Category: Asia Pacific

MIL-Evening Report: NZ’s third-largest city sanctions Israel over illegal Palestine settlements

Asia Pacific Report

Christchurch, New Zealand’s third-largest city, today became the first local government in the country to sanction Israel by voting to halt business with organisations involved in illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.

It passed a resolution to amend its procurement policy to exclude companies building and maintaining illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land.

It was a largely symbolic gesture in that Christchurch (pop. 408,000) currently has no business dealings with any of the companies listed by the United Nations as being active in the illegal settlements.

However, the vote also rules out any future business dealings by the city council with such companies.

The sanctions vote came after passionate pleas to the council by John Minto, president of the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA), and University of Canterbury postcolonial studies lecturer Dr Josephine Varghese.

“We’re delighted the council has taken a stand against Israel’s ongoing theft of Palestinian land,” said Minto in a statement welcoming the vote.

He had urged the council to take a stand against companies identified by the UN Human Rights Council as complicit in the construction and maintenance of the illegal settlements.

‘Failure of Western governments’
“It has been the failure of Western governments to hold Israel to account which means Israel has a 76-year history of oppression and brutal abuse of Palestinians.

“Today Israel is running riot across the Middle East because it has never been held to account for 76 years of flagrant breaches of international law,” Minto said.

“The motion passed by Christchurch City today helps to end Israeli impunity for war crimes.” (Building settlements on occupied land belonging to others is a war crime under international law)

“The motion is a small but significant step in sanctioning Israel. Many more steps must follow”.

The council’s vote to support the UN policy was met with cheers from a packed public gallery. Before the vote, gallery members displayed a “Stop the genocide” banner.

Minto described the decision as a significant step towards aligning with international law and supporting Palestinian rights.

“In relation to the council adopting a policy lined up with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334, this resolution was co-sponsored by the New Zealand government back in 2016,” Minto said, referencing the UN resolution that Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories “had no legal validity and constituted a flagrant violation under international law”.

‘Red herrings and obfuscations’
In his statement, Minto said: “We are particularly pleased the council rejected the red herrings and obfuscations of New Zealand Jewish Council spokesperson Ben Kepes who urged councillors to reject the motion”

“Mr Kepes presentation was a repetition of the tired, old arguments used by white South Africans to avoid accountability for their apartheid policies last century – policies which are mirrored in Israel today.”

Postcolonial studies lecturer Dr Josephine Varghese . . . boycotts “a long standing peaceful means of protest adopted by freedom fighters across the world.” Image: UOC

Dr Varghese said more than 42,000 Palestininians — at least 15,000 of them children — had been killed in Israel’s war on Gaza.

“Boycotting products and services which support and benefit from colonisation and apartheid is the long standing peaceful means of protest adopted by freedom fighters across the world, not only by black South Africans against apartheid, but also in the Indian independent struggle By the lights of Gandhi,” she said.

“This is a rare opportunity for us to follow in the footsteps of these greats and make a historic move, not only for Christchurch City, but also for Aotearoa New Zealand.

“On March 15, 2019 [the date of NZ’s mosque massacre killing 51 people], we made headlines for all the wrong reasons, and today could be an opportunity where we make headlines global globally for the right reasons,” Dr Varghese said.

“Sanctions on Israel” supporters at the Christchurch City Council for the vote today. Image: PSNA

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Bill to improve charity lotteries passes third reading

Source: New Zealand Government

Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries run by charities such as Pet Refuge and the Heart Foundation can now operate and advertise online permanently.

“Temporary legislation that allowed lotteries for non-commercial to operate online was due to expire at the end of October, which would have forced charities who use these lotteries to return to selling tickets in person or by post, and to take down any digital advertising”, says Ms van Velden.

“In an increasingly digital world this would have had significant negative impacts on the ability of charities to fundraise. There are additional operational costs involved with selling tickets in person and a reduced ability to reach customers, decreasing the revenue that can be put towards vital work in our communities.”

“This Government has taken quick action to allow these lotteries to operate online permanently, so they can continue to fundraise in an efficient and effective way. I have heard from many well-loved Kiwi charities about the significant difference this change will have for them, including Pet Refuge and the Heart Foundation.”

“We know these charities make a difference in the lives of New Zealanders and their families every day, and I am pleased that this change will allow them to continue to do so.

“My Bill to make this permanent change passed its third reading last night, providing certainty to non-profit organisations that they can continue to promote their lotteries without worrying about falling outside of the law by doing so.

“I give my thanks to all those who submitted on the Bill during select committee, and the many community organisations in New Zealand for their service to local communities.”

There are currently 46 organisations licensed to offer these charitable lotteries, from well-known charities like the Coastguard and Auckland Rescue Helicopter through to small community sport clubs in Dunedin and Whangārei.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: First Responders – Waikato wetland fire #9

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

The large vegetation fire near Meremere is now under control.

Fire and Emergency was able to stand down its air operations around 5pm with the fire now contained and controlled.

The fire remains at 1024 hectares with a 15-kilometre perimeter.

Incident Controller Mark Tinworth praised his crews for their efforts to get the fire to this point.

“This is a significant milestone for us as we do not expect the fire to grow any larger in size.

“We will have drones operating overnight to keep an eye out for reignition of the fire and to identify and monitor hotspots and flareups.

“We will continue to have a presence at the site tomorrow as this fire will take some time to fully extinguish due to where it is burning in peat and wetland.”

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Becoming a rural animal technician the aim for EIT student | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

42 seconds ago

Ella Cooke, 19, is currently studying Year One of the Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing.

A love for animals and a desire to work as a rural animal technician is what is driving an EIT student to succeed.

Ella Cooke, 19, is currently studying year one of the Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing. She has grown up with animals and currently lives on an orchard outside Hastings with her parents.

She attended Iona College last year and came into EIT with a number of scholarships. One was a Year-13 Scholarship from EIT, which is offered annually, and covers one year of tuition fees. The Scholarship supports school leavers across the Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti regions to study any one of EIT’s degrees or selected level 5 diploma programmes that lead into a degree by providing one year FREE study.

She also won a scholarship from Vet Services Hawke’s Bay, as well as a Prime Minister’s Vocational Excellence Award.

“I just love animals and love to care for animals and I’ve had four dogs and a cat in my life.”

Ella says that she is loving the programme, especially the hands-on work with animals.

“It is not just about attending lectures, but we also actually get to work with animals. We get to learn how to handle the animals properly.”

“I want to get my qualification, and then I eventually want to work with large animals – livestock – and visit farms.”

One of the things that Ella loves about EIT, is that it is close to home and she did not have to move out of Hawke’s Bay to achieve her tertiary education dreams.

Work experience is an important part of the programme, and Ella is due to return to Vet Services in Hastings, where she has been before.

Emma Martin, EIT’s Veterinary Nursing Programme Co-ordinator said: “Ella has been a pleasure to have in the programme this year. She has come out of her shell, taking full advantage of every learning opportunity and making the most of her experiences. “

“Ella has received excellent feedback from her clinical placement at Vet Services in Hastings, where she has impressed with her skills and professionalism. She works exceptionally well in a team and has built a strong network of classmates, combining fun with learning experiences. We are excited to see what the future holds for Ella as we continue to support her in reaching her final goals.”

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Mental Health Bill passes first reading

Source: New Zealand Government

A bill that will repeal the current Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992 has passed first reading in Parliament today, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says.

“As New Zealand’s first Mental Health Minister I am very pleased to introduce this Bill to the House. This Bill will modernise compulsory mental health care, improve the effectiveness of mental health and addiction support and will put people at the centre of decision-making about their own care,” Mr Doocey says.

The legislation will support care being delivered in a way that minimises coercion and is responsive to individual needs. It introduces far greater protections and safeguards, ensuring people understand what is happening to them and what they are entitled to when they are under the legislation.

In 2018 the He Ara Oranga: Report of the Government Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction recognised the Act was out of date and recommended new legislation that reflects a human rights-based approach, promotes supported decision-making, aligns with the recovery and wellbeing model of mental health, and provides measures to minimise compulsory or coercive treatment.

“I am very pleased to introduce this Bill to the House and to be taking the next step in fulfilling the Inquiry’s recommendations.

The legislation will also contribute to an important part of the Government’s response to recommendations made by the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.

“We are committed to delivering a considered and comprehensive response the Inquiry’s final report. This Bill will contribute to a number of the recommendations, the majority relate to care safety.

“This Government is focused on delivering an effective mental health and addiction continuum that puts people at the centre of their care. Making sure we have legislation that can support people who are experiencing the most acute mental distress is a key part of that.”

Note to editors:
The recommendations the Mental Health Bill will contribute towards include:
•    Recommendation 39: Principles for preventing and responding to abuse and neglect in care
•    Recommendation 46: reviewing legislation relating to the care of children, young people, and adults in care to identify and address any inconsistencies, gaps or lack of coherence in the relevant statutory regimes
•    Recommendations 65: Complaints are responded to effectively
•    Recommendation, 73, 74: Institutional environments and practices to be minimised and ultimately eliminated
•    Recommendations 76, 78 and 80: People in care are empowered and supported
•    Recommendation 114: Communities are empowered to minimise the need for out of whānau care
•    Recommendation 118: Giving effect to te Tiriti o Waitangi and human rights

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Depts, ICAC tackle corruption cases

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Labour Department (LD) and the Electrical & Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) indicated today that they have taken actions following the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC)’s recent arrests for suspected corruption cases in relation to training courses and working experience proof.

The LD emphasised in a press release that it is highly concerned about suspected illegal acts involving the offer and acceptance of benefits to assist unqualified people in enrolling in training courses for Experienced Operators of Excavator.

It pointed out that it has initiated an investigation to examine whether the training course providers and their staff have strictly complied with the approval conditions for operating Mandatory Safety Training courses.

It will follow up seriously if violations are found, the LD stressed.

In response to the ICAC’s actions, the LD announced the revocation of 100 certificates for excavator operators involved in the case.

According to the Factories & Industrial Undertakings (Loadshifting Machinery) Regulation, people operating an excavator must have successfully completed the relevant safety training courses and obtained the corresponding certificates.

The LD added that it is reviewing the admission mechanism for training course providers. With reference from the ICAC’s advice, it will also further enhance the mechanism, including improving current admission procedures and ensuring that training course providers strictly adhere to the approval conditions for operating the courses.

Separately, regarding the ICAC’s arrest operation concerning the suspected forgery of working experience proof to apply for registration as Grade A electrical workers, the EMSD said that it launched an investigation in accordance with the Electricity Ordinance.

After it was found that some registrants obtained their registration through improper means, the EMSD cancelled the registration of the Grade A electrical workers concerned.

Furthermore, it made it clear that to register as a Grade A electrical worker, an applicant must possess relevant qualifications and working experience.

Upon learning of this case, the EMSD specified that it has strengthened the vetting and approval procedures, including deploying officers to the issuing organisation’s office to carry out a check on each applicant’s working experience.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SCST expresses sorrow over passing of Mr Michael Suen

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, today (October 23) expressed his deep sorrow over the passing of Mr Michael Suen.

Mr Yeung said, “Mr Suen joined the Government in 1966 and had served in a number of government bureaux and departments. He became one of the Principal Officials in 1997 and made immense contributions to the implementation of various policy measures until 2012. I am deeply saddened by Mr Suen’s passing. I extend my sincere condolences to his family.”

