Category: Asia Pacific

MIL-OSI Europe: REPORT containing a motion for a non-legislative resolution on the proposal for a Council decision on the termination of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Cameroon on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber and derived products to the Union – A10-0094/2025

Source: European Parliament

MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT NON-LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

on the proposal for a Council decision on the termination of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Cameroon on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber and derived products to the Union

(05673/2025 – C10‑0012/2025 – 2024/0245M(NLE))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to the Commission proposal of 2 October 2024 for a Council decision on the termination of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Cameroon on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber and derived products to the Union (COM(2024)0446),

– having regard to the draft Council decision on the termination of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Cameroon on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber and derived products to the Union (C10‑0012/2025),

– having regard to the request for consent submitted by the Council in accordance with Article 207(4), first subparagraph, and Article 218(6), second subparagraph, point (a) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (C10-0012/2025),

– having regard to the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Cameroon on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber and derived products to the European Union (FLEGT)[1],

– having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2173/2005 of 20 December 2005 on the establishment of a FLEGT licensing scheme for imports of timber into the European Community [2],

– having regard to Regulation (EU) No 995/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 October 2010 laying down the obligations of operators who place timber and timber products on the market [3] (EU Timber Regulation),

– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 May 2023 on the making available on the Union market and the export from the Union of certain commodities and products associated with deforestation and forest degradation and repealing Regulation (EU) No 995/2010 [4] (EU Deforestation Regulation),

– having regard to the Commission communication of 11 December 2019 on the European Green Deal (COM(2019)0640),

– having regard to its resolution of 15 January 2020 on the European Green Deal [5],

– having regard to its resolution of 16 September 2020 on the EU’s role in protecting and restoring the world’s forests [6],

– having regard to its resolution of 22 October 2020 with recommendations to the Commission on an EU legal framework to halt and reverse EU-driven global deforestation [7],

– having regard to the Paris Agreement and to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework on halting and reversing nature loss,

– having regard to the Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Members of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, of the other part [8],

– having regard to the UN Sustainable Development Goals,

– having regard to the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forest and Land Use,

– having regard to its legislative resolution of [XXXX][9] on the draft Council decision,

– having regard to Rule 107(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the opinion of the Committee on Development,

– having regard to the report of the Committee on International Trade (A10-0094/2025),

A. whereas the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) between the European Union and the Republic of Cameroon on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber and derived products to the Union (FLEGT) entered into force on 1 December 2011 and is one of the first agreements of this kind to be concluded; whereas the VPA’s objective is to provide a framework of legislation, systems, controls and verification procedures to ensure that all timber exports from Cameroon into the EU market have been acquired, harvested, transported and exported legally;

B. whereas Cameroon has over 18 million hectares of forest, which accounts for approximately 40 % of its national territory; whereas Cameroon is Africa’s largest exporter of tropical hardwoods to the EU; whereas illegal logging and forest conversion, enabled by poor forest governance and driven by trade, are major contributors to deforestation in Cameroon; whereas 900 000 hectares of forest cover were lost between 2011 and 2022, representing 5 % of the country’s forest cover during this period;

C. whereas nearly half of the total exports from Cameroon are directed to European markets, with timber as the third most important product after oil and cocoa; whereas all three of these sectors generally contribute to deforestation, and the growth of their production is part of Cameroon’s national development strategy for 2020-2030;

D. whereas all shipments of timber and timber products from Cameroon destined for the EU market should comply with the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) requiring operators to perform due diligence checks to ensure the timber products they place on the EU market are legal; whereas since 2015, Cameroon has been developing a timber legality assurance system (TLAS), as required by the VPA; whereas to date, Cameroon has not fully established the TLAS and thereby cannot qualify for a FLEGT licence; whereas the TLAS is based on a legality definition, supply chain controls, verification of compliance, FLEGT licensing and an independent audit; whereas this legality verification system is not yet operational;

E. whereas the purpose and expected benefits of FLEGT VPAs go beyond the facilitation of trade in legal timber, as they are also designed to bring about systemic changes in forest governance, law enforcement, transparency and the inclusion of various stakeholders in the political decision-making process, including indigenous and local communities and civil society organisations;

F. whereas the FLEGT licensing scheme, which forms an integral part of the VPA, was expected to be in place within five years of the reform of the legal framework; whereas this licensing scheme is not yet in place, implying that the VPA between the EU and Cameroon is not operational to date; whereas the EU FLEGT VPA programme, coordinated by the French Development Agency, was not implemented in Cameroon as planned for the years 2021-2025;

G. whereas the forest reform, launched in 2008 with the aim of revising the 1994 forest code, was finalised in July 2024 with the publication of the new Forest Code; whereas illegal logging is conducted partly on the basis of small logging titles (ventes de coupe) that do not require management plans and are more difficult to control compared to the oversight of large-scale concessions; whereas the national control systems are not operational, due to corruption and insufficient resources, so enforcement and governance remain weak, making it possible for illegal and unsustainable logging operations to continue;

H. whereas the development of the legality verification module in the traceability system is still pending, and the little progress made so far has not been independently audited, which would help build its credibility;

I. whereas Cameroon has not been able to meet its VPA obligations over the last 10 years and the governance of the forest sector has worsened despite the existence of the VPA;

J. whereas timber exports have shifted to Asian markets, particularly China and Vietnam diluting the economic incentive of the VPA, and consequently the relevance of the FLEGT licence; whereas Vietnam has become the second largest market for Cameroonian timber (after China), while Cameroon has become the largest supplier of tropical logs to Vietnam (accounting for 25 % of the logs imported between 2016 and 2019, in value); whereas a large part of timber trade flows concerns illegal logging, which deprives the Government of Cameroon of revenue and local communities of shared benefits; whereas the United States and the EU supported discussions between Cameroon and Vietnam to conclude a Memorandum of Understanding with the aim of improving the transparency of the timber trade between both countries; whereas transparency and traceability in timber trade flows are essential for the credibility of legality assurance schemes; whereas, in this context, the EU should continue encouraging partner countries to strengthen import controls and ensure that timber sourced from them complies with legal requirements under national and VPA frameworks;

K. whereas the Cameroon-EU VPA entered into force in 2011; whereas, despite the initial positive impacts on legal reform, multi-stakeholder participation, access to information and transparency, the VPA process was stalled in 2018; whereas the parties agreed in 2023 to undertake a joint VPA review, with the resulting report presenting four options for next steps, one of which was termination of the VPA by consensus; whereas this report was not made public until after the Commission notified the Council of the decision to terminate; whereas the Commission made the unilateral call to end the partnership;

L. whereas key exports from Central Africa to the EU include timber, cocoa and tropical fruits; whereas the EU and the Republic of Cameroon signed a provisional Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) in 2009, which remains in force as an interim arrangement while negotiations on a full regional EPA for Central Africa are ongoing; whereas future EU-Cameroon cooperation should aim to align trade policy instruments with sustainability goals, particularly under the EU Deforestation Regulation, in order to promote consistency, mutual benefit and predictability for operators on both sides;

M. whereas the VPA is tacitly renewed every seven years, unless one party terminates it by notifying the other party of its decision at least 12 months before the expiry of the current seven-year period; whereas each party may terminate the VPA at any time by notifying the other party; whereas the VPA is terminated 12 months following that notification;

N. whereas the continuation of the VPA could affect the credibility of the EU as a global champion of forest protection, sustainable and multifunctional agroforestry, soil and landscape protection, biodiversity, local rural economy and human rights standards and the integrity of VPAs as EU trade instruments; whereas the unilateral termination of the agreement could also tarnish the reputation of the EU as a reliable forestry actor and defender;

O. whereas in its communication of 7 November 2024 on a strategic framework for international cooperation engagement, the Commission suggests that forest partnerships could build on or even replace VPAs; whereas, despite the challenges, VPAs have proven to be a key instrument in laying the groundwork for improved forest governance; whereas VPAs are legally binding agreements that can be complemented by forest partnerships; whereas there is a lack of information regarding the impacts of existing forest partnerships on the improvement of governance; whereas the Commission has not informed Parliament of the criteria underpinning its engagement in forest partnerships; whereas this failure to involve Parliament prior to developing partnerships with third countries has already occurred in the past; underscores the need for the EU to remain firmly committed to other existing VPAs;

P. whereas a move away from the VPA model towards more extractive agreements such as raw materials partnerships or non-binding memoranda of understanding will undermine the EU’s credibility when it comes to the protection of biodiversity and the fight against deforestation;

Q. whereas civil society in Cameroon is increasingly confronted with hostility and a shrinking space; whereas a circular published on 13 August 2024 obliges NGOs active in the forest sector to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife;

1. Highlights that deforestation and forest degradation are key environmental challenges and are among the main drivers of climate change and biodiversity loss, while also having major negative social and economic impacts on producing communities and countries, especially on the more vulnerable parts of society and groups such as indigenous communities;

2. Highlights that the environmental damage caused by deforestation will have hugely negative social and economic consequences for communities engaged in forestry;

3. Recalls that the Samoa Agreement [10] between the EU and its Member States, and the Members of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States reaffirms that the parties must promote a multi-stakeholder approach, enabling the active engagement of a wide variety of actors in partnership dialogue and cooperation processes, including parliaments, local authorities, civil society and the private sector, that inclusive partnership dialogue and action tailored to the specificities of the parties are the main tools to achieve these objectives, and that there is a need for a high level of environmental protection, while committing to halting deforestation and forest degradation as a means of protecting ecosystems as well as vulnerable communities and indigenous people, preserving biodiversity and mitigating climate change;

4. Recalls that sustainable and inclusive forest management and governance are essential for achieving the objectives set out in the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement and the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework on halting and reversing nature loss;

5. Recalls that in the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forest and Land Use, the EU and Cameroon reaffirmed their commitment to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030;

6. Recalls Team Europe’s efforts in promoting political stability and economic development through sustainable and resilient territorial development in response to climate change;

7. Underlines that the Global Gateway strategy should support Cameroon in promoting sustainable, inclusive and green development throughout its territory;

8. Recalls that trade is an engine for inclusive economic growth and poverty reduction that helps to promote sustainable development; believes that VPAs provide an important legal framework for both the EU and its partner countries, but that this requires effective multi-stakeholder dialogue and good cooperation with and commitment from the countries concerned; recalls that in its early stages, the EU-Cameroon VPA resulted in concrete improvements, including on stakeholder participation and access to information, but that unfortunately this progress has stalled over the past 10 years; deplores the lack of progress in the implementation of the VPA with Cameroon, especially with regard to the enforcement, transparency and traceability of commitments, and is highly concerned about the ongoing deforestation and forest degradation not only by illegal logging, but also by other key drivers of deforestation, such as forest conversion for agricultural use and mining;

9. Highlights the fact that addressing the root causes of deforestation, such as weak governance, ineffective law enforcement, insecure land tenures, lack of access to finance, shrinking civic space and corruption, requires the EU and its partner countries to carry out joint assessments based on the meaningful engagement of relevant stakeholders, such as indigenous people and local communities, with a view to overcoming regulatory implementation hurdles regarding transparency and traceability;

10. Stresses that a robust and credible TLAS offers forest businesses greater legal certainty, simplified controls and more transparent processes, discouraging informal payments and corruption, while increasing revenues for both communities and the state;

11. Underlines the importance of including civil society and local authorities in decision-making processes, of benefit-sharing with local communities and of reinforcing security and accountability;

12. Regrets the need to end the legally binding VPA with Cameroon; agrees with the Commission that, in the light of the VPA’s shortcomings, this is the best policy option for the time being and stresses the need for the Commission to keep engaging with the Government of Cameroon on forestry; expresses concern about the impact of the termination of the VPA on diplomatic and economic relations between Cameroon and the EU and on the EU’s capacity to build meaningful future partnerships with the country; points out the potential negative impact on civic space, as the VPA facilitated dialogue between the Government of Cameroon and civil society; calls on the Commission to assess the impact of this decision on European businesses operating in or sourcing from Cameroon and to explore support mechanisms to preserve responsible trade channels and to ensure the sustainable management of natural resources;

13. Underlines that the EU remains a committed partner of Cameroon in fostering economic growth and comprehensive human development; calls on the Commission and the European External Action Service to engage in dialogue with the authorities of Cameroon to explore possibilities for constructive cooperation based on areas of mutual interest, combat illegal logging, support forest conservation and boost economic cooperation and trade;

14. Notes with concern that Cameroon ranks 140th out of 180 countries on the Corruption Perceptions Index; urges the Government of Cameroon to work towards stopping widespread corruption and to address other factors fuelling illegal logging and forest degradation, with particular regard to customs, in cooperation with other authorities; stresses the importance of protecting human, labour and indigenous people’s rights, notably by respecting the principle of free, prior and informed consent in all circumstances when sourcing goods and products for the EU market; calls, in this context, on local authorities to extend special protections to children and indigenous communities; emphasises the importance of ensuring that civil society actors are given the necessary space and possibilities to engage with governmental actors;

15. Highlights the fact that joint consultations with local authorities in Cameroon should be strengthened to drive positive change and reinforce and boost the credibility of local governance;

16. Stresses that countries all over the world that either have or aim to have regulated import markets for legal timber would benefit from cooperating with and, where possible, endorsing each other’s rules and systems, such as the EU’s FLEGT and VPAs; emphasises that international standards would be more effective and would promote long-term legal security for businesses and consumers;

17. Recognises the shortcomings of the current forestry zoning system; acknowledges that forest management plans, intended to ensure sustainability, have largely failed due to corruption and weak governance; calls for renewed cooperation between the EU and its partner countries in order to develop new practices and governance mechanisms to address these challenges;

18. Calls on the Commission to explore alternatives in close dialogue with Cameroon to ensure the legality of timber and timber products originating from Cameroon and to properly address the problem of illegal timber logging; considers that a forest partnership, as outlined in the EU Deforestation Regulation, could be a possible option for cooperation between the EU and Cameroon; emphasises the importance of conducting a thorough diagnostic and independent evaluation of forest governance and trade trends in Cameroon, building on existing assessments, prior to entering into negotiations on a forest partnership; underlines that in order to be effective, any potential future partnerships would have to be developed through an open, transparent, inclusive, deliberative and non-discriminatory process with meaningful participation from civil society, trade unions and local and international NGOs, the private sector including microenterprises and other small and medium-sized enterprises, local authorities, local and indigenous communities, and farmers; stresses that ending impunity in the forest sector is a cornerstone of this process, which requires the protection of environmental defenders as well as an effective system to tackle human rights violations; calls for the EU to continue supporting and engaging in dialogue with Cameroon in order to tackle the challenges arising from deforestation in a spirit of equal partnership, and to promote sustainable and inclusive development throughout its territory including by establishing the robust and transformative timber traceability systems that are necessary to comply with the expanding requirements of consumer market regulations worldwide, whether under the EU Deforestation Regulation or other foreign legislation;

19. Stresses the importance of the parliamentary oversight and monitoring of the VPA by Parliament’s Committee on International Trade; underlines the need for the meaningful and timely involvement of Parliament with regard to the assessment of the implementation of existing VPAs, as well as the negotiation, signing and implementation of any future forest partnerships; stresses the need to also include consultations with civil society organisations, the private sector and particularly indigenous communities, environmental and human rights defenders and trade unions; asks the Commission to regularly report to Parliament on the implementation of the VPAs and forest partnerships, including on the work of the joint implementation committees and on the strategies to be pursued in the coming years; highlights the need for an in-depth diagnostic and independent assessment of forest governance in Cameroon and for the relevant experiences and lessons learnt from the VPA process to be integrated into any future forest partnership;

20. Underlines that despite the unprecedented unilateral termination of the VPA with Cameroon, VPAs continue to provide an important legal framework for both the EU and its partner countries, which has been made possible through good cooperation with and commitment from the countries concerned; stresses that the EU should remain fully committed to existing VPAs and that new VPAs with additional partners should be promoted, as they play a crucial role in facilitating transparent and accountable forest management, addressing the root causes of illegal logging, combating climate change, strengthening local people’s land tenure rights and providing a tool for civil society and forest communities to be involved in decision-making processes;

21. Calls on the Commission to ensure coherence between the EU’s trade and sustainability frameworks when engaging with Cameroon and the broader central African region; encourages the Commission to ensure that the requirements and objectives of the EU Deforestation Regulation and related legislation are adequately taken into account in the context of the ongoing negotiations on a full regional economic partnership agreement; underlines the importance of providing technical assistance and regulatory guidance to partner countries to help align trade practices with environmental standards, particularly in sectors such as timber, cocoa and tropical agriculture;

22. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Government and Parliament of the Republic of Cameroon and all relevant stakeholders in the Voluntary Partnership Agreement process.

