); and (7) as it is learnt that some non-profit-making organisations or training organisations in the community provide retraining and return-to-work support services specifically for persons recovered from work injury, how many employees who have recovered under the Pilot Programme but are unable to return to work have been referred to such organisations for follow-up? Reply: President, To strengthen rehabilitation services for employees injured at work, the Labour Department (LD) launched the Pilot Rehabilitation Programme for Employees Injured at Work (Pilot Programme) in September 2022. The Pilot Programme adopts a case management approach to provide timely and co-ordinated private out-patient rehabilitation treatment services for participating injured employees to facilitate their early recovery and return to work. Currently, the Pilot Programme covers the construction industry, catering and hotel industry and transportation and logistics industry, targeting employees who have sustained musculoskeletal injuries at work and have been (or are expected to be) absent from work for six weeks or more. Eligible persons can participate on a voluntary basis. My reply to the Dr the Hon David Lam’s question is as follows: (1) From September 2022 to September 2024, the number of employees’ compensation claims in the construction industry involving incapacitation of employees for more than 3 days as a result of work injuries reported under the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance and received by the LD is about 6 900. As at the end of September 2024, the LD and the Work Injury Rehabilitation Office (WIRO) set up by the service contractor of the Pilot Programme have, based on the reported work injury cases, identified 4 596 injured construction employees who preliminarily fulfilled the admission criteria of the Pilot Programme, and proactively invited their participation. As at the end of September 2024, a total of 1 011 injured construction employees have enrolled in the Pilot Programme. (2) According to the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance, an employer must notify the Commissioner for Labour of any work accident within 14 days after the accident occurs or after it comes to his knowledge. As mentioned in part (1), the LD and WIRO will preliminarily identify suitable injured employees based on the reported work injury cases, proactively invite them to participate in the Pilot Programme and arrange interviews to ascertain their eligibility for and willingness to participate in the Pilot Programme. Thereafter, the case manager will schedule an appointment for the employee to meet with the case doctor. Once the case doctor determines after clinical assessment that the employee’s injury is suitable for treatment under the Pilot Programme, the relevant rehabilitation treatment will begin immediately. Therefore, the duration from the time of injury to the commencement of treatment for an injured employee depends on the reporting time and the specific circumstances of the individual work injury case (such as the time needed to successfully contact the injured employee, when the employee can meet with the case manager and confirm their consent to participate in the Pilot Programme). Generally, counting from the first successful contact with the injured employee for introducing the Pilot Programme, an injured employee can receive treatment from a case doctor approximately after 10 working days.(3) Some eligible injured employees have chosen not to participate in the Pilot Programme for various reasons, including their wish to continue receiving rehabilitation treatment services provided by the Hospital Authority, consideration that the location of the hospital or clinic they currently seek consultations is more convenient, preference for arranging their own private medical services, and their wish to continue receiving free private rehabilitation treatment provided by their employers. (4) As at the end of September 2024, 1 350 injured employees from the construction industry, catering and hotel industry, and transportation and logistics industry have enrolled in the Pilot Programme. Their injuries primarily involved contusions and bruises, sprains and strains, fractures, etc, which accounted for approximately 80 per cent of all cases. Around 70 per cent of participants have already reached Maximum Medical Improvement (i.e. recovered) after treatment, with the majority recovering within 5 months after commencing treatment.(5) Under the Pilot Programme, if participants do not return to work within two months after recovery, case managers will continue to follow up on their return-to-work status for the following three months. As of the end of September 2024, the return-to-work status of the 939 recovered employees is as follows:
Return-to-work status Number of employees (proportion)
Engaged in same kind of work* 413 (approximately 44 per cent)
Engaged in other kinds of work* 73 (approximately 8 per cent)
Return-to-work status under follow up 201 (approximately 21 per cent)(mainly those who have recently recovered from their injuries)
Not yet returned to work during the follow up period 252 (approximately 27 per cent)
Total 939
*including those employed by the original employer or a different employer Among the 413 recovered employees engaged in the same kind of work, 329 (approximately 80 per cent) were construction employees; and among the 73 recovered employees engaged in other kinds of work, 63 (approximately 86 per cent) were construction employees.(6) Among the 252 recovered employees who were yet to return to work during the follow-up period as mentioned in part (5), 197 (approximately 78 per cent) have been arranged to attend an assessment conducted by the Employees’ Compensation Assessment Board (commonly known as work injury assessment). The main reasons some cases have not yet received work injury assessment include pending arrangements for the assessment, the necessity to undergo legal procedures due to disputes over employees’ compensation, or the involvement of injuries other than musculoskeletal for which the relevant treatments are yet to complete, etc.(7) Each participant under the Pilot Programme is assigned a case manager to follow up on their case. The case manager co-ordinates rehabilitation treatment and assists in the participant’s return-to-work, which includes, with the employee’s consent, liaising with employers to facilitate return-to-work arrangements, or providing information on the job market based on the employee’s circumstances. Furthermore, depending on the needs of individual cases and the wish of the employees concerned, participants may be referred to relevant non-governmental organisations for services such as employment counselling, vocational training, and job skills training to enhance their skills and prepare for return-to-work during the recovery journey. As of the end of September 2024, a total of 20 participants agreed to be referred to the relevant organisation, of whom six have returned to work, 11 were yet to return to work during the follow-up period after recovery, and the return-to-work status of the remaining three was still being monitored.