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ15: Making good use of counselling professionals to support mental health services

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

LCQ15: Making good use of counselling professionals to support mental health services
LCQ15: Making good use of counselling professionals to support mental health services
*************************************************************************************

Following is a question by the Hon Chan Hoi-yan and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, in the Legislative Council today (October 23):Question: It has been reported that according to the information of the Department of Health, both the proportions of students in Hong Kong who planned to commit suicide and who attempted suicide in the 2022-2023 school year hit a record high for the past five years, reflecting the severe challenges faced by Hong Kong’s mental health services and support system. There are views that as there are now only some 460 psychiatric specialists in Hong Kong, and people in need may not be able to receive timely support given such limited manpower, Hong Kong can make good use of counselling professionals to share and support its work on mental health services. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:(1) whether it has compiled statistics on the number of subsidised programmes related to the counselling profession offered by tertiary institutions in Hong Kong;(2) whether it knows the number of graduates with qualifications related to counselling in each of the past five years and, among them, the number of those who joined the counselling profession after graduation;(3) whether it has compiled statistics on public and subsidised mental health service items currently provided by counselling professionals in Hong Kong (set out by public and subsidised services);(4) whether it has compiled statistics on the respective numbers of counselling professionals that need to be employed and have been employed by public organisations in Hong Kong at present;(5) of the community support services provided to new patients on the waiting list for psychiatric specialist services in public hospitals, and whether the authorities will consider providing additional support to patients with longer waiting time, such as arranging counselling professionals to provide services (including emotional counselling and service referrals) for patients with mild symptoms; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;(6) whether the authorities will consider setting up a registration system and the relevant qualifications framework for counselling professionals in Hong Kong, as well as drawing up related professional standards and formulating codes of professional conduct, so as to regulate the relevant profession; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and(7) of the authorities’ future planning to make good use of counselling professionals to support mental health services in Hong Kong, as well as the details of the relevant work?Reply:President, Student suicide is a complex social problem involving multiple risk and protective factors which should not be addressed solely through mental health factors or from a medical perspective, and issues on relevant supporting manpower should be tackled through co-ordination between different professionals and supporting personnel. In consultation with the Education Bureau (EDB), the Hospital Authority (HA), the Labour and Welfare Bureau and the Social Welfare Department (SWD), the consolidated reply in response to the question raised by the Hon Chan Hoi-yan is as follows:(1) and (2) The eight University Grants Committee-funded universities do not offer publicly-funded counselling degree programmes at present. As regards the self-financing post-secondary education sector, various post-secondary institutions offer a total of 14 locally-accredited self-financing post-secondary programmes that are relevant to the counselling profession in the 2024/25 academic year, including two sub-degree, one undergraduate and 11 taught postgraduate programmes. The number of graduates of relevant programmes in the past five academic years are set out in the table below.

Level of Study
Academic Year

2018/19
2019/20
2020/21
2021/22
2022/23

Sub-degree
104
84
59
37
110

Undergraduate
92
103
90
97
90

Taught Postgraduate
313
378
426
407
466

Note 1: The table above includes programmes with English titles involving the keywords “Counsel” / “Guidance”.Note 2: Sub-degree programmes cover full-time Associate Degree and Higher Diploma programmes.Note 3: Undergraduate programmes cover full-time first-year-first-degree and top-up degree programmes.Note 4: Taught postgraduate programmes cover both full-time and part-time Postgraduate Certificate with a minimum duration of one year, Postgraduate Diploma, Master’s, and Doctoral degree programmes.Note 5: Information on the number of graduates for the 2023/24 academic year is not yet available from relevant institutions. Apart from providing mental health support, counselling staff also provide appropriate counselling services in other service units, such as family services, schools and the workplace, according to the needs of the service targets. The EDB does not collect information on the graduates of the abovementioned programmes who have joined the counselling profession. (3) and (4) Mental health service providers within the structure of the Government and the HA such as doctors, nurses, clinical and educational psychologists and social workers, will consider whether to incorporate the element of counselling in the course of service delivery according to the needs of the service targets. Relevant organisations and the HA will also arrange training for relevant personnel to enhance their counselling skills. Apart from the aforementioned professional grade staff members, schools and social welfare organisations may employ counselling personnel on a need basis. For welfare service units, subject to their compliance with the requirements of the Funding and Service Agreement as well as the relevant statutory staffing requirements, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) subvented by the SWD may flexibly deploy resources to arrange appropriate personnel, including employing counselling personnel or purchasing counselling services to meet the operational and service targets’ needs. For example, Integrated Community Centres for Mental Wellness (ICCMWs) may employ counselling personnel according to their needs to provide services to persons with mental health needs. For schools, the EDB provides comprehensive student guidance services through multi-disciplinary collaboration and the “Whole School Approach”. Apart from teachers, school social workers and school-based educational psychologists, schools can also employ additional student guidance personnel or procure related services from organisations according to students’ needs, flexibly deploying grants provided by the Government or pooling together other school resources to strengthen the support for students.(5) The HA has specifically set an additional target for psychiatric specialist out-patient clinics (SOPCs) last year, that is, the overall median waiting time for urgent and semi-urgent new cases should be no more than one week and four weeks respectively. The relevant target has already been achieved, ensuring that patients with urgent needs can receive treatment within a reasonable time. The HA will continue to strengthen its psychiatric SOPC services and improve the waiting time for urgent and semi-urgent new cases, including increasing consultation quotas. The HA will also take care of more psychiatric patients in need by strengthening its manpower and through the Public-Private Partnership Programme, as well as enhancing the services of psychiatric nurse clinics to allow patients to receive follow-up while waiting for SOPC services or follow-up appointments. If there is any change in the mental conditions of patients, they may return to their respective psychiatric SOPCs for re-assessment to determine whether they need to advance their consultation or seek treatment from the accident and emergency services. The Health Bureau launched the Pilot Scheme on New Service Protocol for Child and Adolescent with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Comorbidity to provide multi-disciplinary assessment, treatment and support services to children and adolescents with or suspected to have Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder and Comorbidities while they are waiting for HA services. In addition, the SWD provides subvention to NGOs to operate ICCMWs across the city. Following the Chief Executive’s announcement in the 2024 Policy Address that an additional ICCMW will be set up in the first quarter of 2026, the total number of ICCMWs across the city will increase to 25, providing community support services to persons with mental health needs.(6) and (7) Mental health encompasses various levels and aspects such as social service, school education, community support and medical care. Not all individuals with mental health problems need to seek treatment from psychiatrists. In recent years, mental health services introduced by the Government have, in varying degrees, implemented the concept of stepped care model, under which members of the public are referred to different levels of mental health services according to their mental health needs and severity. For example, the Student Mental Health Support Scheme launched in the 2016/17 academic year has applied the stepped care model to provide multi-disciplinary support services to students with mental health needs in schools through tripartite collaboration among the medical, education and social sectors. The 2024 Policy Address announced that the Government will extend integrated services based on a medical-educational-social collaboration model to promote mental health. The Advisory Committee on Mental Health (ACMH) will formulate a stepped care model for mental health, through developing a multi-disciplinary framework with tiers from dealing with general emotional problems in the frontline to handling cases requiring follow-up and more serious mental illnesses cases. The framework sets out the roles of different professionals (such as teaching staff, social workers and healthcare workers, along with other supporting personnel and services providers) and their division of work in the provision of mental health services for cases in each tier, enabling them to work together and perform their respective roles smoothly, with a view to making good use of multi-disciplinary staff to assist in handling various types of cases with mental health needs in a systematic manner. To ensure the quality and standard of services, the Government will review the appropriate training qualifications and quality assurance requirements for different professionals and support staff according to risk-based needs during the formulation of the stepped care model for mental health. In the process, the Government will also review the relevant personnel providing counselling services. A working group on the stepped care model for mental health has been established under the ACMH to take forward the work and is expected to submit a report by end???2025.

Ends/Wednesday, October 23, 2024Issued at HKT 15:45

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: The Honorable Ms. Laura L. Updegrove Visits COMLOGWESTPAC, October 16, 2024 [Image 1 of 4]

Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)

Issued by: on

SINGAPORE (October 16, 2024) Ms. Laura L. Updegrove, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia, signs a guest book during a scheduled visit to Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific/Task Force 73 (COMLOGWESTPAC/CTF 73), Oct. 16, 2024. COMLOGWESTPAC supports deployed maritime forces, along with regional Allies and partners, to sustain Western Pacific operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Moises Sandoval/Released)

Date Taken: 10.15.2024

Date Posted: 10.23.2024 03:42

Photo ID: 8713176

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January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: The Honorable Ms. Laura L. Updegrove Visits COMLOGWESTPAC, October 16, 2024 [Image 2 of 4]

Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)

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SINGAPORE (October 16, 2024) Rear Adm. Todd Cimicata, Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific/Task Force 73 (COMLOGWESTPAC/CTF 73), right, and Ms. Laura L. Updegrove, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia, pose for a photo during a scheduled visit to Sembawang Naval Installation (SNI), Oct. 16, 2024. COMLOGWESTPAC supports deployed maritime forces, along with regional Allies and partners, to sustain Western Pacific operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Moises Sandoval/Released)

Date Taken: 10.15.2024

Date Posted: 10.23.2024 03:42

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January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Universities – The 2024 Māori business leaders shaping Aotearoa’s future – UoA

Source: University of Auckland (UoA)

Aotearoa’s best and brightest Māori business leaders were honoured at the 2024 Ngā Tohu Kaiārahi Pakihi Māori o Aotearoa | Aotearoa Māori Business Leaders Awards.

Whakatō te kākano, marotiritiri ai te māra, ka māea ngā hua | Plant the seed, cultivate the garden, reap the benefits.

A macadamia pioneer, sustainable fisheries champions and a plastic waste-to-product business, were among those honoured at the 2024 Aotearoa Māori Business Leaders Awards.

The event, held on 23 October and hosted by the University of Auckland Business School, celebrated the remarkable contributions of the Māori entrepreneurs, leaders and organisations shaping Aotearoa’s business landscape.

Six awards were presented, acknowledging the unique and powerful contributions of Māori leaders, each with their own inspiring story and unique approach to business.

Vanessa Hayes, founder of kaupapa Māori business Torere Macadamias, won the Entrepreneurial Māori Business Leader award.

Vanessa and her team are growing the New Zealand macadamia industry, which has historically relied on imported macadamias.

Torere Macadamias is working with Plant and Food Research, expanding its nursery and encouraging other growers and grower collectives by providing training, workshops and supplying plants from their nursery.

The company’s orchard produces around 20 tonnes of macadamias annually. And recently, Vanessa and the Torere team celebrated a milestone, winning a contract to supply Air New Zealand on their long haul and business class flights.

Moana New Zealand was honoured with the Kaitiaki Business Leader award for their dedication to sustainable fisheries management. The seafood company is a 100 percent iwi-owned organisation with a deep sense of responsibility and respect for New Zealand’s fisheries.

Māori Women’s Development Inc., a charitable trust formed, managed and operated by Māori women, earned the Mānuka Henare award for its continued support of Māori women in business, offering loans and wrap-around support.

Traci Houpapa, chair of the Federation of Māori Authorities, won the Māori Governance Leader award for her extensive leadership in business and governance, shaping the Māori business landscape. She holds a number of directorships and Ministerial appointments, including Chiefs Rugby and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.

The Outstanding Māori Business Leader award went to Harry Burkhardt, co-founder and managing director of Replas Ltd, an innovative company transforming waste plastic into valuable products.