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

The Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) between the European Union and the Republic of Cameroon on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber and derived products to the European Union (FLEGT) entered into force on 1 December 2011 and is one of the first agreements of this kind that was concluded. The rapporteur regrets that Cameroon has not been able to honour its VPA obligations over the last 10 years and the governance of the forest sector has worsened despite the existence of the agreement. While the rapporteur believes that FLEGT VPAs provide an important legal framework for both the EU and its partner countries, they can only work properly when both sides are willing to cooperate and to adhere to their commitments. In the present case, the rapporteur believes that the best alternative is to terminate the agreement.

MIL OSI Europe News –

June 4, 2025

MIL-OSI Europe: RECOMMENDATION on the draft Council decision on the termination of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Cameroon on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber and derived products to the Union – A10-0089/2025

Source: European Parliament

DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

on the draft Council decision on the termination of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Cameroon on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber and derived products to the Union

(05673/2025 – C10‑0012/2025 – 2024/0245(NLE))

(Consent)

The European Parliament,

– having regard to the draft Council decision (05673/2025),

– having regard to the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Cameroon on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber and derived products to the European Union (FLEGT)[1],

– having regard to the request for consent submitted by the Council in accordance with Articles 207(4) first subparagraph and Article 218(6) second subparagraph, point (a) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (C10‑0012/2025),

– having regard to its non-legislative resolution of …[2] on the draft decision,

– having regard to Rule 107(1) and (4) and Rule 117(7) of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the opinion of the Committee on Development,

– having regard to the recommendation of the Committee on International Trade (A10-0089/2025),

1. Gives its consent to the termination of the agreement;

2. Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the governments and parliaments of the Member States and of the Republic of Cameroon.

ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT

Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteur declares that she received input from the following entities or persons in the preparation of the draft report, prior to the adoption thereof in committee:

Entity and/or person

Fern

The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur.

Where natural persons are identified in the list by their name, by their function or by both, the [rapporteur declares / rapporteurs declare] that [he/she has / they have] submitted to the natural persons concerned the European Parliament’s Data Protection Notice No 484 (https://www.europarl.europa.eu/data-protect/index.do), which sets out the conditions applicable to the processing of their personal data and the rights linked to that processing.

OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON DEVELOPMENT (25.4.2025)

for the Committee on International Trade

on the draft Council decision on the termination of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Cameroon on forest law enforcement governance and trade in timber and derived products to the Union

(05673/2025 – C10‑0012/2025 – 2024/0245(NLE))

Rapporteur for opinion: Ana Miranda Paz

SHORT JUSTIFICATION

The Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) between the EU and the Republic of Cameroon entered into force on 1 December 2011 for a period of seven years. As it is tacitly renewable, the current seven-year period will expire on 30 November 2025.

Located in the Congo Basin, nearly 40% of Cameroon’s territory is covered by tropical forests. However, deforestation remains a major issue, with 900,000 hectares of forest cover (equivalent to 5%) lost between 2011 and 2022. The primary drivers of deforestation include agricultural expansion, wood harvesting, extractive activities (such as iron mining and petroleum extraction), and infrastructure development. In addition, illegal and unsustainable logging continues to degrade the forests. Nearly half of Cameroon’s total exports are directed toward European markets, with timber ranking as the third most significant export, after petroleum and cocoa. However, all three sectors contribute to deforestation, and their expansion is a core part of Cameroon’s national development strategy for 2020-2030. The VPA was primarily designed to establish a legal framework ensuring the legality of timber exports to the EU by improving national control systems and governance while introducing legal verification and traceability systems.

Since the VPA came into force, the Cameroonian government has failed to implement its key measures, particularly the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) licensing scheme, as well as the legality verification and traceability systems. Furthermore, law enforcement remains weak due to a lack of resources and persistent corruption. Some slight improvements have been observed since 2020, including a decline in illegal logging rates in managed forests and a reduction in the share of illegal timber in both the export and domestic markets, as analysed in a report by the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR). However, the VPA’s contribution to these changes is assessed as relatively weak, especially when compared to similar agreements with other developing countries.

In recent years, Cameroon’s timber exports have shifted toward Asian markets, where legality and sustainability standards receive little attention. In 2021, 59% of timber exports were destined for China and Vietnam, compared to 38% for the EU. For logs, exports to these two Asian markets accounted for 98%. A 2020 investigation by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and the Centre pour l’Environnement et le Développement (CED) uncovered widespread violations of export laws, illegal harvesting, and labour violations, all at the core of the illegal timber trade between Cameroon and Vietnam.

Your rapporteur believes that this situation damages the credibility of the EU as a global leader in forest protection, sustainable and multifunctional agroforestry, soil and landscape conservation, biodiversity, rural economic development, human rights standards, and the integrity of VPAs as EU trade instruments.

Nonetheless, your rapporteur believes that it is of primary importance to draw key insights from the positive aspects of the FLEGT-VPAs process, particularly in terms of forest governance, and integrate them into any future Forest Partnership. Such partnerships should be established with the full involvement of the European Parliament. To be effective, they must be developed through an inclusive process that actively engages small-scale farmers, civil society, local communities and indigenous people while also incorporating an effective monitoring and enforcement mechanism.

Given these challenges, the Council considers that continuing the VPA could undermine the credibility of both the EU and the VPAs as trade instruments. The VPA between the European Union and the Republic of Cameroon has not been successfully implemented. If it were to be terminated, EU cooperation with Cameroon should shift toward supporting the country in implementing measures aligned with the upcoming EU Deforestation Regulation.

*******

The Committee on Development calls on the Committee on International Trade, as the committee responsible, to recommend approval of the draft Council decision on the termination of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Cameroon on forest law enforcement governance and trade in timber and derived products to the Union.

ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS
FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT

The rapporteur for the opinion declares under her exclusive responsibility that she did not receive input from any entity or person to be mentioned in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.

PROCEDURE – COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

Title	Termination of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Cameroon on forest law enforcement governance and trade in timber and derived products to the Union
References	05673/2025 – C10-0012/2025 – 2024/0245(NLE)
Committee(s) responsible	INTA
Opinion by Date announced in plenary	DEVE 31.3.2025
Rapporteur for the opinion Date appointed	Ana Miranda Paz 18.3.2025
Date adopted	24.4.2025
Result of final vote	+: –: 0:	19 1 1
Members present for the final vote	Abir Al-Sahlani, Barry Andrews, Robert Biedroń, Udo Bullmann, Rosa Estaràs Ferragut, Niels Geuking, Małgorzata Gosiewska, Marc Jongen, Isabella Lövin, Thierry Mariani, Tiago Moreira de Sá, Leire Pajín, Kristoffer Storm
Substitutes present for the final vote	Marieke Ehlers, Marit Maij, Carla Tavares
Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote	Wouter Beke, Vladimir Prebilič, Paulius Saudargas, Andrea Wechsler, Tomáš Zdechovský

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL
BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

19	+
ECR	Małgorzata Gosiewska, Kristoffer Storm
PPE	Wouter Beke, Rosa Estaràs Ferragut, Niels Geuking, Paulius Saudargas, Andrea Wechsler, Tomáš Zdechovský
PfE	Marieke Ehlers, Tiago Moreira de Sá
Renew	Abir Al-Sahlani, Barry Andrews
S&D	Robert Biedroń, Udo Bullmann, Marit Maij, Leire Pajín, Carla Tavares
Verts/ALE	Isabella Lövin, Vladimir Prebilič

1	–
PfE	Thierry Mariani

1	0
ESN	Marc Jongen

Key to symbols:

+ : in favour

– : against

0 : abstention

PROCEDURE – COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

Title	Termination of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Cameroon on forest law enforcement governance and trade in timber and derived products to the Union
References	05673/2025 – C10-0012/2025 – 2024/0245(NLE)
Date of consultation or request for consent	18.2.2025
Committee(s) responsible	INTA
Committees asked for opinions Date announced in plenary	DEVE 31.3.2025
Rapporteurs Date appointed	Karin Karlsbro 14.10.2024
Discussed in committee	18.11.2024	7.4.2025
Date adopted	15.5.2025
Result of final vote	+: –: 0:	28 4 2
Members present for the final vote	Christophe Bay, Brando Benifei, Lynn Boylan, Anna Bryłka, Udo Bullmann, Bart Groothuis, Karin Karlsbro, Bernd Lange, Ilia Lazarov, Thierry Mariani, Javier Moreno Sánchez, Ştefan Muşoiu, Daniele Polato, Majdouline Sbai, Lukas Sieper, Dominik Tarczyński, Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, Catarina Vieira, Jörgen Warborn, Bogdan Andrzej Zdrojewski, Juan Ignacio Zoido Álvarez
Substitutes present for the final vote	Petras Auštrevičius, Markus Buchheit, João Cotrim De Figueiredo, Fabio De Masi, Lina Gálvez, Jean-Marc Germain, Pierre Pimpie, Jessika Van Leeuwen
Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote	Tobias Cremer, Niels Geuking, Cristina Guarda, Michalis Hadjipantela, Niels Flemming Hansen
Date tabled	16.5.2025

MIL OSI Europe News –

June 4, 2025

Trump’s birthright citizenship order to face first US appeals court review

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

The constitutionality of President Donald Trump’s executive order to curtail automatic birthright citizenship is set to be considered by a U.S. appeals court for the first time on Wednesday, even as the U.S. Supreme Court weighs his administration’s request to let it begin to take effect.

A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is slated to hear arguments in Seattle in the administration’s appeal of a judge’s ruling blocking enforcement nationwide of the executive order, which is a key element of the Republican president’s hardline immigration agenda.

Seattle-based U.S. District Judge John Coughenour issued his preliminary injunction on Feb. 6 after declaring Trump’s action “blatantly unconstitutional” and accusing the Republican president of ignoring the rule of law for political and personal gain. Federal judges in Massachusetts and Maryland also have issued similar orders blocking the directive nationwide.

Democratic attorneys general from 22 states and immigrant rights advocates in lawsuits challenging Trump’s directive argued that it violates the citizenship clause of the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment, long been understood to recognize that virtually anyone born in the United States is a citizen.

Trump signed his order on January 20, his first day back in office. It directed federal agencies to refuse to recognize the citizenship of U.S.-born children who do not have at least one parent who is an American citizen or lawful permanent resident, also known as a “green card” holder.

The administration contends that the 14th Amendment’s citizenship language does not extend to immigrants in the country illegally or immigrants whose presence is lawful but temporary, such as university students or those on work visas.

The 9th Circuit panel is scheduled to consider the constitutional questions regarding Trump’s action.

The Supreme Court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, heard arguments on May 15 in the administration’s bid to narrow the three injunctions.

Those arguments did not center on the legal merits of Trump’s order, instead focusing on the issue of whether a single judge should be able to issue nationwide injunctions like the ones that have blocked Trump’s directive. The Supreme Court, which has yet to rule, could allow the directive to go into effect in large swathes of the country.

More than 150,000 newborns would be denied citizenship annually if Trump’s order takes effect nationally, according to the plaintiffs.

Coughenour, an appointee of Republican President Ronald Reagan, has presided over a legal challenge brought by the states of Washington, Arizona, Illinois and Oregon and several pregnant women.

The 9th Circuit panel hearing arguments on Wednesday includes two judges appointed by Democratic President Bill Clinton and one appointed by Trump during his first presidential term.

(Reuters)

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ5: Publicity for National Games and National Special Olympic Games

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is a question by the Hon Chan Yung and a reply by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, in the Legislative Council today (June 4):

Question:

This year, the 15th National Games (NG) and the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games (NGD and NSOG) will be co-hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) how the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) will collaborate with relevant government departments and organisations to publicise NG, NGD and NSOG;

(2) of the plans of the CSTB and the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) to step efforts to attract Mainland and overseas visitors to Hong Kong for watching the tournaments of NG, NGD and NSOG; and

(3) given that the 2025 Legislative Council General Election will be held immediately after the NG, how the Government will integrate the publicity efforts of the NG and the Legislative Council General Election so that the two mega events can mutually foster with each other; what is the current progress and timetable of the relevant work?

Reply:

President,

The NG, NGD and NSOG, to be co-hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao for the first time, will be held from November 9 to 21, 2025 and from December 8 to 15, 2025 respectively. The CSTB is committed to enhancing public awareness of and interest in the NG, NGD and NSOG through multi-channel publicity, including the use of traditional media, social media, city dress-up, roving exhibitions, as well as collaborations with community organisations, sports associations and schools.

Our publicity strategies are rolled out in three stages. The first stage started in end-2024 to enhance public awareness of the NG, NGD and NSOG. The second stage, running from January to July this year, aims to foster a welcoming atmosphere for the Games in Hong Kong, including the launch of those photo-taking spots featuring the mascots Xiyangyang and Lerongrong. The third stage will start from August this year to significantly boost the popularity and participation of the NG, NGD and NSOG, including the organisation of the 100-day countdown, torch relay and the Sport For All Day, as well as other enhanced promotional efforts like city-dress-up initiatives.