Ends/Wednesday, October 30, 2024Issued at HKT 11:59
Headline: Justice Michael Ball appointed to Court of Appeal
Published: 30 October 2024
Released by: Attorney General
Experienced lawyer, Justice Michael Ball, has been appointed to be a Judge of the Court of Appeal, part of the Supreme Court of NSW.
His Honour brings more than 45 years of legal expertise to the state’s top appellate court. Prior to being appointed to the Supreme Court in 2010, he spent most of his career working in Sydney as a solicitor with international commercial law firm Allen Allen & Hemsley/Allens Arthur Robinson.
Since 2014, Justice Ball has sat in the Commercial and Technology and Construction Lists. He became the List Judge for those lists and the Commercial Arbitration List in 2022.
His Honour started his career in South Australia with Mollison Litchfield in 1980 while also tutoring commercial law at the University of Adelaide. The following year he joined the Australian Law Reform Commission, where he worked on the Insurance Contracts and Evidence Law references. He became a solicitor at Allen & Hemsley in 1983.
Justice Ball was appointed Senior Associate two years later and in 1987 made a Partner in the litigation department.
During his 27 years with the firm, his Honour was involved in several high-profile cases in competition and insolvency law. This included C7, Antico v Heath Fielding Australia, the Linter litigation, Pioneer and Giant Resources litigation and Trade Practices Commission v Australian Meat Holdings.
His Honour graduated from the University of Adelaide in 1978 with a combined degree in Arts and Law. He is a co-author of ‘Kelly and Ball Principles of Insurance Law’, a leading text on Insurance law in Australia.
Justice Ball will be sworn in as a Judge of Appeal on 4 November 2024.
Attorney General Michael Daley said:
“I am delighted to announce the appointment of Justice Michael Ball to the Court of Appeal bench.
“His Honour is a highly respected lawyer and member of the Supreme Court, and his expertise will be invaluable to the Court and everyone who interacts with it.
“I congratulate Justice Ball on this well-deserved achievement.”
Headline: $7.2m boost for little learners – more free health checks rolled out for preschoolers
Published: 30 October 2024
Released by: Minister for Education and Early Learning, Minister for Health
More children will get free health and development checks with the Minns Labor Government today announcing $7.2 million for 881 early childhood education and care services across NSW.
The NSW Government opt-in Health and Development Checks in Early Childhood and Care program supports health professionals to visit early childhood education and care services to conduct the checks for four-year-olds to help identify additional support the children may need before school.
More than 7,000 children have received a free health and development check in their early childhood education and care service since the program began in 2023.
The checks assess various aspects of the child development, including problem solving skills, listening, talking and, social skills. Physical growth and dental health will also be monitored.
The program aims to make it easier for more services to offer the checks.
Eligible services received up to $7,500 to support:
1. Staffing to support services to deliver the health and development checks
2. Provision of private space to conduct the checks.
3. Support to address health and development needs identified through the checks.
The checks offered through early childhood education and care services provide families with a free alternative to visiting a doctor or Child and Family Health service.
Nearly half (44 per cent) of NSW children are not developmentally on track when they start school, according to the most recent Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) data.
All preschools and long day care services can participate in the Health and Development Checks in Early Childhood Education and Care program by contacting their local health district.