Meanwhile, the Dame Mira Szászy Alumni Award went to Karleen Everitt, a University of Auckland Business School graduate who has had a stellar career and is currently leading Te Ao Māori Strategy at ANZ Bank.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ7: Combating vaping of “space oil”

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is a question by the Hon Lam So-wai and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, in the Legislative Council today (October 23):

Question:

     “Space oil” is a kind of liquid to which harmful substances have been illegally added. Usually, its main ingredient is etomidate, an anaesthetic that can only be prescribed by a doctor according to the law. Anyone who illegally possesses and uses the substance commits an offence. It has been reported that space oil, often vaped through e-cigarettes, can produce transient euphoria and cause addiction, and has gained popularity amongst youth communities since last year, with some sellers even blatantly putting space oil up for sale on social media platforms. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the respective numbers of persons arrested for illegal sale and possession of space oil in the past three years, together with a tabulated breakdown by age;

(2) whether it will bring etomidate under the control of the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (Cap. 134); if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(3) whether the authorities have put in place measures to prevent members of the public (especially young people) from vaping space oil by, for example, stepping up education and proactively taking law enforcement actions such as decoy operations; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

“Space oil” is a kind of liquid to which harmful substances have been illegally added and is often inhaled through electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes). There is no standard formula for “space oil”, but its main ingredient is usually etomidate, an anaesthetic which can only be prescribed by a doctor according to the law. Etomidate is regulated as Part 1 poison under the Pharmacy and Poisons Regulations (Cap. 138A). Illegal supply or use of etomidate is liable to imprisonment upon conviction. Abuse of “space oil” will cause harm to one’s health and lead to addiction. It will also lure abusers to try other kinds of drugs. Taking “space oil” is equivalent to taking drugs.

     â€‹My reply to the various parts of the question raised by the Hon Lam So-wai is as follows:

(1) Frontline anti-drug workers noticed an emergence of “space oil” in Hong Kong in 2023 after the COVID-19 pandemic, and it had begun to gain traction among local young people and some of them even started taking it. Records of law enforcement agencies (LEAs) have reflected the same trend. In 2023, we started to observe persons arrested for offences involving “space oil” containing etomidate by the Hong Kong Police Force and the Customs and Excise Department. The number of persons arrested in the past three years by age groups are set out at Annex.

(2) To ensure that the LEAs can effectively respond to the drug abuse situation and enhance deterrence, it is indicated in the Supplement to “The Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address” published last week that the Government will step up control on etomidate. Specifically, we propose bringing etomidate under control of the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (DDO) (Cap. 134). We have already consulted the Action Committee Against Narcotics (ACAN) and relevant stakeholders, with a view to listing etomidate as a dangerous drug in the first half of 2025. By then, illegal possession or smoking, inhaling, ingesting and injecting “space oil” containing etomidate is liable to a maximum penalty of seven years’ imprisonment and a fine of $1 million. Trafficking or illegal import of such a substance is liable to a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of $5 million.

(3) The Government has all along been closely monitoring the trend of emerging drugs. Apart from strengthening the control on etomidate by way of legislation, the Government has taken prompt actions to combat “space oil” through reducing demand and intercepting supply.

     Preventive publicity and education is the backbone of demand reduction and forms the first line of defense for our anti-drug work. Targeting the emergence of “space oil” among the youth, we have started with the school sector. First, earlier this year, the Commissioner for Narcotics from the Security Bureau (SB) wrote to all primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong alerting them to the problem of “space oil” inhaling through eâ€‘cigarettes. In addition, the Narcotics Division (ND) of the SB is in the course of including information on the harmful effects of “space oil” in its anti-drug educational talks and interactive drama for schools.

     To further enhance the vigilance against and responsiveness to “space oil” among the school sector and anti-drug community, the ND in collaboration with the Hong Kong Poison Control Centre of the Hospital Authority and a frontline social service organisation organised two seminars on the issue of “space oil” abuse in August and October with a total attendance of nearly 500 people. At the seminars, different professionals, anti-drug workers, social workers, and teaching staff from over 100 primary and secondary schools shared their observations of the abuse situation of “space oil” among young people and the related harms. There were also exchanges of views on how to prevent “space oil” abuse and handle abusers. After the seminars, the Narcotics Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force distributed an infographic to all schools in Hong Kong. As young people often inhale “space oil” through e-cigarettes, the Chairman of the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health also gave a presentation on the harmful effects of e-cigarettes in one of the aforementioned seminars.

     As regards publicity, to raise public awareness of the harmful effects of “space oil”, a new zone dedicated to “space oil” was set up at the Hong Kong Jockey Club Drug InfoCentre in mid-September with promotional videos, publications and exhibition panels showing the harms of “space oil” on display. Since the middle of this year, the ND has been starting to publish social media posts and has launched an animated video on the harmful effects of “space oil”. They serve to alert the public, in particular young people, to the harms of “space oil”. The animated video has been uploaded onto the ND’s website and social media platforms, and schools and anti-drug organisations have been encouraged to show it often. We will continue to work with ACAN, other departments and various sectors of the community to step up preventive education and publicity efforts in view of the “space oil” abuse situation.

     To intercept the supply of “space oil”, the LEAs have stepped up various inspections including cyber patrol and carried out intelligence-based law enforcement actions. For example, the Police seized 2.17 kilograms of a substance claimed to be “space oil” during the past summer. More recently in mid-October, the Police raided a residential unit in Tai Kok Tsui, which was used as a drug storage and distribution centre, resulting in the seizure of “space oil” and other drugs. Upon the commencement of control of etomidate under the DDO (Cap. 134), the LEAs will definitely step up their enforcement against all etomidate-related offences.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ6: Quarantine period for pet cats/dogs entering Hong Kong from Mainland

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is a question by Dr the Hon Johnny Ng and a reply by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, in the Legislative Council today (October 23):

Question:

     It is learnt that in recent years, more members of the public exit or enter the territory carrying pet cats/dogs. On the other hand, for the sake of preventing the spread of rabies into Hong Kong, pet cats/dogs carried by members of the public back to Hong Kong from Group III places (including the Mainland) as specified by the Government are required to comply with the quarantine procedures prescribed by law, including a quarantine period of at least 120 days. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the number of cases applying for quarantine of pet cats/dogs entering the territory that were received by the Government in each month of the past three years; among these cases, the respective numbers of cats and dogs which had fallen sick and died during the quarantine period and the reasons for that;

(2) whether it will increase the number of quarantine institutions and quarantine centres as well as the number of animals that can be quarantined, so as to meet the immigration needs of pet cats/dogs; if so, of the plans and timetable; if not, the reasons for that; and

(3) as information shows that some advanced regions in Asia adopt more lenient quarantine requirements on pets entering the territory than Hong Kong, such as the seven-day and 30-day quarantine periods adopted respectively by Taiwan and Singapore, whether the Government will make reference to the practice of those regions and shorten the present quarantine period for pet cats/dogs brought into the territory from Group III places; if so, of the specific arrangements and the earliest possible date of implementation; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

     Rabies is a contagious disease that can cause fatality to mammals (including humans). No specific treatment is available at present and rabies is almost always fatal once clinical signs appear, and nearly 60 000 people die of rabies globally every year. To safeguard public health, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) currently regulates the import of live animals through a permit system, and controls the import of cats and dogs under the Public Health (Animals and Birds) Regulations (Cap. 139A) and the Rabies Regulation (Cap. 421A), aiming to prevent the transmission of animal diseases including rabies into Hong Kong. Under effective control measures, Hong Kong has long been widely recognised as a rabies-free place; therefore, animals of Hong Kong residents generally face less stringent quarantine requirements when entering other places, for example places with strictest quarantine requirements like Australia and New Zealand permit the entry of cats and dogs from Hong Kong.

     For importation of cats and dogs, the AFCD classifies places into three groups according to different risk of rabies, with reference to information about the surveillance of animal diseases from the World Organisation for Animal Health. Group I includes rabies-free places (i.e. where rabies has been absent for a long time); Group II includes places where rabies cases are few and under effective control; and Group III includes places where rabies cases are reported and not under effective control. In general, places that do not meet the requirements of Group I or II (or their situations cannot be determined) will be included in Group III.

     Since Groups I and II places are considered of lower risk of rabies, cats and dogs imported from these places are exempted from quarantine upon fulfilling relevant requirements (such as providing Animal Health Certificate, Residence Certificate, Anti-rabies Vaccination Certificate, etc.). For Group III places, the risk of rabies is higher or uncertain. Since the incubation period of rabies can be up to several months, to prevent the transmission of rabies into Hong Kong, the AFCD requires a quarantine period of no less than 120 days for the cats and dogs imported from Group III places.

     On the questions raised by Dr the Hon Johnny Ng, I would like to reply to the question as follows:

(1) The AFCD will immediately arrange to send cats and dogs imported from Group III places upon arrival in Hong Kong to its Animal Management Centre for quarantine. If an animal falls ill during quarantine, the AFCD will inform the animal owner to take the animal to a vet clinic under the escort of the AFCD, or arrange a vet to the quarantine centre for treatment. If an animal shows an urgent health problem and the AFCD is unable to contact the animal owner, the AFCD will arrange for the pet to be examined by a vet as soon as possible. Over the past three years, a total of three animals (including two cats and one dog) passed away during quarantine, due to their own severe health issues such as kidney failure. In the past three years, the number of applications received by the AFCD for reserving a quarantine space for importing cats and dogs, the number of cats and dogs which received veterinary treatment during the quarantine period, and the number of cats and dogs deceased during the quarantine period are at the Annex.

(2) and (3) The AFCD is actively adopting a two-pronged approach to facilitate animal owners from Group III places in bringing their pet cats and dogs to Hong Kong. On the one hand, the AFCD is increasing the number of quarantine facilities; on the other hand, the AFCD is exploring ways to refine the quarantine requirements for cats and dogs.

     Regarding quarantine facilities, two Animal Management Centres (i.e. Kowloon Animal Management Centre and Hong Kong Animal Management Centre) operated by the AFCD provide quarantine services for cats and dogs imported from Group III places. The two centres provide a total of 20 spaces for cats and dogs respectively. The Kowloon Animal Management Centre is currently undergoing works by the AFCD to increase the number of quarantine facilities, with the works expected to be completed in the first half of next year. Upon completion, the total number of quarantine facilities for cats and dogs in the two centres will increase to 34 and 30 respectively. To further increase the number of facilities, the AFCD is actively exploring the feasibility of operating and providing some of the cats and dogs quarantine facility by the private sector. Organisations are required to obtain a licence from the AFCD to operate a quarantine centre under the Rabies Regulation (Cap. 421A), and the relevant quarantine facility is a designated project under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (Cap. 499) which requires obtaining an environmental permit. The Government is now discussing with the private sector about the relevant arrangements and is providing assistance, and is striving to implement a pilot scheme in the first half of next year.

     For the refinement of quarantine requirements for cats and dogs from Group III places, different places conduct their own risk assessments and establish import requirements based on their acceptable level of risk. The risk of rabies transmission is influenced by various factors, including the number of imported cats and dogs, whether the importing places can take effective control measures to prevent the introduction of rabies, the rabies immunisation status of the importing places, the rabies situation of neighbouring places, etc. As biotechnology has developed in recent years, the AFCD has earlier conducted a risk assessment, and considered that the quarantine period for cats and dogs imported from some Group III places (including the Mainland and Macao) could be shortened by measures such as rabies vaccination and rabies antibody titer testing. The AFCD is discussing the proposed arrangements with the places concerned to finalise the implementation details. The AFCD will announce the details of the arrangements once the discussion is completed. With the gradual implementation of the revised measures, the waiting time of quarantine facilities would decrease, thereby further facilitating animal owners from Group III places in bringing their pet cats and dogs to Hong Kong.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI: Despite overwhelming hype, Jabra research finds only 26% of office workers use AI in daily work
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
- Workplaces believe in the power of AI, with 84% of leaders saying AI can enhance work, but 82% are unprepared for integration of the tech into the workplace
- 90% of knowledge workers wouldn’t trust AI for tasks that require human judgement or creativity
- Workers are equally not using AI in their personal lives, with only 26% reporting regular use
LOWELL, Mass., Oct. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Jabra, a global leader in enterprise audio and video solutions, released a new report, Great ExpectAItions – Work in the Age of AI, which reveals that while many business decision-makers (84%) express high levels of trust in AI, very few office workers (26%) are using it in their daily roles due to a variety of perceived challenges. This disconnect suggests that even though leadership is optimistic about AI’s potential, they may yet lack the necessary vision or skills to effectively implement it across the workforce.