Our reply to Hon Chan Yung’s question is as follows:

(1) The CSTB is working with various relevant government bureaux/departments and organisations to carry out publicity. Highlights include:

(i) launching publicity campaign jointly with the Leisure and Cultural Services Department for the athlete selection sessions for the mass participation events of the NG, NGD and NSOG under the theme of “I want to join the National Games” (「我要上全運」), and taking the opportunity to promote the two mass participation events organised by Hong Kong, namely Bowling and Para Dance Sport;

(ii) launching Announcements in the Public Interest and special programmes through the Information Services Department (ISD) and Radio Television Hong Kong respectively, covering local athletes, Mainland competition events and preparations of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao for the Games. The ISD also assisted in publicity in the Mainland and overseas, including promotion through social media and digital platforms in the Mainland as well as advertisements in overseas media;

(iii) joining hands with the Home Affairs Department and the Education Bureau to conduct community engagement activities in all 18 districts across the territory and diversified promotional activities in schools, with a view to widely publicising the events both in the community and in schools;

(iv) beautifying the cityscape in areas around the competition venues in collaboration with the Highways Department to infuse the community with elements of the NG, NGD and NSOG. Besides, we co-organised the Architectural Installation Design Competition for the 2025 National Games in Hong Kong with the Hong Kong Institute of Architects; and

(v) collaborating with various organisations and groups, including the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, the China Hong Kong Paralympic Committee, the Hong Kong Sports Institute, related national sports associations and the HKTB, to include elements of the NG, NGD and NSOG in their events.

(2) Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao will deploy the same ticketing platform. The Guangdong Provincial Executive Committees for the NG, NGD and NSOG is actively working on the ticketing policies and the system setup. Upon confirmation of the ticketing arrangements, the CSTB will collaborate with the tourism industry to design various tourism products, with a view to attracting Mainland and overseas spectators and visitors. As for the Mainland market, the HKTB will target at sports enthusiasts by carrying out publicity work on related social media and other forms of media.

(3) On December 7 this year, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) will hold the 8th Legislative Council General Election. Given the relevance of this election to the successful and robust implementation of the principle of “patriots administering Hong Kong” and good governance and long-term stability of the HKSAR, the Government attaches great importance to the successful organisation of this election, the NG, NGD and NSOG, and is determined to carry out related publicity and promotion works well, striving to achieve extensive publicity effect. Currently, relevant Government bureaux and departments are actively considering the co-ordination arrangements for taking forward the publicity of these two major events, and will announce any specific arrangement at a later stage.

Thank you, President.

Ends/Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Issued at HKT 16:40

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Special traffic and transport arrangements for Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races in Tsim Sha Tsui East

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Special traffic and transport arrangements for Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races in Tsim Sha Tsui East
Tsim Sha Tsui Landing No. 1 will be suspended from 8am on June 6 to noon on June 9, and Tsim Sha Tsui Landing Nos. 2 and 5 have been suspended until noon on June 9.
Part of the non-franchised bus pick-up/drop-off points on Salisbury Road westbound opposite Wing On Plaza will be suspended from noon on June 5 to 11pm on June 8.
The bus stops of KMB route Nos. 5A, 8P, 92R, 260X, 268B, 269B, HK1 and Citybus route Nos. 796X, A25, H1 on Salisbury Road westbound opposite Wing On Plaza will be suspended from 7.30am to 7.30pm on June 7 and from 7.30pm to 6pm on June 8.
The TD and the Police will closely monitor the traffic situation and implement appropriate measures when necessary. The public should pay attention to the latest traffic news through radio, television or “HKeMobility”.
Issued at HKT 18:50

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CategoriesMIL-OSI

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ8: Landscape architect

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is a question by the Hon Tony Tse and a written reply by the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, in the Legislative Council today (June 4):

Question:

There are views that good public open space and green space design will help enhance Hong Kong’s living environment, physical and mental health of its citizens, as well as increase its appeal to tourists from home and abroad, and that landscape architect profession can play a significant role in this regard. However, some members of the industry have reflected that the Government has failed to attach importance to and optimise the use of the landscape architect profession when launching related projects (such as construction of parks) or consultancy services. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether guidelines have been drawn up to specify that the relevant government departments will fully consult their in-house landscape architects when inviting tenders for the planning, design or construction contracts for projects or consultancy projects focusing on public open space or green space, or those with landscape design accounting for a significant proportion; if so, what are the contents of the guidelines and their implementation status; if not, whether it will consider formulating relevant guidelines;
In addition, some landscape architects take on project management roles, co-ordinating various types of projects such as public open spaces and government buildings, overseeing project planning, construction, environmental compliance, cost control, and monitoring progress and quality. Landscape architects also provide professional advice in vetting assessment reports related to landscape and visual impacts under the Town Planning Ordinance and the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance.
Landscape architects in the Government play a key role in greening and landscape matters, in particular after the establishment of the Greening and Landscape Office under the Development Bureau (DEVB) in 2010. Landscape architects of the office are responsible for the central co-ordination of the Government’s greening and landscape planning and design efforts. Landscape architect posts in various departments have gradually increased to meet the increasingly complex project requirements. For example, landscape architect posts were introduced to the DEVB’s Harbour Office to advance waterfront open space projects, and to the Leisure and Cultural Services Department to enhance public play spaces. The number of landscape architects managed by the DEVB has increased from about 60 to about 100, and three directorate posts at the rank of Chief Landscape Architect were created in 2017 and 2018. These measures demonstrate the importance that the Government attaches to the landscape architectural profession. To further strengthen the team’s capabilities, we also provide systematic training for landscape architects, covering professional knowledge, project management, and innovative technologies. This continuous professional development supports Hong Kong’s transformation into a sustainable and liveable city.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and importing alternative smoking products (with photos)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Two incoming male passengers were sentenced to five months, two weeks, and three days’ imprisonment, and four months’ imprisonment with a fine of $1,000, at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts yesterday (June 3) and today (June 4) respectively for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare it to Customs Officers, as well as for importing alternative smoking products, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO) and the Import and Export Ordinance (IEO).

Customs officers intercepted two incoming male passengers, aged 41 and 20, at Hong Kong International Airport on February 23 and April 8 respectively. About 83 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes and 24 000 alternative smoking products, with an estimated market value of about $434,000 and a duty potential of about $275,000 in total, were seized from their personal baggage. They were subsequently arrested.

Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences.

Under the DCO, tobacco products are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.

Under the IEO, any person who imports an alternative smoking product into Hong Kong commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities 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).

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ15: Regulation of premises providing Chinese-style wellness and health services

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is a question by Professor the Hon Chan Wing-kwong and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, in the Legislative Council today (June 4):

Question:

It has been reported that on March 20 this year, a woman had to be sent to hospital for treatment as she got burnt while receiving cupping service at a blind massage parlour in Sham Shui Po. It has also been learnt that at present quite a number of premises in the market providing beauty, hairdressing, massage, foot spa, wellness and health services (such premises) openly boast that they can provide customers with such services as tuina, bone-setting, pain relief, moxibustion, cupping and scraping. Regarding the regulation of premises providing Chinese-style wellness and health services, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the number of complaints received by the authorities in relation to such premises and the follow-up situation in each of the past five years; among them, of the number of cases involving unlicensed medical practice, and the respective numbers of persons prosecuted and convicted;

(2) of the measures taken by the authorities to regulate such premises; whether they have taken the initiative to inspect such premises in prevention of illegal medical practices at such premises; if so, of the number of inspections carried out by the authorities and the result in each of the past three years; and

(3) whether the authorities will step up promotion and education efforts to prevent members of the public from inadvertently falling into the trap of illegal medical practice at such premises; if so, of the details?

Reply:

President,

In consultation with the Security Bureau, I provide a consolidated reply to the question raised by Professor the Hon Chan Wing-kwong as follows:

In order to safeguard public health and safety, a statutory regulatory system is in place for healthcare professions in Hong Kong. At present, there are 13 healthcare professions (Note) which are subject to statutory registration in order to practise in Hong Kong so as to ascertain that their qualifications are up to standards, and that their professional conducts are regulated by relevant statutory boards and councils. Any person who practises as these healthcare professions or uses these healthcare profession titles without registration may violate relevant laws.

As mentioned in the question regarding services such as tui-na, bone manipulating, pain management, moxibustion, cupping and gua-sha, premises providing relevant services in the community can be broadly classified into two categories:

(1) involving healthcare services which should be provided by the 13 healthcare professions under statutory registration or enrolment to provide services in accordance with their respective scope of practice, such as prescription of drugs, performance of medical procedures (for example, Chinese medicine treatment, physiotherapy or surgery); and

(2) not providing healthcare services concerning the practice of healthcare professionals, such as solely providing services of massage, foot bathing, beauty or hairdressing.

Statutory regulation of relevant healthcare facilities and/or healthcare professions

As the services provided by premises under the first category mentioned above are healthcare services, hence these services should be subject to statutory regulation targeting relevant healthcare facilities and/or healthcare professions. As regards services commonly known as “bone manipulating” and “pain management”, they may be similar to the nature of treatments provided by Chinese medicine practitioners, physiotherapists and chiropractors under their respective scope of practice. Depending on the actual services performed, relevant legislation would come into play when healthcare services which must be provided by registered healthcare professionals are involved. This serves to prevent non-professionals from performing such acts so as to safeguard public health.

The provision of a service will be considered as practising Chinese medicine if it involves the performance of any act or activities on the basis of traditional Chinese medicine in general practice, acupuncture or bone-setting as stipulated in the Chinese Medicine Ordinance (Cap. 549). Any person who is neither a registered nor listed Chinese medicine practitioner providing such service commits an offence and is liable to a fine at level 6 and imprisonment for three years. By the same token, any person who practises the profession of a physiotherapist as stipulated in the Supplementary Medical Professions Ordinance (Cap. 359) without registration commits an offence and is liable to a fine at level 2 and imprisonment for six months; whereas any person who is not listed in the register of registered chiropractors under the Chiropractors Registration Ordinance (Cap. 428) but practises chiropractic as defined in the Code of Practice by the Chiropractors Council commits an offence and is liable to a fine at level 5 and imprisonment for one year.

Members of the public who suspect that someone is practising without registration and/or unlawfully using the title of a registered healthcare professional should report to the Police. The Department of Health (DH) and the statutory boards and councils of relevant healthcare professions will provide professional support to the Police as appropriate. Records concerning number of cases upon conclusion of prosecution process in relation to section 28 of the Medical Registration Ordinance (Cap. 161) and section 108 of the Chinese Medicine Ordinance (Cap. 549) during the period from 2020 to 2024 are tabulated in the Annex.

Since 2018, the Private Healthcare Facilities Ordinance (PHFO) (Cap. 633) has regulated premises where registered medical practitioners and/or dentists practise. Operators are required to obtain a licence or a letter of exemption in order to operate the relevant private healthcare facilities. The existing law specifically covers premises of these two healthcare professions as their daily operation may very likely involve high-risk aspects such as blood management. It is therefore necessary to put in place the most stringent regulatory system under a risk-based principle in addition to the specific legislations regulating these two healthcare professions. As of April 30, 2025, there are 14 licensed private hospitals and 259 licensed day procedure centres in Hong Kong. The Government is also implementing the regulatory regime for clinics and small practice clinics (SPCs) under the PHFO, and will begin to accept applications for a clinic licence and requests for a letter of exemption for a SPC from October 13, 2025 onwards.

Regulation of facilities not providing healthcare services

Regarding matters relating to premises under the second category mentioned above which do not involve healthcare services nor practice of healthcare professions, such premises should fulfill the requirements of other relevant legislation. For instance, the Massage Establishments Ordinance (Cap. 266) aims to regulate massage establishments through a licensing regime in order to prevent and combat vice or illegal prostitution activities committed by criminals in these establishments. At present, the requirement for a Massage Establishments Licence does not apply to a number of specified services such as salon, beauty salon and nursing home. The Government does not maintain relevant statistics for such facilities.

To prevent the public from seeking improper treatment of certain conditions regardless of the type of premises which provides such services, the Undesirable Medical Advertisements Ordinance (Cap. 231) prohibits/restricts the publication of advertisements that will likely lead to the use of any medicine, surgical appliance or treatment for the purpose of treating or preventing diseases or conditions specified in Schedules 1 and 2 to the Ordinance. These include any disease of the musculo-skeletal system, including rheumatism, arthritis and sciatica. The DH has put in place an established mechanism for screening advertisements. Appropriate actions will be taken in accordance with the law against any contravention of the Undesirable Medical Advertisements Ordinance.

The Government urges members of the public not to casually believe the claims of being able to offer so-called “treatment” from random persons who are not registered or accredited as healthcare professionals. Since the professional qualifications and standards of these persons have not been attested, the safety and effectiveness of the so-called “treatment” cannot be assured. It may even worsen the condition or cause injury. Before receiving healthcare services, members of the public can browse the online registers of the statutory boards and councils of relevant healthcare professions (www.dh.gov.hk/english/main/main_rhp/main_rhp.html) to ascertain the qualifications of service providers. If members of the public have doubts about the qualifications of the healthcare professionals, they can also request the person concerned to provide relevant certification documents in order to better protect their safety. The DH has enhanced public education and publicity, and urges members of the public to check the qualifications of service providers before receiving healthcare services and only to consult healthcare professionals being regulated.

Note: These 13 healthcare professions are medical practitioners, dentists, nurses, Chinese medicine practitioners, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, medical laboratory technologists, optometrists, radiographers, chiropractors, dental hygienists, midwives and pharmacists.

Ends/Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Issued at HKT 15:40

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CHP investigates two probable cases of botulism

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

CHP investigates two probable cases of botulism
  The second case involves a 50-year-old female patient. She presented with generalised weakness, bilateral ptosis and swallowing difficulty since May 27. She was admitted to United Christian Hospital on June 3 and is now in stable condition.

Both patients were clinically suspected to have botulism caused by botulinum toxin injection.

     The preliminary investigation revealed that the two patients are friends. They claimed to have received injections of botulinum toxin for cosmetic purposes in private premises in Shenzhen around mid-May. They believed that the person who performed the injections was not a healthcare professional. Epidemiological investigations are still ongoing.

    In Hong Kong, botulinum toxin injections should only be performed by a locally registered doctor. Customers should verify the doctor’s full name against the list of registered doctors
     Due to the weakening of the associated muscles and the fact that botulinum toxin may spread and affect other areas beyond the injection site, affected patients may have drooping eyelids, double or blurred vision, problems with chewing, hoarseness, or even difficulties in swallowing, speaking or breathing, which may happen hours, days or weeks after the injection.

     The CHP urged the public to observe the following health advice before receiving botulinum toxin injections:
The public may visit the DH’s webpage on the differentiation between medical procedures and beauty servicesIssued at HKT 18:55

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CategoriesMIL-OSI

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

June 4, 2025
India, Australia vow to deepen defence ties, counter terrorism amid regional tensions

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

India and Australia on Wednesday reaffirmed their strong defence partnership and shared commitment to countering terrorism during a high-level bilateral meeting between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles in New Delhi.

During the meeting, Singh acknowledged the growing strategic ties between the two nations and thanked Australia for its support following the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam.