This is all part of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to give kids across NSW the best start in life.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:
“Health and development checks provide families with valuable information about their child’s growth and development.
“Offering the free checks at early childhood education and care services makes it easier for working families to participate and ensures there is early intervention for students who need it.
“The Minns Labor Government is supporting long term health and development outcomes for all children across NSW, regardless of their family’s postcode, income or circumstances.”
Minister for Health and Regional Health Ryan Park said:
“Starting school is an exciting time, but with two in five children starting school developmentally off track we need to do more to support young children and their families.
“Providing health and development checks for four-year-olds in preschools or long day care centres makes it far more convenient for busy families to help their children have the best start to school.
“These checks especially in the first 2,000 days help families get the information they need to support their child’s development and to seek help, if needed.”
MIL OSI Translation. Timor-Leste Portuguese to English –
Presidency of the Council of Ministers
Spokesperson for the Government of Timor-Leste
……………………………………………. ……………………………………………. …………………….
Press release
Council of Ministers meeting on 30 October 2024
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace, in Dili, and approved the draft Government Resolution that extends, until April 10, 2025, the suspension of the teaching, learning and practice of martial arts and the temporary closure of all places and facilities intended for the teaching, learning and practice of martial arts, initially approved by Government Resolution No. 45/2023, of November 10, and extended by Government Resolution No. 17/2024, of April 24.
This Government Resolution aims to consolidate and reinforce the social peace achieved since November 2023. With a measured and controlled approach, it is intended, in the future, to allow the practice of martial arts exclusively in the context of sport, promoting healthy exercise and contributing to the civic and humanistic education and training of young people. However, at this time, the suspension of the teaching, learning and practice of martial arts and the temporary closure of the respective facilities remain.
The Government congratulates the population, particularly young people, for their collaboration in complying with Government Resolution No. 17/2024, of April 24, which has contributed significantly to maintaining order and social peace throughout the country.
*****
The draft Decree-Law, presented by the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Agio Pereira, and by the President of the Civil Service Commission, Agostinho Letêncio de Deus, regarding the Seniority Promotion Regime for Public Administration career personnel, was also approved.
This legislative initiative aims to ensure career progression for those who, for various reasons, have been unable to achieve merit-based promotions in recent years. The system is based on criteria such as seniority, performance evaluation, age, professional training, service provision in remote areas, good behavior and attendance. The law establishes that promotion based on seniority will occur annually, and will be carried out through an internal competition regulated by the Civil Service Commission, which determines the vacancies available for each grade and professional category.
It is expected that this seniority-based promotion regime will reduce stagnation in the careers of civil servants, valuing the dedication of many years to public service, especially for those who face difficulties in participating in conventional competitions.
*****
Finally, the Government Resolution project, presented by the Minister of Social Solidarity and Inclusion, Verónica das Dores, regarding compliance with the registration regime and contribution obligation within the scope of the Social Security Contributory Regime, was approved.
This legislation reinforces the State’s duty, enshrined in Article 56 of the Constitution of the Republic, to organize a social security system that protects all workers in the country, in the public and private sectors, and ensures the right to social security and assistance. Established by Law No. 12/2016, of November 14, the social security system has been in force since 2017 and defines the responsibilities of employers, including the registration of workers and the monthly submission of remuneration statements to the National Institute of Social Security (INSS).
This Government Resolution determines that all entities of the direct and indirect State Administration must regularize the registration of their workers with the INSS by November 15, 2024, as well as submit monthly remuneration statements by the 15th of each month. The INSS provides the necessary tables on its website and, by November 30, 2024, will present to the Council of Ministers a list of entities in non-compliance.
Failure to comply with this Resolution will result in civil, financial, reintegration and disciplinary liability for those responsible for services and entities of the direct and indirect State Administration with jurisdiction over the registration of workers and the monthly submission of Remuneration Declarations, as applicable. END
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, this morning delivered opening remarks at the Opening Ceremony of the 28th ASEAN Labour Ministers’ Meeting (ALMM) held in Singapore. Dr. Kao also joined Singapore’s Minister for Manpower Dr. Tan See Leng for the Ceremonial Sealing of the Time Capsule Commemorating 50 Years of the ALMM. The Time Capsule will be shipped to and displayed at the ASEAN Secretariat, with Singapore’s facilitation, and will be opened on the 75th Anniversary of ALMM.