The study, conducted among 1,800 AI decision makers surveyed across 6 countries and 4,200 employees from 14 countries, highlights that despite strong enthusiasm for AI, there is a clear disconnect between trust in the technology and its actual use in the workplace. While 85% of decision-makers express high interest in AI, the vast majority (82%) acknowledge they need to better understand how AI can improve workplace efficiency.

Additionally, although 54% of employees believe AI can improve their work and 54% feel confident in their ability to collaborate successfully with AI, there’s still a significant gap in actual adoption in regular use at work. Jabra’s data found this appears due to several perceived challenges and demographic considerations:
- 90% of employees wouldn’t trust AI for tasks that require creativity and innovation. This reluctance isn’t just about trust, it’s also about the satisfaction that comes from being personally involved in these more meaningful tasks.
- There’s a clear generational divide in AI adoption, with 47% of Millennials and 37% of Gen Z indicating they feel positive about AI versus only 15% of Boomers. Adoption wise, 28% of Millennials and Gen Z use AI day to day at work, versus just 15% of Boomers.
- AI decision-makers are relatively young – 58% are between the ages of 18 and 39 – and 71% are not from the IT department.
Paul Sephton, Head of Brand Communications at Jabra, said: “We see many organizations eager to jump on the AI wave, but some are still dancing in the dark when it comes to effective implementation and meaningful use. As tools rapidly shift toward voice-driven input rather than text alone, it’s crucial for organizations to recognize how this evolution will change our interactions with AI and enhance productivity.”

“To avoid what we call ‘AI-washing’ – simply jumping on the AI bandwagon – organizations must carefully evaluate the productivity gains that AI can offer and actively involve their employees in this journey. At Jabra, we believe in harnessing the power of AI not just to enhance productivity, but to foster a more connected and capable workforce, driving innovation and collaboration at every level.”

Read more and download full report here:

https://www.jabra.com/thought-leadership/ai-at-work

Note to Editors
The Great ExpectAItions – Work in the Age of AI Report leveraged two quantitative surveys conducted in August 2024. The first surveyed 1800 AI decision-makers from six countries (300 per country) – USA, UK, France, Germany, Japan and India. The second surveyed 4200 knowledge workers from 14 countries (300 per country) – USA, UK, France, Germany, Poland, UAE, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Japan, India, Singapore, Australia and Hong Kong.

PR contact
Hayley Minardi
Manager, PR & Communications, Jabra
hminardi@jabra.com

About Jabra

Jabra is a world leading brand in audio, video and collaboration solutions – engineered to empower consumers and businesses. Proudly part of GN Group, we are committed to bringing people closer to one another and to what is important to them. Jabra engineering excellence leads the way, building on over 150 years of pioneering work within GN. This allows us to create integrated tools for contact centers, offices, and collaboration to help professionals work more productively from anywhere; and true wireless headphones and earbuds that let consumers better enjoy calls, music, and media. http://www.jabra.com

Founded in 1869, GN Group employs more than 7,000 people and is listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen (GN.CO). GN’s solutions are sold in 100 countries across the world. Visit our homepage GN.com or connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X.

© 2024 GN Audio A/S. All rights reserved. Jabra® is a registered trademark of GN Audio A/S. All other trademarks included herein are the property of their respective owners (design and specifications are subject to change without notice).

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/70547059-e2bb-4ea5-866f-e1e9f844fb5b

The MIL Network –
January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Submissions: WHO – Ten additional countries in the Western Pacific Regionpledge to invest in WHO

Source: World Health Organization (WHO)

MANILA, 23 October 2024 – In a historic show of support, 10 more countries in the Western Pacific Region pledged to provide an additional US$ 12.1 million to the World Health Organization (WHO) through its first-ever Investment Round. This comes in addition to US$ 18 million announced by Singapore in May. The WHO Investment Round aims to secure predictable, flexible, and resilient resources for WHO’s core work over the next four years.

The seventy-fifth session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific began on Monday with Member States formally endorsing the new regional vision Weaving Health for Families, Communities and Societies in the Western Pacific Region (2025-2029): Working together to improve health, well-being and save lives.

The financial commitments were made during a Special Event on the Investment Round at the Regional Committee today. Governments and partners from across Asia and the Pacific in attendance emphasized the importance of ensuring WHO has robust financing to implement its global strategy for the 2025-2028 period, the 14th General Programme of Work, which was approved by Member States at the World Health Assembly in May 2024.

The Government of the Philippines co-hosted the Special Event and made a historic pledge of US$ 10 million to the WHO Investment Round. During his remarks, Secretary of Health Dr Teodoro J. Herbosa of the Philippines said “A robust, reliable, and sustainably funded WHO is crucial for the Western Pacific Region and the world to address inequities and inequalities in health which were amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, we have taken a significant first step towards a future where health and well-being are accessible to everyone.”

Malaysia also demonstrated its support of WHO’s work through a US$ 2 million pledge towards the Investment Round.

In a powerful symbol of Pacific leaders’ commitment to health and WHO’s pivotal role in supporting them, eight Pacific Island countries pledged to double their funding contributions to WHO for 2025. First-ever voluntary contributions to WHO were announced today by Papua New Guinea, and Cook Islands, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

Speaking to the Regional Committee through a live video connection on Tuesday morning, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that to support the implementation of the Organization’s new global strategy, “we have launched the first WHO Investment Round, which aims to mobilize the sustainable and predictable resources we need to do our work. Thank you all for your commitment to promoting, providing and protecting health, for all people of the Western Pacific.”

During the Investment Round Special Event, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, thanked Member States and partners for their pledges, which will enable the Organization to support countries more effectively.

“The commitments made today are truly historic,” Dr Piukala said. “They include a doubling of financial contributions from several of our small island developing states, and significant sums from the Philippines and Malaysia.

“It’s a sign of governments’ confidence in WHO as their partner in health, and a recognition of the need for sustainable financing in order to deliver on the vision of weaving health for families, communities and societies in the Western Pacific,” he said.

Prior to the meeting, WHO launched the document All for Health, Health for All: WHO Investment Case 2025-28 Western Pacific to capture the impact of a fully-funded Western Pacific Region over the next four years.

Partners joined Members States in statements of support for WHO. Organizations including the Asian Development Bank, the Institute of Philanthropy and Temasek Trust committed to working closely with WHO during the next four years. Earlier this month, the Institute of Philanthropy made a US$10 million pledge to the Investment Round during the World Health Summit in Berlin, following a $1.2 million pledge in May at the World Health Assembly. The Temasek Foundation also pledged $10 million on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in September.

“We are off to a great start for the Investment Round in the Western Pacific based on today’s event,” said Dr Piukala. “Today we also heard that we should expect to see more countries and partners stepping up to provide additional resources in the coming weeks.”

With a fully and sustainably funded operating budget for 2025–2028, WHO will be better able to tackle emergencies and outbreaks that jeopardize health security and threaten lives, reduce the burden of both infectious diseases and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), and continue working to improve the health and well-being of everyone, especially the most vulnerable.

Launched at the World Health Assembly in May 2024, the Investment Round aims to mobilize contributions that are flexible and thereby aligned with WHO’s strategy as approved by its Member States, predictably provided at the start of the four-year programme cycle to enable strategic decision-making, and resilient in that they will derive from a larger, more diverse set of donors.

WHO’s Investment Round will culminate at the G20 leaders’ summit chaired by Brazilian President Lula da Silva next month.

Notes:

The seventy-fifth session of the Western Pacific Regional Committee began on 21 October and runs through 25 October at WHO’s Regional Office for the Western Pacific in Manila, Philippines. The agenda (https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/wpro—documents/regional-committee/session-75/wpr-rc75-01-provisional-agenda.pdf ) and timetable (https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/wpro—documents/regional-committee/session-75/tentative-timetable_rc75.pdf ) are available online. A livestream of proceedings, all other official documents, as well as fact sheets and videos on the issues to be addressed can be accessed here. https://www.who.int/westernpacific/about/governance/regional-committee/session-75

Working with 194 Member States across six regions, WHO is the United Nations specialized agency responsible for public health. Each WHO region has a regional committee – a governing body composed of ministers of health and senior officials from Member States. Each regional committee meets annually to agree on health actions and to chart priorities for WHO’s work.

The WHO Western Pacific Region is home to more than 1.9 billion people across 37 countries and areas: American Samoa (United States of America), Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia (France), Guam (United States of America), Hong Kong SAR (China), Japan, Kiribati, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Macao SAR (China), Malaysia, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Nauru, New Caledonia (France), New Zealand, Niue, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (United States of America), Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Pitcairn Islands (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), the Republic of Korea, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Viet Nam, Wallis and Futuna (France).

MIL OSI – Submitted News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ4: Application for refund of stamp duty in respect of redevelopment project

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is a question by the Hon Louis Loong and a reply by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, in the Legislative Council today (October 23):

Question:

     During the past decade or so when demand-side management measures for residential properties were in place, the Government levied the Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) on residential property transactions and applied a higher rate of ad valorem stamp duty (AVD) to collect AVD. Under sections 29DD and 29DE of the Stamp Duty Ordinance, an applicant may apply for a refund of the BSD paid and a partial refund of the AVD paid upon redeveloping a residential property, thereby reducing the effective stamp duty rate after the refund to no more than 4.25 per cent. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the respective numbers of refund applications involving BSD and AVD and the amounts involved in the past three years, as well as the time taken by the authorities from receipt of applications to completion of refunds (set out in a table);

(2) among the applications mentioned in (1), of the respective numbers of those for which refunds have been completed and those still being processed; and

(3) as it is learnt that the Government is not required to pay interest on the refund amounts concerned, what measures the Government has put in place to expedite the processing of applications and the completion of refunds under the current high interest rate environment?

Reply:

President,

     To maintain steady development of the private residential property market, the Government had implemented a series of demand-side management measures for residential properties before, which included imposing Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) and charging Ad Valorem Stamp Duty (AVD) at higher rates (i.e. the rates at Scale 1). BSD applied to acquisition of residential properties by a non-Hong Kong permanent resident (HKPR) or a company. The higher rates of AVD applied to all transactions of residential properties except for circumstances where the buyer was a HKPR and did not own any other residential property in Hong Kong at the time of acquiring the relevant property. The Government has been closely monitoring changes in the residential property market and timely adjusted relevant measures. Since the end of February this year, all stamp duty measures relating to demand-side management of residential properties have been abolished.

     When formulating demand-side management measures for residential properties, the Government established a duty refund mechanism in order not to hinder redevelopment projects. Any person acquiring a residential property for redevelopment purpose may apply for refund of the BSD paid and part of the AVD paid under sections 29DD and 29DE of the Stamp Duty Ordinance respectively. The refundable amount of AVD paid is the difference between the duties calculated at the higher and lower rates.

     My reply to Hon Loong’s question is as follows:

(1) In the past three financial years, the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) received 2 724 applications for refund of BSD in respect of redevelopments, involving about $8.1 billion, and 2 688 applications for refund of part of the AVD in respect of redevelopments, involving about $5.4 billion. The breakdown by each financial year is set out in Table (1):

Table (1)ï¼šThe number of applications and the amounts involved in applications for refund of part of the stamp duty in respect of redevelopment projects

Financial Year in which the application was received
BSD
Part of AVD

No. of applications
(Note 1)
Amount of refund applied for
No. of applications
(Note 1)
Amount of refund applied for

$ million

$ million

2021-22
723
3,100
688
2,100

2022-23
828
2,147
831
1,331

2023-24
1 173
2,860
1 169
1,967

Total
2 724
8,107
2 688
5,398

Note 1: As an applicant may apply for refund of BSD and part of AVD in respect of the same residential property transaction, there is overlap in the properties involved in the applications in Table (1).