“It was heartening to note the significant milestones achieved in our bilateral defence relations since our last meeting. I hope that in the coming years, we will work with renewed momentum to effectively contribute to the growth of bilateral defence ties. Largely due to your commitment and leadership in strengthening India-Australia defence and security cooperation, bilateral defence collaboration has emerged as an important pillar of our comprehensive strategic partnership over the past three years”, the defence minister said.

“I look forward to a productive discussion today and hope it will lay a firm foundation for further strengthening India-Australia defence ties. This meeting comes at a time when India is facing significant challenges along its western border. We have taken steps in response to the barbaric incident in Kashmir. We are grateful to Australia for its support on this issue, and we will discuss it further during the meeting”, Singh added.

In response, Marles expressed Australia’s solidarity with India and reaffirmed his country’s commitment to working closely with India to tackle terrorism.

“The opportunity to work closely with you again over the next three years is truly exciting. I have deeply appreciated our relationship over the past three years and the progress we have made. I would like to convey our Prime Minister’s condolences to India for the lives lost in the Pahalgam terrorist attack. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who were killed in that appalling act of terrorism”, Marles said.

“Australia stands with India and all nations in the fight against terrorism. We acknowledge and welcome the cessation of military activity, which we view as a demonstration of Indian leadership. We are committed to continuing our cooperation with India in combating terrorism in all its forms,” Marles added.

Marles is visiting the Maldives, Sri Lanka, India, and Indonesia from June 2–5 for high-level meetings, according to a release from the Australian government’s Department of Defence.

ANI

June 4, 2025
Monsoon session of Parliament to run from July 21 to August 12: Kiren Rijiju

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday announced that the Monsoon Session of Parliament will be held from July 21 to August 12, 2025.

Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are scheduled to convene at 11 a.m. on the opening day. The session is expected to witness heated debates, particularly in the wake of recent demands by the Opposition for an immediate special session of Parliament.

On June 3, sixteen opposition parties jointly addressed a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling for an urgent discussion on the recent terror attack in Pahalgam and the government’s subsequent retaliatory military operation, named Operation Sindoor. The operation targeted terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

In response, the government has asserted that all relevant matters, including those raised by the Opposition, can be addressed during the Monsoon Session itself. This move is seen as an attempt to channel all legislative and political deliberations into the scheduled session rather than convening a separate one.

The announcement follows a productive Budget Session earlier this year, held in two phases from January 31 to April 4. During that session, Parliament passed a number of important legislations. One such bill was the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2025, which aims to strengthen the governance of waqf properties through better stakeholder engagement, improved registration processes, and the use of scientific methods. The bill also repealed the Mussalman Wakf Act of 1923.

Another key development was the passage of the Tribhuvan Sahkari University Bill, 2025. This legislation enables the establishment of a dedicated university focused on the cooperative sector, aimed at providing education, training, and research to support and expand India’s cooperative movement.

Additionally, the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, was passed to modernize and simplify India’s immigration laws. It streamlines processes for visa issuance, registration of foreigners, and entry-exit protocols for international travelers, marking a comprehensive overhaul of the legal framework surrounding immigration.

(With IANS inputs)

June 4, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ10: Lei Yue Mun Park

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

LCQ10: Lei Yue Mun Park
Question:

The Working Group on Developing Tourist Hotspots led by the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration announced last month the implementation of nine new tourist hotspot projects. There are views that the Lei Yue Mun Park, a holiday camp located in Chai Wan under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, which covers an area of nearly 23 hectares and offers fine views overlooking Lei Yue Mun Channel, has great potential to become one of the next tourist hotspots to attract tourists. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the number of visits to the Park in each of the past three years, together with a breakdown by type of booking (i.e. residential camp and day camp);

(2) of the respective staffing expenses and other administrative costs incurred in operating the Park in each of the past three years;

(3) as it is learnt that the basketball court and football pitch of the Park remain close to date due to temporary quarantine camps set up there during the pandemic which are yet to be demolished, when the Government will reopen these facilities for public use;

(4) of the reasons why the catering services at the canteen and the fast food kiosk of the Park remain suspended since November 21 last year, and when the catering services will resume;

(5) given that the Park is all along accessible only to members of the public who book the holiday camp, whether there are other means through which non-local tourists may gain access to the Park to visit the monuments therein; whether it has formulated special plans or promotional measures at present to attract tourists to visit the Park; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(6) as there are views that while the Park houses a number of historic buildings of significant value, its operating mode fails to keep pace with changes in people’s lifestyles over the years since it came into operation as early as 1988, and its facilities have become dilapidated and unappealing, whether the authorities have considered plans to enhance the attractions in the Park; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(7) whether it has considered repositioning the Park by upgrading it into one of the next tourist hotspots, so as to provide more recreational space for locals while attracting more visitors, thereby achieving better operational efficiency; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

In consultation with relevant policy bureaux and departments, my consolidated reply to the question raised by the Hon Edward Leung is as follows:

(1) In the past three years, the attendances at the Lei Yue Mun Park of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) are tabulated below:

Note 2: The holiday camp offers day camps, residential camps and evening camps with the following check-in schedules:
day camp: 9.30am to 4.30pm;
evening camp: 4.30pm to 10.30pm; and
residential camp: 2.30pm to 1pm on check-out day.

(2) In the past three financial years, the operational expenses of the Park are tabulated below:

Issued at HKT 11:54

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

June 4, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ7: Waiver of Government lease conditions

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

LCQ7: Waiver of Government lease conditions
Question:

Under the current land administration system, the Lands Department (LandsD) may grant waivers to temporarily relax restrictions under Government Leases to allow the leaseholders to carry out activities which do not comply with the lease conditions in the premises concerned (waiver premises), subject to payment of waiver fees assessed on the basis of the annual difference in full market rental value of the premises before and after the issue of the waiver letter. According to the information on the website of the LandsD, the waiver fee will be reviewed from time to time pursuant to the terms and conditions set out in the waiver letters and/or prevailing departmental policy and practice. It is learnt that due to the continuing sluggish rental market since the COVID-19 pandemic, the rental income from waiver premises, particularly those in retail use, has fallen substantially, with the result that in many cases, the net rental income after payment of the waiver fee is reduced to an unsustainable level and, in some cases, the rental income is less than the waiver fee. Some members of the real estate and construction sector have relayed to me that applications for review (including reassessment) of the waiver fees have not been processed by the LandsD in a timely manner and some have been pending for over a year. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether the LandsD has taken the initiative, in the absence of applications for review of the waiver fees, carried out any periodic reviews of waiver fees in the past five years; if so, of the number of cases reviewed; if not, whether the LandsD will undertake to carry out such reviews, and of the frequency and mechanism for such reviews;

(2) in the past five years, of the following information on the applications made for review (including reassessment) of waiver fees:

(i) the numbers of applications received and processed, and the average time taken from the date of application received to the date of the completion of the review; and

(ii) the number of outstanding applications, and the average time lapse since the date of application for such applications; and

(3) as there are views that three-month period is a reasonable time for processing application for review of waiver fees, whether the LandsD will consider, in respect of applications which have been processed for more than three months and approved with reduced waiver fees, backdating the effective date of the new waiver fee to a date which is three months immediately after the date of application?

Reply:

President,

In general, the leases granted by the Government would specify requirements and restrictions on the use of the land and whether structures may be erected thereon. If an owner wishes to use the land within a certain time period for a purpose which is not in line with the lease condition or to erect temporary structures, they must first apply to the Lands Department (LandsD) for a waiver to temporarily relax the relevant restrictions, subject to payment of waiver fee and administrative fee. The waiver fee is assessed based on the difference in the market rental value of the relevant land or property before and after the waiver is granted, and waiverees are required to pay the waiver fees on a quarterly basis. Generally speaking, some waivers permitting the erection of structures on agricultural land are charged at standard rates.

In response to the various parts of the question raised by the Hon Loong, my reply is as follows:

(1) Under the current practice, waiver fees are generally reviewed every three years in accordance with the relevant terms of the waiver. The standard rates applicable to some waivers are also typically reviewed every three years. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the social environment, the Government implemented a series of relief measures between October 2019 and December 2023, including waiver fee concession of up to 75 per cent for waivers for commercial and community uses, as well as the suspension of the triennial fee review. As society returns to normalcy, such relief measures concluded at the end of 2023. The LandsD has resumed the collection of full waiver fees starting from January 2024.

For orderly resumption of regular reviews of waiver fees, the LandsD, having reviewed the circumstances and consulted the Development Bureau, has started from April this year to resume the fee reviews in batches. In particular, among some 3 900 waivers:

(i) the LandsD is prioritising the processing of around 2 630 waivers with original regular review cycles between April and June this year, with a view to completing the review within three months from the review cycles of the relevant waivers, and gradually notifying the waiverees of the review results. So far, the LandsD has completed the fee review for around 2 500 cases charged at standard rates, with the adjusted fees (an average reduction of about two per cent) reflected in the demand notes to be issued in June. For the remaining cases of around 130 waivers requiring individual assessment, the LandsD will complete the review within three months (i.e. gradually from July to September this year), and will gradually notify the waiverees of the review results.

(ii) As for the around 730 waivers originally scheduled for regular review in July 2025 or later, the LandsD will endeavour to complete the valuation within three months before the review cycle and notify the waiverees of the results in time before the review cycle in line with their usual practice.

(iii) As for the remaining around 540 waivers, their previous regular review cycle originally fell between January 2024 and March 2025 (based on the position after the relief measures were lifted in end-2023). However, in view of the LandsD’s resumption of review by batches since April this year, the first review cycle for this batch of cases after the end of 2023 has elapsed while the next cycle is expected to fall between 2027 and 2028. If the LandsD by then conducts the fee review for this batch of waivers, the relevant fee will in the coming two to three years still be based on the level determined in the previous review cycle (i.e. between 2018 and 2019) and hence fails to reflect the changes in the economic environment over the years. To allow flexibility for relevant waiverees, the LandsD will put in a place a special arrangement for this type of cases to allow the relevant waiverees to initiate a fee review application with the LandsD at this stage and provide supporting market evidence. The LandsD will then conduct the fee review and endeavour to, within three months upon receipt of the application, complete the review and notify the waiverees of the results. If the waiverees do not initiate an application, the LandsD will not conduct any fee review until the next review cycle (i.e. 2027 to 2028). The LandsD will issue notification letters in June this year to the relevant waiverees on the abovementioned arrangement.

(2) As mentioned above, the LandsD suspended fee reviews for more than four years. Since the fee concession relief measures ended at the end of 2023, the LandsD has received 11 applications for waiver fee review. Among these, six cases were originally scheduled for fee review cycle between January 2024 and June 2025. The LandsD notified two of these waiverees of the results of the reviewed quarterly fees in May, and the valuation of the remaining four cases will be completed as soon as possible under the aforementioned arrangements, with results expected to be notified by August 2025. For the other five applications, as their review cycles are in July 2025 or later, the LandsD will conduct the fee reviews according to the original review cycle under the timetable as mentioned in part (1) (ii) of the reply above, targeting to complete them within three months before the review cycle.

(3) Under the usual practice, the LandsD will complete the review and notify the waiverees the reviewed fee level before the review cycle falls due. Whether the fees are adjusted upward or downward, the adjusted fees will take effect in the review cycle upon expiry of the notice period (depending on the waiver terms, usually it is three months). Given the special background of this resumption of fee reviews, if the reviewed fees are lower than the current levels upon the resumption of reviews by the LandsD, the effective date will be backdated to the first applicable review cycle after the lifting of the relief measures in end-December 2023 so as to allow the industry to benefit from the reduced fees earlier. As an illustration, for a case with a review cycle on May 1, 2025, if the LandsD completes the review in August this year, the reduced waiver fee will take effect on May 1, 2025 while the increased waiver fee will take effect upon expiry of the notice period around November 2025. The new fees will be set out in the next demand notes, with any extra amount of fees paid after the effective date to be deducted in the next demand notes.
Issued at HKT 17:38

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CategoriesMIL-OSI

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ18: Tai Lam Tunnel Bus-Bus Interchange

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is a question by the Hon Lam San-keung and a written reply by the Acting Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Liu Chun-san, in the Legislative Council today (June 4):

Question:

It is learnt that at present, there are stops at the Tai Lam Tunnel Bus-Bus Interchange (the Interchange) for most of the bus routes running from the Yuen Long and Tin Shui Wai areas to various places on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon via the Tai Lam Tunnel (TLT) to facilitate transfer to other bus routes. There are views that with the gradual completion of a number of development projects in Yuen Long, the passenger and bus flows at the Interchange are expected to increase continuously, causing traffic bottleneck and congestion problems. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether it has estimated the number of bus routes using the Interchange in the next five years;

(2) whether it has studied converting the toll plaza of TLT into a major transport node to facilitate transfer to various modes of public transport for travelling to and from various districts; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(3) whether it has plans to construct a large car park (with motorcycle parking spaces) and cycle parking area in the vicinity of the Interchange to facilitate transfer to public transport, thereby reducing the vehicular flow of TLT?

Reply:

President,

In respect of the questions raised by Hon Lam San-keung about the Tai Lam Tunnel Bus-Bus-Interchanges (TLTBBIs), having consulted the Transport Department (TD), my reply is as follows.

(1) There are over 50 franchised bus routes observing the TLTBBIs. In the coming two years, two more franchised bus routes are expected to be introduced, and they will also observe the TLTBBIs for the convenience of passengers. TD and franchised bus operators will continue to closely monitor the actual usage of the TLTBBIs arising from changes in population in North West New Territories, and review the arrangements in a timely manner to meet the travelling needs of passengers.
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(2) and (3) The Government has all along been promoting the provision of park-and-ride facilities at suitable railway stations or nearby locations to encourage drivers to park their vehicles and switch to public transport, thereby reducing the flow of vehicles entering congested areas. Currently, there are approximately 590 parking spaces outside the Kam Sheung Road MTR Station near the TLTBBIs, offering park-and-ride discounts. There are also motorcycle and bicycle parking spaces next to the Station. Also, private car and motorcycle parking spaces are available near the TLTBBIs, facilitating the residents of Yuen Long and the North District in transferring to public transport for travel to urban areas of Kowloon and Hong Kong Island.

The proposed development of a large-scale transport hub, parking facilities and bicycle parking as mentioned in the question requires comprehensive consideration of multiple factors, including seamless public transport transfers, connectivity to nearby roads and cycling networks, and whether there are other development opportunities that make the proposal more cost-effective and financially sustainable. As part of the Traffic and Transport Strategy Study, the Government is exploring the concept of a new generation of Transport Interchange Hub (TIH) under the “single site, multiple use” principle. This initiative aims to suitably provide park-and-ride facilities, bicycle parking spaces and storage facilities for electric mobility devices at TIHs. The TD is looking into suitable locations, including New Development Areas, for implementing the TIHs.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ1: Making good use of shoreline tourism resources

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is a question by the Hon Benson Luk and a reply by the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, in the Legislative Council today (June 4):

Question:

In May last year, the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council proposed that Hong Kong should establish the concept of “Tourism is everywhere in Hong Kong”, and in November of the same year, he advised that Hong Kong’s shoreline tourism resources should be put to good use. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether, according to the Government’s estimation, the “Round-the-Island Trail” developed on Hong Kong Island can be completed in 2031 as scheduled; how the Government will study with the MTR Corporation Limited the enhancement of the design of the ventilation building of the Airport Railway Extended Overrun Tunnel project, so as to minimise the impact on the waterfront promenade on Hong Kong Island and the Central Harbourfront Event Space, as well as the relevant design proposal and construction schedule;

(2) given that a number of sections of the waterfront promenade in Kowloon are not connected (including the Yau Ma Tei Public Cargo Working Area, the Green Island Cement Pier, the Fishtail Rock in Hoi Sham Park and the waterfront gas facility off Grand Waterfront, etc), whether the authorities have plans to connect the entire shoreline of Kowloon in different modes; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(3) whether it has formulated mega event programmes for the proposed waterfront promenades and those under construction, and of the measures in place to facilitate the industry to set up long-term catering premises at such promenades?