Download the full remarks here.
The post Secretary-General of ASEAN delivers remarks at the Opening Ceremony of the 28th ASEAN Labour Ministers’ Meeting in Singapore appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.
China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOC) on Tuesday announced its decision to renew anti-dumping duties on ethanolamines imported from the United States, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, and Thailand.
The duties were initially introduced in 2018 for a period of five years as such imports had caused substantial damage to China’s domestic industry.
Following the end of the term last year, the MOC launched investigations to review the anti-dumping at the request of the domestic industry.
The MOC said in a ruling that if the duties were terminated, the dumping practice and related damage would likely continue or reoccur.
The duties will be levied for another five years starting Wednesday.
A major change in the scheduling of the maintenance on SH1 between Tīrau and Waiouru has seen the closure of the East Taupō Arterial section of SH1 brought forward to Monday 11 November until 6 December 2024.
The work required on the East Taupō Arterial road includes rebuilding 2.5km of the road, adjusting median barriers, clearing the shoulders, repairing signs and adding in new line marking.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi Regional Manager of Maintenance and Operations for Waikato and Bay of Plenty, Roger Brady, says this change in scheduling has a range of benefits for road users and the wider Taupō community.
“There are a number of large events planned in November and December in Taupō, including the Cycle Challenge and Ironman 70.3 World Championship(external link). Changing the sequence of our work on SH1 means we avoid causing considerable disruption to competitors and spectators during the lead up and at the events.
“We had originally planned on a second SH1 closure between Ātiamuri to Wairakei to happen before this Christmas, but the work on that section will now take place in spring 2025. As a result we can fit in the work on the East Taupō Arterial section of SH1 before Christmas.
“Once completed, we would only need to come back for the final surfacing early next year, minimising the overall impact of motorists.
“We’ve worked closely with Taupō District Council (TDC) to understand the best timing for closing the various sections and believe together we have come up with a solution that is best for the wider Taupō community. TDC are able to incorporate road works they need to do into our closure, and they have helped to shape our traffic management to minimise disruption as much as possible. We’d like to extend our thanks to TDC for working so collaboratively with us.
“We’d also like to thank the Taupō community and businesses for their understanding and patience. We know that we haven’t been able to provide much notice, but this short-term disruption will be worth it in the long run.”
Taupō will be very busy during December and there will be pressure on the highways and local roads in the area due to the various events as well as the road works. Motorists are encouraged to use the official detour via Broadlands Road and Ohaaki Road to SH5, and vice versa. The recommended detour adds an extra 45.5 km and approx. 32 min to journeys.
Those travelling to north or south destinations either side of Taupō may prefer to utilise other state highway routes such as SH3, SH4 and SH49.
Putāruru to Tokoroa closures in December
SH1 between Tokoroa and upper Ātiamuri is currently closed, with the road rebuilding work progressing well. Subject to this work being completed as planned by the end of November, the crews will then start work on the Putāruru to Tokoroa section in the last week of November. SH1 will be closed for approximately 4 weeks until Friday 20 December with all north and south bound vehicles being detoured 24/7.
“Crews are working hard to finish work on the Tokoroa to upper Ātiamuri. We are also depending on good weather. Once completed, over 24 lane kilometres, or nearly 130,000 square metres of road, will have been upgraded,” Mr Brady says.
“As soon as crews are finished there, they will be moving north to the next section. We’re unable to work on both sections as it’s too disruptive to have both sections closed to the public at once.”
Specific work sites and final dates are expected to be confirmed in the coming week. Keep an eye on nzta.govt.nz/t2w for the latest updates.
This work forms part of the government’s $2.07 billion investment into road and drainage renewal and maintenance across 2024-27 via the State Highway Pothole Prevention fund.
Construction work on SH1 between Tokoroa and upper Ātiamuri.
Source: Australia Government Statements – Agriculture
30 October 2024
Who does this notice affect?
All clients anticipating the receipt of email notifications for biosecurity directions from the department.
Information
Restored time:
As of: 14:10 Wednesday 30 October 2024 (AEDT).
Detail:
The unplanned service disruption to the department’s Agriculture Import Management System (AIMS) has been resolved. Clients will now receive email notifications for biosecurity…