     In the past three financial years, the time taken by the IRD from receipt of applications to completion of processing them is set out in Table (2):

Table (2)ï¼šTime taken to complete the refunds of BSD and part of the AVD (Note 2)

Financial Year in which the application was received
Below three months
Three months to below five months
Five months to below nine months
Nine months or above

2021-22
25
352
292
738

2022-23
94
127
642
709

2023-24
24
337
480
363

Total
143
816
1 414
1 810

Note 2: As at end of September 2024

     The time taken set out in Table (2) includes the time for the IRD to wait for some applicants to submit all the required information and documents. Almost all the applicants of applications that took five months or above to process failed to submit all the required information and documents when submitting the applications, and needed to make further submission(s) afterwards. Some applicants would take a few months or even more than a year to submit all the required information and documents. Generally speaking, the IRD is able to complete the approval and refund procedures within three to four months after receiving all the required information and documents.

(2) In respect of the applications received from 2021-22 to 2023-24, as at end of September this year, the IRD has finished processing 2 097 applications for refund of BSD and 2 086 for refund of part of AVD. A total of 627 applications for refund of BSD and 602 for refund of part of AVD are still being processed, involving 11 redevelopment projects. As an applicant may apply for refund of BSD and part of AVD in respect of the same residential property transaction, there is overlap in the properties involved in the above approximately 1 200 applications.

(3) Redevelopment projects typically involve dozens, or even more than a hundred stamp duty refund applications, involving a significant amount of stamp duty. Therefore, the IRD needs to carefully examine a large number of documents, including the agreement for sale and purchase, information about the applicant and the associated body corporate(s), the consent or approval issued by the Building Authority in respect of the new development, etc. for each application, so as to avoid any abuse of the refund mechanism. As previously mentioned, most applicants whose applications took five months or longer to complete processing needed to submit supplementary information after making the applications. In order to reduce correspondence between the IRD and the applicants regarding the submission of required information and to shorten the time to wait for applicants to supplement required information, the IRD will update the stamp duty refund application form and guidelines by the end of this year. The updated form will provide a detailed list of all necessary documents and remind applicants that their applications will only be considered valid after all documents have been submitted. Following the updating of the stamp duty refund application form, the IRD will organise a briefing session for the Real Estate Developers Association of Hong Kong and developers to help the industry understand the IRD’s requirements. The IRD will also publish guidelines to explain the common issues encountered during the processing of stamp duty refund applications and how the IRD handles them. Furthermore, the IRD will review the current application processing procedures and deploy resources to expedite the processing of applications.

     After implementing the aforementioned enhancement measures, the IRD anticipates that most of the stamp duty refund applications can be completed within two months after receiving all the documents.

Thank you, President.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Food retailer convicted of supplying and in possession of duck liver with false claims (with photo)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Food retailer convicted of supplying and in possession of duck liver with false claims (with photo)
Food retailer convicted of supplying and in possession of duck liver with false claims (with photo)
******************************************************************************************

A food retailer was convicted of supplying and in possession of a kind of Chinese duck liver that was falsely claimed as “Hungarian goose liver”, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO), and was fined $30,000 at the Shatin Magistrates’ Courts today (October 23). A total of 27 packs of duck liver involved in the case were also confiscated. During a territory-wide inspection conducted earlier, Hong Kong Customs purchased a food product claimed to be goose liver from the food retailer and sent the samples to the Government Laboratory for testing. The testing results revealed that the products were actually duck livers. Customs subsequently took enforcement action and seized a total of 27 packs of related products with a total value of about $3,900 from four branches of the food retailer. Customs reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO and urges consumers to procure products at reputable shops. Under the TDO, any person who supplies goods with a false trade description in the course of trade or business, or is in possession of any goods for sale with a false trade description, commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years. Members of the public may report any suspected violations of the TDO to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Ends/Wednesday, October 23, 2024Issued at HKT 16:45

NNNN

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Submissions: WHO – Government leaders and multisectoral partners unite to tackle noncommunicable diseases and mental health issues in the Commonwealth

Source: World Health Organization (WHO)

APIA, Samoa l 23 October 2024 – High-level government leaders and multistakeholder partners came together today to strengthen their commitment to addressing noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health at a side event held during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Apia, Samoa. The event, titled “Weaving a Healthy Commonwealth Aiga for Combating Noncommunicable Diseases and Promoting Mental Health,” was jointly organized by the Ministry of Health, Samoa, the World Health Organization (WHO) Representative Office in Samoa, and the Commonwealth Secretariat.

The event highlighted the importance of strong political commitment, partnerships and community involvement in tackling the global health challenges posed by NCDs and mental health issues. Participants from various sectors, including health, education, sports, finance, agriculture, trade, and media, shared their insights and strategies to create environments that promote healthier lifestyles and build more resilient health systems.

Noncommunicable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes, are the leading cause of death in most countries. These diseases account for 150 million premature deaths among people aged between 30 and 70 years, most living in developing countries.

Director General of Health, Professor Aiono Dr Alec Ekeroma, highlighted Samoa’s unique approach, “The Ministry of Health has successfully introduced the ‘Package of Essential NCD Services (PEN) Fa’a Samoa’ into our communities, demonstrating our strong commitment to tackling NCDs and mental health issues. We continue to seek innovative ways to strengthen our partnerships with other sectors to reduce NCDs and improve mental health. The Samoan government is dedicated to fostering these collaborations to ensure sustainable and impactful health outcomes for our people.”

“Tackling NCDs and mental health is not just a job for the health sector. It requires the dedicated involvement of the whole-of-government and whole-of-society. By working together across different sectors and tapping into community strengths, we can significantly reduce the burden of NCDs and mental health conditions,” said Dr Kim Eva Dickson, WHO Representative to Samoa, American Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau.

NCDs have also become a serious challenge for people under 30, who make up 60% of the Commonwealth population. In the previous CHOGM held in Rwanda in 2022, the Commonwealth youth-led NCD Guiding Framework was developed to provide a road map for collective action to address the root causes of NCDs and promote healthier lifestyles, especially among the younger population.

Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland, KC said, “In Rwanda, we committed to take bold multisectoral action to reduce the incidence of NCDs. This year here in Samoa, the Commonwealth remains committed to strengthening partnerships that support health equity and sustainable development. By coming together as a Commonwealth ‘aiga’ or family today, our leaders and stakeholders have underscored the collective resolve to combat NCDs and promote mental health.”

Alongside the focus on addressing NCDs and mental health, the event also highlighted the importance of healthy ageing. A report, authored by Professor Dame Carol Black, the Commonwealth Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Ageing Well was presented at the event. As people live longer by prioritizing strategies to prevent NCDs, it is equally important that they continue to thrive and live productive lives.

The event concluded with renewed commitments from various sectors and stakeholders to work together to combat NCDs and promote mental health, helping set the stage for continued collaboration and action within the Commonwealth.

MIL OSI – Submitted News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Bazaar Carnival in Celebration of 75th Anniversary of Founding of People’s Republic of China to run from October 25 to 29

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Bazaar Carnival in Celebration of 75th Anniversary of Founding of People’s Republic of China to run from October 25 to 29
Bazaar Carnival in Celebration of 75th Anniversary of Founding of People’s Republic of China to run from October 25 to 29
******************************************************************************************

The Home Affairs Department and 28 provincial-level Clansmen Associations will hold the Bazaar Carnival in Celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China from October 25 to 29 at Sha Tin Park, sharing the joyful atmosphere of the National Day with members of the public. The Bazaar Carnival is free for entry and does not require admission tickets. The five-day Bazaar Carnival will feature 75 market stalls, offering specialty foods and hometown products from across the country. There will also be diverse cultural performances, film screenings and culture introductions of the different provinces, enabling members of the public and tourists to experience a rich variety of customs and unique cultures from across the country. For information about celebratory events of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, please visit http://www.nationalday75.gov.hk.

Ends/Wednesday, October 23, 2024Issued at HKT 17:00

NNNN

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Local Government Association of Queensland Annual Conference

Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

I’d like to thank LGAQ CEO, Alison Smith, for the warm invitation to this year’s annual conference.

It’s really great to be here with you.

It’s also nice to be in QLD without my kids!

Don’t get me wrong, I know how important family holidays are for your economies across Queensland.

But it’s actually quite nice not to be running around in swimmers at a water park!

Just don’t tell my kids I said this!

I’d also like to give a huge shout out to Mayor Matt Burnett, and congratulate him on his appointment as the new Australian Local Government Association National President.

He’s a strong, passionate voice for the sector and I look forward to working with him in this new capacity.

Once a regional mayor myself, I’m can’t help but note that Matt and the two new Vice Presidents all hail from regional Australia!

Like all of you in the room, I’m committed to strengthening the local government sector.

The Albanese Government takes this seriously, because when we work together, we get the best outcomes for our communities.

You are a trusted deliver partner of the services every community across Queensland relies on.

We value this, and we’re investing in it.

We’ve brought you back to the national conversation, at both National Cabinet, and at our two successful Australian Council of Local Government forums.

We had over 770 people from the local government sector participate this year, many from the Sunshine State!

This open-door, collective dialogue is incredibly important, because there’s nothing worse than decisions being made for you – without you – from Canberra.

It’s how we can deliver funding where it’s needed, so that we can continue to get projects that matter to your communities off the ground.

It’s why your input into the federal inquiry into local government sustainability underway right now is incredibly important, because it will help us shape how we can deliver the support you need.

This is one of the reasons we’ve significantly increased road funding to all local councils across Queensland – acting on feedback from you.

Much like my home state of NSW, your roads have more people on them than ever before.

Many of them are regional, and many of them have been totally washed away by extreme weather events.

We are progressively doubling Roads to Recovery from $500 million to $1 billion nationally, which will have a huge impact on how you upgrade and maintain your local roads.

Almost $900 million is flowing to local governments in Queensland over the next five years, a boost of over $353 million thanks to the Albanese Government.

A pipeline of new work will build on the thousands of projects being delivered under Roads to Recovery.

Projects on the roads your communities drive every day – the ones they call or email you about to improve!

This builds on funding under our Road Black Spot program – which is also increasing from $110 million to $150 million per year.

Under this program in this financial year, we’re already supporting 31 Black Spot sites across Queensland, with more than two thirds of this funding supporting projects in regional areas.

Projects like upgrading Kajabbi Road in the Cloncurry Shire – fixing a problem which often saw this road closed during wet weather.

But it’s not just roads that our local communities want to see delivered.

We obviously need safe and reliable roads to get around, because we all have somewhere to go – from work, holidaying, to catching up with family and friends.

That’s why we’re also investing in projects that bring our communities together.

Projects that unlock new jobs and economic opportunities.

We’ve introduced our Growing Regions and Thriving Suburbs programs.

For the first time, a funding opportunity for everyone community – regardless of your postcode.

Projects supported through these programs will be truly region-shaping.

Out of the 40 successful projects under Round 1 of Growing Regions, nine are in Queensland.

Among them is the Agnes Water Skate Park Revitalisation at Gladstone.

This is something long called for by the community – and will really be a whole community facility, because skate parks really are for all ages.

Trust me, there’s vision on my socials to prove that!

I don’t know how good I was, but there’s vision!

In Mackay, the Regional Council will construct the Northern Beaches Community Hub.

This will be a central gathering place for the community, and really change how they come together for major events and activities.

Applications for Round 2 – now with a single stage process, which is updated after feedback from you – closed earlier this month.

A further $393 million is available, and we look forward to seeing many more amazing projects under this round!