Reply:

President,

Hong Kong possesses abundant coastal resources, and Victoria Harbour and the harbourfront are world-famous. In consultation with the Transport and Logistics Bureau and the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, the reply to various parts of the question is as follows:

(1) Regarding the construction of a 60-kilometre-long “Round-the-Island Trail” on the Hong Kong Island, 85 per cent has been connected thus far. It is estimated that 90 per cent would be connected by end-2027. The remaining 10 per cent, with a length of about six km and mainly including sections such as Shau Kei Wan to Heng Fa Chuen and Brick Hill to Mills & Chung Path, involves works that require relatively more technical considerations and are more complicated (such as slope improvement), which we will strive to substantially complete by end-2031.

The Airport Railway Extended Overrun Tunnel project refers to a proposal to construct a tunnel of around 500 metres long beneath Lung Wo Road to the east of the Hong Kong Station in Central for trains to turn back so as to enhance the train carrying capacities and operation efficiency of the existing railway lines. Facilities under the project will mostly be constructed underground, while the ventilation cum emergency access building will be constructed aboveground, with a site area of about 1 200 square metres. The Government and the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) are proactively optimising the project, including the overall design of the concerned facilities, with a view to minimising the footprint and height of the ventilation cum emergency access building, and also minimising the works area needed during construction. The target is to ensure that the permanent and temporary facilities of the concerned project would not need to, as far as practicable, occupy the existing Central Harbourfront Event Space (CHES), site area of which is some 36 000 sqm, or to minimise the overlapping area between the concerned project and the CHES. The Government and the MTRCL will report the latest progress and the construction timetable of the project to the stakeholders in the second half of the year.

(2) For the Victoria Harbourfront in Kowloon from Cheung Sha Wan to Lei Yue Mun, the developable waterfront has a length of about 21 km, which excludes the about 6km-long waterfront areas currently occupied by existing facilities. After years of efforts by the Government and various sectors, about 65 per cent of the harbourfront has been connected at present, including sections in Tai Kok Tsui, the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD), Tsim Sha Tsui, Cha Kwo Ling, etc. By end-2028, with the addition of sections along the harbourfront in Kai Tak as well as at the former freight yard pier site in Hung Hom, nearly 80 per cent will be connected. The remaining 20 per cent of the waterfront, such as Yau Tong Bay Comprehensive Development Area and some other harbourfront sections in Kai Tak, will be developed along with private development projects at the respective locations.

We will maintain our efforts regarding the aforementioned 6-km waterfront areas in the south of the Kowloon peninsula currently occupied by existing facilities. Subject to technical feasibility, we will improve harbourfront connectivity through other means. For example, we are constructing a pedestrian walkway along the inland boundary of the New Yau Ma Tei Public Cargo Working Area to link up the WKCD and the Tai Kok Tsui harbourfront. Upon completion next year, the pedestrian walkway will be opened to the public. As for the harbourfront connectivity of other locations, we will commence the Study on East Kowloon Harbourfront Trail in the near future, riding on the opportunities brought about by the newly amended Protection of the Harbour Ordinance (Cap. 531), and exploring to further connect harbourfront sections in Hung Hom and To Kwa Wan that are not yet accessible, including those locations mentioned in the question raised by the Member. Besides, the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) has initiated the To Kwa Wan Harbourfront Study, which is a holistic planning covering the hinterland of To Kwa Wan, waterfront spaces and the adjacent water body, in order to explore improving the connectivity between the hinterland and the harbourfront, in addition to utilising harbourfront resources. We will co-ordinate and join forces with the URA on these fronts.

(3) Many venues within the Victoria Harbourfront are suitable for hosting mega events and activities of various types. For instance, the CHES has been a venue frequently used for hosting a considerable number of signature events over the years; the WKCD has more than 20 indoor and outdoor venues, attracting different types of large-scale events; the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade and the Avenue of Stars are also venues where leisure and entertainment activities are frequently held, such as music, film and arts and cultural events. The 15th National Games will be held in November this year, of which a number of competition events will take place in Hong Kong. Amongst them, the Triathlon event will be staged at the Central harbourfront and Victoria Harbour, which would allow spectators to watch the event while experiencing the natural beauty and vibrancy of Victoria Harbour.

Regarding food and beverages facilities at the harbourfront, we set up smart specialty vending facilities with distinctive exterior designs for photo-taking at the harbourfront in Wan Chai, Kwun Tong and Cha Kwo Ling last year, offering light snacks, drinks and gadgets. We are partnering with WestK Enterprise Limited in recent months to invite interested operators, through expression of interest, to set up refreshment stalls at four harbourfront locations with relatively more frequent flow of visitors in Central, Wan Chai, North Point and Tsim Sha Tsui within this year. Furthermore, we will revitalise the former freight yard pier site in Hung Hom into a special event space and open it for public use in the first quarter of next year. In the longer term, we have already released the preliminary land use proposal on the long-term development of the former pier site in Hung Hom and the sites around Hung Hom Station earlier; and we are also carrying out a study on the use of the topside development of the Exhibition Centre Station in Wan Chai North. Both projects will involve introducing food and beverages, retail and entertainment facilities of sizeable scale at the harbourfront, and continue to make good use of harbourfront resources to create new highlights for Hong Kong.

Thank you, President.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ2: Development of fintech

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is a question by the Hon Robert Lee and a reply by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, in the Legislative Council today (June 4):

Question:

     It is learnt that there are currently over 1 100 fintech companies in Hong Kong, including eight licensed digital banks, four virtual insurers and 10 virtual asset trading platforms. Regarding the development of fintech, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the plans in place to assist licensed fintech companies in expanding their operations and developing products, such as assisting them in expanding their service scope to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, promoting the asset-under-management size and turnover of Exchange Traded Funds on Virtual Asset (VA), enhancing the international competitiveness and attractiveness of VA-related products, as well as developing more futures and options products for VAs, etc;

(2) whether it will urge the regulators to allow institutional and retail investors to participate in more VA transactions of different types and currencies and relax the eligibility requirements for professional investors, as well as include VAs as assets under the Securities and Futures (Financial Resources) Rules, so as to facilitate the development of the VA market; and

(3) how the Government will formulate enhancement measures in the three aspects of regulatory statute, tax concessions as well as publicity and promotion, so as to further attract large-scale international fintech companies to establish presence in Hong Kong, and of the plans in place to assist the financial services industry in introducing fintech in order to enhance operational efficiency and reduce costs, thereby promoting the upgrading and transformation of the industry?

Reply:

President,

     As an international financial centre with a robust regulatory environment and abundant business opportunities, Hong Kong is an ideal location for promoting the development of fintech. The Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) and the financial regulators maintain close communication with the industry to understand their development needs, with a view to formulating appropriate measures to facilitate the development of fintech.

     My reply to the various parts of the question is as follows:

(1) To facilitate the continuous and vibrant development of fintech enterprises in Hong Kong, we have adopted a multi-pronged strategy including enhancing Hong Kong’s financial infrastructure, building a vibrant fintech ecosystem, nurturing fintech talents, and strengthening our connection and co-operation with the industry in the Mainland and overseas, with a view to creating and providing a conducive environment, thereby promoting fintech innovation and application.

     On advancing investment products related to virtual assets (VAs), the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) authorised the first batch of VA futures exchange traded funds (ETFs) for retail investor trading in December 2022, Asia’s first batch of VA spot ETFs in April 2024, as well as Asia’s first VA futures inverse product in July 2024. These products have broadened the product diversity of the Hong Kong market, further enhancing Hong Kong’s position as Asia’s leading ETF market.

     Besides, in February 2025, the SFC promulgated the “ASPIRe” roadmap, aspiring to strengthening the security, innovation and growth of the market in Hong Kong. One of the focuses of the roadmap is to expand the range of VA products and services, so as to fulfil the need of various types of investors under the prerequisite of investor protection, while enhancing the international competitiveness and attractiveness of Hong Kong’s VA market.

     The specific measures of the roadmap includes allowing staking services involving VA within systems with sufficient protection measures, to enable for investors to earn additional returns. In this regard, the SFC provided regulatory guidance respectively to licensed VATPs (virtual asset trading platform) on their provision of staking services, and to SFC-authorised funds with exposure to VA (VA Funds) on their engagement in staking. On April 10, 2025, the SFC allowed two licensed VATPs to provide staking services to clients through the imposition of relevant licensing conditions, which was followed by two SFC-authorised VA spot ETFs updating their fund documents in April and May 2025 for their engagement in staking activities.

     The SFC is also considering introducing VA derivatives trading for professional investors and will put in place robust risk management measures. These measures will further enrich the product options available in the Hong Kong market while ensuring that transactions are conducted in an orderly, transparent and safe manner.

     In light of the latest development of the VA market, the FSTB will promulgate the second Policy Statement on development of VA, articulating the next-step policy vision and direction, including exploring how to leverage the advantages of traditional financial services and innovative technologies in the area of VAs, enhance security and flexibility of real economy activities, and encourage local and international companies to explore the innovation and application of VA technologies.

     As for assisting fintech companies in expanding business, the Invest Hong Kong works closely with industry players to conduct publicity and promotion in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, including participating in major fintech events in the region, as well as connecting with local government departments, regulators, industry associations and innovation and technology parks, with a view to promoting advantages of Hong Kong fintech companies and further expanding into the Mainland market.

(2) Currently, before including any VAs for trading, licensed VATP operators should perform all reasonable due diligence on these VAs, and ensure that these VAs continue to satisfy all criteria. Before providing any VA for retail trading, VATPs should take all reasonable steps to ensure the selected VAs are of high liquidity. The relevant requirements seek to provide sufficient protection for investors (especially retail investors). The SFC will continue to asset the potential risks of VAs in respect of volatility, liquidity, and market manipulation, etc, and keep a close watch of relevant international regulatory development, so as to review the aforementioned requirements. Further, in light of VAs’ nature, characteristics and risks, we will continuously evaluate whether the requirements relating to prudential treatment of VA exposures are in line with those in other jurisdictions.

     In respect of professional investors’ qualifying criteria and minimum monetary threshold requirements, the SFC has conducted a review during 2019/20. The outcome of the review was that the current minimum monetary thresholds were simple and easy-to-interpret and appropriately reflected an investor’s loss absorption ability, as well as being in line with those in comparable jurisdictions (such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore and Australia). We will continue to evaluate whether the professional investor qualification requirements are in line with those in comparable jurisdictions.

     It should be noted that with the International Organization of Securities Commissions’ (IOSCO) publication of its Final Report with Policy Recommendations for Crypto and Digital Asset Markets in November 2023, the IOSCO recommends that regulatory frameworks should seek to achieve regulatory outcomes for investor protection and market integrity that are the same as, or consistent with, those required in traditional financial markets, which is an approach adopted by the SFC since as early as 2018.

(3) To attract more large-scale international fintech companies to establish presence in Hong Kong, the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES) offers one-stop services and special facilitation measures. On regulation, the OASES assists companies in understanding the licensing and regulatory framework of the relevant sectors and co-ordinates with the financial regulators when necessary to facilitate the licence applications. Regarding tax benefits, the OASES shares with companies information of applicable tax benefits and funding schemes and connects companies with the higher education institutions, research and development institutions and innovation and technology parks, with a view to expediting their business development in Hong Kong. Separately, we will further enhance the preferential tax regimes for funds, single family offices and carried interest, including the inclusion of VAs as qualifying transactions eligible for tax concessions. As for publicity and promotion, the OASES actively engages overseas and the Mainland strategic enterprises to introduce the advantages and policies in relation to fintech in Hong Kong through organising regular duty visits and enterprise exchange activities, thereby attracting more high-potential fintech companies to Hong Kong.

     The Government has been working closely with the financial regulators and industry players to actively promote the financial services sector to adopt fintech through multi-pronged measures. According to a survey in 2023, the adoption rate of generative AI in Hong Kong was the highest (38 per cent) among all markets and well above the global average (26 per cent). In October 2024, we issued a policy statement on the responsible application of AI in the financial market. Since the policy statement was issued, we have introduced various initiatives to assist the financial institutions in seizing the opportunities and adopting AI responsibly, including publishing practical guidelines, launching sandbox schemes, as well as organising seminars and talks.

     The Government and financial regulators will continue to maintain close liaison with the industry and assess their needs for fintech, with a view to formulating the corresponding support measures for facilitating the development of new quality productive forces.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ11: Default payments of Mandatory Provident Fund contributions by employers

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is a question by the Hon Paul Tse and a written reply by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, in the Legislative Council today (June 4):

Question:

     It has been reported that, while default payments of Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) contributions by employers are considered as a “bad omen for closure of businesses”, the number of such cases has been rising in recent years. In 2022, the number of “Payment Notice for Mandatory Provident Fund Contributions and Surcharge” (Payment Notice(s)) issued by the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) to employers defaulting on MPF contributions was about 340 000, and such number had increased to about 370 000 in 2023 and even reached about 400 000 last year, representing an average annual increase of about eight per cent. Also, the amount of default contributions which could not be recovered last year was as much as $13 million. What is more, the increasing trend of cases of employers defaulting on MPF contributions is in line with the trend of closure of businesses. According to information from the Companies Registry, from 2022 to 2024, about 88 000, 94 000 and 116 000 companies were dissolved in Hong Kong respectively. On the other hand, there are views that among the 400 000 cases of employers defaulting on MPF contributions last year, the MPFA only filed 1 432 civil claims and issued 352 summonses for criminal prosecution, which indicated a low percentage of prosecutions. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether it has studied the reasons why the aforesaid number of cases of employers defaulting on MPF contributions, which is considered as a bad omen for closure of businesses, increased drastically to about 400 000 last year; as there are views pointing out that the aforesaid situation is very much different from the Government’s view that the economic trend continues to be positive, whether the Government has explored the reasons for such a huge difference;

(2) whether it knows why the MPFA has filed civil claims and instituted criminal prosecutions in respect of only a very small number of employers defaulting on MPF contributions, and the criteria based on which the MPFA determines to file civil claims or institute criminal prosecution in respect of the cases of default contributions;

(3) given that default payments of MPF contributions is a criminal offence and the employers concerned are liable on conviction to imprisonment of a maximum of four years, and there are views that employers will not default on MPF contributions unless they are left with no alternative, and therefore the situation of employers defaulting on MPF contributions can be taken as a prediction of the economic outlook, whether the Government knows if the MPFA will consider publicising on a monthly basis the number of Payment Notices it has issued, or compiling a list of enterprises defaulting on MPF contributions for a prolonged period of time, e.g. more than six months, to enable the various sectors of the community to have an early grasp of the economic situation of Hong Kong; and

(4) there are views pointing out that given the current operating conditions of enterprises which are even worse than those of the period during the epidemic, the continued bad omens for closure of businesses, increasing number of affected unemployed persons, and the unemployment rate which has risen to 3.4 per cent, whether the authorities will consider allowing business operators and enterprises with similar operating difficulties as mentioned above, as well as their employees, to temporarily suspend their MPF contributions, so as to alleviate the burdens on employers and employees and prevent “the wave of closure of businesses” from spreading?

Reply:

President,

     One of the important functions of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) is to ensure that employers fulfil their statutory responsibility of making the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) contributions for their employees on time, so as to protect the interests of employees. Based on various sources of information, including reports from trustees on default contribution cases, employee complaints, referrals from trade unions, media reports, etc, the MPFA will issue “Payment Notices for MPF Contributions and Surcharge” (Payment Notices) in accordance with statutory requirements to employers who are suspected of failing to make timely MPF contributions, and initiate investigations as needed. Once it is verified that an employer has defaulted on making contributions, the MPFA will recover the default contributions and impose a surcharge calculated at five per cent of the default amount, which will be allocated in full to the affected employees’ MPF accounts upon successful recovery.

     In consultation with the MPFA, the reply to the four parts of the question is as follows:

(1) According to Payment Notices issued by the MPFA to employers in the past, most cases involved administrative issues, such as incomplete or incorrect information in submitted documents, calculation errors, failure to receive contributions by trustees due to technical issues, etc. Moreover, an employer who continuously defaults on contributions will receive multiple Payment Notices. It is therefore not appropriate to rely solely on the number of Payment Notices issued by the MPFA to assess the overall situation of employers defaulting on contributions or Hong Kong’s overall economic condition. Nevertheless, we agree that all cases of defaulting on MPF contributions should be taken seriously.

(2) In 2024-25, the MPFA issued a total of around 400 000 Payment Notices to employers, with around 25 per cent of the cases having settled their default contributions and surcharges within the time limit (i.e. two weeks after Payment Notices were issued). For the remaining cases where the employers were confirmed to be in arrears after the time limit, almost all of them settled the outstanding payments upon the MPFA’s communication and request. The MPFA was only required to recover outstanding payments from a small proportion of these cases (about 1 700 cases) by taking legal actions through civil proceedings. Should these employers fail to settle the default contributions even after the court rulings, the MPFA would take further legal actions, including applying to the court for charging orders, garnishee orders, requesting actions from the bailiff, etc. In the aforesaid year, the MPFA successfully recovered around $200 million of default contributions, whereas around $10 million of default contributions were not recovered, representing about 0.01 per cent of the total contributions made. In addition, to enhance deterrence, the MPFA prosecutes non-compliant employers if sufficient evidence is found during investigation, and the complainant is willing to become a prosecution witness and provide relevant information. In 2024-25, a total of around 280 summonses were issued against employers and directors and managers of limited corporations who had defaulted on contributions. There were about 180 successful convictions with fines imposed for each case ranging from $1,000 to $5,000.

(3) To enhance transparency, the MPFA has regularly published relevant figures on default MPF contributions. For instance, the MPFA reports monthly to the Legislative Council Panel on Manpower the number of complaints received for employers’ default contributions, the number of Payment Notices issued to employers, the number of cases filed in courts, etc. Such information is also published on the MPFA’s website for public inspection. In addition, the MPFA provides on its website a “Non-Compliant Employer and Officer Records”, which enables the public to access information about non-compliant employers, as well as relevant civil and criminal court rulings, thereby strengthening the deterrence against non-compliant employers. To further safeguard the interests of employees, the MPFA has submitted to the Government the proposal on implementing a tiered surcharge for default MPF contributions. The Government will give due consideration and follow up as appropriate.

(4) There are currently no provisions in the legislation providing for the suspension or deferral of part or all of the mandatory contributions. The suspension of mandatory MPF contributions will inevitably undermine the integrity of the MPF System as a long-term and steady retirement savings scheme for the accumulation of benefits and value growth. Not only will implementing this proposal reduce the retirement protection of employees, but also the support provided to employers is limited. The Government considers it inappropriate to implement the recommendation after analysing and weighing carefully its long-term implications.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ12: Application of artificial intelligence in primary and secondary school teaching

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

LCQ12: Application of artificial intelligence in primary and secondary school teaching
Question:

     The Steering Committee for Teaching in Basic Education under the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China (MOE) has recently published the “Guidelines for artificial intelligence (AI) general education in primary and secondary schools (2025)” and the “Guidelines for the use of generative AI in primary and secondary schools (2025)”, with the aim of regulating and promoting AI education across all key stages. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether it will follow the practice of MOE in formulating guidelines for AI education and the use of generative AI in primary and secondary schools, so as to build a comprehensive AI general education system and set clear regulations for the use of generative AI in primary and secondary education for various learning stages;

(2) in order to prevent students from becoming over-reliant on generative AI to the detriment of their independent thinking skills, whether the authorities will draw up guidelines on the use of generative AI for different learning stages, so as to provide teachers and parents with reference material for supervising students and their children’s use of generative AI;

(3) in order to effectively safeguard the privacy and data security of students, whether the authorities will require schools to adopt the Artificial Intelligence: Model Personal Data Protection Framework published by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, so as to provide primary and secondary school teachers and administrative staff with clear guidelines on the use of AI;

(4) in order to support teachers in providing teaching and learning support plans tailored to students of different levels and abilities, whether the authorities will produce a large language model for all primary and secondary schools across the territory that can be used for teaching and learning purposes, as well as developing vertical applications; and

(5) whether the authorities will draw up guidelines and provide technical support for primary and secondary schools to enhance their application of AI in school affairs, thereby encouraging the use of generative AI technologies to optimise school administration?

Reply:

President,

     To align with the national strategy of building a leading country in education, keeping pace with global development trends, and nurturing talent for the advancement of innovation and technology (I&T) in Hong Kong, the Education Bureau (EDB) is stepping up its efforts to promote digital education, including the application and education of artificial intelligence (AI). The EDB established the Steering Committee on Strategic Development of Digital Education in early 2025, making reference to the latest developments on the Mainland and relevant policies and experiences from other places, to provide recommendations on the goals, strategies and future directions for the implementation of digital education in Hong Kong. The EDB will organise the first Digital Education Week in July combining the International Summit on the Use of AI in Learning and Teaching Languages and Other Subjects and the Hong Kong Education City’s annual event Learning & Teaching Expo, to promote in-depth exploration and application of AI and frontier technology.

     Our consolidated reply to the written question raised by Professor the Hon William Wong is as follows:

     Through ongoing curriculum and guide renewal, enriching learning and teaching resources, strengthening teacher training, optimising education ancillary infrastructure and promoting cross-sector collaboration, the EDB assists schools in harnessing AI and other I&T to enhance the digital literacy and the competence of both teachers and students on AI. The EDB places emphasis on developing students’ values, attitudes, knowledge and skills, enabling them to use digital technology (including generative AI) effectively and ethically.

Curriculum and guides

     At present, almost all publicly-funded primary and secondary schools have implemented enriched coding education and AI education at the upper primary level and the junior secondary level respectively. The Module on AI for Junior Secondary Level covers topics such as AI basics, AI ethics, societal impact and future of work, which enables teachers and students to learn about the appropriate application scenarios of AI, as well as relevant security topics including personal data privacy and data security. The EDB launched the updated “Information Literacy for Hong Kong Students” Learning Framework in 2024, with a new literacy area “recognise the ethical issues arising from the application of emerging and advanced information technologies” which includes subjects relating to laws and regulations, academic integrity and excessive dependence arising from I&T such as AI technologies, with an aim to develop students to become ethical users of information technology (IT).

     In addition, the EDB has, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Police Force and the Journalism Education Foundation, launched the learning and teaching resources on Cyber Security and Technology Crime Information and Media and Information Literacy respectively, which include contents to strengthen the protection of personal privacy, enhance students’ ability to discern the authenticity of information and promote the proper use of social media. These resources can guide students in the proper use of AI and nurture positive values and attitudes towards the application of innovative technologies.

     We have always encouraged schools to make reference to good practices when applying IT and I&T (such as AI). The Artificial Intelligence: Model Personal Data Protection Framework issued by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, Hong Kong (PCPD), provides useful references on safeguarding personal data privacy and cyber security issues.

     The EDB will make reference to the latest developments and experiences from local, the country and other places, update and optimise the curriculum and guides, adhere to the use of AI for good, and while improving efficiency and effectiveness, maintain the security of AI and technology education, and guard against challenges and risks related to laws and regulations, ethics, authenticity of information, and privacy protection.

Training

     The EDB has continuously enhanced teacher training, these include the provision of AI-related professional development programmes with contents covering topics like the development of AI, the planning of applying AI in teaching and learning, the application of AI tools in different subjects, the safeguarding of data security, as well as the prevention of students from become over-reliant on generative AI to the detriment of their independent thinking skills. The training programmes are conducted in both online and offline modes to benefit a greater number of teachers. In addition, the EDB has co-organised a number of teacher training programmes with the PCPD, enabling schools to understand how to address data security risks and handle data breaches, as well as enhancing school personnel’s awareness of data security.

     In addition, we have continued to launch relevant parent training to help parents cultivate children’s good habit in using IT in their daily life, including the proper use of generative AI for learning.

Education ancillary infrastructure

     To optimise education ancillary infrastructure, the Quality Education Fund (QEF) has allocated $500 million for the implementation of the e-Learning Ancillary Facilities Programme to develop quality e-learning ancillary facilities that meet the local learning and teaching needs through co-operation among schools, tertiary institutions, education and professional bodies, and business sectors. A total of over 20 projects have been funded under the Programme and have commenced in the beginning of the 2023/24 school year. The learning platforms and resources developed under these projects deploy I&T such as big data and AI to enhance learning and teaching effectiveness in a wide array of subjects/areas. As at end-March 2025, around 400 schools participated in the collaborative development projects, involving around 31 000 students. It is expected that the deliverables of the projects will be successively released in mid-2025 and uploaded to the Hong Kong Education City for subscription by schools. The QEF will also sponsor publicly-funded schools to use the deliverables of the projects to facilitate the sustainable development of the projects.

     The EDB will continue to optimise the platform of Hong Kong Education City, make reference and utilise existing high-quality learning and teaching platforms, large language models and programmes in local, the country or other places, encourage the sharing of high-quality resources across sectors and schools, and explore how to further support learning and teaching in Hong Kong in a cost-effective manner.

     Looking forward, under the leadership of the Steering Committee on Strategic Development of Digital Education, the EDB will continue to review the implementation and development of related support strategies on improving students’ digital literacy and skills, strengthening relevant professional training for teachers, enhancing collaboration with different stakeholders and continuously optimising digital education ancillary infrastructure, to meet the needs of school development and student learning in the era of AI.
Issued at HKT 14:16

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CategoriesMIL-OSI

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Government welcomes passage of Banking (Amendment) Bill 2025

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Government welcomed the passage of the Banking (Amendment) Bill 2025 by the Legislative Council today (June 4) to facilitate the sharing of account information among banks under specified conditions to enhance the efficiency in detecting and preventing crime in Hong Kong.

The Amendment Ordinance introduces a voluntary mechanism for banks and relevant law enforcement agencies to share with each other, swiftly and safely via electronic means, information of corporate and individual accounts through secure platforms designated by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), when banks become aware of suspected prohibited conduct (i.e. money laundering, terrorist financing or financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction). The Amendment Ordinance also provides legal protection for banks that disclose relevant information. The mechanism will enable banks and relevant law enforcement agencies to act swiftly to intercept illicit funds and expedite intelligence gathering so that the public will be better protected from fraud and associated money laundering activities.

The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, said, “The new mechanism not only enhances Hong Kong’s ability to combat fraud and associated money laundering activities, providing better protection for citizens, but also helps maintain the stability of Hong Kong’s banking system and showcases the efforts made by Hong Kong, as an international financial centre, in international collaborations to combat relevant illegal activities.”

The Chief Executive of the HKMA, Mr Eddie Yue, said, “The new information sharing mechanism will further enhance the ability of the banks to detect and prevent fraud and other financial crime. The HKMA will continue to work closely with the Hong Kong Police Force and the banking sector to take forward the preparation work, including the upgrade of systems and formulation of practical guidelines, with a view to implementing the new mechanism as soon as practicable.”

The Amendment Ordinance will come into effect this year. The commencement date will be announced separately.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI: IQ121 Launches Advanced Legacy Building App, Digitally Safeguarding Vital Documents and Preserving Cherished Memories
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

LONDON, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A loved one’s passing brings both emotional pain and the heavy weight of complex legal and administrative tasks, leaving families with more to manage than just grief during their time of loss. Today, IQ121 announces the launch of its new legacy building platform, allowing users to safely organise, store and share their most important digital assets. This helps family members and business partners easily navigate paperwork, access important records and feel connected to their loved ones through the memory, photo and video-sharing capability.

IQ121 stores essential items, including:
- Legal documents (powers of attorney, trusts, vehicle documentation)
- Finances (bank account details, investments, pension documentation)
- Insurance policies covering life, property, high value items
- Property deeds of title, jewelry collections, any other high value items
- Health records
- Passwords, security Q&As and account recovery steps
- Wills and medical directives
- Videos and photos
- Memories and personal documents (family birth certificates, marriage certificates)
The idea for IQ121 was generated by Hollywood actor Kunal Nayyar, best known for his role in “The Big Bang Theory,” during the COVID-19 pandemic. While organising his parents’ trip from India to the U.S., struggling to gather flight numbers, passport details and hotel confirmations, the frustration led him to question: “Why isn’t there an easier way to share this information?” With the pandemic causing many family members to experience sudden, unprecedented loss, the idea progressed into addressing other vital records people accumulate throughout life. Motivated by both a personal loss and a desire to ease others’ suffering, Nayyar created IQ121 to help people prepare for life’s hardest moments.

“Navigating grief is already unbearable; the last thing families need is to feel confused or unprepared. IQ121 brings comfort, structure and lasting peace of mind during times of unimaginable difficulty,” Nayyar said. “We wanted to create a way to guide anyone facing loss through those times, with humanity and dignity, so they could focus on what truly matters most: honouring loved ones and coping with grief. IQ121 empowers people to take control of their legacy, because everyone’s story deserves to be honoured, shared and remembered.”

IQ121 is not just for seniors; people of all ages can become members to store and protect their digital records accumulated over time. Plans will automatically pass down through trusted successors, ensuring a family’s legacy lives on.