One of the big things councils across Queensland talk to me about is housing.

It’s why we’re investing $32 billion in housing initiatives – the biggest investment in over a decade.

This will see 1.2 million new homes built over the next five years, including many in our regions.

But increasing housing supply requires collaboration and investment across all levels of government.

It’s why we launched our $1.5 billion Housing Support Program, to get enabling infrastructure underway, and build more homes sooner.

And they say imitation is the best form of flattery, and I note the Opposition have copied this program, so good on them.

$7 million is flowing to Queensland under Round 1 of our program to 16 projects, with 15 of these in regional locations.

This is where we know more people are moving to, but where we need more housing to attract and retain the workers our community needs.

Among the Queensland funding is support for precinct planning around the new Bundaberg Hospital development.

Support for developing and delivering a Townsville Housing Strategy.

Plus funding to the Torres Shire Council, to develop and deliver a Horn Island Housing Growth Master Plan.

Getting more people under a safe and secure roof starts with strengthen your planning abilities.

The second phase of this program is support for the enabling infrastructure we need to get underway.

Successful applications for those programs will be announced later this year.

I mentioned before roads getting washed away – and that’s just one of the things that happens when our communities are struck by disasters.

All of us in the room can agree that when a disaster does hit us, response and recovery is led from the local level up.

I had this experience myself as Mayor of Bega Valley Shire in NSW – where I had nine declared disasters.

Black Summer bushfires, which were only put out from extreme floods!

Ensuring communities are in the best possible position to recover, but that they’re also better prepared, is something very close to my heart.

My community is still rebuilding, as are so many across Queensland.

I’m really proud of our $1 billion Disaster Ready Fund.

We not long had 165 successful projects under Round 2 this program announced nationally.

This included over $55 million for 29 local projects across Queensland.

Among them is funding for the Burke Shire towards establishing a multi-sensor warning system.

Funding towards a back-up generator for the Badu Council Administration Centre in the Torres Straits.

And funding for a 120-metre long stepped concrete seawall in Deception Bay, to replace a failed rock and shotcrete seawall.

When we work together we get more done – and this is especially the case for Disaster response and recovery.

A partnership approach has been our focus since we came to government.

You’re central to turning federal funding into local results – and I want to thank you for this.

I’d also like to thank LGAQ for your continued support of the sector, and for your advocacy.

I know there will be many productive conversations today, so I’ll let you get to it.

MIL OSI News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SHYA expresses sorrow over passing of Mr Michael Suen

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     â€‹The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, today (October 23) expressed sorrow over the passing of Mr Michael Suen, and extended her sincere condolences to his family.

     Mr Suen served as Secretary for Home Affairs from November 1991 to March 1997 and was the first Secretary for Home Affairs from July to early August 1997 after Hong Kong’s return to the motherland.

“With decades of service in the Government, Mr Suen was dedicated to serving the Government and the people of Hong Kong. He made significant contributions when he took charge of matters in relation to home affairs in the period following Hong Kong’s return to the motherland. I am saddened by the passing of Mr Suen and would like to extend my deepest condolences to his family,” Miss Mak said.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Government welcomes passage of Rating (Amendment) Bill 2024

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Government welcomed the passage of the Rating (Amendment) Bill 2024 by the Legislative Council today (October 23). The Bill gives effect to the progressive rating system for domestic tenements, which will take effect from the fourth quarter of this financial year (i.e. January to March 2025), to uphold the principle of “affordable users pay”.

Starting from the fourth quarter of this financial year, for domestic tenements with a rateable value (RV) of $550,000 or below, rates will continue to be charged at 5 per cent of the RV. For domestic tenements with an RV exceeding $550,000, rates will be charged at the same rate of 5 per cent for the first $550,000, 8 per cent for the next $250,000, and 12 per cent for the remaining RV.

Non-domestic tenements, including tenements used for business activities or social services, e.g. commercial building, industrial building, shop, hotel, nursery, home for the elderly, youth hostel, holiday camp, etc, will not be subject to the progressive rating system.

The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, said, “The progressive rating system endeavours to strike a balance between upholding the ‘affordable users pay’ principle and minimising the number of ratepayers affected. In formulating the progressive rating system, the Government has taken into account a basket of factors, including the affordability of ratepayers of domestic tenements, the market rentals as reflected in the RV, the number of affected ratepayers and the amount of additional rates to be paid, the estimated increase in revenue from rates, as well as the fundamental principle of maintaining a simple rating system. The progressive rating system is part of the Government’s comprehensive fiscal consolidation programme. It is expected that government revenue will increase by about $820 million each year. The affected domestic tenements account for about 1.9 per cent of the total number of private domestic tenements in Hong Kong.”

The Bill will be gazetted on November 1. The Rating and Valuation Department will inform the affected ratepayers. The quarterly demands to be issued in the fourth quarter of this financial year will reflect the progressive rates for applicable cases.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: South China Sea conference 2024: speech by UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific

Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Minister Catherine West gave a keynote speech to the South China Sea conference in Ha Long, Vietnam.

Location:

Ha Long, Vietnam

Delivered on:

23 October 2024 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

Good morning everybody, and it’s lovely to be here on such a perfect morning with those beautiful mountains and sea in front of us.

As we’ve heard from Dr Dung and Vice Minister Viet, thank you to our local government partners who’ve put on such a beautiful event for us. And thank you to our Indonesian collaborator who spoke first, it was so good to hear from him.

In the UK we have a relatively new government, elected in July this year…

… and many people have asked me as the new Minister for the Indo-Pacific, “how do we know that the UK is committed to the Indo-Pacific?”.

After three weeks my boss, David Lammy, who is the Foreign Secretary, visited Vientiane as part of the ASEAN discussions and this is my third country in the region to visit since July.

So we know that working together with European partners and with others in the region, we can be allies with all of the partners in ASEAN and we can join together to have a very good discussion about peace and security.

On Monday, I will go to Manila for the Women, Peace and Security conference, which will I think create a really deep understanding for myself as a new Minister as to the challenges in the region. And also the importance of promoting women’s leadership around this area of partnerships, rooted in respect and mutual trust.

Positioning the UK as a long-term reliable partner of the Indo-Pacific, underpinned by a shared respect for ASEAN leadership and centrality. And after that conference I will return to the UK, bringing back news of the conference and your thoughts.

Because we know that after nearly 25 years of the landmark UN Security Council Resolution 1325,…

…in which the UK played a leading role,…

…I will underline that our commitment to advancing participation in conflict prevention, reduction and resolution is unwavering, both in ASEAN but also globally.

And it is in the same spirit that I join you here today, to set out the UK’s support for collective efforts to maintain regional security and uphold international law.

Global Maritime Security

Let me begin by stating unambiguously that the UK wants a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Because put simply, our collective global prosperity hinges on keeping the vital sea-lanes in the South China Sea open. Or the East Sea, as I believe in Vietnam you call it.

Our shared security interests also demand that we stand-up for principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity…

…through the international legal framework that protects these principles,…

…for example, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea – or UNCLOS as we call it.

But it’s not just the Indo-Pacific.

Undermining international law in any situation, in any context…

… has the potential to corrode the wider system of global governance that protects security and prosperity.

Take for example the sustainable development goals.

We can hardly hope to achieve those goals without peace and security spurring on economic growth.

And all of that relies heavily on having stable seas where the rule of law is upheld.

And this year we’ve seen a serious and sustained series of incidents,…

…representing one of the sharpest spikes in tensions over recent years.

The use of water cannons, blocking, and ramming manoeuvres have interfered…

…with Philippine rights and freedom of navigation.

These actions, and the responses they may incite, raise the risk of serious miscalculation…

…as well as posing a direct threat to international law.

And last month Chinese law enforcement attacked Vietnamese fishermen, leaving them seriously injured.

The grave risk of instability and escalation that these incidents pose is a significant concern for the international community.

Not just because of the impact it could have on global prosperity and security, but also on livelihoods and local biodiversity.

That is why the UK has and will continue to protest any action which threatens peace and stability…

…or seeks to undermine the primacy of UNCLOS.

Keeping the South China Sea safe is our priority.

And the only way we can achieve that is by working together with partners including those represented here today.

Climate and nature security

Now another crucial element to our security and prosperity is climate and nature.

After this session I will be going to visit some of the areas affected by Typhoon Yagi, to understand more deeply how the Red Cross is working to mitigate those terrible floods and hear from local people as to how they’re managing about those floods.

We were among the first countries to sign the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement…

…and we remain focussed on its ratification.

Home to over a third of world’s coral reefs – this region is critical…

…to halting and reversing the loss of the natural ecosystem.

Rising sea levels risk leading to worsening maritime disputes.

And we cannot tackle the various risks unless we understand them well.

So the UK is using its expertise to help.

For example, the UK Met Office is studying how changes in sea surface temperature affect migratory fish and coastal ecosystems,…

…playing a role not just on food security but also on addressing the poor environmental impact of rising temperatures.

Back home, we have also set a landmark goal – to be the first major economy to deliver clean energy power by 2030.

But acting alone is not a solution.

That is why we want to work with you and partners across the world to accelerate the clean energy transition.

So we are boosting progress by building on existing programmes.

Such as the Just Energy Transition Partnerships – JETP – in Indonesia and Vietnam,…

…supporting innovative clean energy…

…and the expansion of grids and storage.

Growth and Technology

Technology also plays a key role…

…and is something the UK is keen to harness to help solve global challenges.

Modern maritime ecosystems is becoming increasingly interconnected and digital in its nature.

And more and more sophisticated technology supports improved port operations across the globe,…

…the development of Autonomous Surface Ships will reduce the number of seafarers needed to operate a vessel.

We know how essential undersea telecoms cables are.

And they will only grow in importance with the use of AI becoming more widespread.

That is why the UK is working transparently with partners to develop inclusive global norms and standards…

…for the responsible and ethical use of technology and AI, including in maritime contexts.

Working together

Finally, we know that we live in a rapidly changing world where the more closely we work, the stronger we are.

Next year, the UK will hold its third Regional Maritime Security Symposium in Southeast Asia to discuss collaboration on a range of maritime issues.

It’s so encouraging to be here today and to work with Asia-Pacific partners, and as I speak, HMS Spey and HMS Tamar, our two Offshore Patrol Vessels, continue their operations in the Indo-Pacific,…

…exercising with partners,…

…responding to humanitarian disasters,…

…and tackling maritime challenges.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to speak today, and I look forward to questions afterwards.

Thank you.

Updates to this page

Published 23 October 2024

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: HazardCo takes its leading health and safety system to the UK

Source: Press Release Service – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: HazardCo takes its leading health and safety system to the UK

HazardCo is proud to announce its expansion into the UK market, marking a significant milestone in its journey as a New Zealand-born tech company. With its roots in New Zealand and a proven track record in Australia, HazardCo is ready to help UK builders feel confident in their compliance and focus on delivering high-quality projects.

The post HazardCo takes its leading health and safety system to the UK first appeared on PR.co.nz.

– –

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Immigration Department repatriates 19 Vietnamese illegal immigrants to Vietnam (with photos)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

   The Immigration Department (ImmD) carried out a repatriation operation today (October 23). A total of 19 Vietnamese illegal immigrants were repatriated to Vietnam. The persons removed comprised seven men and 12 women, all of whom were unsubstantiated non-refoulement claimants. Among them were discharged prisoners who had committed criminal offences and had been sentenced to imprisonment.

   The ImmD has been committed to promptly removing unsubstantiated non-refoulement claimants from Hong Kong to maintain effective immigration control and safeguard the public interest. Under the updated removal policy effective from December 7, 2022, the ImmD may generally proceed with the removal of a claimant whose judicial review case has been dismissed by the Court of First Instance of the High Court, thereby enhancing the efficiency of and efforts in removing unsubstantiated claimants.

   The ImmD will remain committed to expediting the removal process to repatriate illegal immigrants and overstayers from Hong Kong as soon as practicable according to the actual situation through appropriate measures as necessary.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ1: Waivers of land lease restrictions of industrial buildings

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

â€‹Following is a question by the Hon Jimmy Ng and a reply by the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, in the Legislative Council today (October 23):

Question:

     At present, the Lands Department allows owners of industrial building (IB) units to put their units to uses other than those permitted under the land leases through applications for waivers to temporarily relax the restrictions under the land leases. However, some owners have relayed to me that the fee for a waiver application is very high, and the original amount of the fee must be paid in the first place even if the appeal lodged by the owner against the amount of the fee is yet to be concluded. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the respective numbers of waiver applications in respect of IB land leases received, approved and rejected by the Government in each of the past five years; the number of approved applications for which waiver fees had been paid, as well as the respective amounts and floor areas involved; the respective numbers of appeals lodged against the amount of the waiver fee and successful appeals;

(2) whether it will enhance the mechanism of appeal against the amount of the waiver fee to allow owners to pay the fee only after the appeal has been concluded; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(3) given that at present, the Government has put in place an arrangement for relaxing waiver application in respect of IB land leases, under which owners are allowed to put their units to specific non-industrial uses without applying for a waiver, and such arrangement will expire on January 31, next year, whether the Government will extend or regularise the arrangement and expand the scope of the relevant specific non-industrial uses; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

     Under land leases granted in earlier years, many existing industrial buildings (IB) may only be used for industrial use. In general, if owners wish to convert all or part of the units in such IBs for non-industrial uses, applications for waivers must first be made to the Lands Department (LandsD), subject to payment of a waiver fee and an administrative fee.

     With a view to encouraging the transformation of aged IBs, and making good use of the floor space of IBs in the urban area to meet the needs of economic development, the Government has rolled out concessionary measures, through exemption of waiver fees, to encourage owners to carry out wholesale conversion of IBs aged 15 years or above and situated in designated planning zones for non-industrial uses.

     If owners simply convert individual IB units for non-industrial uses, subject to compliance with the regulations of land planning and fire safety, the Government has also put in place measures to facilitate approval currently, including:

Under the policy support of the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau, if some units in an IB are converted for the use of operating data centres or testing and calibration laboratories, the LandsD would exempt the waiver fees payable for such units;

If the individual IB units are used for some common non-industrial uses such as office, information technology and telecommunication premises, offices for professionals, etc (Note), the LandsD has since 2003 promulgated standard rates for waiver fees for those designated uses , so as to expedite the approval process. The LandsD would make reference to market information to review and adjust the standard rates annually so as to reflect the changes in market rent;

     As for those cases where the abovementioned waiver fee exemption or standard rates are not applicable, the relevant waiver fees would be assessed and determined on a case-by-case basis under the conventional assessment mechanism. If applicants do not agree with the fees proposed by the LandsD, they may lodge an appeal with the LandsD.

     In this policy context, my reply to the various parts of the question raised by the Hon Ng is as follows:

(1) In the past three years, the LandsD received 198 applications for waivers relating to individual IB units. Setting aside those rejected or withdrawn cases, there are 154 cases approved or under processing, over half of which, or some 80 cases, are exempted from waiver fees or are subject to calculation of waiver fees at standard rates. Among the 87 approved cases in the past three years, 31 cases are subject to individual assessment for waiver fees, including three cases in respect of which appeal on the fees have been lodged and are under processing. Details of the relevant figures are set out at Annex. Given the time constraint, the LandsD could only provide the figures for the past three years.

(2) As I mentioned earlier, the LandsD promulgates the standard rates for waiver applications for designated uses. The merit of the standard rates is to allow the applicants to know the fee calculation method upfront and decide whether to make the applications. This would help shorten the processing time. Therefore, applications calculated at standard rates are not subject to appeal.

     As for other cases under the conventional assessment mechanism, applicants may lodge an appeal against the fees assessed by the LandsD, which would consider the justifications received to make a decision. If the premises has not yet been used for the proposed non-industrial uses at the time of application, applicants do not need to pay the waiver fees immediately during the appeal period.

     If the premises has already been used for non-industrial uses at the time of application, which means that the use has already changed before the application is approved, the relevant use is indeed in breach of the user restriction of industrial use under the lease. Before accepting the appeal on waiver fees for handling, the LandsD would request the applicants to pay upfront the administrative fee and the fees already assessed by the LandsD, so as to avoid the continuation of non-compliant uses without any payment by the applicant through making an appeal. Subject to the review result, if the applicants have overpaid, the relevant amount would be deducted accordingly in the next quarter.

     Even though the above mechanism operates relatively smoothly, the Development Bureau and the LandsD would conduct a review, covering whether there is room for applying standard rates to more uses under waiver applications, and whether standards and targets can be set for the appeal procedures in terms of processing time, so as to optimise and expedite the approval procedures for facilitating businesses.

(3) To continue encouraging redevelopment and wholesale conversion of aged IBs, the Policy Address delivered last week announced the extension of an array of measures under the revitalisation scheme for IBs to end-2027, including the measures of concern to the Hon Ng as cited in the question, i.e. the conversion of individual units into the non-industrial uses designated by the Government without the need for applying for waivers in the case of those IBs that may not have been able to undergo wholesale conversion due to multiple ownership. The Government has introduced this measure (waiver measure) since 2019, permitting these units to be used for the following uses, including (a) Art Studio; (b) Office (Audio-visual Recording Studio); (c) Office (Design and Media Production); (d) Office (used by “specified creative industries” only); and (e) Research, Design and Development Centre. As no waiver application is required, no waiver fee is payable. For public safety, the designated non-industrial uses under the waiver measure should not involve any uses or activities with direct provision of services or goods, to prevent attracting the public to visit buildings that still have industrial activities..

Note: Designated non-industrial/non-residential uses are: (1) headquarters or back-office operations; (2) offices for professional consultants, such as architects, engineers, surveyors, planning consultants, solicitors and accountants; (3) offices for business services, such as advertising agencies, management consultants, public relations agencies and interior/graphic designers; (4) information technology and telecommunications industries; (5) cargo handling and forwarding facilities; (6) recyclable collection centres; and (7) such other uses for non-industrial/non-residential purposes not involving direct provision of customer services or goods to the general public.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Kaspersky uncovers new Grandoreiro light variant, the threat also expands to Asia and Africa
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, October 23, 2024/APO Group/ —

Despite the arrest of important operators in early 2024, Grandoreiro continues to be used by its partners in new campaigns. Kaspersky Global Research and Analysis team (GReAT) (www.Kaspersky.co.za) has discovered a new light version focused on Mexico targeting around 30 banks. These findings are to be highlighted at the Security Analyst Summit (SAS) 2024. Remaining one of the most active threats globally and targeting users of more than 1,700 banks, Grandoreiro variants account for around five percent of banking trojan attacks this year. Mexico is one of the most targeted countries by various Grandoreiro strains, including the new light version, seeing 51,000 recorded incidents this year.

Kaspersky data indicates Grandoreiro has been active since 2016. In 2024, the threat targets more than 1,700 financial institutions and 276 cryptocurrency wallets across 45 countries and territories, lastly adding Asia and Africa to the list of its targets, making it a truly global financial threat. Among countries affected in Africa are Algeria, Angola, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda.

After assisting an INTERPOL-coordinated action, which has led to Brazilian authorities arresting (http://apo-opa.co/3BUqgrb) operators behind a Grandoreiro banking trojan operation, Kaspersky discovered that the group’s codebase has been split into lighter, fragmented versions of the trojan, to continue its attacks. Recent analysis has identified a specific light version focused primarily on Mexico, which has been used to target approximately 30 financial institutions. The creators likely have access to the source code and are launching new campaigns using the simplified legacy malware.

“All the recent developments underscore the evolving nature of the threat. Fragmented and lighter versions may represent a trend that could extend beyond Mexico and into other regions, including beyond Latin America. However, we believe that only some trusted affiliates have access to the malware source code to develop such lighter versions. Grandoreiro operates differently from the traditional ‘Malware-as-a-Service’ model we are accustomed to. You won’t find announcements on underground forums selling the Grandoreiro package; instead, access to it appears to be limited,” explains Fabio Assolini, head of the Latin American (GReAT) at Kaspersky.

Multiple variants of Grandoreiro, including the new light version and the primary malware, accounted for approximately five percent of global banking trojan attacks detected by Kaspersky in 2024, making it one of the most active threats worldwide. Kaspersky has also analysed the newer samples of the primary Grandoreiro from 2024, and observed new tactics. It records mouse activity to mimic real user patterns, aiming to evade detection by machine learning-based security systems that analyse behaviour. By replaying natural mouse movements, the malware aims to trick anti-fraud tools into seeing the activity as legitimate.

Additionally, Grandoreiro has adopted a cryptographic technique known as Ciphertext Stealing (CTS), which Kaspersky has never seen being used in malware. In this case, its aim is to encrypt the malicious code strings. “Grandoreiro has a large and complex structure, which would make it easier for security tools or analysts to detect if its strings were not encrypted. This is likely why they introduced this new technique – to complicate the detection and analysis of their attacks,” Fabio Assolini elaborated.

To protect from financial malware, Kaspersky security experts recommend organisations to:
- Enable a Default Deny policy for critical user profiles, particularly those in financial departments; this ensures that only legitimate web resources can be accessed.
- Provide cybersecurity awareness training (http://apo-opa.co/4e3nlKa) to staff, especially to employees responsible for accounting, that includes instructions on how to detect phishing pages.
- Use protection solutions for mail servers with anti-phishing capabilities such as Kaspersky Security for Mail Server, to decrease the chance of infection through a phishing email.
While banks should educate its customers, individuals are advised to:
- Never open links or documents included in unexpected or suspicious-looking messages. Be attentive to web pages – from the right web address to details of interface.
- Use a reliable security solution, such as Kaspersky Premium (http://apo-opa.co/4dWrbEW), that protect digital assets from a wide range of financial cyberthreats.
- Install only applications obtained from reliable sources.
- Refrain from approving rights or permissions requested by applications without first ensuring they match the application’s feature set.
- Install the latest updates and patches for all software used.
Read more on Securelist (http://apo-opa.co/3C4N5bD). The comprehensive Grandoreiro analysis and overview is to be presented by GReAT at Kaspersky’s sixteenth Security Analyst Summit (SAS) (http://apo-opa.co/3BPHtly), which takes place from October 22-25, 2024, in Bali.

MIL OSI Africa –
January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Why Trump’s messaging is becoming more extreme, a mathematician explains

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Dorje C. Brody, Professor of Mathematics, University of Surrey

“Talk about extreme.” That was the response of Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris at September’s televised debate, after her rival, Donald Trump, made the baseless claim that migrants had been eating the dogs and cats of their neighbours in Springfield, Ohio.

Despite mounting criticism, Trump doubled down on the accusation. Likewise, during the more recent vice-presidential debate, Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, falsely claimed that the migrants in Springfield are illegal.

The arrival of hurricanes Milton and Helene then gave them more opportunities to disseminate disinformation. Trump’s team attacked the government over its response to the disaster, claiming that government money earmarked for disaster victims has been spent on migrants who crossed illegally into the US.

“Kamala spent all her Fema [Federal Emergency Management Agency] money – billions of dollars – on housing for illegal migrants”, Trump said at a rally in Michigan. This point was also repeated by Vance in an opinion piece on October 8 in the Wall Street Journal.

The claim is false. But does it make sense for Trump’s team to spread such extreme disinformation? Mathematical analysis suggests it can.