“IQ121 goes beyond file storage. It is a place to preserve what makes a person’s life meaningful,” said Tim Ashley Sparks, spokesperson for IQ121. “Members can create video messages for future birthdays or tell a story to a grandchild. The app is designed not just for estate planning, but for fostering connection and ensuring memories live on.”

Backed by military-grade AES-256 encryption — the same technology trusted by banks and governments — IQ121 is a secure end-of-life planning app. It also offers a flexible subscription model to fit every member’s particular goals, allowing for added storage as needed.

Available on iOS and Android, IQ121 is the only end-of-life planning app that supports six major languages (English, Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian), making it globally accessible for multilingual users.

A media kit of photos, videos, logos and headshots is available here. To learn more, visit www.iq121.com.

About IQ121
IQ121 (pronounced IQ One-Two-One) is a first-of-its-kind comprehensive digital platform designed to help individuals, families and professionals organise, manage and safely store essential life documents and digital assets. With the growing need for secure and easily accessible digital solutions, IQ121 offers an encryption-backed, all-in-one platform that simplifies estate planning, digital asset management and legacy preservation.

Media Contact
Julia Cappiello
Uproar by Moburst for IQ121
julia.cappiello@moburst.com

The MIL Network –
June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SITI visits Changchun (with photos)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, yesterday (June 3) began his visit to Changchun, Jilin Province, to tour the China FAW Group Corporation (FAW Group) and learn about the development of the advanced manufacturing industry there.

Upon arriving in Changchun yesterday afternoon, Professor Sun held an engagement session with the management of the FAW Group. He was briefed on the Group’s developments, especially in enhancing innovation capabilities and research on core technology when promoting the development of its own brands.

Professor Sun visited the China FAW NBD Headquarters research and development institute, prosperity factory and Cultural Exhibition Hall today (June 4) to study the Group’s technological breakthroughs of its Hongqi brand in the areas of new energy vehicle models, advanced manufacturing technologies and processes, and autonomous driving systems as well as learning about the innovative achievements of the FAW Group as a state-owned mega automobile enterprise and a leading corporation of China’s automobile industry.

Professor Sun said, “The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has clearly stated in the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint that the development of advanced manufacturing and new energy is one of the strategic technology industries, and is actively promoting new industrialisation in Hong Kong. Under the ‘one country, two systems’ principle, Hong Kong has the unique advantages of enjoying the strong support of the country and being closely connected to the world. It is a two-way gateway for attracting overseas enterprises to Hong Kong and helping Mainland enterprises go global, as well as an ideal platform for Mainland enterprises to venture overseas markets.” He said he looked forward to Hong Kong’s new contributions to the innovative development of the country’s new energy automobile industry chain.

Professor Sun also noted that the 2025 International Automotive Supply Chain Expo (Hong Kong) will be held from June 12 to 15 at AsiaWorld-Expo, Hong Kong. The Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau, as the advising organisation, hopes that Hong Kong can serve as an exchange platform for the global automobile industry supply chain via the Expo, and that new industrialisation in Hong Kong can be promoted at the same time, while showcasing cutting-edge technologies and the latest achievements of the new energy automobile industry of the Mainland.

The Commissioner for Industry (Innovation and Technology), Dr Ge Ming, also joined the visit.

Professor Sun returned to Hong Kong this afternoon after the visit.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI: Black Gold Announces Commencement of Oil Production at Fritz 2-30

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

VANCOUVER, B.C., June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BGX – Black Gold Exploration Corp. (the “Company” or “BGX”) (CSE: BGX) (OTCQB: BGXCF) (FRA: BLGX) is proud to announce that production has officially commenced at its flagship Fritz 2-30 well in Clay County, Indiana. This significant milestone marks BGX’s evolution from an ambitious exploration company to a full-fledged oil and gas producer — a pivot the Company achieved on schedule and on strategy.

“Today, BGX ceases to be just an exploration story. We are now a production company in the heart of the Illinois Basin” said Francisco Gulisano, CEO of BGX.

From Concept to Commercialization — On Time, On Target

Through its joint venture with LGX Energy Corp. (“LGX”), BGX rapidly advanced the Fritz 2-30 well from seismic, to permitting, to drilling to production at a pace that is rare for junior oil and gas companies. In the coming weeks the coming will release detailed data on production figures and reserves.

“This is just the beginning. We are now positioned to scale methodically one formation at a time with real production, real data, and real returns,” commented Mr. Gulisano.

“Our teams are proving what’s possible when you combine legacy geology with modern execution,” said Howard Crosby, CEO of LGX.

Growth Chapter Begins

In the Company’s view, the Fritz 2-30 well is just the first chapter of a broader story. The Company has now proven it can take a well from seismic analysis to production in under four months. BGX now plans to work with its JV partner LGX to bring several other wells online in an expedited fashion to fuel growth in the Company for all its stakeholders.

Marketing Awareness

To further fuel this growth, the Company has entered into a marketing and distribution service agreement with an arm’s-length marketing firm, Hillside Consulting and Media Inc. (“Hillside“) of Penticton B.C., to provide digital marketing services, including SEO, PPC, email, YouTube and social media channels to increase corporate awareness for a term of three months commencing June 4, 2025. The media disseminated will be generated using only publicly available information. The Company will pay Hillside a cash fee of $25,000 CAD plus applicable taxes. Hillside does not currently own any shares of the Company.

On behalf of the Company,
Francisco Gulisano
236-266-5174
CEO

About BGX

BGX – Black Gold Exploration Corp. is an oil and gas exploration and production company dedicated to creating shareholder value in the Illinois Basin. With an experienced technical team and a growing asset base, BGX is unlocking value using modern drilling and completion technologies. For more information visit https://www.bgxcorp.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

‎The information in this news release includes certain information and statements about management’s view of future events, expectations, plans, and prospects that constitute forward-looking statements. These statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. It should be noted that there are inherent risks and uncertainties in oil and gas exploration. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to statements respecting: (i) test data confirming strong deliverability and positioning the Fritz 2-30 well for meaningful near-term revenues; (ii) the Company being positioned to scale methodically one formation at a time with real production, real data and real returns; (iii) the Fritz 2-30 well being the first chapter of a broader story for the Company; (iv) BGX’s plan to work with LGX to bring several other wells online in an expedited fashion to fuel growth in the Company for all its stakeholders; and (v) the Company’s agreement with Hillside and the timing and scope of the services to be provided by Hillside thereunder. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward-looking statement will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements, or otherwise. For a comprehensive overview of all risks that may impact the Company, please see the Company’s continuous disclosure documents filed on SEDAR+.

Neither the CSE nor the CSE’s Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accept responsibility for the accuracy of this release.

The MIL Network –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: UNECE study identifies pathways for digital and green energy transition in South-Eastern and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia
Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

The transition to clean energy in South-Eastern and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia necessitates a comprehensive overhaul of power systems, with investment needs estimated at $150 billion by 2030. However, by embracing digitalization across all sectors – from generation and transmission to distribution and end-use – and integration with renewable energy, these countries could reduce their carbon emissions by up to 70% and energy costs by as much as 80%, subject to system-wide optimization, outlines the UNECE study “Integrating twin transition with legacy energy systems”

The study analyses opportunities and challenges for a digital transformation of energy systems in Albania, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, North Macedonia, Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine, where about 60% of the total energy mix today comes from natural gas and coal.

The study underscores that digital solutions and innovations such as Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, Digital Twins, and Virtual Power Plants, offer significant opportunities in managing and integrating distributed, often variable renewable energy-based resources. It also highlights potential to optimize legacy systems and enhance both cybersecurity and grid resilience.

This will require robust policy measures and initiatives to boost investments in advanced, resilient grids. It will also necessitate increased support for innovation and research, strategic planning and massive professional training.

Overcoming challenges

The study identifies key challenges to be addressed in the region’s largely outdated energy systems:
- Ageing energy infrastructure, much of which was built during the Soviet era. For example, in Belarus, over 60% of the thermal power plants are over 30 years old, resulting in high maintenance costs; in Georgia, the average age of electricity transmission lines exceeds 30 years, resulting in transmission losses estimated at 12%.
- Energy security risks due to dependence on fossil fuel imports. For example, the Republic of Moldova imports approximately 70% of its electricity, primarily from Romania and Ukraine; in Belarus, about 50% of energy needs are met through natural gas imports from the Russian Federation.
- Limited financial resources to invest in modernizing energy systems. For instance, Albania has struggled to secure funding for proposed solar and wind projects totalling approximately $300 million; in Belarus only about 5% of the necessary investments have been secured for planned RE installations; financial constraints limit modernization of ageing hydropower infrastructure in Kyrgyzstan.
- Lack of skilled workforce. For example, in Georgia, around 30% of energy sector professionals lack formal training in RE technologies.
- Climate and health impacts. For instance, Belarus emits approximately 8 million tonnes of CO2 annually from its energy sector alone, with coal-fired plants being significant contributors. North Macedonia’s reliance on coal contributes to air pollution levels among the highest in Europe.
Key strategies identified in the study include:
- Cross-border infrastructure projects, such as Trans-Caspian high-voltage direct current lines, are vital for enhancing regional energy trade and digital connectivity;
The report identifies three priority action areas: (1) scaling energy efficiency through retrofitting that embraces digital technologies; (2) promoting hybrid energy models that combine gas with hydrogen; and (3) advancing smart grids, standardization, and regional integration.

Importantly, the study promotes a human-centered approach to digitalization that balances innovation with ethical considerations and prioritizes equity, social considerations, and long-term sustainability for a just transition.

From research to action

The study was showcased during a workshop “Assessing the readiness of the energy sector to implement smart digital energy-efficient technologies in Belarus in view of climate change mitigation” held in Minsk, Belarus, and online on 22 May 2025. The hybrid workshop, organized by UNECE in cooperation with UNDP Belarus and the Department of Energy Efficiency of the State Committee for Standardization of the Republic of Belarus, brought together over 100 participants including government officials, energy sector representatives, and international experts, to explore how smart digital tools can support energy efficiency, clean mobility, and climate action in Belarus.

For more information about UNECE work on Energy Efficiency, please visit: https://unece.org/sustainable-energy/energy-efficiency

Photo credit: Adobe Stock Images by Sergii.

MIL OSI United Nations News –
June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Protecting mangroves in Madagascar and Indonesia

Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Case study

Protecting mangroves in Madagascar and Indonesia

The UK’s International Climate Finance (ICF) supports mangrove conservation to reduce the impacts of climate change, protect biodiversity and boost livelihoods.

Mangrove monitoring in Madagascar for the Blue Forest Initiative. Source: Leah Glass, Blue Ventures.

Mangrove forests, found in tropical and sub-tropical coastal areas, are a vital home for endangered species such as the white breasted sea eagle and olive ridley turtles. They also support coastal communities that depend on them for their livelihoods.

Crucially, mangroves play a key role in tackling climate change, with the ability to store up to 4 times more carbon than rainforests.

However, mangrove forests have been in severe decline for decades. To address this, the UK government is funding the Blue Forest Initiatives programme, led by the UK non-profit Blue Ventures, to protect, restore and sustainably manage mangrove forests in Madagascar and Indonesia.

The community-led programme is working to prevent deforestation and overfishing while supporting the livelihoods of up to 70,000 people.

With a goal of protecting approximately 80,000 hectares of mangrove forests – an area larger than the size of 100,000 football pitches, the programme is expected to save 1.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from being released.

By securing the future of these critical ecosystems, the UK is not only combatting climate change but also safeguarding biodiversity and tackling extreme poverty.

Read more about UK International Climate Finance.

Updates to this page

Published 4 June 2025

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

June 4, 2025
India Wins Presidency of International Institute of Administrative Sciences

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

India won the Presidency of the International Institute of Administrative Sciences (IIAS) on Tuesday, 3 June 2025. The International Institute of Administrative Sciences, a notable global institution, is a federation of 31 member countries, 20 national sections, and 15 academic research centres jointly collaborating on scientific research in public administration.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had nominated the Indian candidate, Secretary DARPG (Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances), Shri V. Srinivas, for the 2025-2028 Presidency of IIAS in November 2024. Following Presidency hearings in February 2025, the candidacies of India, South Africa, and Austria were forwarded to the IIAS General Body. Subsequently, South Africa withdrew its candidacy in favour of India in May 2025.

The election between India and Austria was held on 3 June 2025, in which 141 votes were polled. India secured 87 votes (61.7 per cent of the vote), while Austria received 54 votes (38.3 per cent of the vote). India’s candidacy received widespread support from across the membership.

This election marks two significant firsts in the 100-year history of IIAS: it was the first time the President was elected by a ballot process, and it is the first time India has secured this historic mandate.

The Indian Presidency of the institution will seek to bridge the North-South Divide with a focus on unity and inclusivity. It will also take forward Prime Minister Modi’s vision for “Maximum Governance – Minimum Government,” documenting next-generation administrative reforms with a focus on the digital empowerment of citizens and the digital transformation of institutions.

India has been a member of IIAS since 1998. Other key members of IIAS include Japan, China, Germany, Italy, Korea, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Switzerland, Mexico, Spain, Qatar, Morocco, and Indonesia.

While the IIAS is not a formally affiliated body of the United Nations, it actively engages with the UN’s work in public administration through the UN’s Committee of Experts on Public Administration (CEPA) and the UN Public Administration Network (UNPAN).

June 4, 2025
US-backed Gaza aid group halts distribution, UN to vote on ceasefire demand

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

The U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation will not give out any aid on Wednesday as it presses Israel to boost civilian safety beyond the perimeter of its distribution sites, a day after dozens of Palestinians seeking aid were killed.

The GHF said it has asked the Israeli military to “guide foot traffic in a way that minimizes confusion or escalation risks” near military perimeters; develop clearer guidance for civilians; and enhance training to support civilian safety.

“Our top priority remains ensuring the safety and dignity of civilians receiving aid,” said a GHF spokesperson. An Israeli military spokesperson warned civilians against moving in areas leading to GHF sites on Wednesday, deeming them “combat zones”.

The Israeli military said on Tuesday that it opened fire on a group of people it viewed as a threat near a GHF food aid distribution site. The International Committee of the Red Cross said at least 27 people were killed and dozens injured. The GHF said the incident was “well beyond” its site.

Palestinians who collected food GHF boxes on Tuesday described scenes of pandemonium, with no-one overseeing the handover of supplies or checking IDs, as crowds jostled for aid.

The U.N. Security Council is also set to vote on Wednesday on a demand for a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas and humanitarian access across Gaza, where aid has trickled amid chaos and bloodshed after Israel lifted an 11-week blockade on the enclave where famine looms.

“It is unacceptable. Civilians are risking – and in several instances losing – their lives just trying to get food,” U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday, adding that the aid distribution model backed by the U.S. and Israel was “all a recipe for disaster, which is exactly what is going on.”