The positions of the candidates on the various issues, such as migration, can be represented on the political spectrum from the left to the right. It is fair to say that Trump places himself at the right end of the spectrum, while Harris sits at the centre.

If you are at the far end of the spectrum, left or right, then you want to move people as far in your direction as possible. So, given that these days, in the US at least, there appear to be no consequences for disseminating disinformation, you want your messages to be extreme.

By consistently hyping up the dangers of migrants, for example, more voters will start feeling that something needs to be done, even if they have never encountered an issue themselves.

Indeed, mathematical models show that the probability of a candidate positioned at the end of the spectrum winning an election can, at least theoretically, reach 100%, if the messages are nothing but extreme. The same does not apply to a candidate positioned in the middle.

We have seen this effect manifesting itself in the recent elections in Germany and France. Unless the public already has a strong appetite for the centre ground, which was the case for July’s general election in the UK, positions at the centre are often precarious.

The path to victory for Harris therefore remains steep. But there are means for an effective counteroffensive.

Clear communication

Political messages have two purposes: communicating where the candidate stands on the various issues, and making the voters feel that those positions are desirable. We can apply the mathematics of communication, which explains our cognitive response to digesting information, to infer the impact of political messages.

In particular, we can study how different messages on a given issue combine and interact. This, of course, only concerns voters who consume a variety of information sources, as opposed to those confined to an information echo chamber.

For those who consume both Democratic and Republican messages, the effect of combining them can be subtle. But, in many cases, they combine in an additive way with some weights on each message.

You can think of it as a weighted average of the two information sources. For example, if Harris says one thing and Trump says something opposite on a particular issue, then the net effect is each message muting the other slightly.

So, if Trump says the illegal Haitian migrants in Springfield are eating people’s pets, and Harris says the migrants are there legally and are not eating anyone’s pets, then people might come to the conclusion that, while there may be illegal Haitian migrants in Springfield, they may not be eating pets.

However, in some cases, one of the weights can take a negative value. This means that rather than adding them, the receiver of the two messages will subtract them. When this happens, the effect of that message is unexpectedly reversed.

For example, when clear and convincing evidence of the legal status of the migrants in Springfield is presented, the prevailing noise about their pet-eating habits will, in anything, strengthen people’s belief that the claim is false.

This can happen when the message from Harris is sufficiently loud and clear. Importantly, this does not mean Harris should loudly deny the disinformation. Provided that Harris sticks to her own messages in a clear and transparent manner, the mathematics of communication predicts that disinformation can turn itself against its spreader, for the following reasons.

The idea, roughly speaking, goes as follows. Suppose that a recipient of the messages is unaware of the prevalence of disinformation, and that there is a considerable gap between the unsubstantiated disinformation and reliable information, with the latter being communicated very clearly.

In this situation, communication theory shows that the receiver will dismiss disinformation more strongly than someone who is aware of the prevalence of disinformation.

It is reminiscent of the Japanese martial art judo where the ultimate aim is to use your opponent’s momentum, rather than your own force.

Disinformation should be challenged. And, indeed, both Harris and her predecessor Joe Biden have come out to condemn Trump’s “onslaught of lies” in relation to the two hurricanes.

But merely focusing on challenging disinformation is counterproductive. What is more important is for their own message to be communicated loud and clear.

No crystal ball can tell us whether the Democrats will retain the White House in November. But simply repeating the point that Trump is a threat to democracy, as Biden was prone to do, will not cut it.

Dorje C. Brody has received funding from UKRI.

– ref. Why Trump’s messaging is becoming more extreme, a mathematician explains – https://theconversation.com/why-trumps-messaging-is-becoming-more-extreme-a-mathematician-explains-239421

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Minister Rishworth speech at Inclusion Australia 70th Anniversary Dinner
Source: Ministers for Social Services

23 October 2024

E&OE

Good evening everyone.

It’s my pleasure to be joining you tonight as we celebrate 70 years of Inclusion Australia.

I would like to begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we meet, the Wurundjeri people, and pay my respects to elders past and present.

I would also like to acknowledge:
- Felicity Crowther (Chair of the Inclusion Australia Board and Executive Director of the South Australian Council on Intellectual Disability (SACID)), and
- Catherine McAlpine (CEO of Inclusion Australia)
- Those here from other organisations who have contributed to the success of Inclusion Australia
- Advocates in the room
- And particularly people with intellectual disability and their families and carers
Tonight is an opportunity to reflect on how far we have come as a nation to create a more inclusive society for people with intellectual disability, and Inclusion Australia’s critical role in this- but also to recognise how far we still have to go.

As an organisation whose focus is about increasing the voices of people with intellectual disability and supporting them to represent themselves – Inclusion Australia has, and continues, to play a critical role in this space.

Tonight is a night of celebration!

I would like to wish a very happy birthday to Inclusion Australia and congratulate you on 70 years of working alongside the disability community to amplify the voices of people with intellectual disability.

What began in 1954 as a group of family and friends of people with disability has since grown to become the national peak body for intellectual disability, and one of Australia’s longest-standing disability advocacy organisations.

What you have achieved over the past 7 decades has been nothing short of remarkable.

And what’s more is that you’ve ensured people with intellectual disability have been at the centre of everything you do.

From helping to steer the introduction of Australia’s first disability discrimination laws, to what you do now in advocating for inclusive education and employment and supported decision making, you’ve truly been pioneers and built strong relationships across communities and with Government to achieve change.

Tonight, I want to talk about the importance of the advocacy work organisations like Inclusion Australia do for our community.

Inclusion Australia has worked tirelessly to raise the profile of the issues that are important to people with intellectual disability – ensuring that your perspectives and ideas are incorporated into Government policy responses.

Whether this is about making sure people with disability can make their own decisions with the right support, reducing the health inequalities experienced by people with intellectual disability, or making mainstream services and the broader community more inclusive and accessible – Inclusion Australia play a key role in educating the Government, organisations and businesses about the barriers people with intellectual disability can face.

But importantly, Inclusion Australia provide ideas and solutions to break down these barriers, challenge stereotypes and build the confidence of organisations and services to be truly inclusive.

And in undertaking your work, people with intellectual disability are at the centre of driving change – with people with intellectual disability leading Government and community engagement and education.

We know how important advocacy is in promoting the rights and freedoms of people with disability.

And that is why our Government has recognised Inclusion Australia as a standalone national peak organisation – and this does need to be recognised because you play a vital role to ensure people with intellectual disability have their needs met and can make choices about the way they want to live their lives.

In the past, people with intellectual disability have experienced really significant exclusion and exploitation and haven’t been included in conversations about the things that impact them – and unfortunately these experiences are still too common. As Minister for Social Services, I am committed to working alongside Inclusion Australia and people with intellectual disability to change this.

One of the ways our Government is supporting change is through increasing funding to Inclusion Australia as a Disability Representative Organisation.

But we also know that there are other important ways we can empower people with intellectual disability to self-advocate and support social connections.

I’ve heard many times how important peer support is for people with intellectual disability and that connecting with people like them to get advice and tips and ideas helps them to break down barriers that exist across society so they can live independently and fully participate in society.

I often hear it’s about the “I get you” factor that really makes a difference.

Everyone here knows how important lived experience is and that is why we are investing in peer support and self-advocacy activities for people with intellectual disability.

These programs are an important way we help people with disability and their families to build knowledge, skills and confidence and connect with their local communities.

Because we want to make Australia more inclusive and for each Australian with disability to be supported to reach their goals.

We know that change can only happen when the voices, perspectives and ideas of the people with intellectual disability are a part of the conversation.

And we will continue to listen to Inclusion Australia to understand how we can best work together to create a more inclusive society – because inclusion creates more opportunities and benefits everyone.

One area that for too long people with intellectual disability haven’t been given equal opportunities is in employment. For too long supported employment has been seen as the only option available.

And that is why creating more opportunities for people with disability in employment is a key area I have focused on since becoming Minister for Social Services.

And I share this focus with Inclusion Australia – who have worked consistently and constructively across the sector and with government to improve employment outcomes for people with intellectual disability and provide more opportunities in open employment and career progression.

As a Government we want to make sure people with disability, including those with intellectual disability understand the different employment options available to them and understand their rights at work.

We are doing this by providing employment-related advocacy and information through a new Disability Employment Advocacy and Information Program.

Advice about employment will be provided through group workshops and information sessions, and people will have access to individual advocacy for specific employment issues when it is needed.

We also want to make sure there a lots of different employment pathways available for people with intellectual disability, with more opportunities to move into open employment and build careers. Which is why we are investing in projects to evolve the supported employment sector.

And to make sure people with intellectual disability have more opportunities to succeed in employment of their choice, we have expanded eligibility under our new specialist disability employment program that starts in July next year so that volunteers and people who can work less than 8 hours per week can participate.

Because people deserve to be able to take advantage of a diverse range of opportunities and should not be excluded from our specialist disability employment program – because that is not inclusive and that’s why we are changing this.

And this is a key change I know that Inclusion Australia has been advocating for, for many years – as one of the ways to create more pathways and opportunities for open employment.

And I look forward to continuing to work with you as we reform the employment system for people with disability.

In all of these areas we have been working with Inclusion Australia and their member organisation, who have played a big role in creating change for people with intellectual disability in all parts of Australia.

I join with you in celebrating the work Inclusion Australia does to support people with intellectual disability to speak up and be heard.

Thank you for this critical work you do to create a better future for people with intellectual disability.

I look forward to the positive changes we will make together.

And I hope you all enjoy the rest of the evening, especially on the dancefloor.

MIL OSI News –
January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Mana i te whenua protectors and their supporters to rally for Lake Rotokākahi

Source: Te Whatanui Leka

A rally is planned at Government House in Auckland for Monday the 28th of October, protesting the construction of a sewerage pipeline through a sacred site near Rotorua.

Rotokākahi protectors and supporters will travel to the doorstep of the Governor General to demand the protection of Lake Rotokākahi.

With the controversial project still underway, mana i te whenua are imploring the Governor General to take action.

Rotokākahi Board of Control spokesperson Te Whatanui Leka Skipwith (Tūhourangi) explains:

“The Governor General has administrative responsibilities over Rotokākahi under the Māori Purposes Act.”

“But here in our struggle she has been absent.”

Construction of the pipeline commenced on Monday 19th August, and is being carried out by Fulton Hogan on behalf of the Rotorua Lakes District Council.

The pipeline has attracted criticism from mana i te whenua due to it being built next to Lake Rotokākahi in a location which is wāhi tapu (a sacred heritage site) and puts at risk a pristine ecological environment.

In response, mana i te whenua have been camped at the site for a number of weeks, in what has been described as “another Ihumatao; Te Arawa’s Ihumatao.”

As the project continues, mana whenua and supporters alike are demanding action from the Governor General.

“We have tried to message, we have tried to call and so far there has been no response, so we are coming to your doorstep.”

Sources:

https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1931/0032/latest/DLM210349.html

https://www.teaonews.co.nz/2024/08/28/rawiri-waititi-urges-halt-to-sewerage-works-at-rotokakahi-and-mana-whenua-seek-support/

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rotorua-daily-post/news/rotorua-protest-100-people-take-part-in-hikoi-against-sewerage-pipeline-route-past-sacred-site/LGTDHQDKWJEOFBX4UNJDEOPR54/

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rotorua-daily-post/news/rotorua-sewerage-pipeline-work-halted-amid-protester-concerns-over-sacred-sites/BGQ5S4ZFBZFYLEINZEIQIM7PAQ/

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

January 24, 2025

Date Taken:	10.15.2024
Date Posted:	10.23.2024 03:42
Photo ID:	8713176
VIRIN:	241016-N-ED646-1028
Resolution:	7170×4780
Size:	6.25 MB
Location:	SG

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Category: Asia Pacific

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

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