That model is run by the newly created GHF, which started operations in the enclave a week ago and said on Tuesday that it has given out more than seven million meals from three so-called secure distribution sites. GHF Interim Executive Director John Acree urged humanitarians in Gaza: “Work with us and we will get your aid delivered to those who are depending on it.”

U.S. VETO?

The U.N. and other aid groups have refused to work with the GHF because they say it is not neutral and the distribution model militarizes aid. GHF uses private U.S. security and logistics companies to get aid to the distribution sites.

It is the latest in a string of efforts to get more aid into the enclave, where experts say the entire population of some 2.1 million people is at risk of famine. Jordan last year spearheaded humanitarian air drops, while the U.S. briefly installed a floating aid pier, but it was beset by challenges.

The U.N. has long-blamed Israel and lawlessness in the enclave for hindering the delivery of aid into Gaza and its distribution throughout the war zone. Israel accuses Hamas of stealing aid, which the group denies.

Israel said on Tuesday that three of its soldiers had been killed in fighting in northern Gaza. Gaza health officials said at least 18 more Palestinians were killed in other military strikes in the territory on Tuesday. Reuters could not independently verify the reports in northern and southern Gaza.

The 10 elected members of the U.N. Security Council have asked for the 15-member body to vote on Wednesday on a draft resolution that demands “an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza respected by all parties.”

The draft text, seen by Reuters, also demands the release of all hostages held by Hamas and others, and the immediate lifting of all restrictions on the entry of aid and its safe and unhindered distribution, including by the U.N., throughout Gaza.

“The time to act has already passed,” Slovenia’s U.N. Ambassador Samuel Zbogar told Reuters. “It is our historical responsibility not to remain silent.”

As U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration tries to broker a ceasefire in Gaza, it was not immediately clear if Washington would veto the draft text. A spokesperson for the U.S. mission to the U.N. said: “We cannot preview our actions currently under consideration.”

A resolution needs nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the permanent members – the United States, Russia, China, Britain or France – to pass.

The war in Gaza has raged since 2023 after Hamas militants killed 1,200 people in Israel in an October 7 attack and took some 250 hostages back to the enclave, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel responded with a military campaign that has killed over 54,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities, which do not distinguish between fighters and non-combatants.

(Reuters)

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Mauritius charts bold new course as government targets investment, growth, and global appeal

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

PORT LOUIS, Mauritius, June 4, 2025/APO Group/ —

With a new government at the helm, Mauritius is setting its sights on economic revival and sustainable growth. As the island nation gears up for the high-profile API Mauritius & Indian Oceans Property Investment Forum, industry experts are calling for bold reforms and streamlined investments.

Mauritius is at a pivotal moment as the newly elected government embarks on a mission to stabilise the country’s economy and chart a renewed path for sustainable growth.

The government has three fiscal challenges: it spends more than it earns in trade, in its budget, and in payments with other countries. To fix these problems, the new Mauritian government aims to create new sources of economic growth and attract important investments from foreign players, especially in real estate.

Mauritius’ economic outlook and investment opportunities will be a central focus at the third instalment of the annual API Mauritius & Indian Oceans Property Investment Forum, which will take place on 26 June at the InterContinental Hotel in Mauritius. The forum is set to expand on its two previous successes and provide more insights about investment opportunities in Mauritius.

The government’s emphasis on infrastructure development, climate resilience, and supportive fiscal policies positions Mauritius as an increasingly attractive destination for international capital. Industry players highlight that Mauritius’ new government has committed to a path of sustainable growth and transparency, which reinforces investor confidence.

Kevin Teeroovengadum, board and advisor to various listed and non-listed companies in Mauritius and in Africa including South Africa, says the government faces the daunting task of stabilising the economy and averting a downgrade to junk status by credit rating agencies.

“Mauritius urgently needs a bold, forward-looking strategic plan — one that mirrors the ambition and clarity of vision seen in Dubai’s transformation. The government must set clear targets, not only in terms of the number of foreigners it aims to attract but also the profile and quality of these individuals and, a focused strategy is essential to position Mauritius as a premier destination to live, work, and retire” says Teeroovengadum.

As a board director and advisor with over 25 years of hands-on experience across the African continent, Teeroovengadum brings deep expertise in deal-making in sectors such as real estate, hospitality, telecoms, and others, which puts him in good stead regarding the drivers of investments.

Mauritius boasts several unique advantages, including a stable political environment, a safe and appealing lifestyle, and a resilient tourism sector. However, experts stress that unlocking the island’s full economic potential will require greater openness to foreign developers and institutional investors, especially in emerging asset classes such as green buildings, logistics hubs, and affordable housing. A clear regulatory framework, streamlined processes, and robust public-private collaboration are seen as essential to ensuring that development aligns with national priorities and delivers long-term value to the local economy.

Wayne Godwin, CEO of JLL Africa, says Mauritius has hallmarks that are already beneficiary to its potential in the African continent.

“The ease of doing business, sophisticated local capital markets, and low taxation make Mauritius an attractive destination for foreign direct investment, but there are still barriers that can be removed, particularly around the sale of directly held real estate, which incurs higher transfer taxes and a lengthy approval process.

“As JLL, we expect to see more focus from international investors into Mauritius in the next few years, particularly from the Middle East and India, while the trend of Mauritian investors expanding into Africa will likely continue on a similar path,” says Godwin, who leads JLL’s business in Africa that has exposure to some of the fastest-growing cities in the continent.

Godwin also leads JLL’s Hotels & Hospitality Group division in Africa, the largest and most successful hotel advisor and broker in Africa. This places him in the best position to opine about investment opportunities in Mauritius’s hospitality and tourism industry at the upcoming API Mauritius & Indian Oceans Property Investment Forum.

In the face of rising climate risks, financial innovation, and climate-resilient public-private partnerships are also taking center stage. The use of green building standards, real estate investment trusts, and green bonds is gaining momentum, with early issuances by EnVolt and Cim Finance demonstrating the potential to mobilise green capital at scale. EnVolt and Cim Finance have emerged as early leaders in the green finance movement in Mauritius, playing a pivotal role in mobilising capital for sustainable development and climate-resilient infrastructure.

Recycling capital from mature assets into eco-certified, resilient developments is fast becoming essential for long-term value creation in coastal tourism and mixed-use projects.

But beyond sustainability, there is a pressing need to ensure that development also delivers inclusive economic opportunity.

“Mauritius has a strong foundation in residential real estate and hospitality, but the time has come to evolve and diversify the development model. We must channel foreign investment into industries that create meaningful employment for our skilled, bilingual youth—sectors like advanced manufacturing, tech-enabled services, and sustainable construction. Real estate remains central to this vision, not as an end in itself, but as a platform to support innovation, green industry, and a more inclusive economy. The opportunity is to build an economy where young Mauritians can thrive at home—not feel compelled to leave in search of better prospects”, says Bernard Forster, Managing Director, Elevante Consulting, part of the Elevante Group. Elevante is a leading independent real estate advisory and property services firm in Mauritius and the Indian Ocean region, known for its deep market insight, strategic guidance, and regional transaction expertise across all asset classes.

As Mauritius prepares to unveil its national budget in June, all eyes are on the government’s roadmap for economic recovery and long-term growth. The coming months will be critical in shaping a more resilient, competitive and sustainable future – positioning the country as a global destination for investment, innovation, and climate-smart development.

The 3rd annual API Mauritius & Indian Ocean’s Property Investment Forum with the theme of ‘A resilient new dawn’ will take place on Thursday, 26 June 2025 at the InterContinental Hotel, Mauritius. Fror more information and to register visit https://apo-opa.co/43AgyUY

MIL OSI Africa –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: 113th International Labour Conference. UK Statement on Myanmar

Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Speech

113th International Labour Conference. UK Statement on Myanmar

Joint Statement on Myanmar at the General Affairs Committee at ILC 113. Delivered by the UK’s Permanent Representative to the WTO and UN, Simon Manley.

Chair, I have the honour of speaking on behalf of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and my own country, the United Kingdom.

We would firstly like to thank the ILO Office for their work on this issue, and the work of the ILO Liaison Office and its staff in Yangon who continue to work under extremely difficult circumstances.

We also wish to extend our deepest sympathies to the people of Myanmar, who have suffered yet more hardship as a result of the terrible earthquake in March, which has seen large-scale destruction of homes, businesses and places of worship, and most sadly, the tragic loss of lives.

Chair, at this International Labour Conference, we meet to discuss the Myanmar military regime’s ongoing intransigence in observing Convention 87 on the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise, and Convention 29 on Forced Labour. Since the Commission of Inquiry for Myanmar was established in 2023, we have heard grave reports of continued repression of trade unions and labour rights, including through active suppression of unionization efforts, and the surveillance, harassment and dismissal of those engaging in union activities.

Trade Unionists continue to be imprisoned, including the General Secretary of the Myanmar Industries Craft and Services Trade Union Federation, Thet Hnin Aung, whom we and the ILO Office have continued to call for the release of.

We are also concerned by reports of continued systematic exploitation of civilians for different types of forced labour, including as porters, guides, and human shields, as well as for the cultivation, construction and maintenance of military camps, or for the provision of transport, accommodation, food and domestic work.

Despite our calls for the Myanmar military regime to urgently address these issues, the regime has failed to address the Commission’s recommendations and continues to engage in far-reaching violations and abuses of labour laws and abuses of human rights, as laid out in ILO reporting and other UN-body findings.

Back in March at the Governing Body we agreed, by consensus, to adopt measures in line with Article 33 of the ILO Constitution, against Myanmar. We continue to support these measures, including the establishment of a monitoring mechanism to ensure Myanmar’s compliance with the Commission’s recommendations. It is important the ILO continues to closely monitor developments in Myanmar, including the impact of recent events on workers’ incomes and livelihoods.

Chair, we continue to believe that such measures should not exacerbate the dire humanitarian and economic situation in Myanmar, only made worse by the recent earthquake. Nor should Article 33 measures impact workers in Myanmar, who continue to suffer much hardship. International trade and business have a key role to play; businesses currently operating in Myanmar should be able to continue whilst respecting responsible business practices and human rights.

The UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand are committed to working with the ILO and its constituents to secure compliance by the Myanmar regime with the Commission of Inquiry’s recommendations. We call on all constituents to support the adoption of the draft resolution and ensure that the military regime urgently addresses the grave issues as laid out.

Chair, we support the draft resolution.

Thank you.

Updates to this page

Published 4 June 2025

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Banking bill passed

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government today welcomed the Legislative Council’s passage of the Banking (Amendment) Bill 2025, which enables sharing of account information among banks under specified conditions in order to facilitate the detection and prevention of crime in Hong Kong.

The amendment ordinance introduces a voluntary mechanism allowing banks and law enforcement agencies to share information with each other – swiftly and safely, via secure platforms designated by the Monetary Authority – relating to corporate and individual accounts, when banks become aware of suspected activities such as money laundering, or the financing of terrorist activities or of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

The bill also provides legal protection for banks that disclose relevant information.

The mechanism will enable banks and law enforcement agencies to act swiftly to intercept illicit funds and expedite intelligence gathering with a view to protecting the public from fraud and associated money laundering activities.

Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui said the new mechanism not only enhances Hong Kong’s ability to combat fraud and associated money laundering activities, thereby providing better protection for citizens, but also helps maintain the stability of Hong Kong’s banking system and underscores the city’s efforts, as an international financial centre, to combat illegal activities.

The amendment ordinance will come into effect this year. The commencement date will be announced separately.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

June 4, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Politics with Michelle Grattan: historian Emma Shortis warns against falling into Trump’s trade traps

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to have his first face-to-face meeting with US President Donald Trump this month, against a background of increased steel and aluminium tariffs and US pressure on Australia to boost its defence spending.

How Australia manages the now unpredictable US relationship has become a major debate among policy experts. Some question the implications for Australia’s reliance on the US for its security.

One voice urging Australia to “rebalance” its relationship with the US is Dr Emma Shortis, the director of the Australia Institute’s International and Security Affairs program.

Shortis is a historian with a particular interest in the United States’ history and politics. She joins the podcast to talk about her new book, After America: Australia and the New World Order.

On the Australia–US alliance, Shortis says Trump doesn’t think about Australia – which might be a good thing, given Canada’s experience.

Trump doesn’t really think about the United States’ relationship with Australia. We know that. He has made it very clear. He was asked in the Oval Office about the AUKUS submarine deal, and he responded, what does that mean? He doesn’t think about Australia.

[…] We also probably have to ask ourselves, would it be a good thing if Donald Trump thought about Australia more, if he cared about us more, or gave us more attention?

[…] There’s been a subtle but a noticeable shift in language coming from the prime minister in particular, about Australia’s role in the world and about the relationship with the United States – particularly this week, saying that Australia effectively won’t be dictated to by the United States around defence spending […] In the longer history of the way Australian leaders have bent the knee to the United States, that’s a pretty significant change.

On Albanese’s likely meeting with Trump on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada, Shortis cautions against making offers to Trump on critical minerals to seek a better deal on tariffs.

It doesn’t matter what we give him. So giving away Australian sovereign resources, or offering them on the cheap without much return, is not only not great policy [… but] it doesn’t align with a strategy of progressive patriotism that the prime minister has been talking about. And I don’t think it will get us much from the United States.

It also falls into a trap that Trump is so good at laying, which is dividing the world. Getting individual world leaders to come scraping and begging, asking for exemptions, rather than being met by a solid wall of democratic resistance to what he’s doing.

On hopes that after Trump, America might move away from its current style of politics, Shortis argues Trump’s changes are deeper than him.

I would also argue really strongly that the America we thought we knew, the Biden version of the United States, is not coming back any time soon. This second Trump administration is an entirely different beast from the first. Trump and particularly the people around him, the movement that supports him, see this as a generational victory for the far-right movement in the United States. And they will not give it up easily.

[…] So this idea that we can just wait him out, that we can rely on the old assumptions about the cycles of American politics, I think is something we have to be really careful with.

Shortis argues Australia should be “a real friend” to the US and its people – which would mean speaking up when we disagree – rather than abandoning the alliance.

I don’t think we should drop the alliance. I also don’t think that is a realistic option politically at the moment. I think the alliance does serve a purpose when it is oriented towards those shared values […] and not to a kind of poverty-stricken view of security and the prevention of war.

[…] What we can do is pursue more independence in our decision-making, which lots of other countries do. If you look around the world, not many other countries are continually asking themselves: ‘Who is going to come and protect us? Who is going to come and save us?’ That is almost a kind of uniquely Australian trait. But again one that’s not inevitable and that we can rethink.

Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Politics with Michelle Grattan: historian Emma Shortis warns against falling into Trump’s trade traps – https://theconversation.com/politics-with-michelle-grattan-historian-emma-shortis-warns-against-falling-into-trumps-trade-traps-258174

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

June 4, 2025

Category: Asia Pacific

MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT NON-LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT

OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON DEVELOPMENT (25.4.2025)

PROCEDURE – COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

Protecting mangroves in Madagascar and Indonesia

Updates to this page

113th International Labour Conference. UK Statement on Myanmar

Updates to this page